When you’re born to teach, the instinct to pass on knowledge never fades. For Kay Brilliant ’71, that calling has shaped a lifetime: as an educator, an advocate, and now, as a dedicated supporter of New Mexico State University and its students. 

Even in retirement, Kay’s commitment to education remains steadfast. Through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from her IRA, she supports the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Endowed Scholarship and NMSU women’s golf through the NMSU Foundation, two causes rooted in access, opportunity, and lifelong learning. 

A Foundation for Learning and Leadership

Raised in El Paso, Texas, Kay grew up surrounded by the values of education and service. Both parents were deeply involved in the community, supporting Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and volunteering with the PTA, instilling in her a strong sense of leadership through action. When Kay’s older brother attended NMSU and later worked in the athletic department as a golf professional, NMSU naturally became the next step in her own journey. 

Eager to be fully immersed in campus life, Kay tried out for the cheerleading squad and earned one of just four coveted spots during the inaugural year of the Pan American Center. “My college years were incredibly formative,” Kay said. “NMSU gave me the confidence to grow as a leader. I was shy at first, but I learned that I didn’t have to be. That transfer of skills stayed with me for life.” 

Majoring in education felt inevitable, shaped by the example she witnessed at home and the sense of belonging she found at NMSU. That journey came full circle when she was named the 2006 College of Education’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. 

A Career Rooted in Advocacy

After graduation, Kay began her teaching career in the Tucson Unified School District, spending many years in the classroom. But her passion soon expanded beyond her own students.  

Working in Arizona, a non-bargaining state, the need for organizing was critical. Kay became deeply involved in education advocacy and eventually served as both local and state president of the Arizona Education Association. “When you’re active, you can create change,” she said. “Teachers are powerful when they work together.” 

That belief carried Kay from Arizona to Denver, where she served in the regional office of the National Education Association, and later to Washington, D.C., working at the national level. Throughout her career, she championed efforts to strengthen teaching and learning while honing her skills as a fundraiser, bringing together educators, parents, and community partners to create opportunities for students. 

Giving Back with Purpose

Retirement hasn’t slowed Kay down. Back in Las Cruces, she continues to mentor young students — especially girls — through a program that introduces sixth graders to professional women, college pathways and future careers. Called GIRLS CAN!, the event brings hundreds of sixth-grade girls from Doña Ana County to the East Mesa Campus of Doña Ana Community College, inspiring them to imagine possibilities they may never have considered. “We at the local branch of AAUW want to make a meaningful contribution,” Kay says. “It takes many dedicated volunteers to bring this experience to life for local girls.” 

That desire led her to include NMSU in her charitable giving strategy. By contributing through a Qualified Charitable Distribution, Kay supports the causes she cares about while making a tax-smart decision. A QCD allows individuals age 70½ or older to direct up to $111,000 annually from their traditional IRA to a qualified charity, satisfying Required Minimum Distributions without increasing taxable income. 

“No matter what you give, it matters,” she said. “It isn’t about the size of the gift; it’s the consistency. Giving has become part of my life. I trust the NMSU Foundation, and I see the difference these gifts make in students’ lives.”  

For Kay Brilliant, supporting NMSU is simply another way to teach: opening doors, lifting others, and ensuring future Aggies have the opportunity to write stories of their own. To learn how a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA can create lasting impact, contact Steve Covington, executive director of estates and gift planning, at (575) 201-9023 or plannedgiving@nmsufoundation.org.