Laker Club Talks
Exploring a variety of topics, perspectives, and ideas that empower us to form meaningful relationships and find common ground through impactful conversations in a relaxed and informal setting.
Winter 2024
Jennifer Drake
Turning Points
February 1, 2024
Jennifer Drake, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dean Jennifer Drake will offer reflections on leadership drawn from a journey through the transformative experiences that often go unnoticed on a traditional CV.
Keri Becker
Leadership during the modernization of college athletics
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Kari Becker, Director of Athletics
Keri shared details about the evolving landscape of the NCAA and explored the challenges and opportunities that campuses and athletic leaders face as the NCAA modernizes to meet the needs of the future.
Scott Wooster
Building a Legacy: Lessons from Generations
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Coach Scott Wooster, GVSU Football Head Coach
Coach Scott Wooster shared lessons learned from dad, gramps, and 23 years as an assistant coach that shaped how GVSU created the ultimate college football experience for our young men, lead GVSU Football to dominance, and fueled the legacy we are forging at Grand Valley.
Jackie Zhang
The Longest Journey I Have Ever Made
February 19, 2024
Jackie Zhang, Dean, College of Health Professions
Dean Jackie Zhang shared three stories of his personal and professional journey: from patient care to population health/healthcare management, from China to U.S., and from other public and private universities to Grand Valley State University.
No recording available.
Fall 2023
Kara Van Dam
Rediscovering Home
October 12, 2023
Kara VanDam, Vice Provost for Graduate and Lifetime Learning
After growing up in Grand Rapids, VanDam called a lot of places home over the next 30 years: Chapel Hill, Barcelona, Chicago and D.C. Then a stroke of fate set her course for a return to West Michigan. What’s it like to come home when so much has changed?
Steven Hodas
From Pulling Stumps to Pushing Strings
October 18, 2023
Steven Hodas, Executive Director, GV NextEd Co-Lab
Steven Hodas, Director of the NextEd Co-Lab, reflects on differences in culture change within K12 and higher education.
Robert Talbert
Active Learning is Personal
October 19, 2023
Robert Talbert, Professor of Mathematics and Senior Faculty Fellow for Learning Futures
Professor Talbert shares how his experiences as a student set the stage for how he teaches today, along with discussing active learning and his personal mission to make it the default setting for higher education.