Kelly Pfleider

Kelly Pfleider is a nationally recognized training specialist, bystander intervention expert, and the CEO and founder of Pure Praxis, Inc., a women-owned performance education company dedicated to preventing sexual assault, workplace harassment, and other social issues through live theater. Pfleider identified that conventional lecture-based methods often lacked the emotional engagement necessary to drive meaningful change, leading her to leverage storytelling and theater education as tools for social impact.

Pfleider holds a Master of Arts from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Long Beach. Before founding Pure Praxis, she developed expertise in education and public service, serving as a training facilitator and specialist with the U.S. Department of Defense. Her experience in higher education includes roles as professor of communication at California State University, Long Beach, and professor of communications at Golden West College. Earlier in her career, she was assistant director of InterACT at California State University, Long Beach. These positions strengthened her skills in curriculum development, facilitation, and audience engagement, which became foundational to Pure Praxis.

Under Pfleider's leadership, Pure Praxis has drawn on nearly two decades of experience and thousands of hours dedicated to advancing training, performance, and the development of upstander and bystander resiliency workshops. The company uses live, scenario-based theater to help organizations practice essential moments—such as communication, accountability, and support—while addressing challenging topics like sexual assault prevention, workplace culture, suicide, and boundary-setting. This approach, which Pfleider terms "Cultural Rehearsal," enables participants to actively engage with and internalize key concepts.

Pure Praxis has established a strong reputation in both civilian and military sectors. The company was awarded a multi-year contract with the Department of the Navy to implement sexual assault prevention, retaliation awareness, and workplace harassment trainings. Pfleider has led discussions and educational performances at venues including the Pentagon Auditorium. She has also expanded Pure Praxis' reach by providing customized programming to diverse groups, such as students and major league baseball teams. The company has collaborated across multiple countries in the military, corporate, and education sectors, producing numerous shows and reaching thousands of audience members.

Pfleider's work extends into higher education and beyond. Pure Praxis has led comprehensive Title IX in-person and virtual training initiatives for Cal Poly Pomona, educating faculty, staff, and students on responses to sexual assault, workplace harassment, and implicit bias. The company offers programs addressing campus sexual assault, Title IX compliance, anti-harassment solutions, suicide prevention strategies, and DEI best practices. Through a combination of academic rigor, theatrical methods, and advocacy for social change, Pfleider contributes to building safer and more empathetic communities.