Dr. J. Cody Nielsen

J. Cody Nielsen is founder and executive director of Convergence on Campus. Cody previously served as multifaith coordinator at the University of Guelph, expert in residence for Religious, Secular, and Spiritual Initiatives at NASPA, and is former president of the National Campus Ministry Association.

Cody’s passion lies at the intersection of civil rights and religious, secular, and spiritual identities. He holds a PhD in higher education administration at Iowa State University and holds master’s degrees in mental health counseling from the University of Northern Iowa and divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. His dissertation focused on understanding the institutional policy and practices necessary to support religious, secular, and spiritual diversity within higher education in the United States and Canada.

He offers consultation for universities regarding strategic thinking around religious, secular, and spiritual identity. Cody’s 2013-2015 study, Multifaith in Higher Education, a Louisville Foundation-funded initiative, explores 150 public and private universities in the United States and Canada regarding their policies, practices, and initiatives to support campus climates.

Cody has a 6-year-old son, Levi, and stays active as a runner and biker. Pronouns: he/him/his