V.P. McLogan retiring in June

President Philomena V. Mantella has announced that Vice President for University Relations and Secretary to the Board of Trustees Matthew E. McLogan will retire in June. In her announcement to the campus, Mantella shared that Matt was the first university person she met because of his position as the board liaison during the presidential search.

“I have valued enormously his good counsel, friendship and strong encouragement and support. He is a wise man, always looking to show the university and its faculty, staff and students in the best light,” Mantella said. “He has been a good and faithful servant and steward of the investments made in this community. Matt will be sorely missed.”

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 the 1970s, McLogan served as Michigan Public Service Commissioner in the 1980’s. 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. Today, McLogan leads government relations, Institutional Marketing, University Communications and WGVU Public Media. He took on additional responsibilities as secretary to the Board of Trustees in 2019. 

Throughout his tenure, McLogan worked with political and community leaders and government officials to achieve many of the university’s goals, often working behind the scenes to make sure visions that required public partnership received funding and other essential support. McLogan was instrumental in securing the university’s position on the Medical Mile in downtown Grand Rapids, among other notable projects.

McLogan joined the university when it had 8,000 students, mostly from West Michigan on one campus, and he leaves it as the state’s fourth largest public university with nearly 23,000 students in five locations, plus digital offerings with an impressive Midwest reputation and expanding national footprint.

“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. I will miss the personal interactions with students and colleagues, of course, but I conclude my service with high confidence in Grand Valley’s continued success. I’m so grateful to have been a part of this community.”

McLogan’s last day will be June 30. Mantella said the sensitivity of his role and the lead time given afforded her the opportunity to work with an advisory committee and senior leaders to choose his successor. She will announce the new vice president the week of April 11.