News Releases

Michigan Poet Visits for Reading

The Michigan Author Speaker Series at Alma College presents Grand Rapids poet Rodney Torreson at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 in the Alma College Library.

Admission is free and open to the public. Torreson will read from his published works. A book signing will take place after the reading.

Torreson is the author of three books of poetry, most recently A Breathable Light (New Issues Press, 2002). His other full-length collection is The Ripening of Pinstripes: Called Shots on the New York Yankees (Story Line Press, 1998), which was the runner-up for the Roerich Prize for first books. He also has published a chapbook, On a Moonstruck Gravel Road (Juniper Press, 1994).

 

Rodney Torreson

Two of his poems recently were featured in Ted Kooser’s nationally syndicated newspaper column, “American Life In Poetry.” Over the years his work has appeared in many anthologies and magazines; in addition he was the recipient of the Bentley Prize for Poetry from the Seattle Review.

Since 1976 he has taught writing to elementary and intermediate students at Immanuel-St. James Lutheran School in Grand Rapids. He also heads several groups of young writers from elementary to college age, who meet at area restaurants once a week throughout the year. For nearly 30 years his students have published widely and consistently been winners in regional poetry contests, as well as several national competitions, including ones sponsored by Voice of Youth Advocates and the Odyssey Foundation for Teens.

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Distinguishing landmarks on Alma’s campus include the Posey Bench near the Hood Building, the Bishop Makarios Memorial Sculpture, the “Momentum” sculpture near the entrance to the Hogan Center, the Spirit Rock behind the Library, the Bahlke Field Gate, the Peace Poles in McIntyre Mall, and the Redman Gate along Superior Street that welcomes campus visitors.

 

Faculty Profile

Dr. Jeff Turk
Departments: Chemistry

Dr. Jeff Turk’s parents sealed his fate when they bought him a chemistry set at age nine. The last three weeks of his high school AP Chemistry class sparked his interest in organic chemistry.

The assistant professor of chemistry joined Alma faculty in 2006 after earning his undergraduate degree at Cleveland State University and his masters and doctoral degrees at the University of Cincinnati.