Grand Forum
Grand Forum is a member-based educational program for adults 55 years and older who are eager to both learn and engage with peers. Grand Forum provides an opportunity for members to meet in an academic setting for the purpose of intellectual stimulation and social exchange.
Members come from a variety of backgrounds and areas, and include GVSU alumni, staff, faculty, retirees and community members from all educational backgrounds. The diversity of the group leads to thought-provoking and challenging questions and discussion about timely topics.
The Grand Forum Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is funded from the Grand Forum Endowment and provides financial assistance to students whose college education was interrupted for one or more reasons and who wish to continue to pursue earning a college degree at Grand Valley State University.
Have a direct impact on life-long learners!
$30 for 30
To commemorate the 30 year anniversary of Grand Forum, we're launching the "$30 for 30" campaign to grow the Grand Forum Scholarship Endowment. Your gift of $30 (or more) will directly impact these determined life-long learners.
2025-2026 Grand Forum Seminar Dates
Fall 2025 Seminar Schedule
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Paul Isley: An Economic Update
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Tobin Buhk: Michigan's Historic Jails
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium in the Richard M. DeVos Center at 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Heather Tafel: Russia v. Ukraine: Is Peace Possible?
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Fred Johnson: Rise in Nationalism
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium in the Richard M. DeVos Center at 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Catherine Zieste & Representative from Ottawa County Parks & Recreation: The Greenway Project
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Ashley Diersch: Paws With A Cause
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium in the Richard M. DeVos Center at 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM - Kent Riddle: Mary Free Bed
12:30 PM - 2:00 PM - Alexis Kurek: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Auditorium in the Richard M. DeVos Center at 401 Fulton Street W, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
Spring 2026 Seminar Schedule
10:00 AM - 11:30AM - To Be Announced
12:30 PM - 2:00PM - To Be Announced
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Forum in the L. William Seidman Center at 50 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30AM - To Be Announced
12:30 PM - 2:00PM - To Be Announced
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Forum in the L. William Seidman Center at 50 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30AM - To Be Announced
12:30 PM - 2:00PM - To Be Announced
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Forum in the L. William Seidman Center at 50 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
10:00 AM - 11:30AM - To Be Announced
12:30 PM - 2:00PM - To Be Announced
→ These sessions take place at the Charles W. Loosemore Forum in the L. William Seidman Center at 50 Front Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
Additional Opportunities
Events
Chamber Music Class Recital
December 5, 2025 7:30 PM
Free Play 52: Sinta Quartet
December 6, 2025 5:00 PM
Fall Dance Concert
December 6, 2025 7:00 PM
Fall Dance Concert
December 7, 2025 2:00 PM
Guest Artist Recital: Kim-Singer-Woo Trio
January 12, 2026 7:30 PM
Guest Lecture/Recital: Mira Walker, "Women of the Chicago Black Renaissance"
January 22, 2026 4:30 PM
Speaker and Program Archive
Past Grand Forum programs are recorded and made available to all Grand Forum Members. Please reach out to Grand Forum ([email protected]) to receive the access link.
Uniquely Michigan with Dianna Stampfler
Rosie the Riveter with Claire Kitchin Dahl
Goodbye Stories with Ric Mixter
The Science of Alzheimer's with Irving Vega
The Supreme Court with Devin Schindler
The Climate and Your Health with Steven Ashmead
Copper Peak/Stormy Kromer with Bob Jaquart
The History of Big Red with Valerie van Heest
Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies with Megan Rydecki
John Ball Zoo: The Past, The Present, The Future with Peter D'Arienzo
How President Bill Clinton's Campaigns Reshaped Modern Presidential Politics with Jay Barth
Learning Beyond the Classroom: The Power of Experiential Education with Jennifer Drake
One Year in the Hot Seat: Leadership Reflections from Grand Rapids Fire Chief with Brad Brown
Housing Next: Grand Rapids Housing Update with Brooke Oosterman
America's Indispensable Man: Gerald Ford with Gleaves Whitney
Elections: The Process, Integrity, and Security with Michael Sullivan
Technology and AI with Milos Topic
Michigan POW Camps in WWII with Gregory Sumner
The U.S. Supreme Court: The Changing Legacy of the "Least Dangerous Branch" with Devin Schindler
Real Cop: A Memoir of a Career Street Officer with David Leonard
On Sacred Ground – A Pre-European an Early Grand Rapids History with Dan VanMeurs
Grand Action 2.0 with Kara Wood
Euphoria - GVSU Student a cappella group
Beckering Family Carillon Tower Presentation/Performance with Julianne Vanden Wyngaard
The State of Policing in Grand Rapids with Chief Eric Winstrom
West Michigan’s Economy after COVID and Beyond with Dr. Paul Isely
Comrade King withJeffrey Kelly Lowenstein and Khulu Radebe
Fatal Crossing: The Mysterious Disappearance of Northwest Flight 2501 in Lake Michigan with Valerie van Heest
The Mayor, the Maestro, and the Mansion with Carol Dodge
Grand Valley State University Update with President Philomena V. Mantella
The Reclaiming of Muskegon Lake with Dr. Alan Steinman
Wisdom of Animals: A Nature-led Journey into the Heart of Transformational Leadership with Dr. Patrick Bishop
Chinese Thought with Peimin Ni
The Holocaust and the Impact on Grand Rapids with Robert Franciosi
Protecting Trees from Invasive Species with Lawrence Burns and Alexandra Locher
Critical Race Theory Part 1 with Fred Johnson
The NCAA and GVSU Athletics: Today and Into the Future with Keri Becker
Critical Race Theory Part 2 with Fred Johnson
State of Grand Rapids with Mayor Bliss
Islamophobia with Coeli Fitzpatrick
Locally Grown Food and the Grand Valley Farm with Michael
Hinkle, GVSU Farm Manager and Educator
Dutch Art History with Henry Luttikhuizen
Frances Perkins and the Women Behind the New Deal with GVSU
Professor Dr. Judy Whipps
The Grand Haven Bank Robbery with Judge David Buter
The State of the University with GVSU President Philomena
V. Mantella joined by Fatma Mili, Provost and Executive Vice
President for Academic Affairs
Senior Leadership Team Panel including:
Laura Aikens, Vice President for University Development
Stacie Behler, Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and
Communications Officer
Jesse Bernal, Chief of Staff to the
President & Vice President for Inclusion and Equity
Jenny
Hall- Jones, Vice President for Student Affairs
Milos Topic, Vice
President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer
Cryptocurrency with Aaron Sundman, Digital Specialist, Amway
Mathias Alten Artwork Tour in the George and Barbara Gordon
Gallery with Henry Matthews, Former Director of Galleries and
Collections, GVSU
Programming Sample
Enjoy these two sample Grand Forum programs from the past year! These videos showcase what Grand Forum strives for: an opportunity to learn from an expert in a specific area and then the ability for Grand Forum members to ask questions and converse with others.
Grand Action 2.0 with Kara Wood
The Mayor, the Maestro, and the Mansion - Carol Dodge
“The Grand Forum provides a way to return to the classroom for those who no longer have to worry about choosing a profession or preparing to enter it. And it is only proper that a University reach out with such an educational program to so many eager students.”
—
Dave Seibold, Founding Member