Fwd: [POD] The passing of Craig Nelson

[Linda Hodges]

Dear Colleagues,

I'm writing to share the sad news below of the passing of Craig Nelson, one of the early co-founders and supporters of ISSOTL Many of us who had the privilege to know Craig experienced his kindness, humor, and mentorship, as well as his scholarly insights and leadership. He will be missed.

Best,

Linda

On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 10:33 AM wreilly <whitney...@gmail.com> wrote:

It is with deep sorrow that I share the email received this morning from our Biology Department chair at Indiana University.  I cannot find the words to honor his profound influence on my life as a friend, colleague and mentor.

_______________________

Dear Biology,

It is with great sadness that I inform you that Professor Emeritus Craig Nelson passed away peacefully at his Bloomington home on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, with his beloved wife Mitzi by his side.

Craig was a member of our faculty since 1966 and retired in 2004. While Craig's research was evolutionary and ecological in nature, including a focus on environmental sex-determination in turtles, much of his scholarship and energy was devoted to the teaching of science, especially to fostering critical thinking and the teaching of evolution. He received many nationally competitive awards for distinguished teaching as well as the President's Medal for Excellence, "the highest honor bestowed by Indiana University," in 2001. His mentorship and the example he set impacted many students and faculty alike, in our department and beyond.

Craig was also an avid plant collector, and over the decades amassed two lovely greenhouses full of mostly tropical plants, in particular orchids, many of which he carefully crossed to create new varieties. Over 300 individual plants from this collection have been gifted to our Biology Greenhouse, selected, moved, and are now being cared for all by our tremendous greenhouse staff. These plants will continue their lives - and educational mission - in our greenhouse, and once in place a plaque will identify them as coming from Craig Nelson, who will be deeply missed.

Armin Moczek  

Armin P. Moczek (he/him)

Class of '55 Professor & Chair

Department of Biology, Indiana University

Director: James Holland Programs

Research: http://ecoevodevo.com/

zoom | office (812) 8561468 | lab (812) 8561783

Immigrants: we get the job done!

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Todd Zakrajšek, Ph.D., Director (he/him)

International Teaching Learning Cooperative

Durham, NC, 27713

919-636-8170

https://www.toddzakrajsek.com/  (for list of past and upcoming workshops)   

(Zakrajšek in America is pronounced "zŭ CRY sick")

TEDx Talk by Todd Zakrajsek

   

How to pronounce Todd Zakrajsek :)

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Linda C. Hodges, Ph.D.
Director Emerita, Faculty Development Center

University of Maryland, Baltimore County
1000 Hilltop Circle
Baltimore, MD 21250

pronouns: she, her, hers