The GRU Faculty is lead by Noel Widdifield, the Dean of the University. Noel is a long-time model railroader and has been involved with Large Scale trains for the past 14 years. Noel has a Bachelor's Degree in English and a Master's Degree in Counseling. He served twenty years in the U.S. Air Force, flying B-52's and SR-71's. Working in the defense, intelligence and space industry for Space Applications Corporation and for Northrop Grumman TASC for over twenty years, he retired in 2001 from Northrop Grumman TASC as the Executive Vice President. He began his love of trains at age one while in his father's arms and watching New York Central passenger trains pass by his home. His father presented him with a American Flyer Pacific steam engine lettered for the New York Central at age five and he has owned model trains ever since. Currently he has a large Large Scale indoor railroad modeled on the New York Central's Ohio Division in September 1954 and a rapidly growing outdoor railroad modeling a narrow gauge railroad and interurban network set in the mid-1930's. Noel's love of trains is not limited to model trains. He has worked as a volunteer at the B&O Railroad museum and on the Cumbres & Toltec railroad. He is currently a member of the New York Central System Historical Society, the B & O Railroad Museum, and Train Collectors of America. He is a Sustaining Member of the Central Electric Railfans' Association and a 2004 General Palmer Society Honorary Chairman and 2005 Palmer Society Major Shareholder of the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Join the Faculty Do you think you have what it takes. If you do send an email to Noel Widdifield. Please provide your name, background and a sample of your writing. We will get back to you quickly. We have dozens of Faculty Members lined up for our next session. Come join our staff.