The LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy and Capital Area STEM Network Center honor the memory of Brenda Nixon, a former Co-Director of the Cain Center whose passion for science and commitment to education left a lasting impact. "The Cain Center as we know it today would not exist without Brenda," said Frank Neubrander, Executive Director of the Cain Center. "Brenda helped lay the foundation for the Cain Center, and her influence will continue to be felt in its work for years to come."
Brenda was deeply respected and loved by her colleagues. She brought curiosity, generosity, and an incredible willingness to help others into everything she did. She was a dedicated mentor who believed in investing in the next generation of educators and STEM professionals.
Capital Area STEM Director Summer Dann remembers collaborating with Brenda to develop activities and training modules focused on micromachining and nanostructures. Brenda also helped Summer develop the LSU Peer Mentor Program and LSU Faculty Development Workshops, which trained faculty to incorporate hands-on learning to increase student engagement and retention. Brenda's passion left a lasting impression on Summer, who would tell her, "I want to be you when I grow up!"
Her influence extended far beyond LSU. She served as a Project Learning Tree and Project WILD trainer, developed modules for Louisiana Public Broadcasting's “Tackle Box” program, was chair of the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission, and partnered with organizations including Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Teaching Association, and the Louisiana Systemic Initiatives Program under the Board of Regents.
For Brenda, science education was never just about what was in a textbook. She believed students should investigate the world around them, ask questions, and learn through doing.
STEM advocate Jean May-Brett, who knew Brenda for decades, remembers her as someone who would investigate almost anything. If an idea didn't work, Brenda wasn't discouraged; she changed course and tried again. Jean recalls one particularly memorable attempt to use live worms for an educational activity. The worms were delivered over a weekend and, unfortunately, were left in the sun. When they didn't survive, Brenda simply found another solution. Jean still jokes, “Not one of my rocks has ever died.” The story captures something essential about Brenda: she was curious, determined, and never afraid to try something new.
Brenda's groundbreaking contributions to STEM education in Louisiana, her extraordinary ability to build lasting partnerships with schools, school districts, state agencies, foundations, and industry, and her leadership in developing and sustaining major statewide initiatives helped shape both the mission and the reach of the Cain Center. We are grateful for the life she shared with us, the knowledge she gave so freely, and the many people she encouraged along the way.
