Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Kelly grew interested in the role of landscape in ecological management practices while working in horticulture and small-scale agriculture.

Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Cornell University, where she was gripped by the ecological networks and design implications of industrial dairy operations in upstate agricultural communities. Kelly was awarded the Rapuano Memorial Award for Distinction in Design and the ASLA Student Merit Award. Kelly joined MVVA in 2021.