J. Cody Nielsen | Lesley University

Dr. J. Cody Nielsen serves as Director of the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice in the Office of Equity and Inclusivity at Dickinson College. He is as well the founder and Executive Director of Convergence Strategies (formerly Convergence on Campus), which seeks to dismantle long-standing issues of religious, secular, and spiritual identity-based discrimination as a part of larger intersectional frameworks of anti-racism and decolonialism.

A scholar and researcher as well as frequent speaker on systems-related areas of higher education and nonprofit work, Dr. Nielsen adjunct instructs at a variety of institutions around the country and is known for his passionate presentation style. He is as well the co-founder and lead planner of the new Conference on Higher Education Values, Identities, Belonging, and Purpose. He also serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Student Affairs on Campus.

Dr. Nielsen’s research focuses on two core area of consideration within higher education and societal systems: First, areas of concern related to religious, secular, and spiritual equity within campus and organizational climates through a lens of policies and practices. Second, a focus on larger questions of institutional climate, organizational structures, and systems work is a current topic.

Education

B.A. Psychology, University of Northern Iowa (2005)
B.S. Social Work, University of Northern Iowa (2005)
M. Divinity, Wesley Theological Seminary (2011)
M.A. Mental Health Counseling, University of Northern Iowa (2013)
Ph.D. Higher Education Administration, Iowa State University (2019)

Selected Publications

Nielsen, J.C., & Sajkich, S.V. Left at the door to the residence hall: religious, secular, and spiritual identities in housing and residential living. Journal of Housing and Residential Life.
Small, J.C., Edwards, S.T., & Nielsen, J.C. (2021). Special Issue on Religious Equity in Higher Education. (Guest co-editor). Journal of College and Character. 22(4).
Nielsen, J. C. & Small, J. L. (2019, May 15). 4 Pillars for supporting religious, secular, and spiritual identities. Journal of College and Character, 20(2), 180-186.
Nielsen, J.C., Edwards, S.T., & Sayers, M. Interfaith?: A critical examination of the IDEALS framework for religious, secular, and spiritual identities. Invited submission to the Journal of College and Character (Fall 2022)
Cronenwett, N., Nielsen, J.C. Faith and the Fraternity and Sorority Experience. In Student Identity and Learning in Sororities and Fraternities. (Fall 2022)

Recent Presentations

Nielsen, J.C., & Sajkich, S.V. Left at the door to the residence hall: religious, secular, and spiritual identities in housing and residential living. Journal of Housing and Residential Life.
Small, J.C., Edwards, S.T., & Nielsen, J.C. (2021). Special Issue on Religious Equity in Higher Education. (Guest co-editor). Journal of College and Character. 22(4).
Nielsen, J. C. & Small, J. L. (2019, May 15). 4 Pillars for supporting religious, secular, and spiritual identities. Journal of College and Character, 20(2), 180-186.
Nielsen, J.C., Edwards, S.T., & Sayers, M. Interfaith?: A critical examination of the IDEALS framework for religious, secular, and spiritual identities. Invited submission to the Journal of College and Character (Fall 2022)
Cronenwett, N., Nielsen, J.C. Faith and the Fraternity and Sorority Experience. In Student Identity and Learning in Sororities and Fraternities. (Fall 2022)

Invited Speaking Engagements

Nielsen, J. C. (2022) Religion and Public Policy: Higher Education’s moment of reckoning. Brigham Young University (BYU) Religion and Law Annual Forum (June 2022)
Nielsen, J.C. (2022). Critically Engaged Pluralism: The Generation Beyond Interfaith. Tri-Faith Initiative Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference (June 2022).
Nielsen, J.C. (2022) Healing Higher Education: A conversation about the values, morals, and practices of the field. The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society (April 2022)
Nielsen, J. C. (2022) Religious Equity Unfilled: The race to provide Religious Freedom for non-Christians on Campus. St Thomas University (April 2022)
Nielsen, J. C. (2021). The Intersections of Race, Religion, and Equity: The Unspoken Core of DEI. Invited keynote. Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA (October 2021)
Nielsen, J. C. (2021). Equity, Inclusion, and the Taboo Topics: Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Identities in Praxis. Invited Pre-conference at ACUHO-I Academic Initiatives Conference, October 2021 (virtual).