Alumni Spotlights
Jason Black '99
Employer
Aquatics Director/ Varsity Head Coach
LinkedIn Profile
https://linkedin.com/in/jason-black-2bb14087
1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
The journey was definitely not defined by the courses of study
but my journey has been defined by the experiences, opportunities, and
challenges that GVSU provided me as an undergraduate student.
2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
Too many to list but…having to greet the incoming freshmen class
in the field house during freshmen welcome week with Victor Cardenas
is one of my most stressful memories. When we came off stage Dean
Merkle was laughing and all I wanted to do was throw up from nerves
and I quote from Dean Merkle “why do you think I have you guys do it
instead of me?” Also road tripping with Andy Beechnau, Tom Butcher,
and Dean Merkle to Bowling Green University.
3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Be good at your job and don’t get involved in elected politics.
Maybe not “best piece of advice” but best skill was learning how to
write in Professor Proctor’s storytelling class.
4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand
Valley experience.
Freedom Growth Accountability
5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
Loaded question for the ego. I try and live my own personal
truth. GVSU helped me discover the path I needed to start down to find
this truth. The difference I try to make on a daily basis is to allow
my athletes the space needed to discover themselves personally while
challenging them physically with personal challenges and goals as well
as team challenges and team goals.
January 2022
Interest Area(s)
Communications, History
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