Prof. Cary Nelson is Jubilee Professor of Liberal, an affiliated faculty member at the University of Haifa., and an ISGAP faculty member. He holds an honorary doctorate from Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Over his distinguished career, Nelson has authored or edited 39 books and published over 400 essays, focusing on modern poetry, critical theory, the politics of higher education, and issues related to antisemitism and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. From 2006 to 2012, he served as president of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), advocating for academic freedom and shared governance. Nelson’s latest work, Mindless: What Happened to Universities? (2025), examines how universities deviated from their commitment to shared intellectual principles, leading to environments where extremism and intolerance can flourish. His new book, College Zionists Confront the Abyss: The Aftermath of October 7 in Higher Education is in press for 2026 publication.
Nelson supported Ward Churchill’s reinstatement to the University of Colorado at Boulder after the tenured professor had been terminated for academic misconduct in 2007. Nelson also supported Norman Finkelstein, whose tenure denial at DePaul University in 2007 was widely attributed to his anti-Israel remarks. And yet, Nelson’s views differ, as he in principle opposed to organized academic boycotts, and has been harshly criticized for opposing the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement aimed against academic cooperation with Israeli institutions.
For his courage and continued advocacy for Academic Freedom, the Columbia Academic Freedom Council is honored to present Prof. Cary Nelson with the 2025 Academic Freedom Award.
