A string of old, worn literature lines the desk from end to end.
Their broad smiled reader sits beside them. The books are a trophy case in the eyes of the charismatic book lover.
In a beige suit coat, with a youthful energy and excitment to teach, Professor Timothy Green sits pleased at his new office desk in the English department, enthusiastic about beginning his short stay here at Northern.
Green took the opportunity to teach as a sabbatical (paid leave granted to a professor to conduct research, typically every seven years replacement) for one year in place of Robert Whalen.
Green left from his home in Ann Arbor and position at University of Michigan to test the waters of the 906.
At U of M, Green also taught in the English department as well as the business school where he taught business and technical professional writing.
Northern’s quaint campus holds a very different environment compared to U of M, after being here only a short time, Green said he felt very welcomed to NMU.
“It’s not that U of M isn’t [welcoming], but it’s just so big it’s hard. I’ve already enjoyed Northern a little bit in the sense of it being a smaller campus and you run into people you know more often and see friendly faces,” he said.
Green has found the students here to be similar for their commitment to their education and hard work.
“The students here want to get the most out of their education. They’re engaged. They’re active. They came here to learn,” Green said.
“They want to take advantage of the opportunity and that’s been really kind of impressive for me to see,” he added.
Green teaches Good Books- EN 110, Survey of British Literature- EN 283, and Introduction to Shakespeare- EN 220.
Green grew up in a small town of Texas, but came North to begin his own schooling at Notre Dame where he studied English and history.
“For me, Notre Dame was a really wonderful experience because going away for college was important for me. I think I was able to expand my horizons and learn so much more about the world and history,” Green said.
A poster on a wall on the campus of his beloved University pushed Green toward the teaching path:
“Tired of getting homework? Give some! Become a teacher.”
The Alliance for Catholic Education program through Notre Dame gave Green the opportunity for alternative teaching. He began teaching middle school in the rural area of Rio Grande City, Texas.
“I really loved it, I haven’t stopped teaching since. After that I sort of caught the teaching bug,” Green said.
He taught in Chicago, Illinois, Nicaragua, and then moved to Ann Arbor to begin his graduate work where he received his master’s degree in Education.
Green has a job waiting for him back in Ann Arbor he said, but he would love to stay in the Upper Peninsula full time.
“The situation of people like me is very tenuous right now because the job market in humanities is not great, there are not a lot of jobs,” he said.
“Because universities are cutting costs, they are often reluctant to hire a tenure track person.”
Although the future prospects of Green teaching at Northern are currently unknown, he was excited to be moving to the area with his wife and four kids and wishes to continue his teaching career at Northern, he said.
While excited to be in the natural beauty of the U.P., he does miss aspects of city life he was able to enjoy during his eight years in Ann Arbor.
“I miss being in close proximity to the big cities of Detroit and Chicago. I like the bustle and going to things like the opera and symphonies,” Green said. “Marquette has enough great stuff that I don’t really feel lost,” he added.
A Texas native, Green had never experienced snow until he moved to Indiana. Now he thinks the winter will be unlike the ones he has experienced before, he said.
“I like the snow, but when I showed my brother-in law my boots for the winter he just laughed and said we’d have to get me some new boots,” Green said.
When Green isn’t teaching he enjoys spending time with his family and reading.
“I know, cliche, the English professor who likes to read, but I love a great novel,” Green said.
While Green tries to read every night, he rarely makes it very far before falling asleep, as his life is very kid-centered at the moment with raising four children all under the age of six.
“I just really love spending time with them, that’s my favorite relaxing thing. They have a way of making all the stresses of life not important, just to play and be silly,” Green said.
“Bad dad jokes” are another past time of Green’s, he joked. He feels it’s a part of the role, just as his father did for him and probably yours for you.
“It’s like ‘Alright here’s the kid, here’s the birth certificate, now you have to start telling lame jokes and embarrassing your children, I want to live up to that part of being a dad,” said Green.
Green’s secret to teaching? It’s also quite similar.
“When I was in school, I had to read “Beowulf” and “The Canterbury Tales” and dammit you’re going to read it too,” he said and then gave a laugh.
