Diana L. Nelson

Diana L. Nelson serves as chair of Carlson, a privately-held global hospitality and travel company. Carlson Wagonlit Travel is the world’s largest travel management company and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes over 1300 properties around the world. Nelson possesses extensive board governance and leadership experience through her work with multiple for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. In addition to her role on the Carlson board of directors, she serves on the board of governors of Carlson Holdings, Inc., and the advisory board of Prime Group, a San Francisco-based real estate equity, debt, investment and operating platform. She is a trustee of the Carlson Family Foundation and has served since 2001 on the board of the World Childhood Foundation, a global organization dedicated to protecting children at risk from trafficking, abuse and poverty. Nelson is also vice chair of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Nelson regards education as a vital path to opportunity and has dedicated significant time and resources to enable education access and equity. Nelson currently serves as vice chair of the Harvard University Board of Overseers and is a member of the Committee to oversee the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Nelson also inaugurated the Harvard College Fund Women and Leadership Task Force. Raised in Minnesota, Nelson attended Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude in 1984. Nelson holds an MBA in marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She and her husband John Atwater have five children and reside in San Francisco, California.