Board Member James J. Kelly, Ph.D., brings to the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education the perspective of a higher education leader and social work professional with a deep commitment to equity in public education.

Dr. Kelly has lived in Laguna Beach with his husband for nearly four decades and has served on the Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education since 2018.

As a young student, Dr. Kelly experienced academic challenges with reading and information processing in a school system that was not designed to support students who learn differently. He struggled to read in full sentences, had difficulty with tasks like tying his shoes, and sports were not a strength either. He was placed in reading group three, which at the time was used for students who struggled to read and were labeled as “mentally slow.” These early experiences left him feeling isolated and discouraged. They also shaped his understanding of how school structures and expectations can impact a child’s sense of belonging and potential.

These early school experiences influenced Dr. Kelly’s lifelong commitment to inclusive, whole-child public education. They inform his belief that schools must be places where students feel safe, supported, and understood, and where systems are designed to meet students where they are and help them succeed.

As a Board member, Dr. Kelly has focused on strengthening the systems that support students academically, socially, and emotionally. His areas of focus include advocating for resources that enhance student support services, strengthen access to instructional and library programs, improve communication, and expand supports that promote student wellness and safety. In this role, he has also supported major facility investments, including the modernization of the Laguna Beach High School pool, improvements to the Thurston Middle School athletic field, theater renovations at Laguna Beach High School, and classroom renovations and expansions to support transitional kindergarten and preschool.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kelly has held senior leadership roles in higher education, including serving as President of Menlo College, where he oversaw institutional accreditation, mission implementation, and program expansion. Prior to joining Menlo College, he served as Interim Provost of California State University, East Bay, and concurrently as Associate Vice President for Continuing and International Education. In that role, he oversaw domestic executive MBA programs as well as international MBA programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Moscow, Beijing, Vienna, and Graz, and a CPA program in Japan. He also founded and administered the East Bay Small Business Development Center for Alameda County in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration and was responsible for international student recruitment, retention, and housing.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Kelly served as Dean of Health and Human Services at California State University, Los Angeles, and as Professor and Director of the Department of Social Work at California State University, Long Beach. He was also a pioneer in distance education, helping to establish graduate programs across multiple California State University campuses, expanding access to higher education for working professionals and underserved populations. In addition, Dr. Kelly has consulted internationally with the United Nations in Ukraine and with USAID in Russia and Tanzania, contributing to initiatives focused on aging in Ukraine, AIDS prevention in Russia, and community development in Tanzania.

In his role as a Board member, Dr. Kelly has also been actively involved in school- and community-based organizations, including the PTA, SchoolPower Education Foundation, and the Laguna Beach High School Scholarship Foundation. Through the Scholarship Foundation, he and his husband fund scholarships recognizing LGBTQ+ students and initiatives focused on anti-Semitism prevention, reflecting his long-standing commitment to inclusion, ethics, and social justice.

Dr. Kelly believes in a well-rounded educational program that balances academic rigor with social-emotional learning, student safety, and inclusive school environments that prepare students for success beyond graduation.

Outside of Board service, Dr. Kelly enjoys spending time with his husband, family, and friends, traveling, and walking his dog, Sir Lancelot III, at the beach in Woods Cove, where he lives. His daily walks (often three times a day) have become a way to connect regularly with neighbors and residents in the community. He also works at The Home Depot, where he values the opportunity to engage with people from many different backgrounds.