CCAC Professor Earns World Record Title
Published August 25, 2026
Professor Maxin received his award from the Guinness World Records during CCAC All College Day. Pictured from left to right: Dr. Stephen Wells, CCAC Provost & Chief Academic Officer; CCAC Biology Professor, Francis Maxin; Stephen Tavoni, CCAC Associate Professor of Biology; Robert (Bobby) Ficco, CCAC Associate Professor of Biology & Department Chair and Dr. Quintin Bullock, CCAC President.
Francis Maxin, CCAC Professor of biology has achieved a Guinness World Record as the longest career science instructor (male).
At the time of the Guinness Word Records' official designation in May of this year, Maxin had served 59 years and 245 days at CCAC's Main Campus in Pittsburgh. He began his employment at CCAC as a biology instructor in September 1966, and he remains a full-time member of the college faculty today.
As part of CCAC's 60th Anniversary year of celebrations, a committee consisting of CCAC faculty and administrators secretly gathered research for the Guinness World Records' submission, surprising Maxin with the news of his achievement during CCAC's "All College Day" fall semester launch program on August 10.
CCAC opened its doors in September 1966. At its founding, the college employed 59 full-time and 16 part-time faculty members—75 teaching faculty in total—supporting the inaugural class. Maxin, hired in 1966, stands among the college's original faculty members. He has continuously served CCAC as a professor, currently entering his 233rd semester teaching biology courses to CCAC students this fall. His service represents a remarkable legacy of dedication to teaching and science education.
A 1964 graduate of Gannon University, Maxin earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology before completing a Master of Science in Biology at Duquesne University and a Master of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Since beginning his tenure at CCAC as a true "founding father" of the institution, Maxin has played a pivotal role in shaping its academic foundation. He served as Chair of the Biology Department for approximately 20 years and continues to teach microbiology with the same enthusiasm and commitment that marked his earliest days in the classroom. Beyond teaching, Maxin has made significant contributions to his field. He authored the college textbook "Venereal Disease and Control" and served as a textbook editor for nearly two decades. A dedicated member of the American Society for Microbiology for 60 years, he has remained actively engaged in the broader scientific community throughout his career. In 2022, he was honored with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development Excellence award, recognizing his longstanding service and unwavering commitment to the CCAC community.