Women's Commission renames award in memory of staff member

October 15, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 4)
Article by Michele Coffill

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President Philomena V. Mantella presents a gift of wind chimes to James Wildey, husband of Jennifer Palm, who died in July. The Women's Commission renamed an award in memory of Palm. The presentation was made following a tribute to Palm during the October 2 Celebrating Women Awards ceremony.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

At left, Michelle McCloud, CLAS associate dean, laughs at the audience while Katie Perschbacher, student care and outreach case manager, presents her with the Jennifer Palm Community Impact Award.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

Erica Hamilton, interim vice provost for the Graduate School, hugs Krystal Vandenbosch, executive assistant, Office of the Provost, during the Celebrating Women Awards ceremony.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

At third from left is Pat Smith, general counsel, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women's Commission. From left are members of the Senior Leadership Team: Jenny Hall-Jones, Stacie Behler, Smith, President Philomena Mantella, Jennifer Drake and Laura Aikens.

Photo Credit: Kendra Stanley-Mills

Jennifer Palm's impact at Grand Valley will continue following her death, as members of the Women's Commission renamed one of its awards to honor her memory.

Palm, who worked at Grand Valley for 18 years, died July 22 at age 42. At the Celebrating Women Awards event on October 2, speakers discussed Palm's advocacy for students and her work on the Women's Commission, including as a member of the Family Leave Task Force.

Kristen Evans, human resources generalist and commission member, said it was fitting that the Community Impact Award was renamed in Palm's memory. "Jenn's death prompted a desire for past and present commission members to reconnect," Evans said. "That's really the sisterhood that happens within the Women's Commission." 

Keynote speaker Keri Becker, director of Athletics, discussed the power of community. Becker was a returning keynote speaker; her first presentation was in 2011, when she had worked at Grand Valley for all of 45 days. 

"The Women's Commission pulled me in then to speak," Becker said. "They saw something in me that I didn't see. Later I would be involved on the commission's leadership team. These conversations were taking me outside of my safety rings of athletics but they helped me understand how Grand Valley works."

Pat Smith, general counsel, received the commission's Lifetime Achievement Award. President Philomena V. Mantella presented the award to Smith, noting its significance as the last time it was presented was in 1999.

Other recipients of the Celebrating Women Awards are listed below:

• Maxine Swanson Award: Karen Gipson, professor of physics
• Jennifer Palm Community Impact Award: Michelle McCloud, associate dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Unsung Hero Award: Krystal Vanden Bosch, executive assistant, Office of the Provost
• Emerging Professional Award: Katie Jourdan, assistant director of health promotion and prevention, Center for Health and Well-being
• Jean Enright Women and Gender Studies Scholarship: Moesha Jones
• Positive Black Women Scholarships: Jordan Kate, Leyana Musonda, Achia Smith, Salamah Sulaiman
• Center for Women and Gender Equity Student Recognition: Kennedy Byrd, Johanna Montalvo-Tinoco

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