Education for a Life of Purpose featuring Roosevelt Montás (Approved INT100/201)
Thursday, September 25, 2025
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Allendale Campus
Faculty, Staff, Students
Dr. Roosevelt Montás’s life is a powerful example of what education can make possible. Born in a rural village in the Dominican Republic and arriving in the U.S. as a young, Spanish-speaking immigrant, he came from a background that many might have written off. He had to navigate unfamiliar systems, overcome barriers, and find his place in spaces that weren’t built with him in mind.
What changed everything? A college course in Western classics. That experience helped him wrestle with life’s biggest questions: Who am I? What do I stand for? How do I make sense of the world and my place in it?
Dr. Montás went on to earn a PhD in English and Comparative Literature, become a professor of Western Civilization, and launch a program for low-income high school students in New York City. His mission: to make the liberal arts accessible to everyone.
Join Dr. Montás as he visits Grand Valley State University to share his story and speak to the power of a liberal arts education not just as a path to career readiness, but as a way to explore identity, ethics, and meaning. He reminds us that learning is about discovering who you are and how you want to live, and doing so requires careful reflection as we balance our beliefs and experiences with the wisdom to be found across cultures and disciplines.
Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Attendees are welcome to arrive any time after 11:00 to find a seat, relax, or converse before the event begins. Attendees will be seated at tables and are welcome to bring a lunch to enjoy during the program in addition to the provided snacks.
This event is being offered by the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies in partnership with the Department of Inclusion and Equity, the Frederik Meijer Honors College, and supported by a generous grant from the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity’s King-Chávez-Parks Visiting Professors Initiative.
Location Information
Grand River Room – Kirkhof Center
Download parking map for the Allendale Campus
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This event was added to the calendar by Kahler Sweeney (sweenkah@gvsu.edu) on Thursday, August 28, 2025 and was last updated on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 4:47 p.m.
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