Nancy Ireland was born in New York City and raised in Washington, DC. She received a BA from Vassar College in 1974, a master’s in law from Cambridge University in 1977 and a master’s in public administration from Columbia University in 1979. She and her husband, Thomas E. Ireland, were married in 1977 and they have three daughters, Kate, Perrin, and Julia.
Following her graduation from Vassar, Nancy worked for the Vera Institute of Justice for two years in New York City. Upon completion of her master’s degree from Columbia University, Nancy worked in Mayor Ed Koch’s administration in New York City for 10 years in the areas of criminal justice and housing.
Nancy has served on the boards of the Purnell School in New Jersey, the New York Women’s Foundation, the Partnership for Children, and REACH Prep, an academic preparatory program for minority inner-city children in Connecticut. She currently serves on the board of the Roosevelt Institute in New York City and serves as the chair of the Library Trustees.
In November of 2008 she and her business partner launched a lifestyle/newsletter website for women called A Sharp Eye.
She is the daughter of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. and the granddaughter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt.