Four questions about Reach Higher Together
Laura Aikens, vice president for Institutional Advancement, shares what comes next and what these commitments mean for GVSU's future.
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March 17, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 13)
March 11, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 13)
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Michele Coffill
From left are Robert Smart, vice provost for Research Administration; Jakia Marie, assistant professor and program coordinator for Africana Studies; and Jennifer Drake, acting provost. Marie received two awards.
Faculty members celebrated the achievements of their colleagues during the 18th annual Faculty Awards Convocation February 18 at the DeVos Center.
University Awards for Excellence were presented, along with awards from the Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence, and Pew Faculty Teaching and Learning Center. The accomplishments of each award recipient are detailed online.
In her opening remarks, Acting Provost Jennifer Drake called the assembled faculty a "community dedicated to our scholars," adding they are linked together by years of conversations, debates and mentorship.
President Philomena V. Mantella thanked faculty members for igniting a passion of learning in students who then take their education and experiences to their communities.
"We can unleash the value of a Grand Valley education by doubling down on liberal education and professional experiences that enable our learners to be ready for a meaningful life, a meaningful career and to be able to sort through the noise that surrounds them all," Mantella said.
Chris Haven, professor of writing and recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award, gave the convocation address, which focused on the point of view of a story. Grand Valley's story, he said, would be told differently depending on the narrator.
"The more we talk together, the closer we get to taking in the whole story," Haven said. "Grand Valley's story is everybody's story."
This article was last edited on March 10, 2025 at 2:39 p.m.
Laura Aikens, vice president for Institutional Advancement, shares what comes next and what these commitments mean for GVSU's future.
Featured
March 17, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 13)
On March 26, the campus community can choose from hundreds of funds that support the Grand Valley student experience.
March 17, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 13)
Article by
Anna Davis
Traverse City residents and employers were the guests for the 100th episode.
March 17, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 13)
Article by
Sofia Pratt