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Most people travel to foreign countries, enjoy the culture, take a few pictures, and pick up a couple of souvenirs to bring back home. Dr. Virginia La Grand adds a different twist to her travels: she enjoys the culture by taking classes and picking up degrees.

An alumnus of Calvin College, where she received her bachelor of arts in English, she also attended the University of Michigan to attain her master's degree in English language and literature. She spent some time in England, and while there, she earned a diploma in language from Cambridge University. She recently completed work on her doctorate in English from Basel University in Switzerland. The international schooling has been a matter of convenience to help pass time.

"My husband and I traveled a lot," she explained, "and when I traveled, I ended up studying. My husband, who is a preacher, went to study in England for three years, so I enrolled in Cambridge. Then he went to study in Switzerland, so I started classes at Basel. And unlike many American universities, Basel's English department combines linguistics and literature, which I really liked a lot."

Likewise, her teaching experience has not been limited to American soil. After graduating from Calvin, Dr. La Grand spent two years in Zaria, Nigeria, teaching French and English at a secondary school. She later taught in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"I've always been interested in foreign languages and cross-cultural literature," she admits. "When you appreciate a people's language, you tend to appreciate that people. It allows you to see how creative people can be with a given language."

For the past 12 years, Dr. La Grand has taught English courses at Trinity. Those courses include freshman composition, children's literature, linguistics, and British & American literature. She believes it's crucial that students take ownership in the learning process.

"I like to set up challenges for them so they can explore what they study. Then they present their work to their classmates. This allows them to take some responsibility for what they're learning. I prefer that kind of collaborative learning instead of me dictating during class.

"To foster that environment, I try to choose literature that uses language creatively. It helps my students understand different authors from different cultures and backgrounds. They learn to respect language as one of God's created gifts."

In her leisure time, she enjoys reading detective stories, biking, swimming, and movies. She also enjoys spending time with her eight grandchildren.

Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., Dr. La Grand now resides in Gary, Indiana. Her husband, James, is the pastor of Beacon Light Christian Reformed Church in Gary. The couple has four sons.