Kelly Lynch Earns Prestigious Award from the American Association of University Administrators

Listen

Babson College Executive Vice President Kelly Lynch has been named the recipient of the prestigious McInness/Ryan Award for Mid-Career Higher Education Leadership by the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA). 

The national honor recognizes Lynch’s contributions to higher education leadership, strategic innovation, and principled management. 

Kelly Lynch smiles while posing for a portrait
Babson Executive Vice President Kelly Lynch is leading the College’s lifelong learning strategy. (Photo: Nic Czarnecki/Babson College)

“Kelly Lynch exemplifies the spirit of the McInness/Ryan Award,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD, who nominated her for the honor. “She has consistently demonstrated professional achievement beyond the norm and a deep commitment to ethical and principled leadership. Her vision and capability have helped Babson navigate disruption, implement strategy, and prepare for the future.” 

As executive vice president, Lynch oversees College-wide strategy and operations. She currently is leading the College’s lifelong learning strategy, including the development of a world-class executive lodge and conference center and the launch of Babson On-Demand™, the College’s first online learning platform

Over her 14-year tenure at Babson, Lynch has held six progressively senior roles, each marked by transformative impact. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping Babson’s strategic direction, particularly through three pivotal phases: the development of the College’s strategic plan, its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the advancement of the Greatness Agenda—a bold initiative that earned the 2024 AGB John W. Nason Award for Board Leadership

The McInness/Ryan Award will be presented Oct. 21 during the AAUA National Conference at Montclair State University in New Jersey. The award is bestowed annually to an individual with five to 15 years of higher education administrative service who has demonstrated both professional accomplishment significantly beyond the norm and a personal commitment to ethical and principled leadership practice.

Posted in Babson Briefs

More from Babson Briefs »

Latest Stories

An overview of the fair with students in a blur as the move around
Unscripted Moment: Club Fair Blur In our occasional photo series, staff photographer Nic Czarnecki shares a unique, long-exposure image to illustrate the movement of students at the Club Fair.
By
September 24, 2025

Posted in Community

Two students cheer with pompoms during move-in day
No. 1 Again: Babson Tops Entrepreneurship Ranking for 29th Consecutive Time For the 29th consecutive time, U.S. News & World Report has named Babson College the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship.
By
September 23, 2025

Posted in Community

A pile of baby clothes, piggy bank, pacifier and a feeding bottle. Parenting expenses concept. Working out a baby budget. Saving money when planning for a newborn. Budgeting for a new baby.
$1,000 for Every Newborn? Babson Finance Professor Explains Policy’s Opportunities and Limits The new federal initiative is designed to encourage saving for children’s future. Babson Professor Ryan Davies offers four insights into what it really means for families.
By
Hillary Chabot
Writer
Hillary Chabot
Hillary Chabot is a writer for Babson Thought & Action and Babson Magazine. An award-winning journalist, she is known for her insightful reporting and dedication to detailed storytelling. With a career spanning over two decades, she has covered a wide range of topics, from presidential campaigns and government policy to neighborhood issues and investigative series. As a reporter for The Boston Herald, Hillary earned a reputation for tenacity and integrity. Her work at Babson College fuels her passions—to learn something new every day and conduct thoughtful, empathic interviews. She’s thrilled to be at Babson College, where students, faculty, staff members and classes provide compelling copy daily.
September 22, 2025

Posted in Insights