Faculty and Staff Focus
The work of our faculty and staff is at the heart of what we do, and GV Faculty and Staff Focus is our podcast series highlighting the individuals who bring expertise, passion and purpose to our university community. Each episode features a concise, meaningful conversation with a faculty or staff member to learn about their work, experiences and the positive impact they make on our students and campus. From groundbreaking discoveries and innovative initiatives to transformative learning experiences and behind-the-scenes contributions, this series celebrates the diverse voices that help shape GVSU’s continued excellence.
Leah Breen
Episode 8
Leah Breen, Associate Vice President for Education, Innovation and School Services joins us for our latest discussion. Leah joined GVSU’s Charter Schools Office in 2022 and has provided strategic leadership for our team that oversees one of the nation’s largest portfolios of charter schools. Before joining GVSU, Leah held numerous key positions within the Michigan Department of Education, and K-12 education, where she drove policy development and grant management to support achievement, innovation and lifelong learning. In this episode, Leah talks about the Charter Schools Office celebrating its 30th anniversary, which includes an initiative called Impact 30 which offers grant opportunities for GVSU faculty.
Jennifer Drake
Episode 7
We're kicking off the academic year by welcoming Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Jennifer Drake, Ph.D. to the podcast. Provost Drake came to GVSU in 2020 to serve as Dean of our College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In 2024, she became Acting Provost and was named permanent provost in April 2025. She’s spent her career in Higher Education, including serving as provost at the Evergreen State College and earned her bachelor's degree in religious studies at Brown University and her masters and Ph.D. in literature and creative writing at Binghamton University. In our discussion, we learn about how these experiences have prepared her for this role and made a positive impact on her leadership style.
Jonathan Engelsma
Episode 6
Jonathan Engelsma, Ph.D., is a professor of Computer Science in the College of Computing. He serves as the Graduate Program Director for Software Engineering and is the Founding Director of the Applied Computing Institute. He teaches courses in distributed systems, mobile computing, and web development, and his research focuses on mobile computing, web, and distributed systems. Engelsma is a GVSU graduate who enjoyed a career in the private sector before coming to GVSU to teach in 2009.
Robin Spring
Episode 5
Robin Spring, M.A., is an associate professor of Advertising and Public Relations at GVSU. A 2020 Pew Teaching Excellence Award winner, she brings 20+ years of industry experience to the classroom. She founded the GVSU Biometrics Lab and advises award-winning student advertising teams.
Susan Cleghorn
Episode 4
Susan Cleghorn, DrOT is a professor at GVSU’s College of Health Professions and is the director of the Post-Professional Doctorate Program in Occupational Therapy. Since joining GVSU in 2008, she has earned the Pew Excellence in Teaching Award. She’s known for developing unique ways to connect her scheduled teaching, scholarly areas of interest, and service, frequently tying these areas together by focusing on community.
Sanjivan Manoharan
Episode 3
Sanjivan Manoharan, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in GVSU’s Padnos College of Engineering. Known for his ambition and dedication, Sanjivan was honored with the 2024 Pew Award for Teaching Excellence. As the faculty advisor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, he leads student teams tackling real-world space challenges in NASA competitions. With degrees from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati, he’s been shaping the future of engineering at GVSU since 2016.
Jaideep Motwani
Episode 2
Jaideep Motwani, Ph.D. is the department chair and a professor in the management department at GVSU's Seidman College of Business. Jaideep has dedicated 34 years to shaping the next generation of business leaders at GVSU. He is also a prolific researcher who has been published nearly 200 times and was recently ranked 4th among Highly Ranked Scholars for his lifetime of scholarship.
Matthew Daley
Episode 1
Matthew Daley, Ph.D. is a Professor of History in GVSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He’s an urban historian who has been a member of the Grand Valley faculty since 2004 and focuses his work on the history of the modern United States and topics including affordable housing, company towns, and the impact of race, class, and labor in these areas.