Professor, former director of School of Communications celebrates 40 years of service

January 21, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 10)
Article by Michele Coffill

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When Alex Nesterenko arrived at Grand Valley in 1984, there was a large depression in the land near what is now the Cook Carillon Tower that four-legged animals had clearly used.

"I drove into campus for the first time and came upon a cow wallow," said Nesterenko, professor of communications, referring to a depression created for cows for dust bathing. "The Allendale Campus was once farmland and the family who owned the land apparently had cattle. Despite this bucolic nod to the past, I knew that Grand Valley was on the move.

“It was clear to me that Grand Valley was eager to evolve, to become more than it was. It was this ambition that attracted me to the university. Everyone seemed keenly focused on the work of increasing the student population and offering exceptional educational experiences."

He came from the University of Tulsa, where he served as chair of the mass media program. Before that, Nesterenko completed a doctoral degree and taught at the University of Iowa, also working at the Iowa Center for Communication Study as a research consultant. 

Nesterenko was hired as the founding director of Grand Valley's School of Communications. He said he worked closely with Admissions to recruit students. The School of Communications had 80 students that first year; when he stepped away as director in 2008, the enrollment was 1,850.

"We became attractive to students because of the blend of professional and liberal arts programs, and we were one of the few universities at that time that believed internships were vital to the student’s career success," he said. "Because of these qualities, GVSU quickly became one of the top choices for communication education."

Nesterenko helped establish an undergraduate program in health communication and a professional graduate program in communication. He served for many years in faculty governance as a member of the Executive Committee of the Senate and on a variety of committees, including one that advised President Emeritus Arend D. Lubbers on how to best use the land donated to GVSU in downtown Grand Rapids. 

The School of Communications celebrated its own 40th anniversary in October. To honor Nesterenko, an endowment fund was established in his name. The Dr. Alex Nesterenko Graduate Student Endowment Fund will help students travel to conferences and complete other professional development initiatives.

"It's an honor to have the graduate scholarship fund named for me.  It means a great deal to me that my colleagues have recognized me in this way,” Nesterenko said. "The cost for students who are invited to give presentations at conferences is often prohibitive. Although GVSU is good about offering funding to graduate students, this scholarship will provide needed additional support.”

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