Since September 2016, Rut (pronounced “root”) Kessel has been supporting volunteers at NMDP (formerly Be The Match), a nonprofit organization that connects patients with donors for life-saving cell therapy. Her main focus since August 2018 has been the staff and volunteer couriers, and she currently manages a team of close to 700 couriers who carry stem cells/bone marrow throughout the world from donor to patient – over 4,500 times in FY24!
Volunteer Management has been Kessel’s passion and career since graduating from the University of Minnesota with a BA in International Relations. She has worked in non-profits focused on disaster and medical relief, animal rescue and child advocacy before coming to NMDP. Ask her about the benefits of getting your CVA as a Volunteer Manager! Kessel has been on the CCVA (https://cvacert.org) Board since 2024 and is proud to be a part of its mission to advance excellence in Volunteer Administration by delivering professional certification and advocating for ethical practice.
Originally from Germany, Kessel has travelled and lived throughout Africa and the United States and now lives in beautiful Osceola, WI with her husband “Santa” Joel. She loves gardening, trail riding with their side-by-side and dog sitting/fostering!
