Nancy earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, where she received the Kendrick Wilson Directing Award for her thesis production of Lu Ann Hampton Laverty Oberlander.

She is one of only a handful of certified Master Teachers of the Alba Method. She studied extensively with neurophysiologist Susana Bloch, the originator of this powerful tool.  In 1997, Nancy was one of the first two American acting teachers to be certified to train others to use the technique. She remains one of only about a dozen certified Master Teachers worldwide

She has taught the method in an academic setting at IWU, Augustana College and the University of Asheville. She has also introduced it to theatre professionals, coaches, lawyers, and business executives through intensive seminars throughout the United States and in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and Italy.

Nancy served as Co-President of the Alba Method Association from 2016-2021. AMA is the international organization dedicated to the development of teaching and certification standards for teachers of the Alba Method. To learn more about the Alba Method Association, visit: www.albamethod.com

The Alba Method identifies six basic emotions: anger, joy, sadness, fear, tenderness, and erotic love. These are the "primary colors" of emotion; all other emotions are blends of these. Each of the basic emotions has its own unique, identifiable set of effector patterns; emotional neutrality is also precisely patterned in the body. By establishing three aspects of these patterns—breathing, facial expression, and posture—a performer can enter and leave an emotional state at will.

The Alba Method arouses emotional response in the body through conscious application of effector patterns of breath and muscle tension organic to basic emotions. Though present in the body since infancy, these simple but precise patterns take some time to master: physical and emotional habits built up over years ingrain muscle tensions that can be challenging to penetrate. Most people experience significant release of habitual emotional tensions in the course of beginning training.

Although originally designed for use by actors, it is becoming increasing clear that the benefits of the Alba Method extend well beyond the performing arts. Application to other fields such as psychology, healthcare and law is being explored in the United States, South America and Europe. Even beginning students of the Alba Method report an increased ability to accurately identify and label their emotional states in both their personal and professional relationships. Many have gone on to say that having this instantaneous physiological awareness of their emotional shifts has empowered them to make more conscious choices in dealing with potentially stressful or confrontational interactions. Practitioners trained in the Alba Method also demonstrate an increased ability to accurately perceive the emotional states of others, a skill commonly referred to as “emotional intelligence.”

A typical session involves extensive physical work alternated with discussion of theory and application, technical clarifications, and sharing of experiences. Effector patterns are introduced step-by-step in exercises of just a few minutes' duration; as skills develop, exercises explore use of patterns in interaction with others and in combination with movement and text. Learning rates vary according to emotional readiness and previously developed skills in physical awareness and control. A few participants will experience genuine emotion from a pattern within the first few hours of work; most will have these experiences by midway through the course. Control develops with command of technique; expertise develops over time, with practice, exploration, and application. Finding freedom in the structure and integration with personal acting methods follows. The goal of a beginning training is to develop sufficient understanding and technical command to begin self-use, including application to acting work.