Nelson was born and raised in La Porte, Texas. He received an A.S. in Mathematics from San Jacinto College in 2007, a B.S. in Mathematical Sciences from University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2009, a M.S. in Mathematical Sciences from University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2012, and an Ed.D. in STEM Curriculum and Instruction from University of Houston-Clear Lake in 2022.

Currently, his primary teaching focus is precalculus and calculus. Regarding research, his primary focus is precalculus and calculus education, as well as affective constructs (such as self-efficacy) and survey design.