As President Annarelli prepares to retire on June 30, 2027, he will conclude an extraordinary 37 years of service to the College. Join us as we tour various cities across the nation to honor President James J. Annarelli, Ph.D., and Mrs. Anna Sorrentino Annarelli (P ’14), sending them off with a proper celebration and farewell.
Tour dates
- October 14, 2026, Wayzata Country Club, Minneapolis
- October 15, 2026, Beatnik West Town, Chicago
- October 28, 2026, Simone DeLoach residence, Asheville
- October 29, 2026, Ansley Golf Club, Atlanta
- November 19, 2026, Venue TBC, NYC
- December 2, 2026, Bernstein Private Wealth Management, Washington, DC
- February 26, 2027, Fridays with Faculty during Alumni Weekend
Photo comparison: 2001 and 2026
Highlights as president
Pre-presidency career highlights
2001-2022 — Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
President Donald R. Eastman III appointed James J. Annarelli, Ph.D., to the role of Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students in October 2001. Annarelli served in that role for more than two decades and played a leading role in developing numerous departments and programs that indelibly changed the student experience at Eckerd College, including the Center for Academic Success, the Center for Spiritual Life, and the Office of Sustainability.
Always an advocate for putting students first, Annarelli established the College’s Intervention Team in 2003, placing Eckerd at the forefront of early identification of students in crisis. In addition to important outreach and support for students, he anticipated the growing importance of building a partnership between families and the College to foster student success, overseeing the relocation of the Office of Family Relations to the Student Affairs division and expanding its role.
Many of the new buildings erected at Eckerd during this era bear Annarelli’s influence. He was integral in the design and completion of the Iota residential complex and the renovation of the seven original dormitory complexes, bolstering the College’s on-campus student housing retention rate. Other key projects improved student life, including adding a Starbucks® in the James Center for Molecular Science and Life Sciences, and new recreational and athletic facilities, like the GO Pavilion and the Doyle Sailing Center.
1999-2001 — Associate Dean and Director, The Center for Applied Liberal Arts (CALA)
During his two years leading the Center for the Applied Liberal Arts, Annarelli played a primary role in coordinating off-campus learning and career enrichment programs through the Career Resources Office, the Service Learning Program, the Academic Internship Program, and the International Education Program. He oversaw the internship program from development through evaluation and served as the College’s primary liaison to the community agencies, businesses, and organizations that provided internship opportunities for students.
1990-1999 — Assistant Director and Coordinator of Directed Studies Program for Experienced Learners (PEL)
President Annarelli arrived at Eckerd College in 1990 after five years as an assistant professor of theology at St. John’s University in New York. During his first decade on campus, he was instrumental in academic and student services for adult learners. He assisted the director of the Program for Experienced Learners in the development of curriculum, course scheduling, recruitment and supervision of adjunct faculty, and program evaluation. In addition to teaching and academic advising, he administered and evaluated the Directed Studies program and served as a member of the extended faculty.
