Peter C. Nelson C’84 is the Dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Engineering and professor of computer science. He has received more than $40 million in research grants. Under his leadership, computer science has become the fastest-growing program at the school.
North Parker: Tell us about your career path after North Park.
Nelson: After graduating from North Park, I went to Northwestern University and received my MS and PhD degrees in computer science. My original plans were to go into industry after my graduate studies, most likely to AT&T Bell Laboratories where I had worked during the summers. Instead, I joined UIC as an assistant professor, expecting to stay three to four years, but I really enjoyed the work. In 1991, I founded the UIC artificial intelligence laboratory and served as chair of our department of computer science prior to becoming dean.
NP: How did North Park prepare you for your career?
Nelson: North Park professors’ care and concern for me as a student and person has served as a great model for me to see how professors should treat their students.
NP: What is your favorite North Park memory?
Nelson: Freshman year including living in Sohlberg Hall and taking freight train trips with my friends, including getting caught in Tennessee. My advice to current students, including my son Chad: Never ride a freight train!
NP: What are your hopes for North Park’s future?
Nelson: I would like to see North Park leverage its Chicago location even more by expanding internship opportunities so every student gets this experience before graduating. And, given today’s world, I hope every undergraduate takes at least one computer science or data science/ analytics course.
Photo courtesy of Crain’s Chicago Business and photographer Manuel Martinez