Alumni Profile: Kelly Nestman '16, MAP '20
Kelly Nestman ’16, MAP ’20 graduated from Chatham with a major in Women and Gender Studies and a minor in Business. When it came time to choose a graduate program, her experience as an undergrad made Chatham a natural choice for grad school too! We caught up with Kelly to hear all about her time at Chatham, her passion projects, and what’s next for her.
Tell us about yourself!
Kelly Nestman: I am currently the Program Manager at the Center for Women, a program of the National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section. We help women re-enter the workforce and achieve economic independence. I also am the staff liaison for our advocacy committee and our reproductive justice efforts, which is what I am most passionate about. I am also a recent graduate from Chatham’s Master of Arts in Psychology program! I am a member of the Chatham University Alumni Association Board and helped to create the Young Alumni Council. I am a proud cat mom and huge fan of the creepy, cool, ghoulish things out there.
Kelly Nestman ’16, MAP ’20
What initially attracted you to Chatham?
KN: When I was looking at colleges, I had just received funding for a non-profit that I created through the Women and Girls Foundation. I was beginning to become very committed to advancing the rights of women and girls. I wanted a women’s college to immerse myself in the experience of working with other young women to cultivate our professional development and learn from each other. Chatham was a no brainer, since I was the third generation to attend a women’s college and they had a tennis team at the time!
What surprised you about your experience at Chatham?
KN: I was so surprised at how supportive the Chatham College for Women was among its students. I felt incredibly validated and supported as a young adult. I was also really surprised at the opportunities for students to take on or create leadership roles for themselves.
What advice do you have for current/prospective students?
KN: Always fight for what you believe in. If you see something that isn’t right, stand up and make your voice heard.
“I learned to advocate for myself all the time and developed the skills to do so confidently. I also developed such a strong sense of sisterhood and support among other students but also among faculty. I still get together with my past professors and we have become friends now!”
How do you apply your liberal arts education to your daily life?
My liberal arts education opened my eyes to what it truly means to be intersectional and question everything. No matter what space I am in, I am continuously advocating for others and learning that as a white privileged woman I will always have to work to unlearn and dismantle the racist structures that I benefit from. This is why I came to Chatham for grad school— I wanted this perspective in a professional degree program.
What’s an interesting story from your professional life or Chatham experience?
My favorite story from my Chatham experience is when I met Cecile Richards (former President of Planned Parenthood ) and Senator Wendy Davis in the Carriage House. During the 2016 election, they were campaigning for Hilary Clinton and I was interning with Planned Parenthood through my Hollander Award for Women’s Leadership from the Women’s Institute. It was so cool to bring them onto our beautiful campus and be able to show them how motivated our campus was at empowering women and girls.
What’s next for you?
I plan to apply to PhD programs in Human Sexuality so that I can become a sex therapist, integrating reproductive and sexual health education into therapy for all individuals— regardless of their insurance or immigration status.
Learn all about Chatham’s ongoing legacy of women’s leadership and gender equity here. If you’re interested in advancing your education through graduate studies, please visit our website.