Dr. Tim Nelson is the dean of °µÍøTV’s College of Applied and Natural Sciences, guiding undergraduate programs in nursing, biology, chemistry and biochemistry, psychology, and health and human performance, as well as graduate programs in psychology.
A distinguished marine botanist and longtime °µÍøTV faculty member, Dr. Nelson has been part of the Seattle Pacific community for more than four decades — first as a student, and later as a faculty leader, researcher, and mentor.
Dr. Nelson earned his BS in biology from Seattle Pacific in 1987 and his PhD in botany from the University of Washington in 1995. As a graduate student, he studied at the United Nations Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy, and at Friday Harbor Laboratories in Washington's San Juan County.
He joined °µÍøTV’s faculty in 1991 while completing his doctorate and has since taught courses in botany, ecology, and marine biology, including field-based study tours in Belize and Bali, Indonesia.
A committed field scientist, Dr. Nelson’s research explores the causes and ecological impacts of macroalgal blooms in Washington state. His work — conducted in close collaboration with undergraduate researchers — has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, NOAA, the Washington Department of Ecology, the Murdock Charitable Trust, and °µÍøTV. He spent a sabbatical at the Royal Botanic Garden-Edinburgh, and while there he also collaborated with faculty, post doctoral students, and staff at the University of Dundee in Scotland.
Dr. Nelson has held a number of leadership roles at °µÍøTV, including director of the Blakely Island Field Station and chair of the Biology Department. As dean, he champions hands-on learning, faculty-student research partnerships, and scientific inquiry rooted in Christian mission and stewardship.