Celebrating Tom Ludwig

[david_myers]

All good things must come to an end, and few things have been as good as my colleague Tom Ludwig’s 40-year career, which culminates with his Hope College retirement this Spring.

Not only is Tom a superb teacher and a kind and helpful colleague/friend, he is also a self-taught creator of multiple digital resources for the teaching of psychology. Over 30 years he has created multiple editions of PsychSim, as well as PsychQuest, PsychOnline, PsychInquiry, Exploring Human Development, Active Psych, and, most recently, Concepts in Action. In recognition of his creative work, he has received national and international awards, including what I call the teaching of psychology “Heisman Trophy”—the annual American Psychological Foundation Charles L. Brewer Distinguished Teaching of Psychology Award.

In this new Hope College press release, Tom reflects on his career and his passion for teaching and technology. What fewer people know is that Tom is a master of other things as well. To name a few, Tom knows ancient biblical languages, has been the interim president of a Lutheran seminary, has assembled his own furnace and constructed his own kitchen, speaks German, and wrote a computer program to teach himself Japanese Kanji characters before a sojourn in Japan.

Tom Ludwig, who has new fields yet to plow outside the classroom, is one of the most brilliant, as well as nicest, human beings I have known . . . and someone whose birthday our department lovingly celebrated this week.