Meet Our Faculty

English instructor Ben Stancil, M.A.

Ben Stancil, M.A., is a full-time English instructor and dual enrollment coordinator at Montcalm Community College, where he teaches English courses, Psychology 120 and the occasional Film Studies class.  

Ben joined MCC in 2019 after a 13-year high school teaching career. He attended Hope College and Aquinas College for his undergraduate work, and CMU and Lindenwood University for his graduate work. 

As a lifelong learner, he is passionate about reading and writing, and how they contribute to the advancement of intellect and character.  He’s a firm believer that an intelligent society is something we can and should strive for.  

Ben is currently working on earning his Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Humanities through Faulkner University.

“These classes have me reading Plato, Aristotle, Kierkegaard, Kant, Descartes and others. I’m excited to bring this learning into the classroom and think the study of philosophy will be so important for our students in the coming years,” he said.

As MCC’s dual enrollment coordinator, Ben has been instrumental in growing enrollment over the past eight years.

“I really enjoy being an ambassador for our college and enjoy building friendships and partnerships with K-12 teachers, principals and counselors. I see such value in K-12 students finding success in college courses early,” he said.

Outside of class, he’s a father and husband and can be found tending his backyard garden, strumming a guitar, and chasing after his two teenage daughters, Piper and Lucy, who are both dual-enrolled students at MCC.  He and his wife, Jasmine, met in 1999. They have rescued two large and lazy huskies who roam their yard and terrify Amazon delivery drivers.

Andrea Martin, M.A., who grew up in Pierson and graduated from Tri-County High School in 2007, began her connection with Montcalm Community College as a dual-enrolled student.

Upon earning her associate degree from MCC, Martin transferred to Central Michigan University (CMU) where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology with minors in Museum Studies and History, as well as a master’s degree in Cultural Resource Management with a focus on museum studies, and she cross-trained in archeology public history.

During her time at CMU, Martin worked at the university’s museum, specializing in collections management. This entailed carrying, handling, and researching artifacts and museum collections. She also interned at the campus’s Clarke Historical Library and the Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was there where Martin had the task of processing the extensive historical wallpaper collection of 500 pieces from the 1700s to about the 1950s, which she describes as a fascinating experience.

Realizing there was not much in the area in relation to working with museums, Martin started working for MCC in 2019 and fell in love with teaching.

Primarily focusing on courses related to History, Anthropology, and the American Political System, Martin is assisting with bringing back a stronger presence of history and culture to the campus.

Martin is also serving as an advisor for the History and Culture Club to introduce students to all the different jobs that exist in these fields. She said she hears from many students about their love for history, but many believe that teaching would be their only option.

Just as determined as she is to bring history and culture to the campus for the students, her teaching philosophy in the classroom is just as hands-on.

“My classrooms are places of active learning. I want my students to be just as responsible for creating the knowledge in the class as I am,” Martin said. “I feel the more engaging the lesson is, the better my students are going to be able to connect to it.” 

English Instructor, Devan Bridget, M.Ed.

Devan Bridget, M.Ed., joined MCC’s English faculty in August after serving for 11 years as a high school English, Speech and Theater teacher at Tawas Area Schools.

“I knew I was in the right place at the right time in my life,” she said.

Devan is teaching Freshman English, Creative Writing, and Exploring Education: Teaching as a Profession this fall at MCC.

“Literacy has always been a passion of mine, and I am enjoying helping students navigate the world of education as a possible career pathway,” she said.

“I have a foundation of strong women in my family who modeled valuing education and pursuing a career path that would be meaningful to me,” she said.

Devan is a graduate of Midland High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Central Michigan University and a Master of Education in Literacy Studies with a secondary reading endorsement from Grand Valley State University.

She grew up in the mid-Michigan area and said she always felt at home because many of her family members live in surrounding areas of this community.

Devan appreciates supporting students as they navigate their education.

“Each person’s educational journey is exciting, and I find it extremely rewarding to get to play a role in that exploration,” she said. “Students should get opportunities to be interested and invested in their educational experiences.

“When students get to have choices in the classroom, they get to be the driver of their own road trip. Instructors get to help set the itinerary, suggest some pit stops along the way, and help navigate if a student needs assistance, but the students are the ones ultimately behind the wheel,” Devan said.

“They are my driving force to keep making progress, and I continue to learn and grow from them every day,” she added.

In her spare time, Devan enjoys baking and said she is pretty well known for her lemon bars. She also enjoys attending plays and musicals.

“I am really looking forward to finally seeing a movie adaptation of my favorite musical, Wicked,” she said. “Speaking of music, I am a proud Swiftie and my life was forever changed at The Eras Tour. Other topics I could talk about for days include books and my cats.”

English Instructor, Erin Busch-Grabmeyer, M.A.

Erin Busch-Grabmeyer, M.A., joined Montcalm Community College’s English faculty in August after serving for 22 years as a high school English teacher at St. Louis Public Schools. Her parents are retired from public education and her sister is a teacher, too.

“I love people,” Busch-Grabmeyer said. “I enjoy working with students. What we do here is preparing them for their next level. It’s our responsibility to help students learn how to navigate this world and arm them with the skills they need to be successful.

“My most rewarding moments are when something has clicked with a student who has worked hard to reap the benefits of what we offer,” she said.

Busch-Grabmeyer is a graduate of Alma High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Central Michigan University, where she is continuing graduate work in English, as well as a master’s degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College.

Busch-Grabmeyer said her passion for teaching at the college level began while working as an adjunct faculty member in English and speech at Northwood University.

“Teaching in the university setting was a different level of education and brought with it different challenges and rewards,” she said. “I enjoyed teaching high school. The college level gave me an opportunity for growth in my career.

“Teaching college courses is different from high school,” she said. “Often, we really have to work to build relationships with our students. Many are at a different phase in life where they are working in their education around other things such as jobs and family commitments.”

Busch-Grabmeyer said she has received a warm welcome at MCC. This fall, she is teaching four sections of Freshman English both on MCC’s Sidney campus, where she also has an office and holds regular office hours for her students, and through dual enrollment at St. Louis and Central Montcalm high schools.

“My dad attended MCC in the 1970s, so I was a bit familiar with the college. Since my arrival, everyone has been friendly and welcoming,” she said. “There is a lot of support.”

Busch-Grabmeyer lives in Alma with her 15-year-old son. She enjoys the college setting and the schedule, which allows her to spend time with her family and friends. She is an avid reader, enjoys shopping and appreciates occasional opportunities for quiet time.

“I just love life,” she said.

Greta Skogseth, M.A., has been a Language Arts Instructor at Montcalm Community College (MCC) for more than 23 years and feels that MCC is truly home.

Greta graduated from CMU with a Bachelor of Science in English and a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature. She was a graduate assistant and adjunct faculty member at CMU, in addition to Delta Community College and Saginaw Valley State University. In 2001, Greta returned to Michigan after leaving a tenured position at Lincoln Trail College in Illinois.

As a single mom, Greta beams with pride when asked about her two daughters, Emma and Alison. Both girls are graduates of Greenville High School and Montcalm Community College. Emma is doctoral candidate in Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State University, whereas Alison is entering her Master of Social Work program at the University of Michigan.

Greta is also dedicated to her fur babies – two pugs, Tulip and Sherman; two goldendoodles, Bert and Pearl; and her goldendoodle grand dog, Margo. Greta enjoys sharing their birthday and Halloween photo sessions.

In Greta’s free time, she is an avid reader and advocate of children’s and young adult literature. She challenges her students to protect their freedom to read and to be active learners throughout life: “My grandpa, ‘Pop,’ first graduated from CMU as a teacher and then decided to attend the University of Detroit to become a dentist. He demonstrated to me that education is a lifelong process, and it’s a gift that nobody can take away from you.”

Currently, Greta serves as the chair of MCC’s English department, teaches Freshman Composition I and II, Children’s Literature, Youth Literature, British Literature, and is a coordinator for MCC’s Success Express program.

“Come visit me in Doser 335. I look forward to sharing the college experience with you,” she says.

Heather Wesp, M.S., began her career at MCC in 2003 as a full-time biology instructor and has stayed in the position ever since. 

She teaches a variety of biology courses including Biological Science, Anatomy and Physiology, College Biology II and Nature Study. She’s excited to start teaching Environmental Science during the Fall 2022 semester.  

Heather grew up in Michigan and enjoyed summer vacations at campgrounds all over the state. She attributes her love of science to those nature-filled family trips. 

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Hope College in Holland, Mich., where she majored in biology and doubled minored in chemistry and German. She then completed a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Ariz., where she focused on animal behavior and morphology. Her college experiences helped her decide that teaching was the perfect way to combine interests in science and the desire to help others.  

When Heather isn’t at work, she loves to spend time with her dogs, Callie and Lulu, and do just about any outdoor activity including hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, etc. She also very much enjoys traveling and exploring the world – from the amazing beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to the grand national parks here in the U.S. to the thrilling novelty of places like Australia and New Zealand. Heather also volunteers with the Montcalm County Animal Shelter and has been a big sister (through Big Brothers Big Sisters) for more than 10 years. 

Tore Skogseth, M.A. is a Student Success Counselor at Montcalm Community College. 

Hailing from the foothills of the Norwegian mountains, this thunderous bearded Norwegian left the fjords of Norway for the cornfields of Michigan (following a brief interlude between soybean fields and refineries in Southern Illinois). When he packed his suitcase for his big move, it was filled with CDs, with just a few clothes used as padding... In a life filled with detours, he finally found his destination here at Montcalm Community College, where he started as a Student Services Assistant in 2001 and returned as a counselor in 2010. In between these stints at MCC, he also spent time at Alma College and GRCC, but it is here, in the middle of nowhere, MI, he now feels at home. 
 
In an educational career marked by false starts, he still considers his greatest accomplishment to be his Associate in Arts, which he earned at Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, IL, in 2001. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Family Life Education in 2004 and his Master of Arts in Counseling in 2007 from Spring Arbor University. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Michigan and has worked as a counselor at MCC since 2010.  
 
His love for music is one of his major driving forces. He has an eclectic taste – his music collection keeps growing – but if you ask him, there never was (and never will be) a band greater than The Beatles. He does feel a similar reverence to Motorpsycho, his hometown heroes from Trondheim, Norway, who combine the power of hard rock with the improvisational nature of jazz creating new uncharted territories, yet relying more on psychedelia and old school heavy metal than the traditional jam bands. His top five list of bands and artists are rounded out by David Bowie, Rush, and Opeth, with King Crimson and Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree bubbling right underneath the surface (ask him tomorrow, and he may have a very different answer). 
 
When the urges overcome him, he can be found noodling on one of his guitars or his keyboard – or exploring one of his music authoring apps on his iPad. His favorite meditative state is going full-on zen with a LEGO set, completely tuning everything else out to focus on the bricks in front of him. He also makes a point to solve the New York Times daily crossword puzzle every day. 
 
He also loves reading and movies, and if he feels extra social, you might find him playing card and board games. He is also starting to own up to being an avid TTRPGer in the past. While he hasn’t picked that back up yet, you should never say never – if you feel adventurous, ask him if he still can hear the Call of Cthulhu … 

Business Instructor, Bill Bishop, M.B.A.

Bill Bishop, M.B.A., came to Montcalm Community College as an adjunct instructor in 2004 and joined the faculty full-time as a Business Instructor in 2013.

Bill truly loves being part of this institution. He especially enjoys staying connected with former students, hearing about their successes, and witnessing personal growth and development in rewarding careers cultivated during their studies at MCC. His areas of instruction include Accounting, Taxation, Business and Management. Bill serves as the Department Chair of MCC’s Accounting, Business, and Criminal Justice Studies, and is the co-advisor of the college’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) Club.

Having lived in West Michigan his entire life, he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - majoring in Accounting and Business Administration - from Aquinas College and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Ferris State University. Prior to joining MCC, Bill worked for more than 25 years with a variety of companies in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio as a consultant, controller and Chief Financial Officer.

Bill and his wife have three sons, six grandsons and four granddaughters. Activities he enjoys include hunting, gardening, reading and playing bass guitar. However, those activities pale to his favorite joy of fishing, and it does not matter the location. He is equally at home on the many small local lakes, wading a trout stream, or making an off-shore run to Lake Michigan or Saginaw Bay for the best that Michigan has to offer.

Career Advisor Amy Zdanowski, M.A.

Amy Zdanowski, M.A., joined Montcalm Community College in 2018 as the college’s Career Advisor. Driven by a genuine desire to make a difference, Amy finds immense joy in helping individuals define their interests, explore opportunities, and ultimately pursue their dreams.

Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saginaw Valley State University propelled Amy into her first professional job working with youth. Building upon this foundation, she pursued a Master of Arts in Professional and School Counseling from Central Michigan University. In turn, Amy brings 21 years of school counseling experience to her role as MCC’s Career Advisor.

Amy’s dedication to her profession extends beyond her daily responsibilities, as she actively contributes to the field through her involvement in professional organizations. Serving on the board of the Michigan Career Development Association and the National Career Development Association’s Global Connections Committee, Amy remains at the forefront of career advising trends and innovations.

In addition to her role at MCC, Amy is a newly published author of a book designed to help parents kick-start their teen’s career exploration journey, further solidifying her dedication to enhancing career development resources and strategies.

Amy’s enthusiasm, coupled with her wealth of experience and expertise, makes her an asset to MCC’s community and beyond.

Arts and Humanities Department Chair and Instructor, Seth Thomas Sutton, M.A.

Seth Thomas Sutton, M.A., is an Arts and Humanities instructor at Montcalm Community College where he also serves as chair of the college’s Arts & Humanities Department. He is an Emmy nominated Métis artist, scholar, author and activist.  

Active in his pursuit of social and cultural justice as an educator and activist, Seth writes and lectures on various topics, including, cultural criticism, critical theory, post-colonial political landscapes, Tribal sovereignty, traditional Indigenous art and culture, Western art and culture, anthropology, contemporary social issues, sustainable agriculture, and more.  

He has had several articles published in scholarly journals and is the author of "A Deconstruction of Chief Blackhawk: A Critical Analysis of Mascots & the Visual Rhetoric of the Indian, published in 2021. He is currently finishing work on his second publication, "Indians for Sale! Cigar Shop Indians & The Commody of Indigenous Culture," and "The Sacred Fire of the Odawa," both set to be released in early 2025. 

He is also the Sugar Captain of the Sugar Bush on MCC’s Sidney campus. 

Chemistry Instructor, Sarah Rittersdorf, M.A.

Sara Rittersdorf, M.A., is a full-time Chemistry Instructor at Montcalm Community College. She first came to the college as a dual-enrolled high school student and found her way back here several times for part-time jobs throughout her college years.

After graduating from high school, she received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, a Minor in Math and a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate from Michigan Technological University. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Science Education from Western Michigan University and a Master of Science in Applied Statistics from Michigan Technological University.

Before joining MCC full-time in August 2021, she spent 11 years working in the K-12 school systems primarily as a math teacher, but she also taught chemistry. During her first two years as an educator, she worked in Arizona. She especially loved this time in her life because she was a quick drive to Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon and could visit on a whim.

Sara has been married to her husband, Ryan, since 2011. They have four children together: Addison, Miles, Elliot and Amelia. They also have a house full of pets including three dogs, one bunny and two cats. She loves to spend time with her family touching base about their day, watching “Lego Masters,” doing puzzles, or playing “Ticket to Ride” with them.

When asked who she admires most, Sara said her parents. She said they have always worked hard for what they have and live a simple life keeping their focus on family.

Nursing Instructor, Nicole Kalinowski, RN

“I want to foster an environment where the students trust me to guide them in their knowledge and skill development in becoming successful maternity and pediatric nurses,” shared Nicole Kalinowski, RN who joined Montcalm Community College in August as a full-time Nursing and Allied Health instructor.

With 14 years of RN experience, Kalinowski holds the knowledge and hands-on expertise to successfully guide students in the field of nursing. She knows firsthand the challenges of being a nursing student in a rigorous program, stating that it took discipline, determination and dedication to make it through.

A graduate of Rockford Public Schools, Kalinowski earned her Associate of Science degree from Grand Rapids Community College, and both her Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Nursing degrees from Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Finally, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University with an advanced practice degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist with an education emphasis.

Fortunate that she chose this path of nursing, Kalinowski has been able to work in various roles in the field, including serving as a bedside RN for adults and pediatrics, working in emergency medicine, and working as a nursing supervisor, an advanced practice RN and clinical nurse specialist, and now a nursing instructor.

Besides teaching at MCC, Kalinowski has taught at Grand Rapids Community College, leading nursing students in clinicals. She knew, even growing up, that she always wanted to be a teacher, but instruction has also had its challenges.

“As an instructor, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to make sure your students are going to be successful and safe nurses,” Kalinowski said. “You want your students to learn and do well, but you can only bring them so far, and then the rest is up to them.”

An active mother residing in Cedar Springs, Kalinowski has worked for Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health) for more than 20 years, having served in leadership and currently serving as a clinical nurse specialist in a pediatric emergency department. As a college student, Kalinowski had the realization that the best nurses were the ones who were the best teachers for their patients.

Even with the challenges that come with working in various roles in the field of health care and nursing, Kalinowski said it has all been worth it because nursing is a rewarding career.

“You are always learning, you are challenged daily, and you literally make a significant impact on the lives of the patients you care for and the community you serve. You’ll never feel a greater sense of appreciation than you do as a nurse.”

Biology Instructor Michelle Gibson, Ph.D.

Michelle Gibson, Ph.D., is a full-time Biology Instructor at Montcalm Community College since 1999. Michelle thoroughly enjoys her position. “I like to make science fun and understandable,” she says. A pet peeve of hers, however, is when a student asks if she’s going to talk about “anything important” during an upcoming lecture. Michelle asserts that nothing unimportant would be worth lecturing about.Michelle graduated from Northern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in microbiology with minors in chemistry and physics. She went on to receive a Master of Science then a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, both in Animal Science.Michelle grew up on a farm with her three brothers, her sister, and her parents. She remains close with her family and spends much of her free time with them. The people Michelle admires most in the world are her parents, remembering how hard they worked for the sake of her and her siblings.Next to her family, Michelle spends time with her livestock and pets, claiming to have owned just about everything except a horse. She also enjoys gardening, reading, completing puzzles and riding her bike. A few of Michelle’s favorites are the Christmas movie “Love Actually”, ice cream, and the song “When You Say Nothing At All” by Ronan Keating. A bucket list item for her is to shake the hand of a president. Her life motto is, “be kind.”Michelle shares some facts about herself:

• I have a Korean sister and a Vietnamese brother.   
• I can dress out chickens, dissect anything including cadavers and shovel any kind of manure out there, but can't kill an animal.   
• I believe that Mother Nature will always, always win.   
• I can't sing, but I really wish I could.  

Early College Math Instructor, Tricia Yonker

Tricia Yonker, B.A., is an Early College math instructor at Montcalm Community College.

She found out about the Early College Algebra 2 position while attending a professional development course at the Ionia County Intermediate School District with Dean Gage, who teaches economics, government and political science in the Early College program. When she started at MCC in August 2014, she taught both sections of Algebra 2 and both sections of science. She now teaches both sections of Algebra 2 and fulfills some administrative duties.

The skills she brings to her job are attention to detail and organization, anticipation of student needs and gaps in learning.

Yonker continued her higher education at Cornerstone University, Rochester College, Madonna University and Calvin College. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cornerstone University in May 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics and minor in General Science.

Her teaching career started at Barry County Christian School in Hastings, in August, 2004, where she taught all of the secondary sciences and Algebra 1 through pre-calculus until May 2011. Yonker continued to serve as a substitute teacher from August 2011 through May 2014.

She has been married for 23 years and has three children, Zach, Tori and Titus. Zach attended MCC’s Early College program and now attends GVSU. Tori and Titus attend Saranac Community Schools.

Yonker enjoys spending time with her family and attending her children’s sporting events. She also loves to garden and spend time outside.

The person she admires most is her mom.

“Even with all the physical difficulties that came with being a paraplegic, she was often full of joy,” Yonker said.

One day she would love to visit the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.

Here are some of fun facts about Tricia:

• She was seven when her mom became a paraplegic.
• She graduated fourth in her class and valedictorian from Saranac High School.
• She attended five schools in the process of earning her bachelor’s degree.
• She chose some unusual classes for her General Science minor: ornithology, geology, environmental science, and astronomy.
• Her favorite place to visit in the state of Michigan is Mackinac Island.

Andrew Nielsen

Andrew Nielsen, B.A. is an advanced manufacturing and welding technologies instructor at Montcalm Community College.

“I am a huge believer in see one, do one, and teach one,” Nielsen said. “I like to teach the theory of what we are going to accomplish in the lab, head to the lab, show the students how to accomplish the task and then let them try it, let them fail, but fail forward. I believe you learn more from failure than success.”

He graduated from Belding High School in 2003. After graduation, he attended Olivet College where he played football and baseball and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Management in 2008. After that, he spent five years in the North Dakota oil fields. He decided he wanted to return home and study metal fabrication.

Through an apprenticeship with Greenville Tool and Die, he started his journeyman certification courses at MCC in 2017. Nielsen earned an Apprenticeship Training Certificate in welding from MCC in 2020, with high honors, and now teaches welding, machining and automation classes on MCC’s Greenville campus. He is also an AWS Certified Welding Inspector.

“I really enjoy the ‘a ha’ moments that you see in students as they are practicing through the modules, and suddenly, something clicks, and they are creating desired results,” Nielsen said.

Aside from his work at MCC and the North Dakota oil fields, he also worked in grounds maintenance at Candlestone Inn & Golf in Belding and at the Double R Ranch in Smyrna doing horse trail guides, campground maintenance, canoe running and golf course maintenance.

He and his wife, Bridget, have been married for almost seven years and reside in Rockford. They have two sons, Lincoln and Roman. He likes to travel around Michigan and the United States, mostly hiking trails through mountain ranges. He can’t wait until his children are old enough to ride motorcycles and ATVs around Michigan’s awesome trails.

Jason Becker and Jody Collier are two people he admires. Both gentlemen have worked hard in their trade and are now valuable resources of information on YouTube and podcasts. They are both lifelong learners and give back to the welding community by freely sharing their knowledge.

If he hadn’t gone into teaching, Nielsen said he was close to becoming a heavy machine operator. He said it would be awesome to drive bulldozers, front end loaders and cranes.

Nielsen feels that his work ethic and integrity are the best skills he brings to his job.

“I show up, do what I say I’m going to do, (or at least give it my best shot) and try to learn something from the task,” he said.

Visiting Alaska and driving a monster truck are two things on his bucket list, and he said doing both at the same time would be ideal.

His personal motto is “Stuff happens. Deal with it and try to find the best way to overcome it.”

Here are some other fun facts about Nielsen:

• He holds a couple of top five individual rushing records at Olivet College.
• He is left-handed.
• Minus 56 degrees Fahrenheit is the coldest weather he has been in.
• He used to lead horse trail guides at Double R Ranch.
• The most hours he has worked in a week is 140.

Debbie Dawson-Gunther, P.E., M.S.

Debbie Dawson-Gunther, P.E., M.S. MCC Automation & Industrial Technology Instructor maintains high standards for her students.

Debbie Dawson-Gunther, P.E., M.S., enjoys “watching the light bulb go on” when her students understand a new concept.

Dawson-Gunther joined Montcalm Community College’s full-time faculty as its Automation & Industrial Technology Instructor in January 2019, after teaching as a part-time instructor at the college. Since then, she has revised automation curriculum while teaching automation classes and works in the skilled trades open lab on MCC’s Greenville campus. She also continues to revise technical programs to provide students with opportunities to earn industry credentials including Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA), American Welding Society (AWS), and National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS).

“An educator is responsible for creating an environment that is conducive to learning – a place where students are able to turn ideas, theories and concepts into practical skills,” Dawson-Gunther said. “In the technical arena, this environment must also provide students with foundational knowledge and the desire for lifelong learning in order to meet the changing needs in industry.”

With nearly 30 years of industry and teaching experience, Dawson-Gunther said she has had the unique opportunity to contribute to the shaping of society and the future.

“As a professional engineer, I place an emphasis on my own professional development allowing me to enhance curriculum and provide service with the most relevant industry knowledge possible,” she said. “As an educator, I have developed and delivered relevant programs to meet both student and industry needs.

“I maintain high standards for my students,” she said. “It is important that I help them learn how to learn, how to effectively solve problems and how to judge the long-range impact of their solutions and recommendations on society.

“I challenge them in ways that will benefit them and provide a sense of accomplishment,” she added.

Nursing & Health Careers Instructor Syreeta Drake M.S.N.

Syreeta Drake M.S.N., is a full-time nursing & health careers instructors at Montcalm Community College. 

“Culminating the art of care and compassion thru the synergy of mind, body, and spirit” is Syreeta Drake’s nursing philosophy. Becoming newly tenured in January as a full-time nursing instructor at Montcalm Community College, Drake added that, “Skills can be taught, but caring and compassion, not so much.” 

This is why Drake’s focus as an instructor is making sure her students can put into practice and apply what they learn, giving them a certain foundational knowledge to succeed. 

Beginning as an adjunct instructor in 2019, and then becoming a part of the full-time Nursing Faculty later that year, Drake said that she “took the scenic route” when referencing her own educational journey. 

Drake said she always wanted to teach, but it was after caring for her late mother through a traumatic experience and witnessing other nurses in action that she decided to pursue an education in nursing.  

She enrolled in and completed the LPN program at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), and after six years working as an LPN, she returned to school to complete her Associate of Nursing degree. While continuing to work, she went on to complete an online Bachelor of Nursing degree at Western Governors University, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing Education. 

It was at this point that Drake realized the significance and impact that nurses have in teaching, which became her focus.  

“Particularly in something like nursing, you can give people the benefit of all your wisdom, if they’re willing to listen and they’re not too hung up on who the information is coming from,” she said. “You can really impact lives.” 

Drake said she appreciates the culture at MCC where she has close relationships with her students and is able to support their learning needs. 

The married mother of a son and daughter, Drake feels it is rewarding to see the “light bulbs” come on in her students after they have been challenged and she has helped them to translate knowledge into critical thinking and safe application that creates a competent and compassionate nurse. 

Currently pursuing a post-Master’s certificate program in psychiatric nursing, Drake encourages those considering nursing to remember that they already have two precious resources to succeed – time and energy. 

Drake encourages students not to get discouraged by wait lists for nursing programs, and advises those interested in the field to always be in nurse mode, assessing situations and environments they are in and getting in the mindset and thought process of being a nurse. 

An active member of several nursing organizations, including the Grand Rapids Black Nurses Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Drake is also an esthetician and a published author, working on her second book. 

Wearing many hats, Drake continues to show compassion to those she reaches and instill a sense of compassion in those that she teaches. 

Mathematics Instructor Brianne Lodholtz, M.A.

As a mathematics instructor at Montcalm Community College, Brianne Lodholtz, M.A., focuses on helping her students build a strong foundation for success. 

“Montcalm Community College is a wonderful community-centered college,” Lodholtz said. “I love the small size and the personal attention that I can give to my students. Many struggle with math and I am able to work with them at a beginning level to set a good foundation for them to move on.” 

She brings compassion and the ability to mathematically reach students at whatever level they are at so they can succeed.  

Lodholtz has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a Master of Arts degree, both from Grand Valley State University. She has also completed additional coursework at Central Michigan University and Clemson University. 

She is married with two children – a daughter who is 12, and a son who is 7. She also has two chugs (chihuahua pug mixes) named Tank and Diesel. 

Her family is greatly invested in archery. She shoots a recurve bow. She also enjoys traveling with her family and hanging out with friends. Her family once traveled to Yellowstone and saw a lot of wildlife, including bears and moose. Traveling to Europe with her family is on her bucket list. 

Her personal motto is: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” 

Here are some other fun facts about Brianne: 

• She has a cycle endorsement. 
• She has won eating contests.
• She sometimes cries when she laughs.
• Her favorite movie is “Tommy Boy.”
• If she wasn’t a math teacher, she would want to be a geneticist. 

Early College Instructor, Dean Gage, M.Ed.

Dean Gage, M.Ed., is an Early College instructor at Montcalm Community College who teaches economics, government and political science.  

“What is most fulfilling for me is to see students learning new things and watching them develop a thirst for lifelong learning,” he said. “I also enjoy helping students and watching them become better citizens.” 

Gage was born and raised in Saranac and graduated from high school there. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration, Social Studies and Business Education with secondary certification from Grand Valley State University. He also has a Master’s in Education from Ferris State University. 

Gage and his wife, Julie, have been married for 27 years. They have three grown children - Alicia, Jacob and Sydney; and three grandchildren - Huxley, Kade and Kinsley. They also have a dog named Sunny. 

Gage and his family enjoy camping at their seasonal lot at Coldwater Lake near Mt. Pleasant. They call their camper a rolling cottage. Gage also enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, reading, cruising around in his boat and playing basketball. 

The person he admires most is MCC Emeritus Dean of Arts and Humanities Dr. Gary Hauck, who still teaches a variety of credit and noncredit courses at MCC. 

“He has been an incredible inspiration to me and has encouraged me to be the best person and teacher I can be,” Gage said. “He has done so much in terms of motivating me in my continual quest to grow and learn.” 

Gage believes his patience and his adaptability are the best skills he brings to his job.  

“I also allow my students to have their own voice,” he said. “My students are not going to think like me most of the time and I need to allow them to build upon their own values and beliefs rather than influence them to take my point of view.” 

Someday he would like to visit the Holy Land. He would like to explore the roots of his faith and the locations where events in Scripture took place. 

Here are some other fun facts about Dean: 

• He has coached basketball for 24 years and currently coaches boys’ varsity basketball for Saranac. 
• His first teaching job was teaching construction. 
• He touched the shoulder of Magic Johnson as he was walking through the State Capitol. 
• He sang in the choir that performed in the 1982 Lowell Showboat with quest star Pearl Bailey.
• He plays the drums. 

Computer Science Department Chair, Kristen Diehl, M.Ed.

Kristen Diehl, M.Ed., is Montcalm Community College’s Computer Information Systems Lab Coordinator and also teaches within our business and computer departments, starting with MCC in 2006.  She serves as the Computer Science Department Chair and the Co-Chair of the Assessment committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Small Business Management from Ferris State University, a Master’s in Education from Aquinas College and has MBA coursework completed with Walsh Collage.  “I bring over 10 years of work experience in the automotive industry with me to my position at MCC,” Diehl said. “This experience, coupled with my educational background, allows me to present material in engaging and effective ways.” Diehl married her husband, Vern, in 2011. Their blended family of five children (one boy and four girls) range in age from 13-26.  They also had their first grandchild, a girl, born in 2020. In her free times she loves spending time with her family - traveling, playing games, attending sporting events. When asked what are her pet peeves she said, “When first annual is used instead of inaugural. When people don't follow proper performance etiquette at formal events (music and theatre performances, etc.).” Kristen’s motto is, “If you care about an outcome, get involved with the decision-making process. This applies to everything in your life: Your health, family, career, local groups, etc.  Get involved!” Travel is something Kristen loves to do. At 16 years old, she participated in an exchange program through Michigan’s 4-H program. Her family hosted a young lady from Jamaica, while Kristen got to go to Jamaica for a month. This was an eye-opening experience for her. “As a ‘born and raised’ resident of Montcalm County, this was the first time I was in a situation where the color of my skin made me the minority and it really opened my eyes to the world,” she said. “This experience helped shaped my thoughts, actions, and belief system.”  Diehl said that if she could choose any career it would be a great travel, food, and/or hotel critic. She did seriously consider majoring in sports management because she thought that managing the careers of professional athletes would be very exciting. One thing on her bucket list is to visit all the MLB parks for a baseball game.  

Here are some other fun facts about Kristen: 

• Her favorite food is seafood. 
• Had a cornea transplant when she was 19 years old. 
• Was an exchange student to Jamaica when she was 16 years old. 
• Used to raise and show rabbits with her daughters nationwide. 
• She considers herself a tech nerd. 

Speech and Interpersonal Communication Instructor, Leslie Neal, M.S.

Leslie Neal, M.S., teaches Speech and Interpersonal Communication courses at Montcalm Community College. She joined the college full time in 2017 and serves as the Communications Department chair. 

She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies in 2006. She earned her Master of Science in Communication Studies in 2009 and started her teaching career as a part-time communications instructor at Grand Rapids Community College. 

Neal said the structural base for her classroom follows the Chinese proverb, “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.” 

“Once I gained the understanding that effective communication develops confidence and increases comfort levels with expressing ideas and knowledge clearly, I decided that teaching in higher education would be the best way for me to share my awareness with others,” she said. 

She chose the career of a college educator because she believes that it is an avenue that allows her, as an individual, to impact society as a whole. 

She and her spouse are raising two children in the Grand Rapids area. They like to travel wherever the wind takes them. She has traveled out of the country more than 25 times and her favorite place she has visited is Kenya. 

Here are some other fun facts about Leslie: 

• Her family has a guinea pig, two newts, and an eight-year-old goldfish from Meijer. 
• She is the middle child, but only girl in her family. 
• She changed her major from Journalism while in undergrad because she didn't like all the rules that were required for writing. 
• She is left-handed. 
• She was born on July 4. 

Early College Science Instructor, Dave Pyle, B.S.

David Pyle, B.S., is a science instructor in the Early College at Montcalm Community College program where he focuses on chemistry and physics during the first semester, and anatomy and physiology in the second semester. 

“Science should be fun,” Pyle said. “I enjoy doing science labs where bubbles are made, things move or change color, or something gets set on fire or explodes in a controlled manner. Science should go bang, whoosh, or splat.” 

Pyle was a firefighter/fire lieutenant for the City of Grand Rapids for a long time and retired after experiencing an on-duty injury at a structure fire. Pyle said if he hadn’t been injured, he would still be a firefighter.

He earned his Associate of Science and Arts degree and a Liberal Studies Certificate, both with honors, from MCC in 2016 and then transferred to Ferris State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education. 

Pyle, of Howard City, is married with two daughters. His oldest daughter is serving in the U.S. Navy. They have five horses, two steers, two dogs, a cat, and a bunch of fish. He enjoys being outside farming, fishing, hunting, and woodworking. 

His personal motto is: “There are two kinds of people in the world: witnesses and accomplices. Make sure you know who you are standing next to.” 

Here are some other fun facts about Pyle: 

• He enjoys splitting and stacking wood.
• He has an inordinately large collection of oddball and weird Hawaiian-type shirts.
• His favorite movie is Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
• He collects odd books, such as “Coffin making and Undertaking: A Guide to Death in the 19^th”
• He has the ability to speak sarcasm so fluently that sometimes people don’t know if he’s being sarcastic, or in his words, “just dumb.”

Advanced Industrial Technology Instructor, Jeffrey Pedelty, M.S.

Jeffrey Pedelty, M.S., joined MCC in January 2020 as a lab instructor and in August 2022 began his role as the college’s full-time Advanced Industrial Technology Instructor.

Pedelty, who teaches fluid power, PC servicing, precision measurement and the industrial process at MCC, now holds bachelor-level degrees in industrial electronics technology, operations management with an emphasis in manufacturing and supply chain logistics, electrical electronics engineering technology, and a master’s degree in technical education, all from Ferris State University.  

After working in a variety of industry roles, from making apple juice to car parts, Pedelty has also worked in high-end audio and television repair. In addition, he worked in communications/crypto security while serving in the Army and became a communications section chief while in the Michigan National Guard. This extensive technological background has made Pedelty a hands-on, experienced candidate for teaching technology to others at the high school level, university, and now, community college level.

Pedelty believes in experiential learning and has found that most of his students learn best through hands-on situations. 

In addition to sharing his knowledge in the classroom, Pedelty is active in the community, providing technical support as a sound engineer, doing promotional photography, and conducting video interviews to improve the social media presence for the organization Tuba Bach, which offers free concerts featuring world-class musicians and international talent to audiences that cannot afford to otherwise attend these performances. 

Psychology and Early Childhood Development Jessica Snyder, M.S.

Jessica Snyder, M.S., teaches Psychology and Early Childhood Development courses. She has been teaching at Montcalm Community College since 1998, and she is co-chair of the college’s Co-Curricular Committee and is a member of the Assessment and Curriculum Committees. 

She earned a master’s degree in Educational Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, both from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

For the past 22 years, Jessica has found her job to be amazingly fulfilling and rewarding. She enjoys her interactions with students who are having their world views and life options opened up for them by their choice to attend MCC. She is proud to be contributing to the life journeys of so many students as they make positive changes that will impact their lives and the lives of others. She brings open mindedness, the ability to explain complicated topics, and a passion to make Psychology genuinely useful for people to her job. 

Jessica and her wife have been together for 20 years and got married in the summer of 2017. They have three children, all of whom are adults. She has two cats, Monkey and Moonstone, and three dogs, Arriah, Khaleesi and Eyla. 

Her personal motto is we are responsible for leaving our corner of the world as good or better than we found it. This is something she learned from her mother. 

In her free time, Jessica enjoys watching movies and travelling around the world. Her favorite trip was a three-week journey in 2021 when she visited multiple national parks, including Bandelier National Monument, Yellowstone National Park, and Badlands National Park. One destination on her bucket list is to go on a safari in Africa.  

Here are some other fun facts about Jessica: 

• She spent 20 years training, raising, and showing Arabian horses, starting in her childhood. 
• She has vast knowledge of Beatles facts due to an obsessive period during her teen years. 
• She was a competitive swimmer as a child. 
• She is a big fan of science fiction and fantasy stories.   

Mathematics Instructor Katey Johnson, MA

Katey Johnson, M.A., was raised in Greenville and dual-enrolled at MCC prior to earning her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Secondary Education from Alma College.   

She began teaching math and science at Belding High School in 2006, earned her Master of Arts in Teaching Mathematics from the University of Idaho in 2010 and her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in 2014. Johnson started teaching at MCC as an adjunct instructor in 2007 while teaching full-time high school math and science. She joined the staff as a full-time instructor in 2017, teaching mostly statistics, college algebra and trigonometry.   

Teaching at MCC has provided Johnson with an opportunity to give back to her community by empowering her students. She is inspired by the efforts and sacrifices her students make to achieve a brighter future and she works hard to assist them in their quest. Johnson is MCC's Online Education Committee Chair and Volleyball Club advisor.    

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors. She volunteers as the St. Charles School Board President in Greenville and enjoys sailing, exercising and coaching youth sports in her spare time.  

Nursing and Allied Health Instructor Tracy Zamarron, MSN, RN

Tracy Zamarron, MSN, RN, is a full-time nursing and allied health instructor at Montcalm Community College.  

During college, Tracy played on Ferris State University’s Women’s Tennis team and was planning on pursuing a degree in Professional Tennis Management but changed her mind after her sophomore year and began taking classes to become a Registered Nurse.  

Tracy received her Registered Nursing degree from Ferris, Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Phoenix and Master’s in Nursing Education from Ferris.  

In 2011, she joined the MCC team as a Nursing Clinical Adjunct and Lab Supervisor, and in 2018 she took on her current role as a Nursing and Allied Health Instructor. Tracy has taught several classes including Maternal Newborn Nursing, College Success for Nursing and Medical Terminology.  

One of her favorite aspects of teaching is connecting with students on a personal and professional level and helping them grow. She chose to teach at MCC to improve the lives of the people in the communities we serve. 

In her personal life, Tracy enjoys spending time with her husband, their three sons, and their Yorkie Shitsu mix named Grover. When she’s not with her family, you can find Tracy refurbishing furniture, painting, gardening and enjoying a cup of coffee with friends! While Tracy has been to places like Zion National Park, she still hopes to one day make it to Hawaii and Australia.  

Counselor Brandy Bunting, M.A.

Brandy Bunting, M.A., is a Counselor at Montcalm Community College. She first came to MCC as a student in the late 1990s and returned in 2004 as an adjunct instructor. In 2006, she became an adjunct counselor. She received two full-time counselor appointments in 2008 and 2009 and was hired as a full-time faculty member in 2009. Her primary role is as a counselor, but she has also taught psychology, sociology, political science, and general education courses. Brandy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Counseling, both from Michigan State University.

Brandy lives in Montcalm County with her husband and two daughters.  She is raising the 5^th generation to live on their farm.   

In her spare time, Bunting shows horses on the American Quarter Horse Circuit. Brandy has shown the American Quarter Horse Circuit her entire life all over the nation and in Canada. Showing her horses, she is a two-time National All-Around Champion (1999 All Around Youth, 2017 All Around Amateur-only the 3^rd person to hold both titles) and a four-time individual National Champion (Showmanship and Hunt Seat Equitation). She has also won the All American Quarter Horse Congress twice and been Reserve World Champion.  Her daughters also keep her busy as they are involved with several sports and the Montcalm County 4-H fair.  

Brandy enjoys traveling and has been to places such as Italy and Australia.  However, still on her bucket list are trips to New York City and the Grand Canyon.