Scott Bernard Nelson '94

Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications/ Chief Marketing Officer

Scott Bernard Nelson '94 spent 22 years as a journalist with some of the world’s largest media organizations before returning to Linfield in 2016. He was embedded with U.S. Marines during the invasion of Iraq, covered ground zero and New York's financial district during and after 9/11, attended and wrote about a Winter Olympic Games and contributed multiple stories to The Boston Globe's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, which spawned the Academy Award-winning movie “Spotlight.”

A native of Reedsport, Ore., Scott holds an MBA and three post-graduate certificates. Since 2016, he has overseen the office responsible for all communications and marketing functions at Linfield.

Professional resume

Education
B.A., Linfield University

MBA, University of Maryland

Certificate in finance, University of South Florida

Certificate in strategic marketing leadership, Stanford University

Certificate in digital marketing strategies, Northwestern University
Experience
Associate vice president for strategic communications/chief marketing officer, Linfield University, 2020-present

Director of communications and marketing, Linfield College, 2016-2020

Various editor and newsroom leadership roles, Oregonian Media Group, 2003-2016

Staff writer, The Boston Globe, 2000-2003

Personal finance editor, The Tampa Tribune, 1998-2000

Founding editor, Kiplinger.com, 1996-1998

Reporter and automotive reviewer, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, 1994-1996
Leadership positions
Member, Linfield University President's Leadership Team

Secretary, Linfield University Business Advisory Council

Board of Trustees, YMCA of the Columbia-Willamette

Founder and co-creative director, Relium Media, LLC