Biography
William G. Kelly
William G. Kelly took the helm as the Sixth President of Christopher Newport University on July 1, 2023.
A nationally respected educator and military leader, Bill Kelly is a lifelong public servant with nearly four decades of distinguished service in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was appointed President by Christopher Newport’s Board of Visitors on February 2, 2023, after a yearlong rigorous and inclusive nationwide search. The Board was unanimous in its decision, noting his life of public service and commitment to leadership, moral character, and honor that mirrors the values at the heart of Christopher Newport.
President Kelly has set the University on a course to be anchored in excellence in all that it does. He instituted the Strategic Compass, a communitywide planning process to establish the University’s goals. President Kelly led the restructuring of the University’s Title IX Office, launched Going Greener ‘24 to spur environmental initiatives, signed articulation agreements with several community colleges, and guided admissions strategies that resulted in increases in applications as well as the enrollment of students of color and those who are the first in their family to attend college.
President Kelly joined Phillip Jones, the mayor of Newport News, in establishing a task force to examine the decisions that resulted in the growth of Christopher Newport that uprooted a longstanding African American neighborhood. President Kelly was also named by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to serve on the Preserving Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program Task Force.
Prior to his appointment as President, Rear Admiral (retired) Kelly was the 42nd Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. As Superintendent (President) of one of the nation’s five federal service academies, he was responsible for the education, training, and development of the future leaders of the U.S. Coast Guard. He oversaw every aspect of academic, athletic (NCAA Div. III), military, and civic development, ensuring graduates were prepared to serve as officers in service to their nation. Under his tenure and leadership, the student body became the most diverse in the Academy’s history.
Before assuming his role at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he was the Assistant Commandant for Human Resources in Washington, D.C., where he championed for the 55,000 women and men of the Coast Guard’s civilian and military forces, advocating for the finest care, service, and support for the workforce. In this role, he was responsible for all human resource activities from the initial recruitment and accession of new civilian and military members through the many phases of a member’s career, including the care and oversight of pay and benefits for all retired Coast Guard military members.
Throughout his career, President Kelly has been an advocate for inclusive leadership. He spearheaded the Coast Guard’s diversity and inclusion strategic planning efforts, and implemented the first joint Affinity Group Council to provide a venue and a voice for the numerous affinity groups across the Coast Guard. He focused on enacting significant policy changes that advanced the goals of diversity and inclusion within the Coast Guard’s College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative and he led the Coast Guard’s first study in more than 25 years of women’s retention issues.
President Kelly has served on the NCAA Minority Opportunities and Interests Committee, as Chair of the Coast Guard Academy Board of Trustees, President of the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Board, President of the Coast Guard Non-Pay Compensation Board, Director of the Leadership Development Center, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Recruit Training, and Acting Director of the Loy Institute for Leadership.
A cutterman with more than 10 years of service at sea, he served as commanding officer in CGC SENECA and CGC MON-O-MOY. As Executive Officer on CGC SPENCER, he prepared and successfully led the crew for deployment with the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, his command stood watch protecting the ports of New York and Boston in the days following the attacks of September 11th.
His military awards include the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (4), the Coast Guard Commendation Medal (6), the Coast Guard Achievement Medal and the permanent Cutterman’s Pin.
He is a 1987 graduate of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and earned his master’s degree in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University, along with a Certificate in Human Resource Management. He was awarded the Federal Government Distance Learning Association Diamond Award for his academic leadership in distance learning and has served as an adjunct professor at Florida State University.
A Yonkers, New York, native and lifelong athlete, Bill played baseball for the Coast Guard Academy and remains an avid golfer and runner who has completed several marathons and sprint triathlons. Bill met his wife, Angie, during his junior year at the Coast Guard Academy, and they “have been a team ever since.”
Married for 36 years, they are the proud parents of two sons, Patrick and Tyler, and the adoring grandparents to their young grandson, Liam Kelly, and their granddaughter, Amelia. The family has moved 15 times during their Coast Guard journey, including three years in Newport News and six years in Northern Virginia. Like her husband, Angie has spent decades devoted to public service, volunteering widely in support of service members and their families. Angie has also served as an Arlington Lady, representing the Service at military funerals in Arlington National Cemetery.
As President and First Lady, Bill and Angie attend and participate in numerous events on campus, rarely missing a performance or a home game. President Kelly initiated the popular “Wednesday Walks with the President” and can be seen leading dozens of students and employees on dawn strolls around the campus. The Kellys are enthusiastically “All In” for Christopher Newport students and are committed to providing them with support and guidance during their journey to becoming great citizens who lead lives of significance.
Angie Kelly
Angie Kelly’s caring heart is reflected in her professional career and her devotion to service and volunteering. She has been married to President William G. Kelly for 36 years and has spent just as many years supporting U.S. Coast Guard service members and their families. She now proudly serves at the First Lady of Christopher Newport University.
Early in her professional career, Mrs. Kelly worked in the travel and tourism industry. She then taught preschool for 10 years. She also served as an Arlington Lady at Arlington National Cemetery, where she honored, supported and embraced Coast Guard families as they grieved the loss of a loved one.
Students at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy recognized Mrs. Kelly with “The Spirit of the Bear” award, which honors an individual who goes above and beyond to support the women and men of the Academy.
As First Lady of Christopher Newport, Mrs. Kelly contributes to the University’s culture of caring. She is especially focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of students.
In their free time, the Kellys enjoy sports, music, art and theater. Almost every day, they can be found enthusiastically cheering on the countless Captains who give their all on the stage, court, classroom and field.
She is the proud mother of two fine young men, Patrick and Tyler, and has two wonderful daughters-in-law, Ellen and Alyssa. Her pride and joy are grandson Liam, granddaughter Amelia, and grandpuppy Lola. Mrs. Kelly is originally from Colchester, Vermont. She earned her degree from Bay Path College in Longmeadow, Mass.