Brooks College seeks applications for endowed professorship

The Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies is accepting applications and course proposals from faculty members interested in serving as the next Padnos/Sarosik Endowed Professor of Civil Discourse.  

The position is currently held by Lisa Perhamus, assistant professor of education. Her term will end in December.

Perhamus created a course, “Detroit’s Public Dialogues,” that provided students with opportunities to meet Detroiters who are working to revitalize their neighborhoods. Perhamus and students also led a symposium in November that included Detroit leaders who discussed how civil discourse leads to civic engagement.

The next professor of civil discourse will be selected this fall. Anne Hiskes, dean of Brooks College, said interested faculty members should think creatively over the summer about creating a new or adapting an existing course that will help students develop civil discourse skills and promote civil discourse around an important social issue with a community-engaged component.

Proposals are due October 9 and should include a current resume, names and contact information for three references, application that outlines a fall symposium and a three- or four-credit civil discourse course, and letter of support from dean or unit head. Details are available online, click here.

Proposals should be sent via email to [email protected].

The endowed professorship was a gift to Grand Valley from longtime university supporters Shelley Padnos and Carol Sarosik.