Message from Dean Wendy Wenner

As Dean of the College, I welcome you to Grand Valley State University's College of Interdisciplinary Studies. As you explore our website, you will see a wide variety of academic interdisciplinary programs and university and community initiatives. 

You will find opportunities to minor in Latin American Studies or Environmental Studies, join a project as part of the Sustainability Initiative, study abroad in Ghana or China, join a discussion group for the Community Reading, or present your work as part of Student Scholarship Day. If you are faculty or staff we invite you to come teach with us, travel to one of our international partner institutions or take advantage of support for improving your teaching or scholarship. Community members will find opportunities to attend lectures and international films, continue their education, teach with us, or get help with sustainability questions.             

Our college mission is to support innovative, transformative, interdisciplinary teaching and learning at Grand Valley and in the community. We offer high quality programs, small class sizes, writing and teaching support services, and opportunities to explore ideas from a variety of viewpoints and perspectives We serve our local and regional community by raising important interdisciplinary questions, encouraging applied scholarship and service learning in the community, and challenging our students to explore new ways of thinking about old problems.  

This year, as we celebrate our sixth anniversary as a college, I invite you come visit us in our LEED certified “green” building, Lake Ontario Hall. Talk with our faculty and staff, take courses, teach with us, and think about joining our interdisciplinary conversations about ways we can work together to make our world a better place. We welcome you and look forward to meeting and working with you.

Wendy J. Wenner
Dean