Nancy McDonald Ladd is Director of Communications and Public Ministry at the UUA. Rev. Ladd leads the development and implementation of the UUA’s communications strategy, ensures that strategy addresses the UUA’s intersectional justice priorities, and manages the UUA Communications staff. Previously, she served as Senior Minister at River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation from 2012 - 2024. Under her leadership, River Road became both a beacon and a beta-test for new forms of lay, staff and clergy collaboration within and across congregations.

Along with the Rev. Manish Mishra-Marzetti, she co-edited a new volume (published by the UUA’s publishing imprint Skinner House Books), Seeds of a New Way: Nurturing Authentic and Diverse Religious Leadership, which explores the unique demands and possibilities such collaboration can bring to leadership in the progressive faith traditions. She is also the author of After the Good News: Progressive Religion Beyond Optimism. 

She lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her spouse and two children.