Lucille and Clifford Taylor

When Lansing attorney Lucille Taylor served on Grand Valley's Board of Trustees, she quickly found a lot to like. "I was struck by the vitality of Grand Valley and its focus on teaching, especially for undergraduates," says Lucille. "And yet Grand Valley shines through its center of excellence, which have truly reached national stature."

It was one of those centers that drew Lucille and her husband, Cliff, to make a gift to Shaping Our Future in support of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies. The Center's focus and programs impressed the Taylors, a family very committed to justice and the rule of law. Cliff is the former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court. Lucille, who now chair's GVSU's Board of Trustees and is a member of the Hauenstein Center Advisory Cabinet, was former Gov. John Engler's Chief Legal Counsel.

"Our gift was also inspired by the example of Ralph Hauenstein," said Cliff. "His leadership in the intelligence field during World War II is remarkable enough. But today he still critically analyzes the insights of executive leadership, and he is devoted to mentoring the center's Cook Leadership Fellows. That speaks volumes about his character."