Finch Turns Love for Writing into Successful Career

RADFORD -- Nancy Finch was already an established writer at the Richmond Times-Dispatch when she was named the newspaper’s food editor. The appointment was earned, she says, because “I had taken a year of home economics at Radford, and they thought I knew something about food, which was wrong,” Finch said with a laugh.

In fact, Finch’s foray into home economics at Radford in the late 1950s sustained an early setback during her freshman year when she burned a hole in a pan while boiling water. “I changed my major soon after that,” the Richmond native said.

That was ok with Finch. She had plans to be a writer, and she turned her ambition into a successful career in journalism and public relations.

Finch, who worked many years as a writer and communicator, was among a group of Radford alumnae from the class of 1960 who returned to the Radford University campus this weekend to celebrate their Golden Reunion. “I had such a wonderful time at the reunion,” Finch said. “It was so nice to see everyone and to be back on campus.”

Finch first began honing her journalism craft at Radford, where she served as the editor of the student newspaper, Grapurchat, and worked for the Radford News-Journal.

“I really learned a lot at Radford,” said Finch, who credits former Radford English professor Bob McGovern with helping her along the way. After college, however, Finch was turned away from the profession by a “very scary news editor in Roanoke who told me they didn’t need a writer,” Finch recalled.

Taking the rejections in stride, she then turned to a brief career in social work in Staunton. “At that point, I didn’t have much confidence in my journalism abilities because I didn’t have a lot of experience,” she recalled.

However, it didn’t take Finch long to venture back into the world of journalism, working for community newspapers, covering a variety of topics and events and writing feature stories. She later took at job at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in the women’s department, years before women were hired to work in the newsroom.

Some of her proudest career moments came from the stories she penned along the way, stories “that I felt resulted in some accomplishment,” Finch noted. One of her most memorable writings, however, was a humor piece for the Richmond Times-Dispatch that chronicled her 50th birthday journey to a Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan concert. “That was such a fun story,” she said. “I think I got more comments on that story than any other.”

Finch’s journalism prowess and years of experience led her to a career in public relations, working as an information director for the Virginia Community College System. Later, she joined the Public Relations Council and served in governmental relations at the Virginia General Assembly for George Mason University, Mary Washington University, Virginia Retired Teachers Association and Virginian’s for High Speed Rail.

Finch also tried her hand in politics, running for the Virginia General Assembly in 1995. “I didn’t win, but I was proud of the race we ran,” she said. “It took a lot of courage and a lot of work, and it gave me great respect for those who are in politics.”

Though retired now, Finch still finds time to write occasional op-ed pieces for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “I love to write,” she said. “It’s what I always wanted to do.”