J. Cody Nielsen

Dr. J. Cody Nielsen is an educator, consultant, and speaker who helps campuses and organizations navigate complexity with both clarity and care. As Executive Director of Convergence Strategies and Assistant Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Western Michigan University, he has worked with more than 200 institutions across North America, guiding leaders, students, and communities through issues of belonging, identity, and organizational culture.

Dr. Nielsen is recognized for his thoughtful analysis and human-centered approach, bringing depth and accessibility to conversations that many institutions struggle to have. His work spans higher education leadership, dialogue across difference, and the intersections of religion, race, gender, and politics, helping communities move beyond avoidance to more honest engagement. From addressing tensions on campus to reimagining the mission of higher education, he challenges institutions to foster environments that center human dignity, cultural agility, and shared vision.

In his role as a professor, he also supports the growth of the profession and the next generation of leaders in higher education, ensuring that future practitioners are prepared to meet the evolving challenges of the field. A frequent presenter at national and international conferences, Dr. Nielsen connects timely issues with long-term purpose, curating each engagement to the realities of the community in front of him. With a style that is both grounded and forward-looking, he invites audiences to think critically, act with compassion, and imagine education as a pathway to belonging and collective transformation.

He earned his PhD in Higher Education Administration at Iowa State University and holds master’s degrees in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa and in Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C.