Nancy is a researcher and educator with a real passion for helping students who face additional barriers to success. For almost a decade, she worked with underrepresented students, including first-generation, minority, and DACA students, at the University of Maryland, College Park, serving in various roles. From there, she went to serve as the executive director of the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN), which focuses on preparing college women for leadership in public policy. Before joining NCHEMS, Nancy was the director of diagnostics & data analytics at FirstGen Forward (formerly The Center for First-generation Student Success), where she managed a portfolio of projects, including first-generation research and data analysis focused on the FirstGen Forward Network’s diagnostic tools.
Nancy earned her Ed.D. in higher education administration from The George Washington University. From the University of Maryland, College Park, she earned her master of arts in history and her bachelor of arts in government and politics and English.
Nancy is an avid reader whose favorite genres include fantasy and science fiction. She enjoys traveling, whether it be a local camping trip or jet-setting across the world with her husband. She most enjoys spending time with her 10lb dog, Kimchi, who can be found sleeping peacefully on the couch or terrorizing the neighborhood squirrels and delivery trucks — no in-between!
I am excited to join NCHEMS because affordable and equitable higher education is a cornerstone for student success. Working at NCHEMS allows me to contribute to strategic, data-informed decision making at the state and system level which will help remove systemic barriers to student success.
