Kelly first witnessed educational inequity while attending a large and diverse public high school. Since college, he has been devoted to helping America's most talented but under-supported students attain the opportunities they deserve. He was drawn to Hamilton Scholars due to the fact that it is more than just a scholarship organization; a career educator, Kelly knows how important it is to mentor students during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Kelly Herrington is a graduate of Union College (NY), where he worked as an Associate Dean of Admissions and Director or International Admissions for seven years. For the past 15 years, he has served as the Director of College Counseling at University Prep in Seattle, WA. Kelly received his master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Kelly's articles on college admissions have appeared in the Washington Post, the National Association for College Admissions Counseling Journal and most prominently in his grandmother's scrapbook. He helped create Camp College, an early intervention and access program for students of color. He has served on National Association for College Admissions Counseling's (NACAC) Human Relations Committee. He was the recipient of NACAC's rising star award in 2003 and the John Muir Editor's Award in 2005. 
 
In his spare time Kelly enjoys running, biking, triathlons and hiking. In 1998, Kelly biked across the country with his father in a charity ride for the American Lung Association. An avid reader, a good book and a large Coca Cola make him very happy.