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. There she was hosted by the Fondazione Comunità Domenico Tardini in Rome, and made many Italian friends and benefitted from a real immersion experience.
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 led study abroad programs to Lecce (Puglia) and Salerno (Campania). Together with Sergio Simon, 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! Italia in Ohio, LLC has evolved into today’s Italian Dream Academy, and Kelly currently teaches AP Italian at Bishop Watterson High School.