If you follow Maxwell’s social media channels—and I encourage you to do so—you may have seen a few recent posts with the hashtag #WhereInTheWorldIsDanNelson. I saw one such post by my communications colleagues and had a good laugh because I found the hashtag so very fitting.

Dan Nelson, who I am proud to say is both a Maxwell colleague and alumnus (’04 M.P.A.), quite literally travels the globe as part of his work with the school’s Executive Education program. (Many of us who work at Maxwell have given it the nickname, “exec ed.”) As director of accelerated learning and global engagement, he oversees exec ed’s training and research programs with foreign and domestic partners, directs the development of professional short courses, and leads Maxwell’s State and Local Initiative.

Across the U.S. and internationally each year, Dan meets with government and academic officials, including hundreds of alumni and friends. His work cultivates relationships that advance our collective, vital work to broaden Maxwell’s global engagement and outreach. 

This past spring, Dan met with officials in the Philippines, India and Kazakhstan. He shared with me that he is always awed and inspired by those whose paths he crosses in his travels, and in particular, our alumni. He says that no matter where they live or what they do, they share in an unwavering gratitude and commitment to Maxwell. Dan is always greeted with a warm welcome and brings home stories of heartfelt exchanges. During his recent trip to India, he met with an alumnus who leads the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy and proudly showed Dan a binder he’d kept from the Maxwell program he attended in 2012.

Dan is an excellent steward for Maxwell, in part because he was once one of our students. He can relate to fellow alumni, and he tells me that the education he received at Maxwell—including instruction from professors like Larry Schroeder—provided skills and the global perspective necessary for his work.

Dan is not alone in wearing his dual-hat role as alumnus and staff member; he’s joined by exec ed colleagues Martha Ketcham ’10 E.M.P.A., Margaret Lane ’02 M.A. (PA) and Steve Lux ’96 M.P.A. Across the school, staff colleagues include numerous alumni who bring their journeys as Maxwell students and alumni to their work.

Where is Dan headed next? You’ll have to keep an eye on our social media channels to keep up. If you’re fortunate to have met with Dan in his travels, we’d love it if you would consider sharing photos on your platforms. If you do, be sure to tag the Maxwell School and use the very fitting hashtag #WhereInTheWorldIsDanNelson.

Jessica Murray
Director of Alumni Relations