Diana L Nelson

Diana L. Nelson has extensive board governance and leadership experience through her work with multiple for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Nelson served as Carlson board chair from 2013-2019. In addition to her role on the Carlson board, she serves as co-Chair of Carlson Holdings, Inc.

Nelson is a Member of the Harvard University Corporation and previously was Vice Chair of the Harvard University Board of Overseers.  

An advocate for education equity and providing opportunity for all children, Nelson is a trustee of Common Sense Media, an organization working to help children flourish in an increasingly technological world. Nelson is a lifelong champion of the arts and is President of the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Raised in Minnesota, Nelson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College. In addition to her degree from Harvard, Nelson holds an MBA in marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She and her husband John Atwater reside in San Francisco.