Faculty and Staff Information
arnie smithalexander | danielle palmer | mitzi johnson | josh brandsen
 Arnie Smithalexander
GVSU TRiO Programs Director
230 Student Services Building
Phone: 331-3441
smithala@gvsu.edu
Arnie is a graduate of Central High School, Grand Rapids Community College, Western Michigan University, and Grand Valley State University.
She has three children who attended and graduated from the Grand Rapids Public Schools and have gone on to earn college degrees.
Arnie believes that...
- all students must be adequately prepared to choose a career path.
- the community must support and invest in the schools.
- parents are critically important to the success of our schools and students.
- all students need a safe, nurturing and clean environment in which to learn.
- every child must progress to the next grade with the skills to read at or above grade level.
- all staff must have access to participate in professional development.
Arnie currently serves on the Grand Rapids Public Schools Board of Education and their Education Committee. She also serves as a Board representative on the City/School Liaison Committee.
 Danielle Palmer
Instructor / Coordinator
233 Student Services Building
Phone: 331-3441
palmerda@gvsu.edu
Danielle graduated from Grand Valley State University with an English degree with an emphasis in Secondary Education and a minor in history. She has served as the Development Committee Chair for the Michigan Chapter of the Mid-America Educational Opportunity Program Personnel for 3 years and has also attended the Japan Center of Michigan Universities in Hikone, Japan. She have been with the Upward Bound Program since 2001.
 Mitzi Loving
TRiO Programs Coordinator
230 Student Services Building
Phone: 331-3441
lovingm@gvsu.edu
Mitzi has attended the University of Phoenix and Grand Valley State. She has worked for several nonprofits and is the director of her own nonprofit organization, which supports the education of single mothers through babysitting and transportation assistance. She is also on Grand Valley's Diversity Assessment Employment Committee.
 Josh Brandsen
Instructor/Activities Assistant
233 Student Services Building
Phone: 331-3441
brandsjo@gvsu.edu
Josh graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in mathematics and a minor in computer science with an emphasis in secondary education. He is certified to teach mathematics or computer science at the secondary level. Josh teaches mathematics to Upward Bound students in the Grand Rapids Public Schools during the school year and at GVSU during the summer program. He is involved in the community and enjoys volunteering with his students. He is currently working towards a Master of Education in General Education with an Emphasis in Advanced Content Specialization-Mathematics from GVSU. Josh has been with the Upward Bound Program since 2004.
|
