Faculty and staff sketches

October 15, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 4)

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Darrell 'Coach D' Andrews addresses GEAR UP students during a presentation in the Kirkhof Center.

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
Dawn Rutecki, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, and graduate student Nikki Miranda were interviewed by WXMI-TV for a story about how a grant from the Native American Heritage Fund will embed Anishinaabe teachings into several undergraduate courses. 

Paul Stansbie, associate dean, College of Education and Community Innovation, was interviewed by MoneyGeek for a story about how workers who travel full-time manage their finances.

Sketches
Hundreds of area middle school students who participate in Grand Valley's GEAR UP program attended a presentation in late September from national motivational speaker Darrell “Coach D” Andrews. Bobby Springer, director of GEAR UP, said Andrews highlighted Michigan GEAR Up Week and spoke to students about taking control of their futures, building skills and staying healthy.

Al Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting research professor at AWRI, received the Niles R. Kevern Lifetime Achievement Award at the Michigan Inland Lakes Convention. The award is presented by the Michigan chapter of the North American Lake Management Society for significant contributions to the advancement of the understanding of lakes and providing leadership in addressing key lake issues.

Salvatore Alaimo, professor of nonprofit management, gave a presentation, "The Roles of Philanthropy and Higher Education in Czech Civil Society," at the 50th anniversary and Economic Summit of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

William Neal, professor emeritus of geology, was a co-author of articles, "The Geological Footprint of Plastics," published in Science of the Total Environment, and "Emerging from Lockdown: Medical and Sanitary Waste on a Colombian Beach During the First Holiday Season After Covid Pandemic," published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Joel Stillerman, professor of sociology, received the American Sociological Association Section on Consumers and Consumption Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award for his book, Identity Investments, published by Stanford University Press. He is a visiting fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies, Loughborough University, United Kingdom, where he gave two research presentations and began collaborations with colleagues there.

Valerie Peterson, professor of communication studies, gave a presentation, "Images and Humanity: A Phenomenological Examination of Essences," at the annual Media Ecology Association Annual Convention at Daemen University in Amherst, New York.

John Weber, professor of geology, was a co-author of an article, "Testing Molecular Date Estimates Using an Ecological and Vicariant Case Study in Treefrogs: The Geological-EcologicalMolecular Calibration," published in the Journal of Biogeography.

Cheryl Edwards-Cannon, school consultant for the Charter Schools Office, gave a presentation, "Succession Gone Right: How to Successfully Pass the Baton," at the National Charter Schools Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Faculty & Staff Sketches