Dr. Kristene Kelly enters her third year as the Director of Athletics at Albany State University, a role she began in July 2023. Originally from St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Dr. Kelly brings over 20 years of progressive experience in collegiate athletics across all three NCAA divisions.
Before joining Albany State, she served as the Deputy Athletic Director for Internal Affairs/Senior Woman Administrator at Vanderbilt University, a Power 4 institution in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In that role, she led various internal areas including sports performance (applied sports science, strength & conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, and mental health), academics, compliance, human resources, and campus recreation.
Her prior leadership roles include:
- Dartmouth College – Executive Associate AD/SWA
- Keene State College – Director of Athletics and Recreation
- Saint Augustine’s University – Associate AD/SWA, Department Chair, and Assistant Professor
- Johnson C. Smith University – Sports Information Director
Throughout her career, she has been recognized for excellence, including:
- CIAA Senior Woman Administrator of the Year (2011, 2013)
- CIAA John Holley Sports Information Director of the Year (2005)
She also led Keene State to six NCAA postseason appearances and oversaw 200+ Little East Conference All-Academic honorees.
At Albany State, Dr. Kelly has quickly made a transformative impact. In her first two years, the Golden Rams have:
- Captured three SIAC Championships (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country (2024) and Baseball (2025)
- Achieved a department-wide GPA of 3.12, one of the highest in recent history
- Graduated 130+ student-athletes, including several who earned master’s degrees
- Improved 65 spots in the Learfield Director’s Cup standings
- Secured over $2 million in external funding, resulting in major facility upgrades across multiple sports
- Increased social media engagement and digital storytelling
- Launched three fueling stations to support student-athlete wellness
- Supported two teams traveling via airline, including one international trip
- Prioritized staff development, investing in the professional growth of coaches and administrators
- Maintained a top-three SIAC finish in the majority of varsity programs
In September 2024, Dr. Kelly was inducted into the Johnson C. Smith University Athletics Hall of Fame, honoring her enduring contributions to the profession.
Dr. Kelly holds two bachelor's degrees from Johnson C. Smith University (Physical Education and Communication Arts), a master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and a doctorate in Sport Management from the United States Sports Academy.
She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Dr. Kelly and her husband, Jonathan Kelly Sr., are the proud parents of Jonathan Jr., who recently graduated from Albany State University.
With expertise in NCAA compliance, Title IX, budgeting, athletic fundraising, and student-athlete success, Dr. Kelly continues to lead Albany State with a student-centered approach and a bold vision for creating legacies.
