Michelle Nelson

Professor
Ms. Michelle Nelson - profile photo

Ms. Michelle Nelson

Professor

Art

Bliss Hall 4085

phone: (330) 941-1858

mnelson@ysu.edu

Bio

Michelle Nelson has her MFA in Graphic Design from Indiana University Bloomington and holds two bachelor's degrees in Graphic Design and Photography from Herron School of Art. She is a practicing Graphic Designer with over twenty years of experience and has worked as a professional Photographer. As an educator, Professor Nelson is passionate about visually opening her students to new experiences. She tirelessly encourages her students to branch off in directions they have yet to explore.

An expert in typography, Professor Nelson also has experience in print, identity systems, font creation, and book design. Her work is found on the pages of the internationally recognized design magazine Émigré, and she has spoken at national conferences on typography. Professor Nelson's scholarly work relates directly to her teaching of typography and font creation. It is currently working on an extensive font family that visits many different font classifications within one font family. She enjoys the rich palette of experiences Graphic Design offers and the constant challenges designers face as Graphic Design drives cultural change.

Professor Nelson has held faculty positions with Northern Arizona University, Eastern Michigan University, and University of South Carolina Upstate before joining the faculty at Youngstown State University.

Research Interests

Social Activism
Professional Practice and the Classroom
Illustration through the Graphic Design Curriculum
Typeface Development
Children Book Illustration

Teaching Interests

Illustration
Grid
Design Layout
Typography
Font Design
Expressive Design
Logo and Branding
Packaging

  • Education
    • 1998

      MFA, Graphic Design

      Indiana University

      Dissertation/Thesis Title — "Design from 1093-1945"

    • 1993

      BFA, Graphic Design

      Herron School of Art • Indiana University Purdue University

  • Awards and Honors
    • 2023

      Youngstown State University

      Distinguished Professor in Teaching

    • 1997

      Indiana University

      College of Art and Science Outstanding Teaching and Scholarship Fellowship

  • Professional Positions
    • 2004 -

      Youngstown State University

      Professor

    • 2003 - 2004

      University of South Carolina

      Assistant Professor

    • 1997 - 1998

      Channel-Kor Systems

      Senior Graphic Designer

    • 1997 - 1997

      Indiana University

      Visiting Artist

    • 1996 - 1998

      Indiana University

      Associate Instructor

    • 1995 - 1995

      Herron School of Art

      Adjunct Faculty

    • 1994 - 2003

      Eastern Michigan University

      Assistant Professor

    • 1994 - 1994

      North Carolina State University • Center for Accessible Housing

      Research Assistant

    • 1994 - 1997

      Sunrise Publications

      Senior Graphic Designer

    • 1993 - 1994

      Northern Arizona University

      Assistant Professor

    • 1993 - 1994

      North Carolina State University

      Teaching Assistant

    • 1992 - 1998

      Freelance

      Photographer

    • 1992 - 1993

      Lindia Adele Goodine Artist/Photographer

      Photography Assistant

    • 1992 - 1992

      Starlight Musicals

      Photographer

  • Professional Service
    • 2019 - 2019

      Other
      TCTC

    • 2019 - 2019

      Other
      TCTC

  • Public Service
    • 2021 - 2021


      Governors Show Judge

    • 2018 - present

      Committee Member
      Trumbull Career & Technical Center