Faculty and staff sketches

October 14, 2025 (Volume 49, Number 4)

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Sherri Fannon, associate dean for Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation, received an honor from Crain's Grand Rapids Business.

Photo Credit: Cory Morse

Faculty and staff members who have given presentations, were recognized for outstanding contributions or had their research published are detailed below. The campus community can submit a sketch online for future publication. 

In the News
Sherri Fannon, associate dean for Interprofessional Simulation and Innovation, was named a Notable Leader in Health Care Technology by Crain's Grand Rapids Business.

Rob Larson, affiliate faculty of natural resources management, was interviewed by Michigan Public Radio for a story about the Kent County Deer Public Survey, a collaboration among faculty and student researchers and Kent County. 

President Philomena V. Mantella and Paul Isely, professor of economics and associate dean of Seidman College of Business, were interviewed by multiple outlets for stories following the release of GVSU's economic impact report.

Graduate student Alexandria Walz wrote a guest column, "Recognizing Physician Assistant Week," for the Grosse Pointe News.

Sketches
Donald Zinman, professor of political science, wrote a book, America's First Wartime Election: James Madison, DeWitt Clinton, and the War of 1812, published by the University Press of Kansas.

Grand Valley was included in the inaugural cohort of Michigan College Access Network's Gateway Course Redesign Faculty Academy, an 18-month, faculty-driven initiative designed to support colleges and universities in restructuring key gateway courses at scale. Institutions received $10,000 for implementation funding. Maureen Wolverton, senior affiliate faculty of interdisciplinary studies, is the grant's principal investigator.

Bopi Biddanda, professor of water resources, received a $46,900 grant from the Great Lakes Observing System for the Muskegon Lake Observatory project. 

Joel Wendland-Liu, associate professor of interdisciplinary studies, wrote a book, Simply to Be Americans? Literary Radicals Confront Monopoly Capitalism, 1885-1938, published by Vernon Press.

Crystal Scott-Tunstall, affiliate faculty of interdisciplinary studies and internship coordinator, participated in the Alumni-in-Residence program at Stanford University, coaching and assisting participants who are completing design thinking training. 

Tim Penning, professor of advertising and public relations, wrote a book, Public Relations Theory in Practice: Strategic Applications for Professionals, published by Business Expert Press.

Sarah Nechuta, associate professor of public health, was a co-author of an article, "Addressing the Soy and Breast Cancer Controversy: A Review of the Clinical and Epidemiologic Evidence Relevant to the Impact of Postdiagnosis Isoflavone Intake on Breast Cancer Outcomes," published in Current Nutrition Reports.

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Faculty & Staff Sketches