Stacie R. Behler is Vice President, Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees. She has executive responsibility for state and federal government relations, public and media relations, institutional marketing and advertising, and the university's radio and television stations. She is also a member of the president's Senior Leadership Team and the Budget Committee.

Behler joined GVSU in 2022 after 20 years in leadership positions at Meijer Inc. and The Meijer Foundation. Prior to joining Meijer, she served as an associate with the law firm Smith Haughey Rice and Roegge, P.C..

She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Oakland University.

The Michigan Women’s Foundation (now Michigan Women Forward) honored Behler with its 2018 Woman of Courage and Achievement Award. Other awards and honors include being named among the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan by Crain’s Detroit Business and a 2015 Alumni Achievement Award from Oakland University.

She has served as chair of the boards of The Economic Club of Grand Rapids , the Heart of West Michigan United Way, the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.  She was also appointed by Governor Snyder to the Michigan Municipal Services Authority.

Sarah Abel is Executive Associate, Public Affairs and Communications.

Abel joined GVSU in 2024 after serving as the Chief Operations Officer for a data-driven consulting agency and has extensive experience in project management, marketing, community relations, operations, and communications through her previous roles at The Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Rockford Construction, and Comfort Research.

She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Northern Michigan University, is a graduate of Trinity Health’s Up Next program, completed the Huntington Rising Women Leader’s program, and volunteers for several non-profits in the West Michigan area.