Northwestern University Athletics
Wendy Nelson To Receive Third Annual ‘A Life Touched, A Generation Changed’ Award
1/15/2026 6:24:00 PM | Women's Tennis, David G. Kabiller NU for Life Program
EVANSTON, Ill. – The David G. Kabiller NU For Life Program has announced Wendy Nelson, former Northwestern women's tennis student-athlete and longtime University Trustee, as the 2025 recipient of the A Life Touched, A Generation Changed Award. Established in 2023 through the generosity of University Trustee David G. Kabiller, the award recognizes one former Wildcats letterwinner each year whose life's work reflects a powerful and lasting impact on others while serving as a source of inspiration within their community.
Nelson's journey of leadership and service found its early expression at Northwestern, where she competed as a Division I tennis student-athlete before advancing to the professional tennis tour. Following her playing career, she found a successful entrepreneurial path that opened doors to the corporate sector and ultimately private equity. While her competitive drive and discipline fueled results, Nelson found that achievement alone did not fulfill her deeper sense of purpose. Throughout her career, she remained deeply engaged in civic leadership, ultimately devoting her professional life to leading organizations that bring vibrancy to communities.
Nelson currently serves as CEO of Nelson United LLC and as a third-generation leader of Carlson, a family business. She has dedicated more than two decades of service to Northwestern as a University Trustee. The intersection of athletics, business, and civic leadership has shaped Nelson into a leader who pairs competitive excellence with strategic insight and a deep sense of responsibility to community. Nelson's current philanthropic and civic commitments include board service with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the Guthrie Theater, InnerCity Tennis Center, Positive Coaching Alliance, Gold Medal Park Conservancy, the Carlson School of Management, The Constellation Fund, CollegeBound St. Paul, and the Carlson Family Foundation.
"Northwestern shaped not only my competitive spirit, but my sense of responsibility to others," said Nelson. "The lessons I learned as a student-athlete–about discipline, teamwork, resilience, and integrity–have guided every chapter of my life. I am deeply honored by this recognition, and I share it with my coaches, teammates, mentors, and communities who taught me that leadership is ultimately about service and expanding opportunity for the next generation."
Driven by a belief that meaningful solutions are rooted within the communities they serve, Nelson has built a philanthropic philosophy centered on listening first, and engaging collaboratively to create space that invites community-centered and community-activated solutions.
Her work and leadership are guided by her family's credo:
Whatever you do, do with integrity.
Whomever you serve, serve with caring.
Wherever you go, go as a leader.
Whatever you dream, dream with your all.
And never give up.
In 2019, Nelson provided critical momentum for Wildcats women's athletics by spearheading the creation of Champions for Wildcat Women. Fueled by her own personal experience and research that confirms the power of sports in a women's leadership trajectory, she seized on the opportunity to bring a spotlight to and invite more to engage with, women's athletics at Northwestern.
"The idea for Champions for Wildcat Women was born of belief in the powerful teachings of sports, lessons learned on the journey to excel and compete at the highest level and reality that equity in sport remains a goal, not a reality," said Nelson. "The idea was born from gratitude for lessons and growth afforded me as a student-athlete at Northwestern and a desire to ensure others would be afforded the same."
As a student-athlete at Northwestern, Nelson distinguished herself both on and off the court. She captained the Wildcats' women's tennis team, qualified for the 1990 NCAA tourney, earned All-Big Ten First Team honors and was recognized three times as an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
The A Life Touched, A Generation Changed Award is presented annually in recognition of Kabiller's generosity and his vision to celebrate former student-athletes whose lives reflect the lasting impact of the Northwestern experience. Nelson becomes the third recipient of the award since it was established in 2023, joining Chinazo Cunningham (Softball, 2023 recipient) and John Trautwein (Baseball, 2024 recipient).
"Wendy brings together empathy, integrity and strategic leadership in a way that consistently makes every organization she touches stronger," said University Trustee David G. Kabiller '85, '87 MBA. "From her lifelong commitment to opportunity to her leadership as a Northwestern alumna and trustee, Wendy exemplifies the very best of how sport can be a powerful force for building stronger communities–which makes her such a deserving honoree for this award."
Through her leadership, philanthropy and lifelong commitment to equity, opportunity and service, Nelson has made a resounding impact that continues to inspire the next generation of Wildcats, shape lives and strengthen the communities they serve.
