Well-traveled professor satisfied with part-time role

By Kelly Morgan (Whetstone Staff Writer)

After traveling to more than a dozen European countries and teaching full-time for 32 years, Nadine Noble is content as an adjunct teacher at Wesley College.

Wesley has been the home of Noble, 61, for five years. She teaches English and French.

Beth Angelucci, junior, was a student in one Noble’s English courses.

“She’s enthusiastic about teaching,” Angelucci said. “She’s very flexible and open to one-on-one help.”

When she moved from Ithaca, N.Y., to Kennett Square, Pa., as a child, it was difficult.

“We moved when I was going into eighth grade,” she said. “My relatives were all in New York State.”

They had to move because Noble’s father, a research veterinarian, received better research opportunities at the University of Penn than at Cornell University.

Noble earned her Bachelor’s at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia in 1970, with a French major and Spanish minor.

After earning her Master’s in Arts in French and Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1972, Noble made her way to Dover.

“There were more job opportunities in Delaware than in North Carolina,” Noble said. “You have to go where you can get a job.”

She has lived here for nearly four decades.

Noble started her first teaching job at Caesar Rodney High School as a substitute teacher.

“Taking a flyer for a Caesar Rodney job opportunity was the best decision I ever made,” she said. “Jobs were hard to get.”

In the meantime, she earned her teaching degree from the University of Delaware in 1977.  Noble became certified to teach French, Spanish and English.

“I was ready to get out of school,” she said. “Instead of a PhD, I earned more credits. I always enjoyed the challenge of academic work.”

Living in Dover has made Noble happy, she said.

She has been married for 31 years to Dover native John Noble, and has raised three kids.

“Living in Dover is convenient to the big cities,” Noble said. “It is close to New York, Philadelphia, and the Delaware beaches. And it was a good place to raise a family.”

Noble has loved sports since she was young.

“I grew up with my brother being in three sports, soccer, basketball, and baseball,” she said. “My uncle was a baseball umpire and my husband loves sports. It’s a part of our life.”

Noble has been a Philadelphia Phillies fan since 1961.

“My husband and I are fans,” said Noble. “We always keep track of where they are. I remember watching them fight throughout the years.”

Noble also has been playing the violin since she was in third grade.

“I played in my college orchestra and played in the Dover Symphony for almost twenty years,” she said. “I enjoyed making music with other people.”

Noble’s knowledge in Spanish and French has helped her travel to many European countries.

“My most recent trips have been to Turkey, Italy and Greece,” said Noble. “My favorite place to visit is Southern France because I love the food, climate and people.

Noble has also been to Russia, Scandinavian countries, England, Spain, Germany and Austria.

“I’ve always been fascinated by different cultures and languages,” she said. “I’ve always really liked to travel and see the natural beauties of the sites.”