Building Legacies
Ronald F. VanSteeland Living Center
Ronald F. VanSteeland joined fledgling Grand Valley State College in 1966 as the Personnel Officer and established the University’s first personnel office. In 1968 he was appointed Business Manager and in 1973 he became Vice President of the College. He was appointed to the position of Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer in 1979. As Vice President he had executive responsibility for business and finance affairs, facilities operations, new construction and campus planning, Pew Campus operations, human resources, intercollegiate athletics, the Meadows Golf Course and the legal affairs. He served as the Treasurer for the Grand Valley State University Board of Control and Treasurer for the Grand Valley University Foundation. Mr. VanSteeland retired after thirty-five years of service in March 2001.
Born in Mason, Michigan in 1940, Mr. VanSteeland earned his B.A. degree in Personnel Administration from Michigan State University. He also received a diploma from the Harvard Institute for Educational Management. After college he began his career as an Engineering Administrator for the Apollo Lunar Landing Program at Bendix Systems Division in Ann Arbor from 1962 to 1965. He was then Supervisor of Clerical Employment at the University of Michigan for one year before joining Grand Valley in 1966. During his Grand Valley career he was a member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers, the Central Association of College and University Business Officers and was Chairman of the Michigan University Business Officers Committee. His civic responsibilities included serving as Chairman of the Grand Rapids Board of Zoning Appeals, as a member of the Grand Rapids Public Safety Advisory Committee, the City of Grand Rapids Downtown Plan Working Committee and the Kent County Pension Board. He is a member of the Downtown Grand Rapids Rotary Club and the Economic Club of Grand Rapids. In March, 2001 Grand Valley State University awarded Mr. VanSteeland an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree,
Mr. VanSteeland lives in Grand Rapids with his wife Peggy and has a married daughter and two granddaughters. His principal hobby is music and he enjoys singing in men's quartets and performing sing-alongs in local assisted living facilities.
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Page last modified December 11, 2012
