Tricia Fulks Kelley is a freelance digital journalist and educator based in central Kentucky.
A 2016 Knight Innovator in Residence and one of the Online News Association’s 2012 MJ Bear fellows, Kelley serves as an assistant professor of Broadcasting and Electronic Media at Eastern Kentucky University where she also advises the student newspaper, The Eastern Progress. Kelley spent a number of years teaching and developing online curriculum for West Virginia University's College of Media.
She has held contracts with the Smithsonian Institution, assisting projects in online presence and storytelling. Her work within the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has allowed her to expand her understanding and writing in various scientific fields, including biodiversity, environmental change, genetics and food security. This knowledge in the food security realm was valuable when she and John Ketchum, of the New York Times, guided students in the research, reporting and development of The Broken Plate. This was a reporting partnership between WVU's College of Media and Morgan State University, taking a glimpse into food justice in West Virginia and Baltimore.
Kelley served as associate producer for The Peabody award-winning, Emmy-nominated interactive documentary, “Hollow.” She previously held positions at PBS Frontline, The Journal (Martinsburg, W.Va.) and The Shepherdstown (W.Va.) Chronicle. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Charleston Gazette-Mail, WV Living Magazine and other online and print publications. She has also worked on a Google Expedition with WVU colleagues.
An award-winning journalist and newspaper editor with honors from the West Virginia Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists, Kelley holds a master’s degree in public affairs and journalism with a focus in interactive journalism from The American University and a bachelor’s degree in news-editorial from West Virginia University.
Kelley resides in Richmond, Ky., with her husband and sons where she continues to pursue personal and professional storytelling projects.