The latest addition to our series of Alumni Council Q&As features Council member Marsha Nolf ('70).
Q: When did you graduate from Waynesburg University, and what was your major?
I graduated from Waynesburg College in 1970. My major was English.
Q: Where has life taken you since graduating from Waynesburg University?
I earned a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 1972. I worked at Fairmont State College (now University) from 1973 to 1986 as a tenured Associate Professor and Cataloger. I taught in the college’s undergraduate library science program. I worked at California University of PA (now PennWest California) from 1987 to 2008 as a tenured Associate Professor, Bibliographic Instruction Librarian, and Public Services Coordinator. I taught in the university’s Honors Program. I also earned 54 additional graduate hours in English at West Virginia University. In addition, my life has taken me to all of the continents except Asia. For example, in 2014, I spent Christmas Day in Antarctica.
Q: What is your current job/title, and what is your current location?
I retired from California University of Pennsylvania on June 30, 2008. I have the title of Emerita Professor. Currently, I live in Washington, PA.
Q: Can you describe your typical day?
As I mentioned previously, I am retired. I do “just enough” volunteer work to keep me involved in the life of my community. For example, I am president of the Washington County Library System Board; I teach Sunday School; I am on a Washington Presbytery Committee; I founded a book club; etc.
Q: Can you describe your time as a student at Waynesburg and how it shaped you as a person?
I was a work/study student. I spent my four years at Waynesburg working at the library. Mrs. May P. Clovis and her staff provided me with an appreciation of the profession of librarianship. When I graduated in 1970 with a degree in English, I asked myself: “OK, Marsha, what are you going to do with this degree?” It dawned on me that what I really wanted to do was become an academic librarian, and that’s what I did.
Q: What is your favorite memory as a Waynesburg student?
My “favorite memory” is lifelong friendships. My mother saved a letter that I wrote to her when I was a freshman at Waynesburg in September 1966. In the letter, I reported that I had met two nice girls—Lynn Szabo-Vought and Mathilda “Tilly” Horst. Lynn, who is deceased, became my dear friend and college roommate. Tilly became my BFF. We have been BFFs for 53 years. In fact, she just called me a few days prior to writing this.
Q: Who was your favorite professor at Waynesburg, and why?
My favorite professor at Waynesburg was the late Fred B. McEwen. Dr. McEwen, an English professor, taught me to be a critical thinker and a careful writer. In fact, as I write this narrative, I worry that I will make a typographical or grammatical error! Every time I write something, I hear Dr. McEwen’s voice in my head. For example, he might say: “Your sentence lacks pronoun reference,” or “Marsha, insert a semicolon in this sentence.” Although Dr. McEwen is deceased, he is still teaching me.
Q: Why is staying connected with your alma mater important to you?
I have family connections to my alma mater. My maternal grandparents, Carl Biddle and Mary Hoge, met at Waynesburg College in 1911. My mother, Katherine Biddle Nolf, graduated from the college in 1941. Numerous aunts and cousins have graduated from the college. It has been part of my life for three generations. In fact, former president Paul R. "Prexy" Stewart was my grandmother Mary Hoge’s first cousin. When I was young, I never knew that there was another college!
Q: What does your role as an Alumni Council member entail, and what motivates you to give back to the University in this way?
It’s just my way of saying thank you. That is, “Thank you, Waynesburg University, for providing me with a happy life and a successful career.”
Q: What advice do you have for current students? For recent graduates?
I spent most of my work life in academe. I was always surrounded by people with “fancy” degrees, many of whom were willing to flaunt all of their credentials at me. I worried that I could not compete academically with them. I worried that my degree from Waynesburg College was not enough. Let me reassure current and recent graduates of Waynesburg University that you will be just fine. You can compete. Your degree is more than enough. Once again, “You will be fine.”