Brandon Hofmeister, senior vice president; strategy, sustainability and external affairs at Consumers Energy, and GVSU alumnus Jason Trice, co-owner of Flint-based Bedrock Apparel, will join the board for eight-year terms in 2025.

Grand Valley has once again been named a top environmentally responsible university in the country, according to The Princeton Review’s list of Top 50 Green Colleges. GVSU is ranked #27 and is the only Michigan university listed in 2024. 

Thirty-nine of the 41 recruits to go through the 54th academy graduated, with injury preventing two from completing their training. All 39 of the graduates were sponsored through the academy or have received conditional offers of employment from law enforcement agencies across the state, two of which began serving on GVSU's campus this semester.

Grand Valley State's track and field squads have been ranked as top in the nation, according to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Both men's and women's squads grab the number one spot in the Midwest region for the USTFCCCA's TFRI 2025 Indoor Checkpoint #1 (Jan. 28).

Little Women, directed by Katherine Clemons, will be at the Louis Armstrong Theatre, Haas Center for Performing Arts, February 7-16.

Based on the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, this musical follows the four March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy) as they come of age during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Get tickets for the show.

Hauenstein Center Scholar-In-Residence Dr. Nicole Hemmer returns to present our annual Presidents’ Day Celebration lecture, in which she will explore the topic of presidential accountability and the ways Americans’ perceptions of the presidency have changed over time. RSVP for this event.

The Art & Science of Aging Conference provides a one-day educational event that focuses on the experiences and realities of aging, and the opportunities and alternatives available to individuals as we age. The 2025 Aging Conference will be the 20th annual event, hosted by Grand Valley State University and co-sponsored by many community and university collaborators. Register online.

Celebrate Women’s History Month in March with GGRWHC members and learn about a trailblazing faculty member.

Julianne Vanden Wyngaard was the first female Black faculty member hired at Grand Valley State University. She joined two other faculty members in the music department. When a carillon tower was planned for GVSU’s Allendale Campus, Vanden Wyngaard, an accomplished pianist, was asked to learn the instrument.

Learn more about Vanden Wyngaard during a conversation facilitated by local historian Cindy Laug, who is also a GVSU retiree. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Event Details

Congratulations to all GVSU faculty and staff that have been awarded Emeritus. The Emeritus list has been updated on our retiree connection website.

If you or someone you know is missing, please reach out to GVretiree@gvsu.edu and provide us with their name and date they were awarded Emeritus so we can confirm and update.

Norman Leeling, retired professor of biology of 25 years, died February 16, 2024. He was 87.

Sherman Van Solkema, retired professor of music, died January 9, 2025. He was 94.

William Boomgaard, retired HVAC specialist, died October 30, 2024. He was 90.

Jerry Bosch, retired service staff specialist for Facilities Services' maintenance department, died October 26, 2024. He was 69.

Jessica Molloy, a part-time English faculty member and Grand Valley graduate, died October 25, 2024. She was 43 years old.

Forum is a newsletter for the GVSU community, with a dedicated space for honoring people who helped shape Grand Valley in an In Memoriam section.

Years ago, the Retiree Connection was created as a standing GVSU committee, comprised of retirees to communicate with other retirees and to be an advocate for their needs. While we want to maintain a space where retirees can have a voice, connect with other retirees, and stay engaged with the university, HR and the Retiree Advisory Board are curious if "Retiree Connection" remains the best name to represent this community.

We need your help to "rebrand" the Retiree Connection and identify the new official retiree group name. Vote on your favorite at the survey link below!

The Retiree Advisory Board serve as advisors in partnership with Human Resources on retiree initiatives. The board meets once per quarter with HR to share ideas and help with the planning of retiree initiatives.

If you're interested in joining the board, please contact GVRetiree@gvsu.edu.

Have you signed up for the GVSU Retiree Directory yet? Stay connected with fellow retirees and the broader Grand Valley community be registering for the directory using your most up-to-date contact information. 

All GVSU faculty and staff members are assigned to an HR Business Partner to be their one-stop-shop for all employment needs, and that includes you! Jaime Guzior is your assigned point of contact for any HR related questions or inquiries you have regarding retirement, benefits, and more. In addition to retirees, Jaime supports several academic and non-academic areas throughout the university.

Contact Jaime: GVRetiree@gvsu.edu.