Strategic plan evolves as GVSU trustees approve Reach Higher Together
New and revised commitments reflect more than a year of reflection, conversation and input from university community.
Feb 6, 2026
We Enjoyed Celebrating With You!
GVSU is Michigan’s most impactful regional university—because of you.
We were built to meet the needs of our community. Together, we have empowered learners and shaped a bold future. Thank you for joining us as we celebrated our collective impact and looked to the future. Through self-guided exploration of curated zones and interactive experiences, the Reach Higher Celebration highlighted how Grand Valley is Michigan’s most impactful regional university—Together, we celebrated our collective impact and looked to the future!
5 immersive experiences we saw at the Reach Higher Celebration
Grand Valley's celebration of the progress of its Reach Higher 2025 initiative featured GVx talks and immersive showcases highlighting university projects as it strives to continue leading in the higher education space.
Apr 20, 2025
Reach Higher Celebration spotlights GVSU's innovation in Michigan
Community and industry leaders from across Michigan gathered at the DeVos Center on Grand Valley's Pew City Campus on April 17 for the university's Reach Higher Celebration.
Apr 17, 2025
GVx Talks
| Spotlight | Presenters | Video |
|---|---|---|
| Bridging Educational Communities /HBCU/HSI Consortium | B. Donta Truss and Adebayo Ogundipe | Link |
| Expanding GVSU's Reach Across the State /Omni at GVSU | Kara Van Dam, Al Shifflett, and Shannon Owen | Link |
| Navigating Academic and Professional Excellence /The CLAS Voyage | Janet Vigna | Link |
| Redefining Possibilities for Black Boys and Men /Black Boys and Men National Symposium | LuWanna Williams and Adam Harris | Link |
| Shaping the Future of Rural Primary Care / Integrating Behavioral Health into Rural Care | Teresa Bacon-Baguley, Andrew Booth, Jill Ellis, Amanda Reddy, and Martina Reinhold | Link |
| Transforming Grand Rapids into a Tech Epicenter /Blue Dot Ecosystem | Laura Aikens and Marouane Kessentini | Link |
GV Spotlight Conversations
| Spotlight | Presenters | Video |
|---|---|---|
| A Path to Affordable Learning /GVSU SAVE | Tony Glaab and Riley Gessler | Link |
| Co-Designing Nursing Education to Meet Healthcare Needs / West Michigan Academic-Practice Nursing Collaborative | Linda Lewandowski, Jaclynn Lubbers, and Susanne Woltschlaeger-Brooks | Link |
| Cultivating Future Educators /Addressing the Teacher Shortage | Adrianna Lynn and Mary Kay Murphy | Link |
| Empowering Through High-Impact Virtual Tutoring /EQPD | Amirah Vosburgh and Tyler Peery | Link |
| From Classroom to Career: Removing Obstacles to Real-World Success / Laker Accelerated Talent Link | Dana Hebreard, Aislinn Spaman, and Aliesje Knight | Link |
| Tuition-Free Academic Excellence /GV Pledge | Amanda Krebs and Nayeli Mora | Link |
Interactive Experiences
| Spotlight |
|---|
| Empowering Students to Tell Stories that Matter /Student Reporting Labs |
| Making Learning Collaborative and Accessible /Knowledge Market: Peer-to-Peer Support |
| Redefining Possibilities for Black Boys and Men /Black Boys and Men National Symposium |
| Scaling Student-Designed Financial Literacy /REP4 FinLit |
| The Transformative Power of Students Research and Creativity /Graduate Programs |