College of Humanities People
William Nelson Jr., Professor Emeritus
Department of African American and African Studies: http://aaas.osu.edu/
486F University Hall, 230 North Oval Mall, Columbus, OH, 43210
Email: nelson.18@osu.edu
Phone: 614-292-0453
Fax: 614-292-2293
Office Hours:
MW 1130-100 & by appt.
General Background:
Dr. William E. Nelson, Jr. is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. 'He received his B.A. Degree in 1962 in History and Government from A. M. & N. College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (Now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff). 'Dr. Nelson received the M. A. 'Degree in 1964 in Political Science from Atlanta University (Now Clark-Atlanta University) and the PH. D. Degree in 1971 in Political Science from the University of Illinois. 'From 1963-1965 he served as instructor in Political Science at Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'He joined the faculty of the Department of Political Science at The Ohio State University in 1969. 'From 1972-1986 he served as Chair of the Department of Black Studies at Ohio State University. 'Currently, Dr. Nelson holds the position of Research Professor of African American and African Studies, Professor of Political Science, and Director of the Center for Research and Public Policy at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Nelson has been extremely active in professional and community activities. 'He is the former President of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists. He is the former President 'of the African Heritage Studies Association. 'Dr. Nelson is also former Chair of the National Council for Black Studies and former Vice President of the American Political Science Association. 'His professional and community work has included service as President of the Columbus Chapter of the National Black Political Assembly, service as Regional and State Director and National Chair of the Publications Committee of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, member of the Executive Council of the International Peace Research Association, member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Black Studies, The National Political Science Review, and Urban Affairs Quarterly.
Dr. Nelson's teaching and research interests are in the areas of American Politics, Urban Politics, Black Politics, Comparative Race and Ethnic Relations and Public Policy. 'He has lectured widely at colleges and universities and conferences in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean. South America, Asia and Africa. His publications include the classic study Electing Black Mayors: Political Action in the Black Community, co-authored with Philip Meranto, and Black Atlantic Politics: Dilemmas of Political Empowerment in Boston and Liverpool. 'His articles have appeared in the Public Administration Review, Urban Affairs Quarterly, Review of Black Political Economy, National Political Science Review, The Annals of Political Science, and other scholarly publications. His current research focus is on comparative racial politics in New York and Toronto.
Among Dr. Nelson's awards and achievements are: Best Book Award in the field of Comparative Race and Ethnic Studies, Race and Ethnicity Section, The American Political Science Association, September, 2001(For Black Atlantic Politics: Dilemmas of Political Empowerment in Boston and Liverpool); The Distinguished Service Award, Office of Minority Affairs, The Ohio State University, 1988; The Distinguished Achievement Award, Dillard University, 1988; Award of merit for Lifetime Scholarly Achievement, the American Political Science Association, 1988, Fulbright Foreign Research Grant, 1990; and Success Stories Teaching Award, The Ohio State University, 1993.