Nancy Oliver Gray

My husband, David, and I were drawn to the Roanoke Valley by the opportunity offered to me in 2004 to become president of Hollins University. Since then, I have been fortunate to witness first-hand here the transformative power of women’s education, and at the same time David and I also feel blessed to live in the midst of such striking surroundings. We love having four seasons and whenever we can we take advantage of the many ways one can enjoy the outdoors in this area, especially hiking. Other treasures we’ve discovered include the Roanoke City Market, an eclectic array of great restaurants, and the Grandin area, which is our favorite place to have dinner and catch a movie.

Describing our experience since we moved to the Roanoke Valley would not be complete without acknowledging the warmth and graciousness of the people who live here. From the very beginning we felt welcome and were encouraged to become an active part of this community. We will be forever grateful for this wonderful hospitality.

I encourage anyone who has the chance to do so to come to this special place. I also want to extend my personal invitation to visit Hollins University. You can see our world-class art museum, attend one of the many cultural events we hold here throughout the year, or simply walk the grounds and enjoy the beauty of our historic campus.

• Nancy’s Career: President, Hollins University
• Nancy’s Hometown: Dallas, TX