Kelly Vaughen is a freelance reporter based in Washington, DC. She primarily works for WUSA9 as a field reporter in morning, day, and evening newscasts.  

 

Before returning home to the DMV, Kelly was a reporter and weekend evening anchor for CBS News Detroit. There she covered the mass shooting at Michigan State University, as well as the trial of Jennifer and James Crumbley, the first parents to ever be convicted in their child’s mass shooting. She also covered the Detroit Auto Show, the Detroit Lions, and the historic reopening of Michigan Central Station. 

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Kelly was also a reporter in Salt Lake City, Utah. There she covered multiple high-profile crimes, including the case of "Doomsday Mom" Lori Vallow, and the search for Gabby Petito.

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Kelly reported live on-air for eight consecutive hours during the Salt Lake City riot in May 2020, and heavily covered the underground world of human trafficking in Utah. She reported from the frontlines of natural disasters including wildfires, windstorms, floods, and avalanches. 

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In 2022 Kelly traveled to Ukraine to report on the evacuation of high-risk Ukrainian orphans amid the war with Russia.

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Before Utah, Kelly worked in Huntsville, Alabama, where she covered everything from politics and education, to tornados and the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Michael.

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Kelly earned her master's degree in journalism and public affairs from American University, in Washington D.C. 

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Before her journalism career Kelly was a professional dancer, dancing for the NBA team, the Washington Wizards, and the NFL team the New York Jets. 

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Kelly earned her undergraduate degree from Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, where she majored in journalism and was a captain of their national championship winning dance team. 

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Kelly is originally from Northern Virginia, where she grew up as a competitive figure skater, and reporter for her high school newspaper.