Kelly has been interested in a career in political science and public service for several years.  As an undergraduate at the University of Delaware, she concentrated on attaining a strong background in international relations.  At that time, she was interested in international environmental policy and, in particular, studying the policies of various countries on global warming.  However, Kelly’s career path after graduation exposed her for the first time to the creation of environmental policy on national and local levels.  In her work at an environmental nonprofit organization, and later as a legislative correspondent in a congressional office, she has worked closely with the people who construct and influence national and local policy.  From this experience, environmental policy became less of abstract idea to her, and she began to see it as many smaller tangible problems with no easy solutions. 

In order to advance her understanding of environmental and public policy, Kelly will be working towards her master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Energy, the Environment, and Equity.  In her research assistantship for the IPA’s Water Resources Agency, Kelly will have the opportunity to work closely with prominent Delaware watershed analysts and complete research on the implications of past and present watershed qualities. 

BA, University of Delaware 2005, International Relations

September 2007 – present
Research Assistant, Institute for Public Administration, Unviersity of Delaware, Newark, Del.

January – July 2007
Legislative Correspondent, Office of Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.), Washington, D.C.

September – December 2006
Intern, Office of Congressman Mike Castle (R-Del.), Washington, D.C.

August 2005 – August 2006
Legislative Intern, National Wildlife Federation, Washington, D.C.

Monarch, Congress Plus, Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook), Basic French

Dean’s List – University of Delaware 2001–2005
University of Delaware Scholar’s Award

Attendee, American Water Resource Association Mid-Atlantic Conference, Newark, Del., 2007