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Nolan Penn Obituary
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Dr. Gloria Morrow
September 30, 2023
I am so sad that I am just now learning of Dr. Pen’s death. He was my faculty and dissertation chair at Fielding. He was so devoted to my research and gave me many resources and asked that I do one thing, pass them on to others. Dr. Penn will always be considered a significant mentor and friend in my journey towards becoming a clinical psychologist. Rest well Dr. Penn.
ivone umar
December 30, 2022
I had the pleasure of meeting Nolan at Fielding and having him as a mentor and a friend. I will never forget his friendship and mentorship during the good times and during the most challenging times. Talking to him always brought a smile. He was a beautiful person and an inspirational leader. Rest in peace Nolan. My condolences to his family.
Betty Garcia
June 22, 2022
Nolan was a wonderful friend and mentor over the decades. We met at UCSD when I was a clinician with the Counseling & Psych Services and working out of Third College, now called Marshall College. When I went on to get my Ph.D. at BU and was teaching in Boston, we reconnected at a Boston APA meeting. He was a wonderful mentor in supporting my negotiations in getting my current position at Fresno State 29 years ago. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience when he brought me in as a Fielding visiting scholar to do some diversity work with his San Diego cohort. His support and friendship was invaluable, I learned to be a mentor from him, he was one of a kind and will be dearly missed.
Eileen Simpson
February 5, 2022
Dr Penn was a truly remarkable person. He was loved by all. He will be missed. RIP friend.
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Richard Whitehill
January 15, 2022
Nolan and I met in 1964 when I was a doctoral student in Madison Wisconsin . We became friends and did our families. Nolan and Barbara gave us wise counsel and support when we adopted our mixed racial son. In 1966, Nolan was very instrumental in my hiring at the Univ. of Wisconsin Counseling Center. In 1970 when he was at UC San Diego, he introduced me to several colleagues which resulted in my joining the University for a 28 year long career. Throughout this time, he remained my friend and mentor. Certainly he was a great and positive influence on my personal life and career: a mentor and wise friend over decades.
Lenneal Henderson
January 5, 2022
A mighty soul, mind, and leader. My colleague in the National Congress of Black Faculty and at the Fielding Graduate University. May we all rise to his level!
Annette Jackson
December 30, 2021
I had the great pleasure of knowing Nolan through Pilates for the last 18 months. He was so committed to our sessions every week. I will truly miss our chats and his cooking stories but hope he continues his Salmon Tuesdays and Burger Fridays up in the clouds. Rest in Peace, Dear Friend.
Tre Normoyle
December 29, 2021
We have lost one of the great ones. Nolan was an inspirational professor. I had the pleasure of learning from him while I was a stident at Fielding. I cherished the great conversations we had and the way he challenged me intellectually. I am certainly a better psychologist because of getting the opportunity to learn from him. My condolences to his family.
Arieahn Matamonasa
December 29, 2021
Nolan was an incredible teacher and mentor while I was at Fielding. His warmth, humor and passion was an inspiration. I feel so blessed and fortunate to have been a student while he was actively teaching at Fielding. May his legacy live on.
Sandra McPherson, PhD
December 28, 2021
Nolan welcomed me to Fielding when I joined the faculty back in 1993. At that time, Fielding had its own electronic communication system, later to be relinquished in favor of the Web. It had some tricky communication rules. I still remember going to a faculty retreat at which Nolan had prepared and recited a description of how the system worked (or didn't) that literally had all listeners in tears of laughter. His was the gift of humor, informed by intelligence, and moderated by sensitivity. It was a pleasure to have known him over the ensuing years.
Sandy McPherson
Ruthellen Josselson
December 26, 2021
There has never been anyone like Nolan. He had an original mind and was a devoted teacher as well as a wonderful colleague. He is indeed unforgettable. He gave so much to so many.
Andrew Sangster
December 23, 2021
Nolan was a great friend and colleague, and a close colleague and dear friend to my wife, Lynne Saba. He will be deeply missed. I always enjoyed visiting with him and Barbara when Lynne and I got to La Jolla. It was Nolan that got me interested in consulting on research methods with doctoral students -- which I still do today. I will miss his company, his enthusiasm for his students' progress, and his concern for those around him. Barbara, if there is any way in which I can help, please feel free to get in contact with me. The world needs more Nolans.
My condolences to Barbara and Nolan's whole family,
Andy Sangster
Milton Lopes
December 23, 2021
Nolan, my prayer is that you and the greats of Jazz are having a scintillating jam session and those colleagues of ours who have preceded you have welcomed you with much laughter and "good mischief."
Anthony Greene
December 23, 2021
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
David Peterzell
December 23, 2021
Nolan, my friend and colleague from USCD and Fielding, I have no words yet. For the few sometimes tumultuous years we worked together, I'm grateful for the kindness, friendship, knowledge, wisdom and mentorship, and for the good times.
Mark Zappone
December 23, 2021
Dr Penn was my dissertation chair and I just finished last month I think I might have been his last student . I am so grateful for his assistance , mentorship and overall support . He was an amazing educator . I will miss him dearly.
Nancy Baker
December 22, 2021
Nolan was my colleague, my friend, and my partner in raising good trouble. Our relationship spanned three decades and included both our “good trouble” in the California Psychological Association and later our work at Fielding, a school he told me about. He taught me about wine and demonstrated how a scholar and a leader functions. My life is richer for having known him, I hope his was from knowing me. My deepest condolences go out to Barbara and his entire family over his loss. A giant has passed.
Dr. Abram Milton
December 22, 2021
Dr. Penn was a wonderful mentor who I owe so much to related to my professional development within the field of clinical psychology at Fielding Graduate University. He taught me so much and I feel that I am truly honored that I had the chance to know this wonderful soul. I will try my best to continue to honor his research, legacy, and work in all my future endeavors within the mental health field. Thank you for believing in me and being a great man of color mentor who I could look up to within the clinical psychology profession.
Debra Bendell Estroff
December 22, 2021
Nolan was an esteemed and valued colleague and friend. The look on his face when a jazz artist did it well was priceless.
Anna DiStefano
December 22, 2021
I am saddened to hear of Nolan’s passing. His devotion to students was unmatched. His commitment to justice was deep and strong. May he Rest In Peace and Power.
Debbie Lemke
December 22, 2021
I had the pleasure of getting to know and working with Nolan for over 25 years at Fielding Graduate University. He was a kind and good man who loved teaching students. Nolan had more energy than people half his age. I have fond memories of seeing him holding court with a bunch of students hanging on his every word in late into the evening at our national sessions. I will miss you my friend.
(Dr.) Sherry Hatcher
December 22, 2021
Dr. Penn and I several times co-taught an ethics seminar at Fielding's national Sessions. I very much admired Nolan and appreciated the opportunity to work with him and to learn from him. He was a kind and knowledgeable colleague who was extraordinarily devoted to his students--and he will surely be missed.
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