KishaLynn Elliott is the Executive Director of San Diego Pride, becoming the first Black Lesbian to lead the region’s largest civic institution in its 50-year history. A San Diego-based strategist and restorative leader, KishaLynn brings over 20 years of executive experience to the role, combining operational rigor with a deep commitment to radical community care.

Prior to joining Pride, KishaLynn served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Monarch School Project, where she championed equity for unhoused youth and navigated complex organizational transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and coach (CTACC), she is known for her unique leadership philosophy: that operational excellence is a form of community care. Her work focuses on stabilizing non-profit infrastructures so that vulnerable populations can thrive.

KishaLynn’s roots in the San Diego community run deep. She is the co-founder of the Black Leadership and Abundance Center (BLAAC), a longtime Committee Member with Black Lesbians United (BLU), and a National Board Member for the Summer Search Foundation. A proud alumna of Spelman College, she is an IIRP-Licensed Restorative Practices Trainer, a healer, and a TEDxSanDiego speaker. A multi-hyphenate artist working as a poet, playwright, and dancer, she is the author of several books, including CHILDish and Black Woman Grown.

KishaLynn is dedicated to reimagining Pride as a year-round engine for health justice, civic partnership, and sustainable philanthropy. She has an abundance mindset and is committed to building a future where everyone in San Diego is safe, seen, and celebrated. She lives in San Diego with her wife and son.