Annette Sampon-Nicolas
Professor of French
My colleague and friend, Annette Sampon-Nicolas, arrived at Hollins in 1985, the year of the legendary flood; an event she remembers vividly. She had been at Hollins only two months when, one day while teaching a class on 19th-century French literature (that included former Board Chair Alex Trower ’86), she received word that if she did not want her car to float away, she should move it quickly! While she recalls the flood as a harrowing event, she also remembers it as a time when faculty and staff came together to help save rare library books and to support one another. She and her colleagues literally weathered the storm. What a memorable way to start her long and fruitful career at Hollins!
Recently I asked Annette how she came to be at Hollins, and she proceeded to tell me the most wonderful story about her serendipitous encounters with our institution. She said that many years ago, she and her mother were on an ocean liner headed to Europe when they met a fellow passenger who turned out to be a French professor at Hollins! She then told me about how one of her father’s professors from Belgium spent a year teaching at Hollins and wrote a memoir, Un Air de Virginie, in which he described Tinker Day and other memorable experiences. She concluded by saying: “How could I not pick Hollins with all these coincidences? I am fortunate that Hollins also chose me!”
Annette was born in Belgium and grew up in a family where culture and curiosity were mainstays. Her parents, whom she credits for everything she has achieved, instilled in her a passion for learning and a curiosity about the world and the environment. From them she developed a love of languages, literature, art, music, history, politics, architecture, gardening, cordon bleu cooking, and fencing (she was on the varsity team at the University of Wisconsin!). Many of these interests made their way into the innovative courses Annette developed at Hollins: interdisciplinary courses about the literature, film, and cultures of North Africa and West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Iran, Canada, Europe and Asia, food culture and politics, international studies, and the environment. Annette has always been grateful to Hollins for the creative freedom she has had to develop new classes and the opportunity to teach a variety of students: first-year seminar students, French majors and minors, and M.A.L.S. students.
In addition to her accomplishments in the classroom, Annette has been an active scholar throughout her career, having published two books and numerous articles. For her tireless dedication, the French government honored her with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, a prestigious order of knighthood bestowed upon a scant few for their distinguished contributions to French national education and culture throughout the world.
What Annette has valued most about Hollins is the opportunity to teach young minds and to see a passion for learning develop in her students. She has loved learning from them as much as they have loved learning from her. She remains close with many of her alumnae and she cherishes those relationships. Erin Pettigrew ’03, who teaches at NYU Abu Dhabi, said the following about her mentor: “Annette is by far the most important intellectual and professional influence on my life. It is because of her teaching, enthusiasm, and curiosity that I became a professor. It is because of her kindness and warmth that we have remained friends.” Annette credits students like Erin for making her career so rewarding.
Annette’s kindness and warmth extend to her faculty colleagues as well. When I arrived at Hollins, she welcomed me with open arms, frequently inviting me to her home for the most delicious meals. She helped me adjust to my new life and has been there for me as a friend and valued colleague all these years. We have wonderful conversations about teaching and scholarship, and she has been so generous, sharing syllabi, books, and all sorts of other resources that have helped me grow as a professor. As Annette is an avid and talented cook and baker, I have also been one of the fortunate recipients of her exquisite treats over the years!
Annette, Hollins has been so fortunate to have you these 37 years. Thank you for choosing Hollins and for dedicating your life’s work to instilling a passion for learning in our students. I wish you a long and joyous retirement doing the many things you enjoy. You will be sorely missed.