Itay Balely

Itay Balely (he/him) is the Director of Training, overseeing LGBTQ+ Victory Institute’s political training programs, including its signature Candidate & Campaign Training programs, along with other activation and skills-building trainings to provide resources for candidates interested in (or currently) running for public office. Previously, he was the U.S. Programs Manager leading the Victory Congressional Internship & Fellowship experiences. Prior to joining LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, Itay worked at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, where he trained and organized volunteer leaders and board members to expand the LGBTQ+ political movement through impactful fundraising. He started out his professional career in higher education and student affairs, serving as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns Hopkins University. There, he coordinated internal trainings and processes while managing the campus visit programs and establishing a formal paid-student internship experience. He brings an extensive facilitation background having run workshops and sessions in such programs as Birthright Israel and College Horizons, a college access program for Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students.

Itay is a graduate of the University of Maryland where he earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology and Jewish Studies with a concentration in Public Leadership. In his free time, you can find him hosting trivia at a local Washington, D.C. bar and watching reality game show competitions on television.