Kelly has three Masters Degrees in Forensic Psychology, Criminal Sentencing, and Sentence Advocacy, as well as Criminal and Social justice from Arizona State University and Walden University. She has worked in trauma-informed care and non-profit management since 2010, working in programmatic development and management for children and families of at-risk and currently incarcerated students. She is currently completing research on her social and criminal justice dissertation while volunteering for other non-profits in the area. She has a strong interest in world events and advocating for marginalized populations.