April 14, 2022, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Always remember, at GRCC, you are surrounded by people who want you to be successful and are ready to walk with you on your educational pathway. We are here to help!
Meet Julia Moore. Julia connects with students in two different ways at GRCC. She is an adjunct instructor of Mathematics and a navigator for GEAR UP Wyoming.
In her navigator position, Julia is a math mentor, coach and tutor to 10th grade students attending Wyoming, Godfrey-Lee, Godwin Heights, and Kelloggsville school districts. As part of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, she assists them in class and after school.
"It's my goal to help my students learn how to become successful in their math studies, and to hopefully learn enough math now so they won't have to retake any math courses when they get to college," she said.
Julia introduces students to different career options and college pathways through job site visits, college campus visits, and summer learning academies. She also teaches students positive mental health habits.
"It's my goal to help students learn how to have a growth mindset when it comes to their educational endeavors - to recognize patterns of negative self-talk and begin to replace them with better patterns of positive affirmations," she said.
Preparing students to overcome personal and academic challenges is important to Julia because she knows barriers can get in the way of college.
“I'm a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and I was once myself a GRCC student," Julia said. "I finished college while being a single mother and working multiple part-time jobs. My experiences during this time have helped me to understand the barriers that a student can have to completing their educational goals, and how to surpass those barriers utilizing available college resources."
Julia's commitment to making higher education accessible to students is evidenced in her excelling at two jobs at GRCC. But what really gets her excited about working here is seeing the "ah-ha" moment happen for her students.
"That moment when a student has a concept click for them, it's absolutely enthralling," Julia said.
Julia attended GRCC because it was affordable and she knew she'd be able to transfer her two-year degree to a four-year college or university. After graduation, she found an opportunity at GRCC to give back to her community.
Julia earned her associate degree in science from GRCC and then her bachelor's degree in science at Aquinas College.
"When I graduated from GRCC, I was offered a professional tutoring position in the mathematics lab," she said. "When I graduated from Aquinas, I was offered an adjunct instructor assignment. After working at GRCC for 17 years, I started working with the academic outreach department as well. As a Navigator, I get to intercede on the student's behalf to help them gain access to resources that will help them perform better in school and plan for their futures. This is incredibly fulfilling to me as a human being!"