ICMA is happy to announce this year’s winners of the Judy L. Kelsey Scholarship. The award was named in honor of Judy Lyn Kelsey, a pioneer in the local government management profession and long-time ICMA member, who generously gifted $109,000 to ICMA in her estate.

With her gift, ICMA established the Local Government Management Fellowship Judy L. Kelsey Scholarship in 2019, to assist emerging women leaders who have been accepted into the ICMA Local Government Management Fellowship (LGMF) program, which places a fellow in a manager’s or department head’s office in a council-manager community.

This year’s winners of the Judy L. Kelsey Award are fellows Allison “Fredi” Hayes and Jaritza “Jari” Nunez.

Allison “Fredi” Hayes

Currently a fellow with Shelburne, Vermont, Fredi currently plays a pivotal role in filling gaps in communications, grant management, human resources, and budget planning. In her first six weeks, she secured a $73,000 grant to expand the town’s electric vehicle infrastructure, marking a significant achievement early in her fellowship.

In addition to her grant work, Fredi is helping Shelburne’s approximately 120 volunteers navigate Vermont’s new state requirements on open meeting laws and ethics. She’s also assisting the town’s new finance director in preparing for the upcoming town meeting, a key Vermont tradition. This includes organizing data, running budget scenarios, and preparing the town meeting booklet, ensuring a smooth process for both residents and officials.

Fredi holds a master of public administration and nonprofit studies degree from the University of Arkansas, where she co-founded the university’s ICMA student chapter in 2018. Her leadership continued throughout both her undergraduate and graduate studies. With extensive experience in relationship-building within Arkansas’s municipal government and through her involvement with ICMA, Fredi’s perspective on public administration has been shaped by the challenges and opportunities in rural communities.

In Fredi’s essay, she reflected, “The work I am doing in Shelburne has reinforced my commitment to local government, especially as I see firsthand how trained administrators can enhance the quality of life for residents and improve the functioning of municipal services.”

Fredi is passionate about continuing her service to small communities, supporting others who share her commitment. She is also deeply grateful for the scholarship that has enabled her to cover personal expenses and pursue further professional development. Through her fellowship, Fredi is helping to shape the future of local governance in Vermont, one community at a time.

Jaritza “Jari” Nunez

Jari serves as a fellow in the city manager’s office in Bakersfield, California, where she contributes to advancing innovative projects and fostering equitable community outcomes. Her role involves analyzing departmental challenges, streamlining processes to enhance government operations, and driving initiatives that prioritize accessibility and inclusivity.

Before returning to Kern County, Jari was part of the inaugural cohort of the Bloomberg Harvard City Hall Fellowship, where she worked with the Pueblo, Colorado, increasing engagement and building trust with underserved residents for city planning and budgeting. This experience further fueled her passion for public service and her commitment to fostering equity-driven change through local government. Jari holds a master of education policy and analysis degree from Harvard University.

Jari is driven to make government more accessible and representative. She is passionate about increasing affordable housing, fostering economic and community development, and breaking cycles of poverty to ensure all residents have the opportunity to thrive. In her essay, Jari shared, “Returning to my hometown has allowed me to channel my experiences into meaningful action. I am deeply committed to ensuring that local government reflects and uplifts the communities it serves.” She plans to use the scholarship to advance professional development, reduce financial barriers, and continue her advocacy for sustainable community growth.

ERIKA COOPER was previously senior program manager of career advancement at ICMA.