Nissen was appointed an assistant professor of labor studies at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis in 1981.
His wife, Karen Lieberman, has retired from a professorship in the Hospitality College at the North Miami campus of Johnson & Wales University.
His early work also centered on theories of the labor movement, enterprise zones, plant closings, labor-community coalitions confronting plant closings, the nature of a labor-management "accord" in the post-World War II years in the U.S. and similar topics.
[1] In 2011 Nissen won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the United Association for Labor Education (UALE).
Nissen is a member of the United Association for Labor Education, and has served on the executive board of the organization.