Nina Kelly Ph.D., AICP

Dr. Nina Kelly (she/her) is a non-traditional communication scholar. Prior to pursuing her doctoral studies, she spent over 15 years as a practicing urban and regional planner in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and in the private sector as a consultant. In these roles, Dr. Kelly managed diverse teams, sub-consultants and contractors, department budgets, and millions of dollars of grant funding in service of a variety of planning and development projects and initiatives. Her specialization was community engagement, which ultimately led her to the field of communication. Immediately prior to joining Central Connecticut State University, Dr. Kelly served as a postdoctoral research fellow with the Center for Community-Engaged Media at Temple University in Philadelphia. She is originally (and proudly) from Michigan.

Dr. Kelly primarily teaches organizational communication and related courses. As a researcher, she explores the practices, policies and messages of public institutions and media organizations, and their effects on learning and democratic participation in local communities. She has published several journal articles and a chapter in a recent book on facilitative leadership.

Outside of work, Dr. Kelly is usually figuring out some way to get involved in her local community. She is passionate about libraries, parks and natural spaces, and public transit, and she enjoys listening to podcasts and audiobooks on long walks around her neighborhood.