Kelly is a Policy Advisor to the Director and the Assistant Director of the Agricultural Environmental Services Division at the Washington State Department of Agriculture. She has been a policy advisor since 2018 and an Assistant Director since 2024. Her 23 years of government experience also includes serving as a senior natural resource scientist and supervisor at WSDA, a pesticide lead at the Department of Ecology, and a local government Environmental Manager. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a master’s degree in environmental science and policy. Her specific expertise is identifying science-based solutions to policy questions. Her policy areas for WSDA include pesticides, nutrients, riparian science, forest practices, land use and SEPA, Clean Water Act, plan, and cannabis and hemp. The Agricultural Environmental Services Division includes 7 programs and over 100 staff covering pesticides, fertilizers, nutrient management, agricultural sciences, natural resource sciences, and cannabis and hemp.