April 5 , 2005

40th Anniversary Edition

Jack Twitchell Math Teacher and Dean of Administrative Services Jack Twitchell took a vacation from Missouri to Arizona to see the countryside nearly 45 years ago and never returned. Twitchell began teaching in Mesa public schools at the high school level, then joined the MCC math department in the Fall of 1965, which, at the time was located on Main and Extension Roads, home of the now Landmark Restaurant. Twitchell was 26 years old at the time. Twitchell taught all levels of math, including engineering classes, and was the mathematics department chair for 14 years. After being department head, Twitchell became Dean of Administrative Services, which allowed him to work closely with the budget before retiring in 1995. “We pretty much have the same class sizes,” Twitchell said, comparing his first years as a teacher to current class sizes. Classes at the landmark were limited due to the small space the building offered. When asked about a memorable moment in his career, Twitchell said, “Moving here from The Landmark in the fall of 1966.”

Jim Mancuso Chair of Communications/Theater Department Jim Mancuso was born in New York and moved to Arizona at the age of four. He graduated from Arizona State University at 21, and went on to teach at Phoenix Union High School. After teaching at the high school level, Mancuso got a job at Glendale Community College in 1967. In 1974, Mancuso moved to MCC to teach speech courses. He directed “Death of a Salesman” in the Theatre Outback before becoming department chair in 1978. Mancuso spent 10 years as Director of Speech Activity, 10 years as department chair, six years doing consultant work for the district, and even co-authored a book titled, For Team Members Only. Mancuso was also Interim Dean of Instruction in 1996. After his interim, Mancuso returned to the classroom, and also returned as Chair of Communications/ Theatre Departments. “I really enjoy being in the classroom,” Mancuso said with a smile. “The energy that the students have and the responsiveness to some ideas. Sometimes you get really lucky and they respond really well to ideas. It really causes us to fell energized.” As for his memorable moment, “The first time I was hired into the district at GCC. My high school coach was teaching at Glendale. At that time, all of the faculty in the entire district fit into the Phoenix College auditorium. He walked up and said, ‘You picked a good one, Jim’ referring to GCC. I’ll always remember that. Being able to teach at a college that was special at 25. I feel fortunate.”

Rudy Mendez Director of Buildings and Grounds Rudy Mendez was born in Ray, Ariz., near the town of Superior. Mendez graduated from Ray High School and Arizona State University. He worked as an industrial engineer before coming to Mesa Community College in 1986 as the Director of Buildings and Grounds. “I loved it,” Mendez said. “It was very demanding.” Mendez helped maintain the beauty of the campus along with his 35 other employees in his department when he started. Currently, there are over 60 employees working the campus grounds. Mendez remembered a memorable moment that occurred at a graduation ceremony one year. “My most memorable moment was when they asked a student why they came to MCC, and the student said they enjoyed coming on campus because it was always maintained, looked good, looked neat, and the flowers and grass looked trim. The sanitation of the place and cleanliness was maintained. I sat there and felt real good about it. There is a reward in whatever you do here, when the students appreciate whatever you do here.” Mendez also received awards for the design of the conservation of water landscape near the Social and Cultural Building. “I sat in on an evaluation and the first thing that came out of their mouth was ‘we have found MCC (very well) maintained,’” Mendez recalled. “I felt like jumping up and yelling! I felt real good about it.” Mendez retired from MCC in June 2004 at the age of 65.

Rajinder “Raj” K. Kalia English Teacher Rajinder “Raj” K. Kalia began his career at MCC in September of 1967 in the English department at a time when there were only a couple permanent buildings, and many temporary buildings. At that time, there were almost 4,000 students. “We have grown tremendously (since 1967),” Kalia said. “It (MCC) has done a great job involving the whole community.” Kalia, who was “old enough” and “in his 30s” when he began working at MCC, still teaches English on campus. “I really enjoy working here. That’s why I’m still here after all these years.” Kalia’s most memorable experience on campus refers to his students and their success. “There are some students that have taken a class from me and some of them come back and tell me that they are doing well in life and occasionally thank me for helping them.” Kalia has taught approximately 200 students per semester, and has taught nearly 76 semesters, which adds up to thousands of students who have entered his classes. With that in mind Kalia said, “I hope they are all doing well.”

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