GVSU names new director of Title IX office

Jesse Bernal, chief of staff to the president and vice president for Inclusion and Equity, announced that Kevin Carmody will be Grand Valley's new director and Title IX coordinator.

Carmody will begin working at Grand Valley on January 4. He is the civil rights and Title IX coordinator at Alma College, a position he has held since 2018. At Alma, Carmody is responsible for supervising the case management team and managing the college's response to reports. He developed and implemented training for investigators, panels and advisors.

Bernal said Carmody has a deep understanding of Title IX and a strong commitment to transparency, communication and collaboration. Carmody's background in student affairs will also aid him in this role, Bernal said.

"Kevin has expanded experience with identity-based harassment complaints, working with employees and students," Bernal said. "His work in student affairs and a counseling background also demonstrate his empathic nature and active listening skills that are essential for this important work."

Prior to working at Alma, Carmody served as associate dean of student life/Title IX coordinator at Ferris State University and in a similar role at Youngstown State University, among other positions. 

He said Grand Valley has invested work in the Title IX office by expanding its staff and said it was partly what prompted him to apply.

"I saw there was a lot of support for this work at GVSU," Carmody said. "It's clear that the faculty view this work as a priority, and seeing the faculty who have volunteered to serve as investigators in the model employed is a great sign."

President Philomena V. Mantella said Ann James, interim director and Title IX coordinator, will continue supporting that office through Carmody's transition.

“I am confident that Kevin will provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all campus community members," Mantella said. "His breadth of experience at diverse institutions, and in leadership positions, will serve Grand Valley well. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the search committee and to Ann James for her time and commitment to the university.”

Carmody earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Central Michigan University, and will defend this summer his doctoral dissertation — a phenomenological study of the experiences of sexual assault survivors who participated in a Title IX investigation — from the same institution.