News
Dr. Kevin Lehnert awarded Highest Academic Award
February 15, 2024
Congratulations to Kevin Lehnert! On February 15 at the DeVos Center, he was presented the Glenn A. Niemeyer Award, the highest academic award granted annually at GVSU. This award recognizes excellence in accomplishments and commitment to the University.
Dr. Kevin Lehnert is a Professor of Marketing in the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University. He holds bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology from Saint Louis University, a master’s in philosophy from Boston College, an MBA from Loyola University Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University. His research interests have focused on ethical decision-making, pro-social consumer behavior, social impacts, and advertising creativity. He has published in several journals including the Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Advertising, Psychology & Marketing, and the Journal of Business Research to name a few. Two highlights of his career include Best Paper of the Year Award for 2014 for the International Journal of Advertising and the GVSU Alumni Association Outstanding Educator of the Year Award in Fall 2013.
Kevin’s interests in marketing and ethics stem from his background in philosophy, where he realized that enacting change in the world meant changing how we looked at business. As an educator, Dr. Lehnert sees teaching as a journey. His goal is to communicate knowledge and experiences that help change the way students see the world and business. While the journey is often hard, it doesn’t mean it can’t be without joy and enthusiasm. In class, Kevin is known for his energetic, yet authentic, lectures, so much so that his colleagues jokingly refer to his teaching style as that of a “hummingbird”. By journeying alongside his students with challenging, contemporary ethical dilemmas, it is his hope that together they can become better managers and leaders. It is this enthusiasm and passion that exemplifies the spirit of the Neimeyer Award.
“At your service,” is Kevin Lehnert’s signature phrase. Whether it is responding to a student at 2 a.m., taking over for a sick colleague, or filling the service role that others may overlook, GVSU is a better place because he is here.