In October 2025, the History Department learned of the passing of one of its longest serving faculty members. As History Chair, Brian Janiskee, announced to the department: “Professor Emeritus of History Kent Schofield passed away on October 17. Kent retired from CSUSB in 2007 after 41 years of dedicated service, during which he contributed greatly to the History Department. Although only a few of you may have had the opportunity to work directly with Kent, his impact on the department endures through the generations of students and colleagues he influenced.” Professor Schofield was 87.

A memorial page for Professor Schofield provides more details of his life, which included substantial contributions to History education at California State University, San Bernardino. Soon after Schofield’s 2007 retirement, then History Department Chair, Joyce Hanson, established the Schofield-McAfee Award to commemorate his service along with his longtime colleague, Ward McAfee. Unlike all other History scholarships and awards that are based on blind review of student applications, this one is made by an annual faculty nomination and vote each year. This distinctive process reflects the intensive and active engagement that Schofield and McAfee brought to their teaching, prioritizing students’ diligence, consistent efforts, and improvement over the time. More about his contributions can be found here, including his administrative work on behalf of the university and the department.

Several current faculty remembered their time working with Professor Schofield. Professor David Yaghoubian noted, “Kent was a wonderful and compassionate human being, and I am indebted to him for the warmth and support he greeted me with when I joined the department.” Professor Tim Pytell noted: “I always remember the early lunches at Farmers Boys with him and the senior faculty. He always was ready to make us chuckle with a witty remark that often went over my uptight New York head.  But I really appreciated his warmth and support.” Professor Tom Long continued, “I remember those same lunches. Kent was also ‘the first person’ (as he told the story with a smile), to be awarded a PhD in history from UCR, my Alma Mater as well.” Professor Tiffany Jones remembered, “Even after retirement Kent remained in touch and regularly met for lunch and presented his research. He will indeed be missed! He was lovely. The Schofield-McAfee scholarship that Professor Hanson set up will continue in his legacy.”

Professor Emeritus, Ward McAfee remembered his former colleague: “Kent and I shared our entire academic careers at one place and in the same department. I was part of the founding faculty and Kent came the following year (1966).  From the outset, Kent was a master practical joker. Being gullible, I often fell for his stunts and only occasionally got even. We lived through the social change of the 1960s, involving in part the American Federation of Teachers strike centered at San Francisco State in 1968-69. The following decade was even more turbulent until the end of the Vietnam War. The college then underwent a local crisis of stagnant enrollments combined with the Panorama Fire of 1980 that destroyed much of northern San Bernardino and several outlying buildings on campus. In my memory, the decades that followed were relatively tame. I retired in 2008, and my involvements with CSUSB became hit and miss. Kent stayed closer to the campus. Several times we would make contact, the last time being in the summer of 2025. He had been a trickster in his youth, but in his senior years he was a jolly good fellow. In any case, he was always the life of the party.”

The CSUSB History Department offers our condolences to the friends and loved ones of Professor Emeritus, Kent Schofield, and our gratitude for his lifelong commitment to the department and university.