For over 30 years, Nell's career has explored the intersection between social justice, critique of traditional arts institutions, and innovation. She received her BFA from RISD, and MFA from VCFA and has exhibited in the US and internationally.  Nell recently curated The Rockefeller Foundation’s new permanent collection for their Fifth Avenue headquarters and wrote the catalog essay. She served as Guest Critic for Residency Unlimited, and was selected for residencies at the American Academy in Rome, Vermont Studio Center and Kunstraum. 

Her ‘artwork’ has also included teaching and DEI innovation leadership of arts institutions, educational nonprofits, schools and colleges such as: RISD, Parsons School of Design, Cooper-Hewitt Museum, Public Allies (founded by Michelle Obama), the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She published a case study on DEI issues at RISD (college and museum) and peer institutions in 1999 which led her to be invited to serve on RISD’s Board of Trustees for 2 terms. After founding and managing a national design education nonprofit for urban teens called SEE (featured on the Today Show), she was offered a PhD fellowship at NYU focusing on the connection between creativity and resilience.