Maxine Dakins
Updated version: March 6
Maxine Dakins, a faculty member in the University of Idaho College of Natural Resources, died Tuesday night.
Dakins taught as a professor of environmental science while based in Idaho Falls. She had not taught this semester for health reasons, according to UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker.
Dakins originally worked as a statistician for Union Carbide, a chemical and polymers company, during the ‘80s. While there, Dakins became interested in the emerging environmental science field.
Dakins’ friend and UI co-worker, Alice Allen, an academic program coordinator at the UI Idaho Falls campus, said Dakins’ sense of adventure led her to leave her corporate position and join higher education. Dakins left Union Carbide and earned her Ph.D. in 1994.
“With a bit of trepidation and looking for an adventure, she faced her fears and accepted a postdoctoral position at University of Idaho in Idaho Falls,” Allen said.
Dakins became a full-time faculty member with UI in 1997. Since then, Dakins specialized in areas of study such as environmental statistics, natural resource policy and law and pollution prevention.
Allen said Dakins was well known for helping students achieve their goals. A non-traditional student herself, Dakins supported and guided non-traditional students returning to college.
“Max’s belief that people should define their own self of success earned her great respect from students, staff and other faculty,” Allen said.
Dakins’ desire to help those outside her student groups was evident in her volunteer work, Allen said. She worked closely with the Breaking Boundaries organization, a non-profit dedicated to helping people with H.I.V. and AIDS in the eastern Idaho area. Dakins was also an active participant in grant writing to support STEM education and scholarships for her students.
“She volunteered countless hours to people that she may never have met but who have had better lives because of her work, leading quietly and not letting any fears get in the way,” Allen said.
The Argonaut will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.