In my first days in the role of Acting Dean of the Brooks College, I’ve frequently—many times per day—found myself even more appreciative of the scope and diversity of our work with students. Not an hour goes by that I do not marvel at what students are accomplishing, and what our colleagues are facilitating. This is why I agreed to temporarily leave a job I love to take on new responsibilities in the midst of the semester: the people of Brooks College are remarkable, and our results are remarkable.

Not a stranger to Brooks College, I’ve been part of the leadership council since it was created in 2004, and have known it as at least four different names (happily, “Brooks” suits us best). Still, many of you do not know my background or preparation for this position.

I also started my previous two administrative posts midstream. My appointment to the Directorship of the Writing Program at American University in Cairo (Egypt) began in the very middle of the academic year, during Winter Break. My interview for the leadership of the Padnos International Center was during the first week of classes in 2002, and I started the job just a couple days later. At least with this gig I’m already familiar with the acronyms, knowing SAP from AGS from SIGR.

My tenure home is the Department of Writing, though I was in the Department of English my first two years at GVSU—before WRT split off. The last two courses I’ve taught have been part of Brooks: team-teaching the very first section of ITC 100 (with Regina McClinton) and, in 2017, teaching a Business Communication course in the award-winning Accelerated Leadership Program. I had the privilege of learning from, and being mentored by, both founding Dean Wendy Wenner and, for the last six and a half years, by Dean Anne Hiskes—both of whom have led us to where we are: both bigger and better. I am a shameless cheerleader for GVSU and also for Brooks. I am very happy to know so many of you and am eager to get to know the rest.

Brooks College is fine and will continue to be fine. I trust Provost Cimitile will affirm that with us during the informal Brooks College “town hall” she will be part of on Friday, March 15. Please attend, if your calendar (or teaching schedule) permits. It will be an opportunity to ask questions of Provost Cimitile, me, and Assoc. Dean Gipson.

-Mark

Cáel Keegan, Assistant Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Liberal Studies, received the Distinguished Early Career Scholar Award from the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence. Cáel has distinguished himself as a leading voice in transgender studies. In addition to the 10 articles and book chapters he published since arriving at Grand Valley in 2014, Cáel authored a book, Lana and Lilly Wachowski: Sensing Transgender, with University of Illinois Press. The monograph, which reflects his interdisciplinary approach, was hailed as “a revelation” for the way it theorizes trans* aesthetic. Having been invited to speak at scholarly gatherings in the U.S., Canada, Russia, and Finland, Cáel is an internationally recognized expert.