Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Nancy attended Somerset High School, graduating in 1983 and she graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where she was a member of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority with a degree in chemical engineering in 1987. From 1998 to 2001, Nancy was one of the writers of South Park, and in 2002, she wrote the script for the film The Sweetest Thing. She also replaced Jimmy Kimmel as co-host of the Comedy Central game show Win Ben Stein's Money, a job she held from 2000 through 2002. Nancy is best friends with actress Kate Walsh of Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice.