About John
Early Life
John Beck was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Ann and Dallas Beck. Dallas, a Marine Corps veteran, worked at one of the many paper Mills in Kalamazoo, while Ann worked in retail and food service. When John was three years old, his father, an avid runner and cyclist, passed away due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Ann and John eventually settled in Kalamazoo Township. As John started elementary school, his mother decided to continue her education. She received a bachelor's degree in education from Western Michigan University. She worked as a tutor for the SLD Learning Center in the Kalamazoo area for several years. John attended Parchment High School and graduated in 2001. During his junior year, his mother passed away, and John was cared for by his extended family, including his grandparents, aunts, and uncles, during his senior year.
John Beck in the classroom
College and Early Career
After graduating from Parchment High School, John attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Western Michigan University. In 2006, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Western. During his time at Western, John participated in several student organizations, including student government, and worked with several faculty members on research projects. While student, he lived with his maternal grandmother and helped the family take care of her as she aged. Following the completion of his bachelor's degree, John pursued graduate studies at the University of Toledo, studying organometallic chemistry and receiving a PhD in chemistry in 2011. He then worked at the University of Toledo as a postdoctoral research associate in the School of Green Chemistry and Engineering. During his time in graduate school, John realized his passion for education and decided to pursue a career in higher education, following in the footsteps of his many family members, who were teachers and educators. In 2013, John was hired at Lake Michigan College as a chemistry lecturer, primarily teaching at the Niles campus.
John and Paige Beck
Life Since 2015
In 2015, John became a full-time instructor in the Department of Natural Sciences at Lake Michigan College. The following year, he married his wife Paige, and they settled in St. Joseph Charter Township, where they raised Paige's son. In addition to their son, Paige and John are pet parents to a Golden Retriever (Aurum) and two cats (Myrtal and Athene). From 2017 to 2020, John served on the board of directors for Brookview Montessori School, serving on the facilities committee, wishing tree auction committee, and chairing the nominations committee. In 2019, he became the chair of the Natural Sciences Department at Lake Michigan College. During his time at the college, John taught a wide range of classes and served on numerous committees and task forces, including founding and chairing the sustainability committee. In 2023, John decided to run for public office in St. Joseph Charter Township to give back to his community.