Kelly founded 2 Degree Shift in 2004 and leads firm strategy, client relationships, and product development. She holds an Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership from the University of San Francisco and has authored or co-authored more than $75M in awarded programs and applied research, including $32M in 2024 alone. Her earlier career includes six years as Vice Chancellor at West Hills Community College District, where she simultaneously held the roles of Chief Technology Officer and Chief Instruction Officer, and twenty years as CTE faculty and Title III Director at West Valley College. Kelly also serves as founder and president of Open Source Agriculture and Livable Wage Jobs, two 501(c)(3) organizations working at the intersection of workforce development, technology, and equitable access to livable-wage careers.