Faculty and staff sketches
Faculty and staff members who have given presentations, were recognized for outstanding contributions or had their research published can submit a sketch online for future publication.
In the News
Christina Hipshier, greenhouse supervisor, was interviewed by multiple media outlets for stories related to the stinky bloom of the corpse flower.
President Philomena V. Mantella and Brian Calley, president and CEO of the Small Business Association of Michigan, wrote an op-ed in the Detroit News about building human capability, agency and judgment as Artificial Intelligence grows rapidly.
Marouane Kessentini, dean of the College of Computing, was interviewed by Crain's Grand Rapids Business for a story about the Artificial Intelligence Research and Innovation Institute, a collaboration with Van Andel Institute.
Carrie Zeilstra, adjunct faculty of movement science, and Karol Tiemersma, fitness skills curriculum specialist, were interviewed by MLive for a story about the Unified Sports class, where students learn and play games with students from Grandville Public School's transitional program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Geoffrey Collard, director of Grand Valley's Police Academy, was interviewed by the Iron Mountain Daily News for a story about recruitment issues among Michigan's law enforcement agencies.
Al Steinman, Allen and Helen Hunting research professor, was interviewed by Smithsonian magazine for a story on the Great Bubble Barrier project, which is being installed in the Grand River in Lansing to manage microplastics.
Christina Hipshier, greenhouse supervisor, measures Grand Valley’s rare Amorphophallus titanum, in the Barbara Kindschi Greenhouse. Hipshier was interviewed by media outlets as the plant reached full bloom, and odor. (Kendra Stanley-Mills)
Cory Morse, photographer for University Communications, earned a fifth-place award from the University Photographers' Association of America for this photo taken during Laker Kickoff in August.
Sketches
President Philomena V. Mantella received an MSU College of Education Alumni Award from the Department of Educational Administration, recognizing distinguished contributions to the field. Mantella earned a Ph.D. in college and university administration from MSU.
Grand Valley's LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff Association celebrated its 20th anniversary on Oct. 16. The event included remarks about the history of the FSA and GVSU LGBTQ+ community, as well as a look at present and future advocacy work being done by the association.
Jeanine Beasley, professor emerita of occupational science and therapy, received the 2026 MacDermid Lifetime Scientific Award in Hand Therapy. The American Society of Hand Therapists presents the award to a member who has made career-long contributions to the science and practice of hand rehabilitation.
Cory Morse, University Communications photographer, received a fifth-place award from the University Photographers' Association of America for a photo of the crowd taken at Laker Kickoff in August.
Gary Van Harn, a founding member of the LGBTQ+ Faculty & Staff Association, speaks during the 20th anniversary celebration at the Kirkhof Center on Oct. 16. (Cory Morse)
Ashley Rosener, senior librarian, served as editor of Slow Librarianship: Reflections and Practices, published by Library Juice Press.
Emily Bemben, assistant professor of nursing, received a grant from the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators for a project, "Mothering the Mind and Minding the Mother: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Led Approaches to Perinatal Community Health."
Azizur Molla, professor of interdisciplinary health, was a co-editor of a book, Climate Change, Drinking Water Security, and Public Health - Global Challenges and Solutions, published by Springer.
At the 2026 GVSU Information Technology Service Awards, Noah Campbell and Kyle Macciomei received the IT Leadership Award; Patrick McVay received the IT Service Excellence Award; and Mitchell Holt received the IT Innovation Award.