Faculty and staff sketches

June 10, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 19)

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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
Ellen Thompson, co-founder of the Thompson Foundation and the driving force behind the Thompson Working Families Scholarship, was named one of the 2025 Detroit News Michiganian of the Year.

Alan Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting research professor at AWRI, and Amanda Buday, associate professor of sociology, were interviewed by Bridge Michigan for a story about a boom in development near Muskegon Lake after a taxpayer-funded cleanup.

Katie Tyrrell, adjunct research assistant for AWRI, was interviewed by FOX 17 for a story about collecting water samples from Half Moon Lake in Muskegon County as part of a 50-lake, five-county study on salt pollution.

Shawntain Jenkins, director of Central-West Michigan, was featured in a community spotlight on WUVS radio in Muskegon.

Adrienne Wallace, associate professor of advertising and public relations, and Kim Bode, GVSU alumni, were interviewed by Bridge Michigan for a story about the increase of adults who do not to have children.

Patty Janes, professor of hospitality and tourism management, was interviewed by WalletHub for a story about the best and worst cities for a staycation.

Provost Jennifer Drake was named Communicator of the Year by the West Michigan Public Relations Society of America at its PRoof Awards. Others receiving recognition are listed below.

• The GVSU Spotlight, produced by University Communications, earned a silver award in the newsletter category. Subscribe here.
• Student Tina Duoibes: Public Relations Student of the Year and the Kelly Rossman-McKinney Leadership Award
• Jeremy Bakken, '98, Priority Health: PR Professional of the Year
• Shannon Cohen, '00 and '11, Shannon Cohen Inc.: JEDI Communicator of the Year
• Payton Peltomaa, '22, Holland Engineering Inc.: Outstanding Emerging Pro
• Alana Holland, '13, WZZM-TV reporter: Media Person of the Year
• Adam Russo, ’09 and ’15, COM 616 and West Michigan Newspop: Excellence in Community Service

Sketches
Nathan Kemler, director of Galleries and Collections, received the President's Award from the Michigan Museum Association. The award recognizes exemplary support of MMA, service to the Michigan museums field and a career of distinction.

Grand Valley was featured in the 2025 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report for the Student Technology and Innovation Guild (STING) program, an initiative from IT Innovation and Research that brings student assistants and subject-matter experts across campus to collaborate and build innovative technology solutions that address pedagogical challenges.

Three teams of engineering students competed in the Additive in Steel competition in Cleveland, in which university students designed and fabricated a functional everyday carry device using additive manufacturing with steel. The teams consulted with first responders and service providers to better understand how multitools are used. Abishek Balsamy-Kamaraj, assistant professor of engineering, said one Laker team placed third for their design.

Michael Wolfe, professor of psychology, was elected as a fellow of the Society for Text and Discourse.

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Faculty & Staff Sketches