Innivee Strategies is honored to continue partnering with the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) as the search for NAD’s next Chief Executive Officer moves into its finalist stage.
Following a comprehensive national search process, the NAD Search Committee has identified two finalists for community consideration: Michelle Cline and Nicholas Kiego. The NAD Board of Directors will make the final selection after completing the finalist evaluation process and reviewing community input.
Meet the Finalists
Michelle Cline
Michelle Cline is a Massachusetts-based leader committed to advancing equity, access, and opportunity for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing communities. With a background in social work and systems-level advocacy, her work focuses on addressing barriers in education, healthcare, and public systems, especially those related to language access, mental health, and the effects of language deprivation.
Michelle brings experience in government and community-based leadership, where she has worked to strengthen services, elevate community voice, and build more accountable systems. She is known for her collaborative approach and her ability to connect policy with lived experience in ways that are both practical and community-informed.
Nicholas Kiego
Nicholas Kiego, based in Washington, DC, currently serves as Interim Executive Director of Enrollment at Gallaudet University. He previously served as Executive Director of Institutional Advancement, where he led fundraising efforts and strengthened alumni engagement and connection to the university.
Nick brings strengths in organizational leadership, community engagement, and resource development. His experience reflects a commitment to building strong institutions and advancing meaningful impact through strategic leadership and partnership.
Join the Virtual CEO Finalist Town Hall
As part of NAD’s commitment to community input and nationwide engagement, community members are invited to attend a virtual town hall featuring the CEO finalists.
During the session, each finalist will introduce themselves, share their leadership vision, and respond to the same questions selected from the community.
- Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM Eastern
- Format: Virtual via Zoom
- Registration required: Advance registration is required to attend. A Zoom link will be provided after registration. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rCQwvbgtRzmxdscNbbml4g#/registration
Submit Questions in Advance
Community members are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the town hall. Questions will be screened and selected by the committee, and not all submitted questions will be included in the session.
Deadline to submit questions: Monday, April 13 at 12:00 PM Eastern.
Submit questions and find details: https://forms.gle/cXc7Xsu3KtqF8SxC6
How Community Feedback Will Be Used
Input gathered during and after the town hall will be collected and shared with the NAD Board of Directors for consideration. This feedback should reflect the NAD Leader Profile and the leadership qualities identified as priorities for this role.
The town hall is one important part of a broader evaluation process. The NAD Board of Directors will also meet with the finalists in person before the virtual forum and will make its final decision after reviewing all available information and community feedback.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the search committee and to every community member who has participated throughout this process. NAD’s strength has always been rooted in community, and this search continues to reflect that commitment.
For questions, please contact Melissa Yingst at [email protected].
