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Our Founder

Gary Nelson

Dr. Gary M. Nelson, DSW

Cares was founded by Gary M. Nelson, DSW in 1987, just a few years after Gary joined the UNC School of Social Work.  During his time at UNC Gary has held various leadership positions and made significant contributions through engaged scholarship, including research, teaching, and service to communities, organizations, and public agencies, with a particular focus on child welfare, aging, and disabilities.

In 2013 Gary was named the Thomas Willis Lambeth Distinguished Chair in Public Policy, a prestigious honor that signifies the impact a professor has on the institution and public service.

Over a decade later, Gary and the entire Cares team were recognized again for their contributions to public service and the promotion of well-being among individuals with disabilities and older adults as they received the Provost Award for Engaged Partnership.

Since the beginning of his career, Gary has used his knowledge and passion for service to establish long-standing change. Those contributions are most evident in the dozen programs or groups Gary founded or contributed to during his 42 years at UNC:

  • Center for Aging and Adult Research and Educational Services (1987) 
  • Family and Children’s Resource Program (1993) 
  • Behavioral Health Springboard, originally the Behavioral Health Resource Program (1994) 
  • Founding Member, UNC Institute on Aging (1996) 
  • Founding Member, UNC Institute for Sustainable Development (1996) 
  • Green Plus Sustainable Development, Chapel Hill Chamber of Commerce (2004-2008) 
  • Global Leaders in Transition, World Bank, Habitat International, UNDP (2004-2010) 
  • Developmental Disabilities Training Institute (2006-2013) 
  • Accountable Behavioral Health Program (2014-2017) 
  • The Middle Space (TMS) Consulting Group (2015) 
  • Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab (2017) 
  • Office of Community Engagement and Outreach (2024 Co-Chair of Design Process)