First Lady Dr. Bridget Turner Kelly

Dr. Kelly is Associate Professor of Student Affairs in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, and wife of University of Portland President Robert D. Kelly, PhD – making her the inaugural First Lady in the institution’s 122-year history. Her research interests are examining university campus cultures for racial, gender, and educational equity.

Her scholarship focuses on documenting the journeys of women and People of Color in historically White research institutions, preparing socially just educators, and understanding how power is negotiated in qualitative research. She has authored over 40 publications, including, two articles that have been cited in AMICUS briefs for U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Dr. Kelly is an award-winning teacher of intergroup dialogue and presents nationally on the topic. She is the Executive Editor for the Journal of Student Affairs, Research and Practice. Dr. Kelly is co-editor of Building Mentorship Networks to Support Black Women: A Guide to Succeeding in the Academy (2022, Routledge) and Black Women Navigating the Doctoral Journey: Student Peer Support, Mentorship and Success in the Academy (2023, Routledge).