Charlie Nelms

Last updated
Chancellor Charlie Nelms Charlienelms.jpg
Chancellor Charlie Nelms

Charlie Nelms is an educator and administrator who served as the tenth chancellor of North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. On July 26, 2012, after completing a five-year commitment to serve at the institution, Dr. Nelms announced his retirement, effective August 6, 2012. [1] He currently is a contributing writer to The Huffington Post on educational issues and has founded Destination Graduation, a non-profit organization focused on increasing retention and graduation rates at the nation's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Contents

Biography

Charlie Nelms, Ed.D., has more than 40 years of experience and leadership in higher education. Nelms served as chancellor of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham from 2007 to 2012. During his tenure, Nelms intensified the university's emphasis on student success, setting ambitious goals for increasing student retention and graduation rates. A few of his accomplishments included raising the standards for undergraduate admissions and progression; guiding the establishment of the first and only Ph.D. program to be offered at NCCU in 50 years; initiating and completing a comprehensive academic program review, which led to the merging or discontinuation of more than a dozen academic programs; transitioning from NCAA Division II to Division I and membership in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference; and creating the Division of Research and Economic Development which assisted the university in receiving the largest sponsored research grants in its history (more than $100 million flowing to NCCU researchers in five years). During his tenure, U.S. News & World Report ranked NCCU as one of the best public HBCUs in the country for three consecutive years. [2]

In 2011, Nelms published "A Call to Action", [3] a policy directive intended to spur a national dialogue concerning the revitalization of the historically black colleges and universities as an important sector of American higher education.

Indiana University career

In 1978, Nelms began his on-again, off-again tenure within the Indiana University system with his appointment as assistant professor of education as well as Director of the University Division and Associate Dean for Student Services at Indiana University Northwest in Gary. Within the year, his administrative title and position changed to Associate Dean Academic Affairs. In 1984, he resigned to accept a position as Vice President for Student Services at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, but returned to the Indiana University system in 1987 to serve as Chancellor of the Indiana University East campus, where he remained until 1994. He then left IU to lead the University of Michigan-Flint campus, which he felt was more diverse than Indiana University Bloomington and would allow him to go forward with his diversity initiatives. [4]

The Indiana University alum was drawn back to Bloomington in 1998 to serve in his final IU position as the Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs, as well as serving in the School of Education as Professor of Higher Education Administration. Major achievements attributed to his work during this period included the establishment of the Honors College (previously just a Division), implementation of the Mission Differentiation Project which focused on the missions of the 8 IU campuses, and system-wide work with university leaders to develop and initiate programs to aid in retention and graduation.

Nelms resigned in 2007 to assume the position of chancellor at North Carolina Central University. [5]

Personal

Nelms is married and has one son.

Publications

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University Bloomington</span> Public research university in Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.

Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university in Bloomington, Indiana. It is the flagship campus of Indiana University and its largest campus with over 40,000 students. Established as the state's seminary in 1820, the name was changed to "Indiana College" in 1829 and to "Indiana University" in 1838.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina Central University</span> Public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina, US

North Carolina Central University is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from both Northern and Southern philanthropists. It was made part of the state system in 1923, when it first received state funding and was renamed as Durham State Normal School. It added graduate classes in arts and sciences and professional schools in law and library science in the late 1930s and 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis</span> Defunct university in Indianapolis, Indiana, US

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) was a public research university in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. It was a collaboration between Indiana University and Purdue University that offered undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees from both universities. Administered primarily through Indiana University as a core campus and secondarily through Purdue University as a regional campus, it was Indiana's primary urban research and academic health sciences institution. IUPUI was located in downtown Indianapolis along the White River and Fall Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University School of Medicine</span> Medical school of Indiana University

The Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM) is a major, multi-campus medical school located throughout the U.S. state of Indiana and is the graduate medical school of Indiana University. There are nine campuses throughout the state; the principal research, educational, and medical center is located on the campus of Indiana University Indianapolis. With 1,461 MD students, 195 PhD students, and 1,442 residents and fellows in the 2023–24 academic year, IUSM is the largest medical school in the United States. The school offers many joint degree programs including an MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program. It has partnerships with Purdue University's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, other Indiana University system schools, and various in-state external institutions. It is the medical school with the largest number of graduates licensed in the United States per a 2018 Federation of State Medical Boards survey with 11,828 licensed physicians.

Herman B Wells, a native of Boone County, Indiana, was the eleventh president of Indiana University Bloomington and its first university chancellor. He was pivotal in the transformation of Indiana University from a small, locally oriented college into a world-class institution of higher learning through expanded enrollment, recruitment of new faculty, construction of new buildings, new program offerings, and campus beautification projects. He remained steadfast in his support of IU's faculty and students, especially in the areas of academic freedom and civil rights. Wells began his career in banking, but served the university in a variety of faculty and administrative capacities during his seventy-year career at IU Bloomington: instructor and assistant professor, department of economics (1930–35; dean and professor of administration, school of business administration ; acting president ; and president. He gave up control in 1962 to become university chancellor ; interim president ; and chairman of the board of the Indiana University Foundation, as well as other leadership roles at the IU Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University South Bend</span> Public university in South Bend, Indiana, U.S.

Indiana University South Bend is a public university in South Bend, Indiana. It is the third largest and northernmost campus of Indiana University.

Indiana University Southeast is a public university in New Albany, Indiana. It is a regional campus of Indiana University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus</span> Defunct university in Columbus, Indiana

Indiana University—Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) was a public university in Columbus, Indiana, United States. IUPUC offered degree programs from both Indiana University and Purdue University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Herbert</span> American academic administrator

Adam William Herbert, Jr. is an American retired academic administrator. He served as president of the University of North Florida from 1989 to 1998, as chancellor of the State University System of Florida from 1998 to 2001, and as president of Indiana University from 2003 to 2007. He was the first African-American to hold the latter two positions. He announced his retirement from Indiana University in 2007, and was succeeded by Michael McRobbie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana University Kokomo</span> Public university in Kokomo, Indiana, U.S.

Indiana University Kokomo is a public university in Kokomo, Indiana. It is a regional campus of Indiana University serving north central Indiana.

Thomas Ehrlich is a consulting professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Education.

John T. Wolfe Jr. is an American higher education consultant and retired administrator. He served as president of Kentucky State University from 1990 to 1991; and president of Savannah State College from 1993 until 1997.

John William Ryan was an American academic administrator who most notably served as the President of Indiana University for sixteen years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Harris (public policy scholar)</span>

Michael Harris is an Israeli-American public policy scholar and university administrator. He is currently the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of Tennessee State University and a Professor of Public Administration and Policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold L. Martin</span> American academic administrator and engineer (born 1951)

Harold L. Martin Sr. is an American engineer, educator, former chancellor of Winston-Salem State and current chancellor of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. He is the first alumnus in the history of North Carolina A&T to hold the position of Chancellor. Under his leadership, N.C. A&T has become the nation's largest historically black university (HBCU), its top-ranked public HBCU and North Carolina's third most productive public research university. It has also increased its standing as a land-grant institution and doctoral research university.

William Marmaduke Plater is an American higher education consultant and Indiana University Chancellor's Professor Emeritus of Public Affairs, Philanthropy, and English, and Executive Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculties Emeritus at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).

Francis T. Borkowski is an American former university professor, chancellor, and university president. Before holding administrative positions, he was a musician and conductor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry L. Williams</span> American educator

Harry L. Williams is an American educator who is president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), an organization representing the Black College Community. Williams oversees its 53 member-schools. Williams has held positions within the University of North Carolina General Administration, Appalachian State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Delaware State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lester M. Wolfson</span> Chancellor

Lester M. Wolfson was the founding and longest-serving chancellor at the Indiana University South Bend from 1969 to 1987. He led the regional IU campus until his retirement in 1987 and is credited for its current development. Wolfson was born in Evansville, Indiana, and was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1987 Governor of Indiana Robert D. Orr named Wolfson a Sagamore of the Wabash, the highest honor awarded in the state. He is the subject of Patrick Furlong's book A Campus Becoming.

Felecia Diane McInnis Nave is an American chemical engineer and academic administrator. She is the 20th president of Alcorn State University and the first female to serve in the position.

References

  1. "NCCU Chancellor Nelms Announces Retirement" . Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  2. "North Carolina Central University". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  3. "Charlie Nelms, Ed.D." at Huffington Post
  4. Chalk, Robin S. (16 June 1994). "Chancellor challenges IU to create more diversity". Indiana Daily Student.
  5. "Charlie Nelms resume". LinkedIn. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  6. "Charlie Nelms". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. 1999-05-12. Retrieved 2022-01-13.