Alumni-in-Residence Honoree Hollin De La Cruz: "Languages, Non-Profit, and the Impact of Study Abroad"
Thursday, October 1, 2026
1:00 p.m.
Allendale Campus
Alumni, Community, Faculty, Staff, Students
Join Modern Languages and Literatures Distinguished
Alumni-in-Residence honoree Hollin De La Cruz for her presentation on
"Languages, Non-Profit, and the Impact of Study Abroad."
Hollin De La Cruz is a community-centered leader and strategist
working with partners across roughly 65 organizations in the West
Michigan region. In 2022, she launched the West Michigan Welcome Plan
Collaborative, a multi-sector, community-driven initiative focused on
building a more inclusive region for immigrants, refugees, and New
Americans, advancing efforts in education, economic opportunity,
community engagement, public safety, and access to essential services.
A Grand Rapids native, she brings expertise in program coordination,
cross-sector collaboration, and communications, helping to align
strategy and foster inclusive participation. Hollin’s path reflects
the determination and curiosity of a non-traditional student. While
pursuing her studies part-time, she balanced three to four jobs while
completing her associate degree in three years at Grand Rapids
Community College. She paused her formal education to work and travel,
before ultimately earning her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley
eleven years after beginning her post-secondary path. Her commitment
to learning extended far beyond the classroom. She built a diverse
résumé across multiple sectors and lived abroad in Curacaví, Chile;
Montréal, Canada; and Bordeaux, France. These experiences deepened her
passion for cultural connection and strengthened her appreciation for
the many ways people see and engage with the world.
Location Information
MAK-D-2-221
Download parking map for the Allendale Campus
Contact Information
Janel Pettes Guikema
Modern Languages and Literatures Department
Email: [email protected]
Hosting Department, Organization, or Business
Modern Languages and Literatures
Tags
air alumni clas mll modernlanguagesandliteratures
Share this event
This event was added to the calendar by Kelli Nemetz (nemetzke@gvsu.edu) on Monday, September 21, 2026 and was last updated on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 9:06 a.m.
Similar Events
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Spanish Yappy Hour - Spanish Conversation Hour - All Levels Welcome!
Allendale Campus2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Majors Fair 2026
Allendale Campus2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Majors Fair 2026
Allendale Campus10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
LAKER CON 2026
Allendale Campus6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.