W. Scott Anchors, 76, of Scarborough, Maine, passed away on July 23, 2026 surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, to Jack and Mattie Grace (Holcomb) Anchors. Scott spent his teen years living the life of the quintessential beach boy and developing his lifelong passion for all things water. On the days he wasn’t working as a lifeguard, he was out catching waves with his surfer buddies. After graduating from college and earning his Master’s degree, Scott and then wife Nancy moved to Maine where they and like-minded friends became part of the back-to-the-land movement. They settled in Vienna, Maine where they built their own log cabin in the woods and lived off-grid for a number of years — a chapter that shaped his self-reliance and love of the natural world he carried for the rest of his life.

Scott spent most of his career at the University of Maine and held deep affection for his colleagues, students and the community he built over the years. He served in several roles including the Director of Residential Life, Executive Assistant to the President, and Lecturer in the Business School of Management and Organizational Leadership. During his time at UMaine, Scott took a sabbatical year to complete his Ph.D. in Psychology from Iowa State University.

Scott leaves a profound legacy in higher education where he mentored hundreds of students and young professionals. He was recognized for his research and writing in the field of student development, having presented papers at over seventy-five conferences around the world and serving as the keynote speaker for several of them. Scott had a deep appreciation for what he referred to as the “differing gifts” of humankind, which influenced his work with The Association of Psychological Type International. In 2009 he was awarded the prestigious Gordon Lawrence Award for his contributions to the literature on Myers-Briggs Typology.

In 2010 Scott was honored to receive the University’s Excellence inTeaching Award. As comfortable as he was in the classroom, Scott believed in the education of the whole person, one that extends well beyond traditional classroom learning. As a Master Maine Guide his great joy came from leading student groups on kayaking adventures up and down the East Coast where they sharpened their leadership skills and perhaps completed their first kayak roll. After retirement he spent many hours on the water with his equally adventurous wife Kelly. They both enjoyed leading trips and teaching Stand Up Paddling and kayaking through the L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Program. Scott’s last foray in the working world was one he especially enjoyed, teaching and guiding for his son Zack’s business, Portland Paddle. True to his Floridian roots, he was surfing well into his seventies, achieving a personal goal of surfing at least once a month for fifteen consecutive months in the chilly waters of Maine.

Above all, Scott was a man who valued relationships. He was a fiercely loyal friend, a beloved colleague, and loved his family above all else. Scott is survived by his wife, Kelly Anchors; his sons, Joshua Caine Anchors (Thuy) and William Zachary Anchors (Ayana); and siblings Michael (Brenda) Anchors, Patricia Skoog, and Suzanne Belflower (Buddy).

Gifts in memory of Scott for the Scott Anchors Scholarship for Student Development in Higher Education may be made payable to the University of Maine Foundation, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469-5792 or online at: Scott Anchors Scholarship Fund.