Maryann Lesert is retiring from her role as Professor of English at the end of April 2025. She began her journey at GRCC in 2006 as an adjunct instructor, joining the college full-time in 2007. Throughout her time here, she remained a dedicated member of the English department, moving from Assistant to Associate to Professor. Lesert has also been committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and student engagement that were grounded in important issues. She highlighted initiatives such as the Feminist Reading Group, the 2008 Women in STEM Conference, and the Sustainability Series hosted by GRCC’s former Sustainability Council. She shared that students have been a big part of all of these projects, and working with faculty from many departments and witnessing their passion for change was inspiring. GRCC's partnership with Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, which offers summer research, art, and writing fellowships to MI college and university students, is an ongoing project that she’s grateful to have been a part of.   Her sense of belonging at GRCC comes from the support and encouragement of colleagues who shared her passion for meaningful, interdisciplinary work and for making an impact beyond the classroom. In retirement, Lesert is turning her focus to writing full time. She shared that the best way to describe her plans for writing in retirement can be found in her retirement bio, which can be found here:  Lesert writes about people and place in equal measure. Her first novel, Base Ten (Feminist Press, 2009), featured an astrophysicist’s quest for self among Lake Michigan’s forested dunes and the stars. Land Marks  (She Writes Press, April 2024)   grew from two years of boots-on-well-sites research on fracking in Michigan's state forests. Before novels, Maryann wrote plays, including three full-lengths, five one-acts, and collaborations with a memoirist and a local symphony. She lives in west Michigan, where she teaches writing, enjoys time in the natural world, and writes by the big lake. Additionally, her Michigan-based environmental activist novel Land Marks (2024) is a Foreword Indies Finalist for Book of the Year (Fiction). To celebrate, she is running a special donation campaign: for any purchases of Land Marks in April or May, she will be donating 100% of the proceeds to MI environmental organizations. I'm also posting on Facebook and Instagram a series called "100 Reasons," featuring 100 images of waterways, forests, and places in Michigan (as reminders of why we need to protect land, water, and air). Her author website,  maryannlesert.com , includes the details. Congratulations on work well done! Best wishes as you pursue your next chapter and we hope that you enjoy your retirement! 

  I came to GRCC as an adjunct in the English Department in the Fall of 1986, newly-minted Master’s Degree in hand.  The friends I made in the crowded adjunct office are still friends forty years later! It was during those first years that I knew GRCC was home: my colleagues shared assignments, guided me through the trials of first-year teaching, and gave me courage. The work was sustaining and meaningful. I served as an adjunct for sixteen years, and another twenty-five as a full-time professor.  Full-time work presented endless possibilities for learning, both professionally and personally.  I not only had the honor of teaching my students, but I also served as Department Head for five years. Opportunities to serve on the Negotiating Team, search committees, College and Department projects, conduct research projects, and represent my department’s voice in the College taught me leadership and humility. Outside of GRCC, I co-directed the Lake Michigan Writing Project for many years, teaching and learning each summer with cohorts of teachers of writing.  My commitment to improving my pedagogy and reaching every student deepened, and alongside that commitment came my dedication to sustaining my own writing.  The classroom and my students were always foremost in my daily work.  My most meaningful memories inevitably involve students who stay in touch long after graduation: a former Brit Lit student who emailed sixteen years later to report he’d become an Air Force pilot and read Chaucer to his children; a writing major who had me for her very first college class after being home-schooled and subsequently took three more classes from me; the student who reached out after marriage and starting her family to tell me she had become a teacher: we know we reach our students, but we don’t always know how long we stay with them, and it’s affirming to hear from students who tell me I made a difference in their lives. Teaching is the only profession where we are so honored. This is also the only profession that offers a break for learning and reflection, and GRCC granted me a sabbatical to complete my second graduate degree and thesis.  I earned my MFA in Creative non-Fiction at the age of 60, and it’s the single best thing I’ve ever done for myself – personally and professionally.  As a teacher, I was in the trenches with my students, writing and revising.  As a writer, I was experimenting and practicing my craft.  It is the highlight of my time at GRCC.  I will continue to participate in writing retreats with my colleagues – dear friends and fellow writers – which will sustain and feed and inspire me. In my retirement, I’ll also make dirt, garden, read, relax at the cottage, travel with my husband, and relish time and experiences with our growing grandchildren. The deep friendships that began in the English Department long ago have developed into regular gatherings to play Scrabble and Trivia; share meals and holidays; and enjoy the blessing of being present in one another’s everyday ordinary and extraordinary lives. GRCC gave me all that, and more.  I will miss this place and its people more than I can say, and am forever grateful for the transformative years I spent here among you. Davis will be retiring at the end of April 2025. Thank you, Susan, for all that you’ve done at GRCC and for the lasting  impact that you have made on your colleagues and students!                                                   

We’re excited to announce Dell's Spring Flash Sale – a special event with impressive savings on top-performing tech. Hurry, these limited-time deals are available from 4/21 through 5/5. Members can shop 24/7 at:  www.Dell.com/DellU/GRCC     Dell's Spring Flash Sale Exclusive Offers:  XPS 13 Laptop: Save $300 – Now $1,549.99 Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 processor, Windows 11 Home, 32GB memory*, 1TB* SSD On Sale 4/21 - 4/27 Inspiron 27 All-In-One: Save $400 – Now $1,199.99 Intel® Core™ 7 processor, Windows11 Home, 32GB memory*, 1TB* SSD, NVIDIA® GeForce® MX570A Dell 27 Monitor - S2725HS: Only $149.99 A 27” FHD monitor that optimizes eye comfort and features impressive visuals with outstanding acoustics in a lifestyle-inspired design Inspiron 16 Plus Laptop: Save $300 – Now $999.99 Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 processor, Windows 11 Home, 32GB memory*, 1TB* SSD Request your exclusive Member Purchase Program discount at:  www.Dell.com/DellU/GRCC  then shop online. Exclusions may apply.

Please join us for the Employee Appreciation Luncheon which is happening next week! Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025 Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.  Location: Raider Grill Come enjoy a delicious Mediterranean themed lunch, connect with your colleagues and let us show our appreciation for everything you do.  To RSVP, please confirm your attendance by Friday, April 18. You can do so by responding to the calendar invite, which was sent out by Amy Autsema Bennett. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Arika Davis at  arikadavis1@grcc.edu Looking forward to seeing you there!

This semester, GRCC students in American Cinema Genres (HU274) got a unique opportunity to experience film beyond the classroom, thanks to a department-wide field trip to the historic Wealthy Theatre in downtown Grand Rapids. Organized by adjunct faculty member Kaitlin Oster, the event offered students a special screening and guided tour of one of the city's cultural landmarks. "I wanted to give students a deeper, more immersive experience of cinema — not just as entertainment, but as a reflection of society, politics and history," said Oster. The visit was designed to align with the course’s broader mission: helping students understand how film connects to the world around them. By stepping into a piece of cinematic history, students gained perspective on the evolving role of film in American culture—while also engaging with Grand Rapids’ vibrant arts scene. As Oster sees it, the course has potential to branch into multiple disciplines at GRCC, from the arts to business. “My goal is to grow enrollment and participation by showing students how relevant and expansive film studies can be,” she said. Events like this also demonstrate GRCC’s ongoing commitment to fostering community connections and enriching learning through real-world experiences — especially in a city that celebrates the arts as deeply as Grand Rapids does.    

Chef Angus Campbell, originally from the Isle of Lewis in Scotland, was a true pioneer of the “farm to table” movement, long before it became a trend. Growing up, he hunted and fished for food, learning to cook by shadowing his mother in the kitchen. During his 25 years at GRCC, Chef Angus transformed the culinary program and expanded his students’ horizons. He used Skype to bring renowned chefs from around the world into his classroom, well before video calls became common. He also took students on culinary excursions to Spain, Portugal, Greece, Turkey and Great Britain, immersing them in the rich, culturally significant foods of each region. Chef Angus was a medal-winning chef who inspired his students to compete and develop their skills. He played a key role in bringing the Nation’s Cup International Culinary Competition to GRCC. His passion for the culinary arts was further evident in his best-selling book, award-winning television series and the high standards he set for his students. Retiring in 2016, Chef Angus’s influence continues to be felt. His dedication, creativity and passion for food left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of learning from him.  

April is Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month and that means it is time for Nancy Forrest Math Awareness Contest! This year’s contest is about The Eccentric Queen . The contest is open to any GRCC student or staff member. One student and one staff member will be randomly drawn from all the correct entries to receive a prize. Return the form along with your solution to Meghan VanderMale at meghanvandermale@grcc.edu via your GRCC email address or in person to the Mathematics Tutorial Center (Cook 100) by Monday, April 21. Google Drive link: 2025 Nancy Forrest Math Awareness Contest   

  We have added some new training days to the calendar for volunteer training. If you're interested in helping out, and want to earn some professional development hours for volunteering, please check out our  Food Pantry Volunteer Training  form to select a date. All training sessions are in-person. Training includes a tour of the pantry as well as a review of general guidelines and food safety practices. Once trained, you can sign up help unload or help clean and restock! If you have any questions, please email Ocrea Collier at  ocreacollier@grcc.edu .  

Juan Cisneros Fonseca, office manager for High School Partnerships, was nominated by Cheryl Garner for April’s Academic and Student Affairs Council’s Above & Beyond Award. Cheryl wrote, “Juan is an exceptional coworker and asset to GRCC, embodying true team spirit and a student-centered perspective. He has consistently and diligently worked to identify and improve processes within the Department of High School Partnerships. Most recently, during the three-month period when the department did not have a full-time director, he took on substantial additional daily work to ensure the staffing transition did not adversely impact students. From initial application to matriculation to orientation to registration to enrollment to grade reporting to taking walk-ins and calls, Juan has proven he is not afraid to go outside of his comfort zone to do what is necessary to maintain program integrity. He represents all of the best things we do at GRCC with kindness, professionalism and patience.” David Lovell described Juan as “a great example of what makes GRCC such a special place to work. He is dedicated and constantly strives to improve systems for our students and his colleagues. He makes things “go” that most people don’t know about, and he’s been doing it for years. GRCC is lucky to have him, and I consider myself lucky to have worked by his side. I’m especially grateful for his help and guidance leading up to the winter semester as we worked together to hire our new Director. I leaned heavily on his expertise, and he stepped up in a big way. We simply couldn’t have done it without him.” Congratulations Juan!

There will be an open forum in the ATC Auditorium (168) from 9:05 - 9:55 a.m. with time for Q & A. Those joining virtually will also have the ability to ask questions as well.  Join at Candidate Forum: VP of Finance & Administration 4-16-25 . For those who can’t attend in-person or virtually, a recording will be made available at the same link after the event.  Feedback can be provided on the Vice President of Finance & Administration  Forum Feedback  form that will be shared with the screening committee. Find out more about Globoker in his bio: John Globoker.