Kelly was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she graduated from Bishop Foley High School in 2011. She attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan where she double majored in zoology and art/design. She received a double Bachelor's Degree from NMU in 2016. From 2015-2017 Kelly interned at multiple zoos, including Topeka Zoo in Topeka, KS, the Detroit Zoo in Detroit, MI, and the Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, MI.  After many harsh winters spent up north Kelly was enticed by the appeal of a snow-less winter and took a keeper position at the Fort Worth Zoo in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2022 she moved farther south when she joined the staff of the Ellen Trout Zoo as one of the primary keepers in Mammals South. While the main animals she cares for are the tapirs, she is also responsible for the eagles, waterfowl pool, wallabies, emus, sereimas, and bay duikers.