Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network
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About the Network
This is a pivotal year at Grand Valley State University as we conclude the Reach Higher 2025 strategic plan and continue shaping its next phase.
As we transition, we have an exciting opportunity to extend our impact and ignite our future.
In service of advancing the conversations around the future of Reach Higher, President Mantella has expanded the President's Council to include a broader group of connected and talented students, faculty, and staff. The new group, the Reach Higher Collaborative Leadership Network, includes leadership from all functional areas, as well as representatives from Student Senate, University Academic Senate, and Administrative Professionals Committee. This network will function in the council's place through 2025.
The network has a collective goal of gathering community insights to enhance the continuation of Reach Higher. As feedback and insights are gathered, the Network will work alongside the community to refresh the next version of the strategy.
All community members are invited to share insights at any time. Your feedback will help the university to reflect, honor, inquire, adapt, and celebrate.
Core Team
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Philomena Mantella* |
President |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Jesse Bernal* |
Vice President for Strategy and Chief of Staff to the President |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Cori Kahler |
Assistant Secretary to the Board of Trustees and Project Specialist for Presidential Initiatives |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Elizabeth Doyle |
Executive Associate for Philanthropic Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives |
University Development |
|
Evan Potter |
Assistant Director of Strategic Initiatives |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Sean Lancaster |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
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 |
|
Alyss Cardona-Alberto |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Mark Schaub |
Dean, Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies |
Academic Affairs |
|
Merritt Delano Taylor |
Professor of Biomedical Sciences & Presidential Fellow |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Michelle Rhodes |
Associate Vice President for Financial Aid |
Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach |
|
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* |
Acting 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 |
|
Karyn Rabourn |
Associate Professor of Higher Education & Presidential Fellow |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Kate Harmon |
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Well-being and Inclusion |
Student Affairs |
|
Mary Albrecht |
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Quinten Proctor |
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 |
Dean, University Libraries |
Academic Affairs |
|
Bill Herbst |
Executive Associate for Presidential Communications |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
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 Sanders |
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 |
|
Paris Lawson |
Vice President, 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 |
|
Bonnie Bowen |
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Dan Hurwitz |
Associate Vice President for University Development |
University Development |
|
Emily Par |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Danny Velez |
Associate Vice President for Admissions and Recruitment |
Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach |
|
Donovan Anderson |
Interim Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
Academic Affairs |
|
Keri Becker |
Athletic Director |
Finance and Administration |
|
Matthew Reidsma |
Content and Accessibility Strategist for Virtual Services |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
Assigned Areas
- WGVU
- University Development (Hurwitz Areas)
- Chief Technology Office
- Budget Resource Group
- College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
- Admissions & Recruitment
- Athletics
Team 5
|
Name |
Title |
Area |
|---|---|---|
|
Laura Aikens* |
Vice President for University Development |
University Development |
|
Alisha Davis |
Assistant Vice President for the Social Justice Centers |
Student Affairs |
|
Heather Taylor |
Assistant Vice President Risk and Insurance Programs |
Finance and Administration |
|
Josh Isaak |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
University Relations |
|
Leah Breen |
Assistant Vice President for Charter Schools |
University Initiatives |
|
Marouane Kessentini |
Dean, College of Computing |
Academic Affairs |
|
Palak Luthra |
Graduate Student |
Student Representation |
|
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 |
General Counsel |
Central Administration and Cross Divisional |
|
Adams Downs |
Assistant Vice President for Prior and Workforce Learning |
Omni |
|
Luke DeMott |
Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer |
Information Technology |
|
Pragya Mehla |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Robert Smart |
Vice Provost for Research Administration |
Academic Affairs |
|
Shannon Specter |
Assistant Vice President for Philanthropy |
University Development |
|
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 |
University Relations |
|
Ed Aboufadel |
Senior Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Elisa Ortega-Schultz |
Employee Ombuds |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Hailey Bos |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Jeremiah Cataldo |
Professor |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Justin Melick |
AP Committee Chair |
AP Committee |
|
Lisa Haynes |
Associate Vice President for Facilities Services, Grand Rapids and Regional Centers |
Finance and Administration |
|
Nykia Gaines |
Assistant Vice President for Federal TRIO Programs |
Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach |
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 |
|
Brandon DeHaan |
Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police |
Finance and Administration |
|
Emil Delgado |
Associate Vice President for Information Technology |
Information Technology |
|
Erica Hamilton |
Interim Vice Provost for The Graduate School |
Academic Affairs |
|
Evan Jackson |
Chief of Staff, 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 Educational Outreach |
Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach |
|
Blake Ashby |
Professor |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Cathy Buyarski |
Vice Provost for Advising and Student Success |
Academic Affairs |
|
Diana Lawson |
Dean, Seidman College of Business |
Academic Affairs |
|
Karen Ingle |
Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning |
Finance and Administration |
|
Lauren King |
President, Graduate Student Association |
Student Representation |
|
Mychal Coleman |
Associate Vice President of Human Resources |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
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 Academic Affairs |
Academic Affairs |
|
Jared Moore |
Associate Professor, College of Computing |
Academic Senate and Other Faculty Participants |
|
Jason Cronkrite |
AP Committee Vice Chair |
AP Committee |
|
Jeffrey Potteiger |
Interim Dean, College of Health Professions |
Academic Affairs |
|
Jennifer Allard |
Associate Vice President for University Marketing |
University Relations |
|
Josiah Pewitt |
Student Leader |
Student Representation |
|
Latoya Booker |
Director, Inclusion and Equity Institute |
People, Equity, and Culture |
|
Steven Hodas |
Executive Director, GVSU NextEd Co-Lab |
University Initiatives |
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.