Dawn is a fifth-generation, lifelong Hendersonian who believes the Community Foundation of Henderson is a powerful vehicle to ensure the city’s future shines even brighter than its past.

She currently serves as the City Attorney for Henderson and previously practiced law privately in Henderson beginning in 1993. Dawn earned her Juris Doctor from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri, where she received the Jack Gardner Humanitarian Award and was inducted into the Order of the Barrister. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. Licensed to practice law in Kentucky, Indiana, and before the Supreme Court of the United States, Dawn is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Municipal Attorneys Association, and Henderson Bar Association, where she is a past president.

Her community leadership has been recognized with honors, including the 2025 Henderson Hometown Hero Award, the United Way of Henderson County’s Gordon B. Tittle Award (2013), and the Henderson Community College Board of Directors Service Award (2019). Dawn is Vice President of the Henderson Leadership Initiative and a past president of the Henderson Rotary Club, where she was named 2019 Rotarian of the Year. She also serves on the St. Anthony’s Hospice Board of Directors.

Her past service includes leadership roles with the College Foundation, United Way of Henderson County, YMCA of Henderson County, American Red Cross Cardinal Chapter, Henderson County Education Coalition, Henderson County High School, South Middle School and Jefferson Elementary School Site-Based Decision-Making Councils, Riverview School Board of Directors, Volunteer & Information Center Board, and Northwest Kentucky Forward Rally 4 Education. She is a graduate of the Henderson Leadership Initiative (Class of 2009).

Dawn is married to John Kelsey and is the proud mother of an adult daughter, Kate. Together, they are active members of First United Methodist Church.