Nancy Keenan began her tenure as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America in December 2004. Committed to working on behalf of America's pro-choice majority, Nancy took the reins of the organization pledging to protect and defend the American values of freedom and privacy.

A successful elected official in her native state of Montana, Nancy applied her experiences as a candidate in overseeing NARAL Pro-Choice America's political program in the 2006 midterm elections, which helped fuel the gain of 23 pro-choice seats in the U.S. House and three in the U.S. Senate.  The organization also worked with state-based leaders to defeat three anti-choice ballot measures, including the repeal of an abortion ban in South Dakota that was designed as a direct threat to Roe v. Wade. 

In its 2006 post-election analysis, National Journal listed NARAL Pro-Choice America as one of the top five major political organizations and as a leader among groups that "mobilized their grassroots and got voters to the polls in the most competitive races."  Seventy-five percent of NARAL Pro-Choice America's endorsed candidates won their races.  

Under Nancy's leadership, NARAL Pro-Choice America launched Prevention First, a values-based initiative encouraging lawmakers to focus on commonsense ways to prevent unintended pregnancies and reduce the need for abortion. In February 2005, Nancy issued a challenge to President Bush and his allies who oppose abortion to stop attacking a woman's right to choose and join the organization in supporting efforts to prevent unintended pregnancies through medically accurate sex education, birth control, including the "morning-after" pill, and improved family-planning services.

Nancy's work to reshape the debate on reproductive rights and protect women's access to safe, legal abortion has gained her significant attention. Washingtonian Magazine named her one of the top 100 most powerful women in Washington, DC.  The Detroit News described her as both "forthright and politically savvy," noting that she, among other pro-choice leaders, is responsible for "honing a message about American values of personal responsibility, freedom and privacy" defined as "a new stance and a realistic one."

The American Prospect described Nancy's approach to the debate on choice as "a cunning strategy" that allows "pro-choice advocates to define the terms of the debate." Nationally syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman wrote that "after years of playing defense, NARAL has gone on the offense."

Before coming to NARAL Pro-Choice America, Nancy served as a Montana state legislator and State Superintendent of Public Instruction and ran a strong campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. Nancy's commitment to public service was shaped early in life as one of five children born into an Irish-Catholic family in Anaconda, Montana, a small copper smelter town in the western part of this "red" state. Nancy earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Montana State University and a master's degree in education administration from the University of Montana. Before seeking elected office, Nancy taught children with disabilities in her hometown.

Nancy Keenan is a leading commentator on reproductive health issues. Her list of appearances includes NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, The Brit Hume Report on FOX, CNN and NPR.  She is also routinely quoted in The New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and other major national and regional publications.