Remembering Professor Scott Wolcott
Professor Scott R. Wolcott, an adjunct professor of Philosophy, was respected and admired by students and faculty alike. The news of his unexpected passing in December devastated the Marist community, who are grieving the loss of one of Marist’s most beloved professors and brilliant minds.
“I knew from day one that he was the man,” Robert DeFelice ‘23 said. On the first day of class, Professor Wolcott walked in the room grinning, and asked his students “You ready to get philosophical?”
DeFelice took Professor Wolcott’s Introduction to Philosophy class freshman year, and it quickly became one of his favorite classes in his college experience. He explained how Wolcott’s unique style of teaching fostered a welcoming environment that was perfect for deep, introspective discussions.
“I looked forward to going to his class,” DeFelice said. “It was enjoyable just to be in a room with him.”
Though DeFelice had his share of struggles in the class, Professor Wolcott made a point to remind him that learning is about much more than the grade you receive. He told DeFelice that “your grade does not reflect the knowledge you received in my course.”
“I didn’t know him for a long time, but those words he shared with me will stick with me for the rest of my life,” DeFelice said.
Jackie Kalinosky ‘24, who took Introduction to Ethics with Professor Wolcott in the fall of 2020, also fondly remembers her experiences in his class.
“His teaching style was to get on students’ level and break down the barrier between student and teacher,” Kalinosky said. “He got down on our level.”
Professor Wolcott had a reputation for going above and beyond to show his students how much he cared. Kalinosky explained that during a leave of absence she had to take the same year, Professor Wolcott went out of his way to check up on her.
“He was a great person and a great teacher,” Kalinosky said. “I’m really glad I met him.”
While he taught classes at Marist, Professor Wolcott was also a graduate student working towards a Ph.D. in Philosophy at the University at Albany, SUNY. His love for teaching led him to teach at several other colleges including the University at Albany, Hartwick College and SUNY New Paltz.
“Professor Wolcott was undeniably an incredible teacher,” Dr. James Snyder, one of Professor Wolcott’s colleagues in the philosophy department, said. Dr. Snyder became close with Professor Wolcott during their time teaching at Marist, and even draws inspiration from Wolcott’s teaching style to design the structure of his classes.
“He excelled at making philosophy practical and fun for his students, and he was especially successful at encouraging a philosophical mindset in his students,” Dr. Snyder said. “In addition to being a great philosopher, he thought very deeply about pedagogy and he worked very hard to think about ways to connect with his students.”
Professor George Kassimis met Professor Wolcott at the University at Albany while they both worked towards earning their PhDs, and they grew to become close friends.
“It’s a genuine tragedy,” Professor Kassimis said about Wolcott, who was only 38-years-old at the time of his passing and incredibly close to becoming “Dr.” Wolcott. “Losing him makes the world feel empty… it feels like he could’ve done so much more.”
Professor Kassimis praised Wolcott for his progressive, student-centered approach to teaching. Professor Wolcott was constantly searching for new ways to engage his students and encourage them to make the class their own.
“He was going to be a fantastic full-time professor,” Kassimis said. Professor Wolcott was heavily involved with the teaching center at SUNY Albany and loved collaborating with other professors to develop innovative teaching styles that would create more flexible and engaging courses.
“The care he exhibited towards students was really a care about people… he gave that care to his friends too,” Professor Kassimis said.
Professor Wolcott is remembered by his wife, his friends and all the students whose lives he touched through his remarkable teaching.
“He had such a positive impact on his students that will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” Dr. Snyder said. “His passing is a huge loss for Marist and our philosophical community.”
To honor Professor Wolcott’s memory, contributions can be made to the American Kidney Fund, located at 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300 Rockville, MD 20852.