Paul Nelson, emeritus professor of economics, served the University with pride and distinction for 45 years until his retirement in 2018. He helped shape the lives and careers of thousands of Michigan Tech students, many of whom have gone on to find great success. Nelson passed away August 5 at the age of 78.
Nelson received his BS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee and an MS, MA, and PhD in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1972, he joined Michigan Tech, where he served as assistant and associate professor.
Nelson was on the cutting edge of supporting women who were interested in studying business and engineering. He directed a career management program for young women in the 1970s that was featured in Time magazine. Nelson also had a significant impact on MTU's entrepreneurship programs, becoming involved in a number of campus enterprises and teaching entrepreneurship-focused short classes from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s.
A story in the College's 2017 Impact Magazine estimated that from his start date in 1972 to his retirement in 2017, Nelson amassed an amazing 55,600 student credit hours. He maintained the same office in the Academic Office Building for 45.5 years.
Nelson made numerous contributions to public service, generously sharing his economic expertise through continuing education; summer precollege programs; unpaid consultations with business, industry, and government; and professional appearances.
Nelson was faculty advisor to the Michigan Tech Veterans Club and the College Republicans student organizations for more than two decades. He was a longtime member and officer for the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the American Legion, and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.
"I considered Paul a great colleague and scholar, as well as a good friend. He was the economics anti-trust and public utility expert in the College of Business," says James Gale, emeritus professor of economics, who retired in 2008. "If I asked him about a court case against a large corporation, he would give the background, underlying economic theories, and future implications of the case. I always enjoyed discussions with him about economic issues."
Tom Merz, emeritus professor of economics, worked with Nelson for more than 35 years. He recalls Nelson's generosity in sharing the harvest from his vegetable garden. "Realizing Paul's generosity, my wife Mimi and I never had a reason to have a vegetable garden," he says. "We, along with other faculty, staff, and their families, were free riders at the expense of a valued colleague."
"Paul will be missed. He was engaged in the community and the lives of youth and others in so many ways," says Jeff Wall, associate professor of management information systems: data analytics. "I always enjoyed my talks with him, and he was a great example of service."
Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
