Kelly joined the steering committee and transitioned to the board that guided the Arizona Wilderness Coalition, not long after cofounding Grand Canyon Wildlands Council with Larry Stevens and Kim Crumbo. In 2019, she was honored (and stoked!) to lead Wild Arizona forward, as the new home of the two long-time partner conservation organizations. In 2025, Wild Arizona moved to shared leadership and she now serves as Co-Executive Director with focus on conservation strategy and communications.

Her background is in structural geology, hydrology and aqueous geochemistry, fluvial geomorphology, geoarcheology, and springs and riparian restoration, which she combines with extensive experience in coordinating field projects and conservation campaigns, building partnerships, community engagement, nonprofit leadership, and fundraising.

Kelly loves people, water, and wild nature with a common concern for their health, free movement, and full lives. Kelly also shares our business manager Katrina Pappas’ passion for riding performance horses and for all equine and canine friends who teach us to be better humans, while bringing us closer to the wild world within them.