Julie Nicoletta ’87 helped shape the teaching — and life — of Art History Professor George Gorse.
Nicoletta met Gorse as a student, and with a shared interest in art history, they quickly became simpatico.
Nicoletta and her husband, Michael, taught at the University of Washington, where she spent the remainder of her career — becoming a full professor in 2007.
Nicoletta’s legacy will continue to inspire generations of Pomona students to pursue transformative experiential opportunities — just as she did.
After 45 years of teaching at Pomona College, George Gorse, the Viola Horton Professor of Art History, has seen hundreds of exceptional students come through his classroom. But there is one student who left Gorse forever changed: Julie Nicoletta ’87.
The student and professor met in 1985, and with a shared interest in architecture and art, they quickly became simpatico. During her time as a student, Nicoletta assisted Gorse with many projects, including organizing architectural site visits for incoming first-years. This set the stage for a special bond that endured until Nicoletta passed away on Aug. 28, 2023, after a two-year battle with cancer.
Now, Gorse and his wife, Naomi Sawelson, are honoring this connection by endowing a fund in Nicoletta’s name — a tribute in memory of a student whose impact shaped both his teaching and his life. The named fund will empower art history majors to pursue transformative experiential opportunities and conduct original research across the globe — experiences that were pivotal in Nicoletta’s own life.
“Julie was truly brilliant,” Gorse says, “and my biggest hope is that students will draw inspiration from her remarkable life, just as I did.”
Faculty-student relationships like Gorse and Nicoletta’s are at the heart of a Pomona education and exemplify the College’s commitment to mentorship and lifelong learning. With an 8:1 student-faculty ratio, Pomona provides a personalized approach to learning and research, strengthening lasting relationships that inspire academic growth, foster community and benefit future generations of Sagehens.
“George and Naomi’s special tribute to Julie reflects the enduring connections that are a hallmark of Pomona,” says Acting President Robert R. Gaines. “I am touched that they have honored Julie in this way, and that her legacy will provide such meaningful opportunities for future students.”
Nicoletta’s family adds: “We remain incredibly proud of her legacy and are deeply honored that she will continue to live on at the school she so dearly loved.”
Nicoletta’s Legacy Beyond the Gates
After graduating from Pomona in 1987, Nicoletta pursued advanced studies in art history at Yale University, earning a doctorate in 1993. She briefly worked as an architectural historian at the State Historic Preservation Office in Nevada before moving to Washington, where Nicoletta and her husband, Michael, welcomed their son, Luca. The couple taught at the University of Washington, and Nicoletta spent the remainder of her career at UW Tacoma, becoming a full professor in 2007.
Described by her family as a seeker of knowledge and a born teacher, Nicoletta published two books, “The Architecture of the Shakers” and “The Buildings of Nevada,” as well as numerous articles.
Gorse and Nicoletta remained friends through it all, and he never tired of watching his favorite student become a star in the field.
“Julie became a model for me and someone I looked up to. It was humbling to know that I was a part of the very beginning of her amazing career,” Gorse says.
In 2021, Nicoletta was diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized to her spine, initially leaving her unable to walk. While undergoing multiple cancer treatments, Nicoletta relearned to walk, but when those treatments stopped working in 2023, she decided to begin hospice care.
Gorse recalls that, throughout her illness, Nicoletta maintained the same determined spirit she had when he first met her as a student. “Julie faced the end of her life as bravely as she lived it,” he says. “We hope that the Nicoletta fund will ensure that her passion for art history and architectural studies continues to shape the lives of future scholars.”
To support the Julie Nicoletta ’87 Endowed Memorial Fund for Art History & Architectural Studies and make a gift in her honor, please visit our website.