Résumé
CHARLIENELMS
3707ReedCourt
Bloomington, IN 47401
Cell: 919-943-9790
Office: 812-333-5644
EducationalBackground
Ed.D.IndianaUniversity,HigherEducationAdministration
Concentrations:BusinessAdministrationandPsychology
M.S.IndianaUniversity,HigherEducationandStudentAffairs
B.S.Universityof Arkansasat PineBluff, AgronomyandChemistry
AdministrativeExperience
May 2015 – present
- Principal, Nelms & Associates Consulting
Established a comprehensive higher education firm providing services in:
—Leadership & Institutional Effectiveness
—Strategic Planning & Academic Program Review
—Enrollment Management & Student Success
—Diversity & Inclusion
—Strategic Communications
August 2014 – present
- Senior Consultant, AGB Consulting, Washington, DC
May 2014 – present
- Senior Fellow, Division of Academic Leadership & Change, American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU), Washington, DC
September 2013 – present
- Center Scholar, Center for Postsecondary Research, Indiana University School of Education
September 2013 – August 2014
- Co-principal Investigator, Leading to Completion (L2C)
Sponsored by the Lumina Foundation for Education, the primary objective of this planning project was to assist public, bachelor's degree granting minority serving higher institutions, MSIs, in contributing to the national degree attainment goal. Focusing on the executive leadership of MSIs, our mission was to establish the processes and protocols to engage participants in a sustained effort to improve student degree completion rates.
September 1, 2012 – August 2013
- Founder, the Destination Graduation Initiative
Upon retiring as the tenth chancellor of North Carolina Central University in August 2012, I established the Destination Graduation Initiative (DGI) to assist Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with increasing retention and graduation rates. The central dimension of DGI entailed utilizing the expertise of senior higher education officials, policy experts, and faculty to identify impediments to student academic success and to design strategies for improvement. DGI associates served as coaches to ensure implementation of recommended strategies.
August1,2007– 2012 (retired)
- Chancellor, North Carolina Central University
NorthCarolinaCentralUniversity(NCCU)isaconstituentcampus oftheUniversity ofNorthCarolinasystemwithan enrollmentofmorethan 8,000students.The universityoffersmorethan70bachelors' andmasters'degrees,andalso thejuris doctorateandthenewPh.D.inintegratedbiosciences.An urbancampus withan operatingbudgetinexcessof$210million,theuniversitywasthefirststate- supportedliberal artscollegeestablishedforAfrican-Americans.It isa leaderin liberal arts,teachereducation,business,law,biotechnologyandbiomedical research,amongotherdisciplines.U.S. NewsWorldReportratedtheuniversitythe No.1public historicallyblackcollegefortwoyearsina row.TheSouthernRegional EducationBoardrecognizedNCCU as one ofonly 15master’slevelinstitutions acrossthecountrythatattainsanaveragegraduationrate,givenahighproportion oflow-wealth andlesswell-preparedstudents. Fortwo years,theNCCUSchoolof LawwasratedtheBest ValueLawSchoolby NationalJuristmagazine.
HighlightsofAccomplishments
• Raisedthestandardsforundergraduateadmissionsandprogression.The averageGPAoffreshmenin2007was2.7.By 2012,itwas3.2.
• CreatedUniversityCollegeto enhancestudentretentionthroughintrusive advisingandmentoringprograms.
• EstablishedtheCentennialScholarsprogramtoenhancetheretentionand graduationofblackmalestudents.
• ExpandedK–12andcommunitycollegeoutreach.
• Managedthedevelopment and implementationofa strategicplan fortheuniversity.
• Guidedtheestablishmentofthefirstand onlyPh.D.programto beofferedon campusin50years.
• Initiatedandcompleteda comprehensiveacademicprogramreview,which ledto themergingor discontinuationofmorethan adozenacademic programs.
• Achievedspecializedaccreditationinsixprogramsincludingmembershipin theAssociationofAmericanLawSchools(AALS).NCCUwas onlythethird lawschoolat ahistoricallyblackuniversityto jointheassociation.
• Increasedby50percentthecredithoursofferedonline.
• Oversawthetransitionofthecampustowirelessconnectivity.
• TransitionedfromNCAADivisionIIto DivisionIandmembershipintheMid- EasternAthleticConference.
• CreatedtheDivisionofResearchandEconomicDevelopmentandreceivedthelargestsponsoredresearchgrantsintheuniversity’shistory.In fiveyears,morethan $100million flowedto NCCUresearchers.
• Realignedthebudgetto copewith $60million inpermanentcuts and reversionsoccurringduringthefiveyearsaschancellor.
• Managedthedevelopmentandadoptionofa campus masterplan and the investmentof$75million inconstructionandrenovationoffacilities.
• Transformedthecampuslandscapeto createagreenandbeautiful spacein whichto workandstudy.
• InitiatedtheQuality ServiceInitiative(QSI), whichgarneredthe2012 ExcellenceinHRPracticesAwardfromCUPA-HR,thetradeassociationfor human resourcesprofessionalsinhighereducation.
• Gainednationalrecognitionfortheseaccomplishments.
August1, 1998– 2007
- Vice Presidentfor InstitutionalDevelopment andStudentAffairs and ProfessorofHigher EducationAdministration,IndianaUniversity
AmemberoftheIndiana Universityexecutiveleadershipteam,thevicepresident
forinstitutionaldevelopmentandstudentaffairshadresponsibilityfora combination ofdutiesontheBloomington campusandsystem-widethat transcended administrative,academic,andcampusboundaries.Areasofresponsibilityincluded universityplanning,institutionalresearchandeffectiveness,enrollment management,regionalaccreditation,studentaffairs,academicsupportservices,K–12outreachinitiatives,studentretention,strategicfacultyhiring,chancellor searchesandreviews,honorsprograms,anddiversityand equity. In September 2001,Timemagazine named IU’s Bloomingtoncampus the No. 1student-centered researchUniversityoftheYear. ManyoftheprogramscitedbyTimewereundermy administration.SomekeyinitiativesincludedprovidingleadershipforIndiana University’sMission Differentiation Project (MDP);creation ofa university-wide officeofuniversityplanning,institutionalresearchandaccountability;creationof theuniversity-wideHoosierPresidentialScholarsscholarshipprogram,designedto attract thebestIndianahigh schoolgraduates to IU; andthe creation ofIU’s BusinessDiversityProgramto increasetheinvolvementoffemaleand minority- ownedbusinessesinprocurementactivities.Indiana Universityenrolled approximately100,000studentsoneightcampusesandhadanannual budgetin excessof$2billion.
HighlightsofAccomplishments
• RestructuredtheBloomingtoncampus HonorsDivisionintoan Honors College,hireda seniorscholarasdeanandassistedinsecuringa $10 million gifttoendowthenewlyestablishedInternationalExperiences Program.TheHonorsCollegeontheBloomingtoncampusenrolled approximately3,500students.
• Createda university-wideofficeofplanning,institutionalresearchand accountabilityandhireda nationalleadertoserveas director.
• Implementeda MissionDifferentiationProjectdesignedto strategically focus on the mission ofeachof IndianaUniversity’s eight campuses.
• Developeda $10million endowedHoosierPresidentialScholarsProgram to keepoutstandinghighschoolgraduatesinthestateofIndiana.Funding wasprovidedfroma $26million giftto Indiana UniversityfromtheLilly Endowment.
• Workeduniversity-widewith academicleadersto designandimplement academicinitiativestoenhancestudentretentionandgraduation.
• Workedwith IndianaUniversityPresidentMylesBrandandIUtrusteesto createa multi-yeartuition “set-aside program”to institutionalize retention initiativespreviouslyfundedbytheLillyEndowment.Thetuitionprogram generatedapproximately$7million annuallyinbasefunds.
• Provideduniversity-wideoversightforLillyEndowmentgrantstosupport retention,K–12outreach,careerdevelopmentandscholarshipsexceeding $20million.
• ServedasliaisonbetweentheLuminaFoundationandIndianaUniversity forgrantsexceeding$7.5million insupportofretentionanda widearray ofotherinitiatives.
• Secureda $3million NSFgrant(incollaborationwithPurdueUniversity) to increaseminorityenrollmentinscience,mathandengineeringat selectedIndianacollegesanduniversities;secureda $1million grantfrom theU.S.DepartmentofEducationtoimplement astatewidedistance learning-basedUpwardBoundProgram;andsecureda $500,000grant fromtheCharlesStewart Mott Foundationtopromoteinterracial communicationsamongstudentsat six universitiesaroundthecountry.
• Launchedthe$5million JimmyRossEndowmentFundforUniversity-wide DiversityInitiatives.
• SuccessfullycoordinatedsearchesforchancellorsatIndianaUniversity SouthBend,IndianaUniversitySoutheastandIndianaUniversityKokomo. Playedanactiveroleina half-dozenotherseniorlevel searchesthroughout theuniversity,includingtheBloomingtoncampuschancellor,several deans,the men’s basketball coachandthedirectorofathletics.
• Coordinatedtheplanningeffortthat ledto the establishmentofthe divisionofstudentlifeanddiversityatIndiana University–Purdue University,Indianapolis.
• Playeda keyleadershiproleintheplanning,constructionanddedicationof the$26million Neal-MarshallBlackCulture Center– LeeNorvelle TheatreDramaCenterontheBloomington campus.
• CollaboratedwithFacultyColloquiumonExcellenceinTeaching(FACET) programleadersto infusediversityintothecurriculumat all Indiana UniversityandPurdueUniversitycampuses.RestructuredtheEnhancing MinorityAttainment Annual ConferencetosupporttheFACETdiversity project.
• StrengthenedtheconnectionbetweenIndianaUniversityalumniofcolor andtheuniversityby establishingLatinoandAsianAmericanalumniclubs andimprovingtheinfrastructureoftheNeal-MarshallAlumni Club.
• Facilitatedthehiringofmorethan 60faculty of colorandseniorwomen throughtheStrategicHiringandSupportProgramontheBloomington campus.
• EstablishedtheGhana,West AfricaProgramasameansto promote internationalstudybyAfricanAmericanstudents.
• Establisheda university-wide-minigrantprogramto supportdiversity education.
• CreatedtheCouncilfortheAdvancementandSupportofEducation(CASE) award-winningexhibit,“African Americans atIndianaUniversity: 1838– 2002.”
• Createda national awardwinning program, “Conversations onRace.”
August1,1994– July 31,1998
- Chancellor and Professor of Education, University of Michigan, Flint
The UniversityofMichiganat Flint istheurbancampusoftheUniversityofMichiganandservesalargeindustrialregionofthestate.Thecampusoffersitsurbanand ruralcommuterstudents afullspectrumofundergraduateandmaster’s degree programs.Thechancellorservesasthechiefexecutive officerofthecampus andhasresponsibilityforall aspectsoftheuniversity,includingacademicprograms, personnel,budgetsandplanning.Thecampus enrolledover6,500studentsandhad a budgetofapproximately$60million.
HighlightsofAccomplishments
• Securedover$75million ingiftsofcashandlandina four-yearperiod.
• Developedandimplementeda comprehensiveacademicplan designedto improveacademicquality, responsivenessto studentsandcommunity outreach.
• Instituteda comprehensiveenrollmentmanagement programthatresulted ina sixpercentincreaseinenrollment.
• Resolveda campus budgetdeficitandreverseda four-yearenrollment decline.
• Realignedtheuniversityadministrativestructuretoimproveefficiency andcommunityoutreachbyestablishingtheSchoolofEducationand HumanServicesandtheSchoolofHealthProfessions.Reducedrelianceon contingencyfundsforongoingcampusoperations.
• Instituteda numberofinternalinitiativesdesignedto improve communications,collegiality and faculty/staffinvolvementinbudget developmentandplanning.
• Establisheda UniversityOutreachCenterwithstate,federalandprivate foundationsupport.
• FormedstrategicallianceswiththeK–12schoolsystem,theCityofFlint, health careentities,smallbusinessesandnonprofitagenciestoimprove educationanda hostofquality-of-lifeissues.
• Establishedinstructionaloutreachcentersinthreeseverelyunderserved areasinmid-Michigan– Saginaw,PortHuronandLapeer.
August1,1987– July 31,1994
- Chancellor and Professor of Education, University of Indiana East, Richmond, Indiana
ServedaschancelloratIndianaUniversityEast,oneofeightcampusesintheIndiana Universitysystem.Thecampus offersassociateandbaccalaureate degreesin
education,nursing,socialwork,business,theliberal artsand engineering technology.Selectedgraduatecourseswereofferedineducation,nursingand engineeringtechnology.Thechancellorservesasthecampus chiefexecutive officer andhasresponsibilityforall aspectsofcampusoperations,includingbudgetand planning,academicprograms,external relationsanddevelopment,andstudentand alumniaffairs.IndianaUniversityEastisacommutercampusservingeast central IndianaandwesternOhio.Duringmytenure,thecampus wasthefastest-growing collegeinthestateofIndiana.
HighlightsofAccomplishments
• Implementeda strategicplanningprocessinvolvingall sectorsofthe universitycommunity.
• Leda successfullobbyingeffortthat resultedinan increaseof43percent inthestateappropriationforthecampus overa four-yearperiod.
• Expandedsupportforfacultyresearch,professionaldevelopmentand service.
• Increasedindividualandcorporategiftsfourfoldovera five-yearperiod.
• Securedover$15million inbondingauthorityforlibraryandclassroom facilities.
• Implementeda minorityenhancementprogramdesignedto increasethe academicpreparationofAfrican-Americanstudentspriorto college.
• Expandedcampusoutreachandincreasedheadcountenrollment52 percentandcredithoursby 84percentovera five-yearperiod.
• AchieveduniversityreaccreditationbytheNorthCentralAssociationfora 10-yearperiod.
• FoundedtheWhitewaterRegionalEconomicDevelopmentCouncil(the councilwas financedby theIndianaDepartmentofCommerce,area countiesandlocal industries).
• SuccessfullylobbiedforHigherEducationCommissionapprovaland implementationofseveralnew baccalaureatedegreeprograms.
• Co-foundedtheWorkforceDevelopmentAllianceinRichmond,Indiana (theAlliancewassupportedbytheLillyEndowmentandother foundations).
OtherLeadershipPositions
May 1984– June1987VicePresidentforStudentServices
SinclairCommunityCollege
Dayton,Ohio
July 1978– April1984AssociateDeanforAcademicAffairs Assistant
ProfessorofEducation(tenured)
IndianaUniversityNorthwestGary,Indiana
July 1977– June1978AssociateDirector,CenterforHuman DevelopmentandEducationServices,Assistant ProfessorofEducation
UniversityofArkansasatPineBluff
PineBluff, Arkansas
July 1973– June1977AssociateDeanforStudentDevelopmentand
AssistantProfessorofEducation
Earlham College,Richmond,Indiana
July 1971– June1973Lecturerand Counselor,LehmanCollege
CityUniversityofNewYork
SelectedProfessionalBoards, AffiliationsandActivities
•Member,BoardofDirectors,CharlesStewart Mott Foundation,2007–present
•Member, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) Brain Trust, May 2013 – present
•Member, Center for Minority Serving Institutions Advisory Board, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, May 2013 – present
•Member, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, STEM Advisory Committee, August 2012 – present
•American Council on Education Blue Ribbon Commission on Accreditation, 2011-2012
•Member,BoardofDirectors,AmericanAssociationofStateColleges& Universities,2010– 2012
•Member,BoardofGovernors,CenteronPhilanthropy,IndianaUniversity,2004– 2007
•Member,NationalAdvisoryBoard,NationalSurveyofStudentEngagement (NSSE),2004– present
•FoundingAdvisoryBoardMember,MillenniumLeadershipInitiative, AmericanAssociationofStateCollegesUniversities,1999– present
•Member,NationalCollegiateAthletic Association(NCAA)SportsWagering TaskForce,2004– 2005
•President,NorthCentralAssociation,July1, 2003– June30,2004(K–12 plushighereducation)
•Consultant-evaluator,HigherLearningCommission,NorthCentral AssociationofSchoolsColleges,1987–2004
•Boardof Trustees,HigherLearningCommission,NorthCentral Association,1994– 2004
•Consultant/Evaluator,WesternAssociationofCollegesSchools,2002– 2003
•Member,InterregionalAccreditationCommitteefortheWestern GovernorsUniversity,1996–2003
•Chair,Boardof Trustees,HigherLearningCommission,NorthCentral Association,2000– 2001
•Consultant, MinistryofEducation,UnitedArab Emirates,April 2000
•Chair,CommissionforLeadershipDevelopment,AmericanCouncilon Education,1996– 98
•Consultant-evaluator,MiddleStates Association,1994– 1996
•Member,AccreditationReviewCounciloftheCommissiononInstitutions ofHigherEducation,NorthCentralAssociationofCollegesandSchools, 1992– 1994
•Indiana’s Liaison to theAmerican Association forStateColleges and Universities,1989– 1994
•AmericanCouncilonEducation,CommitteeonSelf Regulation,1988– 1992
•ExecutiveCommittee,ACE CouncilofFellows,AmericanCouncilon Education,1984– 87
•EditorialBoard,NegroEducationalReview,1982– 1996
•Highereducationmissionsto theUnitedArabEmirates,Ghana,Japan, Russia,Namibia, SouthAfrica,UnitedKingdom, Spain, and China
•TraveledthroughoutpartsofAfricaundertheauspicesofAfricareandthe Mott Foundation
SelectedConsultancies
• Kresge Foundation, White House Initiative on HBCUs, Troy, Michigan
• Southern Education Foundation, Atlanta, Georgia
• Lumina Foundation, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Arkansas StateUniversity,Jonesboro,Arkansas
• Martin University, Indianapolis, Indiana
• Institute for Higher Education Policy, Washington, DC
• Central StateUniversity, Wilberforce,Ohio
• GraduateCenter,CityUniversityofNewYork,NewYork
• Kentucky State University, Frankfort, Kentucky
• Lehman College,CityUniversityofNewYork,NewYork
• University of Iowa,Iowa City,Iowa
• University ofMinnesota, Minneapolis,Minnesota
• WilberforceUniversity,Wilberforce,Ohio
PartialList ofCivicandCommunityActivities
•North Carolina Campus Compact,2008–2012
•BoardofDirectors,IndianaAfricanAmericanHistoryMuseum,2003–
2007
•BoardofTrustees, MottChildren’s Health Center,1995–1998
•BoardofDirectors,DowntownDevelopmentAssociation,Flint,Michigan,
1995– 1998
•HurleyMedicalCenter,CancerAdvisoryCommittee,1995– 1998
•BoardofDirectors,FOCUSCouncil, Flint, Michigan,1994–1998
•GreaterFlint EducationalConsortium,1994– 1998
•BoardofDirectors,FirstBank ofRichmond,Richmond,Indiana,1991–
1994
•BoardofDirectors,ReidHospitalandHealthCareServices,Richmond, Indiana,1990– 1994
AcademicRecognition
CharlesJohnsonFoundationFellow, LiberalArtsinHigherEducationSeminar, 1998
ACE Fellow, AmericanCouncilonEducation, 1981-82
FordFellow, ColumbiaUniversity, 1971-73
LillyEndowmentInterninHigherEducation, 1976-77
HonoraryDegrees
DoctorofLaws, 1993,Earlham College,Richmond,Indiana
DoctorofHumaneLetters,2001,UniversityofArkansasat PineBluff
SelectedHonorsandRecognitions
•American Association of Blacks in Higher Education Delaney Distinguished Leadership Award, February 2013
•Southern Region Alpha Phi Alpha Outstanding Leadership Award, February 2013
• 2007RobertShafferDistinguishedAlumnusAwardpresentedattheJoint ACPA/NASPAmeetinginOrlando,Florida,April 2, 2007
•CenterforLeadershipDevelopmentMinorityBusinessandProfessional AchieversRecognition, “Manofthe Year” Accomplished Achievement Award,March29,2007
•ChampionsofDiversityAward,MinorityBusinessMagazine, January22, 2007
•Dr.Martin LutherKing Jr.LegacyAward,CityofBloomington,January15, 2007
•NorthCentralAssociationofCollegesandSchools,HonoraryMembership in recognitionofvalued serviceasvicepresidentandpresidentofthe Association,2005
•CertificateofAppreciation,IndianapolisProfessionalAssociation, December,2005
•BloomingtonBlack BusinessandProfessionalAssociation,Inc.Award, April 22,2005
•Dr.Benjamin HooksAwardforMeritoriousAchievement,GaryBranchof NAACP,2004
•LegacyofLeadershipAward,NorthwestIndianaChapter, Indiana UniversityNeal–MarshallAlumni Club, 2004
•DistinguishedAlumniAward,SchoolofEducation,IndianaUniversity, 1999
•U.S.CongressionalRecognition,1998
•DistinguishedAlumniServiceAward,IndianaUniversity,1996(highest awardbestowedbythe university)
•The President’s Medal,University ofMichigan,1996
•StateofIndiana,SagamoreoftheWabash,1994(highestcivilianaward bestowedbythegovernor)
•BentonMuralMedal,Indiana University,1994
•OutstandingServiceAward,NASPA,1990
•OutstandingServiceAward,I-MAEOPP,1990
•DistinguishedServiceAward,NegroEducationalReview,1990
•DistinguishedAlumniAward,NationalAssociationforEqual Opportunity inHigherEducation,1986
•DistinguishedServiceAward,NationalAllianceforBusiness,1984
•IUDonsOutstandingCitizenAward,1982
•Wall StreetJournalStudentAchievementAward, 1968
•RockefellerStudentLeadershipAward,1968
PartialList ofPublications, Blogs, and Podcasts
Nelms, Charlie,Blog on “The Huffington Post,” Sept. 2012 to present:
Nelms, Charlie, Podcasts on HBCU Lifestyles and HBCU Nation, Sept. 2014 to present:
Nelms, Charlie, Bimonthly column on HBCU Lifestyles:
Nelms, Charlie, “The Future of Historically Black Colleges and Universities: A Call To Action,” 2010.
Nelms, Charlie,“HBCUReconstruction,” Presidency,v.13n1, pp. 14-19Winter 2009.
Nelms,Charlie,“Achieving HigherLevels of Access andSuccess inPostsecondary Education,”Commemorative invitational essay,Chicago,Illinois,October2006.
Nelms,Charlie,LessonsTaught, LessonsLearned,Bookmasters,Mansfield,Ohio, March2004.
Nelms,Charlie,“Art,Diversity and Censorship:Who Decides?” SouthernIndiana
Review,Fall 2003.
PBS(Public BroadcastingSystem)Special,video, “Ten Steps to College with the
Greenes,”August 2003.
Nelms, Charlie,“The Prerequisites for Academic Leadership,” BlackMenandtheCultureofEducation:PerspectivefromLeadingAfricanAmericanScholars,Lee Jones,(ed.),StylusPublishing, LLC,Sterling, Virginia,April 2002.
Nelms, Charlie,“Servingthe Common GoodinaDiverse Society,” Synthesis2001,an
Annual PublicationoftheHigherLearningCommission,Chicago,Illinois.
Nelms, Charlie,“From Cotton Picker to University CEO,” OntheInsideLookingOut:ObservationsfromAfricanAmericanAdministratorsinPredominantlyWhiteCollegesandUniversities,William B. Harvey(ed.),SUNYPress:Albany, NewYork, Spring1995.
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