![Jessica Jennrich is director of the Women's Center.](/gvnext/files/img/article/28ECD96A-9ED7-6728-252F6C49C7A3087A/47D98F9C-D0BD-C0E6-4AB001A30F5DF8C4/original.jpg)
New director to lead Grand Valley's Women's Center
![Jessica Jennrich is director of the Women's Center.](/gvnext/files/img/article/28ECD96A-9ED7-6728-252F6C49C7A3087A/47D98F9C-D0BD-C0E6-4AB001A30F5DF8C4/original.jpg)
Jessica Jennrich has been named the new director of Grand Valley
State University’s Women’s Center. She succeeds Marlene
Kowalski-Braun, who is now assistant vice provost for Student Affairs.
Jennrich comes from Dartmouth College, where she directed the
Center for Gender and Student Engagement. Prior to that, she led the
undergraduate program in the Women’s Gender Studies Department at
Dartmouth and taught at the University of Missouri.
Originally from Cleveland, she received a bachelor’s degree in
English from Bowling Green University, a master’s degree in women’s
and gender studies from Eastern Michigan University, and a doctorate
in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri.
Bart Merkle, vice provost for Student Affairs and Dean of
Students, said Jennrich brings knowledge and ability that will enhance
the center.
“The Women’s Center challenges and supports our students to
explore a range of gender and social justice issues as part of their
Grand Valley experience,” Merkle said. “Engaging students to learn
about themselves, about other people, and about our broader society is
an endeavor that we will continue to expand under Jessica’s capable leadership.”
Jennrich said her plans for the Women’s Center include
maintaining current programs and events as well as leveraging work
that has been done at the center on a local and national level.
“Moving forward, we’ll look at how to integrate all students
into the center and make sure all people feel like they have a place
here,” Jennrich said. “We’ll make sure all aspects of our work have an
intersectional lens, so we’re thinking about how a student’s identity
is more than just gender.”
Jennrich said Grand Valley’s collaborative environment is very
impressive. “There’s genuine and intentional work being done here,”
she said. “People are so friendly and students have a real sense of
ownership about Grand Valley.”
The campus community can welcome Jennrich during the Women’s
Center’s annual Art Reception on September 19 from 1-3 p.m. The
reception will celebrate artists whose artwork is displayed in the
center.
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