Pastor Andy Nelson is the Morningside University campus Chaplin and Director of Ministry and Community Service. Pastor Nelson has been working at Morningside since 2018.

Pastor Nelson attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, which is where he came to the decision to become a pastor. He said that through his experiences with the ministry at Luther College, he knew that he would want to work in a similar environment with collegiate students. After graduating from Luther College, Pastor Nelson completed a yearlong internship at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Prior to being Campus Chaplin at Morningside, Pastor Nelson worked in a similar role at the University of South Dakota. His family already lived in Sioux City however, because his wife, Jessica Pleuss, is a psychology professor at Morningside. When a position opened up, Pastor Nelson applied and earned his title of Campus Chaplin at Morningside University.

In his position at Morningside, Pastor Nelson’s main task is to “help and support the community with whatever their expression of faith may be, if any.” His main goal is to work with students and the community to help connect them with the spiritual part of themselves.

When discussing his main role at Morningside, Pastor Nelson said, “My job is to tend to the spiritual life of the Morningside community. Part of my work is making sure you have the ability to express your faith as you see fit. I don’t claim to be an expert on any religious tradition but my own, but I’ll help you get connected to it.”

Pastor Nelson said that he loves his role at Morningside University, but if there was one thing he could add to campus life, it would be a time when the community can gather to either listen to a piece or participate in an activity to bring people together and unite them. He didn’t want to require chapel attendance on campus but would love to see more unity within the student body and community.

Outside of his career at Morningside, Pastor Andy Nelson has a wife and four kids at home who he loves to spend time with. His children range in age from two to fourteen years old, so there is always something new going on at home. Pastor Nelson also loves to read, with his favorite genres being science fiction and fantasy. He also loves to spend time outdoors, whether he is gardening, fishing, or deer hunting with his father.

When asked about his faith, Pastor Nelson said that it is one of the most important things in his life. His commitment in his faith allows him to understand who he is as a person, as well as the people around him.

“It shapes how I view the world, and it shapes how I view other people, which impacts how I live my life.”