Polk State Professor David Woods remembered for “energetic spirit,” impact on students

When he arrived at Polk State College as an adjunct in 1989, David Woods’ professional resume already spoke for itself. At the time of his retirement, Woods’ gifts had been shared with thousands of students and will live on through his work.

After a battle with rapidly progressive Alzheimer’s disease, Woods died on Dec. 7 at the age of 67. Woods spent 35 total years as a Professor of Photography at Polk State, including his last 23 as a full-time faculty member.

“He had such an energetic spirit,” said Holly Scoggins, Polk State Professor of Visual Arts, who met Woods in 2013. “He prioritized his students in his work and his artwork above everything else. His students’ successes were the highest priority for him.”

Known for his genius, glasses, and big ideas, Woods was a staple of The Arts Department. His courses also reached students in the Digital Media Program.

“When they graduated, he helped his students find work – whether it was taking pictures for real estate companies, weddings, or fine arts photographers,” Scoggins added. “His classes were always full. He never had trouble filling his classroom. There’s no way to truly quantify how many students he helped over the years.”

Prior to arriving at Polk State as an adjunct professor, Woods had worked as a staff photographer and photography manager for Kings Dominion, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus World, and Anheuser Busch Theme Parks, specifically Cypress Gardens. At that point, he had also sold photography in more than 30 countries around the world and was published by the Associated Press and United Press International. His work was also featured in Life Magazine as well as advertisements for Walmart, Foster’s Lager, and Rollins College.

“It’s unique to have someone coming into this profession after a full, accomplished career as a professional,” said Andrew Coombs, Polk State Professor of Ceramics. “He had amazing photography skills. When he came into teaching, he was great at that, too. You don’t always get that when someone is crossing over. He was passionate about his students’ success and photography, but he was that way about people in general. When he met someone, he wanted to know who they were and what they were all about.”

“David taught me the importance of making meaningful relationships,” Scoggins added. “I was more task oriented when I arrived. He reminded me that if our art wasn’t at the core of what we were teaching, all the other stuff was meaningless.”

Woods is survived by his four children – sons Brandon, Trevor, and Morgan, and daughter Brittany Westgate. He also had nine grandchildren and was expecting his first great grandchild.

“He was a fun dad,” Westgate recalled. “Because he was so artsy, it was like having Peter Pan as your father. He did things that were remarkable. When we were kids, he built us a tree house and not just a few boards on a tree, but a full extravagant house. He liked to keep things fun and entertaining. He was always very supportive of his children.”

That support carried over to the workplace. Scoggins recalled a time when one of Woods’ students produced an incredible 40-inch photo. To display it in a showing, however, the picture needed a frame. Woods, she said, went to thrift stores and checked dumpsters before finding a frame large enough and then worked with The Arts Department to cut the glass to make sure it was the correct size.

“He did whatever he had to do to make sure that student’s show was a success,” Scoggins explained. “David had great vision. He was a big-picture guy. If he put his mind to something, he was going to make it happen.”

Woods had achieved a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University before earning his master’s from the Savannah College of Art and Design while employed at Polk State. Prior to arriving at the College, Woods had shot photos of President George Bush, Elton John, Maya Angelou, Michael Jackson, and more.

“When my father worked at Circus World, there was this rollercoaster that Michael Jackson really liked,” Westgate said. “Michael was there quite frequently. My dad worked with him quite a lot and they developed a friendship.”

For the first eight years of his Polk State tenure, Woods served as an adjunct. He began working as a temporary full-time professor in 1997. For the Fall 2001 Semester, Woods was promoted to permanent faculty.

“He came from a commercial photography background but did a phenomenal job incorporating the fine arts into his teaching,” said Mark Hartfield, Professor of Theatre, who met Woods in 2011. “He knew how those two things complemented each other. That is a great thing for all artists to understand. It’s also a great way to help students broaden their horizons.”

Coombs met Woods in 2015. Two years later, the two traveled with students to Scotland as part of a study abroad trip. Coombs recalled marveling at how well-prepared Woods’ students were.

“He had plenty of students for the trip, but he needed a second professor, so I tagged along,” Coombs noted. “The theme of the trip was castles, which students were taking pictures of. One day, we were on a bus, and it was pouring rain, and I assumed the day was going to be a disaster. I looked around and every student had on their raincoats and protective bags for their cameras. They all knew exactly what to do. He had them so prepared. The rain could have been a downer, but not for them. They were ready to rock.”

As a result of worsening Alzheimer’s, Woods was forced to step away from the classroom during the Fall 2023 Semester before officially retiring in 2024. Even then, that didn’t stop him from spreading his knowledge.

For the final year of his life, healthcare worker Annie Baker was hired to help care for Woods five hours per day for five days each week. Woods often mistook her for a student or teaching assistant and taught her photography. Some days, the two would go out on assignment. With what she learned from Woods, Baker now has a side business as a photographer.

“He did not understand the word, ‘retirement,’” Westgate said. “He was great at critiquing. He always wanted everyone to improve and get better at their craft. He was a positive, fun-loving person who just liked to have a good time.”

For two weeks in December and January, Ridge Art Association displayed Woods’ work in its gallery in memory of the late Polk State professor. The Arts Department at Polk State plans to do likewise this Spring 2025 Semester.

“He was wildly creative,” Scoggins said. “He could see the beauty in atypical things. This is an appropriate way to honor his memory.”