Nicole M. Norman, JD

Founder & CEO

Nicole M. Norman, JD, the Founder and CEO of Las Hermanitas Immigrant Resource Fund, is a 2026 cum laude graduate of Duquesne University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law. Nicole founded Las Hermanitas during her final year of law school after witnessing firsthand how often immigrants with legitimate legal needs are unable to pursue relief because they cannot afford filing fees, interpretation, translation, or other essential legal expenses. Under her leadership, Las Hermanitas provides direct financial assistance and community-based resources designed to ensure that financial hardship does not determine who gets access to the immigration system.

Nicole’s leadership of Las Hermanitas reflects the values recognized by the 2026 Kandy Reidbord Ehrenwerth Award, which she received upon graduation from Duquesne Kline. The award honors a graduate who demonstrates a keen sense of ethics, devotion to the law, concern for the underprivileged, and commitment to social issues affecting society—principles that form the foundation of Nicole’s work as both an attorney and nonprofit leader.

Through Las Hermanitas, Nicole has worked to build a model of immigrant advocacy that extends beyond traditional legal representation. The organization supports immigrants throughout the Pittsburgh region by helping fund government filing fees, translation and interpretation services, and other critical costs that can determine whether an individual is able to pursue protection under U.S. immigration law.

As Founder and CEO, Nicole brings together her background in humanitarian immigration law, nonprofit leadership, community organizing, and advocacy to advance Las Hermanitas’ mission: to make access to justice a reality for immigrants, regardless of their ability to pay.

Her work is grounded in a simple belief: justice should not be reserved for those who can afford it.