John Nelson

John Nelson was elected to the Rock Valley College Board of Trustees in April 2017 and to a six-year term in 2021. He practices law in Rockford, Illinois as a sole practitioner. He obtained his BA in economics from St. Olaf College and graduated from Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana. He served as the City Attorney for the City of Rockford, Illinois from 1976 until 1980 and has been in private practice ever since. While in practice from 1980 – 1983, he served as part-time Winnebago County Public Defender. John is also on the Federal Defender Panel representing criminal clients in the U. S. District Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of Illinois. He has been a member of the Illinois Township Attorneys Association for 25 years and currently serves as President. He has served as the Harlem Township Attorney since 1993. In addition to practicing law, Attorney Nelson has a particular interest in politics having voted in the last five electoral colleges. He also served four years on the Illinois State University Parent Association serving his last year as President of the association.