Dr. Donald G. Phelps was the W. K. Kellogg Regents Professor
in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.
His assignment was in the Department of Educational Administration.
His primary responsibilities were with the Community College
Leadership Program. Don joined the faculty in 1994 after a thirty-five
year career as a teacher, elementary and secondary school principal,
school superintendent, community college president, and chancellor
in both the Seattle and Los Angeles Community College Districts.
In the Los Angeles District in particular, he was the leader
of the nation’s most diverse two-year college district,
with an enrollment of 150,000 students. In like manner, this
enrollment represented the largest number of African-American
and Hispanic students of any two-year college in the nation.
Among Dr. Phelps’ many honors have been leadership awards
given by the National Council on Black American Affairs and the
American Association of Community Colleges. In 1998, he was the
recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award from the American
Association of Community Colleges. He served four years on the
Men’s Athletics Council at the University of Texas, before
stepping up as Chair. As such, Don was the advisor to The University
of Texas president on all intercollegiate athletic matters.
Dr. Phelps served in top administrative positions in federal
and county governments as well. He was Director of Executive
Administration for King County government where he was responsible
for the management of all branches of county government in Seattle,
Washington. He was a director in the United States Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare and authored the first report
to the United States Congress on alcohol abuse in this nation.
Of his long and extensive career in public service and education,
he takes great pride in his years as President of Seattle Central
Community College and Chancellor of the Seattle Community College
District.
Dr. Phelps received his bachelor’s, master’s and
doctoral degrees in education from Seattle University. He also
did postgraduate work at Harvard University. He is survived by
Pamela, three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
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Larry R. Faulkner, President
The University of Texas at Austin
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Sue Alexander Greninger, Secretary
The General Faculty
