Brooks College Mourns Loss of Valued Colleague

On December 10, 2015, Brooks College and the Grand Valley community lost beloved colleague Dave Feenstra following an accident at his family’s greenhouse.

Dave retired in 2012 as a maintenance supervisor, but he remained connected to Grand Valley after his retirement. In 2014, he served as the adjunct manager for the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP), housed in Brooks College. His responsibilities included monitoring and planning food production and managing daily operations of “The Farm,” such as marketing, transportation, and academic department communication. Feenstra also worked on small projects for Facilities Services.

Tim Thimmesch, associate vice president for Facilities Services, called Feenstra dedicated, inquisitive, loyal, and “a Laker at heart.” He added Feenstra had tremendous impact on sustainability projects for the university.

“He took the lead on improvements in our Central Utilities Building — steam and cooling production to the campus as a whole,” Thimmesch said. “This included boiler upgrades, introducing improved technology that helped reduce energy costs, and installing more efficient processes for the daily work of the facilities unit.”

Youssef Darwich, manager of the Sustainable Agriculture Project, said Feenstra made instrumental steps to improve the farm’s operations.

“He was always there to help answer a question or give insight to help make things run more smoothly,” Darwich said. “Dave’s wealth of knowledge, compassion, and vision will be dearly missed, and his impact on our community will be felt for many years to come.”

In memory of Dave, Brooks College established an internship fund, Dave Feenstra Sustainable Agriculture Project Internship Fund.

Anne L. Hiskes, dean of Brooks College, said the college wanted to establish a fund to honor Feenstra’s leadership at the farm and to enable his vision for the project to “take root and flourish.”

“Dave provided wonderful mentorship to the student interns, unselfishly sharing his time and expertise with the students and faculty,” Hiskes said. “Dave was not only an educator, but also a role model. He developed a strategic business plan for the Sustainable Agriculture Project that we will continue to implement over the years.”

The fund will provide financial support for one or more students to work on SAP projects in Feenstra’s special areas of interest that benefit the SAP and meet learning goals of the student. Student awardees will be known as Dave Feenstra Sustainable Agriculture Interns.

The first award was granted to Austin VanDyke, student community garden manager for the Sustainable Agriculture Project, at the eighth annual Sustainability Champions Award luncheon on April 1.

David Eick, associate professor of modern languages and literatures and the Frederik Meijer Honors College faculty-in-residence, received the Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award. Eick believes that scholarship can serve to unify a classroom of undergraduate students, regardless of a student’s selected major. Eick engages his undergraduate students in research and scholarship through complex role-playing games, a strategy that hooks many of his students, resulting in multiple professional presentations of undergraduate student work. In the words of one of his students, Eick has a “talent for nudging students beyond their self-imposed boundaries of complacence.” His teaching and mentorship philosophies result in student success as scholar-researchers. Not only is Eick an inspiring, engaging, and innovative mentor for students, he also encourages his colleagues to work with undergraduates in research by sharing practical tips for motivating and working with students.

Nicholas Johnson, part-time instructor of liberal studies and English, received the Pew Teaching Excellence Award for Part-time Faculty. Johnson is an innovative teacher, focusing on essential elements of liberal education, including engaged citizenship; advancement of diversity; integrative learning; and critical reading, writing, and thinking skills. His spirit of inventiveness, constant struggle for improvement, and his passion for writing, literature, and the humanities demonstrate the immeasurable potential of the liberal arts in today’s world. As a faculty member, he was selected to work within the English department’s Presidential Teaching Initiative grant to redesign a developmental course and bolster support for student success. As a result, he has received praise for his ideas, particularly for the way he invites all students into academe, to explore their agency in learning, regardless of identity, preparation, or past barriers to higher education.

Maureen Wolverton, affiliate faculty member of liberal studies, received the Pew Teaching with Technology Award. Wolverton played a key role in the development of the liberal studies accelerated leadership program and is a champion of using technology to remediate unique challenges. Her commitment to Quality Matters, a recognized standard in course design, reflects a belief in, and use of, demonstrated best practices. In the words of one of her students, “Sometimes online learning can seem disconnected and stagnant. Professor Wolverton tailored our online interactions by recapping our class contributions in a weekly video. In these videos, Maureen summarized how our individual views, journal entries, and assignments compared and contrasted to those of our peers. In addition, she would ask for and provide feedback for questions, concerns, or overriding themes. This personal touch made the learning experience fulfilling and relevant.”

Danielle Lake, assistant professor of liberal studies, earned the 2016 John Lachs Award for Public Philosophy from the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy during the association’s annual meeting on March 5 in Portland, Oregon.

The award is for early- to mid-career philosophers in the American tradition who exemplify the best traits and practices of American public philosophy and bring unique insights or methods to broaden the reach and engagement of public philosophy with the wider public. Lake was noted for her innovative work in and out of the classroom, and for facilitating dialogues about issues in education and sustainable development.

Anne L. Hiskes, dean of Brooks College, said she has watched Lake “become a sought-after campus leader on community-engaged teaching and learning.”

“Her impact expands through the work of her students who are inspired to apply their philosophical knowledge and skills in addressing the vital issues of the communities in which they live and work,” Hiskes said.

Major Accomplishments and Publications

Scholarship
Craig Benjamin, professor of history in the Frederik Meijer Honors College, gave three presentations on big history and the use of technology in the classroom at the Third International Colloquium on the Teacher Student Relationship in the Digital Age at the Sri Atmananda Memorial School in Kerala, India.

Wendy A. Burns-Ardolino, department chair and associate professor of liberal studies, wrote a book, TV Female Foursomes and Their Fans: Featuring The Golden Girls, Designing Women, Living Single, Sex and the City, Girlfriends, Cashmere Mafia, and Hot in Cleveland. The book is published by McFarland & Company, Inc.

Kelly James Clark, visiting professor in the Frederik Meijer Honors College, served as editor of a book, The Blackwell Companion to Naturalism, published by Wile-Blackwell.

President Thomas J. Haas published a chapter in the “Forum on the Value of Honors” in the Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council for its 50th anniversary issue. The chapter is titled “Relevance, Rigor, and Return on Investment: How Honors Enhances Education.” Only two Michigan universities were featured in the journal.

Richard Hiskes, professor in political science and the Frederik Meijer Honors College, recently edited the book Human Dignity and the Promise of Human Rights, published by Open Society Foundations.

Azfar Hussain, associate professor of liberal studies, organized and presented at the Democracy Rising World Conference at the University of Athens, Greece.

Sebastian Maisel, associate professor of Middle East studies and modern languages and literatures, wrote a book, Speed up your Arabic: Strategies to Avoid Common
Errors, published by Routledge.

Diane Maodush-Pitzer, affiliate professor of liberal studies and religious studies, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation on Monday, November 9, 2015. Diane’s dissertation is titled Voices of Persistence: Stories of Success from One Urban Public Charter High School.

Patrick Fuliang Shan, East Asian studies coordinator and associate professor of history, served as co-editor of a book, Ethnic China: Identity, Assimilation, and Resistance, published by Lexington Books and Rowman & Littlefield.

Brent Smith, associate professor of liberal studies, had his article, “Transforming Discourse: Interdisciplinary Critique, the University, and the Academic Study of Religion,” published by Cogent Arts and Humanities. Smith’s work will be a part of its high-profile special collection “Interdisciplinary Research” for philosophy and religion.

Veta Tucker, associate professor of English and African and African American studies, co-edited the book A Fluid Frontier: Slavery, Resistance, and the Underground Railroad in the Detroit River Borderland.

Joel Wendland, assistant professor of liberal studies, recently authored a book titled The Collectivity of Life: Spaces of Social Mobility and the Individualism Myth, published by Lexington Books.

Judy Whipps, professor of liberal studies, wrote a chapter, “Mary Parker Follett: Creativity, Power, and Diversity,” in the book Perspectives in Interdisciplinary and Integrative Studies, published by Texas Tech University Press.

Awards

Craig Benjamin, professor of history in the Frederik Meijer Honors College and director of big history, gave two presentations titled “Educating for Global Engagement” and “Big History and Liberal Education” at the Globalistics 2015 Conference at Moscow State University, convened to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Benjamin also was inducted as an honorary member of the faculty of the Department of Global Studies at Moscow State University.

Richard Hiskes, professor in political science and the Frederik Meijer Honors College, received the GVSU Student Senate’s Student Award for Faculty Excellence on February 5, 2016, at the GVSU President’s Ball.

Eric Packer, director of workforce development for the Center for Adult and Continuing Studies, recently earned the Michigan Association of School Boards highest level award, the President’s Award of Recognition. The President’s Award of Recognition recognizes his continued dedication to improving his board leadership skills.

Rik Stevenson, part-time instructor of African and African American studies, received the Outstanding Faculty Member Award from the Omicron Alpha Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority.

Kate Stoetzner, director of international student and scholar services in the Padnos International Center, was presented the Scott Cooper Award for Excellence in International Student Advising by the Michigan Association of International Educators.

Ayana Weekley, assistant professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies, and Maureen Wolverton, affiliate professor of liberal studies, were recognized as outstanding faculty members by students from the Oliver Wilson Freshman Academy.

Grants

Anne Marie Fauvel, affiliate professor of liberal studies, and Emily Noordyke, a biology and environmental studies student, were recently granted 2016 Student Summer Scholar funding to conduct a quantitative and qualitative nutritional analysis of the GVSU-managed honey bee colonies at the Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Luce street site. In addition, Emily Noordyke was awarded the William Schroeder Undergraduate Endowed Fellowship for this research proposal.

Sebastian Maisel, associate professor of Arabic and Middle East studies, received funding from Georgetown University for his project, Tribalism and Family Affairs.

Sarah King, associate professor of liberal studies, and Kimberly McKee, assistant professor of liberal studies, received a Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence Catalyst Grant for Research and Creativity.

Marilyn Preston, and Kimberly McKee, both assistant professors of liberal studies, submitted proposals that were approved for Engaging Undergraduate Students in Scholarship Supplementary Startup Grants for New Faculty. This startup fund, jointly sponsored by the Office for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship and the Brooks College Dean’s Office, provides support for up to two faculty members annually and is targeted to helping faculty build capacity in their research agendas for student participation. Preston will work with students in her ongoing research focused on sexuality, meaning-making, and young adult identity development. McKee will work with students on her oral history project focused on Korean adoptees.

Honors

The GVSU Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP) and Office of Sustainability Practices were a cover feature story in the Winter 2015 edition of the Educational Procurement Journal. The article discusses the start and growth of the Sustainable Agriculture Project, as well as some of Grand Valley’s accomplishments in sustainability. Acknowledgments include Valerie Rhodes-Sorrelle, Grand Valley Sourcing Specialist; Norman Christopher, Executive Director at the Office of Sustainability; Youssef Darwich, Farm Manager of the Sustainable Agriculture Project; and
James Phillips, Food Service Director at Campus Dining.

Sarah King, associate professor of liberal studies and religious studies coordinator, was accepted into the 2016-17 Colloquy for Mid-career Faculty at Colleges and Universities at the Wabash Centre for Teaching and Learning in Religious Studies and Theology. The colloquy, for mid-career faculty, focuses on community engagement.

Veta Tucker was granted the title professor emeritus of English and African and African American studies.

Wendy Wenner was granted dean emeritus status of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary studies.

University Service Awards

45 YEARS
Sheldon Kopperl - Liberal studies and biomedical sciences

25 YEARS
Susan Swartzlander - Frederik Meijer Honors College

20 YEARS
Shawntain Jenkins - Center for Adult and Continuing Studies

10 YEARS
Norman Christopher - Office of Sustainability Practices
Tina Lee - Center for Adult and Continuing Studies
Sebastian Maisel - Middle East studies and modern languages and literatures
Lisa Miller - Center for Adult and Continuing Studies
Noreen Savage - Brooks College Dean’s Office
Heather Walker - Center for Adult and Continuing Studies

New Faculty and Staff Members

Christopher Borda began a new role as the coordinator of study abroad and international partnerships in the Barbara and Stuart Padnos International Center. Borda instructs and advises students on a wide variety of applications, predeparture, re-entry, and academic concerns. He also develops and disseminates educational resources to Grand Valley students, faculty members, and staff members.

Youssef Darwich joined the Office of Sustainability Practices as the new farm manager for the Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP). A recent Grand Valley graduate, Darwich has worked at the SAP since 2012 and served as the president of the GVSU Farm Club. Darwich also has worked as a farm inspector for the Grand Rapids Downtown Market.

Danielle DeMuth began a new role as the chair of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department. DeMuth has been a professor of women and gender studies since 1997 and has been at Grand Valley since 2009. Twice she has led the WGS/Women’s Center study abroad trip to South Africa. Her scholarship focuses on lesbian literacy studies and, most recently, on the legacy of author Barbara Grier.

Rachel Dudley joined the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department as a visiting professor. A 2007 graduate of Grand Valley, Dudley is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in women, gender, and sexuality studies at Emory University. Her scholarly interests include black feminist studies, feminist disability studies, and medical history/history of science.

Kurt Ellenberger served as the first Frederik Meijer Honors College department chair. Ellenberger has taught at Grand Valley since 1999 as a professor of music in the Frederik Meijer Honors College and served as an associate director of the Robert and Mary Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center since 2005. Ellenberger won a Fulbright Scholar Award for 2013-2014, when he was a professor of Austrian American studies at the University of Graz (Austria).

Abhishek Ghosh joined the Liberal Studies Department as an assistant professor with a specialization in South Asian religions. Before coming to Grand Valley, Ghosh was a postdoctoral fellow at the Consortium for Faculty Diversity at Muhlenberg College. While there, Ghosh taught undergraduate courses on Hinduism and India and prepared a manuscript based on his dissertation titled Hindu Devotionalism and the West: An Intellectual Encounter.

Sarah King began a new role as the religious studies coordinator. King has taught and developed religious studies courses at Grand Valley since 2012. She serves on the General Education Committee, on the Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Advisory Council, and as the Farm Club’s faculty advisor.

Leifa Mayers joined the Women,Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department as a visiting professor. Before coming to Grand Valley, Mayers taught women, gender, and sexuality courses as a teaching assistant and instructor at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Mayers’ research interests include critical policy and legal studies; transnational feminist and queer theories; and queer of color comparative epistemologies.

Bettina Muehlenbeck joined the Frederik Meijer Honors College as an assistant professor of the arts. Muehlenbeck has served as the assistant professor of musicology at the University of Minnesota since 2011, as well as the musicology advisor for the Department of Music Graduate Studies and the University of Minnesota Duluth Graduate School. Muehlenbeck is a scholar on the work of composer and pianist Sir William Sterndale Bennett.

David Stark now serves as the coordinator of Latin American studies. Stark began his career at Grand Valley in 2000 and is a professor of history. He has published numerous articles and has given many presentations regarding Latin America; his recent monograph is titled Slave Families and the Hato Economy in Eighteenth-century Puerto Rico.