Lecturer in English and education Melinda VonSydow is teaching her final semester at Hillsdale College, fittingly begun with an 8 a.m. section of Rhetoric and Great Books.
“It’s sort of a fixture around here to see her teaching large young men at eight in the morning.” said Jon Fennell, associate professor and director of the Teacher Education Program. “It’s an amusing picture at times, but she’s very good.”
“I can’t remember a day she didn’t come to class wearing heels and looking ready to jet set to Europe, even if it was early,” said senior Lauren Andriesen.
VonSydow is retiring at the end of the spring semester after 24 years of teaching at Hillsdale College.
“Although I love teaching, it’s time to do something new,” she said.
VonSydow attended Hillsdale as an undergraduate, received a bachelor’s degree in history in 1979 and began teaching as an adjunct professor in 1987.
“She’s got a lot of history here at Hillsdale College,” Chair and Professor of English Michael Jordan said.
In her career at Hillsdale College, VonSydow has taught classes in both the English and education departments, seminars on a variety of topics ranging from “The Politics of Fashion” to “The History of Rock and Roll,” and independent studies.
“Whenever [the English department] needed help covering sections of 101 and 102, she was always willing to take them on,” Jordan said. “She’s done overloads to help us. She’s been a great help in taking it all on.”
One of VonSydow’s additional responsibilities included supervising student teachers.
“Nothing is more terrifying than student teaching,” Fennell said. “You need reassurance and advice and occasionally firm suggestion. She has a gift in that regard. We’re very lucky to have her.”
VonSydow encourages a very “open and laid back classroom atmosphere,” said Lighting Designer Michael Beyer, who co-taught The History of Rock and Roll seminar with her. “She’ll do anything to keep the students engaged and is really fun to be around.”
“She’d walk into a room and you’d know it was her,” Andriesen said. “She just has such a passion for the works and really makes literature relatable. She made such an impact on my Hillsdale College career and really influenced my decision to become an English major.”
“It’s just time to do something different,” said VonSydow. “It’s only January and we have a long semester ahead, so I won’t focus on anything until after school’s out, but I have several ideas in the air.”
VonSydow has volunteered with the local animal shelter as well as the four-legged food pantry and is considering further involvement with an NGO.
“Nothing set in stone,” she said.
“She may be retiring from the college,” said Fennell. “But she certainly isn’t retiring.”
