The start of the spring 2021 semester brought news of Professor of English Jeff Gundy’s upcoming plans of “retirement.”
Gundy has been a part of the Bluffton community and university faculty since 1984, giving him decades of memories with students and colleagues. Over the last 37 years as a Bluffton professor, he has taught a wide range of classes—not all being English related. Gundy has taught several writing and literature classes on campus as well as multiple general education courses, studies classes and American issues courses. He is also the editor of Bridge: Bluffton University Literary Magazine and Shalith.
With as many courses and extracurriculars Gundy has been a part of, it is safe to say he has had an affect on many people. Senior English and writing major Colten McCabe has been a student in many courses Gundy has taught and has been able to get to know him over the years. McCabe mentioned the chimes that signal the start to each Gundy class and how they soon became the signal in his mind to be creative and begin writing.
“There was a fiasco when he lost the old set of chimes and the new set he had bought to replace them didn’t have the same ring to them.” McCabe said. “Collectively as a class, we would cringe because they weren’t the same. I think the chimes represent how important Professor Gundy is to the university, and I hope whoever comes in next has the same ring as the last one.”
When the word spread that there was a search out for a new creative writing professor, some of Gundy’s students began to panic, not ready to say goodbye yet. While the headlines and announcements claim of the professor’s retirement, he has assured us he will still be around. Gundy plans to teach a couple classes a year, still having his office in Centennial Hall.
“Help is on the way!” Gundy said. “It’s not like I am just going to disappear and not be replaced, or the writing program is going to disappear or anything like that.”
Gundy mentioned his excitement for the search for a new writing professor, hoping one would be somewhat “new and fresh”. He mentioned how close the staff is in the language department and how he looks forward to welcoming someone new as well. Marissa Hall, a junior English major, shared what she hopes to see in the new writing professor, like the qualities of Gundy she and multiple other students hope will not be lost.
“I would love to have someone like Gundy again.” Hall said. “I love how creative and understanding he is. And connections are key, too! Someone that has experience in writing and knows the publishing process.”
Jeff Gundy hosts one of his advanced poetry classes in his home pre pandemic. Photo provided.
With the assurance that Gundy is not leaving the university completely, he was able to share some of his fondest memories thus far. He spoke about working with students on departmental honors projects and mentoring a previous student writing a horror novel. He also looked back on one of his advanced poetry courses, saying that one specific year there was not only a great group of students but also three other professors sitting in on the class.
Gundy has enjoyed memories he has made at Bluffton University, and hopes to create more in the future.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story indicated Gundy would teach one or two courses per semester rather than one or two a year. The Witmarsum regrets the error.
Lead photo: From left, Jeff Gundy, former student Chad VanBuskirk and Lamar Nisly in 2006. Photo provided
