Aven Nelson, 1859-1952

Aven Nelson (1859-1952) was an internationally recognized botanist and authority on flora of the Rocky Mountain Region. He was one of the original faculty members of the University of Wyoming, where he remained active for nearly fifty years. In 1899, the Rocky Mountain Herbarium at the University of Wyoming was established under Nelson's direction. He was named acting president of the university in 1912 and served as president from 1917-1922, at which time he resumed duties as professor of botany for the remainder of his career. In 1935, he served as president of the Botanical Society of America.