In part one of today’s podcast episode, we are joined by Dr. Michael Van Dyke, an English professor at Hope College. Dr. Van Dyke joined the Hope faculty in August of 2023, but he taught at several universities and colleges before coming to Hope College. When asked about his favorite part of teaching, he responded by saying that he find it most rewarding when student discover books they might not have initially chosen but end up loving. Dr. Van Dyke received his PhD from Michigan State University. His scholarly interests include 20th-century American literature, film studies, and the intersection of faith and the arts. He wrote his doctoral dissertation on the poet Kenneth Rexroth and continues to be inspired by his poetry and essays. Outside of academia, Dr. Van Dyke enjoys painting (pictures, not houses), watching films from the 1970s, and following Michigan State basketball.

To learn more about the Big Read, visit our website at bigreadlakeshore.com