Across Campus

Wenner to retire as dean

Much like an experienced relay runner, Wendy Wenner said she’s ready for the handoff.

Wendy Wenner

Wenner will retire as dean of the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies at the end of May. She was named founding dean of the new college in 2004. Wenner joined Grand Valley in 1988 as a visiting faculty member in the English department. In 1999, she was named assistant vice president for Academic Affairs.

“We’ve got a good transition plan in place here for the next person,” Wenner said. “The college has a name, it’s established. It is time for someone else to lead it for the next 10 years.”

The college was established to provide innovative, integrative areas of study for students. It includes academic programs like the Meijer Honors College, Liberal Studies and Women and Gender Studies, and houses initiatives like the Fred Meijer Writing Center, Padnos International Center, and Sustainable Community Development Initiative.

Wenner said a model similar to Brooks College wouldn’t fit at all universities.

“At more traditional universities, institutions are bound by more traditional boundaries,” she said. “At Grand Valley, we are able to make those boundaries more porous.”

Gayle R. Davis, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said Wenner’s talents helped developed Brooks College and give it a “firm foundation for the future.”

“The Brooks College needed the rare combination of talents and interests that characterize Dean Wenner’s work: creative energy, ability to inspire, optimism, intelligence, and willingness to design new paths toward academic innovation,” Davis said.

Wenner said she began preparing for her retirement last year. She said she would like to spend more time coaching faculty and staff members who are ready for leadership positions. She recently took up painting, and would like to continue to take more art classes.

A reception to celebrate Wenner’s retirement is set for Wednesday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m. at the Alumni House.

 

Events planned to celebrate Kingston partnership

Numerous events are planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the successful international partnership between Grand Valley and Kingston University, located outside of London.

Grand Valley alumna Jacqueline Garner studied at Kingston in 2010. Her artwork, including the image above, will be displayed at the celebration April 27 at Tre Cugini.

Since it was established in 1986, hundreds of students, faculty and staff members have participated in exchanges between the two universities. Rebecca Hambleton, director of study abroad and international partnerships for the Padnos International Center, said the partnership first concentrated in the sciences but has since expanded to include diverse academic programs like art and design, nursing, English, business, public administration, engineering and more.

“This partnership currently offers the most comprehensive curricular options for student, faculty and staff exchanges,” Hambleton said.

Brian Curry, who had served as professor of biomedical sciences at Grand Valley, helped develop the partnership. Curry hosted Bob Godfrey from Kingston in 1986 and then explored a partnership. Curry, who now lives in the United Kingdom, will return to Grand Valley later this month for the celebration.

Ginger Randall, associate dean of students, was among the first faculty from Grand Valley to visit Kingston. In 1996, Randall served as international student advisor and traveled to Kingston to see how its student services operated.

“I wanted to meet with people in all areas of student services,” Randall said. She was also in London at the same time Grand Valley’s crew team raced in its first regatta against Kingston.

A reception to celebrate the partnership is planned for Friday, April 27, at Tre Cugini Restaurant, 122 Monroe Center NW in Grand Rapids. Grand Valley will welcome Kingston’s vice chancellor, Julius Weinberg, and the head of international development, Heather Forland, at the celebration. Faculty and staff members are invited; RSVP by April 20 by sending an email to Vicki Wenger at wengerv@gvsu.edu or by calling x13898.

Artist and Grand Valley alumna Jacqueline Garner studied at Kingston in 2010. Photographs she took in London will be displayed at Tre Cugini during the reception. While at Kingston, Garner studied with Vince Wade, head of photography. Garner said Wade taught her to photograph London from a photographer’s eye, rather than a tourist’s eye.

In July, Grand Valley and Kingston will participate in a collaborative project “Bodies in Motion” combining dance, music and digital innovation, which will be broadcast online. More information about the Kingston partnership and upcoming events is online at www.gvsu.edu/kingston25.

 

Career Services internship luncheon recap

Career Services held its annual internship luncheon April 12 to celebrate its student interns, internship supervisors, and faculty partners and present awards.

Andrew Borgman, a biostatistics major, received the Intern of the Year Award for his work at the Van Andel Research Institute. Lindsey Rodarmer, web content specialist at Advantage Health/Saint Mary’s Medical Group, received the Outstanding Internship Supervisor of the Year Award.

Two area employers were recognized: Wolverine World Wide and Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park.

Tim Penning, associate professor of communications, and Gail Zemmol, affiliate professor of hospitality and tourism management, were recognized as Outstanding Internship Advocates.

 

Summer camps for kids listed

Work Life Connections has compiled a listing of area summer camps for K-12 students.

Visit www.gvsu.edu/healthwellness and click on “Summer Camps” to view the list, or call Work Place Options, (800) 952-3586 and press number 4. For more information, contact Sue Sloop at sloops@gvsu.edu.

 

English faculty member advocates for international education

Amy Masko, associate professor of English, had a good story to share with Washington legislators when she met with them to help promote international education.

Amy Masko

Masko traveled to Washington in late March on behalf of the Padnos International Center to participate in the NAFSA Day of Advocacy. Universities from all over the country sent representatives; Masko was the only representative from Michigan.

Masko relayed the story of how a dance-drum troupe from Ghana, Korye Dance Theatre, was denied visas last year to visit Grand Valley and West Michigan for performances on campus and at 13 area schools.

“We tried to bring them here last fall,” Masko said. “We had everything lined up: support from Grand Valley, donations from the West Michigan community. But the travel visas for all 25 members of the troupe were denied for various reasons.”

When she met with U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga and aides for Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, Masko said her story illustrated how, at times, the U.S. visa process limits international education.

“Bringing international musicians, artists and professors here for cultural exchanges is necessary to provide international education to those students who aren’t able to participate in study abroad opportunities,” Masko said.

Masko earned a Fulbright Fellowship several years ago and studied in Ghana. She also serves as a board member for Korye Dance Theatre.

 

KCON dean earns national honor

Cynthia McCurren, dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing at Grand Valley State University, was elected to the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished scholar and fellow in late March.

From left are Bonnie Wesorick, Cynthia McCurren and Michelle Troseth. McCurren was elected to the National Academies of Practice.

The NAP is composed of 10 academies representing dentistry, medicine, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatric medicine, psychology, social work, and veterinary medicine. Each academy can elect 150 active distinguished practitioners.

“It’s an incredible honor,” McCurren said. “No other organization has the breadth of knowledge and experience within its membership to discuss today’s health care delivery questions from an interdisciplinary perspective.

“I am motivated by the goals of NAP and excited to work with colleagues who share my passion to advance interdisciplinary work through practice and advocate at the policy level.”

McCurren joined Grand Valley in 2007. She had served as dean of the school of nursing at the University of Louisville.

During her tenure at Grand Valley, McCurren has collaborated to develop an endowed center, the Bonnie Wesorick Center for Health Care Transformation, within KCON. She currently serves on the Michigan Area Health Education Center advisory board.