Nancy Herard-Marshall

As an educator and visiting instructor, Nancy has taught cultural competency and social justice in the creative arts therapies at Pratt Institute, where she also served as co-curriculum consultant to dismantle and decolonize the current educational program. Before her metastatic breast cancer (MBC) diagnosis, she maintained a private practice as the proprietor of Gaya Healing Arts, where she provided services to her community as a psychotherapist, dance/movement therapist, authentic movement practitioner, and Ra Sekhi Kemetic Reiki practitioner. Nancy utilizes artistic, contemporary, and ancestral healing techniques as emotional support to Black, Indigenous, and all people of color from a culturally affirming therapeutic approach.

In 2013 Nancy was diagnosed with DCIS and completed aggressive treatment. However, in 2020, during the COVID 19 pandemic, she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Although navigating the diagnosis has been challenging, Nancy has continued to wear her many hats while showing up for herself, her family, and her community.

As a patient advocate, Nancy is an LBBC 2021 Hear My Voice alumni, a member of Komen’s MBC Steering Committee, and a Grasp Advocate. She has also spoken on panels in Susan G. Komen webinars regarding palliative care as well as integrative & complementary therapies. Nancy looks forward to increasing her advocacy work to amplify the voices of those living with MBC.