Ms. Lawton graduated from Northern Illinois University in 2002 with a Bachelors of Science in Communication Studies. She has lived in Bloomington for 5 years.

She began working at Illinois Wesleyan University in August 2002 in the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. She moved to the Department of Educational Studies in January 2004. Kelly is Convenor of the Child Care Committee and Co-Convenor of Staff Council.