 "Photo: Contributed photo")
After being a teacher for 20 years, a new dean takes a seat at HCC's newest campus. Former Professor Judy Nolasco has taken on the job as Dean of Academic Affairs at the South Shore campus.
Nolasco had been a part of the Ybor campus since 2000. So what is the new dean really like? Nolasco acquired her education through multiple institutions, including the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida. She has B.A. degrees in English and Education. From there, she went on to receive her M.A. in English and has almost completed her Ed.D. in High Education Administration.
Nolasco started as a high school teacher, and then gradually moved to the college level through dual enrollment classes. Nolasco then went to work for Dean of Associate of Science Jack Evans as his assistant. Nolasco's new job helped ignite her passion for administration. The classroom still being her true calling, Nolasco began teaching English composition classes at the Ybor campus until this year when she took on her current position at South Shore.
“I was lucky I had experience in both areas to prepare me for this job,” said Nolasco.
Nolasco described her job as both a new challenge and extremely diverse.
“Administration duties entail a lot of meetings," she said with a laugh, "a lot of policy and procedure,” she said.
Her daily duties can include anything from budget meetings and meetings with students for various reasons to working at her desk answering emails and returning phone calls. Her passion has always been student interaction, and, although her new office is very different from a classroom, Nolasco is extremely glad that she still has time for the student body.
Nolasco has plans for the South Shore campus she hopes to incorporate in the near future. Nolasco would eventually like to start teaching night classes again as well as expanding the programs offered at the South Shore campus. She would like to see more education certificate programs being implemented for those who would like to get a trade certificate. Nolasco would also like to see a broader range of classes being offered to provoke interest.
“Our primary purpose here is teaching and learning together. And I hope to continue that,” said Nolasco.
As South Shore treads the waters to find its identity, Dean Nolasco pledges to help both students and professors alike find their paths through the school system.
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