St. Petersburg College issued the following announcement on July 28.
Each year, St. Petersburg College honors some of the engaging, caring faculty who helped generations of students succeed by bestowing upon them the title Professor Emeritus.
This year, the honor goes to Dr. Nan Morelli-White.
For more than 35 years, Morelli-White educated and inspired countless students and colleagues, sharing her passion for literature and the humanities. She began her St. Petersburg College career in 1985 as a full-time instructor on the Tarpon Springs Campus, but her home base for more than 30 years was the Clearwater Campus. She served the College for more than 30 years as an FGO representative. She retired in February 2020 and lives in Safety Harbor.
Morelli-White worked tirelessly developing curriculum and teaching in SPC’s Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
“I had the honor of co-teaching an Interdisciplinary Studies Class with Nan for several years,” said SPC Communications Professor Dawn Joyce. “The students were drawn to her knowledge and command of the English language, her vast knowledge of the arts, and her spunky personality. I’m so honored I had the opportunity to teach and work alongside such an amazing faculty member.”
Morelli-White often served as a mentor to new faculty, generously sharing her knowledge, training and teaching experiences.
“She took me under her wing when I began teaching full time at SPC,” said SPC Communications Professor Dr. Susan Benson. “She was always happy to share her time, her experience, her course materials, and her friendship – and she is indeed a dear friend. Dr. Morelli-White is a brilliant scholar, and her passion for literature and the humanities has engaged and inspired countless students.”
In September 2020, Morelli-White co-authored an article with Joyce, titled, “Colleges Need a Makeover: Adapting to Change One Class at a Time,” which was published in the Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice. In addition, she has co-authored articles with St. Petersburg College instructor Greg Byrd for the Modern Language Association of America on the teaching of poetry. She has attended and presented at education conferences across the globe, including such places as Great Britain, Greece and Spain.
Morelli-White has been described by her colleagues as a kind soul whose passion and dedication have truly made a difference in the lives of many.
“Her sense of humor and willingness to mentor me and so many of her colleagues and students are her gifts,” said retired SPC Dean and Professor Emerita Martha Campbell. “She values the academic community and has spent her career paying close attention to what students say and what they write. As a professor emerita, I am proud to welcome her to our community.”
Original source can be found here.