Charlie Nelms, Ed.D.

Dr. Charlie Nelms is a nationally recognized leader in higher education, a powerful storyteller, and a lifelong social justice advocate. Over the course of five decades, his influence has been felt across college campuses, national organizations, and communities striving for equity.

Born September 11, 1946, in the Arkansas Delta town of Crawfordsville, Nelms was the fifth of 11 children of Eddie Sr. and Carrie (Stokes) Nelms. Although neither parent was educated beyond middle school, they instilled in their children the values of voting, land ownership, and education. Their guidance bore extraordinary fruit: nine of the siblings went on to earn post-graduate degrees.

Although he is a member of the class of 1969, Nelms graduated a year early from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College, now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), where he earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and agronomy. His educational journey then took him to Indiana University (IU). Dr. Nelms completed both his master’s and doctoral degrees, launching what would become a nearly 50-yearaffiliation with the institution. He broke barriers as the first African American to serve as both a chancellor of an IU campus and as vice president of the University system.

His distinguished career includes serving as chancellor at Indiana University East, the University of Michigan–Flint, and North Carolina Central University (NCCU), which U.S. News & World Report ranked among the nation’s best public historically Black colleges and universities for three consecutive years under his leadership. Dr. Nelms has been bestowed with Indiana University’s highest honors, including the President’s Medal for Excellence, the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, and the Thomas Hart Benton Mural Medallion for Distinguished Achievement. The university also awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2019, joining Earlham College, Martin University, and UAPB, which also awarded him honorary degrees. Nelms was awarded prestigious fellowships from the Ford Foundation and the American Council on Education.

In 2012, President Barack Obama honored him with the MLK Drum Major for Service Award. Beyond administrative leadership, Nelms is a consistent public voice on higher education, leadership, and social justice. He is the author of Having My Say: Reflections of a Black Baby Boomer and Start Where You Find Yourself. His memoir, From Cotton Fields to University Leadership: All Eyes on Charlie(IU Press, 2019), was featured as part of Indiana University’s bicentennial celebration. Nelms donates all royalties from his books to the United Negro College Fund and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in support of HBCU scholarships. His advocacy for higher education and social justice is frequently sought after at conferences nationwide and on myriad radio and podcast platforms.

Dr. Nelms has also contributed as a writer to the Huffington Post for five years. Together with his wife, Jeanetta Sherrod Nelms, Dr. Nelms established endowed scholarships at UAPB, University of Michigan–Flint, IU East, and NCCU, benefiting 30–40 students annually. As a consultant, he has raised more than $200 million in support of HBCUs. In retirement, he continues to serve as President-in-Residence with the United Negro College Fund, Senior Consultant with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and Senior Consultant with the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and College