SCHOLAR’S PASSION FOR EDUCATION LIVES ON

WRITTEN BY KANDACE TAYLOR, PHOTO PROVIDED

FOR 40 YEARS, Sandra Malin Mayfield, Ph.D., dedicated her life to teaching. The last 29 years of her life were spent teaching at the University of Central Oklahoma. Over the course of her storied teaching career, Mayfield impacted no less than an estimated 10,000 students – a noteworthy legacy. Her foresight as a reputable mentor and educator inspired Mayfield to set up an endowment through her estate plans with the UCO Foundation to benefit students with financial need.

In the classroom, Mayfield was always thrilled to foster her student’s passion for learning. She was disheartened when she learned some students were unable to continue their studies because of a lack of finances. Today, the Dr. Sandra Malin Mayfield Endowed Scholarship will benefit qualifying students pursuing a degree in English – the scholarship making it possible for Mayfield’s indelible impact to continue to positively affect students.

Born in 1941, in southeastern Oklahoma, Mayfield became a voracious reader as soon as she was able to read. Those early days spent reading a copious number of books at the Idabel Public Library instilled within her a passion for the written word.

Before coming to Central, Mayfield taught high school English and French, and collegiate-level English at both Oklahoma Baptist University and University of Oklahoma. As she neared the completion of her doctoral studies, she became a certification consultant with the Oklahoma State Department of Education where she spent six years, working with school superintendents and college and university personnel, evaluating and granting teaching certificates to qualified prospective classroom teachers. Mayfield did not waver on her fervent belief in a quality education for every child.

Mayfield continued to make her impact on education in Oklahoma at UCO. She spent four years as the chair of the Department of English and served as the founder and director of the interdisciplinary women’s studies program, which is currently recognized as an academic minor. A devoted researcher of John Milton, Mayfield was selected as a John Milton Scholar by the National Institute for the Humanities. This selection subsequently opened the door to her membership in the International Milton Conference and selection by the Oxford University Round Table, where she gave a paper on the place of academic women in positions of leadership. Through her dedication and love of educating, Mayfield also served as faculty adviser to UCO’s award-winning chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, a national honorary society exclusive to exceptional students and scholars in the areas of English and the humanities. She was always willing to mentor both undergraduate and graduate students of English literature.

Mayfield retired from Central in 2014. Following her retirement, she spent years of laughter, happiness and joy with confidant Dr. Marlene Ryals White, a sister educator and UCO alumna. The pair gardened and giggled through many close Scrabble matches. In 2018, education in Oklahoma lost a true innovator upon Mayfield’s passing. Mayfield’s impact will continue to be felt at Central as her endowment will benefit future scholars of English literature – just as she had intended.

THE DR. SANDRA MALIN MAYFIELD ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP WILL BENEFIT THE FIRST GROUP OF QUALIFYING STUDENTS WITH SCHOLARSHIPS IN FALL 2021 BECAUSE MAYFIELD INCLUDED CENTRAL IN HER ESTATE PLANS. WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE THE MONEY TO MAKE A GIFT NOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS LEAVE PART OF YOUR ESTATE TO THE UCO FOUNDATION SO YOU CAN HELP FUTURE GENERATIONS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FURTHERING YOUR LEGACY THROUGH THE GIFT OF AN EDUCATION, CONTACT

BRENDA KNOTT, ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UCO FOUNDATION, AT 405-974-3561 OR BKNOTT1@UCO.EDU.