Western Nevada College News
WNC Saddened by Passing of Longtime Faculty Member James Kolsky
Mar 1, 2023
James Kolsky impacted many students at Western Nevada College through his English classes.
English Professor James Kolsky did more than help students write effective essays and understand the difference between pronouns and contractions.
As a 33-year employee and one of the early faculty members at of Western Nevada College, he helped the college flourish and prepare students with the writing skills to excel professionally.
Kolsky passed away last month and will be deeply missed by Western, especially those who were fortunate learn from him and work with him for many years.
“He was a consummate professional: respected, well-liked and a joy to work with,” said Maxine Cirac, a foreign language professor at WNC for the past 33 years. “It was always an honor for any faculty member to work with him either on a committee or as a fellow English colleague.”
Darla Dodge and Lupe Ramirez, who became longtime employees of WNC, remember taking classes from Kolsky.
“I’m so incredibly sad,” said Dodge, the college’s former chief financial officer and budget director who now serves as a management instructor. “He was the one professor who made me love learning again.”
Ramirez, who earned her associate degree from WNC and went on to become the college’s founder of the Latino Leadership Academy, also took a pivotal class from Kolsky.
“Jim Kolsky was one of many dedicated instructors that touched so many lives at WNC,” said Ramirez, who took an English composition course from Kolsky. “He gave me the confidence necessary to make a difference in our community.”
That confidence came from Kolsky demanding that his students turn in quality essays.
“Throughout the semester, I remember he returned my essays more than once until I turned in an effective paper,” Ramirez said. “At that time, I found it annoying that I had to keep rewriting the same essay, but now I am so grateful for his insistence in making sure that I acquire the essential writing skills that opened so many opportunities for me and my family.”
When Dodge returned to college in 2002 she said Professor Kolsky made the transition smoother.
“He was my first professor when I went back to school and I took English 101 from him. I had a tremendous amount of anxiety about it and I told him as much. Throughout that entire semester, he checked on me and ensured I felt comfortable,” Dodge said.
Dodge remembers telling Kolsky that she didn’t want to take English 102 unless he was the instructor. He eventually became her instructor in that class, too, and Dodge learned to appreciate his teaching methods even more.
“Jim had a solid sense of quiet assuredness that permeated from him and made you feel comfortable asking questions. He led conversations in the class, never directed, and always ensured inclusiveness,” Dodge said. “When he retired, I pulled him aside and told him that he had the greatest educational impact on me and that I credited him with my continued education through completion of my MBA. To this day, I smile when I think of Jim as he truly was a great professor and colleague and I'm very saddened to hear of his passing.”
Geosciences Professor Dr. Winnie Kortemeier, who started teaching at WNC in 1988 and has worked for the college for 35 years, knew Kolsky casually and respected him as a person.
“I know he had a great heart and kind soul,” she said. “Students really liked him as an English professor. In his work with colleagues, he was thoughtful and kind.”
Kolsky was selected as Instructor of the Year in 2005 and Outstanding Faculty Member in 2001, and was chosen as an emeritus faculty member upon his retirement in 2010.
“In remembering Jim's passion for teaching, an emeritus faculty member said that it was amazing to see how good he was at making the distinction between a grammar error and the person; the grammar had a problem rather than the person had a problem,” Cirac said.