Victor B. Nelson Jr.

In Loving Memory of Victor B. Nelson Jr.
(June 1, 1945 – September 30, 2023)

Victor B. Nelson Jr., a devoted scholar, educator, and advocate for diversity and inclusion, passed away on September 30, 2023, at the age of 78. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and mentor whose impact resonated far beyond the boundaries of his birthplace in Brownsville, Texas.

Victor’s journey began on June 1, 1945, in Brownsville, Texas, where he was born to his parents, Victor B. Nelson Sr., and Guadalupe (Lupita) Cisneros Nelson. It was a journey marked by resilience and dedication, inspired by the legacy of his father, who tragically passed away on January 6, 1951 in Harlingen, Texas when Victor Jr. was 5 years old. Victor Jr. was by his father’s side during that fateful moment, an experience that would shape his life and instill in him a profound sense of purpose.

After his father’s passing, Victor’s mother moved him and his little brother (Arturo C. Nelson) back to Brownsville, where they lived with her parents, Jose Angel Cisneros and Eulalia Gomez Cisneros. She worked at the family business, Cisneros Flower Shop, while raising her boys.

Victor’s journey through education began at Trinity Lutheran School and continued at St. Joseph’s Academy where he graduated from high school in 1963. He pursued higher education at Texas Southmost College in Brownsville.

While at  TSC, Victor’s dedication to learning and research led him to work with the USDA in the Entomology research department. He received the Associate of Arts degree.  His academic journey continued at Texas A&I University, where he was a student activist and obtained a Bachelors degree in 1969. He furthered his studies at A&I while also working full time as the first Director of the Texas A&I Ethnic Studies program. After he completed his Master’s degree in History in 1971, he entered the Doctoral History program at University of Texas at Austin.

Victor’s passion for history and commitment to academia eventually led him to UCLA, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow. After completing his coursework and exams in history at UCLA, he opted to move back to Texas.  He later received the CPhil degree from UCLA.  He got a part time job teaching at the University of Texas. Victor’s career then took him to the University of Houston where he served as the Interim Director of the Center for Mexican American Studies for a year.  He then returned to Austin and began working for the National Research Center, conducting research on job growth and equal employment in the non-metropolitan sunbelt.

Victor’s journey in academia took an extraordinary turn when he was invited to apply for the position of Assistant Dean at Colorado College. Out of more than a hundred applicants, he was selected for the role, marking the beginning of a distinguished tenure that spanned over thirty years.

During his time at Colorado College, Victor was known for his candid, compassionate, and direct style. He was instrumental in fostering opportunities for undergraduate students and Ph.D. candidates, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion. He played a pivotal role in initiatives, such as the Venture Grant program, the Association of Colleges of the Midwest, and the Consortium for Faculty Development and Faculty Diversity.

Victor’s contributions left an indelible mark on liberal arts colleges across the nation. In recognition of his remarkable achievements, Colorado College created a leadership award for Faculty and Staff and named it the Victor Nelson Cisneros Leadership Award. Even after his retirement in 2012, he continued to make annual visits to Colorado Springs to present this prestigious award. The Victor Nelson Cisneros Award is given to faculty and staff who exemplify former associate Dean Victor Nelson Cisneros qualities in supporting diversity and inclusion on campus.

In 2020, Victor received the Grisham Riley Award from the Colorado College Alumni Association, acknowledging his significant impact on the Riley Scholars Program, which brought 65 minority faculty scholars to the campus and expanded opportunities for all. His legacy as a champion of inclusion, representation, and opportunity expansion lives on.

In 2012, Victor retired after 30 years at Colorado College and returned to his beloved Brownsville, where he enjoyed the embrace of his family and the community he held dear. When he departed this world on September 30, 2023, he was surrounded by his family and the love and warmth that he had shared so generously throughout his remarkable life.

Victor B. Nelson Jr. leaves behind a legacy of academic excellence, unwavering dedication to diversity, and a profound commitment to creating a more inclusive world. His memory will forever inspire those who were fortunate enough to know him, and his impact will continue to shape the educational landscape for generations to come.

He is survived by his beloved brother, Arturo Cisneros Nelson, and sister-in-law, Patience Nelson, along with his devoted niece, Marisa Sonia Davies, and her husband, Laurence Davies, and their daughters, Isabella Rose Davies and Ava Elizabeth Eulalia Davies; his steadfast nephew, Arturo Antonio Nelson, and Arturo’s wife, Dr. Lillian Adame Nelson, and their children, Andrea Flor Nelson, Victoria Elizabeth Guadalupe Nelson, and Arturo Antonio Nelson II, and his loving niece, Maria Cristina E. Nelson, and her husband, Jeffrey Wrana, and their sons, Nate Wrana and Matthew Wrana. Isabella Davies was also Victor’s goddaughter but all of his grand nieces and nephews referred to him affectionately as “Nino.”  He is also survived by many primos hermanos to whom he was devoted.  Family was important to him.

A celebration of Victor’s life will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home at 657 Springmart Blvd. in Brownsville, Texas 78526.  The family will be receiving guests between 5:00pm to 8:00 pm with a memorial service at 7:00 pm.

Services are under the guidance of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, Crematory & Flower Shop. 657 Springmart Blvd., Brownsville, Texas. (956) 350-8485

To send flowers or a plant to the family in the memory of Mr. Victor B. Nelson Jr., please visit Didi’s Flower Shop at Sunset Memorial, place your order online at https://didisflowershop.com/shop or call (956) 572-3872.