When Carola Pedreschi retired from North Campus in 2025—after more than 35 years at the College—her absence was felt in the social science department.
The psychology professor’s office, which was decorated with Georgia O’Keeffe flower prints, motivational books and a wicker basket filled with Hershey’s to ‘lift the spirits’, was always open to anyone who needed advice or comfort.
“She was a vibrant person, very welcoming, very hospitable,” said Kay Rubin, a psychology professor who worked with her for 20 years.
Even after her passing on July 28, Pedreschi continues to unite people. Two weeks later, family and colleagues met at Crandon Park Beach during sundown to celebrate her life.
Pedreschi passed away of natural causes in David, the same town where she was born in Panama. She was 65.
“She’s gonna be dearly missed for sure by everybody that knew her,” said her daughter, Carolina Ponce.
Early Life
Pedreschi, born in June of 1961, found her love for nature in her family’s coffee farm in Volcán, a small town in Panama.
The estate was built by her grandparents after they migrated from Sweden. The property has passed through several of the family’s generations.
As a child, Pedreschi rode horses and helped her father with the family’s cattle ranch. That lifestyle inspired her as an adult to rescue injured dogs and cats from the streets.
She inherited that instinct from her father, Carlos Alberto Pedreschi, who was a respected doctor devoted to treating indigenous and low-income families in the countryside. Her passion for advocacy came from her mother, Brittmarie Janson, who was a sociologist and author.
At 16, Pedreschi moved on her own to Georgia in the United States to attend boarding school.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Georgia and a master of science degree from the University of Central Florida.
In 1986, she started working as a bilingual school psychologist for public schools in Orlando, supporting students’ mental health and their educational placement.
Three years later, she moved to Miami, where she had her children, Carolina and Andrés Ponce.
Career At MDC
Pedreschi began her journey in academia at North Campus in 1989 as an adjunct psychology professor. She became a full-time faculty member in 2005 and continued there until her retirement in May of 2025.
For nearly four decades, she was dedicated to shaping future psychologists, therapists, nurses and teachers in her classroom.
Her students and colleagues described her as a “stoic” professor with a funny bone.
Pedreschi regularly taught psychology, social and behavioral science and development psychology courses, some of which she also taught in Spanish for the dual language program.
But Pedreschi did not like teaching from the traditional textbooks; she curated her classes to include real life lessons with a twist.
The professor constantly engaged students in conversations about advocacy, service-learning projects with the Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy (iCED) and the Earth Ethics Institute and presentations at the Miami Book Fair.
Above all, she was a humanitarian at heart.
She also donated to the food pantry at North Campus, introducing students she knew were struggling financially to the services they provided.
At national and international conferences, including Ashoka and UNESCO, Pedreschi advocated for student rights and educational innovation.
Changing The World One Student At A Time
Beyond the lectures, Pedreschi played a motherly role in the lives of her students.
“Carola had a keen sense of knowing how and when to show [up] to help,” said science professor Jorge Obeso, her friend for more than 15 years. “She had that human connection that very few people are born with.”
Maria Claudia Couyutas met her in 2013 during a difficult time in her life.
When she was 18, she lived in Miami with her grandmother, while her parents were going through a divorce in Venezuela.
The two instantly bonded after Couyutas joined the psychology club, which Pedreschi advised.
“She really became more of a mentor to me than just a professor,” Couyutas said. “Somebody that I felt really believed in me.”
Pedreschi pushed her to become more involved. In 2014, Couyutas participated on one of the yearly service trips the professor led in Panama with a group of students.
The group built houses in impoverished rural areas of Panama. For about five days, they also camped outside a local school, building a road to improve access to the area.
It was a challenge. But, Couyutas learned many valuable lessons that led her to be a mental health therapist today.
“I don’t think I would have necessarily achieved the things I have, had I not met her,” Couyutas said.
A Full Circle Moment
In retirement, Pedreschi moved back to her hometown to build her own ‘casita’ in the land she inherited from her family in Volcán.
During that new era of her life, she devoted her days to walking in nature, enjoying the peacefulness of birds singing at sunset.
She also planned to help improve the lives of underserved families in the area, get involved with the local government and empower young women.
“My brother and I are planning on building her house for her,” her daughter said. “I think [it’s] a beautiful way to honor her dream.”
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