08

Dr. Susan James

M.Ed. in Reading Education, ‘08

It is difficult to remember a time when UWF was not a significant part of my life. I moved to Pensacola in 1976 as the child of a Naval Officer whose wife (my mother) dedicated herself to supporting military wives new to the area by helping them transform their lives through an education at UWF. My mother, a first-generation college student and the first woman to earn a business degree from the University of Alabama, understood the transforming power of a solid education. She was a devoted mentor who guided countless women to UWF’s advising center to apply as students. This experience gave me a unique perspective of our campus, and I have watched its metamorphosis from a small regional university — without building signs and with very little street lighting — to one that is brimming with life and light.

Even more of a privilege than witnessing the beautiful growth of our university has been seeing the impressive student transformations that occur every day. As a two-time UWF student, I have experienced this growth firsthand, having been fortunate to receive the unparalleled mentorship of UWF faculty — mentorship that led to my own life-changing transformation. I first attended UWF in 1990 after the tragic death of my husband during Desert Shield. I returned in 2005 after losing my home during Hurricane Katrina. During two of the most challenging periods of my life, I was embraced by the "Argo Spirit" and found my footing through belonging in this great community. Argo Nation is a magical place. Because of UWF's belief in striving for a purpose greater than self, faculty inspired me to take a big risk: leave Pensacola with my then-five-year-old daughter to train for my doctorate in reading and English.

It was also these faculty members who taught me what it means to give back to the community by inspiring my founding of the Emerald Coast National Writing Project at the University of West Florida. Through the many experiences I have been afforded at UWF and through collaborations with leading authors, I have been able to provide professional development to hundreds of educators across the Panhandle, nation, and world. I treasure the core values instilled in me by UWF: the power of courage, strength of collaboration, and commitment to integrity. These values have given me a deep sense of purpose in serving the educators and children in our local schools. My heart has been with this university for 47 years. UWF has done as much to transform my thinking as any experience I have had in life, and for that, I am grateful. It is my great hope I have (and will always continue to) inspire positive life-changing transformation in my students and our community.