The new decade has been off to quite the start for Nicole Gillespie.
In January, she was sworn in as mayor of Moorestown. On March 30, Gillespie will be recognized as one of the Outstanding Women of Burlington County 2020, having earned a nomination in the area of corporate leadership.
Despite calling Burlington County her home today, Gillespie was a bit of a nomad growing up. Her mother was from the Philadelphia area, and her father from the Baltimore area. But her father’s work as an environmental engineer kept the family moving frequently.
Gillespie said she knew she wanted to study something science or engineering related in college. She attended the United States Naval Academy — a decision that allowed her to serve her country, get a quality education and graduate without taking on a mountain of debt.
“It seemed like an adventure and something exciting to do,” Gillespie said of the decision.
In 1990, she graduated with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and a minor in Russian. Gillespie said at the time there was a need for Russian cryptologists, so on her first military tour, she served as an active duty naval officer in the field of cryptology in Edzell, Scotland. On her second, Gillespie worked at the Joint Interagency Task Force in Key West, Florida.
Her time in the military provided Gillespie with the leadership skills she’s carried with her to every subsequent role and taught her that everyone’s contribution can make a difference. At the time, the military’s leadership positions were male dominated, so she found herself navigating unfamiliar waters as one of the few women in leadership positions.
“I was put into positions where I had a lot of responsibility at a pretty young age,” Gillespie noted. “I had to learn to work with people who had a lot more experience than me, but technically, I was their boss.”
By the time she left the military, Gillespie had been awarded a Navy Achievement Medal, a Joint Services Commendation Medal and a Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
After five years in the service, Gillespie moved to Seattle and worked as a sales engineer for the Innova Corporation. But the position didn’t feel like the right fit, so she went on to study physics at the University of Washington.
While she enjoyed the subject matter, Gillespie realized working in a lab wasn’t for her. She was teaching undergraduate classes at the time and was drawn to the idea of being a teacher.
“I fell in love with the complexity of education,” she recalled.
Upon earning her master’s degree, Gillespie attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she completed her Ph.D. in science education. It was at Berkeley that she met two teachers who’d earned a teaching fellowship through the Knowles Teacher Initiative. They explained to Gillespie that Knowles was a promising new nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the teaching profession.
Gillespie was the third employee Knowles hired in 2014 and she has steadily worked her way up the ladder. In 2013, she moved to Moorestown and was named executive director that same year. Today, she serves as president and chief executive officer.
Funded by an endowment from the Knowles Family, the Knowles Teacher Initiative’s mission is to improve science and math education in the U.S. by supporting teachers at the beginning of their careers. Gillespie said the nonprofit tries to address factors that make teaching difficult and works to keep teachers in the profession.
When she first arrived at Knowles, the primary focus was on retention. Gillespie said these days, the initiative works on providing teachers with leadership opportunities. In 2017, she and her team launched the Knowles Academy, which provides teachers with professional development opportunities.
Gillespie said she was shocked and gratified to be recognized by The Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council. She said at times, she doesn’t think of herself as a corporate leader, given Knowles’ nonprofit status, but recognizes that at the end of the day, the company still faces the same challenges as any other business.
In her spare time, Gillespie is also involved with the Moorestown Business Association and the Rotary Club of Moorestown. She also volunteers as a sexual assault advocate for Contact of Burlington County.
Gillespie and her fellow nominees will be honored at an awards reception on Monday, March 30, at 5:30 p.m. at The Merion in Cinnaminson. Tickets are $75 to attend and can be purchased by mailing a check or by credit card via EventBrite. To pay by credit card, visit EventBrite at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/outstanding-women-of-burlington-county-awards-dinner-tickets-86035828479
