The Academic Advocate​

Known as Uncle Phil to the students he supports — and Aunty Benjie's husband to many in our community — Phillip Medlock brings nearly 30 years of higher education expertise to Le Nu'u Legacy Foundation as Director of Academic Initiatives. Currently an Academic Advisor in the University of Arizona's College of Engineering, he holds a B.S. in Business Marketing and an M.S. in Higher Education. His background spans financial aid, admissions, counseling, and academic advising — giving him the knowledge to help students navigate every corner of higher education, understand how their academic choices shape their careers, and connect with university resources and opportunities beyond the classroom.

As an Air Force military brat and former Fresno State football player, Phil understands both the discipline of athletic success and the academic challenges students face. He embraced his wife's Samoan heritage wholeheartedly — remembering her father's words: "When you marry a Samoan, you marry the whole family." True to that wisdom, Phil has helped put two of Benjie's nephews through college and opened their home to countless "nieces and nephews."

That family-first philosophy extends to his work with students, where he tells them he's now their extended family on campus — hence "Uncle Phil." Drawing from his own experience as a college student who lacked adequate support, Phil is passionate about ensuring today's students get the guidance they deserve.

His partnership with Benjaline, in both marriage and mission, has been instrumental in bringing Le Nu'u Legacy Foundation to life.

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