Sharalle Arnold has been involved in early childhood education since 1993 when she first began her educational career at California State University, Chico. After graduating from Chico State with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, she went on to earn a Master of Education degree at Washington State University in 2001, along with a teaching certificate for grades K-8. Sharalle has worked as a preschool teacher, kindergarten enrichment program coordinator and teacher and substitute teacher in Pullman school district.

In 2004, Sharalle joined the Grand Valley community as the Assistant Director of the Children’s Center. During that time she focused on improving the university’s climate and cultural awareness by acting as an InterGroup Dialog Facilitator, participating in the Healing Racism training and serving as a member of the GVSU Intercultural Committee.

She has participated in numerous professional organizations such as the American Association for University Women, Future Teachers of Color, ACE Network and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Currently, Sharalle is the Affiliate Representative for the West Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children.

Connie Dang has been with the Office of Multicultural Affairs since 2002, and named Director in 2009. She began her professional career at GVSU in 1989 providing administrative functions to Affirmative Action, Human Resources and University Counsel Offices.  At Grand Valley, Connie serves as advisor of the Asian Student Union, Delta Phi Lambda and Students Promoting Diversity and Leadership Peer Mentoring.  She is also a co-chair of the Asian Student Union Scholarship Committee, an advisory member of the Inclusion and Equity Division Advisory Board, an advisory council of the Women’s Center Advisory Council and an honorary member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Society.  In the community, Connie serves as a trustee of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, a member of the West Michigan College and University Presidents Compact Committee and a member of the Asian Victim Relief Fund Committee. 

Connie earned her bachelor of science at Western Michigan University and her master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University. In may 2009, she received the Excellence in Leadership and Service to GVSU award and was inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha, national honor society for the field of public affairs and public administration.

Marlene Kowalski-Braun has worked in higher education for the past 14 years and began at GVSU in 1996, she is currently the Director of the Women’s Center.   Kowalski-Braun is involved in a variety of higher education associations. Within the National Student Personnel Association (NASPA), she serves on the Center for Women, and is the immediate past chair of the National Knowledge Community Chair for Women in Student Affairs (WISA). Outside of NASPA, she was a member of the advisory council for Women’s Centers through the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) and is the in-coming chair of the American Council on Education (ACE) Michigan Network for Women. 

Marlene has received professional honors including the GVSU's Maxine Swanson and Commitment to Diversity Awards, and most recently, the NASPA National Mid-Level Professional Award. In the community, she serves on the United Way Women’s Leadership Council and co-chairs the Annual GVSU United Way Campaign. 

Marlene earned her bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University, her master’s degree from Ball State University, and is currently working on her doctorate through Western Michigan University.

Diana Pace is the Associate Dean of Students. She is Board Certified in Counseling Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. She received her undergraduate degree in History from Duke University and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in Counseling Psychology. She started at GVSU in 1976 as a psychologist in the Counseling Center and served as Director of the GVSU Counseling Center from 1985 until 2003, when she began her current position.

Diana Pace heads up mediation services for the university; chairs the division diversity committee and the co-curricular programming committee; co-chairs the university Claiming a Liberal Education project; and edits Pulse, a newsletter for faculty about student characteristics. She authored The Career Fix-It Book and has had numerous articles published in professional journals. She has been recognized for her work at Grand Valley including the Administrative Professional Achievement Award and the Maxine Swanson Award for contributions to women’s concerns. She also received the Outstanding Publications Award from the Michigan College Personnel Association in 2002 and 2003. She also teaches at Grand Valley in the College Student Affairs Leadership Program (CSAL) for the College of Education.

Barbara Palombi is the Director for the Counseling and Career Development Center at Grand Valley State University.  She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Michigan State University and is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). Barbara’s formal educational background includes a Master of Arts from Pacific Lutheran University, and a bachelor’s degree from Luther College.

Barbara’s extensive clinical experience counseling students in higher education has given her a unique perspective on providing mental health services to GVSU students. She believes that the major purpose of the Counseling Center is to help students achieve their academic goals by supporting them through individual and group therapy, career planning, alcohol/substance abuse counseling and student recovery, and wellness education. 

Ginger Randall joined the Grand Valley community in 1984, initially working with international students and providing services to students with disabilities. During her time at Grand Valley, she has also worked with returning adult students, LGBT students and issues, ADA compliance, and assessment.

As Associate Dean of Students, Ginger coordinates the university judicial system and recruitment and training of graduate assistants in the College Student Affairs Leadership program. Ginger earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration degrees from Grand Valley, and her Ph.D. in Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE) from Michigan State University.