Dr. Ann E. Kelley was a pioneering behavioral neuroscientist. The Ann E. Kelley Memorial Scholarship celebrates the inspiring life that she led and empowers the next generation of female leaders.
An extraordinary woman
Dr. Ann E. Kelley, C'76, was a woman who accomplished more - both professionally and personally - in a year than most people can hope to accomplish in an entire lifetime. She led an extraordinary life and, even 10 years after her death, is still inspiring others through her trailblazing accomplishments and her commitment to opening doors for others and acting as a dedicated mentor. Her spirit lives on through the Ann E. Kelley Memorial Scholarship at Penn.
Ann began her eminent career as a Penn undergraduate student, where she helped to found the Biological Basis of Behavior major and was its first graduate. She received awards for her outstanding academic and athletic achievements at Penn, as well as a 1976 Alumni Award of Merit for her outstanding service to the University. Ann was also elected as a Young Alumni Trustee.
After Penn, Ann continued to excel at all that she did, and led a career in which she made groundbreaking contributions to her field. Her academic and professional accomplishments are nearly endless. Ann earned a PhD in Experimental Psychology at Cambridge University in England. After research and teaching positions at the University of Bordeaux, Harvard, and Northeastern University, she joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Ann was a pioneer in reward neuroscience. Her research focused on the brain mechanisms involved in drug addiction and obesity. She has many notable discoveries demonstrating brain circuitry roles in eating behavior and in food reward, and additional interactions of motivation circuits with learning functions. Ann's accomplishments inspired other researchers to follow in her footsteps. She was the editor of several professional journals and authored over 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and managed federal research grants for more than 20 years. She was invited to participate in a Nobel Symposia at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden in 2005 as an expert in her field. Her work received wide attention in the media, including the BBC and CBS Evening News. An issue of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews was dedicated in honor of Ann: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/neuroscience-and-biobehavioral-reviews/vol/37/issue/9/part/PA
Coupled her with professional achievements are Ann's selfless acts as a mentor and for the ground she broke for future generations of female scientists to excel in the field. She dedicated countless hours to her students, never holding back in sharing her time and wisdom with them. Because of Ann's work, many women have been able to pursue their passion for work in the STEM field.
Ann was only 53 when she tragically passed away from metastatic colon cancer in 2007. She is survived by her three children, her partner, and her large and loving family.
Ann's passion for life matched her passion for neuroscience. She was a natural athlete who won national awards for field hockey, rowing, and lacrosse. During her lifetime she made connections with countess individuals and her warm friendship, spirit, infectious laugh, and open nature are missed deeply by her family and friends.
