In Memoriam of Phillip Maynard

March
2014

Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) Communication Professor and former ASCCC Executive Committee member Phillip D. Maynard, who taught speech classes for 23 years, passed away on January 4, 2014 at age 66.

Phil received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Fresno and began teaching at Mt. SAC full-time in 1990. He was actively involved in addressing diversity on campus through extensive faculty training and developed the college’s inter-cultural communication course. He served as an advisor to various student organizations at Mt. SAC, including the Muslim Student Association, the Inter-Cultural Awareness Council, the Associated Students, and others. He mentored innumerable students across all cultures and was highly regarded by those he taught in his popular speech communication classes and by those he coached on Mt. SAC’s nationally ranked Forensics Team.

As a highly regarded and respected professor, Phil delivered the 2002 graduation keynote address at Mt. SAC’s 56th Commencement. He earned numerous honors, including the Educator of Distinction Award in 2010, the Community Service Award of the National Council of Negro Women in 2012, and the National Campus Faculty Award in 2001, given by the Center for the Study of Diversity in Teaching and Learning.

In 2005, Professor Maynard was instrumental in creating the “Knowledge Is Power” Black College Fair at Mt. SAC with some 30 institutions represented including 21 historically black colleges and universities as well as local public and private mainstream universities.  The Black College Fair continues to this day reaching thousands of students.

Phil served as President of the MT. SAC’s Academic Senate during his tenure and was an active participant in creating the college’s first-ever Student Equity Plan. In 2006, Phil was elected to serve as a Representative-At-Large for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges and continued to serve until 2010. Phil was a member of the Equity and Diversity Action Committee, the Elections Committee, and the Nominations Committee and as Chair of the Faculty Development Committee he organized the first ever Academic Senate Teaching Institute held in 2007. He also served on the Chancellor’s Office Advisory Committees on Basic Skills and Equal Employment Opportunities, where he brought a determined voice for faculty and students.
 
Phil empowered and challenged faculty locally and at the state level to achieve equity in hiring, student success, and faculty participation, and always with his gentle presence, reminded his colleagues to see all people with compassion and grace. He led by example, encouraging his colleagues to think beyond classroom boundaries; and his strength of character and optimistic outlook on life contribute to his persistence in the face of life changing circumstances.
 
Phil never rode a train he didn’t enjoy, never missed the chance for Häagen Dazs vanilla ice cream or a Lakers game, and never lost his enthusiasm for serving students. The ASCCC extends its deepest condolences to Professor Maynard's family and friends.