General 2/6/2026 9:00:00 AM

From the Field to the Courtroom: Morgan Nash ’23 and the Power of Purpose

By: Maggie Balderstone

For Morgan Nash '23, life after Bryn Mawr has been anything but slow and she wouldn't want it any other way. Morgan Nash 2023 by Tom

A sociology major with a Spanish minor and a four-year member of the Bryn Mawr lacrosse program, Nash graduated in 2023 with a deep love for structure, discipline, and staying busy. Those traits, sharpened through athletics and a packed campus schedule, have carried her seamlessly into her next chapter: law school.

Now in her third and final year at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Nash is preparing to graduate this spring before sitting for the bar. She went straight through to law school following Bryn Mawr — a transition she credits in large part to the guidance and support she received as an undergraduate.

"Jennifer Beale, the pre-law advisor at Bryn Mawr, was everything," Nash said. "She helped me with every step of the process — my materials, my confidence, everything. Law school can feel so unattainable, but she helped me believe that I could do this."

Although Nash initially planned to leave the area, Villanova quickly felt like home. The sense of warmth and community reminded her of Bryn Mawr, a place where relationships matter and people genuinely want to see one another succeed.

Morgan Nash Law School Photo

This spring, Nash will take her studies abroad, traveling to Cape Town, South Africa, where she will intern with the Democratic     Governance and Rights Unit at the University of Cape Town. The experience aligns directly with her long-term career goals in     family law, a field she discovered through both personal experience and coursework at Bryn Mawr.

    As an intern, Nash will assist with family law research and help prepare accessible legal resources — including bench books —     designed to support individuals navigating divorce, custody, and other family-related legal matters.

"I think people deserve access to information, whether or not they choose to hire an     attorney," Nash said. "Being able to help make that information more accessible feels     really meaningful."

Nash's interest in family law dates back to her undergraduate years, particularly a course that paired Bryn Mawr students with Overbrook Elementary School in Philadelphia. Seeing firsthand the systemic challenges facing children and families solidified her desire to work in a field where empathy and advocacy intersect.

While academics have taken center stage, athletics has remained a constant in Nash's KODAK Digital Still Camera

life. After graduating, she spent nearly three years coaching lacrosse at Lower Merion High School, an opportunity that allowed her to give back to the sport she loves while balancing the demands of law school.

"Coaching was such a brain break for me," Nash said. "I missed lacrosse, I loved the girls, and it gave me something completely different to pour my energy into."

The discipline she developed as a student-athlete continues to shape her daily routine. From early mornings to packed schedules and the mental toughness required to succeed, Nash sees clear parallels between athletics and law school.

"It's very regimented. You have to be disciplined," she explained. "That mindset — being competitive in a healthy way and constantly trying to be better than you were before — that came directly from sports."

That competitive mindset, she said, has evolved since her playing days. In law school, success looks less like beating others and more like continual self-improvement. "It's really me versus me," Nash explained. "Every semester, every class, every experience — I'm always trying to be better than I was before, to sharpen my mind, to grow, and not stay stagnant." The mentality, rooted in her time as a student-athlete, continues to guide how she approaches both her academic work and future career.

At Bryn Mawr, Nash embraced involvement on every level. In addition to lacrosse, she served as a team captain, Co-President of BMAA, President of the Pre-Law Society, worked with Athletic Communications, participated in SAAC, and held multiple campus jobs — including lifeguarding and dining services.

Looking back, Nash credits Bryn Mawr's small, liberal arts environment for giving her the confidence Morgan Nash Athletics Banquet 2023

to use her voice and engage meaningfully with others.

"When your classes are small, you learn that your voice matters," she said. "You learn how to talk to people who think differently than you and that's everything."

As she prepares for graduation, bar prep, and the next step of her legal career, Nash plans to settle in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, staying close to family while continuing her journey in family law.

Her advice to current Bryn Mawr student-athletes is rooted in self-belief and curiosity.

"Ask questions. Don't be afraid to lean on people," Nash said. "And be kind to yourself. Imposter syndrome is real, but you are capable of so much more than you think."

For Nash, Bryn Mawr wasn't just a steppingstone, it was a foundation.

"I loved Bryn Mawr. I'd do it again in a heartbeat," she said. "It gave me confidence, community, and the tools to keep evolving and that's something I'll carry with me forever."

Print Friendly Version