Nicole Gercke

Excellence in Teaching, 2024

College of Liberal Arts

Nicole Gercke, senior lecturer in Italian studies, is a tremendously valued colleague whose excellence is felt every day. She has achieved the coveted status of being both intellectually demanding and beloved by students. Teaching language and culture courses across the undergraduate curriculum, Nicole’s extraordinary classroom presence is complemented by ambitious learning goals and assignments that are challenging, creative and give students the varied tools they need to succeed while also creating a supportive environment within which they can experiment and grow.

Nicole’s outstanding pedagogy is not restricted to the classroom. She co-established – and co-organizes and co-hosts – the annual, week-long Cinema Ritrovato International Film Festival at UNH, whose rich trove of rediscovered films and stimulating discussion events engage a broad array of students, faculty and staff. Additionally, Nicole co-designed and leads our Bologna study abroad summer program and teaches in our J-Term Rome program. Typical of her breadth of vision, the Bologna program includes modules not only on contemporary culture but also on fascism and the Italian resistance and excursions to key massacre sites, concentration camps and memorials. Those who know Nicole – including me – are consistently in awe of her brilliant energy, knowledge, kindness and dedication to positive learning experiences for all students. As colleagues and students resoundingly testify, her teaching – in the classroom and in the exceptionally impactful experiential opportunities she curates – stands out as truly exemplary of education as active and rigorous inquiry “inspired by the audacity of imagination.” Nicole’s remarkable dedication to innovative teaching and her passion for fostering meaningful learning experiences have left an indelible mark on our community, making her an invaluable asset to both her students and the university.