Amy Nelson, associate professor of history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.


The emerita title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.


A member of the Virginia Tech community since 1992, Nelson’s teaching and research focused on Soviet history, animal studies, and digital history. She was the principal or co-principal investigator on grants researching Soviet history, digital humanities, and the use of technology in teaching and learning. She was the author or co-author of two books and more than 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters.


Nelson held leadership positions in the American Society for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies and the Southern Conference on Slavic Studies. Among her professional honors was the Heldt Prize from the Association for Women in Slavic Studies in 2005.


In the classroom, Nelson taught both undergraduate and graduate courses and earned eight college and university level teaching and advising awards, including the 2015 Diggs Teaching Scholars Award. She has directed or served on 18 master’s degree or Ph.D. students’ thesis committees and 20 master’s degree students’ research paper committees.


Nelson received two bachelor’s degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.