President's Council

2024-2025 Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network

Functioning in lieu of the President's Council for 2024-2025

Academic Affairs

 

Ed Aboufadel

Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Mary Albrecht

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Donovan Anderson

Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Annie Bélanger

Dean, University Libraries

Tim Born

Interim Dean, Padnos College of Engineering

Bonnie Bowen

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Cathy Buyarski

Vice Provost for Advising and Student Success

Jennifer Drake*

Acting Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Erica Hamilton

Interim Vice Provost for The Graduate School

Marouane Kessentini

Dean, College of Computing

Sean Lancaster

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Diana Lawson

Dean, Seidman College of Business

Linda Lewandowski

Dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing

Aaron Lowen

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

Felix Ngassa

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jeffrey Potteiger

Interim Dean, College of Health Professions

Christine Rener

Vice Provost for Instructional Development and Innovation

Mark Schaub

Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies

Robert Smart

Vice Provost for Research Administration

Sherril Soman

Dean, College of Education and Community Innovation

Central Administration and Cross Divisional

 

Jesse Bernal*

Vice President | Chief Strategy Officer | Chief of Staff to the President

Leah Breen

Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools

Merritt Delano Taylor

Professor of Biomedical Sciences & Presidential Fellow

Elizabeth Doyle

Executive Associate for Presidential Initiatives

Bill Herbst

Executive Associate for Presidential Communications

Steven Hodas

Executive Director, GVSU NextEd Co-Lab

Cori Kahler

Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees & Project Specialist for Presidential Initiatives

Philomena Mantella*

President

Tonya Parker

Professor, Clinical Coordinator - Athletic Training

Evan Potter

Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives

Karyn Rabourn

Associate Professor of Higher Education & Presidential Fellow

Pat Smith

General Counsel

Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach  

 

Nykia Gaines

Assistant Vice President for Federal TRIO Programs

Michelle Rhodes

Associate Vice President for Financial Aid

B. Donta Truss*

Vice President for Enrollment Development & Educational Outreach

Danny Velez

Associate Vice President for Admissions & Recruitment

Finance & Administration

 

Keri Becker

Athletic Director

Brandon DeHaan

Director of Public Safety & Chief of Police

Lisa Haynes

Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, Grand Rapids and Regional Centers

Karen Ingle

Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning

Rence Meredith

Assistant Vice President of Facilities Servces

Greg Sanial*

Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, Board of Trustees

Heather Taylor

Assistant Vice President Risk & Insurance Programs

Craig Wieschhorster

Associate Vice President for Business and Finance

Information Technology

 

Emil Delgado

Associate Vice President for Information Technology

Luke DeMott

Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer

Ben Rapin

Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer

Miloš Topić*

Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer

Omni

 

Adams Downs

Assistant Vice President for Prior and Workforce Learning

Troy Farley

Director, Career Center

Shannon Owen

Director, Northern Michigan Programs

Kara Van Dam*

Vice President | Chief Executive of GVSU Omni

People, Equity, and Culture

 

Robert Shorty

Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture

Latoya Booker

Director, Inclusion and Equity Institute

Mychal Coleman

Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Marlene Kowalski-Braun

Associate Vice President & Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer

Elisa Ortega-Schultz

Employee Ombuds

Deb Sanders

Director of HR Strategic Business Partners

Kathleen VanderVeen

Associate Vice President & Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer & Title IX Coordinator

Student Affairs

 

Alisha Davis

Assistant Vice President for the Social Justice Centers

Aaron Haight

Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students

Jenny Hall-Jones*

Vice President for Student Affairs

Kate Harmon

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Well-being and Inclusion

Shontaye Witcher

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Student Accessibility Resources

University Development

 

Laura Aikens*

Vice President for University Development

Dan Hurwitz

Associate Vice President for University Development

Shannon Specter

Assistant Vice President, Philanthropy

University Relations

 

Jennifer Allard

Associate Vice President for University Marketing

Stacie Behler*

Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer and Secretary, Board of Trustees

Bill Cuppy

Assistant Vice President for University Communications

Josh Isaak

Associate Vice President for University Marketing

Chris Knape

Assistant Vice President for University Communications

Academic Senate  

 

Courtney Karasinski

Associate Professor & Chair, University Academic Senate

Anne Sergeant

Professor & Vice Chair, University Academic Senate

AP Committee

 

Jason Cronkrite

AP Committee Vice Chair

Justin Melick

AP Committee Chair

Student Representation

 

Abdul Ciise

Graduate Assistant, Office of the President

Lauren King

President, Graduate Student Association

Evan Jackson

Chief of Staff, Student Senate

Paris Lawson

Vice President, Student Senate

Quinten Proctor

President, Student Senate

* indicates Executive Officer of the university.


About the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network

For 2024-2025, the President's Council was expanded to the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network. This network serves as a collaborative body dedicated to information sharing, enhancing internal communication, and fostering greater collaboration across Grand Valley State University to recognize new opportunities and challenges while shaping the next phase of our strategy together. Members of the network will engage deeply in our Reach Higher strategy, focusing on advancing our annual priorities while remaining adaptable for future initiatives as we move beyond Reach Higher 2025.

This year, the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network will focus on:

  • Engagement in Reach Higher Strategy: A central role in driving engagement within the university and with external partners, ensuring that we advance our Reach Higher strategy and meet our annual priorities.
  • Facilitate Information Exchange: Ensure essential information, updates, and reports are shared among council members in a timely and comprehensive manner.
  • Collaborate for Unified Communication: Work with key stakeholders to create a unified voice that effectively communicates the university’s strategic initiatives, goals, and achievements to internal and external audiences.
  • Address Emerging Matters: Identify and respond to other matters impacting the university community.
  • Foster Agility and Growth: Continue building our agility and growth mindset.
  • Leadership Education and Development: Continue ongoing leadership education and development related to university priorities, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Structure for 2024-2025

The Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network will convene twice per semester for informational updates on pertinent issues and to identify opportunities for collaboration on advancing the university’s strategic direction. Additional ad-hoc meetings may be scheduled to address time-sensitive matters or emerging opportunities. Smaller work groups will be established that meet outside of the full membership convenings.

Membership for the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network

  • President Mantella and the Senior Leadership Team
  • Identified Associate Vice Presidents, other chief divisional officers to Vice Presidents, and Vice Provosts 
  • Provost’s Cabinet
  • University Academic Senate Chair and Vice Chair
  • Student Senate President, Vice President, and Chief of Staff
  • Graduate Student Association President
  • AP Committee Chair and Vice Chair 
  • Presidential Faculty Fellows
  • Other faculty and staff who hold a role that advances a current university priority


Page last modified September 19, 2024