I, Kelli Lively, am a Class of 1996 alumna of 4-H House and graduated UofI with a major in Finance from the College of Business. I grew up in West Salem, IL as part of a proud farming family and was a 10-year member of our local 4-H Club. As an undergraduate, I was an active member of the house mostly serving in offices related to Treasurer, Social, and Pledge guidance. I was proud to represent 4-H House on the University’s Panhellenic Council for two years, and held an elected position in Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA) serving as Homecoming Committee Chairperson in my senior year.
After college, I worked in various finance, treasury, and trust administration roles at Citicorp and Northern Trust in Chicago, IL. At Northern Trust, Washington University in St. Louis was one of my not-for-profit trust administration accounts, which led me to pursue a career at WashU when I married and had the desire to move back “downstate”. For the last 18 years, I have worked in higher education, in Admissions and Aid at Washington University in St. Louis. Recently, I took at position as the Manager of Loan Programs, reporting directly to the university Treasurer.
Today, my husband Troy and I live in rural Bethalto, Illinois, with our four children — aged 8-16 — where we enjoy the outdoors, being active in our children’s activities (including our local 4-H club, Fosterburg Ag), and teaching our children the skills we learned in our youth, many through 4-H. I am an active volunteer at our children’s school and parish serving as Vice President of the School Board. I am the owner of ‘a little lively’, a small business hobby that allows me to enjoy occasional contract sewing and patternwork. Over the last 14 years, I’ve contributed my pattern and design skills to the success of Sweet Petunia Clothing, a children’s clothing brand based in St. Louis — a company proudly committed to textile manufacturing in the U.S.A.
It is so rewarding to see my family and life-long 4-H House friends — some of the most amazing women I know — as Moms to daughters enjoying their time at UofI as members of 4-H House! For this reason, I have a personal interest in ensuring the next generation experiences the best that 4-H House has to offer young active members — and I’m proud to serve as your Association Treasurer!
