Following completion of her Honors Degree in Biology, Keelan decided she wanted to try teaching after primarily conducting research during her undergraduate. She applied to Teach for America because she wanted to try to make a difference in public schools. Her time teaching and working in New York's Washington Heights has been valuable and rewarding in a number of ways. She has fostered students' love of science by introducing an inquiry-based curriculum where they work cooperatively to discover answers and solve problems. Her focus on academic success and higher standards has also motivated her students to seek out new opportunities such as attending specialized science high schools and careers in science. And as her students have risen, so has Keelan. She is now a Science Teacher Leader at her school and a Content Specialist for Teach for America. Besides her teaching, Keelan is involved with everything from professional development and mentoring of colleagues to curriculum and assessment decisions for the city of New York. She had the following to say about her experience at OSU and with Teach for America:

"It was my time at Oregon State that sparked my passion for science education and the desire to make a difference in the world leading me to Teach for America. My experience as a Corps Member has been the most rewarding and challenging of my life. Not only have these years fueled my passion for education reform, but they have also given me a realistic understanding of the challenges involved in creating viable change. Every day I am reminded of how amazing my students are, but I am also confronted with the disadvantages they face. And this is why I, Teach for America."