Reach Higher Together
Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network
Functioning in lieu of the President's Council for 2024-2025
About the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network
For 2024-2025, the President's Council was expanded to the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network. This network serves as a collaborative body dedicated to information sharing, enhancing internal communication, and fostering greater collaboration across Grand Valley State University to recognize new opportunities and challenges while shaping the next phase of our strategy together. Members of the network will engage deeply in our Reach Higher strategy, focusing on advancing our annual priorities while remaining adaptable for future initiatives as we move beyond Reach Higher 2025.
This year, the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network will focus on:
- Engagement in Reach Higher Strategy: A central role in driving engagement within the university and with external partners, ensuring that we advance our Reach Higher strategy and meet our annual priorities.
- Facilitate Information Exchange: Ensure essential information, updates, and reports are shared among council members in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Collaborate for Unified Communication: Work with key stakeholders to create a unified voice that effectively communicates the university’s strategic initiatives, goals, and achievements to internal and external audiences.
- Address Emerging Matters: Identify and respond to other matters impacting the university community.
- Foster Agility and Growth: Continue building our agility and growth mindset.
- Leadership Education and Development: Continue ongoing leadership education and development related to university priorities, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Check back for opportunities to join us as we Reach Higher Together.
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Academic Affairs |
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Ed Aboufadel |
Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Mary Albrecht |
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Donovan Anderson |
Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
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Annie Bélanger |
Dean, University Libraries |
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Tim Born |
Interim Dean, Padnos College of Engineering |
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Bonnie Bowen |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Cathy Buyarski |
Vice Provost for Advising and Student Success |
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Jennifer Drake* |
Acting Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Erica Hamilton |
Interim Vice Provost for The Graduate School |
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Marouane Kessentini |
Dean, College of Computing |
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Sean Lancaster |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Diana Lawson |
Dean, Seidman College of Business |
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Linda Lewandowski |
Dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing |
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Aaron Lowen |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Felix Ngassa |
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
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Jeffrey Potteiger |
Interim Dean, College of Health Professions |
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Christine Rener |
Vice Provost for Instructional Development and Innovation |
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Mark Schaub |
Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies |
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Robert Smart |
Vice Provost for Research Administration |
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Sherril Soman |
Dean, College of Education and Community Innovation |
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Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
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|---|---|
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Jesse Bernal* |
Vice President for Strategy and Chief of Staff to the President |
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Leah Breen |
Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools |
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Elizabeth Doyle |
Executive Associate for Presidential Initiatives |
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Bill Herbst |
Executive Associate for Presidential Communications |
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Steven Hodas |
Executive Director, GVSU NextEd Co-Lab |
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Cori Kahler |
Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees & Project Specialist for Presidential Initiatives |
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Philomena Mantella* |
President |
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Evan Potter |
Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives |
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Pat Smith |
General Counsel |
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Jessica Weare |
General Counsel |
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Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach |
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|---|---|
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Nykia Gaines |
Assistant Vice President for Federal TRIO Programs |
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Michelle Rhodes |
Associate Vice President for Financial Aid |
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B. Donta Truss* |
Vice President for Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach |
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Danny Velez |
Associate Vice President for Admissions & Recruitment |
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Finance & Administration |
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|---|---|
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Keri Becker |
Athletic Director |
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Brandon DeHaan |
Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police |
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Lisa Haynes |
Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, Grand Rapids and Regional Centers |
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Karen Ingle |
Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning |
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Rence Meredith |
Assistant Vice President of Facilities Servces |
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Greg Sanial* |
Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, Board of Trustees |
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Heather Taylor |
Assistant Vice President Risk & Insurance Programs |
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Craig Wieschhorster |
Associate Vice President for Business and Finance |
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Information Technology |
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|---|---|
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Emil Delgado |
Associate Vice President for Information Technology |
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Luke DeMott |
Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer |
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Ben Rapin |
Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer |
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Miloš Topić* |
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer |
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Omni |
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Adams Downs |
Assistant Vice President for Prior and Workforce Learning |
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Troy Farley |
Director, Career Center |
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Shannon Owen |
Director, Northern Michigan Programs |
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Kara Van Dam* |
Vice President | Chief Executive of GVSU Omni |
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People, Equity, and Culture |
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Robert Shorty* |
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture |
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Latoya Booker |
Director, Inclusion and Equity Institute |
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Mychal Coleman |
Associate Vice President of Human Resources |
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Marlene Kowalski-Braun |
Associate Vice President & Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer |
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Elisa Ortega-Schultz |
Employee Ombuds |
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Deb Sanders |
Director of HR Strategic Business Partners |
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Kathleen VanderVeen |
Associate Vice President & Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer & Title IX Coordinator |
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Student Affairs |
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Alisha Davis |
Assistant Vice President for the Social Justice Centers |
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Aaron Haight |
Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students |
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Jenny Hall-Jones* |
Vice President for Student Affairs |
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Kate Harmon |
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Well-being and Inclusion |
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Shontaye Witcher |
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Student Accessibility Resources |
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University Development |
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Laura Aikens* |
Vice President for University Development |
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Dan Hurwitz |
Associate Vice President for University Development |
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Shannon Specter |
Assistant Vice President, Philanthropy |
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University Relations |
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Jennifer Allard |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
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Stacie Behler* |
Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer and Secretary, Board of Trustees |
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Bill Cuppy |
Assistant Vice President for University Communications |
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Josh Isaak |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
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Chris Knape |
Assistant Vice President for University Communications |
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Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
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Merritt Delano Taylor |
Professor of Biomedical Sciences & Presidential Fellow |
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Courtney Karasinski |
Professor & Chair, University Academic Senate |
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Jared Moore |
Associate Professor, College of Computing |
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Tonya Parker |
Professor, Clinical Coordinator - Athletic Training |
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Matthew Reidsma |
Content and Accessibility Strategist for Virtual Services |
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Karyn Rabourn |
Associate Professor of Higher Education & Presidential Fellow |
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Anne Sergeant |
Professor & Vice Chair, University Academic Senate |
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AP Committee |
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Jason Cronkrite |
AP Committee Vice Chair |
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Justin Melick |
AP Committee Chair |
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Student Representation |
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Abdul Ciise |
Graduate Student, College of Education and Community Innovation |
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Lauren King |
President, Graduate Student Association |
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Evan Jackson |
Chief of Staff, Student Senate |
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Paris Lawson |
Vice President, Student Senate |
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Gabrielle May |
Student Assistant Manager, Office of the President |
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Quinten Proctor |
President, Student Senate |
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Calvin Ruffini |
Student Assistant, Office of the President |
* indicates Executive Officer of the university.