Charlene Kelly

Charlene Kelly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Forest Resources Management at West Virginia University. Her research focuses on soil properties as indicators of ecosystem health, particularly examining how forest management, ecological restoration, and soil amendments affect carbon and nutrient cycling, soil microbial activity, and greenhouse gas emissions. She directs the NSF-funded Research and Mentoring Program (One Health WV).

Dr. Kelly's work addresses critical environmental challenges such as mitigating nitrate and nitrous oxide emissions in riparian zones, enhancing soil stability through biochar application, and analyzing long-term soil productivity in experimental forests. Her research integrates soil chemistry, microbiology, and biogeochemistry to promote sustainable land management practices.

Her recent publications highlight trends in forest soil science, including tree species impacts on nitrogen cycling, prescribed defoliation strategies for carbon management, and biochar applications for soil aggregate stability. These studies span disciplines like environmental science, agronomy, and forestry.

At WVU, she teaches courses in soil science, computing for natural resources, and forest soils ecology.