Biography: Raised in Portland, Oregon, Dr. Nixon attended Northwest Nazarene University (College) where she was introduced to the fields of microbiology and immunology. She earned a MS in molecular biology and immunology for the University of Southern Maine (Portland, Maine) and a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Following a two year post-doctoral fellowship at Oklahoma Medical Center, she moved back to Nampa, ID in 2007 to begin teaching at NNU in the Biology department. In 2019, Dr. Nixon moved into half-time administrative work as the Dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

Dr. Nixon and her husband met at NNU as students and they have two children.

What is your favorite thing about working at NNU? My favorite thing about working at NNU is working within a Christ-focused community.

Share a few facts about your specific area(s) of expertise that you bring to the classroom: Dr. Nixon has 10 years of research experience in immunology and molecular biology with virology and microbiology work woven throughout that work. The focus of some of that work was understanding human disease. With much of her teaching responsibilities focused on microbiology, immunology, and pathophysiology, her research background allows for richer experiences for students in her classes.

Share a few pieces of information that represent your teaching experience and why you love working with students: Dr. Nixon has the opportunity to teach at the community college level as well as at the university level, at a state institution and at NNU. It is a joy to watch students increase their knowledge in a particular area and be able to take that knowledge and apply it to their future career or field of study.