Louis Nelson and his wife, Kristine, have lived in Charlottesville for more than 20 years. Their three children all went through the city schools and they all call Charlottesville home, even as they now live in different cities. Louis is a professor at UVA and Kristine has the honor of supporting students as a member of the University staff. Although he has no professional experience in counseling, he is an enthusiastic advocate for the mission and staff of New City Counseling.

As a scholar of the history of architecture and landscapes, Louis has spent his career deeply invested in the study of places and communities, especially the ways that a place’s pasts shape its present. Although his early research focused on sacred spaces in colonial America, his more recent research has examined the architecture associated with slavery in the Americas and the West African slave trade, with books and articles on Virginia, Jamaica, and West Africa. He also has the honor of serving as the Vice Provost for Academic Outreach, where he works to support and expand programs that foster positive impact on communities through public service and community engagement.

Louis is a member of Good Shepherd Anglican Church in Charlottesville.