Women's Commission

Members and Contact Information

Leadership Team for 2011-12:

Chaunté Rodgers began her employment with GVSU in 2007, as the Employment and Benefits Coordinator in the Human Resources department. Hailing from the Bay Area (CA), she earned her BA at Michigan State University in Human Resources and Sociology and is pursuing her Masters through the school of Public and Nonprofit Administration at GVSU.

Rodgers is an advisor to the Revolution @ Campus Student Organization and she volunteers with several organizations in the Grand Rapids area. She is a member of the BL²END Professional Development Group and has completed the United Way's Project Blueprint Training.

In her spare time she loves baking, reading, spending time with her husband, and dreaming about California.

Takeelia Garrett-Lynn

Takeelia is originally from Taylor, Michigan, on the east side of the state, located south of Detroit by Metro Airport. She attended Grand Valley State University as an undergrad and received a degree in International Relations with an emphasis in Political Science, and a Minor in Sociology. She then worked at Ferris State University before returning to GVSU to pursue her Masters Degree in the College Student Affairs Leadership program. She has worked for the University of Toledo, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor before returning to GVSU.

Takeelia enjoys reading, SHOPPING, and spending time with her very active son. She enjoys working with students and attending cultural events on campus and loves meeting new people and being involved in student development.

Liz Smith

Liz Smith has worked in the Padnos International Center as the Coordinator of Outreach and International Students since 2008. She graduated from GVSU with a degree in Liberal Studies and an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Gender with an International Relations minor. She studied abroad as an undergrad student and credits this experience with forever altering her life's path.

After graduating from GVSU Smith served as a Rural Health Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal, West Africa where she worked primarily with women and girls on reproductive health, domestic violence and child marriage issues. She also collaborated with international NGO's and other organizations on gender and development work. Smith is currently pursuing a Masters of Education at Grand Valley. In her spare time she enjoys traveling and there is no place on earth she wouldn't feel privileged to explore. She also practices yoga and is passionate about the arts.

Theresa Rowland

VAWA Grant Coordinator (Women's Center)

The Women's Commission is open to all who want to join and be a part. If you are interested in joining the commission or serving on the Leadership team, please send your statment of interest to Chaunte Rodgers.

For General Inquiries please contact the Women's Commission at wcommission@gvsu.edu