June 16, 2023, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Tom Mulder spends his days teaching students English at Grand Rapids Community College. The classroom conversations and assignments often allow him to learn just as much as he teaches.
Mulder encourages his students to always give their all in the classroom and creates a space where students can collaborate and look out for one another.
“The camaraderie of colleagues and the openness and determination of students are what I most enjoy about teaching for GRCC,” Mulder said.
His English and writing classes often incorporate themes from Grand Rapids. This could be a writing assignment focused on a current event in Grand Rapids, or an activity focused on exploring the community.
Throughout his nearly 15 years of teaching Mulder has enjoyed many chance encounters with colleagues and former students. It is inspiring to hear their success stories and the impact that GRCC had in their journeys.
“GRCC’s community is filled with remarkable graciousness and generosity,” said Mulder.
When he is not teaching Mulder can be found writing his own works. He has authored two books that are being released this summer: Grand Rapids Walking Tours Kids Can Lead, Scribe Publishing; and Writing the Pandemic, Equinox Publishing.
Grand Rapids Walking Tours Kids Can Lead is an interactive guidebook to exploring Grand Rapids. The book is easy for kids to read and encourages them to take control of leading the exploration. Mulder was recently interviewed on Fox 17 Morning Mix to discuss the book. Watch the conversation here.
Writing the Pandemic gives an inside look into what education looked like during the pandemic. The book discusses the “new era” of education and its impacts on both students and instructors. Much of the information in this book came from students in Mulder’s classes during the height of the pandemic.
More information about the English department can be found here.