GCC has a new chair of the English Division, full-time faculty member Francien Rohrbacher. Rohrbacher, who has been at the college since 2004, has been active in many facets of campus life and faculty support. “I’ve always wanted to be the Chair of an English division or a writing program. I assisted the Writing Program Chair once and was inspired by her ability to work with faculty to develop courses and programs that helped students become more confident writers,” Rohrbacher said. “So, heading up an English Division or a Program has always been a goal of mine. Once I was lucky enough to become full-time at GCC, I focused on teaching because I believe that good educational leaders should have solid classroom experience.”

Rohrbacher has big goals for the English department this year, such as hosting workshops to help students and faculty members understand the role AI is playing in teaching and writing. She also wants to make sure that students are able to enroll in the classes they need to take to fulfill their academic goals. For the faculty, she wants to make sure that the new-hires and part-time employees are mentored. 

For students who may not know, being a division chair requires great knowledge about the classroom and how the college itself works. Holding different positions in the College has helped Rohrbacher see the “big picture” of how things work at GCC. By attending meetings, being a resource for Senate and CoDE, and working with faculty from all Divisions, she became prepared for the role.

“I love the power of good writing, and there’s nothing better than being in a room with students where we’re discussing a poem or an essay, and together we’re making meaning and creating and sharing new ideas,” Rohrbacher said.  “I love reading what my students have to say about the poems/essays/books we’re discussing, and I especially enjoy learning more about my students when they feel safe sharing how our class discussion relates to their own lived experiences. Teaching and learning are magic.”

Rohrbacher said she is excited to be in this position, and is open to receiving emails from students with concerns or questions. She can be reached via email at [email protected]. 

Vanya Arakelian can be reached at [email protected].