Kelly Lecker was named managing editor of The Columbus Dispatch July 2020.

She started with The Dispatch in 2004 as a reporter covering southeastern Ohio. As a reporter, she won several journalism awards for her work covering immigration issues, agriculture and breaking news. And as an editor, she has helped lead a newsroom that has been honored with many state and national awards, including being named best newspaper in Ohio seven years in a row by the Associated Press Media Editors Association.

Lecker has held various editing positions with The Dispatch, including assistant state editor, religion editor, digital news editor, metro editor and assistant managing editor. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Columbus.

Lecker is a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate who started her journalism career in 1994 at The Journal Gazette in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She also worked as a reporter and editor at The Blade in Toledo.

She grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm on Cheese Factory Road and now lives in German Village with her two dogs.