Faculty and staff sketches

June 16, 2026 (Volume 49, Number 18)

Sasha Debevec-McKenney holds a glass award in front of a colorful mural of Dylan Thomas

Marcus Gelpi in a blue commencement gown and cap jumps over the track at Lubbers Stadium

Sasha Debevec-McKenney, assistant professor of writing, holds the Dylan Thomas Prize, which is awarded by Swansea University annually to a young writer.

Photo Credit: courtesy of Swansea University

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
Sasha Debevec-McKenney, assistant professor of writing, received the Dylan Thomas Prize for her poetry collection, "Joy is My Middle Name!" Swansea University presents the Dylan Thomas Prize annually to a young writer.

Kendra Stanley-Mills, associate director of photography for University Communications, earned second place (sports marketing and illustration) in the University Photographers' Association of America monthly competition for a photo of high jumper Marcus Gelpi.

Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, associate professor of journalism, broadcasting, and digital media, is the founder and executive director of the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, which earned recognition at the National Headliners Awards in the international news coverage or continuing story category for “The Trump / Africa Divide” (first place) and “Disarming Environmental Disinformation” (second place).

Sketches
The Athletics Marketing team earned the Marketing Team of the Year Award during the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators conference. All five team members, Josh Borger, Kenleigh West-Wing, Evan Ritchie, Cooper Roberts and Cameron Koberna, are graduates of GVSU's sport management program.

Jackeline Iseler, associate professor of nursing and program director for MSN to DNP, was named president of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Susan Mendoza, director of the Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement, was appointed to the Council on Undergraduate Research's board of directors.

Matt Boelkins, professor of mathematics, was the author of an open-source textbook, Active Calculus. The text requires students to be active learners and is suitable for a two-semester course in single variable calculus.

Ann Flint, assistant professor and program director of respiratory care, was reappointed to the Michigan Board of Respiratory Care for a three-year term.

College of Health Professions faculty members Kelly Aubry and Terri Bacon-Baguley received an Impact 30 Grant from GVSU's Charter Schools Office for their project, "Hands-On Health: Rural Student Engagement in Health Sciences." The grant will be used by the physician assistant studies program to purchase ultrasound equipment and vital sign monitoring machines.

Jennifer Ford, associate professor and director of clinical dietetics, received the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) North Central Region Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award in the Coordinated Program category for 2026. The NDEP Outstanding Educator Award recognizes excellence in teaching, mentoring, leadership and service within accredited dietetics education programs.

Writing faculty Kylie Jacobsen, Zsuzsanna Palmer and Christopher Toth gave a plenary session, "The Contemporary Job Search: Helping Students Navigate through Automated AI Digital Gatekeeping," at the Association for Business Communication's Western U.S. Regional Conference.

The Kirkhof College of Nursing received accreditation approval from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education Board of Commissioners for all academic programs through 2036.

Mikhila Wildey, associate professor of psychology, was a co-author of an article, "Wired for Cognitive Jealousy? Unveiling the Stability Within and Fluctuations Between Relationships," published in Personal Relationships.