Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network

About the Network

This is a pivotal time at Grand Valley State University as we conclude the Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan and continue shaping its next phase, Reach Higher Together.

To support these conversations and help guide the university's future direction, President Mantella expanded the President's Council to include a broader group of connected and talented students, faculty, and staff. The resulting Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network includes representatives from all functional areas of the university, as well as leadership from Student Senate, University Academic Senate, and the Administrative Professionals Committee. The network serves in place of the President's Council through 2026.

To date, the network has engaged the university community in refining the strategic framework and performance framework that will guide Reach Higher Together from 2026–2030.

Core Team

Name	Title	Area
Philomena Mantella*	President	Central Administration and Cross Divisional
Laura Aikens*	Vice President for Institutional Advancement	Institutional Advancement
Elizabeth Doyle	Executive Associate for Philanthropic Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives	Institutional Advancement
Cori Kahler	Director of Presidential Operations Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees	Central Administration and Cross Divisional

Team 1

Name	Title	Area
Robert Shorty*	Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture	People, Equity, and Culture
Aaron Haight	Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Dean of Students	Student Affairs
Aaron Lowen	Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs	Academic Affairs
Mark Schaub	Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies	Academic Affairs
Michelle Rhodes	Associate Vice President for Financial Aid	Enrollment Development and College Futures
Rence Meredith	Assistant Vice President of Facilities Services	Finance and Administration
Shontaye Witcher	Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Director of Student Accessibility Resources	Student Affairs

Assigned Areas
Institutional Analysis Office Dean of Students Office, Student Life, Promotions, OSCCR Allendale-Facilities Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies Financial Aid & Scholarships Presidential Fellows (Current and Former) Student Accessibility Resources

Team 2

Name	Title	Area
Jennifer Drake*	Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs	Academic Affairs
Anne Sergeant	Professor & Vice Chair, University Academic Senate	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Bill Cuppy	Assistant Vice President for University Communications	University Relations
Craig Wieschhorster	Associate Vice President for Business and Finance	Finance and Administration
Kate Harmon	Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Well-being and Inclusion	Student Affairs
Mary Albrecht	Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs	Academic Affairs
Mel Shell-Weiss	Dean of University Libraries and Art Museum	Academic Affairs
Sophie Gemmen	Vice President, Student Senate	Student Representation

Assigned Areas
Provost's Cabinet Creative & Multimedia Services AOD, RecWell, Student Health, UCC Provost's Office Office of VPSA Student Senate Business & Finance Office

Team 3

Name	Title	Area
Kara Van Dam*	Vice President and Chief Executive of GVSU Omni	Omni
Annie Bélanger	Presidential Fellow and Senior Librarian	Academic Affairs
Christine Rener	Vice Provost for Instructional Development and Innovation	Academic Affairs
Courtney Karasinski	Professor & Chair, University Academic Senate	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Deb Thompson	Senior Director of HR Strategic Business Partners	People, Equity, and Culture
Kathleen VanderVeen	Associate Vice President, Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer, and Title IX Coordinator	People, Equity, and Culture
Tyler Fedototszkin	Chief of Staff, Student Senate	Student Representation

Assigned Areas
Pew Faculty Teaching & Learning Center President's Office University Libraries Student Senate OCRTIX

Team 4

Name	Title	Area
Stacie Behler*	Vice President and Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer and Secretary, Board of Trustees	University Relations
Ben Rapin	Associate Vice President and Chief Technology Officer	Information Technology
Christopher Jones	Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences	Academic Affairs
Dan Hurwitz	Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement	Institutional Advancement
Danny Vélez	Associate Vice President for Admissions and Recruitment	Enrollment Development and College Futures
Donovan Anderson	Vice Provost for Student Success and Experiential Learning	Academic Affairs
Keri Becker	Athletic Director	Finance and Administration
Matthew Reidsma	Content and Accessibility Strategist for Virtual Services	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Paul Isely	Associate Vice President for Strategic Budget Management	Academic Affairs

Assigned Areas
University Development - Development Services & VP Office Web Development and Content Strategy Career Services Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies College of Computing Social Justice Centers Charter Schools Office

Team 5

Name	Title	Area
Laura Aikens*	Vice President for Institutional Advancement	Institutional Advancement
Heather Taylor	Assistant Vice President Risk and Insurance Programs	Finance and Administration
Josh Isaak	Associate Vice President for University Marketing	University Relations
Joy Murerwa	Student Leader	Student Representation
Leah Breen	Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools	University Initiatives
Marouane Kessentini	Dean, College of Computing	Academic Affairs
Tonisha Jones	Associate Professor	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Troy Farley	Director of the Career Center	Omni

Assigned Areas
University Development - Development Services & VP Office Web Development and Content Strategy Career Services Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies College of Computing Social Justice Centers Charter Schools Office

Team 6

Name	Title	Area
Jessica Weare	Vice President and General Counsel	Central Administration and Cross Divisional
Adam Downs	Assistant Vice President, GVSU Omni	Omni
Luke DeMott	Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer	Information Technology
Ryan Otter	Vice Provost for Research and Innovation	Academic Affairs
Shannon Specter	Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy	Institutional Advancement
Sherril Soman	Dean, College of Education and Community Innovation	Academic Affairs
Tonya Parker	Professor, Clinical Coordinator - Athletic Training	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants

Assigned Areas
Office of General Counsel Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee Center for Scholarly & Creative Excellence Information Security Office College of Education and Community Innovation Philanthropy Services Omni-Main

Team 7

Name	Title	Area
Greg Sanial*	Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, Board of Trustees	Finance and Administration
Adebayo Ogundipe	Dean, Padnos College of Engineering	Academic Affairs
Chris Knape	Assistant Vice President for University Communications	Assistant Vice President for University Communications
Ed Aboufadel	Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs	Academic Affairs
Elisa Ortega-Schultz	Employee Ombuds	People, Equity, and Culture
Jeremiah Cataldo	Professor	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Kyle Barnhart	AP Committee Chair	AP Committee
Lisa Haynes	Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, Grand Rapids and Regional Centers	Finance and Administration

Assigned Areas
AP Committee Art Museum Grand Rapids & Regional Centers-Facilities Padnos College of Engineering Padnos International Center Trio Programs Media & Public Relations

Team 8

Name	Title	Area
Jenny Hall-Jones*	Vice President for Student Affairs	Student Affairs
Emil Delgado	Associate Vice President for Information Technology	Information Technology
Erica Hamilton	Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs	Academic Affairs
Lukas Hartley	President, Student Senate	Student Representation
Linda Lewandowski	Dean, Kirkhof College of Nursing	Academic Affairs
Marlene Kowalski-Braun	Associate Vice President and Deputy Chief Inclusion and Equity Officer	People, Equity, and Culture
Tova Sanders	Presidential Associate	Central Administration and Cross Divisional

Assigned Areas
Housing & Residence Life I&E Office The Graduate School Public Safety Kirkhof College of Nursing eLearning, Project Management, IT Services, Data & Analytics

Team 9

Name	Title	Area
B. Donta Truss*	Vice President for Enrollment Development and College Futures	Enrollment Development and College Futures
Blake Ashby	Professor	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Diana Lawson	Dean, Seidman College of Business	Academic Affairs
Andrew Wanyeki	President, Graduate Student Association	Student Representation
Shannon Owen	Director, Northern Michigan Programs	Omni

Assigned Areas
Strategic Enrollment Management Plan (SEMP) Human Resources Graduate Student Association Advising and Student Success Seidman College of Business Omni-Regional Facilities Planning

Team 10

Name	Title	Area
Miloš Topić*	Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Digital Officer	Information Technology
Felix Ngassa	Assistant Vice President for International Enrollment & Academic Partnerships	Enrollment Development and College Futures
Jared Moore	Associate Professor, College of Computing	Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants
Jeffrey Potteiger	Dean, College of Health Professions	Academic Affairs
Jennifer Allard	Associate Vice President for University Marketing	University Relations
Justin Wickenheiser	AP Committee Vice Chair	AP Committee
Josiah Pewitt	Student Leader	Student Representation
Latoya Booker	Director, Inclusion and Equity Institute	People, Equity, and Culture

Assigned Areas
GVNextEd Co-Lab IT Innovation & IT Operations Marketing & Branding Registrar's Office College of Health Professions Diverse Populations & Retention Initiatives

* indicates Executive Officer of the university.

Page last modified October 14, 2026

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