By Maria Borri
English instructor Geoff Schmidt is resigning at the end of the semester to accept a teaching position at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
"The main difference is that I will be working primarily with creative writing where here at IVCC I am more focused on teaching English composition," Schmidt said.
Schmidt published his first book, "Write Your Heart Out: Advice from The Moon Winx Motel," in the fall. He has published stories and poems in various literary magazines and essays in the Chicago Tribune Book Review.
Schmidt started at IVCC in the fall of 1994, teaching composition, literature and creative writing. He began co-advising River Currents, the IVCC literary magazine, and he brought writers and speakers to the college.
He worked with instructor Kim Radek to organize the Day of Writing on campus, bringing young people to campus for writing workshops. And he served on a number of campus committees.
"One of the nice things here at IVCC is that every teacher serves on a committee, and, therefore, every teacher is involved in the school," he said.
A past student nominated him for the 2000 edition of Who's Who Among College Teachers.
"It felt really good that I had touched a student so much that he nominated me for this award," Schmidt said.
Schmidt has a bachelor's degree in English from Kenyon University in Ohio and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Alabama. Before coming to IVCC, he taught English composition and literature at the University of Alabama
Schmidt is a member of the Associated Writing Program, an organization for creative writers as well as the Illinois Association for Teachers, to promote the study of English in both high school and college.