The Lincolnian

Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: News

Lincoln President Ivory V. Nelson, Ph.D. (far right), is joined by, from left: his wife, Dr. Patricia A. Nelson, Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell (D-Pa.) and his wife, Judge Midge Rendell, Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, at the University's 150th Anniversary Gala celebration at the Wyndham Philadelphia at Franklin Plaza on October 24, 2003.

If you believe that old cliché that "behind every great man is a great woman," one must stop and listen to the story of Patricia Nelson.

The First Lady of Lincoln University keeps a low-profile, but she is friendly and eager to talk about her husband's legacy as she did recently at her modest home next to the Mary Dod Memorial Chapel.

Sitting on a beautifully decorated couch in her beaded house shoes, Patricia Nelson reveals a side of herself that most students may not know: she has worked as a college professor for 25 years now and has an earned doctorate in education.

The former clinical nurse practitioner has spent the last few years teaching nursing part-time at West Chester University, but has been busy serving as the backbone for her husband as he leads Lincoln University through its major renovations.

"My husband is very practical, a realist and a very intelligent man," Nelson says in an interview with The Lincolnian. She credits her husband with spearheading the most ambitious renovations in Lincoln's history and says that relations between students and faculty have improved during her husband's tenure.

"The comfort level between students and faculty, and the increase in the student body and the openness of the faculty and staff has been a major change on this campus" says Nelson, who adds that since arriving on campus in 1999, she's contemplated teaching a course or two at Lincoln, but never acted on it.

Now, with her husband's contract set to expire next year, Nelson is unsure what is next for the power couple. She says that she does plan to join a church in the community, and will spend more time with her grandchildren. In addition, she plans to take up fishing.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools