A Firm Foundation Their dedication to Washington & Jefferson College is unwavering. Their passion for teaching is profound. The following four professors have been inspiring W&J students for more than 30 years, honing the young minds of the best and the brightest before sending them out into the world to pursue meaningful careers. On a campus that is continually evolving, the influence of these professors is constant— serving as a foundation on which the College can thrive.
As we pause to reflect on W&J’s rich history—one that changed dramatically 40 years ago with the advent of co-education—we turn to those professors who not only have witnessed the College’s growth, but who have played invaluable roles in its progress. Here are their stories, as told by the young people whom they impact each day—W&J students.
TEACHING WITH ENTHUSIASM:
Nicholas Cavoti, Ph.D. Nicholas Cavoti’s small office on the second floor of Dieter-Porter Hall is decorated with dozens of framed photographs. Pictures of his wife, children, colleagues and friends line one wall. They obscure one table completely. However, he keeps his first identification card issued by Washington & Jefferson College in 1971 in his wallet.
though some students find the process nerve-racking. He paces his classrooms with a stack of them and chooses names at random, earning his students’ full attention. “As much as every student sits hoping that their name card somehow got lost, they keep you alert, so I guess he has a pretty good method to his madness,” Jenna Wandrisco ’12 said.
The card’s lamination has peeled up from the corners and colored a slight yellow during the past 39 years. Excluding his silver hair and matured face, the now 65-year-old man looks very much like the 26-year-old in the photo. Today, he still boasts a dress shirt and tie and an engaging, warm smile.
Cavoti understands his students’ anxiety. Early in his career, he was closer in age to his own students than to his fellow faculty members, which intimidated the young professor.
The photo is a fond reminder to Cavoti that W&J has been his only employer throughout his adult life. He has been a professor of psychology since 1971 and the chair of the psychology department since 1984. His devotion to the College is mirrored by his commitment to and enthusiasm for a liberal arts education. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Ursinus College, a highly competitive, liberal arts school not unlike W&J, and his master’s and doctorate degrees from West Virginia University. The tailored education he received as an undergraduate influenced his decision to teach at W&J. “Having gone through the experience [of a small college], I knew it was a good experience and wanted to participate in the kind of education I had as a student,” he said. “So I knew exactly what I was getting into [at W&J] having gone to Ursinus.” In the classroom, Cavoti is known to use note cards to call on his students. This gives everyone a chance to participate in class discussions, 14
WINTER 2011 MAGAZINE
“[It was] a very conservative place when I came here. My first years were kind of threatening,” he said. He encountered many strict and imposing figures, many of whom sported suits and, from his perspective, acted “prim and proper.” Initially, he felt that he was not well respected by his colleagues because of his youth, but he worked hard to prove that he was as capable as any seasoned faculty member. He even donned suits to look the part and, to this day, continues to wear them. His growing pains at the College were mirrored by female students’ struggles to earn the respect of their male peers and professors in the early 1970s. However, it was not long until Cavoti, like women at W&J, became an integral part of the campus community. During his career, he has taught courses on experimental psychology, elementary psychology and organizational behavioral management, among others, and continues to teach even though he has taken on more work as the chair of the department. In addition to his responsibilities at W&J, the jovial professor is a consultant for businesses in regards to behavioral safety and management. Between his
“Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to work with young, engaging students with the world ahead of them?”
professional obligations, Cavoti has little time left for himself. “After my teaching day is done and all the work with the department is wrapped up and I’ve finished any consulting work, there isn’t much time left for hobbies. But that’s the way I like it,” Cavoti said. “I really do love teaching and I like W&J students. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to work with young, engaging students with the world ahead of them?” – SHAUNNA BALLARD ’12