Keeley Cleghorn is in her first season as the Faculty Athletics Representative for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Athletics. In this role, Cleghorn serves as an important connection between the College's faculty, administration and athletics department while supporting the academic success, well-being and overall collegiate experience of SMWC student-athletes.

Cleghorn has served as an assistant professor of biology at SMWC since August 2022. She teaches courses across a wide range of biological disciplines, including cell biology, genetics, anatomy, physiology, ecology, zoology, conservation biology and undergraduate research. She also mentors students throughout the research process, helping them develop projects, collect and analyze data, and strengthen their scientific writing and presentation skills.

An accomplished researcher, Cleghorn's work has focused extensively on breast cancer biology and chemotherapeutic resistance. She has contributed to published research and numerous presentations at state, regional and national conferences. She has also guided SMWC students in research projects exploring subjects such as cancer biology, microplastic contamination, plant growth, animal stress responses and wildlife conservation.

Cleghorn has been recognized for her commitment to teaching and student development. In 2025, she received honorable mention for the Sister Mary Joseph Pomeroy Award for Faculty Excellence in Teaching and was named SMWC's Student Organization Advisor of the Year. Her campus service has included work with the College's Institutional Review Board, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, General Education Committee, and Assessment and Program Review Committee.

Before joining SMWC, Cleghorn served as a graduate teaching assistant at Indiana State University from 2017 to 2022. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in biology with an emphasis in microbiology from Indiana State in 2022 after receiving her bachelor's degree in biology from the university in 2017.

Cleghorn is a member of the Association for Women in Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, Indiana Academy of Science and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society.