Kelly grew up among the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa and has always enjoyed spending time on the water thanks to fond memories of boating with family "up north" on the lakes of Minnesota and Wisconsin. She attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa where she received her B.A. in English literature and secondary education. She taught 7th and 8th grade language arts in nearby Waterloo, Iowa for three years before deciding to take a chance on an AmeriCorps position with Montana State Parks on Flathead Lake, hoping it would lead down a new career path. While serving at the state parks in and around Flathead Lake, she fell in love with the area. As an AmeriCorps member, she eagerly studied the local flora, fauna, and natural history of the area to help create written materials and present programs for park visitors. While learning about resources in the parks, it didn't take long to learn that Flathead Lake is more than just an iconic vacation destination; it's a precious resource for all living things.

       An eleven-month AmeriCorps term felt too short to spend in such a beautiful area and, having discovered joy at the intersection of teaching and the outdoors, she dove into the outdoor education world. She worked at The Glacier Institute, teaching guests and training seasonal educators within Glacier National Park, where she continued to gain knowledge about the Crown of the Continent ecosystem. She's thrilled to return to her home away from home at Flathead Lake as the Bio Station's Education Coordinator. Kelly is excited to learn from the dedicated researchers at the station, pass along their knowledge to local students, encourage the protection of local lakes and rivers, and open doors to potential career opportunities for area youth.

       While not at the Bio Station, Kelly can be found reading literary classics, running, skiing, birding, sharing endless fun facts about Iowa, and eating copious amounts of ice cream.