By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
Service learning and participation in extracurricular activities could increase if Dr. Gersham Nelson is offered the provost position at Fort Hays State University. One of five finalists for the position, he was on campus Tuesday to meet with community and campus groups.
Nelson serves as the dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Central Missouri, a position he has held since 2007. In recent years, Nelson has been a hot name among provost searches, but he says FHSU stands out due to its ability to overcome one of the biggest challenges in higher education.”
“Fort Hays State demonstrates an ability to navigate the perilous times we are going through by some creative means in higher education,” he said. “After looking at several institutions, it became clear to me that some of my interests and skills would be a good fit here.”
He earned his bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Manitoba in Winnepeg, Canada, which was the first time he experienced cold weather after migrating from the Caribbean. Afterward, he earned a master’s and doctorate from the University of Illinois-Chicago with a graduate degree in African history and a Ph.D in Latin American history. Nelson began his higher-education career as a visiting lecturer at Frostburg State, where he quickly moved up the ranks in the Department of History, eventually accepting the department chairmanship after only four years. His administrative experience includes stops at Eastern Michigan and Iowa State University before accepting his current position at UCM.
The native of Jamaica is a cheerleader of a service-based learning and liberal arts curriculum. Nelson said it’s important for students to engage in several external activities outside of the classroom in order to not only develop an all-around learning experience, but to also advance a student’s leadership skills. During an earlier stop at Frostburg University in Michigan, Nelson took several students to a Model United Nations conference at Harvard, which solidified his belief that external learning is a key piece of a successful university experience.
“That experience characterizes my passion for student learning, not only in the classroom, but outside as well including in extracurricular clubs, organizations, service learning projects and on,” he said. “With community engagement, they get a sense of responsibility that comes with civic engagement.”
Nelson also encourages students to participate in extracurricular activities in order to develop leadership skills outside of the classroom.
As the world of higher education evolves, Nelson believes that universities across the nation face a challenge of maintaining a low cost while providing a high-quality experience. He said several factors, including evolving technology, contribute to the hardship.
“In order for us to prepare students adequately to meet the challenges of tomorrow, they must be aware and familiar with the technology that is in place today and understand where it is going,” he said.
The rural areas of western Kansas won’t be anything new for the longtime educator. While working at Frostburg State, Nelson lived approximately three hours from any urban area in the Northeast. He said serving at a regional, comprehensive university could bring several opportunities.
“(Fort Hays State’s) mission becomes more compelling in the region that it covers and my expectation is that the university will continue to reach out into communities in and around this area,” he said.
Nelson has two children, both of which live in New York. He currently lives in the Warrensburg, Mo., area with his wife, Jacqueline.