Cooper Coleman Announces Placement of KishaLynn Elliott as Executive Director at San Diego Pride

CHICAGO, IL – Cooper Coleman LLC announced today the placement of KishaLynn Elliott as Executive Director of San Diego Pride, marking a significant leadership moment for one of the nation’s most visible and influential LGBTQIA+ civic institutions. Elliott becomes the first Black lesbian to serve as permanent Executive Director in the organization’s more than 50-year history.

San Diego Pride is a cornerstone of civic life in the region, advancing LGBTQIA+ visibility, equality, and justice through year-round advocacy, education, and community building. Elliott joins the organization at a pivotal moment, as LGBTQIA+ communities across the country face renewed challenges and San Diego Pride reaffirms its commitment to equity, resilience, and community care.

“It is the honor of a lifetime to be called on to lead this legacy organization,” Elliott shared. “San Diego Pride is a powerful civic institution and a beacon of hope for our region. At this pivotal moment together, we have the opportunity to redefine what community leadership looks like. To me, this work is about creating a sanctuary of belonging — not only in July (San Diego Pride’s annual Pride Festival and Parade), but every single day, here in San Diego and worldwide.”

A San Diego-based strategist and restorative leader, Elliott brings more than 20 years of executive experience to the role. Most recently, she served as Chief Operating Officer of the Monarch School Project, where she led complex operations and advanced equity for unhoused youth while guiding the organization through periods of significant transition. Known for her belief that operational excellence is a form of community care, Elliott has built a career focused on stabilizing nonprofit infrastructures so communities can thrive.

The national search was led by J. Michael Durnil, PhD, Director of Executive Search at Cooper Coleman LLC, in close partnership with the San Diego Pride Board of Directors, engaging staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders to ensure alignment with the organization’s values, culture, and the needs of the community as Pride looks to the future.

“KishaLynn Elliott is the kind of leader organizations wait for—grounded in community, unapologetically values-driven, and ready to lead San Diego Pride into its next chapter with clarity and courage,” said J. Michael Durnil, PhD, Director of Executive Search at Cooper Coleman LLC. “Her appointment marks both a historic milestone and a powerful affirmation of Pride’s future. At Cooper Coleman, we approach every executive search with care, integrity, and accountability to the communities our clients serve. San Diego Pride entrusted us with a critically important moment in its history, and we are honored to have helped guide that process.”

Martha Henderson, Chair of the San Diego Pride Search Committee, added, "We couldn't have asked for a better partner in this very important search than Michael and Cooper Coleman! They took this search to heart and spent a ton of time just listening to us and our community to find us the perfect person to meet the moment. We are very thankful for the care and initiative Cooper Coleman took to help us move the organization forward."

Elliott begins her role as Executive Director on January 12, 2026.

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About San Diego Pride

San Diego Pride is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities locally, nationally, and globally. Through advocacy, education, and community programs, San Diego Pride works year-round to build a world free from prejudice and bias.

To learn more, visit www.sdpride.org/

About Cooper Coleman LLC

Cooper Coleman LLC is a retained executive search firm serving mission-driven organizations across the nonprofit and social impact sector. The firm partners with arts and cultural institutions, museums, zoos and aquariums, public health, educational and research institutions, associations, and social service organizations nationwide. A member of The Giving Institute and the Network of Nonprofit Search Consultants, Cooper Coleman is ranked by Hunt Scanlon Media among the Top 250 recruiting firms and the Top 65 nonprofit executive search firms in the United States.

Founded by nonprofit leaders and executive search professionals, Cooper Coleman brings decades of firsthand sector experience to every engagement. The firm approaches executive search as stewardship, representing organizations and their missions with care, rigor, and integrity. Cooper Coleman is often selected by boards and senior leaders when the stakes are unusually high, and leadership decisions carry lasting organizational consequence.

For more information about Cooper Coleman LLC, visit www.coopercoleman.com or connect on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/coopercoleman.