Nancy spent several summers working at Camp Easter Seal, where she developed a passion for working with persons with mental retardation and mental illness.  She began her professional career shortly thereafter, providing direct care to adults with mental retardation and mental illness through New River Valley Community Services. She has been employed with Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare since 1994, where she has worked as a Residential Trainer, Clinician, and Community Living Coordinator.   

In addition to her professional experience, Nancy has friends and loved ones with mental illness, many of whom do not seek treatment due to the stigma society has placed on mental illness, past frustrations with misdiagnosis, medications, and other barriers faced while attempting to get appropriate treatment.

Nancy experienced the pain of losing her father, followed by her husband, within a period of 5 weeks.  She was left widowed at age 37 with a beautiful 4 year old son to raise on her own.  This difficult period in her life helped her to better understand the deep pain and suffering those living with depression and other mental illnesses may face on a daily basis, further fueling her passion to create a better understanding, acceptance, and treatment of mental illness.