Faculty and staff sketches

July 15, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 20)

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From left are Dawn Hinton, Cathy Meyer-Looze, Kristen Evans, Jenny Hall-Jones and CharMaine Hines. Hinton, from Saginaw Valley State University, and Hines, from Wayne County Community College District, presented the Michigan ACE Women's Network Outstanding Institutional Representative Award to Meyer-Looze and Evans at the organization's conference in June.

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
Kristen Evans, human resources generalist, and Cathy Meyer-Looze, associate professor and chair of educational leadership and counseling, were recipients of the 2025 Outstanding Institutional Representative Award from the Michigan ACE Women's Network (MI-ACE). The award is presented to institutional representatives who excel at integrating the work of MI-ACE on their campuses.

WGVU Public Media received three Emmys from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for "The Silent Crisis" (Informational/Instructional); Mutually Inclusive's "Language of the Land" (Historical/Cultural); and Mutually Inclusive's "Meeting ALICE" (Societal Concerns).

Nicholas Baine, associate professor of electrical engineering, was interviewed by FOX17 for a story about helping to save people after their small plane crashed in Ottawa County. 

Kendra Stanley-Mills, associate director of photography for University Communications, received Grand Gold (photography series) and Bronze (portraits) awards in the CASE Circle of Excellence competition for her photo essay, "Office Hours," which was published in the fall Grand Valley Magazine.

Adam Harris, director of TRIO Upward Bound Detroit, was among the honorees at the Michigan Chronicle's ninth annual SWAG (Students Wired for Achievement and Greatness) Awards. The program awards scholarships to students through a partnership with Huntington Bank and honors the educators who work with those students.

Jeffrey Rothstein, professor and chair of sociology, was interviewed by WalletHub for a story about unemployment and job market predictions.

Shawntae Mintline, GVSU Omni director for Southeast Michigan, was a podcast guest on "Detroit is Different," speaking about housing insecurity and removing barriers to education.

Jennifer Pope, associate professor of marketing, was interviewed by WalletHub for a story about credit cards that offer cash rewards for purchases.

Elizabeth Arnold, associate professor of anthropology, was the lead author of an article published in PLOS One that details how an analysis of donkey bones from the Bronze Age that were discovered in Israel revealed early trade relations between Canaan and Egypt. Arnold was interviewed by Live Science, The Times of Israel and other publications. 

Sketches
A poem by Patricia Clark, professor emerita of writing and former poet laureate of Grand Rapids and GVSU poet-in-residence, has been selected for the highly regarded literary award, the Pushcart Prize. Her poem, "What My Father Wished For" – also part of her new book, "O Lucky Day" – is slated to appear in Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses (2026 edition).

Paul Plotkowski, dean emeritus of the Padnos College of Engineering, received the Clement J. Freund Award from the American Society for Engineering Education for exceptional contributions to cooperative education in engineering.

Heather Alberda, health promotion specialist, and Brian Bossick, assistant director of assessment and future planning for the University Counseling Center, were the inaugural recipients of annual awards from the Division of Student Affairs. Alberda received the Collaboration and Creativity Catalyst Award, recognizing exceptional innovation, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Bossick received the Community of Care and Respect Award, recognizing an individual who embodies the principles of empathy, inclusivity and mutual respect.

Al Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting research professor at AWRI, was reappointed to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress.

William Neal, emeritus professor of geology, was a co-author of an article, “Professor Orrin Pilkey: a Coastal Visionary Remembered,” published in Ocean and Coastal Management, and co-author of a chapter,  “The Role of Driftwood in the Trapping of Plastics in Beach Environments” in a book, Marine Ecology: An Ecosystemic View of Anthropogenic Impacts.

Jeremiah Cataldo, professor of history, Meijer Honors College, participated on a team of scholars who contributed study notes, textual footnotes, explanatory essays and other reference material to the new Westminster Study Bible.

Laurence José, professor of writing and director of the Digital Studies program, wrote a chapter, "Generative AI, Algorithms, and Ethics," for a book, Public Relations and the Rise of AI, published by Routledge. Adrienne Wallace, associate professor of advertising and public relations, was a co-editor of the book.

Tim Penning, professor of advertising and public relations, was named to the advisory committee of the International Public Relations Research Conference and an affiliate member of the Global Strategic Communication Consortium.

Joy Schaefer, affiliate faculty of interdisciplinary studies, wrote an article, "Domestic AI is the New Monstrous-Feminine: Compulsory Roles for Robot-Girls and Mothers in M3GAN," published in Cine-Excess.

Crystal Scott-Tunstall, affiliate faculty of interdisciplinary studies and School of Interdisciplinary Studies internship coordinator, received the Don Hunt Service Award from the Michigan Career Educator and Employer Alliance, recognizing excellence in internship coordination, relationship maintenance and internship creation and development. Scott-Tunstall was also honored by the Michigan Sustainability Business Forum's Black Excellence in Sustainability for her volunteer work with Kent County and Michigan nonprofits.

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Faculty & Staff Sketches