Kelly Smith Marion works to connect alumni and friends of the University of Mississippi School of Education to investment opportunities to directly support our current teacher candidates, school administrators, higher education leaders, counselors, and faculty & staff.
Biography
Kelly Smith Marion serves as Director of Development for the UM School of Education. An Ohio native, she holds a B.S.B.A. in Management from Elon University and a M.S.Ed. in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UM and studies the field of higher education philanthropy. Prior to her role at the School of Education, Kelly coordinated student philanthropy and engagement programs at Duke University. Her passion for higher education extends into her volunteer work with her alma maters, including service on Elon University's Young Alumni Council, reunion committees, and a member of the Women of Elon Advisory Board. She is the 2020 recipient of the Graduate Achievement Award in Higher Education and the 2021 recipient of the SOE Exemplary Service Award. Kelly and her husband, Andrew, reside in Madison, MS with their young twin children, Paul and Martha, and their dog McKinley.