"In Memory of Professor Noah Haiduc-Dale" by Natalie Kelson

I was lucky enough to have Noah as the professor of the very first class that I had at Centenary. Noah had such a palpable passion for his field and was always searching for ways to enrich the educational experiences of his students through the guests he brought to his classes, the trips he led, and the memorable and challenging projects he assigned. 

He exemplified how to be a life long learner and then, in turn, inspired this same passion and motivation for learning in his students. Through sharing all the amazing places where his own collegiate studies had taken him, he was an inspiration to always look for ways to broaden your horizons and to believe in yourself enough to take risks and find what you truly love to do. 

Noah was the kind of person who always clearly had his priorities in order. Despite his busy schedule, he was never too busy for a chat with a student to catch up on their life. He was a lover of all things whimsical. He also deeply loved and cared for the students he taught as well as his fellow colleagues. No student he ever taught had any doubt that he wanted them to succeed- both in his class and in their life beyond it. He was truly a beloved person at Centenary across campus, by students in every major. 

During my time at Centenary I had a very sudden and tragic death in my own family and when I returned back to campus, one of the first people that I wanted to talk to was Noah. He was a great support to me and I will always be grateful to him for simply being present and sitting with me during such a difficult time. I am deeply thankful to have known Noah and to be one of the many students touched by his passion for the pursuit of knowledge and genuine love for others.

 Natalie Kelson is a Centenary alumnus, Class of 2023.