Stuart Nelson, MA

President and Chief Executive Officer

Stuart Nelson joined the Institute in 2012 as a project manager shortly after completing graduate studies in California. He served as the Institute’s acting president from July 2022 through November 2023 following the retirement of Dr. John K. Graham, the Institute’s former president and chief executive officer. The Institute’s Board of Trustees named Stuart president and CEO in November 2023 by unanimous vote.

A native of Houston, Stuart lived as a child and teenager in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, where he attended international primary and secondary schools. These experiences equipped him with a global perspective and instilled in him a deeper appreciation and understanding of religious and cultural traditions. 

In his current role, Stuart supports the Institute’s staff and Board of Trustees in developing and implementing programs and initiatives that bridge religion, spirituality, health, and healing in various contexts. He also works closely with the staff and Board to support the Institute’s development and operational priorities, contributing extensively to planning and hosting the Institute’s many programs and events.

Stuart is passionate about bridging theory and practice, weaving together work in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities to improve healthcare delivery and community-based health programs. Exploring the intersection of religious and spiritual orientation and mental health, he pioneered the Meaning Systems Interview and the Courage to Search, which are designed to help individuals consider and articulate their most important experiences and deeply held beliefs toward flourishing. In addition, Stuart co-created the Faith and Diabetes Initiative, which taps into the power of faith communities to address the growing epidemic of chronic diseases. His work has earned him numerous awards, recognitions, and guest speaker opportunities. 

In December 2024, Stuart was named as the first Loise Henderson Wessendorff Chair, thanks to a transformational $2 million legacy gift from The Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation. This endowment honors the lifetime contributions of Loise Henderson Wessendorff — a champion of human dignity and compassionate care — and ensures long-term leadership for the Institute’s mission at the intersection of spirituality and health.

In March 2025, Stuart was named as an American Leadership Forum Fellow with the Houston/Gulf Coast ALF Chapter.

Stuart has served on the boards and advisory councils of the Foundation for Contemporary Theology, Houston Audubon, Compassionate Houston, Yoga Mass, and the Hines Center for Spirituality and Prayer.  He was certified in 2016 by The Yoga Institute as a yoga teacher at the Registered Yoga Teacher 200-hour level (RYT200 level).

Stuart earned three Bachelor of Arts degrees from Rice University in cognitive science, religious studies, and psychology. He also has a Master of Arts degree in religious studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he focused on understanding religious identity through the lens of the scientific study of human cognition.

Stuart is now pursuing a doctoral degree in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University. He has chosen to write his dissertation on the relationship between the natural environment and psycho-spiritual transformation.