James E. Armstrong Award - 2025: Shannon Kelly '11
Shannon Kelly '11
Shannon Kelly ’11 is the director of athletics admissions in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Notre Dame. During her time as an undergraduate, she played varsity softball and earned a bachelor's degree in history with a minor in international peace studies.
Kelly began her career in Notre Dame's admissions office in the fall of 2011, where she spent four and a half years recruiting, reading applications, managing tour guides, and serving as liaison to the University's ROTC programs.
She left Notre Dame to earn a master's degree in education from the University of Virginia and interned in the Office of the Dean of Students. At UVA, she co-developed Hoos First, a student success initiative for first-generation college students.
Kelly returned to Notre Dame's admissions office in the summer of 2017. Over the years, she has recruited students from New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Canada, and Africa. She also reviewed thousands of applications and managed the selection of students for the Glynn Family Honors Program.
In the summer of 2024, she became director of athletics admissions, managing the evaluation and recruitment processes for Notre Dame's 26 varsity athletic teams. She works with coaches, academic advisers, compliance officials, college deans, undergraduate advising, and the Office of Financial Aid.
Kelly previously advised the Love Your Melon and Pinky Swear student groups, which support pediatric cancer awareness. She also taught the Moreau First Year Experience course with Kasey O'Connor ’12, a former softball teammate. She also mentors UVA graduate students.
Kelly is the parent of an 8-year-old daughter, Layla, whom she adopted and “is the greatest kid I ever met.”
“Receiving the James E. Armstrong Award has been one of the most humbling and meaningful moments of my Notre Dame career. I am filled with both gratitude and a sense of responsibility to continue to work hard, grow, and lead with compassion and integrity.”