As a joyful, tenacious, and successful nonprofit leader and fundraising professional, Kelly is a caretaker of stories. Her personal mission is to leave the world better than she found it. Her passion for addressing community and societal issues is centered on justice and ethics.
Kelly leans into curiosity and empathy. She believes that “… education leads to enlightenment. Enlightenment opens the way to empathy. Empathy foreshadows reform,” as Civil Rights Lawyer Derrick Bell noted.
Kelly is a recovering attorney who practices construction litigation and government contracts. Her first career gave her an advocate’s perspective of the world, and she now uses that talent to advocate for others.
Kelly received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, and her Juris Doctor (magna cum laude) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She also holds a nonprofit leadership certificate from Fox Valley Technical College in Appleton, WI. Community service was instilled in her at a young age, and Kelly has spent a lifetime giving her time, talent, and treasure.
Kelly, her husband, and four pets live in the Raleigh area. She is an active member and key volunteer with Women of the Triangle Hiking Club, a voracious reader (Russian Literature being her favorite), and a self-proclaimed wanderer.