Kellee Bacote wears many hats, and wears them all well. From project manager to ordained minister, public speaker to health educator, she proudly calls herself a renaissance woman. After ten years of work in nonprofit outreach and healthcare advocacy, Kellee recently returned to the insurance industry, where she now leads strategic change initiatives at Progressive Insurance. She also recently earned her M.S. in positive organization development and change from Case Western Reserve University, a testament to her lifelong commitment to growth and service. 

Kellee’s journey to Hiram College began with a love for its close-knit community and beautiful setting, just a short drive from where she grew up in Ohio’s Amish country. As a student in the Weekend College program, she was drawn to Hiram’s emphasis on critical thinking, identity, and communication — especially through courses like Communication Between Cultures, Gender and Creativity, and African American Language, which helped shape her advocacy-focused worldview. 

Though her work schedule limited campus involvement, the classroom connections and faculty mentorship left a lasting impression.

Hiram challenged me to lead with empathy, think deeply, and communicate with purpose. It helped me discover my voice and gave me the courage to use it for systemic change.

Today, Kellee serves on the Hiram Alumni Executive Board, continuing her commitment to the community that empowered her. She credits Hiram with instilling in her the values of curiosity, compassion, and resilience. She carries these qualities into every role, whether she’s mentoring youth, managing projects, or officiating weddings. 

To current students, she offers this advice: “Embrace your journey. Lean into the unexpected. And trust your voice, it has power.” 

As she puts it: “Being a Hiram graduate means standing for something greater than yourself. It means using your voice, values, and vision to make lasting change wherever life takes you.”