Chelsey is the Chief of Staff for Advancement for University of Oregon Advancement, where she leads a team specializing in recruitment, career planning, professional development and training, organizational development, and employee relations. She has coached, advised, and trained many development professionals from interns to deans to vice presidents. Prior to her time at the University of Oregon Chelsey established the program TalentED at Bentz Whaley Flessner (BWF), a leading development consulting firm.

While at BWF, Chelsey worked with clients in the areas of talent management and strategic planning and developed intensive sessions focusing on building the capacity, skills and knowledge of deans, academic officers, boards and advisory committees, as well as frontline fundraisers. Chelsey is a leader in research and discourse on the topic of talent management in development and has been featured in several publications, including CASE Currents and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy.