Achievements celebrated at Faculty Awards Convocation

March 11, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 13)
Article by Michele Coffill

three people standing in academic regalia

Chris Haven shakes President Mantella's hand, both are wearing academic regalia and Haven is holding a framed certificate

Jennifer Drake on stage in Loosemore Auditorium, audience of faculty members

six people in academic regalia stand to chat with each other

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.

Photo Credit: Cory Morse

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."