Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network
About the Network
This is a pivotal time at Grand Valley State University as we conclude the Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan and continue shaping its next phase, Reach Higher Together.
To support these conversations and help guide the university's future direction, President Mantella expanded the President's Council to include a broader group of connected and talented students, faculty, and staff. The resulting Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network includes representatives from all functional areas of the university, as well as leadership from Student Senate, University Academic Senate, and the Administrative Professionals Committee. The network serves in place of the President's Council through 2026.
To date, the network has engaged the university community in refining the strategic framework and performance framework that will guide Reach Higher Together from 2026–2030.
Core Team
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Philomena Mantella* |
President |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Laura Aikens* |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement |
Institutional Advancement |
|
Elizabeth Doyle |
Executive Associate for Philanthropic Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives |
Institutional Advancement |
|
Cori Kahler |
Director of Presidential Operations |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
Team 1
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Robert Shorty* |
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Aaron Haight |
Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students |
Student Affairs |
|
Aaron Lowen |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Alyss Cardona-Alberto |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Mark Schaub |
Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies |
Academic Affairs |
|
Michelle Rhodes |
Associate Vice President for Financial Aid |
Enrollment Development and College Futures |
|
Rence Meredith |
Assistant Vice President of Facilities Services |
Finance and Administration |
|
Shontaye Witcher |
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Director of Student Accessibility Resources |
Student Affairs |
Team 2
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Jennifer Drake* |
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Anne Sergeant |
Professor & Vice Chair, University Academic Senate |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Bill Cuppy |
Assistant Vice President for University Communications |
University Relations |
|
Craig Wieschhorster |
Associate Vice President for Business and Finance |
Finance and Administration |
|
Kate Harmon |
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Well-being and Inclusion |
Student Affairs |
|
Mary Albrecht |
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Mel Shell-Weiss |
Dean of University Libraries and Art Museum |
Academic Affairs |
|
Ty Vanlerberghe |
Vice President, Student Senate |
Student Representation |
Team 3
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Kara Van Dam* |
Vice President and Chief Executive of GVSU Omni |
Omni |
|
Annie Bélanger |
Presidential Fellow and Senior Librarian |
Academic Affairs |
|
Christine Rener |
Vice Provost for Instructional Development and Innovation |
Academic Affairs |
|
Courtney Karasinski |
Professor & Chair, University Academic Senate |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Deb Sanders |
Director of HR Strategic Business Partners |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Kathleen VanderVeen |
Associate Vice President, Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, and Title IX Coordinator |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
William Laurin |
Chief of Staff, Student Senate |
Student Representation |
Team 4
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Stacie Behler* |
Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer and Secretary, Board of Trustees |
University Relations |
|
Ben Rapin |
Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer |
Information Technology |
|
Christopher Jones |
Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
Academic Affairs |
|
Dan Hurwitz |
Associate Vice President for University Development |
Institutional Advancement |
|
Danny Vélez |
Associate Vice President for Admissions and Recruitment |
Enrollment Development and College Futures |
|
Donovan Anderson |
Vice Provost for Student Success and Experiential Learning |
Academic Affairs |
|
Emily Par |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Keri Becker |
Athletic Director |
Finance and Administration |
|
Matthew Reidsma |
Content and Accessibility Strategist for Virtual Services |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Paul Isely |
Associate Vice President for Strategic Budget Management |
Academic Affairs |
Team 5
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Laura Aikens* |
Vice President for Institutional Advancement |
Institutional Advancement |
|
Heather Taylor |
Assistant Vice President Risk and Insurance Programs |
Finance and Administration |
|
Josh Isaak |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
University Relations |
|
Joy Murerwa |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Leah Breen |
Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools |
University Initiatives |
|
Marouane Kessentini |
Dean, College of Computing |
Academic Affairs |
|
Tonisha Jones |
Associate Professor |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Troy Farley |
Director of the Career Center |
Omni |
Team 6
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Jessica Weare* |
Vice President and General Counsel |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Adam Downs |
Assistant Vice President for Prior and Workforce Learning |
Omni |
|
Luke DeMott |
Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer |
Information Technology |
|
Pragya Mehla |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Ryan Otter |
Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation |
Academic Affairs |
|
Shannon Specter |
Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy |
Institutional Advancement |
|
Sherril Soman |
Dean, College of Education and Community Innovation |
Academic Affairs |
|
Tonya Parker |
Professor, Clinical Coordinator - Athletic Training |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
Team 7
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Greg Sanial* |
Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, Board of Trustees |
Finance and Administration |
|
Adebayo Ogundipe |
Dean, Padnos College of Engineering |
Academic Affairs |
|
Chris Knape |
Assistant Vice President for University Communications |
University Relations |
|
Ed Aboufadel |
Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Elisa Ortega-Schultz |
Employee Ombuds |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Hailey Bos |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Jeremiah Cataldo |
Professor |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Justin Melick |
AP Committee Chair |
AP Committee |
|
Lisa Haynes |
Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, Grand Rapids and Regional Centers |
Finance and Administration |
Team 8
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Jenny Hall-Jones* |
Vice President for Student Affairs |
Student Affairs |
|
Emil Delgado |
Associate Vice President for Information Technology |
Information Technology |
|
Erica Hamilton |
Vice Provost for Distributed Learning and Dean of the Graduate School |
Academic Affairs |
|
Evan Jackson |
President, Student Senate |
Student Representation |
|
Linda Lewandowski |
Dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing |
Academic Affairs |
|
Marlene Kowalski-Braun |
Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Tova Sanders |
Presidential Associate |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
Team 9
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
B. Donta Truss* |
Vice President for Enrollment Development and College Futures |
Enrollment Development and College Futures |
|
Blake Ashby |
Professor |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Diana Lawson |
Dean, Seidman College of Business |
Academic Affairs |
|
Afua Asante |
President, Graduate Student Association |
Student Representation |
|
Shannon Owen |
Director, Northern Michigan Programs |
Omni |
Team 10
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Miloš Topić* |
Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer |
Information Technology |
|
Felix Ngassa |
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Jared Moore |
Associate Professor, College of Computing |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Jeffrey Potteiger |
Dean, College of Health Professions |
Academic Affairs |
|
Jennifer Allard |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
University Relations |
|
Jen Torreano |
AP Committee Vice Chair |
AP Committee |
|
Josiah Pewitt |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Latoya Booker |
Director, Inclusion and Equity Institute |
People, Equity, and Culture |
* indicates Executive Officer of the university.