In This Issue

From “Cicadas”

Always in unison, they are

the rapt voice of silence,

so singleminded I cannot tell

if the sound is rich or thin,

cannot tell even if it is sound,

the high, sustained note

which gives to a summer field

involved with the sun at noon

a stillness as palpable

as smoke and mildew,

            --Lisel Mueller

In his book, 80,000 Hours: Find a fulfilling career that does good, Benjamin Todd steers readers towards their calling. For most of you, skip the book and keep on doing what you’re doing for our students: impacting their lives in positive ways. What a privilege we have. Over three and a half decades we directly impact (ballpark) 7000 students in our courses, likely more. We indirectly affect the thousands of others we come in contact with in a university community.

Not often enough have I written to former mentors, professors, advisors, or colleagues to tell them what remarkable and important influences they’ve had on my life. Many of you reading this are in that category. Those times when others have reached out to me to describe my “plus” on their trajectories have been perhaps the most gratifying experiences I can remember.

The spinning top of our lives will wind down to silence at some point. In the meantime, keep on turning. Keep making noise.

Dr. Al-Mallah has been involved in leadership roles in Brooks College for several decades, including as long-time Coordinator of the Middle East Studies program, as a long-time faculty member in the Honors College, and more recently as the Cluster Director for the SIS Area & Global Studies programs. He has also spent time as the Chair of Modern Languages & Literatures in CLAS.

Dr. Bre’z's research explores women's history, social activism, and the global impact of water scarcity on women, while also preserving the stories of women artists through oral history. Outside the classroom, she is an artist and entrepreneur who creates upcycled fashion and enjoys gardening, traveling to Midwest art shows, and spending time in nature.

Dr. Cavar comes to us from the University of Maine at Augusta, where they were recently an instructor of interdisciplinary studies. Cavar holds a Ph.D. in cultural studies from the University of California, Davis, where they focused on science & technology studies, trans studies, disability/mad studies, and digital humanities. Cavar previously taught courses in interdisciplinary studies, English, American studies, science & technology studies, gender studies, and film & video studies, which prepares them well to teach across SIS programs. In addition to writing numerous refereed articles and book chapters in these areas, Cavar is also a prolific creative writer, publishing works of fiction and poetry.

Dr. Eick, Professor of French, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. Dr. Eick’s areas of research include seventeenth- and eighteenth-century literature and culture, the Enlightenment and Counter-Enlightenment, and pedagogy. He is co-author of a Reacting to the Past game, The Enlightenment in Crisis: Diderot’s Encyclopédie in a Parisian Salon, forthcoming in October from University of North Carolina Press. 

Dr. Wang specializes in the history of modern China and Japan, exploring how propaganda and popular culture have shaped political movements. His teaching spans history, Asian studies, religion, and Chinese language, while his current research focuses on revolutionary era stage drama and Chinese media during the Sino-Vietnamese conflict.

Friday, August 14th

9:00am-1:30pm

Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health (102 & 104)

Join us for the Annual Brooks College Start-up Meeting. We will introduce new faculty, discuss the upcoming academic year and strategic plan and get an opportunity to hear from President Mantella and Provost Drake. Please feel free to join us at 8:45 AM for coffee. The program will begin promptly at 9:00 AM.

Join the Rainbow Resource Center for Rainbow Social, a free event where GVSU students, faculty, and staff can enjoy food, entertainment, and connect with campus and community resources. 

Learn more HERE:

It has been decided to move the university grading deadline for Fall 2026 to Monday, December 21 at Noon for the Fall 2026 semester only. Please note that the Brooks College Grading 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 notification will be sent to all instructors prior to the beginning of the Fall semester as well as several reminders as the semester nears completion.

This academic year (2026-2027) we will be moving from Banner to Workday Student. What do you need to know:

Find more information on the timeline, Trainings, and what’s changing, here. We’ll continue to update throughout the semester and if you have any specific questions about how this might affect your work, you can reach out to anyone on the Brooks College Readiness Team which includes Jennifer Jameslyn, Julia Mason, Robyn Toth, and Kate VanDerKolk. 

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

Dana Burkett earned her bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies from Grand Valley State University this year. Dana is a Media Specialist at Holton Public Schools. After completing her bachelor's degree in Integrative Studies, she is now pursuing the Graduate Teacher Certification Program as she works toward becoming a science teacher.

How did you balance full time work with your coursework?

One of the questions I get asked most often is, "How do you do it all?" I am a wife, mother, work part-time in a school while completing my coursework, and it hasn't always been easy. I often think of a quote from Alice in Wonderland: "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast." That quote reminds me that what seems impossible can become possible with determination and the right support.  GVSU wasn’t just offering me a degree; they were welcoming me into a lifelong community of Lakers who believed in my goal of becoming a future science teacher.

How has your bachelor's degree helped prepare you for your current work or future career goals? Any favorite courses or projects that stick with you?

Earning my bachelor's degree was one more step toward a lifelong goal, and more importantly, it gave me a seat at the table where I had envisioned myself a million times before. It has opened doors to new opportunities and possibilities, bringing me one step closer to becoming the science teacher I have always wanted to be.

I have always loved school, so if you asked me to pick just one favorite class, I honestly couldn't. Every course has challenged me in a different way and helped me grow as a future educator. It has been refreshing and invigorating to learn from exceptional professors who genuinely wanted me to succeed. Their thoughtful, personalized feedback encouraged me to reflect, improve, and continue growing both professionally and personally.

The Summer in West Michigan program recently celebrated the completion of its first full summer with a showcase highlighting the projects, experiences, and connections students and faculty built throughout the program. The event highlighted the wide range of work completed throughout the program, from student made documentaries and environmental design projects to internship reflections that captured the lessons and experiences students gained beyond the classroom. While the projects were a major part of the program, students shared that some of the most meaningful moments came from the connections they made with one another. Building relationships, sharing experiences, and having opportunities for deeper conversations helped make the program a memorable part of their summer.

Dr. Laurence José, Professor of Writing and Director of the Digital Studies program, and Vinicius Lima, MFA, Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Foundations in Studio Art, recently joined Lindsey Peterson on the Glimpse podcast for an episode titled “Dwelling in Discovery.”

During the conversation, José and Lima discuss the digital literacy initiative they are co-leading at GVSU, as well as the evolving role of AI in creative and academic spaces. They explore how AI can support creativity while also considering the importance of slowing down, being intentional in the classroom, and maintaining a sense of curiosity and wonder in our relationship with technology.

 Listen to the episode on Spotify or Apple.

August 7 - Classes end second 6 and 12 weeks 

August 10 - 11 - Examinations second 6 and 12 weeks

August 11 - Session ends

August 17 by 12:00pm - Grades due from faculty - second 6 and 12 weeks

August 31 - Classes begin

September 6 - 7 - Labor Day recess

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 22 - Grades due

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