Lisa Kiely graduated with a BA in Public Administration from the University of Limerick in August 2009. Upon graduation she was awarded the Distinguished Performance Award in recognition of her academic achievements throughout her undergraduate degree. She was offered a place on the University of Limerick's Advanced Scholars Programme in August 2009 and began her PhD research in September of that year, under the supervision of Dr. Maura Adshead. Lisa is also undertaking a Postgraduate Specialist Diploma in Teaching, Scholarship and Learning within the Centre for Teaching and Learning (University of Limerick). She is currently in receipt of the Dean's Scholarship.

Lisa is a member of Social Policy Association (UK), Political Studies Association of Ireland and is Sibéal's (the Irish Postgraduate Gender and Women's Studies Network) regional representative for Limerick (with Caitlin Ryan). Lisa is also the co-representative for PhD students within the Department of Politics and Public Administration (with Damien Bolger).