Eamon Michael Kelly (April 25, 1936 – June 28, 2017) was an American economist who served as president of Tulane University from 1981 to 1998 and chair of the National Science Board from 1998 to 2002.

Following the university presidency, Kelly was heavily involved in service work, including being chairman of the National Science Board.

[4] While earning his Ph.D., Kelly taught undergraduate courses at Fordham and was a major influence on Mario Gabelli, who later became a billionaire fund manager.

[2] In 1969, Kelly joined the Ford Foundation, where he was Officer-in-Charge for the Office of Social Development from 1969 to 1974 and later for Program Related Investments from 1974 to 1979.

Kelly is credited with modernizing the financial aid programs of Tulane University, rendering it more accessible to middle-income families.

Several players, including future NBA star John "Hot Rod" Williams, had been plied with cocaine in order to induce them to shave points for gambling purposes.

[6] In 1998, Kelly co-founded with William E. Bertrand the Payson Center in International Development at the Tulane University School of Law.

[12] Since 1998, Kelly continued to serve on various philanthropic and government boards, with special focus on science and technology and on the developing world, especially Africa.

[2] He was particularly involved with helping a school in northern Uganda that was under threat of violence, and he spent about two months per year on the African continent.