Davidson County Clerk, longtime civic leader and graduate of Metro Nashville Public Schools Brenda Wynn has joined the Nashville Public Education Foundation board of directors.
A 2013 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, Wynn is a well-known neighborhood and community leader. She joins the NPEF board at a critical moment as the organization ramps up efforts to unite the city behind a set of bold, ambitious efforts to accelerate improvement and lend critical community support to Nashville’s public schools.
“Brenda not only brings deep civic and community knowledge to the NPEF board, she also knows public schools like the back of her hand,” said Shannon Hunt, NPEF president and CEO. “She’s a proud graduate of MNPS, and has had kids and grandkids in MNPS schools. She’s a great champion for public education and knows firsthand the role it can play in kids’ and families’ lives.”
Before Wynn became the first African-American woman to win election to a constitutional office in the county, she served as director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper. She also served as the first director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods under Mayor Bill Purcell.
“Brenda is the embodiment of committing to Nashville and investing personal time to effect change,” said Greg Burns, NPEF board chairman. “As we embark on a new chapter for this city’s public schools, her leadership, insight and community outreach experience will serve the foundation well.”
Wynn brings a wealth of community involvement experience to the foundation. In addition to having served as the president of the Leadership Nashville Alumni Association, League of Women Voters of Nashville, Women in Numbers (WIN) and the YWCA, she has been an active volunteer in many other local organizations, including the Nashville’s Agenda Project, WPLN, The Next Door, Nashville Public Library Board and Foundation, Conexión Américas and many more. She is also an active member of Temple Baptist Church – one of the city’s largest congregations.
Other NPEF board members include Greg Burns, Ron Corbin, Ralph Davis, Chuck Denny, Margaret Dolan, Annette Eskind, Jennifer Frist, Howard Gentry, Orrin Ingram, Lewis Lavine, Robert McNeilly III, Tom Sherrard, Jimmy Spradley, Byron Trauger, David Williams and Jerry Williams.
