Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

March 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: 

Student Scholars Day (SSD) 2025 is an opportunity to celebrate the power of inquiry, creativity, and mentorship in shaping student learning. This year, we proudly recognize 141 faculty members who have guided students in their research and creative endeavors. Your mentorship is essential in fostering an active, vibrant scholarly community—one that empowers students to ask bold questions, challenge assumptions, and engage deeply with ideas that shape our world. 

This year’s SSD highlights the work of over 500 student presenters, highlighting research, scholarship, and creative expression across disciplines. Their projects reflect the depth of curiosity and intellectual engagement that define our academic community. 

In addition to showcasing research and scholarship across the disciplines. Our theme, "Redefining Boundaries: AI and The Evolution of Science, Tech, and Culture," invites students to examine the profound ways AI is transforming society. As AI increasingly shapes cultural narratives, influences decision-making, and redefines authenticity and authority, SSD 2025 provides a space to explore its ethical, economic, and social implications.  

We are also excited to introduce two new presentation formats—podcasts and zines—giving students even more ways to express their research and creative scholarship, as well as Dr. Shobita Parthasarathy’s keynote talk, "To Achieve Social Equity, We Must Rethink Innovation Systems". 

Dr. Parthasarathy will explore the complex relationship between technology and social equity, challenging us to rethink who defines innovation, how research priorities are set, and how technology is evaluated. As we consider the role of AI in shaping our future, her insights will provide a critical lens for discussing equity and justice in technological advancements. 

We invite you to attend SSD 2025 to support our students, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and celebrate the transformative impact of mentorship and scholarship on student learning. Your participation honors student achievement and reinforces the importance of an engaged intellectual community in shaping the next generation of scholars and citizen leaders. 

Thank you for your continued dedication to student learning and scholarly excellence. We look forward to seeing you there! 

Jen Drake, Acting Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 
Susan Mendoza, Director, Center of Undergraduate Scholar Engagement

SSD Schedule of Events

Your Research, Your Future: Employer Panel and Networking  
The Employer Panel & Networking Breakfast connects students with employers seeking research-experienced candidates, offering career insights, networking, and alumni success stories. The panel will take place on April 9, 9:00 a.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. This event is a collaboration with Career Services. 

SSD Presentations
SSD presentations take place on April 9 from 9:00 a.m.– 5:00 p.m. across the Allendale Campus: Zines in the Mary Idema Pew Library, Oral Presentations and Sessions in the Kirkhof Center, Posters in Henry Hall Atrium and the Grand River Room. Recorded presentations and podcasts will be available online starting April 7. 

SSD Exhibition of Art 
The SSD Exhibition of Art, curated by the Department of Visual and Media Arts, showcases exceptional student work across disciplines in the Calder Art Center Atrium Gallery from April 7-25. An artist reception will be held on April 10, 5:00 p.m., Calder Art Center, Allendale Campus.

Projects and Initiatives Updates

Since the last update on February 10, the outside facilitators that we selected have been conducting interviews. To be specific, the facilitators have been interviewing faculty on UAS and the Steering Committee, as well as deans, vice presidents, President Mantella, and other administrators.

The interviews are meant to inform the structure of the workshops that are being co-designed between faculty leaders, administrators, and the facilitators. Workshops for these individuals have been moved to May 13 & 14 and 22 & 23. This move has been suggested by the facilitation team to provide time and space for deeper engagement and identification of next steps in building more effective working relationships across the university. There will be two comprehensive workshops, each spanning a day and a half, identical in format and content. We believe this format will work better for scheduling purposes, a more detailed plan for the workshop structure informed by the interviews, and for relationship-building in the workshops.

As part of Academic Affairs’ ongoing efforts to create GVSU’s first Strategic Plan to Augment Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity (SPARCA), we invited faculty and staff to participate in open forums to share their insights. If you were 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. The survey will close on March 31.

Updates

Next week, we will announce the three finalists for the position of Vice Provost for Research and Innovation and Executive Director, Center for Scholarly and Creative Excellence. Finalist interviews will take place during the weeks of April 7 and 14. In addition to meetings with key constituency groups, each finalist will participate in two open sessions where all faculty and staff are invited to engage with the candidates. Please note that all sessions will be held in person only. Visit the Vice Provost search website for open session details and to access candidate materials as they become available.

The Office of the President has announced the expansion of the Presidential Fellows Initiative, which now includes both faculty and staff. Up to 12 Fellows will be selected. The Fellows will have opportunities for mentorship, leadership development, and engagement in high-impact projects with the Senior Leadership Team. Letters of interest are being accepted until April 18. For more details, visit the Presidential Fellows Initiative website.

The university is closely monitoring executive orders and their potential impact on campus. Recent updates include the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigation into several institutions, including Grand Valley. The legal team is currently reviewing the OCR communication and gathering information to inform the university’s response and next steps. President Mantella’s message to the campus community regarding the investigation is available on the Office of the President’s website. Ongoing updates and resources related to new executive orders, federal memos, and other important federal actions are available on Division of People, Equity, and Culture website.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new requirement for certain foreign nationals to register with the federal government. Many foreign nationals in the United States are already registered, but unregistered individuals may include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status applicants without an employment authorization document, undocumented individuals, previously registered children who turn 14 years old, among others. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to the USCIS website for more information on this requirement. All non-U.S. citizens should always carry proof of their registration while in the United States. Additional information is also available on the ACLU website. 

For immigration-related questions, concerns, or filings, please contact Hypatia Swanson in the Office of the General Counsel. Immigration Manager Kristen Dufty has departed the University to pursue a new career opportunity, and Hypatia will be supporting that portfolio full-time for now. New employees requiring visa sponsorship should reach out to Joseph VanArendonk in Human Resources. Additional details will also be posted on the DACA and Undocumented Student Services website.

Engaged Scholarship

Congratulations to Paul Yu, Professor of Mathematics and Joy Oslund, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, for receiving a $50,000 Spencer Foundation grant. To dispel ableist notions of mathematics, they will conduct an qualitative study of a blind and low vision (BLV) student in advanced collegiate mathematics courses, investigating the use of technology and tactile instructional strategies to make the mathematics accessible to the BLV student. The aim is to establish effective approaches for teaching both BLV and sighted students.

Brian Johnson, Professor of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies, published the book Through Blood and Brotherhood. Based on years of qualitative research, this book provides a distinctive account of what happened in the relatively unknown and under-researched Yugoslavian theater of conflict in World War II. The book is based on the detailed diaries of Gottfried Weber, a naïve patriotic teen from a small town in Saxony who is willingly drafted into the German Wehrmacht and sent to Yugoslavia for occupation duty. Click here to learn more about this book.

Events

The 2025 Phi Kappa Phi honorees and inductees will celebrate their accomplishments on March 24, 4:00 p.m., Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. To view a list of all first-year honorees and this year's new student inductees, visit the Phi Kappa Phi website. Acting Provost Drake will be inducted into the society and will give the keynote address. All are welcome to attend to congratulate our students and the new Faculty and Staff inductees.

Student Awards Convocation will be held April 14, 6:00 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. All faculty and staff are invited to attend this special event to recognize our outstanding students. Faculty and staff are not required to RSVP. To view the list of this year's recipients, please visit the Office of the Provost website.

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. 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, a series of strategic foresight sessions are an extra opportunity for you to contribute to GVSU’s long-term vision. 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.

Come experience how visual art and music can inspire one another at the 13th Music Composition Competition on March 26, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., 1121 Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery, Allendale Campus. GVSU student composers have created 60-second works in response to works on display in Climate Matters: Our Changing and Resilient Planet which will be performed by the New Music Ensemble. Enjoy food and beverages at the reception from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the PAC Lobby. RSVP on the Art Musem website. 

Join the GVSU Art Museum and Department of English for an interdisciplinary symposium on water justice on March 27, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Multipurpose Room, Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus. You are welcome to attend the whole day or come to individual sessions. For the full schedule, please see the website.

The Responsible Conduct of Research Advisory Committee will be hosting a panel discussion on March 28, 10:00-11:15 a.m., via Zoom, to discuss AI in research. Faculty panelists from the College of Computing, Academic Research Computing, Department of Philosophy, and the Department of Writing and Digital Studies Program will be discussing practical uses of AI in research and ethical issues related to its use. RSVP for this discussion on the Office of Research Compliance and Integrity website by March 26.

The inaugural GV's Technology Summit will take place on October 2, 12:00 - 5:00 p.m., 102-104 DeVos Center for Interprofessional Health, Health Campus. Be part of a university-wide celebration of innovation and progress, sponsored by Information Technology in collaboration with colleges and departments across the university. Information Technology is seeking passionate presenters to showcase technology advancements and explore future opportunities. Submit a proposal to help make the Summit a success. Learn more and register at gvsu.edu/it/summit.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events
3/24 - Insights and Ideas: Faculty Session - 1:00 p.m., John G. Russell Leadership Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
3/24 - Phi Kappa Phi Induction Ceremony - 4:00 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Robert C. 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
3/26 - 13th Music Composition Competition - 6:00 p.m., 1121 Haas Center for Performing Arts Gallery, 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
3/27 - Art Matters: An Interdisciplinary Symposium on Water Justice - 10:00 a.m., Multipurpose Room, Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus
3/28 - Artificial Intelligence in Research: Panel Discussion - 10:00 a.m., via Zoom
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
4/11 - Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence - 5:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/14 - Student Awards Convocation - 6:00 p.m.,  L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/15 - Graduate School Showcase - 3:00 p.m., Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall and Loosemore Auditorium,  DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
5/15 - Insight and Ideas: Staff Sessions - 9:00 a.m., Mary Idema Pew Library, Allendale Campus

Dates
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.