Remembering Professor Jack J. Rose
March 15, 1947 – July 12, 2026
A tribute from the United International College community
United International College mourns the passing — and celebrates the remarkable life — of Professor Jack J. Rose, a cherished member of our faculty since 2018. Over his years at UIC, right up through his final term in the summer of 2026, Professor Rose taught Business Planning, Human Resource Management, Principles of Marketing, Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation, and Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation, and he served the college community further as our Undergraduate Writing Center Tutor, our Career Services Coordinator, and the annual Elected Commencement Speakers Coach. UIC is deeply grateful for the years he devoted to educating our students and showing them the way to a brighter career in business.
Professor Rose’s devotion to his students never wavered. In May 2026, as he prepared for UIC’s 24th Commencement Ceremony, he shared what the occasion meant to him:
“If I have to be wheeled in on a stretcher, I’ll be there. I haven’t missed one graduation in my 50 years as an educator. Sharing this very special event with our graduates is a time to pause and reflect upon the gift we have bestowed upon our students, and what they have bestowed on us.”
— Professor Jack Rose, May 2026
Teaching Until the Very End
Professor Rose meant every word — and he proved it. In the summer of 2026, he taught his final two classes, Entrepreneurship and Venture Creation and Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation, delivered online from his hospice bed at the VITAS Care Center in Fort Lauderdale, with his students meeting him through their UIC LMS classroom. Even then, class was in session — and his students showed up for him, just as he had always shown up for them.
On June 18, Angelica Moyano, Director of Academic Affairs; Lydia Bautista Moller, UIC’s President; and Dr. Marcela Moyano, Director of Communication and Advancement, visited him at VITAS, bringing letters and videos from his students, faculty, and staff members, along with balloons that read “You make a difference.” They shared a bite of pizza — his favorite food — and Professor Rose expressed his deep gratitude to the UIC community he so loved. As he watched one of the videos from João Vitor Pezutto Correa, a Brazilian soccer student-athlete, tears of gratitude and love fell from his eyes.
Five days later, on June 23, 2026, the students of his Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation class launched their Business Expo, presenting the ventures they had planned and built under his guidance. Valentina Soto launched Valea Cafe, offering a mix of sweets, coffee, and matcha drinks. Marlen Medina presented Marmed Skincare, a supplier of Korean skincare products. Kwesi Mapamzene introduced an account management service for seniors. Carolina Costa unveiled Qrated, a designer company of leather-based accessories. And Soma Gubacsi debuted LinguaLiveAI, an AI translation service that detects any language and automatically translates it into the desired language. Five new ventures, launched by students whose professor taught them from a hospice bed. What a legacy.
The Commencement Speakers’ Coach
Professor Rose’s devotion to graduation went far beyond showing up. As UIC’s annual Elected Commencement Speakers Coach, he made certain that each year’s student speakers took the podium eloquent and full of confidence. He spent hours with them — helping them regain their confidence and their trust in themselves — until each was ready to deliver a heartfelt speech that came directly from the soul. Shortly before the May 2025 Commencement Ceremony, he sent the UIC administration an update on that year’s two elected speakers:
“Just to let you know that we are progressing nicely with our two Commencement Speakers and I have met with both of them twice, already. They are now concentrating on the delivery of their impactful words and I can assure you that both Carolina and Luiz will make us proud.”
— Professor Jack Rose, in a message to the UIC administration, April 22, 2025
The students indeed did a great job — and made us proud, just as he promised.
A Career Spanning More Than Five Decades
Born on March 15, 1947, Professor Rose built a career that bridged the worlds of business and education. He began in retail in 1964 at Bamberger’s New Jersey (Macy’s) and rose through management, buying, and merchandising leadership roles with Mandee Shops, Steinbach Department Stores, and Richard’s Department Store, where he managed a $38 million operation. In 1977 he founded Jack Rose and Associates, Inc., a marketing, management, and promotion consultancy specializing in the retail industry. He earned a BA in Economics, Marketing and Management from Rutgers University and an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Nova Southeastern University, and held National Professional Certification in Retail Management from the NRF Foundation.
His life in the classroom began in the early 1970s in New Jersey and continued for more than half a century. He served as Vice President and Director of Academic Affairs at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, spent seventeen years as a Professor in the College of Business at Johnson & Wales University, taught as an Adjunct Professor at Broward College and, from 2018, brought his experience, warmth, and wisdom to United International College.
A lifelong champion of career and technical education, Professor Rose served for more than three decades as Executive Director and State Advisor of Florida Collegiate DECA and held national DECA leadership roles, including chairing the Post-Secondary Advisory Council. In 2013 he was recognized for fifty years of dedication and commitment to DECA and Collegiate DECA, and his honors include National DECA’s Lifetime Achievement Award and numerous outstanding leadership and service awards. He published widely on marketing, management, and motivation, authored for Cengage Learning, reviewed curriculum and texts for Fairchild Publications/CondeNast, served on the Board of Advisors for McGraw-Hill’s management programs, and was named repeatedly to Who’s Who in American Education.
In the Words of His Students
Impressive as his résumé was, Professor Rose’s truest legacy is written in the words of his students. In their course reflections, UIC students described a teacher who believed in them, challenged them, and prepared them for real life in business:
“Professor Jack’s support was incredible, and he is the most professional and dedicated teacher I’ve ever had. He made the course engaging and insightful… I feel truly grateful for having such an amazing learning experience.”
— Carolina Enciso, Business Planning
“This was not just a class — it was a business lab where I truly learned how to sell… Professor Rose, I want to thank you for believing in us and making this class not just educational, but inspiring. I’ll carry your words with me as I continue building my dream.”
— Andres Gomes, Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation
“It was a perfect class full of learning, and I’m very grateful to you for all the work and effort, and above all, for always wanting to bring out the best in us. Nothing better than a class with you before I graduate.”
— Robert Oviedo, Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation
“I just wanted to formally say thank you for everything you do. This class has been a great learning experience for me, and I’ve looked forward to hearing your lectures every week.”
— Jared Krause, Principles of Marketing
“The class environment was always supportive, and the professor gave great feedback, which helped me develop my ideas in a meaningful way.”
— Dora Kos, Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation
“He went above and beyond to make sure we truly understood every part of the sales and promotion process… There’s nothing I would add or eliminate — the course was already taken from great to greater thanks to him.”
— Parnya Nadeem, Entrepreneurial Creativity and Innovation
“Your way of teaching made the subject interesting and clear. I appreciate all your effort and guidance.”
— Christian Lizarraga, Principles of Marketing
“It was really a pleasure to have known you, Professor Rose. Much love.”
— Cristina Duch, Business Planning
From Sami’s Sweet Bakery and Eternal Elegance to Plus Ultra and Pari Couture — and now Valea Cafe, Marmed Skincare, Qrated, and LinguaLiveAI — the businesses his students dreamed up and planned in his classes stand as testimony to a teacher who did not simply deliver lectures: he helped turn ambitions into plans, and plans into confidence.
A Lasting Legacy
Professor Rose was a true inspiration who helped every one of his students work toward and achieve their goals. He will be deeply missed, but he will be forever remembered: he helped build UIC through the years and left a memorable mark on each and every one of his students, colleagues, and friends.
“Thank you for everything you did for our college and for every student whose life you touched. We will always remember you, we will always love you, and you will always be a part of the UIC family.” Adds Angelica Moyano, UIC Board Member and Director of Academic Affairs.
Professor Rose described graduation as a time to reflect on “the gift we have bestowed upon our students, and what they have bestowed on us.” The gifts he gave — knowledge, belief, and the courage to dream big — will live on in every graduate who passed through his classroom, and in every business his students bring into the world.
Rest in peace, Professor Rose. Thank you for everything.
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About United International College
United International College is a dynamic institution dedicated to providing quality higher education to a diverse, international student population. Located in Dania Beach, Florida, UIC offers career-focused programs designed to prepare students for success in a global environment. For inquiries about its admissions process, contact uicadmissions@uinternational.edu