Kelly Murphy has 23 years of experience as a college teacher in the United States and Italy. She is a senior faculty member at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she has taught in the Illustration Department for 16 years, mentoring and collaborating with generations of talented artists.

Kelly previously taught for 12 years at the Montserrat College of Art as an Assistant Professor, and was a teacher at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, Massachusetts. She also teaches courses for professional artists and writers, including workshops for the Highlights Foundation, Kindling Words and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been a keynote speaker at conferences and universities worldwide, including the University of Cambridge and Boston College.

• RISD, Illustration Concepts 1, Fall 2009–2023
• RISD, Illustration Concepts 2, Spring 2009–2021
• RISD, The Portfolio, 2015–2023
• RISD, Senior Degree Project, 2016–2020
• RISD, Art for Children, 2017–2023
• Brown-RISD, Dual Degree Capstone Advisor, 2016–2017
• Montserrat College of Art, Illustration 2 - 4, 2002–2014
• Montserrat College of Art, Children's Book Illustration, 2002–2014
• Montserrat College of Art, Illustrating Fiction, 2002–2014
• Study Art Abroad, Viterbo, Italy, Journalistic Drawing, Summer 2011, 2014, 2015
• MassArt, Media Techniques, Fall 2008