The 2025 Faculty Awards Convocation was held on Tuesday, February 18.

Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

February 24, 2025

Lakers Ready is sent by the Office of the Provost
to faculty and staff within the Division of Academic Affairs

In this issue of Lakers Ready:

A Note from the Provost

Dear Colleagues: 

Congratulations once again to our Faculty Awards recipients! Your dedication to teaching, scholarship, and service strengthens our university and deepens our shared commitment to learning and discovery. Thank you to all who attended last week’s Faculty Awards Convocation to celebrate our colleagues—it was a meaningful reminder of the impact of our work. If you were unable to attend or would like to revisit the event, a video of the convocation and a listing of award winners is available on the Office of the Provost website. 

I hope you are able to embrace spring break next week, whether you are using the time to catch up, to adventure, or to rest. This midpoint in the semester invites us to reflect and prepare for the important work ahead. However you spend the break, I hope you return grounded, joyful and renewed. 

Jen 

Projects and Initiatives Updates

As part of Academic Affairs’ ongoing efforts to create GVSU’s first Strategic Plan to Augment Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (SPARCA), we invite faculty and staff to participate in open forums to share their insights. Your input and expertise will help shape the direction of this strategic plan, ensuring it aligns with our shared vision and goals.

These forums are an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and contribute to a framework that supports research, scholarship, and creative activity at GVSU. Please RSVP your attendance plans and visit the SPARCA webpage for additional information about this project. If you are unable to attend the Open Forums, we still welcome your input. You can share your thoughts by completing a Qualtrics survey, which includes the 13 themes and guiding questions.

Updates

You're invited to process during the Winter 2025 Commencement ceremonies on April 25 and 26. Your participation will make this milestone even more special as students mark the culmination of their hard work and begin the next chapter of their professional and personal journeys. Please RSVP by April 16, if you plan to attend and process during one of the ceremonies.

The student commencement speaker application is now open. Please encourage students graduating this semester to apply for this special honor. The online application will be open until March 2, at 11:59 p.m. To learn more, visit the Commencement website. 

GVSU IT has started rolling out the Windows 11 upgrade across the university in designated phases. This update applies only to Windows computers and is not required for Mac computers. The transition is necessary as Microsoft will end support for Windows 10 (including updates and security patches) on October 14. A complete schedule of the phased migration will be shared in March 2025. Learn more at gvsu.edu/it/windows11. 

Engaged Scholarship

George Lundskow, Professor of Sociology, and Sarah MacMillen, Associate Professor of Sociology at Duquesne University, published the book Q-Anon and Other Replacement Realities: How Religious Emotion Threatens Free Society but Can Also Contribute to a Progressive Future. This book examines the historical and theological origins and the social-psychological effects of American conspiracy fantasies that Q-Anon and other right-wing beliefs foster. 

The book maps out an alternative to destructive, hateful, polarizing, and conspiratorial discourse, with new more life-giving rational, emotional, and spiritual orientations. The authors hope this will move American society towards a new collective national identity, based on inclusiveness and equality, around a social character defined by compassion, gratitude, reverence, and love. Click here to learn more about this book. 

Congratulations to Kelly Margot, Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning, for a new award of $582,720 from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). With these funds, the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) department in Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) will be able to expand afterschool programming at eight campuses and summer programming at four sites for students in grades 1-6, as an avenue to establish talent development opportunities for all students.

Events

Insights and Ideas is a series of informal gatherings in both Allendale and Grand Rapids throughout the winter semester. Each discussion will provide space for open dialogue to discuss topics important to faculty and staff and for leadership to provide deeper insight into our priorities and key initiatives. The goal is to keep these sessions small to maximize the conversation and sometimes space will be limited. Following each session, the key themes and topics will be shared with the entire community so that everyone is connected to these important discussions. Please contact the Office of the President with questions. 

Colleges and units in Academic Affairs are engaged in a variety of conversations that are shaping our overall strategic planning and informing the Reach Higher Together initiative. In addition to these ongoing efforts, we are pleased to offer a series of strategic foresight sessions as an extra opportunity for you to contribute to GVSU’s long-term vision. These sessions, designed to complement our broader planning work, will involve activities that explore external factors, such as political, economic, social, and technological trends, which may influence GVSU’s future direction. Two sessions will focus specifically on academic visioning, emphasizing teaching, learning, and research, and are open to all. RSVP online for the sessions you plan to attend. Questions about these sessions can be directed to Evan Potter in the Office of the President.

José Medina is the Walter Dill Scott Professor of Philosophy at Northwestern University and will be the guest speaker for the Philosophy Colloquium Series on March 13, 4:30-6:30 p.m., 110 BLL Mackinac Hall, Allendale Campus. His research is in critical race theory, feminist and queer theory, political philosophy, and social epistemology. Learn more about this event and others on the Philosophy website.

Join campus and community members as the Office of Sustainability Practices recognizes sustainability champions. Nominate a sustainability champion to be recognized at the 2025 Sustainability Champion Awards Ceremony on March 14, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Nominations and RSVPs are due by February 28.

The GVSU's Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC) is looking for faculty, staff, and student volunteers to make the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament a success! The event will be held on March 29 on the Allendale Campus and brings over 1500 students, teachers and parents to campus. You can help out by volunteering yourself or sharing this opportunity with your students. Volunteer sign up can be found on the website. Contact Jess Sudy or the RMSC at 616-331-2267 with questions.

The office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship is hosting the 29th annual Student Scholars Day Event, April 8, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Alumni House, Allendale Campus. The event will begin with a keynote address by Shobita Parthasarathy, followed by a reception. Student Scholars Day (SSD) is held once each year to celebrate the scholarship and creative work performed by GVSU students.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
2/25 - SPARCA Discussion - 11:30 a.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
2/26 - SPARCA Discussion - 10:00 a.m., Zoom
2/27 - Insights and Ideas: Faculty Session - 4:00 p.m., Gordon Gallery, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/28 - SPARCA Discussion - 11:00 a.m., 107D DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
2/28 - Insights and Ideas: Faculty Session - 12:00 p.m., Laker Club, Allendale Campus
2/28 - Know Your Rights - 1:00 p.m., 1008A Seidman Forum, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
3/11 - Insight and Ideas: Staff Session - 12:00 p.m., John G. Russell Leadership Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
3/13 - Laker Club Talk: Jessica Karbowski Weare - 4:00 p.m., Laker Club, Allendale Campus
3/13 - Philosophy Colloquium Series: José Medina - 4:30 p.m., 110 MAK-BLL, Allendale Campus
3/14 - 2025 Sustainability Champion Awards Ceremony - 12:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
3/24 - Insights and Ideas: Faculty Session - 1:00 p.m., John G. Russell Leadership Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
3/26 - Beyond 2025: Reach Higher Foresight Sessions - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Various Sessions, Holton-Hooker Living Center, Allendale Campus
3/27- Beyond 2025: Reach Higher Foresight Sessions - 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Various Sessions, Consumers Energy Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
3/28 - Beyond 2025: Reach Higher Foresight Sessions - 1:00 p.m., Virtual
3/29 - Michigan Regional Science Olympiad Tournament - 7:45 a.m., Various locations, Allendale Campus
4/8 - Student Scholars Day Keynote - 4:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/10 - Insights and Ideas: Faculty Session - 12:00 p.m., Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus
4/14- Student Awards Convocation - 6:00 p.m.,  L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
5/15 - Insight and Ideas: Staff Sessions - 9:00 a.m., Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus

Dates
3/2-9 - Spring Break
4/19 - Classes End
4/19-26 - Examination Week
4/25-26 - Commencement

Links
Lakers Ready - repository of this newsletter and a link to submit content
Laker Family Network - repository of the monthly newsletter sent by the Division of Student Affairs to GVSU parents/supporters

Lakers Ready will be distributed on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month.