Keelin grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and got her B.A. at Villanova University. After college, she moved to Chicago to join a volunteer teaching program, which began her twenty year career in education. She went on to get a M.S. Ed from Northwestern University and a M.A. in Literacy Instructional Leadership from the University of Illinois. Keelin continues to work in education at Accelerate Institute as the Senior Director of Professional Development.

Keelin moved to Bristol five years ago and has two children in the district. In her free time, you can find her with her family riding bikes on the bike path, reading, relaxing at the beach or watching her kids' soccer games at Colt State Park.