S1/E6: How to Network During a COVID-19 Pandemic - Kellie Adesina

Kellie Adesina serves as Director of Government Affairs at Bayer where she is responsible for crop science issues like gene editing, biotech regulation and approvals, biostimulants, oilseeds, vegetables, and food security. Prior to joining Bayer, she served as Chief Counsel on the House Agriculture Committee for Chairman Collin C. Peterson. In this capacity, she successfully drafted several provisions that were included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. She also provided strategic and legal counsel to the Chairman and other Democratic Members of the Committee.

Before joining the House Agriculture Committee, Kellie was Senior Counselor in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). In this role, she served as the chief of staff to the General Counsel and provided legal advice and services regarding the broad range of activities at USDA.

Prior to USDA, Kellie was Legislative Director to Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge of Ohio where she developed and implemented the Congresswoman’s legislative agenda, as well as managed the legislative staff. She also guided the Congresswoman through the 2014 Farm Bill Conference Committee negotiations. Additionally, Kellie has worked for Congresswoman Judy Chu of California as Legislative Counsel and in various roles for Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, her home state.

Kellie holds a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Bethune-Cookman College. In her spare time she serves as a mentor and volunteers through her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc