Nell Nolan Young graduated from Newcomb College in 1956. While at Newcomb, she was involved in Angel Flight, Pi Beta Phi, the Catholic Center, French Club, and Spanish Club. She holds master's degrees in French (1970) and Italian (1972) from Tulane, studied at Princeton, and the Sorbonne. Nell wrote the Social Scene section of The Times-Picayune for 34 years and for the New Orleans Advocate under the pen name "Nell Nolan." She has written for several other local and national publications. She taught at Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans for 22 years and at De La Salle High School and Tulane University for six years each. Nell has also acted in many local and area theaters and a few international locations. She is involved in many community, cultural, and educational boards in New Orleans.