Biographical Text
Assistant Professor Emeritus of Management James A. Nelson (June 30, 1918-), retired college professor, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His early years were spent in Boston, MA. In 1942 he entered the Army Air Corps, where he served in the North African and European campaigns. Later, he served as an instructor in aircraft engineering and maintenance until 1945. After war's end, Nelson returned to Northeastern University in Boston, MA, where he obtained his B.S. in engineering in 1948. From 1918 until 1950, Nelson taught industrial engineering as an instructor at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. In 1953, he obtained an M.S. in industrial engineering with a minor in industrial psychology from North Carolina State University. He wrote a thesis entitled "Just Noticeable Differences in Worker Performance." While he worked on his master's degree and beyond, Nelson worked for Carolina Power & Light Company. He spent his first three years with the company as a safety and training director. During this time, he was in complete charge of the supervisory training program, which included all management employees. He wrote all of the training material and conducted all of the training sessions for conference leaders, in addition to leading management development seminars. Nelson spent his last two years with Carolina Power & Light Company as assistant personnel director, during which time he supervised five regional personnel representatives in all phases of personnel administration except labor relations. In 1955, Nelson accepted a position with McDonnell Douglas Corporation, where he started his career as personnel manager for the Douglas Aircraft Company in Charlotte, NC. He moved through various personnel assignments of increasing responsibility and authority at company operations in Richland, WA, Santa Monica, CA, and St. Louis, MO. His last two assignments at the corporate office were as director of union relations ( 1969-71) and as director of personnel relations (1971-74). Over the years, Nelson continued to serve as a part-time college instructor, first at Queens College in Charlotte, NC (1957- 59), and then at Columbia Basin Junior College in Pasco, WA (1966-67). In 1974, Nelson elected an early retirement in order to return to teaching full-time. He joined the faculty at Appalachian State University, serving first as executive-in-residence ( 1974-75 ); then as part- and full-time instructor (1975-76); and then as assistant professor (1977-86). Nelson retired from Appalachian in 1986 and was granted emeritus status by the Board of Trustees On June 6, 1986. During his career, Nelson distinguished himself with outstanding public service wherever he made his home. His past affiliations included but were not limited to the following terms of service: president, Central Piedmont Personnel Association; president, Charlotte Personnel Directors Association; vice president, American Society Training Directors; president, Family and Children's Services, Charlotte, NC; president, Charlotte Council on Alcoholism; president, Occupational Health Council, Charlotte, NC; president, Heart Services, Charlotte, NC; member, North Carolina Good Neighbor Council (appointed by Governor Sanford to the first statewide biracial committee); and chairman, Board of Directors, Watauga Opportunities, Boone, NC.Nelson has participated in a variety of seminars and symposia over the years as well. These include "Personnel Administration in the Collegium: Back to Basics," North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities, Center for Continuing Education of Appalachian (1981); Personnel Workshop, Department of Educational Media, Appalachian ( 1978); "Career Planning," and "Grievance Procedures," Career Planning and Placement Office, Appalachian (1978); "What the Employer Expects," Department of Administration, Supervision and Higher Education, Appalachian ( 1977); "Communication within Organizations," Departments of Business Administration and Communication Arts, Appalachian (1977); "The International Communication Association Communication Audit," Departments of Business Administration and Communication Arts, Appalachian ( 1977); and the Southern Regional Industrial Relations Research Association ( 1985 ). Nelson also found time to contribute to the professional literature in his field of expertise, including a book review Profitable People Planning, by Jon D. Council for Appalachian Business Review (1980); "Personnel Policy: Industry and the Collegium," Proceedings, North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities ( 1981 ); and "Labor Relations in China," co-authored with Dr.John Reeder, California Management Review ( 1985 ). Currently, :"Nelson is very much enjoying his well-earned retirement. Source: Personal correspondence. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
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