.156 Kellie Nalbandian

I have vivid memories of seeing Kellie walking into the library in college with her blue backpack and her comforting, compassionate energy. She always made me feel better through every conversation we had and even from just catching her around campus. Kellie’s charm is complemented by her obvious intelligence and generous nature. She makes so many people feel loved and cared for, and it’s a joy to have her in my life as a friend.

For whatever reason, something that stands out to me about Kellie is her capacity to listen and focus on you when you’re having a conversation. She’s present and kind and that always was something I felt deep gratitude for. On top of this, Kellie is such a wonderful example of what it means to be confident and proud of who you are, and to stand up for what’s right in the world. I admired and still do admire her dedication to her career, to helping others, and to being a good-hearted human being along the way.

Kellie, thank you for being such a sweet and lovely friend to me and so many others. Thank you for your laughter, your smile and your refreshing vibe. Thank you for making me laugh every time we’ve spoken and for your ability to cheer people up just by being around. Thank you for what you’ve done over the last year and what you continue to do. Thank you, Kellie, for being you!

-BD