NANCY GANSNEDER is the inaugural director of the Cooper Center's newest entity, Academy for Civic Renewal. In this capacity Nancy designs and implements civic leadership programs to promote civic engagement in Virginia's communities. Prior this appointment, she directed the University Internship Programs, one of the nation’s oldest continuous academic internship programs, placing more than 300 undergraduates in community placements each year.

Dr. Gansneder is a master trainer, facilitator and moderator of public meetings. She has worked with a variety of organizations to design conduct visioning, strategic planning, and community forums. Nancy has convened, hosted and addressed conferences and workshops ranging from a 25 to 1000 participants.

A community activist, Dr. Gansneder has served on numerous boards and commissions. Most recently, she has been member of the Board of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, served as Secretary of National Society for Experiential Education and elected to the General Faculty Council at the University of Virginia. Nancy is an alumna of the 2007 Class of Lead Virginia.

Nancy holds a masters and a doctorate from the University of Virginia. She earned a bachelors degree from The Ohio State University.