Evelyn Nelson

Evelyn Merle Nelson (November 25, 1943 – August 1, 1987), born Evelyn Merle Roden, was a Canadian mathematician. Nelson made contributions to the area of universal algebra with applications to theoretical computer science. She, along with Cecilia Krieger, is the namesake of the Krieger–Nelson Prize, awarded by the Canadian Mathematical Society for outstanding research by a female mathematician.

Early life Nelson was born on November 25, 1943, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Her parents were immigrants from Russia in the 1920s. Nelson went to high school at Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton.

Career Following completion of her Ph.D., Nelson continued at McMaster. She first worked as a post-doctoral researcher, later as a "research associate", and in 1978 was appointed associate professor.

Nelson's teaching record was, according to one colleague, "invariably of the highest order". However, before earning a faculty position at McMaster, prejudice against her led to doubts about her teaching ability.

Selected publications