Laker Club Talks
Upcoming Talks
Damon Arnold
It's Not How You Start: The Moments That Shape a Life
Thursday, October 1, 4 p.m.
Damon Arnold, Ph.D.
Associate Athletic Director of Student Athlete Development & Engagement
Growing up in a single-parent household, being expelled from two high schools, and ultimately graduating from an alternative school, Damon could have allowed his circumstances to define his future. Instead, a series of pivotal moments, meaningful relationships, and intentional decisions led him to discover a truth that would ultimately become the foundation of his life's work: purpose changes everything.
Through humor, honesty, and powerful storytelling, attendees will discover how life's defining moments often become the catalyst for growth, resilience, leadership, and lasting impact. More importantly, they will be challenged to recognize the moments shaping their own lives and learn how purpose can become the compass that guides them forward.
Kindly RSVP by September 25
Christopher Jones
My Leadership Journey: The Past Is Prologue
Thursday, October 15, 4 p.m. | Thornapple Room, Russel H. Kirkhof Center, Valley Campus
Christopher Jones, Ph.D.
Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dean Chris Jones has enjoyed a three-decade career in higher education. He has held several significant leadership roles at public and private institutions. In this Laker Club Talk, Chris discusses how key individuals and past experiences in his personal and professional life have been instrumental in shaping the leader he is today. He reveals that some less than pleasant episodes were great gifts on his journey as a leader and a human being.
Kindly RSVP by October 7
The registration link will be shared soon.
Daniel Lindstrom
The Currency of Trust: What 22 Years in the FBI Taught Me About Leadership, Community, and Living with Integrity
Tuesday, November 10, 4 p.m.
Daniel Lindstrom, Ed.D.
Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police
Drawing on more than two decades in the FBI and now serving as GVSU's Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police, Daniel will share how trust is built, tested, and sustained through everyday decisions. Through personal stories and leadership lessons, he'll explore why integrity, service, and shared responsibility are the foundation of strong organizations and thriving communities.
Kindly RSVP by November 2
The registration link will be shared soon.
Winter 2026
Ryan Otter
College Facilitates Aha Moments
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Ryan Otter
Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation
Ryan Otter has spent his entire adult life in higher education. In this Laker Club talk, he will reflect on the pivotal aha moments that have shaped both his professional path and personal outlook. Ryan will explore how the college environment fosters curiosity, reflection, and discovery, and how those moments continue to inform his leadership and decision-making today.
Leah Breen
How to Move from Surviving to Thriving
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Leah Breen, Associate Vice President for Education Innovation and School Services, Division of K-12 Education Innovation and Scholar Success
What do coaxing kindergarteners to read aloud and preparing a multimillion-dollar pitch for the governor have in common? More than you think. Leah Breen will share how her journey in her personal life, and around K-12 education – from classroom to the Capitol – has demonstrated that having the courage to explore the unknown can lead to remarkable results.
Fall 2025
Dean Bayo Ogundipe
On Ice Cream and Thermodynamics: The Power of Moments
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Bayo Ogundipe, Dean, Padnos College of Engineering
Our lives are an endless series of moments. Once we realize how significant these moments can be, we are compelled to seek opportunities to shape them. Dean Ogundipe reflects on the powerful role that serendipity has played in his life and the magical nature of meaningful experiences.
Winter 2025
Dr. Robert Shorty
Beyond Barriers: A Journey of Igniting Resilience
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Dr. Robert Shorty, Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture
Robert Shorty shared his inspiring journey of resilience, reflecting on the challenges he overcame to achieve personal and professional success. Drawing on his experiences, he offered insights into the transformative power of resilience and the critical role academia plays in fostering growth and opportunity.
Jessica Karbowski Weare
How to Win the Lottery and Other Lessons Learned on the Job
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Jessica Karbowski Weare, GVSU General Counsel
Jess Weare shared her experiences of “learning while doing” in roles ranging from a server at Applebee’s to an Iran sanctions attorney at the U.S. Department of State to acting Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery. She reflected on the value of adaptability and reminded us that we’re all making it up as we go along—and that sometimes, “I don’t know” is a completely acceptable answer.
Fall 2024
Dean Marouane Kessentini
Sapere Aude “Dare to Know”
Monday, October 7, 2024
Marouane Kessentini, Dean, College of Computing
Sapere aude, Latin for "dare to know," encourages us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace learning new things. Dean Kessentini shared three stories and three key takeaways from his sapere aude journey. His hope is that they will inspire and equip us to make a difference—with people who make a difference—at a time when it truly matters.
Dean Linda Lewandowski
Bloom Where You Are Planted
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Linda Lewandowski, Dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing
KCON Dean Linda Lewandowski shared her leadership journey, from growing up in rural Michigan to navigating the various “halls of academia,” highlighting the opportunities for growth and the lessons learned at each stop along the way.
Winter 2024
Jennifer Drake
Turning Points
February 1, 2024
Jennifer Drake, Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dean Jennifer Drake will offer reflections on leadership drawn from a journey through the transformative experiences that often go unnoticed on a traditional CV.
Keri Becker
Leadership during the modernization of college athletics
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Keri Becker, Director of Athletics
Keri shared details about the evolving landscape of the NCAA and explored the challenges and opportunities that campuses and athletic leaders face as the NCAA modernizes to meet the needs of the future.
Scott Wooster
Building a Legacy: Lessons from Generations
Thursday, March 14, 2024
Coach Scott Wooster, GVSU Football Head Coach
Coach Scott Wooster shared lessons learned from dad, gramps, and 23 years as an assistant coach that shaped how GVSU created the ultimate college football experience for our young men, lead GVSU Football to dominance, and fueled the legacy we are forging at Grand Valley.
Fall 2023
Kara Van Dam
Rediscovering Home
October 12, 2023
Kara VanDam, Vice Provost for Graduate and Lifetime Learning
After growing up in Grand Rapids, VanDam called a lot of places home over the next 30 years: Chapel Hill, Barcelona, Chicago and D.C. Then a stroke of fate set her course for a return to West Michigan. What’s it like to come home when so much has changed?
Steven Hodas
From Pulling Stumps to Pushing Strings
October 18, 2023
Steven Hodas, Executive Director, GV NextEd Co-Lab
Steven Hodas, Director of the NextEd Co-Lab, reflects on differences in culture change within K12 and higher education.
Robert Talbert
Active Learning is Personal
October 19, 2023
Robert Talbert, Professor of Mathematics and Senior Faculty Fellow for Learning Futures
Professor Talbert shares how his experiences as a student set the stage for how he teaches today, along with discussing active learning and his personal mission to make it the default setting for higher education.