J. Cody Nielsen

Dr. J. Cody Nielsen (he/him/his) is an assistant professor of higher education leadership in the Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology at Western Michigan University. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University and an M.A. in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Northern Iowa. A proud graduate of “UNI”, Dr. Nielsen also earned undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Psychology. Prior to joining Western Michigan University, Dr. Nielsen served Dickinson College in central Pennsylvania as well as has served the University of Minnesota, Harvard University, MIT University, and the University of Guelph. He has taught previously for several institutions, including Virginia Commonwealth University, Lesley University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, and the University of Missouri Kansas City. He has received awards from NASPA for his work to the field and has served on ACPA’s 2024 Conference Planning Team.

Dr. Nielsen’s research and practice for more than a decade has focused on the issues of “religious, secular, and spiritual identities” (RSSIs) and their intersections with race, gender, and sexuality. As well, his research focuses on organizational systems and governance of higher education. His work has been published in a variety of outlets including the Journal of College and Character and the Journal of Religion and Education. In 2022, Dr. Nielsen founded the Conference on Higher Education Values, Identity, Belonging, and Purpose, a conference founded to continue the long-standing efforts of the Dalton Institute for College Student Values after a 30-year run. He is the chair of the Expert review committee of the Council on the Advancement for Standards (CAS) Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities.