Roger Gilles

Director and Professor of Writing

Office Address: 117 Niemeyer

Phone: (616) 331-2540

Email: [email protected]

After growing up mainly in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Roger Gilles earned a BA in creative and professional writing from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and an MFA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from the University of Arizona in Tucson. At Grand Valley, he has directed the first-year writing program, chaired the English and Writing departments, and chaired the General Education Committee. With his colleague Dan Royer, Gilles co-edited Directed Self-Placement: Principles and Practices (Hampton, 2003), and he is author of Women on the Move: The Forgotten Era of Women’s Bicycle Racing (Nebraska, 2018).

Robyn Toth

Meijer Honors College Assistant

Office Address: 120 Neimeyer

Phone: (616) 331-3219

Email: [email protected]

Robyn Toth has been working at Grand Valley State University since 1998. Originally from St. Joseph, MI she received her BBA in Human Resource Management from Western Michigan University and later completed a Master of Education in Higher Education as well as School Counseling from GVSU. Robyn enjoys spending time with her husband and daughters, watching her two daughters swim and play water polo, and read. As the Meijer Honors College Assistant she most enjoys talking with perspective students and their families as well as supporting current student and faculty in anyway that she can. 

Kary Wickham

Honors Academic and Enrichment Advisor

Office Address: 142a Niemeyer

Phone: (616) 331-2538

Email: r[email protected]

Kary Wickham is an Academic and Enrichment Advisor in the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Originally from Okemos, MI, Kary earned a B.A. in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan and an M.Ed. in Higher Education with an emphasis on College Student Affairs Leadership (CSAL) from GVSU. Before coming to GVSU, Kary’s undergraduate research experience in the Psychology Department at U of M led her to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was the lab manager of the Early Childhood Cognition Lab. In her free time Kary enjoys spending time with family, doing jigsaw puzzles, and watching movies.

Emily Zeliasko

Graduate Assistant

Office Address: 142b Niemeyer

Phone: (616) 331-3302

Email: [email protected]

Emily is a Graduate Assistant in the Frederik Meijer Honors College. Originally from Oxford, Michigan, Emily was a student in the Frederik Meijer Honors College and earned a B.S. in biology with a general business minor. Emily is currently enrolled in the Master's in Higher Education program with an emphasis in College Student Affairs Leadership at GVSU. In her free time, Emily enjoys paddle boarding, watching the sunset, and spending time with family and friends.

Layth Almallah

Graduate Assistant

Office Address: 136 Niemeyer

Phone: (616) 331-3219

Email: [email protected]

Layth is a graduate assistant in GVSU's Career Center. He supervises student workers, works with students in the nursing program, and helps with drop-in career help hours. Layth completed his B.A. in Advertising and Public Relations at GVSU, and with that, he also completed his minor in Middle Eastern Studies. He is currently completing his master's degree in the College Student Affairs and Leadership program, which is a Master's in Higher Education program. In his free time, Layth enjoys riding his bike, going for walks outside or in parks, and playing and/or watching basketball.