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Armed with a degree in art history and studio art, Kelsey Patsch (SHU ’09) decided to make opportunities for herself rather than wait for them to come to her. “I knew I wanted to work in the arts, but I knew that being an artist and a curator was probably outside what was possible,” Kelsey says.

So she decided to shift her focus to volunteering in the arts community, hoping it would lead to a career. Her idea paid off. Kelsey’s volunteer stint at the Mattress Factory, a quirky contemporary art museum in Pittsburgh, led the museum’s director of operations to create a job for her coordinating volunteers and other activities.

Since then, she’s found a niche in fundraising and development for Pittsburgh area arts organizations. Kelsey has worked in development for Attack Theater, The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and, since March 2015, has served as manager of corporate development for Pittsburgh Opera.

“I really love it,” she says. “I definitely feel like I’m exactly where I need to be. It is particularly rewarding to help people be philanthropic and connect them to their passion.”

��������Ƶ’s young alumni are making their mark on the world through their work in science and healthcare, finance and business, industry, entertainment and service to those in need. The Spring/Winter 2017 edition of ��������Ƶ’s Forward magazine featured 30 of these alumni, all under the age of 30. You can find all of their stories here on ��������Ƶ’s site (just look for the “30 Under 30” icon).