Louise Maynor keeps the things tidy in her office on the third floor of the Farrison Newton Communication Building (Photo:Bruce DePyssler/Echo Faculty Advisor)

After 34 years in the English and mass communication department at N.C. Central University, Louise Maynor, the department chair, will retire at the end of this semester.

From the age of 10, Maynor had a “love for learning.” She said she was an avid reader and loved to study.

One thing she loved the most was homework.

“I loved coming home with homework. I expanded my world by reading,” she said.

Maynor’s heritage as a Lumbee Indian prevented her from going to predominantly white schools.

But in spite of these limitations, Maynor graduated from from Pembroke State College (now UNC-Pembroke) in 1965.

She is chair of the state advisory council on Indian Education on which she has served for 20 years.

“Education has always been a top priority in the Lumbee Indian culture,” said her daughter, Malinda Maynor Lowery, an assistant professor of history at Harvard University.

“It is the main avenue toward independence.”

Maynor said she was inspired in 11th grade by her English teacher.

“She encouraged us to read and engaged the American Indian students,” she said. “She made us proud of our heritage.”

Maynor said this teacher influenced her to maintain supportive relationships with all her NCCU students.

As a professor of English teaching composition and literature, she used her skills not only to engage students, but to make them analytical readers and good writers.

As English and mass communication department chair and former English professor, Maynor has seen an increase in the number of faculty and has seen computers replace typewriters.

“There were sometimes when we didn’t have the resources to do as much as we wanted to do … but we’ve come a long way,” said Maynor.

“Our facilities have improved tremendously,” she said.

She also has seen students change.

“Students are more affluent. They have more money, more gadgets, and more material things,” she said.

Working alongside Maynor as a work aide student for the past two years, Spanish and English senior Karen D. Bethea says she appreciates how much Maynor helps others.

“Her door is always open,” said Bethea. “Whenever there’s confusion, she diffuses it. She’s a problem-solver.”

Bethea said Maynor inspires her.

“She’s in a position to help people, and that’s where I’d like to be,” she said.

Maynor’s daily activities show how much her students mean to her.

“Her total concern is for her students. She understands how that personal touch makes a difference,” said Lowery.

Maynor says she hopes the English department continues to grow intellectually and spiritually.

“Every student has great potential. As educators our goal is to help develop that potential,” said Maynor.

Maynor plans to spend more time on American Indian issues and one day write a book about her life.