Department: Mathematics & Statistics

Areas of expertise:

• Artificial Intelligence
• AI and Data Strategy
• Digital Twins
• Machine Learning
• Data Science
• Mathematical Modeling

Hala Nelson is a professor of mathematics at James Madison University and the author of Essential Math for AI (O'Reilly 2023), and AI Powered Digital Twins (Wiley 2026). She specializes in mathematical modeling, AI and data strategy, digital twins, and consults for the Departments of Defense, State, and emergency and infrastructure services in the public sector. Nelson’s expertise lies at the intersection of mathematical modeling, data, AI, Digital Twins, real world industrial and military applications, and AI and data strategy and governance..

Nelson grew up in Lebanon during its brutal civil war. She lost her hair at a very young age in a missile explosion. This event, and many that followed, shaped her interests in human behavior, the nature of intelligence and artificial intelligence (AI). Her dad taught her math, at home and in French, until she graduated high school. Her favorite quote from her dad about math is, “It is the one clean science”.

Nelson earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Beirut Arab University, a master's degree in mathematics at American University of Beirut and a doctorate in mathematics at New York University.