Connie Kelly has been interested in technology her entire life, earning her ham radio license as a preteen and pursuing STEM programs that led to an engineering scholarship. She became an IEEE Member as an EE student at Illinois Tech and later chaired the Chicago chapter of Engineering in Medicine and Biology. She served as Section Chair and continued on the Executive Committee as Education Chair and delegate to the Region Education Committee. Connie has contributed to multiple IEEE committees, developed training programs, reviewed grants, and presented at numerous conferences.

In 2023, Connie led IEEE’s first presence at EAA AirVenture, reaching a new technical audience. As Region 4 Director, she created committees to foster collaboration among academia, industry, and standards groups, and launched a Public Affairs Committee. A LtCol in the Air Force Auxiliary, she has served in aerospace education and communications. Professionally, she is a Biomedical Engineer whose work spans healthcare, transportation systems, and entertainment graphics. She also supports Oakton College’s IEEE Student Branch.