"This award is in recognition of Nancy's service to RIT. Her diligent effort and generosity have contributed significantly to the growth of the university. This award is meant to honor those efforts and to express our appreciation for her dedication."

A 1976 graduate, Nancy's bond with RIT was strong. While at RIT, she was a member of the Student Orientation Committee and Alpha Sigma Lambda Society, standing out as a leader. Upon graduation she was appointed to the Alumni Executive Council. She began her career at Eastman Kodak Company, advancing rapidly; however, when her parents moved to the west coast in the 1980s, she followed. There, she joined Toyota and her career with the automaker has flourished.

In recognition of her professional accomplishments and her passion for RIT, she was named the Distinguished Alumni from the College of Science in 1995. The following year she returned to Rochester to participate in the Distinguished Alumni Colloquium. She joined the Alumni Network Board of Directors (ANBOD) in 1998 and was elected its first female president in 1999. Accordingly she served on the Board of Trustees as the ANBOD representative, and when her term as president ended she was reappointed to the Board of Trustees. As trustee, she dedicates herself to student life, strategic planning, and government relations.

She has assisted with fundraising initiatives including the Powered by the Future campaign and the 2005-06 Trustee Annual Fund, and she has been instrumental in securing support from her employer for the Golisano Sustainability Institute. Committed to students, Nancy volunteers for Admissions' "Talk to a Tiger" program and in 2003 she was inducted into the National Commission on Cooperative Education Co–op Hall of Fame. She served as Honorary Reunion Chair and was a member of the 2006–07 Presidential Search Committee.