2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

Nelson began her career as a freelance photographer before joining The Dallas Morning News, where she would spend nearly two decades evolving from staff photographer to senior leadership roles, including Picture Editor and Assistant Director of Photography. Her work as a photojournalist contributed to the newspaper’s 1994 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for its groundbreaking coverage of violence against women. Her own photography documented deeply challenging global issues, including gender-based violence in India and Thailand, demonstrating both courage and a commitment to telling stories that matter.

In 2002, Nelson joined The Boston Globe, where she played a pivotal leadership role during a transformative era in journalism. Serving as Page One Picture Editor, Director of Photography, and later Assistant Managing Editor for Visuals, she led a staff of more than 30 visual professionals, managed a multi-million-dollar budget, and helped shape the visual identity of one of the nation’s leading news organizations. Under her leadership, The Boston Globe earned the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for its comprehensive and empathetic coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing. Nelson’s editorial direction ensured that powerful imagery captured both the urgency and humanity of the event, reinforcing the essential role of visuals in storytelling.

Her passion for photography has driven her to excel as a picture editor, visual storyteller, and mentor. Known for her keen editorial eye and commitment to ethical storytelling, she has coached and developed generations of visual journalists, including several who have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes themselves. She maintains strong relationships with a global network of photographers, editors, and industry leaders, reflecting both her influence and collaborative spirit.

In addition to her professional achievements, Nelson is a dedicated parent to her son, Harry Nelson, who is now 16 years old. Though they live in New York now, they were able to spend six wonderful years back in Wisconsin when Harry was little. There they spent time with family, and enjoyed time in the country. Though Paula has travel to 48 countries, she still treasures time with her mom taking walks in the “Big Woods.” And some of her favorite places have been those that she has experienced with her son.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a commitment to lifelong learning, Nelson returned to academia and earned a Master of Science in Multimedia, Photography, and Design from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in 2021.

Today, Nelson serves as a Professor of Practice at the Newhouse School, where she previously held the role of Assistant Teaching Professor from 2021 to 2026. In the classroom, she brings decades of real-world experience to her teaching, guiding students in visual storytelling, editing, multimedia production, and project development. She has designed innovative courses, mentored graduate students through the completion of master’s projects, and played a key role in shaping the school’s curriculum. As Executive Director of the Alexia Fall Workshop, she leads a large-scale immersive learning experience that brings together top professionals and students to collaborate on meaningful visual projects.

Throughout her career, Nelson has been widely recognized for her contributions to the field, including numerous Pictures of the Year awards and honors celebrating her role as a trailblazer for women in photojournalism. Whether working in global newsrooms, mentoring emerging talent, or teaching the next generation, she continues to champion the power of visual storytelling to inform, connect, and inspire.

Embarking on a two-day canoe trip down the Wisconsin River from the Dells to Portage, and camping on an island, evolved into another cherished family activity. This journey included a close friend and his family of brothers and eventually grew into a father-son tradition. The trip was considered a highlight each year, strengthening family bonds and creating lasting memories.

Al began his educational journey at Wisconsin Dells Elementary before attending Trinity Lutheran School for grades fifth through eighth. He completed his high school education at Wisconsin Dells High School, graduating in 1966.

After graduation Al attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. During his fourth semester he was invited to join the US Army, a common occurrence during the Vietnam era.

Following eight weeks of infantry training, he received advanced training in close quarters combat, land navigation, and jungle warfare. During his unit's preparations for deployment, he received an unexpected reassignment, resulting in his return home to await further instructions regarding his new assignment rather than being deployed to Vietnam.  He remains emotional about leaving his comrades, knowing three close friends were lost in action.

On June 25, 1969, the Army V Corps Support Command was formed to strengthen V Corps’ autonomy and logistical capabilities. Its purpose was to enable V Corps to operate independently and provide combat service support as a subordinate command of U.S. Army Europe. This critical command oversaw all supply and support operations for the effective functioning of V Corps. While stationed in Germany, Specialist E-5 Alan Erickson contributed to these efforts by collaborating with personnel at every level of the chain of commands.

In his role as Project Manager, he developed procedures and created flow charts for various logistics programs, in addition to programming and hard-wiring computer processing equipment to support these essential operations.

After completing his military service, Al enrolled at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to pursue further studies. However, the widespread campus unrest during that era posed significant challenges for veterans. Following his advisor’s recommendation, Al decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, where he could continue his education in a more supportive environment.

There, he completed a triple major in business administration, economics, and business education-accounting and was named the outstanding graduate in business education. Upon graduation, Al was offered a position at North Central Technical College in Wausau, where he began his teaching career. He finished his Master of Science Degree in Marketing and Distributive Education from the University of Wisconsin–Stout. In addition to teaching a variety of business and marketing courses at North Central Technical College, Al also taught Marketing Research and Marketing Management at Upper Iowa University's Wausau Campus.

Dedication to program improvement was evident through his efforts on state curriculum development teams, where he contributed to creating unity and consistency throughout the marketing education programs across the state.

Al pursued postgraduate studies, accumulating 36 credits with a focus on research design and organizational development. His academic achievements enabled him to earn State Certification as a Total Quality Management Trainer, along with an Advanced Certificate in Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

Leveraging his expertise, Al spent several years consulting for major corporations in strategic planning. His responsibilities included designing research studies, writing programs for data analysis, developing conclusions based on findings, and presenting the results to senior officers or the board of directors. Through this work, Al played a key role in guiding organizational decisions and enhancing operational effectiveness.

As Mayor of Mosinee from 2005 to 2015, Al Erickson implemented outcome-based budgeting and outcome-based management. He established the Mosinee Area Economic Development Committee to guide economic initiatives and promote redevelopment in historic downtown Mosinee, the city of Mosinee enjoyed continuous growth due to an extensive marketing effort.

This strategic promotion not only enhanced Mosinee’s visibility but also contributed significantly to the community’s ongoing development. The effectiveness of these efforts was recognized nationally when Mosinee received the National Outstanding Small Town Plan Award from the American Planning Association.

This prestigious honor was presented in acknowledgment of the Mosinee Downtown Development Plan, highlighting the city’s forward-thinking approach to urban revitalization. Mosinee aggressively promoted the redevelopment of its business district in Historic Downtown Mosinee, further strengthening the economic vitality and appeal of the area.

Drawing on his extensive background and experience in marketing and strategic planning, he developed a range of video and media promotional materials to highlight both the City of Mosinee and the Central Wisconsin Business Park, enhancing their visibility and appeal to prospective businesses.

As a founding member of the Marathon County Municipal Alliance, Al collaborated with regional partners to establish practical guidelines for shared economic development opportunities. He was Identified and respected as a leader in the region, and throughout Central Wisconsin, He was on a first name basis with many of the governor’s cabinet and Department of Administration staff.

Al established working relations with, and earned the respect of, state government representatives on both sides of the political aisle through his involvement with legislative action committees for the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, and the Central Wisconsin Alliance for Economic Development. His commitment to economic development and business support was further demonstrated through his active participation on major boards. He served on the Board of Directors of the Marathon County Economic Development Corporation, where he contributed as a member of both the Marketing Committee and the Business Retention and Expansion Committee. In addition, he was a board member of the Central Wisconsin Visitors and Convention Bureau, supporting initiatives to attract visitors and promote the region.

His accomplishments and leadership within the community earned him respect from municipal leaders across Wisconsin. This recognition led to his appointment with the Board of Directors for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, a testament to his strong leadership abilities and achievements in both community and economic development.

Throughout his years of public service, he was the recipient of numerous accolades, with the Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2019 standing out as the most significant. This esteemed award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service. He earned this honor largely due to his pivotal role in organizing and leading the Mosinee Little Bull Falls Log Jam Festival, an event he initiated in 2005.

This recognition reflects both his dedication to the community and his ability to inspire others through impactful civic engagement. To ensure the festival’s success and sustainability, he founded Friends of Log Jam, a nonprofit organization. An all-volunteer board of directors was established, with each director responsible for overseeing a specific section of the event. This structure allowed for effective oversight and management. He continues to hold the office of president of Friends of Log Jam.

The Mosinee Log Jam Festival was honored to be selected as a finalist, receiving a second-place status on the People’s Choice Awards of The Best of Marathon County 2025 in the Family Amusement Category.

Al is an incredibly loving and supportive father and grandparent who shows up for his family in big and small ways. Whether it was helping with homework, offering guidance, or planning family outings, he has always made time to be present and involved.

He included his family to the Delta Epsilon Chi International Career Development Conferences in places like Disney World and Disneyland, creating fond memories for the entire family.

He leads by example, teaching strong values through his actions and decisions. He’s a great listener who keeps communication open and honest. He has a high level of patience- a requirement when teaching all three of his children how to drive. He also loves encouraging, learning, and curiosity and has always supported the academic and personal growth of his children. Most of all, he prioritizes time together with family and works hard to build close relationships with each of his eight grandchildren.