Converse President Nancy Gray Receives Honorary Degree from Presbyterian College

Citing her leadership skills as president of Converse College and her commitment to improving higher education, Presbyterian College bestowed the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters on Nancy Oliver Gray during the college’s opening convocation on Tuesday (Sept 10).

“Nancy Oliver Gray has distinguished herself as an exceptional leader and a visionary as President of Converse College, preserving and improving the historic campus, enhancing the College’s visibility as a residential liberal arts college with a nationally recognized school of music, and strengthening the endowment, student recruitment, and retention,” said Ron Allen, chairman of the PC Board of Trustees. “Throughout her professional career she has displayed devoted, effective, and vital work in advancing liberal arts, professional, and seminary education.”

Gray was named president of Converse College in 1999 after serving as vice president of seminary relations at Princeton Theological Seminary. Prior to that, she worked as vice president of development and university relations at Rider University, and also held positions at the University of Louisville, Oberlin College, Vanderbilt University, and The Lawrenceville School.

“I first heard of Presbyterian College at Princeton Theological Seminary. PC’s reputation preceded itself with a strong reputation, like Converse College, of being committed to a rigorous, transformative liberal education,” Gray said after receiving her honorary degree.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Gray earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her master of education degree from North Texas State. She has completed additional course work in higher education administration at Vanderbilt.

Recognized in Who’s Who in American Women, she serves on the Board of Trustees for Brevard Music Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, South Carolina Women in Higher Education, Spartanburg Day School, the Music Foundation of Spartanburg, and The Wye Faculty Seminar Governing Council, and Bank of America’s local advisory board. She participated in Leadership Spartanburg 2000, Share the Vision, and is a member of First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg.