In addition to his faculty role, he is also the developer and coordinator of the NCC East 40 Community Garden, co-chair of the NCC Sustainability Committee, and the 2014-2015 chair of the NCC National Endowment for the Humanities (program title: Agriculture and the American Identity). The line that divides his personal and professional interests is often blurred. He has a deep commitment to social, agricultural, and environmental justice, all of which he tries to address in the classroom and in his day-to-day life. Kelly has been married to his best friend, Meg, for seven years and they share their lives with their son Jude and daughter Wren.