Meet our alumnae

Meet Melissa Nelson, Class of 2006 and Fontbonne’s 70th Gala Honoree. She holds MSN, CNM, WHNP-BC credentials and is Director of the Nurse-Midwifery Division at Massachusetts General Hospital—the first Black woman in this role.

She earned her nursing degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and is dedicated to teaching and advancing equitable maternal care, with a focus on leadership and women’s health.

Meet Jean Hynes, Class of 1987, a 70th Gala Honoree, is CEO of Wellington Management and the firm’s first female leader. A longtime health care investor, she manages the Vanguard Health Care Fund and is recognized by Forbes, Barron’s, and 100 Women in Finance.

Meet Arielle Gaines, Class of 2007 and a 70th Gala Honoree, a kindergarten teacher at Match Community Day Charter School. A graduate of Hampton University and UMass Boston, she was named Teacher of the Year (2023–2024) and is dedicated to building strong academic foundations and student confidence.

Meet Farah Bernier, Class of 1998, 2024 Girls Leadership Conference Keynote, and Head of Talent Management for Google’s Chrome Organization. She leads talent initiatives focused on attracting, retaining, and advancing historically underrepresented professionals in the tech industry. Farah is also the founder of Living Fabulously Fierce, an organization dedicated to closing the confidence gap by uplifting women and supporting girls.

Nina Liang, Class of 2006 and 2025 Girls Leadership Conference keynote speaker, is a former Quincy City Councilor-At-Large and the first Chinese American elected to the council. Elected at 27, she focused on accessible, responsive local government and co-founded the Quincy Women’s Network.

Meet Lisa Hewitt Dick, Class of 1975, 2025 Commencement Speaker and General Counsel for the Committee for Public Counsel Services.

A proud Fontbonne alumna from a multi-generational Dorchester family, she has dedicated her career to public service and justice.

Lisa lives in Cohasset with her husband, Michael, and is a proud mother and grandmother.

Meet Patti Steiner Elliott, Class of 1990, is Co-Owner and Marketing Director of Elliott Physical Therapy, which she co-founded in 2014. She focuses on community wellness, injury prevention, and expanding access to physical therapy services for all ages.

A former pediatric speech and language pathologist, Patti is deeply engaged in outreach through partnerships with schools, youth sports programs, and local organizations, helping promote health and wellness across surrounding communities.

Meet Dr. Kathleen Gershman, Class of 1961, a 2026 Gala Honoree and Community Impact Award recipient. Kathy is a retired professor and department chair at the University of North Dakota, recognized for her leadership and dedication to service.

Kathy and her husband, Hal, are business owners and co-founders of the Hal and Kathleen Gershman Family Foundation, through which they have dedicated their lives to philanthropy and caring for the “dear neighbor.”

Meet Maura Gavaghan Gately, Class of 2008 and 2026 Girls Leadership Keynote speaker, a leader in corporate communications and marketing. She is Director of Corporate Communications at Translate Bio.

A Fontbonne alumna, Maura holds an MBA from UMass Amherst and a degree from New York University. Most recently, she helped bring Kailera, a pharmaceutical GLP-1 company, across the IPO finish line, ringing the bell in New York City on April 17.