By Rolanda Gallop
Michelle Wolf is a Palm Bay, Florida, native. She graduated from Brevard Community College—now Eastern Florida State College—in 2013, then went on to attend Florida Tech and University of West Florida. Wolf has worked in education for the last seven years and currently teaches freshman English and Cambridge general paper at Eau Gallie High School. She has also been working on research in medieval and film studies, particularly looking at David Lowery’s film, “The Green Knight.” She published her first article in the South Atlantic Review in 2023 and is working on a book chapter for publication in 2026.
Residence: West Melbourne, Florida
Florida Tech Degree: Humanities, B.A., with a concentration in literature
Job Title: Teacher at Eau Gallie High School, freshman English and Cambridge program
Impactful Faculty: Melissa Crofton, Lisa Perdigao, Angela Tenga and Alan Rosiene
Why did you choose Florida Tech?
I am native to Palm Bay, Florida, and everyone heard about Florida Tech and its reputation as an incredible place for higher learning. A few of my co-workers at the time were Florida Tech students, and I thought, “Just maybe …” and made the decision to apply. I originally got accepted into the biochemistry program and, while I will always love science and technology, my heart was in the humanities.
How did your experience at Florida Tech prepare you as a professional?
Where to begin? I do not exaggerate when I say that my years at Florida Tech were the most impactful of my life. The rigor, push for excellence, attentiveness of the staff and support across campus made transitioning to my career and, later, research seamless. I continued in my education with a master’s degree in English at University of West Florida; I felt comfortable with moving on to graduate studies—even during a global pandemic and 500 miles from home—because I was secure in what I had been taught during undergrad.
Specifically, were there any courses or faculty that had a significant influence on your education?
Dr. Melissa Crofton’s course was the first I ever took in the humanities department, and it was her class that reignited my love for literature and the humanities. Dr. Lisa Perdigao was one of my two capstone advisors, my advisor throughout my bachelor’s degree and an unending provider of knowledge and support. Dr. Angela Tenga’s classes forced me to push the boundaries in literature, film, television, theory and the darkest aspects of humanity. In addition, the late Dr. Alan Rosiene—the second of my two capstone advisors—also was integral to my success. He was a brilliant professor and advisor.
Share your best Florida Tech student memory.
As cliché as it is, walking across the stage and knowing that I just received a degree from Florida Institute of Technology simply cannot be topped. As far as academics go, I have numerous experiences across both disciplines that have stood out—genetics labs (extracting strawberry genes, anyone?), biology trips to study local aquatic life and, of course, my yearlong capstone project, which continues to be one of my favorite written projects I have ever done.
What have been the highlights and milestones of your life and career so far?
I have been in education for the last seven years and have gained experience in so many different areas—special education, elementary, middle and, now, high school, where I am currently working both in general education and the Cambridge program teaching general paper. I graduated in 2022 with my master’s in English from the University of West Florida in Pensacola. That same year, I participated in my first conference with the South Atlantic Modern Language Association (SAMLA). This paper was published in the South Atlantic Review in the summer/fall double issue in September 2023, which still feels unreal! Since then, I have presented at two more SAMLA conferences. In my most current milestone—that I still must pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming—I am working on a chapter for a book Dr. Crofton is editing. I am very excited for this opportunity and cannot wait to see the final product!
What advice do you have for current COPLA students who want to make the most out of their time at Florida Tech?
Take advantage of everything the campus has to offer: Go to the events; visit the botanical garden; meet your classmates at Panther Dining Hall. This time is so fleeting, yet so impactful. Make the most of it, both in and out of the classroom! I cannot stress enough the importance of networking. Take the time to build your professional connections with the faculty, staff and your peers—they can become a wealth of information, support and opportunity that you never thought possible. Above all, be open-minded and curious. Higher education is meant to challenge us and push us intellectually. Keeping that willingness to try and to learn makes you all the more successful and happy.
This piece also appeared in the fall 2025 issue of COPLA Connections.
