After 15 years leading community partnerships in municipal government and the non-profit sector, Kelly joined the University of Waterloo in May 2013 as Senior Director, Community Relations & Events. In her role, Kelly represents the University on a wide range of community initiatives, including the Region’s Immigration Partnership Council and the City of Waterloo’s Town & Gown Committee. In 2017, Kelly was appointed a Canada 150 Ambassador by the Mayor of the City of Waterloo.
Kelly is the incoming Board chair of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, and has contributed to the boards of THEMUSEUM and the Kitchener Public Library. She has especially enjoyed being a volunteer grant reviewer with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Lyle S. Hallman Foundation.
Kelly earned her Masters degree from the University of Guelph and recently began her PhD at the University of Waterloo. She and her son Ben live in Waterloo and can frequently be found at the Stork YMCA and John M. Harper branch of the Waterloo Public Library.