Nicholas Manias

When Nick Manias took an ethics class in college, he had no idea the impact it
would have on the rest of his life. Years later, as he thought about what he wanted
to do, he thought about that ethics class.

“It made me think about things in a deeper way from different perspectives,” said Nick, who’s now been teaching ethics at SPC for nearly 25 years. “It changed the way that I thought about things and changed how I saw the world.”

SPC is in Nick’s blood. Not only did he and his sister graduate from SPC, his parents both also graduated from then St. Petersburg Junior College and actually met on the Clearwater Campus. He recalls taking Composition II with Joseph Leopold and thinking how much he enjoyed his instructor (but not necessarily the material).

That stuck with him years later as he considered his own career path. He loved learning from different professors and loved being in the classroom and still does.

“I enjoy being at the College because I continue to learn something new every semester,” said Nick. He says the vast experiences of his students and their discussions on a wide range of topics continues to inspire him year after year.

“I like our students because they’re people with jobs, families and obligations that aren’t related to studying. I see it as an opportunity because they all bring diverse experiences that they live every day,” said Nick.

He also appreciates the opportunities he’s had outside of the classroom. He’s been a faculty mentor for First Time Titans, authored a textbook, traveled to Paris with students and most recently coordinated the Goree Lecture that featured local weather icon Denis Phillips. He was recognized last year with a 2024 Outstanding Faculty Award.

He says the power of education is that you never know where it’s going to lead you. His journey is proof that sometimes it only takes one class, or one inspiring professor, to be the spark that changes the course of a life.