Pastor Andy Nelson is the newest full-time hired campus Chaplain for Morningside college, and his job is Director of Campus Ministry and Community Service. Last year, he was the campus Chaplain for Morningside part-time and has been the Campus Chaplain for the University of South Dakota as well. He is married to Dr. Jessica Pleuss who is a psychology professor here at Morningside College.
When asked what students often times come in to chat about he replied “Discernment, where a student is headed and vocation, or what is next in life.” His job as the campus chaplain means that he is there to help students with their spiritual and faith lives. He enjoys when students drop by and chat, and loves when his office is full of students.
He works with many different students, with a range of worldviews, many denominations, and people that do not believe in religion or particular faith. One of the challenges he has come across with working with students of ranges of faith is “the different definitions of contemporary worship and a pattern of worship that is meaningful for students” according to Pastor Andy.
Working with students has also reminded him of his college experience. He says “understanding what we are interested in, and finding what we are willing to give time for and would like to learn more about” has reminded him of how busy college students are. When asked about his most memorable college experience, he describes the different close relationship he made with friends, his experience of studying abroad in China, and meeting his wife while studying abroad.
What brought him to Morningside, was that his wife Dr. Jessica Pleuss was hired in 2012 as a Developmental Psychology Professor. He worked as a Campus Chaplain at the University of South Dakota as well and was hired part-time here at Morningside after Kathy Martin retired for the second time.