After Xavier, it was on to Morgantown WV where he received his MA in Counseling Psychology. At West Virginia University Rob focused on rural Mental health issues with pre-college kids in Appalachia as well as adjudicated minors of severe crimes and the criminally insane.
After his work in WVU, it was on to Loyola University in Maryland where he received his Ph.D. in Philosophy with a concentration in Pastoral Counseling and Statistics all while being a full-time nanny for two young girls and then a live-in caregiver for an elderly businessman.
His therapy work in Maryland and DC revolved around working with Veterans and the University of Maryland Medical Center and Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland with issues of PTSD, substance abuse, Schizophrenia and severe mental illness.
His research focus is on Structural Equation modeling (boring), how people make meaning in their lives (The not so boring stuff) and how it relates to health and well-being.
Rob taught at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, Assumption College, Leslie College and Loyola University where he continued his scientific research on health, wellness, and spirituality and taught mostly upper level and doctoral research and statistics classes.
He, Nicole, and their kids have been in Lima for 15 years now and as many of you know, love to redevelop older buildings in the Central Business District, or, hub, of our little spot in the world.
Rob still does statistical consulting, owns a real estate development and property management business, is Lima Senior’s Varsity Softball Head Coach, is the director of Lima City Softball Havoc Travel Softball, bartends at The Met when the staff lets him. He and Nicole started S Cubed (Science, Smarties and Softball) Foundation. The Nelson’s time and philanthropy center around the Lima City Schools and urban kids, especially girls, who are interested in science, medicine, and Math. They currently have 55 girls in their program that uses softball as a conduit to reach kids and get them interested in STEM programs concomitantly mentored by successful women in the area.