Page 3 - PGA Community News - May '23

May 2023 May 2023 PGA C.A.N.!, Page 3
From The Editor:

And God Laughed…

The Palm Beach area renowned Professor of Latin American History and Higher Gus has served on a city School Board of Education as
attracts the most interesting Education and President of Passaic County Community well as the New Jersey State Board of Education. He was
people whose lives are an College. Nelly sat in the first row and was impressed by awarded a Congressional Citation by the United States
inspiration for us all. Life’s Professor Gustavo “Gus” Mellander’s insight and personal House of Representatives for his achievements in Higher
experiences provide wisdom commentary about his mother and family. She spoke with Education. He has served on 53 college accreditation/
with each passing decade. At him after the lecture and asked if they could meet again in licensure teams and as a consultant to numerous colleges. He
a dinner with one of the most the future. is a contributing editor and writer for a monthly column in
fascinating couples, Gustavo Gus had planned his professional career, set his goals “The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education.” Gus continues
said, “We plan, set our goals and God laughed. Within 2 weeks, Nelly had traveled to to be a confidential ghostwriter for more than 40 years.
and God laughs.” Passaic County Community College to see Gus. They dined Gus’ mother was Panamanian and his father Swedish.
Nelly (aka Nellita) was together and within eight months, they were married. His paternal grandfather, Fredrik, was Knighted by the
born in Puerto Rico. She Gus has been a respected leader in the field of university King of Sweden in 1938 for his contributions to Swedish
was a bright student who skipped 3rd and 7th grades. She and college administration in the United States. He was Higher Education. You can see that invaluable contributions
graduated from high school at the age of 15. Nelly attended Dean of Academic affairs at Inter American University of to Higher Education run in Gus’ family. Educators change
a Catholic college and at the age of 16, her path crossed with Puerto Rico from 1966 to 1969. It is interesting that he and their students’ lives and offer them a world of opportunities.
a Miss Universe from Puerto Rico. Because of her height Nelly never met while they were living in Puerto Rico but Nelly and Gus celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary
and beauty, Nelly was told that she should meet Oscar de their lives came together at a lecture in New Jersey. Gus last month. I have known Gus and Nelly for eleven years.
la Renta to be a model. Nelly had planned to be studious was a Dean of York College, President of Mission College, Last week Gus forwarded to me an article he wrote about the
for 4 years in college majoring in history and Spanish and Chancellor of West Valley-Mission College District in first woman to earn tenure and then chair Harvard University
God Laughed. She was offered a modeling job, which California and later Dean of a Graduate School at George Business School. You will read that article in this newspaper
she was able to do part time while attending college. She Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. issue. Before receipt of that article, I had planned another
agreed to model as long as there would be no swimsuits and Gus grew up in Panama and like me, was Editor-in-Chief topic for my column this month and God laughed.
Mr. de la Renta agreed. Nelly knew her parents would not of his high school newspaper. He excelled in writing and Until next month…
approve so she kept the modeling a secret. For six months history and received his Ph. D. from George Washington James A. Cioffi, Editor
she was exposed to the glamorous life of modeling for a University. He is a founding member of the American james@jcclaw.com
highly talented designer. Oscar de la Renta was one of the Association of University Administrators and helped
couturiers for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. establish a National Institute to train college presidents. P.S. For more information about Dr. Gustavo “Gus”
Nelly planned to be a student and model and God Gus has turned around colleges that were in danger of Mellander’s contributions to society and education, there
laughed. One day while Nelly was modeling, her brother losing accreditation. He helped establish doctoral programs. are many articles on the Internet, which were resources for
stopped by the college to see her. He was told that Nelly He established Latin American Studies Departments at this column.
was at a modeling assignment. He called Nelly’s father several universities and has written books on Latin America
who immediately came to the college and had a serious including “The United States in Panamanian Politics: The
discussion with the Mother Superior and sisters. He gave Intriguing Formative Years” which was recognized as a
Nelly a stern lecture and made it clear she could not proceed best seller at the United Nations and is widely quoted in
with modeling and attend college. Nelly completed college academic and diplomatic discussions.
and pursued postgraduate degrees in Spanish and education. In 1999 Gus and Nelly (who had become a distinguished
Nelly was offered a position as a dean, which would require professor at several colleges) co-authored the book,
a doctorate. “Charles Edward Magoon: The Panama Years” which along
While at Mercer Community College in New Jersey, with the book mentioned in the previous paragraph were
Nelly heard of a lecture at Princeton University by a highlighted as essential reading by the Library of Congress.

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