Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Marywood University, Scranton, where she also completed their Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics. She received a master’s degree in Nutrition Science from Northern Illinois University and has enjoyed various roles as a registered dietitian over the past 3 decades working in New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois. 

Kelly’s experience spans from an early concentration in clinical dietetics, with a specialty in nutrition support, which shifted to community dietetics in the past 15 years.  Prior to joining the Dietetics team at Cornell, she oversaw the nutrition program for Tompkins County's Meals on Wheels (Foodnet) for nearly 5 years.

Kelly has served on the boards of local district dietetics organizations in New York's Southern Tier and Western Chicago suburbs. and is currently  a regional co-coordinator for New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  Additionally, she has served as a board member for the Ithaca Swim Club and is currently serves on the Youth Ministry and Staff Parish Relations Committees for Lansing United Methodist Church. 

At Cornell, Kelly is a member of the 2024-5 Faculty Fellows Engaged Learning cohort at the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement .  She received a Engaged Learning Grant from Cornell Human Ecology in 2022. She enjoys bringing community engaged learning to life in NS 4250: Nutrition Counseling and Communications, as well as with the dietetic interns enrolled in NS 6250: Community Nutrition in Action.