An $875,000 gift from the estate of a retired Fresno State professor will establish the Dr. Maxima Dandoy Center for Excellence at the Kremen School of Education and Human Development at California State University, Fresno.

Dr. Dandoy, a native of the Philippines, died Jan. 31, leaving her estate to the Kremen School, which established the Dandoy Center to support research, faculty development and leadership.

“We are extremely honored to receive this generous gift from Dr. Dandoy,” said Dr. Paul Beare, the dean of the Kremen School. “She was a gifted professor who was fully invested in everything she did. Her teaching legacy at Fresno State will always be remembered and honored.”

Dr. Dandoy came from a family of educators. Her parents, Manuel and Isadora Antonio, and three siblings were educators. After her teacher training, she taught in her hometown. Dr. Dandoy’s outstanding skills were recognized early on. As she was earning her degree in 1947 from National Teachers College, she concurrently taught and wrote curriculum for public schools throughout the Philippines.

She came with her husband to the United States and earned her doctorate in education from Stanford University in 1952, the same year she received her American citizenship.

After serving as an adjunct faculty member at UCLA, Dr. Dandoy was offered a position as a professor at the Fresno State College School of Education in 1956. She served as a professor at Fresno State until her retirement in 1987.

“Thanks to Dr. Dandoy’s gift, her peers will benefit just as they did when she was here,” said Beare.

The Kremen School of Education and Human Development’s broad spectrum of credential and graduate programs prepares future teachers, administrators, counselors and other education professionals. The school has been fully accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education since 1953.

(Copy by University Communications student intern Valerie Hosch.)