In Memoriam
Retired staff member
Donald (Don) Williams Sr., retired dean emeritus of minority affairs, died March 29, 2026. He was 89. Williams joined Grand Valley's staff in 1985 and retired in 2001.
Williams worked as director of the Minority Business Education Center and was appointed as dean in 1989. He developed programs to address the academic and social needs of students of color in business, science and mathematics, and education. Those programs served as the nucleus for OMA.
A celebration of life service for Williams is scheduled for May 16, 1-3 p.m., at the DeVos Center, Exhibition Hall, on the City Campus. Complimentary parking will be available in the DeVos Lot.
Don Willams Sr., standing at left, chats with William Pickard, seated at a table during the 2022 Enrichment Dinner.
Retired staff member
Thomas Darnell Robinson, retired custodian, died on March 19, 2026. He was 72.
Robinson joined the Facilities Services staff in 1991 and retired in 2018.
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