As president for several years, she helped expand the sorority and further its support of African-American women at colleges and in communities.

[2] Her father was a descendant of Nancy Quander, one of the slaves freed by President of the United States George Washington in his last will and testament.

[2] In addition, Nellie's mother was a relative of West Ford, a freed mulatto and supposed son of George Washington.

[2] In June 1912, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in history, economics, and political science.

[8] She was said to be "horrified" at the proposal and gave the women who disagreed with her a deadline to terminate the efforts of reorganizing the sorority.

[2] During her tenure, she wrote the constitution's preamble and appointed fellow members to implement the sorority's expansion.

[2][14] She continued to act as graduate advisor to Alpha chapter, and was a member of the Xi Omega chapter in Washington, D.C.[2] After graduation, Quander became an educator for the public school system in Washington, D.C., where she served generations of students for 30 years.

[2] Because the District was run as part of the Federal government, African-American teachers in the public schools were paid on the same scale as whites.

[2] In this position, she observed the social and economic structure of mentally handicapped people in New Castle County, Delaware.

[2] The study was sponsored by the local Women's Club to prepare to establish an institution for the mentally handicapped.

[2][7] Quander demonstrated leadership at the YWCA, where she was a board member and chairman of the young women's department.

[2] She was a member of the board of directors of the Business Professional and Industrial Committee in the Phillis Wheatley YMCA.

She was close to her surviving sister Susie Russell Quander (member of Zeta Phi Beta - Alpha Chapter), nephews and friends.