Curt Nelson ’91

    curt_nelson91St. Louis Park, MN

    It didn’t take Curt David Nelson long to realize that the students and faculty at St. Olaf were genuinely interested in getting to know, support, and challenge one another.

    That intentional effort to build — and nurture — community made a lasting impact on Nelson. He now strives to create that same sense of community in his role as executive director of the Carlson Family Foundation, a Minneapolis-based philanthropic organization.

    “Helping communities to connect, both within and outside of themselves, is more than just my job,” he says. “It’s my passion, and I’m grateful to be doing what I love.”

    At St. Olaf, Nelson served as a member, and later as president, of the Student Congregation. He also sang in St. Olaf Cantorei and worked in the Office of Educational Research.

    As a member of the Alumni Board, Nelson wants to help sustain the community of St. Olaf alumni in the modern age.

    “Even though we may not be physically on campus, there are new ways to reconnect with friends and professors from the college,” he says.

    Nelson notes that the college has created many opportunities for alumni to assist one another and mentor current students on the Hill. He hopes to build upon these programs, and is eager to share ideas about how the Alumni Board can continue to nurture community after students have left the Hill.

    “I’ve benefited from the network of Oles,” he says, “and I want to be sure that others have similar experiences.”