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Education Faculty & Staff Directory

First Name
Paul
Last Name
Bylsma
Photo
paul.png
Role(s)
Assistant Professor
Office Address
DEV326C
Office Phone
616-331-6667
Department
Educational Leadership and Counseling
Program
Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration
About

Dr. Paul Bylsma joined the faculty in August 2023. Prior to coming to GVSU, Paul held roles in enrollment management, alumni relations, and preservice teacher education. Paul holds a doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. Paul's research utilizes sociomaterial theories to explore teaching, learning, knowledge, assessment, and practice in a higher education context as a complex encounter between people, space, and time.


Outside of academia, Paul's interests include reading, running, biking, brewing, working and playing in the yard and on the car, and sustaining a household with his partner, two children, cat, and dog.

Teaching Areas
  • College students and environments
  • Adult learners and facilitating adult learning
  • College student development theory
  • Organization and administration in higher education
  • Capstone projects and theses
Degrees
  • Ph.D., Michigan State University
  • M.Ed., Grand Valley State University
  • B.A., Calvin College
Academic & Professional Activities
  • ACPA—College Student Educators International
  • International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (ISSOTL)
  • Society for the Study of Affect
Scholarly Interests & Research
  • Socio-material theories of education
  • Scholarship of teaching and learning
  • Embodiment and materialization in postsecondary education
  • Interactive learning spaces and technologies
  • Qualitative research methodologies
  • Workplace teaching and learning

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Page last modified October 12, 2026