The Gift of A Lifetime
Mary and Wilhelm Seeger
It’s normal to care about your job. However, for Mary and Wilhelm (Bill) Seeger, Grand Valley was never just a job. Both Mary and Bill dedicated their lives to building a humanities program at Grand Valley that continues to serve countless students. Now, the Seegers' legacy lives on through their planned gift that established an endowment for research in the humanities.
Mary and Bill both began their careers at Grand Valley in 1965, shortly after the university’s founding. Bill taught as a German studies professor for over 40 years while Mary taught modern languages. The Seegers quickly immersed themselves in campus life, including setting the groundwork for Grand Valley's international education programs.
For the Seegers, everything was about providing Lakers with better opportunities. Bill even asked his German relatives to host GVSU students amidst the launch of the Laker Study Abroad program. Every aspect of their lives showed a true commitment to humanities education at Grand Valley.
“Philosophy, language, literatures, music, and other disciplines in the humanities are critical to understanding the human experience,” said Susan Mendoza, director of the GVSU Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. “Investing in students who are exploring thought, language, and the arts is an investment in our future humanity.”
In 1989, Mary was named dean of Academic Resources and Special Programs. She was the first woman to hold a position as dean at Grand Valley. By her retirement in 2005, Mary had also served as associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, acting director of the Graduate School of Education, and director of the Academic Resource Center.
Retirement did not stop the Seegers from caring about the future of GVSU education. They were lifelong donors to GVSU and members of the Gillett Society, which honors legacy and estate giving. The gift left in their estate established the Mary A. and Wilhelm W. Seeger Humanities Research Endowment, which encourages and supports excellent research, the teaching of research methods, and other scholarly activities focused on the humanities.
“Endowments like the Seegers' elevate and support critical research and creative exploration in the Humanities,” explained Mendoza. “This endowment will create opportunities for students and faculty to immerse themselves in the research and creative process. Students will be provided with a stipend and the needed supplies for their projects. For faculty, the endowment removes the budgetary limitations that often impeded their work.”
Through the gift in their estate and their work during their careers, the Seegers created a lasting legacy in humanities education that will benefit Grand Valley Lakers for years to come.