Feature
President Mantella Celebrates Fifth Anniversary
�The days are long, but the years are short�
Empowering a Generation
Laker women�s wrestling hits the mats
Serving Community
REACH OF COLLEGES OF NURSING, HEALTH PROFESSIONS EXTENDS BEYOND MEDICAL MILE
Finding Their 'Why' as Musicians
Finding Their�Why� as Musicians
A.I. and Health Care
FEATURE
Alternative Breaks
Students follow passions, gain experiences at sites across the country
Grand Valley 'Firsts'
The lore behind Lakers, Louie, logo and more
Vietnam
Four decades later, refugee leads students to her homeland
Two-Eyed Seeing
Dig looks beyond history of logging town to displaced peoples
The Toughest Yard
1970 freshman team takes on Ionia prisoners in precursor to Laker football
AWRI's research helps restore Muskegon Lake
After decades of collaborative work, the lake nears coming off of EPA's 'concern list.'
Lakers on Water
Experts share what they have learned about appreciating and protecting this vital resource.
Learning to solve water's 'Wicked' Problems in Traverse City
An immersive week in northern Michigan highlights the regional center's plan to prepare students for the area's blue and green economy.
Water in the West
Studying the elements while out of your element and in the scenic vistas of the West's national parks.
Peak Season
Summer brings a heightened pace of work and study for these busy Lakers.
Responding to climate change as educators
As environmental academic programs increase, the GVSU network has expanded to offer resources to the K-12 and wider community.
Supporting changemakers with research and training
The Johnson Center celebrates 30 years as operating as a leading resource for national foundations and nonprofits.
Supreme relationship builder
Kyra Harris Bolden '10 said an injustice that happened to her family three generations ago fueled her to go to law school, which led to her appointment as a justice on Michigan's Supreme Court.
Meeting students where they are
If John Wen had a superpower, it would be adaptability. Wen is a textbook example of who leaders had in mind when they designed the accelerated degree program.
Teaching our teachers
In a changing PK-12 environment, GVSU responds with comprehensive programs to prepare tomorrow's educators.
Searching for patterns in cold case class
A unique criminal justice class spent a semester helping Michigan State Police develop leads for unsolved cases.
Grand Valley roots shaped photographer's career
Ben Moon '97: Photographer, filmmaker, surfer, cancer survivor. Now based in Oregon, Moon said GVSU served as the foundation for his life of creativity and exploration.
Mission continues for Laker Vets president
Travis Snyder hiked more than 900 miles around Lake Michigan on a mission to raise awareness of veteran suicide.
Engineering graduate realizes vision for Medical Mile Radiopharmacy
Anderson Peck and other alumni play key roles at the facility, which provides cancer patients with treatments that until now had only been available in Germany.
Boosting survival for hatchlings
Student and faculty researchers have collaborated with area conversationists to give rare Eastern box turtles an impenetrable head start on life.
Anchors Away
After months of lockdowns and restrictions due to the pandemic, Grand Valley's study abroad and international internship programs are coming back to life.
Psychology class works with local elite hockey team to sharpen mental part of the game
Students and a faculty member helped the Muskegon Lumberjacks with setting goals and learning to quickly overcome adversity.
Campus housing evolves with changing student populations
Since the debut of the first three living centers in the late 1960s, the campus population has quadrupled. Now GVSU offers 10 different living styles on the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.
Brewing beer and studying zombies
Brewing beer to teach its molecular structure, exposing flaws in movies and TV series to improve research skills, these are the classes Lakers remember long after leaving campus.
Back to school: Insider tips for life as a Laker
Which way do you walk under the Transformational Link? Read these tips to navigate around campus like a pro.
Caring for Michigan Tourism
Professor's project reaches 10th anniversary and $1 million in volunteer value.
Level Up
Laker Esports Center provides access to gaming, creates community.
Striking a Chord
Bill Ryan, an avid outdoor enthusiast, got to thinking several years ago: Is there a way to combine two of his passions -- nature and the GVSU New Music Ensemble that he leads?
Fossil Clues
Student and faculty researchers dig for fossils in South Carolina to better understand climate change.
Changes in senior leadership announced
Two new people were named to the university's leadership team: Fatma Mili as provost and Jennifer Hall-Jones as the inaugural vice president for Student Affairs.
GVSU Police Academy cadets learn, practice mediation tactics
The academy is the only one in the country to offer extensive mediation training.
Small Business Development Center creates opportunities for businesses still finding their way back from pandemic
Nearly two years after the COVID-19 pandemic began to cripple or cause the closing of some small businesses across the state, owners like DeAnna Gantt are still trying to find ways to survive.
Art Matters
More than 400 pieces of artwork in the DCIH were selected for their ability to prompt people to think and encourage them to ponder the human connection.
Engineering Regatta
30th anniversary of the regatta presents students with tradition and a design thinking challenge.
Growing a Mile
As the first educator on the Medical Mile, Grand Valley deepens its impact by opening the DCIH.
Innovative Spaces
The 17 classrooms and 12 labs in DCIH are equipped to create interprofessional team environments and encourage collaboration.
The Daniel and Pamella DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health
Tour the building and learn why students in health professions say the DCIH labs and its technology will enhance their learning and prepare them for the workforce.
Steel Sharpens Steel
A veteran entrepreneurship program offers a trusting atmosphere for vets to succeed.
THE PATIO
An outdoor space at Calder Art Center became a muse and welcome place to gather for pandemic-weary students and their instructor.
(wider) Open Doors
Development of recent pipeline and financial aid programs have opened the university's doors even wider to diverse students and helped diversify the area's workforce.
Delivering serious medical news
The unique training simulation paired health and theater students to practice delivering bad news to patients or their family members.
Math Making a Difference
David Austin found the right angle during a meeting with City of Grand Rapids leaders: applied math students who can help with real-world problems.
GVSU celebrates 60 years
The university may have celebrated an anniversary, but it's the campus community members who received gifts in the form of untold stories.
'An educated person helps the next generation'
Members of a historically Black sorority may be small in number, but they are mighty in their reach and plan to raise $450,000 for a scholarship fund.
The academic approach to COVID-19
For faculty members with academic training in issues related to a pandemic, the academic year presents a unique window for research and for sharing expertise with students.
When life gives you lemons ...
A new program in the Seidman College of Business pairs students with business owners to help them develop or strengthen their businesses, while providing opportunities for students.
Steps to a military friendly campus means building bridges with student veterans
The 400 student veterans on campus represent a small segment of the population, yet they have received increased attention over the years from university leaders.
Innovation Fund grant designed to turn computing program into talent pipeline
Computer science students will have increased access to a growing program designed to give real-world experiences, thanks to the university's first Innovation Fund grant.
A paradigm shift for the teaching profession
The COVID-19 pandemic created an extraordinary opportunity for Grand Valley experts to offer materials and resources to support K-12 students and teachers across the globe.
Laker community adapts to fall semester with safety at forefront
University leaders monitored the four Ts (tracking, technology, testing and tracing) as students moved back to campus and the fall semester started amid challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and crisis planning
Rapid actions like moving students off campus, beginning remote learning and working from home were executed by the Incident Management Team.
'Like playing basketball online'
Faculty members moved quickly in March to take their in-person lessons online when Grand Valley moved to remote learning.
In their own words
Members of the Class of 2020 reflect on a disoriented semester and offer a peek at their lasting Laker Effect.
GVSU gives refunds, grants scholarships, distributes hardship funds to support students
The financial effects of COVID-19 hit many students hard and fast as they abruptly left campus in mid-March to return home for what would turn out to be the remainder of the semester.
The time the show couldn't go on
Students and faculty take away lessons after weeks of rehearsals for a spring dance concert that shifted to a final paper.
Stay home, stay safe
More than 6,000 students moved off campus in record speed. Living center director Candice Cadena said, "It was hard to hear we weren't going to have a proper goodbye."
COVID-19 journaling project seeks to preserve history
Special Collections and University Archives is leading the way to document the personal experiences of the Grand Valley community during this historic time.
Transforming education in a low-performing district
The presence of Grand Valley in Battle Creek extends far beyond its office suite on West Michigan Avenue in the city's business district.
Tackling Teacher Turnover
Teacher retention within the Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System has been disheartening. The College of Education is among community partners working to change that.
From experiment to excellence
Celebrating 25 years as a pioneer in charter school education, Grand Valley authorizes 76 charter schools that serve more than 34,000 students.
Coronavirus cautions impact spring on campus
President Mantella called these challenging times, and said Lakers working together will ensure essential operations continue smoothly.
Social justice begins with me
The GRPL book club is designed for children ages 4-11 and explores social justice topics that impact their daily lives through children's literature.
Thompsons help students from working families realize dreams
Detroiters Bob and Ellen Thompson established the university's largest scholarship program; it is focused on opening access to education for students from working families.
Laker Love
For four Laker couples, seemingly mundane locations on campus have marked the start of their love stories.
'Pot of gold'
Douglas Gilbert is a retired photographer who gifted his entire collection, including rare photos of a young Bob Dylan, to Grand Valley's Art Gallery.
It's OK to go Explore(atory)
Exploratory study gives students who have not declared a major a plan and a positive outlook.
More than math
The first-of-its-kind camp at Grand Valley focused on the real-life responsibilities of an accountant and served as a way for local business leaders to coach and develop young talent.
Seal of success
Excelencia in Education, based in Washington, D.C., awarded Grand Valley its Seal of Excelencia in June for supporting Latino students. GVSU was the only Midwest institution to earn the honor.
Mantella makes bold commitments at investiture
Philomena V. Mantella announced two initiatives that will strategically position Grand Valley into what she called a "breakout university" during her investiture address November 15.
AWRI partners with Project Clarity
AWRI researchers study phosphorus runoff, and the impact on inland waterways.
Backstage Pass
With tasks like building sets, learning to design lighting and sound for a show, or creating and sewing costumes, students learn an array of behind-the-scenes jobs.
Bois Blanc Island
Elizabeth and John Kilbourne bought property on Bois Blanc Island. Over 30 years, the Kilbournes have built five structures on the rustic Lake Huron island.
GVPD Celebrates 50 Years of Community Policing
GVPD is celebrating 50 years on campus, its growth over the decades and its continuing mission to build relationships with the campus community to provide a safe environment.
The Meadows by the numbers
The university's golf course celebrates its 25th season in 2019.
Eat Better, Move More, Smile Often
Public health faculty and students have teamed with a community group in Lowell to offer wellness camps for elementary students.
Endangered no more
From New Zealand to Grand Rapids and from snakes to butterflies, Grand Valley professors and students have conducted research on endangered or threatened species.
Increasing Access
Departments team to help more students, particularly students from under-represented backgrounds, study abroad.
Servant Leader
After 13 years at Grand Valley, countless selfies with students, visits to Lansing to meet with legislators and handshakes with new graduates, President Thomas J. Haas looks ahead at retirement.
Classics to Career
Classics alumni find themselves prepared to face the challenges in the world today because those challenges are the same as those faced by ancient societies.
Just Like Mayberry
Laurie Finney Beard, '81, purchased McCausland Food Market in an effort to save her hometown grocery store located in Virginia, Illinois.
The Front Porch of Nursing
Since 2014, nursing faculty members and students have partnered with GRHC to provide health screenings, health interventions and education events for residents of Adams Park and other GRHC properties.
Health students thrive with unique technology in Finkelstein Hall
Elena Brownell was shaking a bit as she carefully walked along the suspended ropes course high above the floor of the two-story therapeutic recreation lab in Raleigh J. Finkelstein Hall.
Greetings from Grand Rapids
Tourists and residents explore Grand Rapids for its diverse activities, from art and food to history and music. It's a city full of creativity and growth, where new businesses can thrive.
Wandering seeds
A Haitian proverb that roughly translates to "The tall tree sees far, but the wandering seed sees more," served as the theme for a study abroad trip taken by a group of Lakers to Haiti.
Global Heights Academy Learning Gardens
Leaders at the school teamed with Big Green, a national nonprofit organization, to pilot how beneficial a learning garden is to a school and its community.
Peer support for homework
The Knowledge Market is staffed with trained students who are ready to help their peers with papers, research projects and presentations.
A silver coronation
The Grand Valley Shakespeare Festival is the oldest and largest festival in Michigan celebrating the Bard's life and works. Every year, festival events attract thousands of people of all ages.
Bringing medical device inventions to market
On a top level of the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, a group of students and staff members can be found building and testing new product ideas that could better human health and well-being.
College dropout surprised with degree
John Records Landecker can look back on a storied career as a radio broadcaster, entertaining millions of listeners around the U.S. and Canada for more than 50 years.
Laker Lineage
Lakers represent all 50 states and 84 different countries; and for many, being a Laker is all in the family.
'A place where all of me is welcome'
The Division of Inclusion and Equity may be housed on the fourth floor of Zumberge Hall, yet its reach touches nearly all aspects of living, working and learning at Grand Valley.
Gaming the lottery
Professor leads team of journalists, students to investigate global lottery industry
Learning across generations
Unique class finds solutions to help common aging issues
Give it to me straight
Mentorship program helps students grow personally and professionally
Flying high
GVSU, WMAA partner to advance engineering education
