[HBCU Presidents] Dr. Ivory V. Nelson: Lincoln University
Posted on 15. Dec, 2009 by Leshell Hatley in Chemistry, Faculty, HBCU Presidents, I'm a Full Professor!, Research, Scholarly Celebrations
Dr. Ivory V. Nelson, who has achieved a national reputation for his distinguished leadership in higher education, became the twelfth president of Lincoln University on August 15, 1999. Before coming to Lincoln, Dr. Nelson had served as the president of Central Washington University (CWU) for more than seven years. He was formally inaugurated as Lincoln’s president on April 14, 2000. A trained chemist, Dr. Nelson is listed among the world’s top scientists.
Education
He graduated magna cum laude from Grambling State University, in Louisiana, in 1959, with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, chemistry. He immediately entered the University of Kansas, Lawrence, where he graduated with the Doctor of Philosophy degree in analytical chemistry with high departmental honors.
While at the University of Kansas, Dr. Nelson’s academic honors included induction into Phi Beta Kappa honorary society, Phi Lambda Upsilon honorary chemical society and the society of Sigma Xi for scientists. He has subsequently been inducted into Kappa Delta Phi education honor society, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Phi Sigma physics honor society.
Career
In addition, he has a record of active community involvement throughout his 30-plus years in higher education. He served on the board of directors of Key Bank of Washington and was a member of the Washington State Commission on Student Learning, by gubernatorial appointment. He also was a member of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Arts, State of Washington. Dr. Nelson’s career in higher education includes receiving the Fulbright Lectureship, teaching graduate and undergraduate chemistry, and serving as department head, assistant dean of academic affairs, and vice president for research.
During the early 1980s, Dr. Nelson also served one year as acting president of Prairie View A&M University and three years as executive assistant to the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. From 1986 to March 1992, he served as chancellor of the Alamo Community College District, San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Nelson’s Accomplishments at Lincoln University:
Dr. Nelson has authored eleven technical publications in the field of analytical chemistry, a chapter in one book and a chapter in a monograph. He has secured extensive outside funding through grants and proposal writing. In addition, he has acquired significant funding from state legislatures to construct major academic facilities.
His career in the corporate sector includes assignments as a research chemist for both Union Carbide and American Oil Company. Dr. Nelson is profiled in a book entitled, Distinguished African American Scientists of the 20th Century.
The Central Washington University Foundation honored Dr. Nelson by establishing a $50,000 Ivory V. Nelson Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Chemistry, and the Board of Trustees of CWU passed a Resolution in August 1999 conferring on him the title of President Emeritus.
About Lincoln University:
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Information obtained from Lincoln University’s website.
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