Dr. Pace joined Grand Valley in 1976 as a psychologist. She has served as director of the Counseling and Career Development Center from 1985 until moving into her role in 2003 as the Dean of Students.  She made many contributions to GVSU while in leadership, including the  establishment of  a mediation and conflict resolution program, numerous publications, and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award for her advocacy for the rights of women on campus.

How Does It Work?

• Grounded in disciplinary expertise, faculty members partner with campus and community experts to bring topics of well-being, health, and mental health to the classroom in Pace Course Modules, embedded into existing courses.
• Beyond the meaningful connections created by faculty, staff, and students, academic learning becomes aligned with growth and development of the whole person in and out of the classroom.
• Through the readings, presentations, and discussions led by faculty and campus professionals, coursework incorporates disciplinary knowledge related to topics of well-being, health, and mental health. Courses can extend this work to include community engagement.
• The design, implementation, and reflection upon this work is done in community.

Who Benefits?

• Integrating personal reflection of well-being, health, and mental health into academic contexts has the potential to cultivate student identity development, knowledge, and life skills impacting their lives personally and professionally as community members and leaders.
• Faculty accepted into the program have the benefit of a community of faculty and staff actively engaged in sharing and expanding their pedagogical approach to include creative humanistic strategies for growth and development of their students beyond the confines of course content.

Winter 2023 Pace Meeting Schedule

• January 27, 2023 from 1pm–2pm; Online/Virtual with Zoom
• February 22, 2023 from 4pm–5pm; In-Person on Allendale Campus, 3068 JHZ (Zumberge Hall)
• March 14, 2023 from 10am–11am; Online/Virtual with Zoom
• April 12, 2023 from 4:00–5:00pm; In-Person on the Health Campus, DCIH 510 (DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health)

Winter 2023 Pace Module Workshopping Sessions

• February 17, 2023 from 10am–12pm; Online/Virtual with Zoom
• March 22, 2023 from 3:45pm–5:45pm; In-Person on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus, EC 411 (Eberhard Center)

Pace Faculty Conversation Groups

A separate opportunity exists for faculty to participate in Pace Faculty Conversation Groups. Monthly lunch or dinner sessions include conversations regarding selected readings, and topical group discussions. Members agree to share their experience and information regarding the Initiative within their disciplinary departments in an effort to expand understanding and value of grounding well-being, health, and mental health in disciplinary coursework.