For Jonathan Kelly ’25 (Political Science), college was more than a stepping stone—it was a chance to bring his passions to life. With a deep interest in law and politics, a love for the game of lacrosse, and a drive to lead, Kelly arrived at the University of Indianapolis ready to make his mark. Over the next four years, he did just that—transforming his curiosity into meaningful research, his athletic experience into leadership opportunities, and his academic interests into a clear path toward a future in law.
A high school course in business and law sparked Kelly’s interest in the legal field. Paired with a lifelong passion for U.S. and world history and government, political science felt like the natural choice.
When it came time to choose a university, Kelly was looking for more than just a place to earn a degree—he wanted a supportive community where he could grow academically, athletically, and personally. UIndy offered all of that and more.
“Lacrosse was a big factor in my decision to come to UIndy,” Kelly explained. “But I also like being in the city and the small class sizes. I felt like I had the opportunity and support to develop into who I wanted to be and take the path that I wanted.”
Thanks to his high school’s dual-credit offerings, Kelly arrived at UIndy with a head start. However, rather than try to graduate early, he intended to stay all four years to play on the Men’s Lacrosse team as a goalie. This gave him the flexibility to explore new topics and expand his degree program. He added minors in international relations, legal studies, and philosophy to his political science major, along with concentrations in pre-law, Honors, and ethics.
“I realized that I could add more to my plate, so I took the classes that I liked and worked with the professors that I liked most and naturally just picked up minors and concentrations,” he said.
Even with a packed schedule, Kelly credits his faculty and coaches for helping him manage his workload without feeling overwhelmed. When a medical retirement ended his time on the field after three years, he found new ways to lead—serving as the team’s representative on the UIndy Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Through SAAC, Kelly advocated for student-athletes, weighed in on NCAA rule proposals, and played a role in the search for the University’s new Intercollegiate Athletic Director, Kim Pate.
Kelly’s leadership on campus extended beyond the lacrosse field. He also served as President of the UIndy Pre-Law Student Association where he helped revitalize the organization’s brand and presence on campus and established a UIndy Pre-Law Alumni Panel during Homecoming 2024. Kelly hopes this will be the first of a new annual tradition.
“We had four practicing attorneys – three from the Indianapolis area and a JAG attorney – come in and share their experiences from law school and their current practices,” said Kelly. “I wanted to build a better connection with alumni and current students, and the alumni panel went a long way to bridge that gap. It was also really impactful for me. I gained a better understanding of different career paths and what I might want to pursue in the future.”
While Kelly was building connections outside the classroom, he was also taking on academic challenges with equal enthusiasm. As a student in the Ron and Laura Strain Honors College, he was required to complete an Honors thesis—and he saw it as a chance to merge his passion for politics with his growing interest in law. Mentored by Dr. Greg Shufeldt, associate professor of political science, Kelly built his thesis around the intersection of elections and prosecutorial behavior.
Drawing inspiration from a summer internship with a local prosecutor’s office, he gathered data from state court systems in four different states, analyzing how prosecutor decisions shifted during election years. The process was intense—but ultimately rewarding.
“I discovered some partisan trends in prosecution, where Republicans will pursue more tough-on-crime prosecutor policies, and Democrats will pursue more restorative justice policies,” Kelly said. “My favorite part was collecting the data—just trying to explore to see what I could find.”
He compiled the data into a comprehensive spreadsheet tracking more than 400 prosecutors and turned his findings into both a thesis paper and a poster presentation. His efforts paid off at the 2024 Indiana Political Science Association (IPSA) Conference at Ball State University, where he earned the award for Best Undergraduate Poster in American Politics.
“Seeing all that painstaking data collection process kind of payoff was pretty rewarding,” recalled Kelly. “The award also made me feel more confident in myself and my work.”
Fueled by this momentum, Kelly submitted his research to the Pi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference in Washington, D.C.—and was accepted. He worked closely with Dr. Shufeldt to transform his thesis into a research article and prepare for the national stage.
“It was a pretty collaborative process,” said Kelly. “I had never written a research article like this before, so I submitted different sections of the paper back and forth with Dr. Shufeldt, and he was really helpful in refining it.”
With graduation on the horizon, Kelly plans to take a gap year to focus on his health and prepare for law school. Reflecting on his UIndy journey, he advises future political science students to hang out on the second floor of Good Hall and connect with their professors.
“Take advantage of all the department has to offer. All of the professors are incredible. They’re willing to help you whether you’re in their class or not. Building those connections has really been the most impactful for my experience here.”