Board announces Presidential Search Advisory Committee

The Grand Valley State University Board of Trustees announced the appointments of the remaining 14 members of the Presidential Search Advisory Committee (PSAC) who will assist the board in its search for the university’s next president, succeeding President Thomas J. Haas who will retire June 30, 2019. 

The PSAC members appointed today will join Trustees John Kennedy, Mary Kramer, Megan Sall and Kate Pew Wolters who were previously selected by the board as PSAC members; Trustee Kennedy will serve as chair.

“The members appointed are experienced and knowledgeable members of our campus community and my fellow trustees and I are grateful for their willingness to serve in this important capacity,” Kennedy said.

The members are:

Representing the Faculty and Academic Administration

Felix Ngassa, professor of chemistry, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; chair, Faculty Senate

Majd Al-Mallah, professor of modern languages and literatures, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Sean Lancaster, professor, chair of literacy and technology, College of Education

Samhita Rhodes, associate professor of biomedical engineering, Padnos College of Engineering and Computing

Deb (Deborah) Bambini, professor of nursing, Kirkhof College of Nursing

Kate (Kathryn) Remlinger, professor of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Ellen Schendel, assistant vice president for Academic Affairs 

Diana Lawson, dean of the Seidman College of Business 

Representing Administrative & Professional Staff

Kyle Caldwell, executive director, Johnson Center for Philanthropy, College of Community and Public Service

Daniel Hurwitz, assistant vice president for community giving, University Development Office

Representing the bargaining units

Cheryl (Sherry) Bouwman, assistant, Office of University Communications; member, Association of Professional Support Staff

Representing the student body

Jonathan Bowman, Student Senate president

Representing the alumni

Selma Tucker, BS 2009, MPA 2011, vice president, Public Sector Consultants

Representing the public at large

Mitchell Watt, Triangle Construction, member of the Grand Valley University Foundation 

The PSAC’s first order of business will be to conduct listening sessions to hear from the campus community and the general public about the qualities desired in the next president. Dates and times of these sessions will be announced soon at gvsu.edu/presidentsearch and will take place in April on both the Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses.