Lauding Elder Neal A. Maxwell's career as an educator, author and public servant, an endowed chair at the University of Utah is being proposed in his honor.
The $1.25 million chair - the result of efforts spearheaded by several of Elder Maxwell's former students and numerous friends - will be dedicated to the areas of political theory, public policy and public service. Organizers hope to complete fund-raising this fall.Elder Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said he was surprised by the proposed recognition. "I am deeply touched that they would want to do this for me," he said.
The Neal A. Maxwell Presidential Endowed Chair will be housed in the Department of Political Science. Elder Maxwell received his bachelor's and master's degrees in political science from the University of Utah and taught as an assistant professor. He later became executive vice president of the university.
Elder Maxwell said his time at the University of Utah "contributed so richly to my storehouse of memories." His education there, he added, prepared him for a life of service.
In 1970, Elder Maxwell became the Church Commissioner of Education. In 1974, he was called as an Assistant to the Twelve. Two years later he was called to the Presidency of the Seventy, and in 1981, he was sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve. Among many recognitions, he has received five honorary doctorates.
James S. Jardine, chairman of the University of Utah board of trustees, explained the chair has three purposes:
First, to honor Elder Maxwell, "a caring and influential teacher." Second, to create an opportunity for excellence in the department of political science in the areas taught and exemplified by Elder Maxwell. Third, to present an opportunity for the many friends and former students of Elder Maxwell to "recognize him by helping in the establishment of the chair," and to invest in the University of Utah.
Brother Jardine, a former student of Elder Maxwell, said he is amazed at how far Elder Maxwell's influence reaches.
"Our hope is to continue the great tradition at the university of thoughtful, caring teaching," Brother Jardine said. "This is one way to help that happen."
More important, he added, the chair is a special way to recognize Elder Maxwell as a "teacher, supporter, nurturer and friend."
University Pres. J. Bernard Machen said it is important for universities to have endowed chairs to "recruit and retain the very best faculty."
He called the Neal A. Maxwell Endowed Chair a natural bridge between two objectives: to honor Elder Maxwell and to further improve the school's political science program.
