Laila McCloud (she/her)

Director of the M.Ed. in Higher Education Program, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling

[email protected] 

B.A., M.Ed., DePaul University; Ph.D., The University of Iowa

Dr. Laila McCloud joined the faculty in August 2021. Prior to coming to GVSU she was an Assistant Professor of College Student Personnel at Western Illinois University. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (Higher Education and Student Affairs) from the University of Iowa. Prior to pursuing a faculty career, she served as a student affairs educator focused on issues of equity and access at several institutions in the Chicagoland area.  Dr. McCloud's research uses critical theories and methods to explore: (1) the professional and academic socialization of Black college students; (2) the professionalization of multicultural student affairs work; and (3) teaching and learning practices in higher education and student affairs graduate preparation programs.

She serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of College Student Development and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and is an Associate Editor for About Campus. Dr. McCloud is an active member and has held leadership positions in higher education and student affairs associations such as ACPA, ASHE, and NASPA. In 2023, she was named an ACPA Emerging Scholar. 

Paul E. Bylsma (he/him)

Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling

[email protected]  

B.A. Calvin College; M.Ed. Grand Valley State University; Ph.D. Michigan State University.

Dr. Paul Bylsma joined the faculty in August 2023. Prior to coming to GVSU Paul held roles in enrollment management, alumni relations, and supervising pre-service social studies student teachers. Paul holds a Doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. Paul's research utilizes sociomaterial theories to explore teaching, learning, knowledge, and practice in a higher education context as a complex encounter between people, space, and time. His recently-finished dissertation illuminates the hidden curriculum in undergraduate business education as a formative influence on students' embodied educational experiences.

Outside of academia, Paul's interests include reading, brewing, working and playing in the yard, and sustaining a household with his partner and two children.

Karyn E. Rabourn (she/her)

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling

[email protected]

B.A., M.A., Michigan State University; Ph.D., Indiana University Bloomington

Dr. Rabourn joined the faculty in August 2015 and earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Student Affairs Administration from Michigan State University. Dr. Rabourn completed her Ph.D. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University (IU) in 2016. At IU, Dr. Rabourn worked for the Center of Postsecondary Research with the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and the Project for Academic Success and served as an assessment consultant to the Division of Student Affairs. Dr. Rabourn worked at the University of Pittsburgh and Michigan State University within residential life, with a focus on recruitment, selection, and training of professional, graduate, and undergraduate staff members. Dr. Rabourn’s research interests include higher education finance, assessment of student affairs practice, and access, persistence and retention of non- or post-traditional and historically underrepresented students. Her current research examines college student attitudes towards student loan borrowing and debt and she hopes to uncover valuable information that will assist to improve practices and policies related to student borrowing.

Liz Chase (she/her)

Senior Student Success Coach

B.A. Michigan State University; M.Ed. Grand Valley State University

Liz Chase has been working with students at Grand Valley State University since 2015. She spent her first two years in the Disability Support Resources Office assisting students with academic accommodations and coordinating the Campus Links program designed for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. She then went on to serve as the Student Retention and Special Projects Coordinator working with both Student Affairs and Academic Affairs (2017-2022) and spent time outside of this role as a co-director of the anti-violence peer education group, ReACT!. Liz now serves as a Senior Student Success Coach in the Student Academic Success Center where she partners with students on their academic journey. She is also a Co-Advocate providing students with victim/survivor advocacy support. Prior to coming to GVSU, Liz worked as a Program Manager for Design Dance, LLC. and acted with the Chicago Mammals.

Thalía Guerra-Flores (she/her)

Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs

B.A. and M.A. Western Michigan University 

Thalía (she/her/hers) graduated as a first-generation college student from Western Michigan University. She earned her bachelor's of arts in Spanish and a master's degree in Higher Education Student Affairs.

Thalía currently serves as an Assistant Director in the Office of Multicultural Affairs. She serves as coordinator for Laker Familia and the DACA and Undocumented Student Advocate for GVSU. Thalia's higher education experience consists of grant funded programs like TRiO Students Success Program and the Campus Assistance Migrant Program, Advising, Teaching, Student Life and Conduct, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Career Services, Orientation, First-Year Experience, Housing, and currently Multicultural Affairs and Faculty/Staff Affinity groups. She has worked at 3 different colleges, Western Michigan University, Grand Rapids Community College, and Grand Valley State University. 

Kate Harmon (she/her)

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

B.S., Northern Michigan University; M.A., Central Michigan University; Ed.S., Grand Valley State University; Ed.D. University of Michigan-Flint

Dr. Kate Harmon joined the department as an adjunct faculty member in January 2024. Dr. Harmon currently serves as GVSU’s Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs with administrative oversight of the University Counseling Center, Alcohol and Other Drugs Services, the department of Recreation & Wellness, and Student Health Services.  She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from University of Michigan-Flint. Her main research interests are focused on student experiences and belonging.  Her doctoral research included a qualitative phenomenological study, using interpretative phenomenological analysis, which explored, described, and interpreted the way low-income African American students experience university recreation programs and services at a Predominantly White Institution.

Mike Messner (he/him)

Director, Student Success Programs

Candace Phenix, JD (she/her)

Ms. Phenix is Deputy General Counsel at Grand Valley State University. In this role, she is able to do rewarding and fulfilling work, capitalizing on her previous 15 years of legal experience to assist GVSU in all facets of higher education law. Ms. Phenix is delighted to work with an incredible team that is dedicated to furthering the vision of GVSU and striving to uphold the highest standards of legal compliance and integrity.

Previously, Ms. Phenix spent nine years in private practice and then six years in-house practicing mainly in civil litigation. She has gained experience in many areas of the law, including business formations, labor and employment, family law, criminal law, landlord tenant, will and trusts, and insurance coverage and litigation. Ms. Phenix has worked diligently throughout her career to be known for her thorough work-product and zealous client advocacy.

Salomón Rodezno (he/him)

B.A. University of California, San Diego; M.Ed. University of Vermont; 

Prior to coming to GVSU Salomón Rodezno (he/him) was director of the Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion at John Carroll University. His professional experience at JCU included working across campus in Title IX investigations, university hearing boards, university strategic planning committees, staff council, employee resource group development, and community partnerships related to cultural identity, STEM, and adult/continuing education. Salo has a diverse teaching experience in courses related to higher education administration, multicultural education, leadership, film studies, and intergroup dialogue. Currently, he's working on his doctorate in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. His research populations and interests include first-generation students, adult learners, professional identity development, student affairs administration, and autoethnographic and arts-based scholarship.

Outside of academia, Salo's interests include watching horror and sci-fi movies, dragon boat racing, axe throwing, gardening, and learning how to do tai chi, swim, and run.