Clemson Graduate Spotlight: Nash Passionate About Living the Dream As her work day at the ACC Digital Network was coming to a close one Thursday last month, Kelly Nash was approached by a few friends about heading out and experiencing some of the great night life Charlotte, NC has to offer. Most young women Nash’s age — she is 27 — would have jumped at the opportunity to go out with friends and have a good time. But for Nash, having a good time does not always mean going out to dinner and finishing the evening at a dance club. More times than not, the Miami, FL native would rather stay home, turn on the television and catch a Florida Panthers hockey match or see if LeBron James and Dwyane Wade can bring her hometown city an NBA Championship. On this one particular night, Nash decided to stay home and watch the Panthers in their first-round matchup with the New Jersey Devils in the NHL Playoffs. “This is what I love to do,” Nash said. “I could have gone out tonight, but I’d much rather be here. If I was out, all I would do is try and find a television so I could see what was going on. So I just decided to stay here and enjoy watching hockey.” These kinds of nights started for Nash when she was seven years old. While other little girls were out playing with Barbie dolls, Nash snuggled next to her father, Ed, watching hockey or yelling and screaming at Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins with her mother, Nancy. It was at this same time that Nash started to play softball. She loved everything about the sport. This passion for softball led her to the sport’s first cousin — baseball. Nash became all about baseball, especially when the Florida Marlins became a Major League Baseball franchise in 1993. “Growing up, my house revolved around hockey, which was my dad’s love, and the NFL, which was my mom’s love,” said Nash, who grew up with sisters Kaitlyn and Carolyn. “There was absolutely no love for baseball and no love for the NBA. I took to it. I had been playing softball since I was seven and somehow I got caught into watching games on television.” Nash got so caught up in baseball she started to bug her family, as she begged them to let her watch games. It got so bad they eventually bought her a television for her room so she could watch all the games she wanted upstairs. “They kind of just left me alone,” she laughed. Ultimately, Nash’s passion for sports led her to Clemson, where she received her undergraduate degree in communication studies in 2006 and a master’s degree in 2008. While at Clemson, she continued to be involved with sports. She worked with Assistant Athletic Director John Seketa in promotions, as well as Assistant Athletic Director Tim
Bourret and Senior Associate Sam Blackman in sports information. “Clemson is family,” she said. “It’s just how it is. I spent so much time there. I adore the traditions and met amazing people. I had a wonderful experience and I hope one day, my kids can take part in that.” But sport isn’t Nash’s only passion. She was also a fan of Good Morning America, and in particular Joan Lunden, her idol. “I grew up watching with my parents and I found her to be intriguing, classy and a standup journalist in an age where a lot of journalism was turning sensationalistic. She brought you the stories that meant something to you. You walked away learning and taking something away from it.” Kelly Nash works for the Thanks to Lunden’s influence and her own ACC Digital Network, passion to be a television anchor, Nash pursued which launched in the her dream by continuing her education at the fall of 2011. Photo courtesy of Kelly Nash University of Miami, where she earned a second master’s degree, this time in broadcast journalism. As an intern for WPRP in Miami, Nash dabbled in both news and sports as she tried to figure out her calling in the business. She loved both, but discovered her passion one afternoon while interviewing NASCAR legend Mark Martin at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. “It felt right,” she said. “I had been struggling to pick a path in graduate school, and I found my answer when I interviewed him. It moved me. I was intrigued by the idea of interviewing athletes, both amateur and professional, on a daily basis. “I loved it. I could not stop smiling. I didn’t even come to the interview with any questions. I just had a conversation with him. He was really a down-to-earth guy. I lost all intimidation with athletes, and more importantly, I found my passion.” After graduation, Nash has begun her career in television at the ACC Digital Network. She writes, researches, edits and produces pieces, and works as an anchor, primarily as one of the main hosts for “ACC Now.” Nash is living her dream, something she picked up on during her time at Clemson. “I think what I learned the most from John Seketa and Tim Bourret, is to work hard for what you want, and live your passion,” she said. “I saw it every day for years when I worked for them. They are passionate about what they do.” And so is Nash. That’s why she chooses to stay in and watch a hockey match or a baseball game rather than go out with friends. She is passionate about sports, and that passion shows. — by Will Vandervort
Nash interviewed New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez as a graduate student when he dedicated an educational center for the Miami Boys & Girls Club. Photo courtesy of Kelly Nash
May 2012
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