Rhonda Kelly

Rhonda Kelly draws on personal experience in her focus on mental health support for people in team-based work in extreme environments. She was a firefighter/paramedic for 17 years in Aurora, CO. She served for five years as the department’s Health and Safety Officer, working to implement culture change that would prioritize overall wellness and destigmatize mental health support. It was in that role that she co-founded the state-wide Responder Strong project and eventually joined NMHIC. Previously, Rhonda was a technician supporting various international projects aboard oceanographic research vessels. She then transitioned to the U.S. Antarctic Program as a crew member aboard icebreakers. Rhonda has degrees in nursing and physics, with advanced studies in physical oceanography and clinical mental health counseling.