About Dr. Charlie Nelms
Charlie Nelms is a 1996 recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Service Award from Indiana University. This is the University’s highest accolade reserved solely for its outstanding alumni. He earned his master's degree in higher education and student affairs as well as a doctorate in higher education administration from Indiana University.
He served as Chancellor of Indiana University East from 1987-1994 and Chancellor of the University of Michigan at Flint from 1994-1998. He returned to his alma mater in 1998 as Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs. The range of his service to IU extends from institutional research and effectiveness to academic support services; from expanding K-12 outreach initiatives to enhancing diversity, access, and excellence.
As an active member of professional, civic, and higher-education organizations, Nelms' dedication is apparent in the roles he has played on the National Advisory Board of the National Survey of Student Engagement and the American Council on Education's Commission for Leadership Development.
His current board memberships include The American Association of State Colleges and Universities and The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. In 2007, Charlie Nelms was named the 10th Chancellor of North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina.
The Charlie Nelms Alumni Award has been created in recognition of Nelms' stalwart pursuit to bridge the gaps in all areas of life for disenfranchised and underserved people. An award recipient is one who has continued to exemplify the mission of Indiana University, as demonstrated in their career tenure, or in the long-term impact of their community engagement.