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HES Says Goodbye to Loyal Supporter

By Emily-Sarah Lineback, Connections

Nancy White

Former faculty member Dr. J. Nancy White, the sole recipient of a PhD degree earned from WC before it became UNCG, died at her Greensboro home on June 4, 2007. She was born in Statesville, North Carolina, on December 22, 1925. Nancy followed the path of her mother and seven aunts, who were all teachers, and received her bachelor's degree in education from WC.

She began her career teaching first grade in Salisbury; after five years, she returned to WC to teach at Curry, the university's laboratory school. She enjoyed nearly four decades in the Schools of HES and Education.

"Nancy White was a truly great teacher--a wonderful early guide for life as my first and second grade teacher," stated Paul Ashby, who graduated high school from Curry in 1967 and UNCG in 1971. "We didn't know she was teaching college as well as teaching us," he said with a laugh. "All of her students continued to keep in touch with her."

"Nancy contributed much to UNCG over the years both through teaching and the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students," wrote HES alumna and former faculty member Dr. Vira Kivett within Nancy's online Legacy guest book. "She was greatly admired by her students and colleagues and impressively represented the university at many levels in the city, state and nation. She was a thoughtful and caring friend. Her loyalty to UNCG through both gifts and services will seldom be matched."

Nancy's legacy within HES includes the education component of the Child Care Education Program (CCEP). She was also instrumental in initiating a joint certification program for Early Childhood and Child Development majors. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she served on and chaired various departmental, school and university committees; she also was active at state, regional and national levels including the State Department of Public Instruction, the Learning Institution of North Carolina, the American Home Economics Association and the Association for Childhood Education International. She was chairman of the Early Childhood Education Committee for the Governor's Study Commission on the Public Schools of North Carolina; this group was instrumental in making kindergarten part of public schools.

Nancy received much praise for her work: the university's Alumni Teaching Excellence Award (1970); the Gladys Strawn Bullard Award for outstanding university service (1986). In 1993, five years after her retirement, she was honored with an Outstanding Alumni Award.

Two scholarships are awarded in her honor--one was established by friends and colleagues when she retired; the other was set up by an anonymous donor. Nancy also endowed the Mrs. Earl G. White Scholarship in honor of her mother's years of teaching.

She never truly retired from her passion for education, continuing to serve as an active alumna. She was a member of the Unbroken Band, a lifetime UNCG Alumni Association member, and a three-term member of the HES Foundation Board.

Nancy also served in several capacities at Starmount Presbyterian Church as well as other groups, including being a member of the Gateway Education Center Board of Directors and a member and former president of Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society for women educators.

In an interview from 2005, held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of CCEP, Nancy spoke of her time at the university. She didn't mention awards or committees or any of the formal accolades she received; her focus, and her most cherished successes, were the students. "My memories of the students will never fade," she said with a smile. "I loved what I did. It was easy for me because I enjoyed being with the people." People in Nancy's path clearly felt this sentiment, a part of her legacy that lives on in all the lives she touched.

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