Challey Spotlight: Julia Nelson

Challey Student Spotlight: Julia Nelson
NDSU Student in Applied Economics and Business Administration

Julia Nelson is majoring in Applied Economics with a minor in Business Administration at North Dakota State University. Hailing from Alexandria, Minnesota, she aims to go to law school and build a career in business law, a passion ignited by her middle school mock trial experiences and further fueled by her deepening interest in economic policy.

“Economics applies to so many areas of life,” she said. “It helps you understand how the world works and how to make it better.”

Julia became involved with the Challey Institute through the scholarship program and enrolled in courses such as Market Values and ECON 491, where she appreciated the in-depth, data-driven discussions on complex issues like energy policy and tariffs. “Looking at the numbers behind policies like tariffs and understanding deadweight loss helped me see why people argue for and against these ideas,” she said.

The Challey Institute has also introduced her to new perspectives through events and speakers, including Greg Lukianoff, whose talk on free speech and cancel culture left a lasting impression. “It was interesting to wrestle with ideas like that,” she said. “Being challenged by new viewpoints is a big part of what Challey offers.”

Outside the classroom, Julia is active in Bison Catholic, Chi Alpha, and Saddle & Sirloin, communities that have supported her personal and spiritual growth. “They’ve helped me become more confident and more willing to step outside of my comfort zone,” she said.

Julia sees her future in law as a way to contribute meaningfully to society. “Challey has reinforced the importance of research, critical thinking, and helping others,” she said. “It’s taught me to dig deeper and always look for the truth.”

Her view of human flourishing has also evolved through her time at NDSU. “It’s about helping people reach their full potential—whatever that looks like for them,” she said. “Opportunity, entrepreneurship, and hard work are at the heart of that. And that’s something I want to be part of.”

Julia is expected to graduate in Spring 2026. In her free time, she enjoys reading—she recently finished The Housemaid and is currently reading Sold on a Monday.