Matt McLogan announced he will retire June 30, after 35 years of service to Grand Valley. 

Stacie R. Behler will join GVSU on July 1 as the new vice president and chief public affairs and communications officer and secretary to the Board of Trustees. 

President Philomena V. Mantella has appointed long-time Meijer Inc. executive Stacie R. Behler as the university’s new vice president and chief public affairs and communications officer and secretary to the Board of Trustees. The selection comes following the announcement that Matthew E. McLogan will retire effective June 30.

Behler, an attorney, is currently the group vice president of Public Affairs and Communication at Meijer. She began with the retail company as senior legal counsel in 2001 and over the next two decades was given increasing responsibility and leadership roles in human resources, communications, community engagement and government affairs. 

“I have known and admired Stacie since coming to Grand Valley and seeing the impact she has in the region,” Mantella said. “She brings the kind of experience we need to fill this role, which includes government relations, communications and marketing. Stacie has a good legal mind, solid and varied experience with an enormously successful retail company, and the dedication and relationships to carry our successful community and business relationships forward, while also creating new ones.”

Behler received a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois and a bachelor's degree from Oakland University. She will begin her new role at the university July 1, leading the division that includes government relations, Institutional Marketing, University Communications and WGVU Television and Radio.

McLogan was hired as vice president by then-President Arend D. Lubbers in 1987, a tenure that makes him the longest continuously serving executive officer in Grand Valley’s history. After a career in broadcast journalism in the 1970s, McLogan served as Michigan Public Service Commissioner in the 1980s. He brought those experiences to GVSU, originally overseeing government relations, University Development, which included Alumni Relations, in addition to the communications team and the university’s public radio and television stations.

He took on additional responsibilities as secretary to the Board of Trustees in 2019. 

“It has been an exceptional privilege to have worked with four of Grand Valley’s five presidents, along with the talented faculty and staff who have made the university so successful,” McLogan said. “Together, we have been part of GVSU’s amazing trajectory from a regional college to a widely respected university with a statewide impact and growing Midwest and national reputation.”