Nancy Witt: A Voice for Access
Nancy Witt: A Voice for Access
Those who knew Nancy Witt, ’88, describe a woman of sharp intellect, conviction and genuine care for others. Across a long career in public policy and advocacy, Witt embodied a message she once shared with a journalist reporting on her work to expand Medicaid coverage for people with disabilities.
“You have to have some understanding that you have to fight for yourself,” the 30-year-old Witt said at the time. “Nobody’s going to come in on a white horse and say, ‘Here.’”
Witt was a fighter from the beginning. Delivered more than two months premature, she lived with cerebral palsy that affected her mobility and vision. Friends Malissa Martin, ’90, ’91, and Carol Carroll, ’95, said those challenges only deepened her intellectual drive.
Encouraged by the teachers at Grundy Center High who saw her potential, Witt pursued higher education at UNI, working for the university’s public relations team while earning her degree in communications.
“She wasn’t going to be held back from the education she was craving,” Carroll said. “So when Nancy got her opportunity to go to college she took full advantage of it. And through her life and work she was able to use her mind and education to advocate
for others.”
Witt stayed connected to her alma mater, attending athletic events and performances. Even as her health declined in her later years, she remained thoughtful about the impact she wanted to leave. When she passed away in August 2023 at the age of 59, that commitment to helping others became her legacy.
Witt Scholarship a “Blessing” for Students
Through her estate, Witt left a generous bequest to establish the Nancy Witt Endowed Scholarship at UNI, supporting students with disabilities in pursuing their educational goals. The first recipients were awarded this fall, each receiving support covering the full cost of tuition.
For Grace Minor, the scholarship has been a lifeline. The senior has spent nearly a decade navigating the physical, emotional and financial challenges of her health journey.
She recalled the tear-filled moment she learned that her final year of college would be fully covered through Witt’s generosity — support that brought hope and the reassurance that her persistence had been worth it. Soon to graduate with a degree in communication-theatre teaching, Minor said the scholarship has allowed her to move forward with confidence.
“My health has faced some issues lately, which added to the strain of my finances from recent surgeries,” Minor shared. “But thanks to this scholarship, I don’t have to wait until I can afford college or until my medical debt is paid off to continue my education.”
Minor plans to become a high school teacher of drama, speech and language arts — and to make the most of her time at UNI.
“I’m ready to finish strong and start making a difference,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful to the friends and family of Nancy Witt — their belief in me has changed my life.”
