Step into UMA’s Saco Center and the first thing you’ll see is a colorful quilt hanging behind the front desk. Its bright moose, rainbows, and cheerful hellos in many languages reflect the community that gathers here. Greeting you at the front desk is the artist who made the quilt: a warm, grandmotherly woman, UMA alumna, and Administrative Specialist Brenda Plummer. Brenda has become a trusted guide for students, staff, and visitors, offering encouragement, practical help, and a ready smile. But Brenda’s story isn’t stitched from fabric and thread, but from determination, resilience, and living life on her own terms.
While Brenda is everything she seems to be: kind, empathetic, and nurturing, she is so much more. Sporting tattoos, piercings, and easy humor she is a woman who has weathered challenges and emerged stronger, cooler, and unapologetically herself.
Her path to UMA was anything but straight. She married young, endured an abusive relationship, and raised three daughters while working jobs that demanded grit and perseverance. At one point, her husband sent her to truck-driving school instead of allowing her to pursue nursing. Brenda met the challenge head-on, mastering the skills of maneuvering 18-wheelers in impossible spaces and earning the nickname “Queen of the Alley Docks.” Later, she supported her family by working three jobs, survived a career-ending back injury, and even built her own two-bedroom home from a garage.
Through it all, Brenda never lost her sense of compassion or her belief that second chances matter. When her daughter suggested she return to school, she took the leap and enrolled at UMA. At first she was afraid she would not succeed. But she found supportive professors who gave her the confidence to keep going. In her final semester, she faced her toughest challenge yet. Math was the class she had put off, and she soon fell behind. “I thought about dropping out,” she admitted. “But my professor took the time to listen, make a plan, and help me succeed. That made all the difference.”
Graduating in 2024, Brenda reflects on her education as life-changing. “The classes helped me to read and understand people better. I learned how to be a better listener. At UMA, every single teacher was so supportive and wonderful with me.” She further shared, “I like the respect I’ve found here. I’ve had some rough jobs in my life, but here I feel respected and appreciated.”
Today, she continues to serve students at the Saco Center with the same mix of warmth and grit that carried her through her own journey. Students say her encouragement inspires them to keep going. “You encourage me every time I come in to do the best I can do,” said student Katrina Thibedeau. “You make me feel I can do it.”
Brenda also shares her story with older students considering college. “It’s a dream come true. It’s not too late. When the kids are grown, it’s time for you,” she said. “All you need to do is tell yourself, ‘I will not stay on the couch. I can do this.’”
As UMA celebrates 60 years, Brenda’s story highlights the university’s long tradition of transforming lives through education. Her journey shows that transformation is not only about earning a degree, but about gaining confidence, embracing growth, and making a difference in the lives of others. She stands as a living example of UMA’s mission, proving that resilience and support can open doors to new possibilities, no matter where or when you begin.