Meet the
4th Annual Judith A. Hoffman Humanitarian Awardee

Penelope Lattimer, Ph.D

Penelope E. Lattimer is a retired educator.  Dr. Lattimer’s  teaching certifications are in French and Spanish language and culture.  Her career path consistently integrated advocacy for arts education and careers in healthcare for youngsters beginning in prekindergarten and extending through graduate school courses of study.

Penelope Lattimer’s specialty is middle level and secondary education.  She is the designer of two innovative high schools in the City of New Brunswick. In 1994, in cooperation with the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital’s Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team and the New Brunswick Board of Education, Dr. Lattimer designed the education plan for the New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School.  This innovative high school prepares adolescent learners for careers in the health professions.  Opened in 1994, the New Brunswick Health Sciences Technology High School is the only high school in NJ located on the campus of a teaching hospital and with a uniquely  integrated learning design.  Earlier, 1972—1980, Dr. Lattimer designed (and was the educational leader) for The Gibbons School, the demonstration high school located on the Douglass College Campus of Rutgers University.  The learning charter for the Gibbons School was to design and deliver unique courses of study emphasizing project-based learning and research emphasizing schooling without walls concepts. The school was a joint venture linking Rutgers University Graduate School of Education with the New Brunswick Public School District and Board of Education.

Other educational leadership positions held by Penelope Lattimer include: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, New Brunswick Board of Education;  Chief of Staff (Lucille Davy administration) NJ State Department of Education, Assistant Commission (William Librera administration) NJ State Department of Education.  Director of Rutgers Institute for Improving Student Achievement, Rutgers University Graduate School of Education and Executive Director of NJ School Development Council. 

Dr. Lattimer has received awards for international study and work such as: United States Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study Chinese language and culture in the People’s Republic of China, scholarship to study at Yad Vashem the worldwide center for Holocaust Education in Jerusalem, Israel, study of Japanese language and culture in Tsuruoka and Fukui, Japan; Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa studying Bantu education and cultural matters.  

Dr. Lattimer presently serves on the following Boards: American Repertory Ballet/Princeton Ballet School Advisory Board, Crossroads Theatre Company President Emeritus, George St. Playhouse Board President, Margaret Chang Foundation, Children’s Specialized Hospital, Grounds for Sculpture, Francis E. Parker Memorial Homes.

Dr. Lattimer is co-author of the book, Beloved Educators: Women of Color Who Inspire Us.