SPRING 2010 - The University of Texas-Pan American

RESEARCHUTPA PresidentRobert S. NelsenJust an old cowhand (now) from the Rio GrandeSome might refer to the new president at TheUniversity of Texas-Pan American as a “Dallascowboy” based on his ever-present cowboy boots,his black hat, his western suits and his 18 yearsworking at The University of Texas System’s highereducation institution in that city.However, the line from the famous Johnny Mercersong, “I’m an old cowhand from the Rio Grande,”now more appropriately fits Dr. Robert S. Nelsen,who grew up poor milking and rounding up cowson a ranch in Montana.“I learned to milk a cow before I ever sat on ahorse,” he told a gathering on campus recently.Nelsen, who began his new position as UTPA’seighth president, Jan. 1, 2010, keeps reminders ofhis past close at hand, even displaying a well-wornsaddle in his office once owned by the Wild Westshow performer Calamity Jane.“It is an ice breaker,” said Nelsen, who alsodisplays Calamity Jane’s picture by the saddle, whichwas given to him by an old family friend, and can tellyou tales about the frontierswoman’s rowdy life.Nelsen was seen as a “perfect fit” to fill thepresidency here by those who know him best andurged him to apply. His longtime colleagues pointedto Nelsen’s humble upbringing, his affinity for bothstudents and faculty and his willingness to takeon challenges and get things done successfully, beit developing new academic programs, leading areaccreditation process or implementing a strategicplan. Additionally, he is fluent in Spanish, a subjecthe started taking formal classes in as a sixth grader.As a first generation college student, Nelsenstruggled financially to obtain a higher educationjust like many students do now at UTPA, where 70percent receive financial aid.“My parents were barely making it – we never atebeef, we ate venison. We had 85 cows on 1,000 acresat 20 cents a pound. You don’t make much money,”he said.At Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah,where Nelsen earned both his bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees in political science, his first jobamong several was going door to door spray paintingstreet addresses on the curb. He also worked as ajanitor from 3 to 8 a.m. buffing floors, then afterclasses went to his evening job at a sporting goodsstore. While working on his doctorate, he served asa university residence hall head so he could get freerent and food – an experience, he said, that made hisfirst month as president living in a residence hall atUTPA not feel that unusual.Nelsen has had his share of academic challengesand uncertainties, as well. Even though he wrote hisfirst story at age 4, studied with Nobel Laureates,such as Saul Bellow, at the University of Chicago,and developed and taught in the creative writingprogram at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD),he was found to be dyslexic in his childhood.“I reverse letters and things like that. It’s not a badcase. You just have to work a little harder,” he said.He also dropped out of school for a year, anoccurrence not uncommon in Valley students whoneed to help their families financially. Nelsen leftwith only six hours to complete to take a positionsetting up Western clothing stores in Californiaduring the “Urban Cowboy” era, he said. He wasurged to return to school by his wife Jody, whom hemarried in 1975.“Jody is my best friend. She knew I was anintellectual and was tired of not seeing me readingor writing anything during that year,” said Nelsen,who went on to earn his Ph.D. from the Committeeon Social Thought at the University of Chicagowith a specialization in modern literature, modernphilosophy and modern political theory.A faculty brat, Jody is the daughter of alaw professor and is an experienced universityadministrator herself, beginning her career at UTD.She is currently executive vice president for financeand administration at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where Nelsen also last worked asassociate vice president for academic affairs and aprofessor of English. The couple converses severaltimes a day, and she commutes every weekend to bewith her husband.“People are often surprised that I know so muchabout budgets. Well, if you are with a financial personevery day of your life, you better know about them.If I have a financial question, I ask her; she knowsthe answers,” he said.A passionate writer, Nelsen is an accomplishedauthor with numerous publications of fiction inliterary journals and has completed a collectionof short stories, Orphans, Bums and Angels, aswell as a novel that is currently under a publisher’sreview. Nelsen has an equal passion for teaching andmotivating students to succeed.“I am a very good teacher. Part of it is performance.I love turning people on, seeing them realize thatthey can do this (creative writing). All that theyhave to do is portray their emotions, and they can besuccessful,” said Nelsen, who in 2005 was awardedthe UT System Chancellor’s Council Award forOutstanding Teaching.Nelsen also became a faculty leader at UT Dallas,serving five terms as Speaker of the Faculty (head ofthe Faculty Senate), and remains a firm believer inLos Arcos 13Story by Gail Fagan (continued on page 14)