Grand Valley announces Woodrow Wilson Fellows

A cancer research technician, a DNR employee, a claims adjuster and a doctor of computational chemistry describe just a few of the 2012 Woodrow Wilson Fellows coming to Grand Valley State University.

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and Gov. Rick Snyder announced the teaching fellows at a news conference June 13 at the Michigan State Capitol. A total of 74 fellows were announced for the 2012 statewide cohort; 10 fellows will attend Grand Valley.

Each fellow will receive a $30,000 stipend to complete an intensive master’s degree program at Grand Valley, and they must commit to teaching for three years in designated state schools. An innovative master’s level teacher preparation program developed at Grand Valley is linked with intensive classroom experience in the candidate’s field of expertise.

The Kellogg Foundation launched the Michigan fellowships in 2009, with $18 million in support, to recruit teachers — both recent college graduates and career changers — with strong backgrounds in math and science fields and to place them in hard-to-staff middle and high schools across the state. Grand Valley has partnered with Grand Rapids Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Muskegon Public Schools.

The 2012 W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Woodrow Wilson Michigan Teaching Fellows attending Grand Valley are:

• Erin Berner, from East Grand Rapids
Grand Valley State University ‘05, biological sciences
A biology research assistant, algebra tutor, former business development representative and claims adjuster

• Mark Cistaro, from Midlothian, Illinois
Grand Valley State University ‘12, biology and history
A laboratory supervisor, quality controller for food and pharmaceutical plants

• Ryan Lueker, from North Muskegon
Alma College ‘03, business administration and biology
A research technician in limnology and ecosystems
 
• Camden Parks, from Lowell
Michigan State University ‘86, chemistry; ‘91, Ph.D; ‘05, M.S. software engineering
A computer program writer/software developer

• Douglas Peterson, from Ravenna
Grand Valley State University ‘11, cell & molecular biology and biomedical sciences
A laboratory researcher/trainer

• Jonathan Reinhard, from Grand Rapids
Grand Valley State University ‘09, physics
A high school math/science tutor

• Angela Rhoades, from San Anselmo, California
St. Mary’s College (CA) ‘03, biology; ‘09 M.S. biology
A research technician, cancer research/genetics labs

• Candace VanderVeen, from Grand Rapids
Lynn University ‘08, biology
A patient financial services specialist
 
• Alia Weller, from Grand Haven
Grand Valley State University ‘09, biology
A teaching assistant, experience with special education students
 
• Rachael Wilber, from Calumet
Northern Michigan University ‘10, biology-ecology
An AmeriCorps member at Big Brothers Big Sisters, running a school-based mentoring program that matches volunteer high school mentors with elementary students

For more information, contact Caryn King, Grand Valley State University College of Education, (616) 331-6515.