Former UNLV President Robert C. Maxson died Sept. 28, 2025, at his home in the San Juan Islands, Washington. He was 89.
Maxson was UNLV’s fifth president, serving from 1984 until 1994. Graduate education expanded significantly during his tenure, particularly at the doctoral level, including programs in English, history, hotel administration, sociology, and biological sciences. It was during this time that U.S. News and World Report listed UNLV as one of the "up and coming universities in the West," and the book 101 Best College Buys called it a "national flagship university."
His time at UNLV also saw construction of several new buildings, including Thomas T. Beam Engineering Complex, the Rod Lee Bigelow Health Sciences Building, and the Robert Bigelow Physics Building. He pushed student-focused initiatives to expand residence halls and service buildings, build the UNLV honors program, and create numerous scholarship opportunities.
Daughter Kimberly Maxson-Rushton said, "My dad and I watched the UNLV-UCLA [football] game and he was so proud to see the Rebels win. I know he’s thrilled about their record now … and proud of the fact that two of his grandchildren currently attend UNLV."
Maxson arrived at UNLV after serving as an administrator at multiple universities, including stints as a dean at Auburn University and Appalachian State University and as senior vice president of the University of Houston System. In addition to his position as president at UNLV, Maxson taught an educational leadership course in the College of Education.
After UNLV, he served as the president of California State University, Long Beach and as president of Sierra Nevada College (now part of UNR).
Born May 8, 1936, in Watson, Arkansas, he earned his doctoral degree in educational leadership from Mississippi State University, his master’s degree in educational administration from Florida Atlantic University, and his bachelor’s degree in education and psychology from University of Arkansas at Monticello.
Survivors include his son, Dr. Todd Maxson; daughter, Kimberly Maxson-Rushton; and grandchildren Alexandra Rushton and Maxson Rushton, who both currently attend UNLV. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Maxson, ’89 M.Ed. and ’93 Ed.D.
Memorial services are pending.
