College of Health Professions Academic Advising

To schedule an academic advising appointment with one of the College of Health Professions advisor's please use the link below.

Schedule an Appointment

Mike Saldana, Director

Mike serves as the Director of the College of Health Professions Student Services Office.  He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs Leadership from GVSU.  After earning his Master’s Degree, he worked as an academic advisor at Illinois State University.  He worked specifically with incoming freshman and undecided students.  Upon returning to West Michigan, he fills most of his time watching sports-related programs, being outdoors, and spending time with family.

Michelle Johnson, Assistant Director

Michelle has served as an academic advisor in the College of Health Professions Student Services Office since 2008.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and graduated from GVSU in 2008 with a Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs Leadership. Her higher education career started at Kellogg Community College back in 2002. 

Brianne Whittemore-Saldana, Senior Academic Advisor

Brianne has served as an academic advisor in the College of Health Professions Student Services Office since 2011. She graduated from GVSU in 2008 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and in 2011 with a Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs Leadership. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Jennie Glynn, Senior Academic Advisor

Jennie began as an Academic Advisor within the College of Health Professions in December 2016. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Health Professions with a minor in Aging & Adult Life from Grand Valley State University in 2012. While a student at GVSU, Jennie worked as a Student Assistant within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Academic Advising Center, where she formed a passion for higher education and academic advising. After graduating, she earned a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University in 2012. Prior to returning to GVSU, Jennie worked as an Admissions Counselor at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and spending time outdoors with her family. A West side native, she is excited to be back on campus, and proud to be a Laker for a Lifetime! 

Valinda Stokes, Advising Program Assistant

Valinda is one of the professional support staff for the College of Health Professions Student Services Office. She also serves as the admissions coordinator for the College of Health Professions Graduate Programs.  In her free time, she spends time with her son and daughter, friends and family.

Emma Plummer, Office Coordinator

Emma has served as an Office Coordinator at Grand Valley since 2022. Since her transition to CHP Student Services office from CLAS Advising, Emma has thoroughly enjoyed working with students interested in the health professions!  Emma is a GVSU Alum and graduated in 2017 with a B.S in Studio Art. In her free time, Emma loves to read, spend time with family and friends, and be outside! She currently lives in Grand Rapids with her husband, and their two cats and dog. Emma is thrilled to be a part of CHP and is excited to continue her service to Grand Valley students.

Nichole Roach, Graduate Assistant

Hi there, my name is Nichole! I am the new Graduate Assistant for the College of Health Professions Student Services Office. I am also currently getting my Master of Arts in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration (HESAA). I also graduated in December from GVSU with my Bachelor of Science in Writing and during my undergrad, I was a student worker for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Advising Center. More exciting facts about me are that I have a cat named Lady May because I found her as a kitten in the parking lot of a country music festival. (She's now 2 years old). I also love cooking/baking, reading, playing video games (I'm a Stardew Valley and Palia gal), and I also watch a lot of Netflix.

Usha Rani Pedapalli, Graduate Receptionist

I am Usha, currently pursuing a master’s in Health and Bioinformatics, with a bachelor’s degree in Dental Surgery. Apart from my academic work, I enjoy traveling, listening to music, spending time in nature, hanging out with friends, and I’m also a selenophile.

Pallavi Lakshmi Narra, Graduate Receptionist

I'm Pallavi Lakshmi Narra, a graduate student at Grand Valley State University, where I'm diving into Health Informatics and Bioinformatics. Originally from India, I'm navigating this new chapter with curiosity and determination, eager to make the most of my time here. I enjoy connecting with people and creating a positive atmosphere, which makes my role as a receptionist a perfect fit for me.

Lynn Obadha, Graduate Receptionist

Lynn is a Graduate Student at Grand Valley State University, pursuing a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. She holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from Kenyatta University. In addition to her studies, she works as a Graduate Receptionist, where she enjoys interacting with people and assisting students and faculty. In her free time, she listens to music and watches movies.