Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong’s work in higher education has centered on improving the educational experience for students through research, planning and strategy. She is particularly passionate about serving disadvantaged students and supporting the advancement of women in underrepresented areas.

A 1986 graduate of Bates College, Armstrong earned a master’s degree in English from the University of Virginia in 1987 and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Boston College in 1996. She also earned an executive leadership certificate in management from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2018.

Prior to beginning her tenure as Salve Regina’s eighth president in July 2019, Armstrong served the Boston College community in a variety of positions, including vice president for planning and assessment (2012-2019), associate vice president (2006-2012) and founding director of the institutional research department (2004-2006).

Before joining Boston College, she served as associate vice chancellor for enrollment management at the University of Massachusetts Boston (2002-2004) and as director of institutional research and enrollment services for the UMass system and the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. She was also a research analyst at Tufts University and an assistant dean of admissions at Bates College. Her first position was as an account executive at an investor relations firm.

Armstrong is the eldest of four daughters and grew up on the south shore of Massachusetts. Next to the family’s Catholic faith and devotion to service, the most important value in their household was education, a commitment that inspired her to pursue a career in the field. She is married to Brian Griffin, an attorney, and they have two sons, David and Jake.