Michael Byron Nelson
Associate Professor and Co-Chair, Political Science
Director, Center for Civic and Social Change
Instructor, Rock Climbing
Biography
I have always been interested in understanding how and why different parts of the world get along with each other, with the challenges of poverty and inequality, and with the incredible varieties of cultures.
I have served as a Peace Corps volunteer (Ghana, 1997-99). I have consulted for the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the U.S. government on global food politics, economic development, and China’s role in Africa. I served as editor for the African Politics Conference Group Newsletter for four years. Now, I have the privilege to teach students at Monmouth and direct our Center for Civic and Social Change.
Interests
African Politics, Environmental Politics, Foreign Policy, Global Governance, International Relations, Political Philosophy.
Education
B.A. – University of California, San Diego, 1997
Ph.D. – University of California, Berkeley, Political Science, 2008
Courses Taught
POLS 150 Global Justice
POLS 230 Political Philosophy
POLS 250 European Politics
POLS 270 International Relations
POLS 361 Africa in World Politics
POLS 375 Environmental Politics
POLS 415 Senior Seminar
PHED 139 Rock Climbing
Selected Work
Nelson, Michael. African Coalitions in Global Economic Governance. Cambridge University Press. 2016.
Nelson, Michael. “Africa’s Regional Powers and Climate Change Negotiations.” Global Environmental Politics, Vol. 16, No. 2, Pages 110-129. May 2016.
“The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lit.”