The DNA of Learning: Three Generations of Mauldins at Bellevue College

For over five decades, at least one member of the Mauldin family has contributed to the excellence of Bellevue College.  

This legacy started in 1969 when Interlake High School biology instructor Diane Mauldin took over a Bellevue Community College GED evening biology class for her colleague and mentor, Leu Ronhaar. She’d been looking to take advantage of her newly minted master’s degree. It happened to also be the year Bellevue College officially opened its main Landerholm Circle campus, and Diane was excited to be one of its original faculty members. She was hired to teach college-level biology the following quarter. Diane would go on to spend 23 years as adjunct faculty at Bellevue College, a meaningful position that allowed her to balance her professional aspirations with family as she and her husband, Roger, raised their two daughters.  

A devoted educator and mentor, Diane has shaped countless lives through her passion for teaching biology, anatomy and physiology, and microbiology. With her commitment to teaching excellence and constant professional development, she played a pivotal role in shaping the college’s science programs. Her coursework, written lab manuals, and published notes for microbiology, physiology, and anatomy courses are still in use and are making an impact in classes on campus today. Her commitment to accessible teaching practices ensured that all students had the opportunity to succeed in her classroom.  

“I can’t go into any medical facilities in the area without bumping into a past student!” Diane recounts. “It is always wonderful to see them thriving in their careers.”  

Diane’s dedication to Bellevue College and exceptional teaching style has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Margin of Excellence Award (1998), the Exceptional 50 Award (2016), the Lockwood Distinguished Faculty Award (2016), and the prestigious Dale P. Parness Distinguished Faculty Award from the American Association of Community Colleges (2018). 

Diane’s influence extended well beyond teaching, shaping Bellevue College into the impressive, advanced learning center it is today. She has served on hiring and tenure committees, directed the Science Study Center, and mentored up-and-coming faculty members.

“I judge my success each time I witness my students’ scientific curiosity deepen,” Diane reflected. “It’s been a privilege to teach and contribute to Bellevue College for over 50 years.”   

Diane’s husband, Roger Mauldin, has also been a steadfast supporter of Bellevue College, serving on the Bellevue College Foundation Board of Directors for seven years and currently continuing his involvement on the board’s finance committee. His impact on the board has contributed millions of funding dollars to continue the important work of higher education in Bellevue. Together, they established two endowments. One provides discretionary funding that supports student success, and the second provides scholarships to students. 

“Bellevue College should be accessible to all students that want to receive continuing education,” Roger said. “Both Diane and I are committed to helping remove financial barriers to students.” 

Education is also a family affair in the Mauldin household. Diane and Roger’s daughters, Kimberly and Mandie, have both followed in Diane’s footsteps, each having their own impact at Bellevue College. Kimberly Mauldin, a University of Washington graduate, taught physics and astronomy for a year at Bellevue College when there was a teaching shortage. Although her tenure was brief, it was life-altering. Kimberly met her husband, Chad Lawrence, at Bellevue College. Chad, a Washington State University graduate, was taking pre-med classes at Bellevue College, including Diane’s anatomy and physiology and microbiology classes and Kimberly’s physics class. Kimberly has since left teaching but was a student herself at Bellevue College. She now works closely with her husband in hospitality. 

Mandie Mauldin Nash, another University of Washington graduate, was also a Bellevue College student and an employee for five years in the Tutoring Center (now Academic Success Center), Adult Basic Education program, and the Center for Career Connections before continuing her Bellevue College career teaching in-person and online mathematics classes for the last 15 years. Mandie uses her degree in communications from the University of Washington and her master’s in developmental math from Pennsylvania State University to help inform her unique teaching style. She is also the classroom strategies lead and interim director of Bellevue College’s Faculty Commons, a faculty professional development center. Like her mom, Mandie is dedicated to iterative improvements in her teaching and continually seeks ways to help her curriculum come to life for her students. 

Diane’s grandchild, Jay Nash, continues this family tradition as a current Bellevue College student. A 2024 graduate of Lake Washington High School, Jay is exploring their own scientific discoveries while taking astronomy and physics courses.  

“I’m so proud of Jay, following their own path in science,” Diane said. “I know they will build on a great foundation from Bellevue College in whatever major they choose in the future.”  

Although Diane retired during the COVID-19 pandemic, her passion for education remains undiminished. She maintains a connection with the Life Sciences department and facilitates an online community group consisting, in part, of many Bellevue College faculty that explores many issues that currently confront our state, country, and world.  

The Mauldin family’s legacy is one of commitment, generosity, and unwavering dedication. Diane’s contributions, alongside those of her husband, Roger, daughters Kimberly and Mandie, and the third generation in Jay, have left an indelible mark on the college and its community, inspiring generations of students and educators alike.