"We'll miss her because she's a strong academic presence," said Mary M. Dunn, director of the Schlesinger Library.
Corinne E. Funk '97, co-president of the Radcliffe Union of Students and a Crimson executive, praised Nelson highly.
"I love her", Funk said. "She's a great asset for Radcliffe. She's a wonderful professor and a terrific scholar. I'll miss her terribly."
Radcliffe has chosen not to appoint an interim vice president but instead will have Wilson assume Nelson's duties, according to Chamberlin.
Radcliffe's dean of educational programs and the directors of the college's four research institutes will now report directly to Wilson.
At the time of Nelson's appointment to the Radcliffe post, The Crimson reported that the vice presidency was created in part to take pressure off of Wilson.
Chamberlin said she expects a search for a new vice president to follow eventually.