Longtime educator and community servant Dr. Mary Jane McCoy was recently honored with a Doctor of Humane Letters, celebrating a lifetime of leadership, service, and advocacy in education. The distinction was conferred on May 17 by California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB)–the very institution where McCoy earned her undergraduate degree as a member of its first graduating class in 1967, making her one of the first Black women to graduate from the university.
McCoy was born in West Chester, Pa., and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. A pioneering figure in both the military and education sectors, she worked in the early U.S. missile program at Norton AFB during the 1960s, holding top secret clearance during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Her distinguished career in education spanned classroom teaching, administration, and leadership in desegregation efforts within the San Bernardino School District. She later earned a master’s degree and administrative credential from Pepperdine University.
After relocating to Spokane in the 1990s, she continued her service through the “One Spokane” program and was appointed to a state commission by Governor Christine Gregoire to advocate for displaced students. She is the namesake of a scholarship supporting students facing financial hardship, and her numerous recognitions include an NAACP Certificate of Life Membership and inclusion in Who’s Who Among American Women.
She and her husband, Edgar McCoy, have been married for 68 years and are the proud parents of two daughters, with five generations of family to their name.
She cites receiving the doctorate as a deeply fulfilling moment in her life’s journey.
Reflecting on her time as a college student during the era of integration, McCoy shared the challenges of being a 32-year-old Black woman in a shifting academic landscape.
“I remember one professor teaching about the Korean War,” she said. “I had lived through it–I was married during that time. He was still in high school then, so I corrected him in class. He didn’t like that.”
When final grades came in, she noticed she had been given a C, while a classmate she studied with – who had nearly identical answers – received an A.
“We both went to the college president and showed our papers,” she recalled. “The president told the professor, ‘Either give them both a C or both an A. But it has to be the same.’ He changed the grade. I got the A.”
In addition to her bachelor’s degree in history from CSUSB, McCoy earned two master’s degrees from Pepperdine University–one in education and the other in administration–while raising a family and breaking through racial barriers in higher education.
Her favorite part of being an educator?
“Seeing the expression on a child’s face when they finally understand. I always told them, ‘Once you learn something, nobody can take it away from you.’”
McCoy also remains deeply rooted in service through her lifelong involvement in organizations like The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; and the NAACP. She shared that whenever she sees a need, she naturally steps up to help–it’s part of who she is.
Her message to the next generation:
“Join something. Be of service. And don’t quit–because if you don’t quit, you win.”
Now approaching her 91st birthday in August, Dr. Mary Jane McCoy’s journey stands as a testament to perseverance, purpose, and Black excellence.