WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Jan. 17, 2017 — Nancy Miller Greiner joined West Liberty University a little over a year ago as its First Lady. A new but familiar role for her, this is the third time that she has served at a college led by her husband, Dr. Stephen Greiner.
“Though I’ve served at other colleges, I’ve been especially impressed by the beauty of the hilltop campus and its talented student body, dedicated staff and welcoming faculty,” she said. Other colleges that her husband led include the Hazard Community and Technical College (Ky.), Brunswick Community College (N.C.) and president of Virginia Intermont College.
A Southerner with Hampton Roads and Tidewater, Virginia roots, she is an elegant, petite lady and was a professional educator and administrator for 30 years, retiring in 2013. She married Greiner in 1986.
For many years she taught in Myrtle Beach High School (Horry County, S.C.), working with children with disabilities.
She and her husband now reside at Colonial Heights, the official home of all WLU’s presidents. The white two-story home sits atop a small hill near the Faculty Drive entrance to campus. With classic pillars, black shutters, a large yard and patio, it acts as the perfect compliment to the nearby alumni house known as Liberty Oaks.
“We are very happy here and the home is lovely. I’ve enjoyed getting to know the University and how it functions, but it’s been especially enjoyable to get to know the faculty and staff and to meet the alumni and all the wonderful students,” she said.
Nancy is naturally gracious, soft-spoken and friendly. She is pleased to welcome students and staff to her home and often is hostess at dinners for guests that might include faculty, board members and new students.
A graduate of Virginia Tech and Old Dominion universities, she met Dr. Greiner at an Old Dominion women’s basketball game while he was a professor and she was a teacher at a local high school. She now enjoys basketball and loves watching our highly ranked Hilltopper basketball teams regularly at the ASRC.
The mother of twin children, she had the unique experience of having both a daughter and a son at the same time — fraternal twins. Her children are graduates of Virginia Tech and each are now pursuing their professional careers.
Son John is working in Chicago for Deloitte Consulting and reportedly loves it there, according to his mom. Daughter Jacquelyn will graduate from medical school in May and become a bride later that month, marrying her high school sweetheart, Kyle Booher.
Nancy is helping her daughter now to plan for the May 27 wedding, which will make for a very busy spring.
Right now though, she just finished her first holiday season in her new home.
“The holidays were perfect. Our children, Steve’s family, and our friends visited and enjoyed the dinner we prepared. That’s what Steve and I like best about Christmas, just being together,” she added.
“Moving to West Liberty offered a wonderful opportunity to be more involved with Steve’s family now that the distance factor is gone,” she said.
The Greiners used to visit several times a year to stay in touch with other members of the family in Northern Panhandle, where he’s from originally. They often stayed at Oglebay Park.
President Greiner’s father, John S. Greiner, worked for Weirton Steel for many years and the president was educated at Weirton public schools, graduating from Weir High School. His brother Jon is a retired Pittsburgh broadcast reporter who lives in Toronto, Ohio, while his other brother, Nick, lives in their childhood home in Weirton. His sister Lisa DiCarlo is a resident of Mingo Junction, Ohio. Nancy’s brother, Richard, resides in Honduras.
Nancy has found the Wheeling area easy to adapt to since she has this family connection. She enjoys working out at Howard Long Wellness Center and recently took up bridge, which she’s enjoying with other local card enthusiasts.
“West Liberty University has such a long successful history and plays a big part in the community at large. I am looking forward to assisting more in the future and contributing in any way that I can to its future.”