Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies

Hauenstein Center Advisory Cabinet
Ambassadors, Advisers, Supporters, and Mentors
 
 
The Hauenstein Center appreciates the engagement of our advisory cabinet.  Their imagination helps shape the Center's four cornerstones: prestigious leadership academy, world-class events, cutting-edge website, and our one-of-a-kind library.  More importantly, their role as mentors and advisers enriches our students' education in and out of the classroom.
Hauenstein Center Advisory Cabinet
 
Ralph W. Hauenstein | Honorary Co-Chair
 Ralph Hauenstein, the Hauenstein Center's founding benefactor, is the inspiration behind all of our programs and initiatives.  From his military service in the Intelligence Branch of the U.S. Army during World War II to his business ventures and public philanthropy, Col. Hauenstein has witnessed some of the world's best and worst leaders.  Through his generous support of the Hauenstein Center, he seeks to teach valuable lessons to a new generation of leaders.
 
Hilary F. Snell | Chair
 Hilary Snell has served as an attorney, specializing in estate planning, for the Grand Rapids firm Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP since 1959.  Active in politics, he served as a chair of Gerald R. Ford's last congressional reelection committee in 1972.  Outside of politics and law, Mr. Snell has served on the boards of several Grand Rapids companies, many of which are in the health care and finance industries.
 
Frederick J. Antczak
 Dr. Fred Antczak is dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Grand Valley State University.  Prior to coming to Grand Valley, he taught and served in leadership positions at the University of Iowa, University of California-Berkeley, and University of Virginia.  Outside of the Academy, Dr. Antczak is a commentator on political rhetoric for a variety of news publications around the country.
 
Fred A. Bogaert
 Fred Bogaert is a member of the Peter Martin Wege Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he has been active in community theater since 1990.  Before his retirement, he served in sales management for 3M, Inc.  Mr. Bogaert is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, and he was stationed in Germany at the outbreak of the Korean War.  He is interested in U.S. history, current affairs, and politics.
 
William Brennan
 Bill Brennan serves as vice president general counsel for Bissell, Inc., where he has worked for the last ten years.  Prior to joining Bissell, Mr. Brennan was a partner at Dykema Gossett PLLC.  He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.  Mr. Brennan is also a member of the Legal Advisory Committee of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.  He enjoys running in the Fifth Third River Bank Run each year and spending time cycling and golfing.
 
Saralyn Coupe
 Saralyn Coupe serves as vice president of investments for Sherwood & Coupe Wealth Management, a UBS Financial Services company.  She is active in the music community of Grand Rapids, serving on the board of St. Cecelia's Music Center and participating in the Grand Rapids Symphony Women's Committee.  Ms. Coupe earned her B.A. in economics from Albion College and her M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.  In her free time, she enjoys sailing, tennis, golf, skiing, and piano.
 
Mike Flanagan
 Mike Flanagan serves as superintendent of public instruction for the State of Michigan.  Previously, he served for five years as superintendent in the Farmington/Farmington Hills School District, seven years as superintendent of the Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), and four years as executive director of the Michigan Association of School Administrators.  Superintendent Flanagan holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame and Eastern Michigan University.
 
Kyle Irwin
Kyle Irwin is an active member of the philanthropic community in West Michigan.  In addition to her service on the Hauenstein Center's Advisory Cabinet, she is a board member for several organizations including the Dwelling Place, John Ball Park Zoo, Van Andel Institute Foundation, and the YMCA.  Ms. Irwin holds degrees from Michigan State University and Western Michigan University.
 
K. V. Lacks
 K. V. Lacks serves as program manager for the Nissan account at Lacks Enterprises, a local, privately owned, automotive manufacturing firm.  He is responsible for managing personnel at the company's four plants.  He is also active in the Grand Rapids community, sitting on boards for the St. Mary’s Doran Foundation and Goodwill Industries.  Mr. Lacks received his undergraduate degree from Indiana University, Bloomington.
 
Robert LaFave
 Robert LaFave serves as village manager of L'Anse, Michigan.  He has worked previously in city government at Greenville and Cedar Springs, Michigan.  Through his work for AmeriCorps in Lansing, Mr. LaFave ran the Earned Income Tax Credit program, which brought over $3.5 million dollars back to low-income residents in the Greater Lansing Area.  Mr. LaFave is a graduate of Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University, where he earned his M.P.A. in public management.  He is also a graduate of the Hauenstein Center’s Peter Cook Leadership Academy.
 
Glenn Niemeyer
 Dr. Glenn Niemeyer served in many roles during his 40-year career at Grand Valley State University.  He served first as assistant professor of history, and later as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and vice president of academic affairs, before retiring in 2001 as the university’s provost.  In the Grand Rapids educational community he has served on the boards of trustees for Grand Valley, Calvin College, and LOVE, Inc.  Dr. Niemeyer received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University.
 
Patrick Reagan
 Patrick Reagan is director of the Downtown Development Authority and manager of the Main Street program for the City of Portland, Michigan.  Under his leadership, the Portland Main Street program has achieved national accreditation as a “Master Level Main Street Community” from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Michigan Main Street Center.  Mr. Reagan earned his B.A. in history and M.P.A. in public management from Grand Valley State University, and he graduated from the Hauenstein Center’s Peter Cook Leadership Academy.
 
Mary A. Seeger
Dr. Mary Seeger is a retired professor and dean of advising resources and special programs at Grand Valley State University.  She taught German and linguistics from 1965 to 2005.  Dr. Seeger is currently an author of critical works on detective fiction and a member of Sisters in Crime, a national organization of authors, editors, and critics.  Her interest in women's and local history led her to serve as president of the Greater Grand Rapids Women’s History Council and as a board of directors member for the Women’s Resource Center.  Dr. Seeger is a member of the Swedish Club and the Edelweiss Club for German Heritage.
 
Lucille Taylor
Lucille Taylor is a practicing attorney in Michigan and a visiting professor of law at Ave Maria Law School in Naples, Florida.  She also serves in Lansing as the Michigan Special Assistant Attorney General.  Ms. Taylor has served for seven years as a member of the Grand Valley State University board of trustees, and four years as chairman of the board.  Previously, she served as chief legal counsel for Michigan Governor John Engler.  Ms. Taylor and her husband – former Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Cliff Taylor – are inspired by Ralph Hauenstein's life of leadership and service.    
 
Marilyn A. Titche
 Marilyn Titche works in real estate development and management, and has built HUD subsidized apartments and laundromats near Greenville, Michigan.  She is involved in several family business ventures, and serves as a trustee for her family's foundation.  Ms. Titche enjoys the arts and supports Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Public Museum, and Grand Rapids Literary Council.  She is active in interfaith dialogue and attends Temple Emanuel.
 
John D. Wardrop
 John Wardrop is former president of Dake and Sparks Belting Co., and a retired secondary school teacher and coach in Grand Rapids.  At the Hauenstein Center, Mr. Wardrop serves as a student mentor and helps shape programs for the Peter Cook Leadership Academy.  In the Grand Rapids community, he sits on boards for Goodwill Industries and YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids.  Mr. Wardrop enjoys reading, golfing, and spending time with his grandchildren.


Hauenstein Center Student Mentors
 
Jennifer Maxson
Jennifer Maxson currently serves as the Practice Group Leader for Varnum Consulting. Jennifer joined Nancy Skinner & Associates in 1996, which was acquired by Varnum Consulting in 2003.She provides consulting services to clients in Michigan and throughout the United States focused on developing leaders. Jennifer is the lead coach for the Speak Up & Be Effective(tm) series which provides skill development in strategic leadership and communications. In 2010, Jennifer was honored as one of the Forty Under 40 Business Leaders, Grand Rapids Business Journal and a Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce's ATHENA(r) Young Professional Nominee. Her community involvement includes Van Andel Institute J-Board, Wolverine World Wide Family YMCA Board Member and Leadership West Michigan, Marketing Chair. Jennifer is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and received her Bachelor's degree in Public Relations. Jennifer is married and has three young children.
 
Deborah Snow
Deborah Snow has been teaching in the English and social studies departments at East Kentwood High School for forty years.  For the last twenty-two years, she has coached her school's "We, the People: the Citizen and the Constitution" team to fifteen state championships and many national competition appearances.  Ms. Snow is actively involved in the Grand Rapids community, serving on many boards as well as leading the Emeritus Book Seminar at Aquinas College.  Currently, she acts as legislative chair for the Advocates for Senior Issues.
 
Ron VanSteeland
Ron VanSteeland served in the finance and administration division at Grand Valley State University for 35 years.  When he retired in 2001, he was Vice President for Finance and Administration, with duties including budgeting and finance, facilities planning and construction, athletics and other academic support functions.  Outside of the Grand Valley community, Mr. VanSteeland has served on the board of the West Michigan Environmental Council and many other local governmental boards and advisory committees.  The University awarded him an Honorary Doctorate degree in 2001 and named the VanSteeland Living Center for him in 2009.
 
 
David Annis
David Annis served as Grand Valley's Department Chairperson for Advanced Studies in Education, taught Educational Leadership and was a Field Representative for the University's Charter Schools from 1997-2008.  Before coming to Grand Valley, David served as superintendent of Allendale and White Pigeon Schools as well as a teacher and administrator in Forest Hills and Northview Schools.  He graduated from Central Michigan University and received his M.S. and Ed.S from Michigan State University.