About the Pace Initiative for Connecting Mind and Health

DR. DIANA PACE
Emerita. B.A., Duke University; M.A., Ph.D., University of North Dakota

The Pace Initiative for Connecting Mind and Health was named in honor of Dr. Diana Pace, former Director of the GVSU Counseling Center and Associate Dean of Students, in recognition of her significant contribution to a culture of well-being, health, and mental health at GVSU.

Dr. Pace joined Grand Valley in 1976 as a psychologist. She has served as director of the Counseling and Career Development Center from 1985 until moving into her role in 2003 as the Dean of Students. She made many contributions to GVSU while in leadership, including the establishment of a mediation and conflict resolution program, numerous publications, and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award for her advocacy for the rights of women on campus.

Pace Associates

Pace Advisory Committee

Campus Partners

Pace Associates

Annual applications will be solicited for faculty and staff to join the initiative as Pace Associates. All are eligible.

Participation as Faculty Course Module Creators or Support Designers is optional.

Faculty Course Module Creators

Following participation in Pace Orientation/Safety training, faculty may elect to design one or more modules related to student well-being, health, or mental health to be integrated into their course.
Course Module design workshops are scheduled based on interes.
Upon completion of design, proposal, implementation and reflection, faculty are eligible for a stipend granted by the Pew FTLC.

Pace Support Designers

Following participation in Pace Orientation/Safety training, staff are encouraged to create or revise a process or procedure that is attuned and supportive to student health, mental health and well-being.
This work is intended to be done in Pace workshops based on interest.
This work is designed in coordination with the possibility of implementation with colleagues and supervisors.
Upon completion, staff will reflect and evaluate the process with colleagues and supervisors.

2024-2025 Pace Associates

Katie Barnhart (School of Interdisciplinary Health)
Christina Beaudoin (Movement Science)
Trista Bergerud (Graduate School)
Christopher Cirefice (Modern Languages and Literatures)
Elizabeth Davis (Nursing)
Dawn DeVries (Recreational Therapy)
Michelle DeWitt (Chemistry)
Babasola Fateye (Biomedical Sciences)
Meghan Fox (Athletic Training)
Emily Frigo (University Libraries)
Karen Gipson (Physics)
Kristen Hedges (Anthropology)
Tonisha Jones (Criminology & Criminal Justice)
Katie Jourdan (Recreation & Wellness)
Alycia LaGuardia-LoBianco (Philosophy)
Sarah Mullins (Biomedical Sciences)
Mikaela Padgen (University Counseling Center)
Katie Perschbacher (Dean of Students Office)
Martina Reinhold (Physician Assistant Studies)
Kellie Riley (Nursing)
Karen Ruedinger (Seidman College of Business)
Guin Thompson (Visual & Media Arts)
Elizabeth Vendal (Dean of Students Office)
Adrienne Wallace (Communications)

Pace Initiative Advisory Team

Patty Stow Bolea, School of Social Work and Pew FTLC Faculty Fellow

DR. PATTY STOW BOLEA
Pew FTLC Faculty Fellow
Professor of GVSU School of Social Work

Pace Initiative Program Lead

Patty's career teaching Social Work Practice professional reinforced the critical nature of well-being, health, and mental health, given the outsized impact on teaching and learning. Alongside this realization has been her personal experiences working family, friends and others who have faced challenges in this arena, and worked to heal and sometimes barely overcome health and mental health challenges as they endeavor to create healthy meaningful lives and relationships.