Mr. Vern Nelson
Journalism,
Knightbeat Advisor
vnelson@bk.org

Vern Nelson was born with printer’s ink in his veins. The son of a newspaper editor in the small Utah city of Logan, Mr. Nelson, virtually cut his teeth on the business of journalism and the media.

After graduating from Utah State University, Mr. Nelson spent four years in the Air Force as a newspaper editor and then joined The Idaho Statesman in Boise and the Associated Press as a reporter and editor. He gravitated to the public relations business as director of corporate communications for the former Morrison Knudsen Corp., where he spent the lion’s share of his professional career.

Mr. Nelson decided he wanted to share his knowledge of journalism and media relations with young people so he turned to a “second” career in education, receiving a Master’s Degree in Education from Boise State University in 1997. He student taught at Bishop Kelly for Tim Brennan in American Government.

After a brief stint in the Meridian School District teaching in alternative schools, he returned to the private sector working as a media monitoring consultant for clients in government, industry and business and the association industries. It was at this time that upon the invitation of Dr. Dave Lachiondo, he joined the BK faculty as a part-time teacher teaching journalism and advising the student newspaper, The KnightBeat.

Mr. Neslon has won numerous awards and honors from the Idaho Press Club; the National Industrial Film Festival and the Boise Advertising Federation. He is certified to teach in Idaho in journalism, Social Studies, American Government and History.

Away from work, Mr. Nelson enjoys fly fishing and photography. He has been married to Patricia Nelson for 42 years and has three grown children