Dr. Wells is the Director of Graduate studies for the graduate field of Design and Environmental Analysis.  In addition, she directs the Gerontology Minor, which is available to Cornell students campus-wide; and she serves as faculty advisor to the Cornell Elderly Partnership within the Cornell Public Service Center.

Professor Wells is an environmental psychologist who studies people's relationship with the built and natural environment through the life course. In particular, Wells studies the impact of nearby nature on cognitive functioning, the influence of neighborhood design on physical activity, and the effects of housing quality on psychological well-being. Her work has included the study of children, adults, elders and families.

Nancy Wells is a member of the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA), the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), the International Association for the Study of People and their Surroundings (IAPS).  She has presented at the National Council on Science and the Environment, The Chicago Botanical Garden, the American Psychological Association, and is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences related to residential environments and health-related outcomes.