Stewards of a university: Four presidents reflect on six decades of Grand Valley

What happens when four Grand Valley presidents walk into a room? 

Answer: It's a unique experience for the Laker community to learn about six decades of leadership, along with their personal stories of Grand Valley's successes and challenges, and their hopes for its future.

President Philomena V. Mantella hosted the three past three living presidents — Arend "Don" Lubbers, Thomas J. Haas and Mark A. Murray — for a conversation focused on stewardship April 15 in the DeVos Center, Loosemore Auditorium. Stacie Behler, vice president and chief public affairs and communications officer, served as moderator.

Mantella said these types of conversations have become commonplace for the four leaders.

"It's very ordinary for us; we have been connected throughout my seven years here," she said. "It's unique to have four presidents who live in the community and who are acting with care while they are passing the torch."

Lubbers served for 32 years, from 1969-2001, Murray from 2001-2006, Haas from 2006-2019 and Mantella will celebrate seven years as president in July. Given that span, they still found plenty of commonalities.

Lubbers said GVSU has not changed its mission but has shifted as the demands of society have changed. "Our mission coincided with the original mission of Grand Valley's founder, Bill Seidman," he said. "Grand Valley's greatest contribution has been helping to build West Michigan."

Murray continued that thread, saying he recognized an opportunity to strengthen the university's reputation throughout the state, drawing more students from the Detroit region and Northern Michigan.

"When I got here, the flywheel was running," Murray said. "I took that challenge to build up Grand Valley as a state resource."

They addressed challenges. For Mantella, it was the COVID-19 pandemic. She noted that her charge from GVSU's Board of Trustees during her interview process in 2019 was to extend the university's reach via digital education.

"All of a sudden, everyone was participating — and very quickly — in digital education. It gave us common language and a common framework," she said. "Yet we needed to press forward with our plan of keeping one foot in the present and stretching the other toward the future.

"I'm very grateful for the energy that took, giving back to teaching in different modalities and looking forward."

Murray's challenge came within weeks of his tenure in 2001: the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "For me, 9/11 was an opportunity to respond quickly and demonstrate leadership for the student well-being," he said.

Lubbers detailed the early days of challenges with state appropriations, which brought familiar nods from the other three panelists on stage. He said he took the advice of hiring a lobby firm in Lansing, while also getting the attention of a young upstart in Michigan's Congressional delegation: Gerald Ford, who served as U.S. representative for nearly 25 years. 

"I asked Gerry Ford, our representative, 'Why don't you get us more money for your district?'" said Lubbers. "Within three weeks, we had $500,000." That funding helped Grand Valley secure a license for WGVU Public Media and bring public television and radio to Michigan's second-largest region.

Haas, who continues to teach leadership classes, said his challenge centered around the word "shape" in the university's mission statement.

"Shape is powerful, not in terms of developing and not building, but shaping students' lives, that's a noble calling," Haas said. "It's shaping people, processes and property." Under Haas’ leadership, a total of 2.3 million square feet of physical space was added to GVSU’s campuses.

Lightning round

Behler conducted what she called "lightning rounds" of quick questions to bring the hour-long conversation to a conclusion.

Favorite place on campus when you want to reflect:

• Mantella: Memorial garden behind the Cook-DeWitt Center.
• Murray: DeVos Center and Kirkhof Center atriums, where there is a lot of activity.
• Lubbers: Lubbers Stadium (to much laughter) also the trees along Campus Drive. "When I first got here it was very bleak and I thought, 'This place needs trees.' I also thought at that time, 'Will I be alive to see them in full growth?' When you're 94, you beat the trees," he said.
• Haas: Anywhere there are students.

What do you hope for GVSU 10 years from now?

• Mantella: Continual growth: this city has come alive through GVSU and the university will move us to the next tier as a city with a shared future.
• Haas: Students and their parents choose us because we are relevant in their lives.
• Murray: Deepen relationships with businesses, nonprofits and government entities in this region. Continue to be a leader in student mental health and well-being issues.
• Lubbers: That there is always a significant number of faculty and staff who have an intense loyalty to this place. It's important for faculty and staff who love this institution.

Watch a video recording of the full conversation.