Dear NMC students,
It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that our colleague and instructor Nancy Gray passed away unexpectedly.
Nancy was a teacher through and through. For more than 15 years at NMC, she devoted herself to students who often found school challenging, meeting them with patience, creativity, and deep respect for who they were as learners and as people. Many of you knew Nancy through her English classes, where she made writing feel human, manageable, and meaningful.
More recently, Nancy’s passion for student success led her to found the Neurodiversity Support Center, the first of its kind at a Michigan community college. In a very short time, the Center became both a vital support service and a welcoming space on campus for students who needed it most. It reflected Nancy’s belief that barriers to learning are meant to be identified and removed, not accepted.
Nancy was a fierce advocate for students and individuals who experienced the world differently. Her legacy lives on in the countless students she encouraged, supported, and believed in, often at moments when that belief mattered most. Our deepest sympathies are with her family, including her husband and child here in Traverse City.
An unexpected loss like this can land differently for each of us. Whether you knew Nancy personally, worked with her, learned from her, or simply feel the weight of losing someone who shaped this campus, please know that it is okay to pause, to grieve, and to take care of yourself.
Support is available to you. Personal counseling services are available through the NMC Student Life Office. You may complete the counseling intake form or stop by the office in the Osterlin Building, and staff will assist with scheduling an appointment. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available through the Grand Traverse Mental Health Crisis Center at 1-833-295-0616.
We will share information about opportunities to honor Nancy’s life once plans are known.
Please take care of yourselves and one another during this difficult time. Nancy believed deeply in compassion, dignity, and possibility. May we carry those values forward together.
Holding our community close,
Nick
Nick Nissley, Ed.D. | President | Northwestern Michigan College | 231.995.1010