No, this year I want to call myself to task for what I have done and not done for peace. How much have I dared in opposition?

                                                                                   --Marge Piercy

Though it seems far off, April is just in front of us, as are all the attendant end-of-year excitements and celebrations. The interceding weeks—precious few weeks, in fact—accord us opportunities to do so much. Write. Teach. Support. I can’t wait to see the impact you’ll all bring.

Our to-do lists are extensive: lean intentionally into digital literacy skills in our courses, hire new colleagues to join our faculty this year, your individual scholarly or professional projects, and, of course, our core mission of teaching and supporting students. But also: nothing new.

These resets every semester are some of the many joys of working higher education. Wishing for you an auspicious beginning to your 2024 reset.

Mark Schaub, Dean of Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

The year 2024 is going to be an exciting one for Brooks College! We have added outstanding new colleagues to our Brooks College faculty and staff. Workday is expected to streamline our faculty and staff experience in many ways. Student enrollment is up and we are looking forward to the journey this year will bring. Happy New Year!

Brooks College faculty and staff will gather for the Winter (Re)Start meeting on Friday, January 12, from 10:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. at the Russel H. Kirkhof Center, Pere Marquette Room 2204.

Lunch will be served during the event, including vegan and gluten-free Feijoada (Brazilian black bean stew), green salad, and oatmeal raisin cookie whoopie pies.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Grand Valley is now live with Workday!

Go-live Support will be available including self-service options and support requests. Plan extra time to adjust to working with Workday as we address system issues during the January/February stabilization period.

Time Entry for hourly staff must be approved in Workday by Monday, January 8 at 3:00 p.m.

Key Dates include important deadlines and timeframes. Please be mindful of activity suspension dates while Banner data is transferred into Workday as typical activities in past years may not be fulfilled with past timelines.

All Finance Workday Resources and All HR Workday Resources webpages are one-stop shops for our entire training/resource library: instructor-led & self-paced courses, job aids & demo videos, change guides, and info pages. Additional training courses have been scheduled for Cost Center Manager, Period Activity Pay & One Time Payments, Recruiting 2 & 3, Student Employment, and Travel Bookings.

Workday Change Guides provide insights into the systems being replaced, new terminology, and other significant changes associated with Workday.

FOAPs are being replaced by the Foundation Data Model (FDM). Crosswalks are available to translate FOAPs to the appropriate FDM elements.

Payments for employees from another cost center must be initiated by the employee’s home cost center.

Certain Workday data will be incomplete in the first few weeks of January as fresh data continues to be migrated from Banner. Communications will be shared by Finance, HR, and IT teams as new data becomes available in Workday.

Find out more at the Workday web page or contact Noreen Savage if you have any questions.

In Brooks College, our faculty regularly receive updates from our wonderful alumni. The reminders of the impact we can have, both in and out of the classroom, on these students as they embark on their lives and career journeys after graduation always warm our hearts.

Alumni Lauren Weimer recently reached out to her former professor and mentor Crystal Scott-Tunstall to wish her happy holidays and provide her with a life update. Crystal's work as the Environmental and Sustainability Studies internship coordinator has led to many fruitful connections between our students and community. We reached out to Lauren to catch up with her and find out what this Laker for life has been up to!

What year did you graduate GVSU, and what were your major/minor(s)?

I graduated from GVSU in April of 2023! I double majored in International Relations and Environmental & Sustainability Studies with an emphasis on Culture and the Built Environment. I also got a certificate in Geospatial Technology. 

What was your journey like after graduating? How did you get to where you are now?

I knew I wanted to live in Chicago and work within the food system, so I searched for jobs pertaining to food access in the city while working a few different jobs in the summer. I ended up getting a position a the Greater Chicago Food Depository with Americorps in October to start my career in food access! I want to especially thank my professor, Crystal Scott-Tunstall, for sharing her passion of improving the food system with me. It opened my eyes to a side of environmental studies I had never truly considered before and now it is my passion.

How did your courses in Brooks College help prepare you for your field?

My capstone and internship classes with Professor Crystal Scott-Tunstall were two of the most helpful courses by far. The hands-on experience I gained in food access interning at the Fulton Street Farmers Market led to another internship at the Kent County Food Policy Council. These two opportunities allowed me to have sufficient experience to land a job at the exact organization that I wanted to work for in Chicago. Not only that, but my final project in my capstone class was so spot on with my job description that I was able to send it in as an additional material for my job interview, setting me apart from other applicants.

What were your favorite memories of your time here in Brooks College?

Some of my favorite memories were meeting my best friend, planting garlic at New City Neighbors farm, and having the opportunity to hear from a variety of professionals in the environmental and sustainability field in my ENS courses.

What advice would you offer the students who are still working toward their degree in your field?

Your degree doesn’t define what you can do after college. It is the experience you gain and the opportunities you run with. I had no interest in the food system and chose not to emphasize in it during my studies. I later had two internships my senior year in the food system and fell in love. 

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) strives to promote interdisciplinary communication and collaboration in order to enhance a holistic graduate student experience. By fostering the development of the graduate student community at Grand Valley State University, graduate students will develop academically, intellectually, professionally, and socially.

The GSA award ceremony and reception was held December 8 at the Eberhard Center. The GSA recognized faculty members for their teaching and mentorship. Graduate students were recognized for excellence in a degree program, service to community, outstanding research and leadership. Daniela Marini, assistant professor in SIS, was recognized with the Outstanding Teaching Award. Joel Wendland-Liu, associate professor in SIS, was recognized with the Outstanding Mentorship Award.

Congratulations, Daniela and Joel! 

The Brooks College Dean's office was one of many locations around Grand Valley State University who hosted a box for the Giving Tuesday Food Drive to support the Replenish Basic Needs Center.

Katrina Begrow, the annual giving manager in University Development, was impressed with the success this year, rallying behind a central cause:

"When we all came together, we were able to donate over 2,500 food and personal care items this year! That is 150% increase from last year! 🎉 Replenish is overwhelmed with the support they have received so THANK YOU!"

Thank you to all who donated and helped make this year so impactful! If you missed out this time, remember you can donate to Replenish year-round, and your donations directly help our students cover their basic needs so that they can focus on being successful here at GVSU.

In January, Brooks College is pleased to be hosting virtual campus visits as part of its current faculty cluster hire. This year’s search is designed to fill three tenure-line faculty positions in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. Appointments may be joined with the Frederik Meijer Honors College.

Faculty and staff should watch their inboxes for invitations to the research talks and open meet & greets with the candidates. These will take place by Zoom. Opportunity for feedback will be provided in connection with each event. This is essential to supporting the search committee to make recommendations.

Denise Goerisch, Dawn Rutecki, and Lin Bardwell have been awarded a $3,000 Brooks Interdisciplinary Collaboration (BIC) Grant to center indigenous voices in the teaching of INT 370 Anishinaabeg Lifeways: Past Present, and Future. This will include supporting co-teaching of the class, facilitating connections with GVSU’s Native American Advisory Council (NAAC), developing anti-racist pedagogies, and facilitating connections beyond the course. In these ways, the project hopes to interrupt harm caused by extraction, exploitation, and colonizing practices. By incorporating Indigenous leadership, land-based learning, community voices, and collaboration with Grand Valley's Native American Advisory Council (NAAC), the course will provide students with a broader understanding of Anishinaabeg lifeways that is respectful and consent-based.

Denise Goerisch is currently the program director for Integrated Studies in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS). Dawn Rutecki is an assistant professor in SIS, and Lin (Belinda) Bardwell is the assistant director for GVSU's Office of Multicultural Affairs as well as a member of NAAC. 

The partners will implement these practices when the course is next offered in Winter 2025 with the goal that this effort can also serve as a model for responsible teaching within community ethics. Lin Bardwell and Dawn Rutecki will co-teach the course, bringing their expertise in cultural protocols and Indigenous Studies, respectively.

Overall, this project aims to foster engaged and reflective conversations about Anishinaabeg lifeways while promoting educational excellence, equity, and inclusion at Brooks College and Grand Valley University. 

Launched in 2022-23, the Brooks College Collaboration Grants (BIC Grants) support teams of Brooks faculty and staff to collaboratively develop projects that make significant progress in one or more areas of the BCOIS 2026 Strategic Plan. The BIC guidelines and application can be found on the Brooks College website.

Check out these fun events that have been happening around Brooks College since the last newsletter!

The School of Interdisciplinary Studies (SIS) faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the holidays on December 11 by sharing a meal, plenty of laughs, and a white elephant gift exchange.  

On December 1, the Sustainability Showcase was held in the Kirkhof Center's Pere Marquette room. Environmental and Sustainability Studies (ENS) students discussed their final projects with attendees, and community and campus partners, such as the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), were also there to share about their programs and how they connect to ENS.

Noreen Savage snapped this gorgeous sunrise on her way in to campus on December 20.

Don't miss out on the Study Abroad Fair, where your adventure begins! Whether you're simply exploring or prepared to embark on an international journey, this event is a must-attend. Discover various GVSU study abroad programs, connect with past participants, and engage with program directors. Find answers to your inquiries about program selection, funding, academics, and more. Plus, enjoy complimentary food and drinks! 

Wednesday, January 17, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Henry Hall Atrium 
(Padnos Hall of Science) 

Faculty and staff, please feel free to spread the word to any students you feel may be interested. The deadline to apply for the upcoming academic year is February 1, 2024. Visit the program website for more details.

Kim McKee, associate professor in SIS, was interviewed for two different podcasts in relation to her new book, “Adoption Fantasies: Fetishization of Asian Adoptees from Girlhood to Womanhood” (The Ohio State University Press). She is enjoying her year in South Korea as a Fulbright Scholar and hopes everyone is well here in Brooks College!

Lee, Julia. (2023, December 3) “Kimberly D. McKee.” New Books Network: Asian American Studies Podcast. [Online] Available at: https://newbooksnetwork.com/adoption-fantasies.

Radke, Haley. (2023, November 24) “268 Kimberly McKee, Ph.D.” AdopteesOn Podcast. [Online] Available at: https://www.adopteeson.com/listen/268.

Kim also has a guest essay in the Korea Times.

The essay is an opinion piece that is part of a series centered on intercountry adoptions.

Congratulations, Kim! 

Jenna Lyons, visiting faculty in SIS, was awarded a Center for Missouri Studies Fellowship through the State Historical Society of Missouri for 2024. 

Jenna provided some insight on her fellowship:

The Center for Missouri Studies was looking for projects on the topic of Missouri women during World War II and selected my proposed project, “‘Dear Mr. President’: Bertha Bless, the Missouri Press Club, and the National Federation of Press Women,” for the fellowship. 

This project builds on some of the work from my dissertation where I researched the heritage tourism industry in Weston, Missouri, and allows me to dive deeper into the impact of Bertha Bless, newspaper editor of The Weston Chronicle, who used her role as a journalist and editor, to encourage civic engagement amongst other Missouri newspaper women. It is clear that Bless saw the importance of women in the press and the power they had to generate change in their communities. 

I’m excited to dig into this project in the new year and wanted to make sure I shared the good news with you!

The press release can be found at this link from the State Historical Society of Missouri website.

Congratulations, Jenna!

Isak Davis is the new Farm Manager and Educator at the Sustainable Agriculture Project! Welcome aboard, Isak. We are thrilled to have you here! Here is a quick introduction:

Although they were born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Isak grew up in the southern United States (Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida) which instilled in them a passion and love for home cooked food, especially shared over long leisurely meals. It was only during college, while working on the campus farm, where Isak learned they could grow the delicious food they craved so much. 

Isak received their Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and Chemistry from Kenyon College in Ohio before interning and eventually managing New City Neighbors, a nonprofit urban farm centered around youth empowerment based in Grand Rapids. Over the last five growing seasons, Isak has become accomplished at growing nutrient dense vegetables in harmony with the larger cycles of nature, including utilizing cover crops and mycorrhizal networks to increase the overall soil health. They are excited to connect with GVSU educators and students over the interdisciplinary nature of farming. 

In their free time, you can find Isak exploring the natural beauty of Michigan, trying new recipes in the kitchen, and carving new linocuts.

Marie Burnside has accepted the role of Religious Studies Program Coordinator, effective January 2024. Marie is an affiliate faculty member in SIS and has been a longtime instructor for our Religious Studies program. 

Brian Johnson has accepted the role of Human Rights Program Coordinator, effective January 2024. Brian has served as Undergraduate Coordinator for GVSU's School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies.

Lindsay Ellis has accepted the role of Director of Writing Across the Curriculum, effective January 2024. This role includes leading the Supplemental Writing Skills (SWS) Program and the University Writing Skills Committee (UWSC). Lindsay is reprising this role, as she has also served as Director of Writing Across the Curriculum from 2014 - 2019, and has continued to be the Director of the Lake Michigan Writing Project since 2014. 

January 8: Academic Leadership Council Meeting - 9:00 a.m.

January 12: Brooks College Winter (Re)Start - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Recess (Observed Holiday)

January 19: ENS Winter Kickoff Social - 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

January 20: MLK Jr. Day of Service and Solidarity 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

January 25: Unnatural Causes *INT 100/201 approved* 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

January 29: Brooks College Academic Leadership Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

*New events are posted regularly.
Stay up to date on Brooks College Events by checking the event calendar on our website.

January 8: Winter semester begins, first day of classes

January 8: Academic Leadership Council Meeting - 9:00 a.m.

January 12: Brooks College Winter (Re)Start - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Recess (Observed Holiday)

January 16: Schedule Round 2 due to Dean's Office; Personnel deadline to waive peer review process for annual salary evaluation; Faculty Workload Reports due with updated CVs

January 29: Brooks College Academic Leadership Meeting 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

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