Dr. Margaret Nelson

Vice Dean

Location: Irish A Hall, Room 131
Voice: For an appointment, please contact Sarah Berguetski at 480-965-2354
Fax: 480-965-0760
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Barrett, The Honors College welcomed Margaret Nelson, ASU professor of anthropology and Faculty Fellow of the Center for Environmental Studies, as its new associate dean in the fall of 2003. Nelson is a widely respected teacher and researcher who has engaged more than 300 undergraduates and 100 graduate students in her fieldwork since she came to ASU in 1995. "Dr. Nelson is totally and passionately committed to her students' education, and has been a leader at ASU in improving teaching and learning at both the undergraduate and graduate levels," says Dean Mark Jacobs in announcing her appointment, which became effective Jan. 1, 2004. "As a dean just arrived from outside ASU, I need to have a highly respected ASU faculty member acknowledged as an educational leader to work with, and Dr. Nelson is that person."

Dr. Nelson was named the Centennial Professor by Associated Students of ASU in 2001, and in 2005 collected one of ASU’s top honors by being named the Professor of the Year by the ASU Parents Association.

"I'm honored to have been granted this opportunity, and I' m looking forward to building on the strengths of Barrett Honors College and ASU," says Nelson. "My particular expertise is in critical thinking and building educational experiences that allow students to become creators of new knowledge and new ideas. I believe critical thinking is as important as mastery of information in allowing students to build strong careers and contribute to their communities." Dr. Nelson carries out archaeological studies of the prehistoric people who lived in the Mimbres region of the American Southwest. Students have accompanied her to fieldwork sites in California, New Mexico, and New York.