Maureen Kelly: Executive Director of Government Affairs
By Staff
As Executive Director of Government Affairs at Governors State University (GovState), Maureen Kelly, born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, seems to have politics embedded in her DNA.
Kelly’s mom, a lifelong Bridgeport resident, lived down the street from the original Mayor, Richard J. Daley, and understood that all politics is local. As early as high school, Kelly's mother engaged her daughter in a Chicago aldermanic race.
Decades later, the people skills she honed are paying off. As the legislative liaison for GovState, Kelly spends time on campus actively engaging with the GovState administration, faculty and staff to understand what important issues need to be addressed. She is present in the State Capitol whenever the General Assembly is in session to advocate and monitor issues of concern to our campus community.
“You learn quickly in government and especially as a lobbyist in Springfield, your word is your bond. Honesty and integrity are vitally important qualities one must have in this job," said Kelly.
Her ability to balance these two qualities helps her respectfully tell legislators what they need to hear. “I like to believe this approach has earned me the respect of those I work with.”
“It isn't hard to be nice. Besides delivering what is needed for the University, I hope legislators, their staff and my colleagues can turn to me and know I try to be helpful and easy to work with,” said Kelly.
She attributes her strength to top-notch mentors, amazing support from GovState leadership, and sheer experience from political work to serving at both private and public universities.
After earning her degree from Northern Illinois University (NIU), Kelly took a different route working in corporate sales, before deciding to start a family. Yet the political bug bit once again, and fortunately she was presented with the opportunity to work for Tom Dart, who was a member of the Illinois General Assembly at the time. “His office was close to my home which meant I could bring the kids to work while I helped coordinate his special events,” said the mother of five.
Shortly afterwards, Kelly was offered a position as Advance Director for then Congressman and current long-time senator Dick Durbin in his first senate campaign. Following Durbin’s victory, Kelly was offered a staff position in his Chicago office. A few years later, she met community organizer Barack Obama at a neighborhood event and became active in his congressional campaign.
“He didn't win, but Obama is the kind of person who never forgets the people who helped him at the beginning,” said Kelly. “Years later, he invited my husband and I to a thank you celebration at the White House for people who supported him over the years. It was so amazing to be in a room full of Illinois people that had believed in him years before he became President.”
After eight years with Senator Durbin, Kelly began her career in higher education at Saint Xavier University where she spent eight years in a position created exclusively for her, Government and Community Relations. When she decided to accept a position with GovState in 2011, she thought that being able to help first-generation and lower-income students get the education they deserve was a huge draw. She has since thrived in her position at the University.
“It has been a privilege to be able to help others by going to bat for what truly matters: education, no matter what background you come from in order to level the playing field,” said Kelly.