In 2019, President Philomena V. Mantella initiated the Presidential Fellows initiative to provide enhanced leadership development for faculty and greater engagement of faculty with university leadership. In 2025, the Presidential Fellows program was expanded as part of Grand Valley leadership's collective commitment to a people-centered culture that empowers both our learners and one another. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the program includes staff members for the first time as well as a record number of faculty, opening new pathways for leadership and collaboration. The initiative is open to all tenured faculty members and staff at Grand Valley State University. Presidential Fellows focus on one or more focus areas that advance university priorities. Fellows also serve on the Reach Higher Collaborative Network.

Learn more about the Presidential Fellows 2.0 Program.

Melissa Baker-Boosamra

Presidential Fellow for Student Legal Services

Associate Director, Student Life - Civic Engagement and Assessment

Term: 2025-2026

Annie Bélanger

Program Coordinator for Presidential Fellows Program; Presidential Fellow for Academic Affairs Strategic Planning; AI integration; Digital Literacy

Senior Librarian

Fellow Term: 2025-2027 

Coordinator Term: 2025-2026

Vijay Bhuse

Presidential Fellow for International Recruitment

Associate Professor and Program Chair Cybersecurity

Term: 2025-2026

Belinda Boardman

Presidential Fellow for Alumni Engagement & Strategy

Change Management Specialist

Term: 2025-2026

Kyle Brink

Presidential Fellow for Organizational Development & Change Leadership

Professor, Management

Term: 2025-2026

Chris Cirefice

Presidential Fellow for Institutional Strategy with a focus on Reach Higher Together

Assistant Coordinator, Language Resource Center

Term: 2025-2026

Merritt Delano-Taylor

Presidential Fellow for Advancing a Research Strategy

Professor of Biomedical Sciences (CLAS)

Term: 2023-2025

Paul Hillman

Presidential Fellow for AI, XR, and Digital Transformation

Affiliate Faculty of Practice, Management

Term: 2025-2026

Renee Malkowski

Presidential Fellow for Student Legal Services

Assistant Director, Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Term: 2025-2026

Laila McCloud

Presidential Fellow for First Year Academic Experience

Associate Professor, Educational Leadership and Counseling

Term: 2025-2026

Justin Melick

Presidential Fellow for State Funding Appropriation Strategy

Senior Instructional Design Specialist

Term: 2025-2026

Jeremy Paul

Presidential Fellow for Campus Vibrancy

Associate Director, Office of Student Life

Term: 2025-2026

Karyn Rabourn

Presidential Fellow for Unit Head Leadership Development

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Counseling (CECI)

Term: 2024-2026

Darien Ripple

Presidential Fellow for AI, XR, and Digital Transformation

Assistant Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Studies

Term: 2024-2026

Kelly Senkowski

Presidential Fellow for Omni Engagement

Instructional Technology Project Specialist

Term: 2025-2026

Tammy Shreiner

Presidential Fellow for Innovation in Curriculum

Associate Professor, History/Social Studies Education

Term: 2025-2026

Richard Vallery

Presidential Fellow for Data Analytics for Academic Affairs

Professor, Physics and Chair of the Physics Department

Term: 2025-2026

Lindsay Corneal

Presidential Fellow for Learner Pathways

Professor of Product Design & Manufacturing, College of Engineering

Alisha Davis

Presidential Fellow for Inclusion & Equity

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and the Social Justice Centers

Kristin Meyer

Presidential Fellow for Reach Higher 2025

Former Associate Dean, University Libraries 

Robert Talbert

Presidential Fellow for the Advancement of Learning

Professor of Mathematics, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

Chasity Bailey-Fakhoury

Presidential Fellow for Strategy Development and Outreach

Associate Dean and Associate Professor, College of Education and Community Innovation

Aaron Lowen

Presidential Fellow for Enterprise Learning and Development

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost's Office
Professor of Economics

In 2019, the University Leadership Development (U LEAD) Task Force of the University Academic Senate issued several recommendations for leadership development at Grand Valley State University. In response, President Mantella began a faculty fellows program supporting at least two part-time fellows to work with university leadership in advancing key initiatives over a two-year experience.