Sherry Nelson

I am the founding director of Davidson Arts and Creative Engagement (DACE) and the DACE Studio. As a collaborator, facilitator, and advocate for the arts at Davidson, I work closely with the English, Theatre, Art, Music, Dance, Film, Media and Digital Studies Departments. On most days, you can find me in the DACE Studio meeting with students, faculty, and staff who are pursuing creative projects for the arts at Davidson. I also work with Davidson alumni and the arts community to develop opportunities for collaborations with Davidson College.

I began working at Davidson in 1993 as the Assistant Director of the College Union for Programs. In 1999, I joined College Relations as the Director of Friends of the Arts. In 2002, the college began a relationship with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). I have been fortunate to work closely with them for over 20 years. In 2006, I became the director of Artist Residency Programs and continue today developing residencies for Davidson with the RSC.

Currently, I am the chair of the Davidson Public Art Commission for the Town of Davidson and served as a founding member in the early days of its development. I remain engaged with the Arts and Sciences Council as a member of their Cultural Sector Advisory Council. For Davidson College, I’m a member of the Art Collection Advisory Committee. I served on the first executive board of the college’s Administrative Advisory Group in 1997-1998, and later served as chair in 2012-2013. I’ve served on grants panels for the NC Arts Council and the Arts and Sciences Council.

Through the years, I have worked to build awareness of HIV/AIDS by bringing the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt twice to Davidson, serving as a volunteer in DC for the NAMES Project, and by promoting and co-sponsoring Visual Aids on World AIDS day each year.