Kelly began studying Italian at Bishop Watterson High School. She continued her studies at the University of Dayton, and through UD was able to spend a year in Rome to study at La Sapienza.
Back in the US, Kelly completed her master’s degree in Italian at The Ohio State University, taught as an Italian Instructor at the University of Mississippi, and she was awarded the Midwest Award for Leadership in the Teaching of Italian Language and Culture by the Italian Consulate in Chicago. Together with Sergio Simon, in 2012, she founded Italia in Ohio, LLC, which came about as a result of the desire to make Italian language and authentic culture and more accessible to Italophiles and Italian-Americans alike!
Kelly currently works as Program Manager at Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, where she creates and oversees impactful programming to celebrate our international relationships and strengthen our community.