“Kelz brings a rare combination of lived experience, academic rigor, and deep empathy to their work…They navigate life with a strength and authenticity that are truly inspiring.”

Kelz Cousins’s career has spanned nearly two decades at the intersections of social work, public health, education, and art. Since earning their bachelor’s in social work in 2008, Kelz has served as a licensed social worker, certified teacher, health coach, and HIV counselor. They have worked both domestically and internationally — including five years in Nairobi, Kenya, where they taught, engaged in community development, and pursued a Master of Divinity. They have facilitated transformative learning experiences and trainings nationwide, presenting at Johns Hopkins, the City of Detroit Health Department, the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS, and other forums.

A queer, nonbinary, polyamorous, disabled single parent, Kelz draws from lived experience to inform their professional mission: creating affirming, healing mental health care for marginalized and stigmatized communities, particularly queer, polyamorous, and kinky individuals and relationship structures. Kelz is also a reemerging mixed-media artist whose creative practice is rooted in advocacy and healing. They design art experiences that foster identity exploration, group connection, and liberation, weaving creativity into their vision for inclusive, culturally responsive therapy.

Kelz recently returned to school to pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan, and looks forward to attaining advanced clinical training. Upon graduation, they plan to become a certified sex therapist, expand their educational and advocacy work, and integrate art-based healing into their clinical practice. Balancing graduate studies, multiple jobs, and caregiving for their eight-year-old daughter, Kelz exemplifies persistence, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to social justice. As a mentor writes, “Kelz brings a rare combination of lived experience, academic rigor, and deep empathy to their work. … They navigate life with a strength and authenticity that are truly inspiring.”

CEW+ honors Kelz’s commitment to authentic living and names them the Collegiate Sorosis Scholar.