Oh, but these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
--Brandi Carlile, “The Story”
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Happy Anniversary, Brooks College! This is the second decade since our creation as a space dedicated to and intended to model interdisciplinary learning, teaching, scholarship, and service. I look forward to celebrating with you, and sharing with you some of the our adventures along the way. But mostly, I look forward to working alongside each and every one of you in realizing our mission—this year more than ever before. And we are primed for this, for continued success, like never before.
We are welcoming a record number of new full-time faculty colleagues this year: 15 new tenure track or affiliate faculty! Helping these teacher-scholars succeed will help us serve students this year and for the next twenty years.
There are not many of us who’ve been around for all twenty years of this college’s existence. We have many new colleagues who have not had a hand in shaping what we’ve become, but are already the core of what we are in 2024 and what we’ll become. I look forward to sharing some of my stories of Brooks College, including the fact that this is our fourth name, and that we started out resisting our assigned (and unwieldy) initial name: CUII (pronounced Kew-ee)—College of University-wide Interdisciplinary Initiatives. We shrugged that one off in a hot minute.
I also look forward to hearing your stories. As well as your dreams for our future. Happy anniversary, colleagues—old colleagues and new. Let’s get after it.
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Mark Schaub, Dean of Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies
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Brooks College 20th Anniversary |
Brooks College is celebrating 20 years of interdisciplinary excellence! Initially established as the College of Interdiscplinary Studies, and re-named the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies in May 2010, our college has been on the leading edge of weaving different educational disciplines together with important social and ecological issues, to create a unique educational experience steeped in experiential learning and innovative curriculums.
We will be kicking off this anniversary year with a celebration event, which will include food and beverages, speakers from past and present Brooks College faculty, as well as Brooks College alumni.
Brooks College 20th Anniversary Celebration
Wednesday, September 25
3:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Remarks begin at 3:30 p.m.
Thornapple Room, Lower Kirkhof Center
Allendale Campus
More information will be posted on our anniversary webpage, where we will also feature interviews with figures from Brooks College history throughout the year.
Do you have any pictures, stories, or videos you would like to share at our celebration? A slideshow will run during the event featuring the submissions from our Brooks College community, including alumni. Please submit your memories on the anniversary webpage.
Thank you for everything you do to support Brooks College!
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Before we know it, the fall semester will be here. Fall classes begin August 26. Brooks College faculty and staff are preparing for the 2024-25 academic year!
SIS Fall Startup
The School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) will be holding its Fall Startup Meeting on Monday, August 12, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in the Chamberlain Multipurpose Room in the Honors College (Allendale campus). The meeting will include highlights from the various SIS academic programs, as well as new faculty/staff introductions and a discussion of the vision and priorities of the school for the 2024-25 Academic Year. A picnic for SIS faculty and staff will follow.
Attendance is mandatory for SIS Tenure Track and Affiliate Faculty.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Brooks College Fall Startup
Brooks College will hold the college-wide startup meeting on Wednesday, August 14, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, in the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health (DCIH) building on the Grand Rapids Health campus Room 102. Coffee will be available in the morning, and lunch will be provided mid-meeting. We recommend that faculty and staff park in the CHS ramp lot below the CHS/DCIH complex.
If you do not have a GVSU faculty/staff parking permit and need a parking pass, please contact Maureen Strand at strandm@gvsu.edu.
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Ryan Schmidt received his GVSU degree in Environmental and Sustainability Studies in 2024. Ryan has been keeping in touch with his program mentor Amy McFarland (Director of Environmental and Sustainability Studies). Amy shared that Ryan has started his career in sustainability working for The Sovengard, a Grand Rapids restaurant that is focused on locally sourced food and sustainability. Their vendors share a vision of local first, supporting local farmers, growers, common-minded folks and hard working people. Their motto is, "Eat Local. Save the World."
Ryan shared with Amy how his sustainability background helped him land his job.
"I found a posting at The Sovengard, for a hosting position (in which I have experience). The application had an open response question about “my relationship to farm-to-table practices” and I was able to mention your class, the project I did on farm-to-table for the sustainability showcase, and my interview with the General Manger at Farm Club in Traverse City. I quickly got an interview and was hired shortly after the interview! I brought up the aforementioned things in the interview, and it turned out that the owner of The Sovengard has a close relationship with the folks at Farm Club, so it was really a great interview moment where I could show up and sell myself as a good fit. The owner also took great interest in my sustainability background and even hinted at possibly wanting a sustainability manager someday. I think this is going to be a great opportunity and I am excited for it to get started. The restaurant is opening next week and I just wanted to share this news with you."
Well done, Ryan! We look forward to updates on your bright future.
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Brooks College 2023-24 Annual Report |
The 2023-24 Annual Report is now available on the Brooks College website. There are many great photos and stories showcasing all the wonderful things that happened in our corner of GVSU over the past academic year.
Check out the Annual Report now!
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Brooks College Faculty Governance Representation |
As the new academic year approaches, we would like to provide a reminder of these faculty governance bodies at GVSU, and what they do.
College University Academic Senate (UAS) & Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) Representation
Brooks College has two faculty representatives on UAS—Leifa Mayers and Krista Benson. Benson also serves on the Executive Committee of the Senate. They are your advocates within this system. If you have concerns you'd like to have raised with the UAS, either can address or introduce them on your behalf. ECS meets weekly and UAS meets monthly.
The University Academic Senate (UAS) is the highest faculty governance body. It has the authority to deal with any academic issue or faculty concern. It makes recommendations to the Provost and/or President regarding such matters as curriculum, the academic organization of the university, faculty personnel policy, the budget, and other issues considered relevant to academic affairs.
The Executive Committee of the Senate (ECS) serves as the clearing house for matters to be presented to the UAS. Such matters are discussed by ECS before its recommendations are made to the Senate. Its powers and duties include preparing the agenda for UAS, acting for UAS, receiving reports from the standing committees of UAS, nominating members for all committees, task forces, and boards elected by UAS, determining the number and distribution of UAS members, providing advice and counsel to the administration, arranging faculty forums, and deciding the matters that should be reviewed by the various branches of faculty governance.
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| Anita Benes, a former professional support staff member of Brooks College, has passed away at the age of 69, following a courageous battle with Leukemia.
You may view her obituary on her online memorial page. Her warmth and kindness is remembered by many, and we offer our condolences to her surviving family and friends.
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Ryan Moore (he/him) - Ryan Moore became the Area & Global Studies program coordinator in June 2024. He splits his time between the Kutsche Office of Local History and the Area & Global Studies cluster within the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Ryan holds a BS degree in Secondary Education in Social Studies from Northern Michigan University in Marquette. After graduation, Ryan worked as a substitute teacher in the Midland and Grand Rapids areas. New to Grand Rapids, Ryan enjoys going on hikes, reading about history and politics, playing video games, and playing with his cats.
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As you enjoy your summer, please consider submitting some photos of your summer fun. Whether you are enjoying your garden, fishing, hiking in the Alps, or catching a great concert, we would love to see your summer shares!
Email your photos to Maureen Strand by no later than August 26 to have them included in the Summer Share section of the September newsletter.
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1 Campus Drive
224 Lake Ontario Hall
Allendale, MI 49401
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