Obituaries

Mt. SAC Mourns the Death of Professor Phillip D. Maynard

Mt. San Antonio College Communication Professor Phillip D. Maynard, who taught speech classes at the college for 23 years, passed away on Jan. 4 at age 66.

“This is a sad moment for Mt. SAC as the college mourns the passing of one of its most celebrated and popular faculty members,” said Mt. SAC President Bill Scroggins. “He not only was a valued faculty leader on our campus, but he was also an impactful leader statewide to improve the quality of instruction for millions of students throughout California.”

Maynard began teaching at Mt. SAC full-time in 1990. He was actively involved in addressing diversity on campus through extensive faculty training, and he 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 also 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.  

“Phil’s passing is a tremendous loss for the entire Mt. SAC family, particularly his current and former students as well as his campus colleagues,” said Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Jim Jenkins. “He had a passion for teaching in a dynamic way that uniquely connected with students. They truly admired him.”

During his distinguished tenure at Mt. SAC, Maynard served as president of the Academic Senate and in 2004 was appointed to serve on the State Academic Senate, which represents faculty throughout California’s community college system. In 2002, he delivered the keynote address at Mt. SAC’s 56th Commencement, and 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.

Prior to coming to Mt. SAC, Maynard worked as an executive director for an urban social service agency and later served as deputy director for CETA, one of the first government-funded job-training initiatives for low-income persons.

Maynard received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from California State University, Fresno.

Services are pending.

--Mt. San Antonio College


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