An Interview With Dr. Regena Nelson
Dr. Regena Nelson, former director of the Urban Teacher Residency Program at Western Michigan University (WMU), has been a consistent KZCF donor for nearly 30 years. Her first gift supported the Women’s Education Coalition, which provides scholarships for women returning to school. Since 2018, she has given monthly to the ISAAC Endowment Fund and more recently added a recurring gift to the Love Where You Live Greatest Needs Fund, supporting Kalamazoo County’s most pressing needs.
Dr. Nelson’s story and giving journey are proof that small acts of generosity can, over time, lead to something much bigger.
For more than three decades, Dr. Regena Nelson poured her heart into education at Western Michigan University. What began as a dream to understand how young children learn grew into a 32-year career of teaching, leading and mentoring others. “I always knew I wanted to be a professor,” she said. “Once I worked with young children in a preschool, I knew early childhood education was the thing for me.”
Her journey took her from the classroom to the chair’s office, and later to directing WMU’s Urban Teacher Residency Program — a five-year grant project that concluded just as she retired in 2025. Each step reflected her dedication to helping children, teachers and communities thrive.
A Habit of Giving Back
Long before retirement, giving was already part of Dr. Nelson’s daily life.
“I grew up understanding the concept of tithing — giving 10%,” she said. “When I got my first job, I knew I wanted to do that in my own way.”
Her generosity began with her church, then expanded to schools, scholarships and nonprofits that reflected her deepest values — especially education. Over the years, she supported her alma maters and local institutions tied to her family’s history: Loyola University, the University of Michigan, WMU and now Kalamazoo College, where her son graduated.
From Volunteer to Visionary
In 2006, Dr. Nelson began volunteering with ISAAC, Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy & Action in the Community. The organization’s mission to build equity and justice in Kalamazoo resonated with her immediately.
When ISAAC invited donors to begin monthly giving, Dr. Nelson saw a simple but powerful opportunity. “It was a no-brainer,” she recalls. “We started small, $20 a month, something we wouldn’t miss. Over time, it felt good to bump that up.”
As ISAAC members discussed long-term sustainability, she and members at the time helped champion the creation of an endowment fund held at KZCF. “We knew that to sustain the work, ISAAC needed an endowment,” she said. “One of our members was able to seed our fund initially, then we set a goal to work together to raise the first $50,000 over the first three years, and we exceeded it! Now that fund is growing and helping secure ISAAC’s future.”
Love Where You Live… & Lead
That same spirit of leadership inspired Dr. Nelson to host a “Love Where You Live” gathering on WMU’s campus in partnership with KZCF.
When her philanthropic advisor, Jenna, reached out about hosting an event, “it was easy to say yes,” Dr. Nelson said. Drawing on her role in WMU’s Black Faculty and Staff Council, she organized an afternoon tea where a dozen or so colleagues could meet Dr. Grace Lubwama, president/CEO of KZCF, and learn about community philanthropy.
“It was very successful,” she said. “People got excited about how they could make an impact in that way.”
“We support about 30 organizations, so I’ve created a system that spreads gifts throughout the year. And now, we’re looking at starting a Donor Advised Fund with KZCF — a way to give through the foundation and simplify everything even more.”
— Dr. Regena Nelson, Former Director, Urban Teacher Residency Program at WMU
Giving That Grows With You
Dr. Nelson’s monthly giving philosophy is as thoughtful as her teaching. She sees recurring gifts as a way to create steady impact while making giving easier to manage.
“It’s kind of ‘set it and forget it,’” she said.
Working through KZCF also gives her confidence that her dollars are multiplying their impact. “It means a lot to know that organizations are getting individual gifts like mine and support from KZCF,” she said. “It’s like a stamp of approval — I know they’re being good stewards of the money. It’s a partnership.”
A Legacy of Love & Responsibility
Though she wasn’t born in Kalamazoo, Dr. Nelson now calls it home and feels a deep responsibility to nurture it.
“I’ve lived here most of my life,” she said. “I feel rooted here. I want to make this the kind of place where I want to live and where my kids can thrive.”
Her words echo the spirit behind KZCF’s mission: “I don’t want to be a taker of that. I want to contribute to that.” That conviction — to give, to build, to love where you live — defines the legacy Dr. Nelson continues to shape for Kalamazoo.
