Dr. Marilyn Mays has the heart of a professor and the office of an administrator. Though for the past several years she has served as the executive dean of mathematics, science and sport sciences at North Lake College, she is and always will be a teacher first.

She received bachelor's and master's degrees in math from Texas Tech University, then went on to earn a doctorate from the University of North Texas. She taught math at TWU and North Texas State University before joining the charter faculty of Mountain View College in 1971. When North Lake College opened in 1978, she joined its charter faculty.

As committed as Dr. Mays is to her students - and even as an administrator, she interacts daily with them - she is just as committed to the teaching of math and computer science. "The subjects I teach are important to the future of our students and to the future of our economy and our security," she says.

And she's committed to spreading the word about community college as a cornerstone to success in higher education. For the past eight years, she's advised the National Academy of Sciences on matters of math education, serving as the first community college representative ever on the Academy's commission on mathematics instruction. "It's a wonderful chance to let people know about the value of community college education," she says. She attends and speaks at mathematics conferences around the world, serving as an official delegate to the International Congress of Mathematics Education in Copenhagen in 2004 and in Tokyo in 2000.

She is an outspoken fan of community college education. "I love being in the community college environment, where the emphasis is on the celebration of teaching," says Dr. Mays. "I’m passionate about community college - it’s the best place for most people to get a really good education. I can’t imagine being anyplace else.”

For Dr. Marilyn Mays, it all began here.