In This Issue

I change myself, I change the world

                                          --Gloria Anzalúa

Brooks faculty colleague Dan Cope started, and ended, her Civil Discourse Address a few weeks ago with a lesson from her mother: you can’t change other people; you can only change yourself. Many of us had of course heard this statement before, but there’s a reason this familiar advice has legs: it’s so true!

On my worst days, my worst self fumes and rages about the things I can’t control. On my best days, I level set positivity and gratitude and in the latter it’s almost always gratitude involving the people in my life. That includes my work colleagues….all of them. All of you.

I wouldn’t deign to give any of you advise on your level setting strategy or process or day-to-day context. But I wish you all well in that effort. I can only promise this on behalf of me: I will do even better to be my best self for you, our students, and yes—myself.

All best wishes on the second half of this semester!

Hugo Claudin unveiled his newest painting in the Frederik Meijer Honors College on September 30th. Students, faculty, and staff came out to experience and engage with this symbolic art piece. 

After moving from Guadalajara, Mexico, to the United States as a teenager, Claudin continued his journey as an artist and studied Fine Arts and Illustration at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids. He also founded Mexicains Sans Frontieres, an award-winning alternative art space in Grand Rapids.

The amazing efforts of the GVSU Art Museum along with Honors College faculty and staff helped bring this artwork to the Frederik Meijer Honors College.

The second Brooks College Town Hall meeting of the 2026 - 2027 academic year will take place on Friday, October 30, from 11:00am to 11:50am, followed by the Solidarity Potluck until 12:45pm. The meeting will be held in the Honors College Multipurpose Room. This will be a collaboration with the Brooks College Faculty Council to be in community through a shared meal and conversation. Please sign up here to indicate what you are planning to bring. 

Faculty and staff are invited to attend the Workday Student Launch Event on Tuesday, October 13 from 1:00pm - 2:30pm in the KC Grand River Room or via Zoom. The event will provide an overview of the transition of student and course-related activities into Workday, along with the implementation timeline, training information, and time for questions.

Register for the launch event HERE:

Official Workday Student training for Academic Administrative Support, Advisors, Deans and Associate Deans, Student Support, and Unit Heads begins November 9. To view available training sessions and register, click HERE:

The University grading deadline for Fall 2026 has been moved to Monday, December 21 at Noon - this is for the Fall 2026 semester only. Please note that the Brooks College Grading deadline will be Monday, December 21st at 8:00 am.

The Provost's Office and Office of the Registrar recognize that faculty with exams near the end of finals week will have less time than normal to complete their grades. Hopefully knowing ahead of time will allow plans for exams/culminating experiences in a way to minimize stress in the grading process. 

A Midterm is required for any course that begins before October 12. Brooks College midterms will be due for these courses on October 20th at 8:00 am.

Do you have students engaged in experiential learning through your class? Would you like them to have the chance to share their experiences and insights? Consider the Experiential Learning Student Showcase: A Fall Symposium! This new event, to be held on December 2, invites students to share what they've built, discovered, or created through research, creative practice, project-based coursework, community-engaged projects, internships, and study abroad, along with the range of experiences in between. Submissions will open October 12 and close November 13.

This Giving Tuesday, consider supporting Lakers facing food insecurity through Grand Valley’s Replenish Student Food Resource Fund. Replenish helps provide students with access to food and personal care items throughout the year.

The Brooks College Dean’s Office will be a drop-off location for the upcoming November food drive. Faculty and staff can donate nonperishable food and personal care items to help support students on campus.

Donations can be dropped off in LOH 224.

Learn more about Giving Tuesday and the Replenish Student Food Resource Fund HERE.

The GVSU Inclusion and Equity Institute is committed to providing learning and development for faculty and staff to further knowledge, skills, and abilities related to these core values. Each week, the I&E Institute offers FREE, dynamic, and helpful workshops on a variety of topics. 

You can review the list of workshops HERE

Join the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association on Friday, October 16, from 4:00pm –6:00pm in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center as they celebrate 20 years of community, advocacy, and belonging at GVSU. The event will feature storytelling, community connection, and refreshments.

Read more HERE:

Influencing 1776: How the Great Lakes Anishnaabek Helped Shape American History will be held on Monday, October 19, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in Kirkhof Center, Room 2263. Eric Hemenway will discuss the important role the Great Lakes Anishnaabek played in shaping American history, followed by a light catered lunch. The event is open to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members.

Read more HERE:

The Rainbow Resource Center will host an open house style event featuring Integrative Studies as part of a series highlighting different academic departments and programs. Faculty and staff are invited to share this opportunity with students who are pursuing an Integrative Studies degree or interested in learning more about the program. The event will provide students with an opportunity to connect with faculty and staff, meet peers, explore the Rainbow Resource Center, and enjoy light refreshments and crafting activities.

The event will take place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Rainbow Resource Center (1161 Kirkhof Center).

Read more HERE:

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies is hosting workshops to help students learn more about graduate school and prepare for the application process. Students will have the chance to connect with faculty, meet other Interdisciplinary Studies students, and ask questions about graduate school.

The first session will take place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 3:00pm - 4:30pm in Lake Ontario Hall Room 167. Snacks will be provided, and no registration is required. Read more HERE:

A second session will take place on Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 3:00pm - 4:30 pm. Read more HERE:

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with interested students.

Global Horizons Week is scheduled from November 2nd to November 6th this year. Join the Area and Global Studies program for a week of events that will highlight all six AGS programs and bring the uniqueness of regional cultures to GVSU.

On Monday 11/2, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the cultural meaning and value of the Kanga/Kitenge cloth to women from the Eastern Africa region while also sampling traditional Swahili dishes. Two separate sessions will be held from 3 - 4:15 pm and 4:30 - 5:45 pm in the Niemeyer Multipurpose Room.  

On Wednesday 11/4 from 5 - 7 pm in the Alumni House, join the East Asian Studies program as they host Jeff Wichmann for the presentation and performance of the koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument. Wichmann talk will explain the historical and cultural significance of the koto, followed by a student recital and performance by Wichmann. A tuning and restringing workshop will be held the next day on 11/5 from 2:30 - 4:30 pm in Mackinac Hall D-2-319.

We encourage anyone interested in global cultures to attend our Global Community Day celebration on Thursday, November 5th from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the Pere Marquette Room of Kirkhof. This will be a celebration and showcase of all of the cultural and internationally centered resources that GVSU has to offer. Come to learn about on-campus resources that focus on international resources and enjoy free food from four global regions!

The Environmental and Sustainability Studies program will host upcoming sessions for students interested in learning more about internships and practicums. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn about available experiences, and get guidance on next steps.

The first session will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 10:00am - 11:00am in Lake Ontario Hall Room 179. Snacks will be provided, and no registration is required. Read more HERE:

A second session will take place on Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 3:00pm - 4:00 pm. Read more HERE:

Faculty and staff are encouraged to share this opportunity with interested students.

The GVSU Teach-In: Lifelong Learning toward Educational Equity and Action returns November 10–11, 2026. This campus wide, student centered event brings together students, faculty, and staff to explore educational equity across disciplines. Faculty are encouraged to attend and invite students to participate in this unique learning experience.

Read more HERE:

Brian Johnson, professor of criminal justice, wrote the chapter "Human Rights and the Private Security Industry: The Need for Alignment" in Citizens, the State and Justice: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, published by Routledge.

Laurence José, professor of Writing and Director of the Digital Studies program, and Vinicius Lima, Associate Professor of graphic design and foundations, were guests on the In a Glimpse podcast episode "Dwelling in Discovery." They also presented "Tech and You: Are You Using Technology, or Is It Using You?" with Christine Renner during Tech Week Grand Rapids 2026.

Amy McFarland, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies, and Isak Davis, farm manager and educator in the Office of Sustainability Practices, co-authored the article "Smart Composter for Experiential Learning in Sustainable Agriculture: System Design and Application for a Small Scale Farm Setting," with engineering faculty Catherine Molloseau and Yunju Lee and Ira Woodring, assistant professor of computing. The article was published in the International Journal of Environment, Engineering & Education.

On October 7, Brooks College faculty and student were recognized along with many influential women across the university at the Women Awards hosted by the Women’s Commission. The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) provided floral arrangements for this celebration. 

Julia Mason, Interim Associate Dean of Brooks College, presented the Jean Enright Women and Gender Studies Scholarship to this year’s recipient, Mara Vettori, a student double majoring in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Legal Studies with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Laurence José, Professor of Writing and Director of the Digital Studies program, was nominated for the Unsung Hero Award, which recognizes individuals who contribute to the mission, vision, and values of Grand Valley while positively impacting the university and surrounding community through their work.

Crystal Scott-Tunstall, Affiliate Faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, was a nominee for the Jennifer Palm Community Impact Award, which recognizes individuals who advance gender equity, empower women, and make meaningful contributions to Grand Valley and the broader community.

Dan Cope, Affiliate Faculty in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, serves as Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Women’s Commission Leadership Team. Through her work with the commission, she helps support continuing efforts to recognize and celebrate women across the Grand Valley community.

The Honors Student Council’s annual “Pizza with the Profs” event brought together approximately 25 students and six Meijer Honors College professors—Elizabeth Ganson, Maria Cimitile, David Eick, Coeli Fitzpatrick, Leifa Mayers, and Peter Wampler—last Tuesday.

Now a beloved tradition, the event gives students and professors a chance to step outside the classroom and connect in a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Over pizza and conversation, students had the opportunity to get to know their professors on a more personal level while faculty enjoyed hearing directly from students and catching up with members of the Honors community.

It’s an annual tradition that highlights what makes the Honors College community special: meaningful connections between students and faculty, both inside and outside the classroom.

October 25 - 27 - Fall Break

November 25 - 29 - Thanksgiving Day recess

December 12 - Classes end

December 12 - Commencement

December 12 - 19 - Examinations

December 19 - Semester ends

December 21 - Grades due 8:00am

Note: partial term courses have different tuition and refund deadlines. View additional deadlines in the course index. 

View the rest of the Fall 2026 Academic Calendar HERE 

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! Fill out the form below to submit an event or announcement (with photos!) for the Brooks College Newsletter or email brookscollege@gvsu.edu