Dr. Jessica Saint Amour serves as Assistant Vice President for Student Support and Belonging, where she provides executive leadership for initiatives that advance student success, equity, and persistence. Since joining GVSU in 2013, Dr. Saint Amour has played a central role in strengthening institutional infrastructure to support students with academic, financial, and social barriers, contributing to improved recruitment, retention, and graduation outcomes for previously underserved populations.

She was instrumental in the creation and growth of the Office of Student Support and Belonging, aligning cross-campus partners to create high-impact support programs. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to building systems that promote access, belonging, and long-term student success.

Dr. Saint Amour has served as a current and former grant partner with the American Association of University Women, the U.S. Department of Education, the Office for Civil Rights, and the Department of Health and Human Services. Her scholarship has been published in the Journal of Progressive Policy and Practice, National Women’s Studies Journal, NASPA publications, and Springer Press.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Bowling Green State University, a master’s degree in Women’s and Gender Studies from Eastern Michigan University, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri. Dr. Saint Amour lives in Saugatuck, Michigan with her partner and three children.