MOVERS & SHAKERS: James Annarelli

James Annarelli, President, Eckerd College 

By STEVE TRAIMAN | Photos Eckerd College

James J. Annarelli, Ph.D. was unanimously appointed the sixth president of Eckerd College on Feb. 10 by the Board of Trustees. Earning his doctorate at Drew University, he has had an exemplary 42-year career in higher education, joining Eckerd 32 years ago. Prior to being named interim president last August, he was vice president for student life and dean of students. Annarelli told the campus that he was committed to thoughtful revision of the liberal arts that all institutions must undertake in the current academic environment. He noted that his approach to leadership is collaborative, and community based.

President Annarelli shared his vision with Paradise NEWS, saying “Since its founding as Florida Presbyterian College in 1958, Eckerd College has cherished its ties with the city of St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, and we want to more fully take our place among St. Petersburg’s prestigious hometown colleges.”

What were your three biggest successes in your prior business career? The publication of my book, Academic Freedom and Catholic Higher Education, in 1987. My work for nearly nine years in the 1990s with the outstanding adult students who enrolled in the college’s Program for Experienced Learners (PEL). Many of them went on to significant leadership positions in local government, the not-for-profit sector, and the business community in Tampa Bay. And my role for nearly two decades as the vice president for student life and dean of students. I had the opportunity to lead efforts aimed at the revitalization of student activities and the enhancement of services on campus, yielding close to 90% of our students living on campus.

What are your prime responsibilities at Eckerd? As the college’s chief executive officer, I have ultimate responsibility for all the college’s operations. The lens through which I see my work is the commitment to do all in my power – in partnership with faculty, staff, and Trustees – to ensure that Eckerd College provides the highest quality education possible in the liberal arts and sciences to our students while supporting their holistic development on multiple levels.

Why did this Eckerd job appeal to you? I have been a member of this community for over three decades, and so I am deeply committed to all aspects of the college’s mission. It is the honor of my lifetime to have been asked by our Board of Trustees to fulfill this role. The faculty and staff at Eckerd College are deeply devoted to this place and, I am energized by the opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with them to take Eckerd into its bright future. And of course, the Eckerd College students are a tremendous inspiration to me. They are adventurous, smart, dedicated individuals who carry the name of Eckerd College into every part of the world. I often repeat the adage that “Eckerd College changes lives, and Eckerd College graduates change the world.”  I am a true believer in this maxim and serving as the president of Eckerd gives me a great sense of pride.

What do you think are St. Pete’s biggest opportunities? St. Petersburg has been blessed with a beautiful coastal location, abundant sunshine, rich ecosystems, and biotic communities, a dynamic and growing business community, a vibrant arts scene, entertainment options for all ages, and a talented, industrious, caring, and diverse community. This is a booming region with a strong higher education infrastructure, talented workforce, and economy that includes both expanding service-related and manufacturing sectors.

What do you think are St. Pete’s biggest challenges? Many of St. Petersburg’s challenges are the byproducts of its success and continuing growth in one of the state’s most densely populated counties. The city needs to manage its natural resources thoughtfully and address sustainable growth and access to affordable housing.

What do you hope to accomplish in this new role? In partnership with the faculty, continue to envision and provide a high-quality liberal arts education for the 21st century student that will prepare Eckerd graduates for satisfying and fruitful careers and lives of deep meaning and purpose. Together with the faculty, we are exploring new, expanded academic offerings that respond to changing student and societal needs and that are consonant with our mission. We want to support the development of the entire student – body, mind, spirit – through innovative, inclusive, and thoughtful programming within and beyond the classroom.  We will create a more sustainable campus while building resiliency in light of our beautiful, yet vulnerable, coastal location.  We plan to strengthen and expand partnerships and initiatives with Eckerd and Tampa Bay partners. 

How will these new or expanded projects make a difference in the community? A recent study by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) documents the impressive long-term value of an undergraduate education in the liberal arts and sciences. Individuals who graduate with a liberal arts degree not only develop competence in their major area, but also are equipped to be problem-solvers, critical thinkers, excellent team members and collaborators, and effective communicators. These so-called soft skills allow our graduates to be adaptable and nimble as they face an ever-changing employment scene. The world has never needed these types of thinkers more. Eckerd College graduates typically go on to the finest graduate schools and to distinguished careers in public service, the sciences, education, business, technology, government, law, and medicine.

Eckerd College, as an institution, is an important economic driver in the region and an active community partner. The college employs nearly 400 people; students, faculty, and staff establish relationships with scores of not-for-profit organizations through volunteer service; and increasing numbers of students who hail from other areas are choosing to remain in the Tampa Bay region to live and work following graduation.

What do you love about living in Paradise? My wife and I have lived in Pinellas County for nearly 33 years and both our children were born and raised here. This is home, and we love the lives that we have built for our family here. St. Petersburg and its environs offer all the richness a city can offer yet within the context of a caring and supportive community. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have fashioned successful careers and a rewarding family life in this beautiful, enchanted place.

What do you do when you are not at work? Free time is at a premium for both my wife and me, but when we are free, we enjoy spending time with our adult children, Josh and Katie; enjoying the parks and beaches of our area; exploring the restaurants of Tampa Bay with friends; cooking; and gardening at home.

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