Following his undergraduate studies at St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN (1998), Dr. Nelson completed his doctoral studies in clinical psychology at Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, CA (2004). He completed predoctoral internship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL (2004) and post-doctoral residency at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare/Northwestern University in Evanston, IL (2004-2006). He has worked as a clinical neuropsychologist in the Twin Cities area since 2006, and worked in clinical position as at the University of Minnesota and Minnesota VA Health Care System.
After coming to St. Thomas full-time in 2011, he supervised graduate students in clinical neuropsychological evaluations through the University of St. Thomas Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services (IPC) and has continued to teach in the MA (Physiological Psychology, Psychopathology, Statistics) and Psy.D. (Advanced Psychopathology, Biological Bases of Behavior, Cognitive Assessment, Quantitative Methods) programs. He also provides neuropsychological consultation services through part-time independent practice.
Dr. Nelson is actively involved in neuropsychology and psychological assessment research. He retains interests in various areas, including cognitive and psychological outcomes following blast concussion and trauma exposure among combat Veterans, response validity assessment, and aerobic exercise in Alzheimer’s disease. He was a member of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) Board of Directors (2013-2021) and served as ABCN President (2019-2021). He also serves as a member of the editorial board (2009-2016, 2021-present) and as the continuing education coordinator (2012-2021) for The Clinical Neuropsychologist. He also serves as a member of the editorial board for Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology (2016-present). He is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota and is certified in clinical neuropsychology (ABCN) by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).
Nelson, N. W., Disner, S. G., Anderson, C. R., Doane, B. M., McGuire, K., Lamberty, G. J., Hoelzle, J., & Sponheim, S. R. (2020). Blast concussion and posttraumatic stress as predictors of postcombat neuropsychological functioning in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. Neuropsychology, 34, 116-126.
Nelson, N. W., Sweet, J. J., Klipfel, K., & Moberg. P. (2021). Clinical neuropsychology in Canada: Results from the 2020 AACN, NAN, SCN professional practice and ‘salary survey’. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 35, 1205-1231.
Yu, F., Vock, D., Zhang, L., Salisbury, D., Nelson, N. W., et al. (2021). Cognitive effects of Nathaniel W. Nelson, Ph.D., L.P., ABPP Page 10 aerobic exercise in Alzheimer’s disease: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 80, 233-244.
Disner, S., Mattson, E., Nelson, N. W., & Armistead-Jehle, P. (2023). The role of posttraumatic stress symptoms on memory complaints and performance in active-duty service members. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 37, 141-156.
Klipfel, K., Sweet, J. J., Nelson, N. W., & Moberg. P. (2023). Gender and ethnic/racial diversity in clinical neuropsychology: Updates from the AACN, NAN, SCN 2020 Practice and ‘Salary Survey’'. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, 2, 231-285.
Recipient, Alumni Achievement Award, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN (2018)