Faculty and staff sketches

Writing, Career Center team for workshop

Writing faculty members Laurence Jose and Dauvan Mulally, and Lisa Knapp, career advisor for the Career Center, invited Grand Valley alumni to a virtual networking workshop for students who are writing majors or digital studies minors.

Mulally said students met and talked with eight alumni writing professionals who are well-versed in virtual networking. Mulally added the event was created to provide students with a venue to learn more about the art of networking, interviewing and working virtually.

In the News

Student journalists at the Grand Valley Lanthorn were recently recognized for their work by the Michigan Press Association. The students placed first in categories for front page design, original cartoon, special advertising section and news-only photo. They also received second- or third-place awards in numerous categories, as well as an honorable mention.

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) recognized WGVU Public Media PBS NPR as Public Radio Station of the Year for the tenth time. WGVU Public Media received 12 additional awards, including six “Best in Category” awards, as well as six Merit awards in recognition of the station’s reporting, use of new media, community involvement and membership appeals. In addition, the Grand Valley State Sports Report won “Best” and “Merit” awards in the“Sports - Outdoor or Recreation” category. 

Douglas Kindschi, director of the Kaufman Interfaith Institute, won second place in the Michigan Press Association's annual Better Newspaper Contest for a column, "A Personal Confession: I am a Racist," published in the Grand Rapids Press.

Mary deYoung, professor emeritus of sociology, was interviewed for the story, "It's Time to Revisit the Satanic Panic" in The New York Times.

Sketches

Faculty and staff members who have given virtual presentations or had their research published are detailed below. The campus community can self-submit a sketch online for future publication. 

Sarah Nechuta, assistant professor of public health, was a co-author of an article, "Impact of Benzodiazepines and Polysubstance Status on Repeat Non-fatal Drug Overdoses," published in the Journal of Substance Abuse and Treatment. 

Dan Giedeman, professor of economics, was named an editor of Essays in Economic & Business History.

Laurel Westbrook, associate professor of sociology, wrote a book, Unlivable Lives: Violence and Identity in Transgender Activism, published by University of California Press; and an article,"Categorical and Gradational: Alternative Survey Measures of Sex and Gender," published in the European Journal of Politics and Gender.

Kuhelika De, assistant professor of economics, was a co-author of articles, "Household Debt, Consumption and Inequality," published in the Journal of International Money and Finance; "Is the Exchange Rate a Shock Absorber or a Source of Shocks? Evidence from the U.S.," published in Economic Modelling; and "Real Exchange Rate, Monetary Policy, And The U.S. Economy: Evidence From A FAVAR Model," published in Economic Inquiry.

Bopi Biddanda, professor of water resources, wrote a book review of Superman's Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We The People Can Do About It, "What to do about Our National Water Crisis," published by the International Association for Great Lakes Research; and an article, "A Glimpse of the Otherworldly Lakescape at the Bottom of Middle Island Sinkhole in Lake Huron," published by Eos. Biddanda, principal investigator, received a $190,000 grant from NSF's Oceanography Program for a project, "Tango in the Mat World: Biogeochemistry of Microbial Mats in Lake Huron's Sinkholes." Sarah Hamsher, assistant professor of water resources, is the co-investigator.

Al Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, was selected as a fellow for the Society for Freshwater Science.

John Weber, professor of geology, was a co-author of an article, "Biogeographical Patterns of Amphibians and Reptiles in the Northernmost Coastal Montane Complex of South America," published in PLOS-One-Biology.