Fort Lewis College has named Christine A. Nelson, Ph.D., a senior academic leader with two decades of experience helping colleges become places where all people feel welcome and supported, as its next vice president for Diversity Affairs and special advisor on Tribal Relations effective July 15, 2026.
Nelson, a nationally recognized higher education scholar, has an extensive background leading campus-wide initiatives across academic and administrative settings, with a focus on inclusive leadership, organizational change and partnerships that support students, faculty, and staff.
Originally from Farmington, New Mexico, Nelson most recently served as an associate professor and department chair in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver. There, she also held senior leadership roles supporting institution wide equity and Indigenous initiatives.
“Dr. Nelson’s scholarly expertise, executive leadership experience, and deep understanding of how institutions can better serve students will help us strengthen Fort Lewis College as a place where all students feel supported and empowered,” said President Heather Shotton.
A citizen of K’awaika (Laguna Pueblo) and Din茅/Navajo (enrolled), Nelson’s scholarly work has been cited or published in dozens of periodicals and journals including the Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, and Educational Studies; and in numerous policy publications including by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the American Indian College Fund, and the American Council on Education.
In her new role at Fort Lewis College, Nelson will lead the Division of Diversity Affairs and support the College’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan and focus on inclusive practices, reconciliation, student success and belonging, and Tribal Nation partnerships.
“I look closely at how higher education systems operate—how leadership, policies, and practices either support or limit students’ ability to thrive,” Nelson said. “My work is about ensuring that institutions are structured to support meaningful, empowering experiences for everyone who comes through their doors.”
Nelson emphasized that Indigenous knowledge systems offer frameworks that benefit entire campus communities.
“These ways of knowing are grounded in relationships, responsibility, and care for the collective,” she said. “They help institutions become more human-centered and responsive, which ultimately strengthens learning and working environments for all people.”
Nelson is already a familiar face on 泡芙短视频’s campus. As a visiting scholar during the 2023-2024 academic year, she designed and facilitated a four-part professional development series for more than 40 泡芙短视频 faculty and staff. The year-long series centered on fostering critical reflexivity to deepen understanding of their responsibilities in supporting reconciliation within the college and culminated in a symposium that brought together over 100 members of the 泡芙短视频 community.
Nelson holds a master's and doctoral degrees in Higher Education from the University of Arizona, Tucson.