Alumni Spotlights

Jason Black '99

Jason Black '99

Employer
Aquatics Director/ Varsity Head Coach

LinkedIn Profile
https://linkedin.com/in/jason-black-2bb14087

1. Tell us about your journey since graduation.
The journey was definitely not defined by the courses of study but my journey has been defined by the experiences, opportunities, and challenges that GVSU provided me as an undergraduate student.

2. Share a favorite Grand Valley memory.
Too many to list but…having to greet the incoming freshmen class in the field house during freshmen welcome week with Victor Cardenas is one of my most stressful memories. When we came off stage Dean Merkle was laughing and all I wanted to do was throw up from nerves and I quote from Dean Merkle “why do you think I have you guys do it instead of me?” Also road tripping with Andy Beechnau, Tom Butcher, and Dean Merkle to Bowling Green University.

3. What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Be good at your job and don’t get involved in elected politics. Maybe not “best piece of advice” but best skill was learning how to write in Professor Proctor’s storytelling class.

4. List three words you would use to describe your Grand Valley experience.
Freedom Growth Accountability

5. What difference would you like to make in the world?
Loaded question for the ego. I try and live my own personal truth. GVSU helped me discover the path I needed to start down to find this truth. The difference I try to make on a daily basis is to allow my athletes the space needed to discover themselves personally while challenging them physically with personal challenges and goals as well as team challenges and team goals.

January 2022

Interest Area(s)
Communications, History

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Page last modified January 14, 2022