With the 2026-27 school year underway, the GVSU DEISS team is excited to welcome two new colleagues, Dr. Jolia Hill and Jess Lautner!

Their addition to DEISS will provide more localized support for schools in Metro Detroit, as well as additional compliance and oversight assistance for the entire GVSU charter network.

Learn more about Dr. Hill and Jess below.

Dr. Jolia Hill serves as Assistant Vice President for K-12 Academics and Innovation, where she provides strategic leadership to advance academic excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement across the organization's K-12 partnerships.

With more than 25 years of experience in public education, charter school leadership, and higher education, Dr. Hill has built a distinguished career focused on strengthening school quality, expanding educational opportunities, and improving student outcomes throughout Michigan. Before joining the organization, she served as Director of Charter Schools at Eastern Michigan University, overseeing a portfolio of charter schools while leading accountability, governance, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives. In that role, she collaborated closely with school leaders, governing boards, university leadership, and state agencies to strengthen educational performance and organizational effectiveness.

Before Eastern Michigan University, Dr. Hill spent more than a decade at Wayne RESA, where she provided leadership and technical assistance to 33 school districts and more than 100 public school academies. She also previously served Southfield Public Schools, leading the administration of state and federal education programs that supported student achievement and educational equity.

Throughout her career, Dr. Hill has been recognized for her collaborative leadership, expertise in academic accountability, governance, strategic planning, and school improvement, as well as her commitment to developing strong partnerships that help schools thrive.

Dr. Hill earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from Wayne State University, an Education Specialist degree from Oakland University, a Master of Public Administration from Syracuse University, and a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University. She remains actively involved in professional organizations dedicated to advancing high-quality public education across Michigan.

Jess Lautner serves as K-12 Oversight Specialist, bringing experience in school board coordination, regulatory compliance, operations, and higher education to her role. She is passionate about building collaborative environments and providing reliable, proactive support to the teams and organizations she serves.

Before joining the DEISS team, Jess served as a Board Coordination Coordinator with National Heritage Academies, where she supported operations for 26 school boards and managed the preparation of comprehensive board materials, including financial reports and strategic action items. She also coordinated the submission of more than 900 annual regulatory compliance items across six states, ensuring adherence to legal and funding requirements. Her experience included collaborating with audit teams and supporting fiscal transparency and organizational integrity.

Previously, Jess also served as an IAC Student Coordinator at Central Michigan University, where she supported student-athletes, developed policies and procedures, coordinated events, and supervised and trained a team of 28 employees. She also supported communication efforts and worked directly with student-athletes on their academic and personal development.

Jess earned a bachelor's degree in Community Development from Central Michigan University, with a concentration in Community Services/Health Sciences. She brings a service-driven approach to her work and is committed to clear communication, teamwork, and creating meaningful experiences for the schools and communities she supports.