Dr. Nancy Dishner is President and CEO Emeritus of the Niswonger Foundation. In addition to her role as President and CEO, she directed the prestigious Niswonger Scholarship and Leadership Program. She previously served as Vice Provost for Enrollment Services and Director of the Roan Scholars Leadership Program at East Tennessee State University. She was a tenured professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. Her early experience was as a public school teacher in Unicoi County. She previously served on the Tennessee Arts Commission board and served as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Nancy is an alumna of East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Supervision and Administration and Doctorate in Administration. She is the recipient of the ETSU Outstanding Staff Award, served as Staff Senate President and is recognized in the ETSU College of Education Hall of Fame. She is a Faculty Emeritus and was named ETSU Outstanding Alumna. She has a street named in her honor on the campus. In 2025, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from ETSU. Nancy was inducted in the Girl Scouts Trefoil Society.

She chairs the board of Tennesseans for Quality Early Education and served as chair of the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation. She serves on the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Tennessee Lottery Corporation board, the Niswonger Foundation board and as vice chair of the Jackson Theatre board. She formerly served on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC); the boards of Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association, and Tusculum University; and the Advisory Council for the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE).

Nancy and her husband, Harold, reside in Jonesborough, Tennessee. They have four children and three grandchildren.