Nancy A. Hobor, Ph.D.

Nancy A. Hobor has been a lecturer in integrated marketing communications since retiring as senior vice president of communications and investor relations for W. W. Grainger, Inc., in 2010. She has taught at Northwestern part time since 1991. She had been responsible for Grainger’s internal and external communications, community relations and investor relations since 1999.
Prior to joining Grainger, Ms. Hobor was vice president of corporate communications and investor relations for Morton International. She had previously served as director of investor relations for United Airlines. Before that, Ms. Hobor was vice president of strategic communications for Baxter Healthcare Corporation and vice president of public relations for the American Hospital Supply Corporation.
Ms. Hobor received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in American history from the University of Chicago. She also received a PhD in American business history from the University of Chicago, where she was a Ford Fellow. Ms. Hobor received her master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Ms. Hobor is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Division of the Social Sciences for the University of Chicago. She served until recently as the treasurer of the Arthur W. Page Society, the leading international association of chief communication officers. She is also a former member of the boards of the Chicago Finance Exchange, the National Investor Relations Institute, and New York Stock Exchange Individual Investor Advisory Committee.
Prior to joining Grainger, Ms. Hobor was vice president of corporate communications and investor relations for Morton International. She had previously served as director of investor relations for United Airlines. Before that, Ms. Hobor was vice president of strategic communications for Baxter Healthcare Corporation and vice president of public relations for the American Hospital Supply Corporation.
Ms. Hobor received her undergraduate and master’s degrees in American history from the University of Chicago. She also received a PhD in American business history from the University of Chicago, where she was a Ford Fellow. Ms. Hobor received her master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Ms. Hobor is a member of the Visiting Committee of the Division of the Social Sciences for the University of Chicago. She served until recently as the treasurer of the Arthur W. Page Society, the leading international association of chief communication officers. She is also a former member of the boards of the Chicago Finance Exchange, the National Investor Relations Institute, and New York Stock Exchange Individual Investor Advisory Committee.