A poet and his really ‘nice crew’

By Brian Babcock
Staff Writer

Few people can say that they’ve lived in eight different states and three different countries over the course of their lives, but Tom Zimmerman, WCC instructor and director of the Writing Center, sure can. Born into a military family in Maryland, Zimmerman traveled the globe, living in Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado, Germany and Turkey, while his father served in the nation’s armed forces for 20 years—fighting in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

From a young age, Zimmerman had a passion for writing, poems and journalism.

“I was the editor of my high school newspaper, and have always been interested in putting things together,” Zimmerman said.

Currently, Zimmerman has had more than 700 poems published over the course of his career, several self-published chapbooks (short books of poetry) and one online-published chapbook.

“I’ve been a poet for a long time, and I’ve been submitting stuff to magazines since the late ’80s, so over 30 years I’ve been actively involved in small press stuff. I’m like a serious hobbyist when it comes to poetry,” Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman completed his degree in English at the University of Iowa and began a career as a high-school teacher in the ’80s. He taught in Illinois and North Dakota before moving to Michigan. From 1992 to 2001 Zimmerman taught English part time before becoming a full-time English faculty in 2002.

The first year Zimmerman became a full-time English faculty member was the same year he was given the opportunity to begin the college’s new fledgling literary journal, the “Huron River Review.”

“There was a literary magazine here called ‘Northern Spies’ that went for a long time that was tied to a class. Eventually the people who did it were ready to retire and it lost momentum . . . so we wanted to reboot the whole thing, and start a new magazine,” Zimmerman said. “I was a young guy at the time and I said I’d do it.”

From there, Zimmerman started what is now an award-winning literary tradition that has lasted to this day. He serves as the publication’s adviser and editor. Zimmerman also serves as the faculty adviser for WCC’s poetry club.

“[The Huron River Review and Poetry Club] informs my work—in that I work with language all the time outside of work, too,” Zimmerman said. “It makes me a better English teacher and a better Writing Center director, I like to think.”

To add to his list of talents and skills, Zimmerman also serves as secretary for the WCC Education Association, the college’s chapter of the national labor union. When he’s not working or writing, Zimmerman enjoys spending time at home with his wife and two rescued greyhounds, and working out.

Despite everything going on in his life, Tom seldom shows when he’s tired, and he never seems to be having a bad day.

“He always makes the environment very fun and engaging,” said Aristea Fulcher, a member of Poetry Club and new student tutor at the Writing Center. “He helps you clarify your ideas and express them in a way that not only makes sense to you but the people who are listening to you.”

Elise Ambriz is another student who has been working alongside Zimmerman at the Writing Center for the past five semesters.

“He’s always really positive about the staff,” said Ambriz. “One thing he always does that I love is, he’ll always say ‘Ah! It looks like we’ve got a nice crew on today—we’ve got a great crew!’”

Students who are looking for professional faculty to check out their writing, contribute to the Huron River Review, or join WCC’s poetry club can meet up with Zimmerman at the Writing Center at LA 355. It’s hard not to spot Zimmerman with his red coffee mug and high-energy positive attitude.

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