Rate My Professor Dawn Rutecki

In her career at Grand Valley State University, Rutecki progressed from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor upon receiving tenure and promotion in 2025. She serves as Course Coordinator for INT 201 in the Integrative Studies Program and teaches the first-year interdisciplinary sequence 'Power and Freedom: Decolonization in Theory and Practice' in the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Rutecki received the Pew Teaching Excellence Award in Integrative Studies for her transformative pedagogy, which employs Reacting to the Past simulations, engages students with challenging texts and ideas, and promotes inclusive, equitable learning environments that empower students as change agents. She participates in university service as a member of the Faculty Research and Development Committee representing Integrative, Religious, and Intercultural Studies and as a Faculty Associate in the Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. Additionally, Rutecki serves as co-principal investigator on a Native American Heritage Fund grant to embed Indigenous knowledge into courses. Her commitment to ethical archaeological collaborations and social justice is evident in her teaching and committee roles.