Learn more about Student Scholars Day.

Lakers Ready

Division of Academic Affairs

April 8, 2024

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

Laker to Laker

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings on this last stretch of the Winter semester.  I know these are very busy weeks for faculty, students, and staff.  I hope many of you will take our Physics department's generous offer to “enlighten us” about the solar eclipse today. I know I am taking my afternoon meetings outside.

This week we are showcasing our students' academic achievements at the Student Awards Convocation, honoring our AP staff at the AP Awards Luncheon, celebrating the research and creative projects of students under the guidance of faculty at Student Scholars Day, and highlighting the work of the university community at the Reach Higher 2025 Showcase. I hope to see many of you at each of these events.

I also want to express pride and gratitude for the passion, care, and sincerity in the conversations taking place these past few weeks. As a higher learning institution, we must remain the learning organization par excellence. Peter Senge characterizes learning organizations as “[ones] where … collective aspiration is set free, and where people are continually learning how to learn together.”  As hard as these reflective conversations can be, they are our most powerful means to sharpen and align our collective aspirations and make them a reality. Have a great week everyone.

Fatma

Empowered Education

Student Awards Convocation is scheduled for today, April 8, 6:00 p.m., Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. Awards to be presented include Excellence-in-a-Discipline, Gayle R. Davis First Generation College Student Emerging Leader Award, and Glenn A. Niemeyer Awards. All are welcome to attend the ceremony to honor the outstanding achievements of our students; names of faculty representatives are not being collected this year. Contact the Office of the Provost if you have questions.

Student Scholars Day (SSD) celebrates scholarship, research, and creative work performed by GVSU students. Beginning as a single-day research symposium almost 30 years ago, SSD evolved into a multi-day event that celebrates the scholarly process and showcases faculty-mentored student work. Student presentations will be on Wednesday, April 10. A full schedule of events for SSD 2024 is available. This event is coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship.

Engaged Scholarship

Congratulations to Lisa Kenyon, Professor of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, John Farris, Professor of Engineering, and Sango Otieno, Professor of Statistics, for receiving $387,263 from the National Institutes of Health for "Em-Power: Maximizing Functional Independence for Children with Severe Cerebral Palsy." This project will provide training to help children learn to drive a powered wheelchair and aims to allow more children access to this important means of functional mobility and increased independence.

Congratulations to Julia M. Mason, Danielle M. DeMuth, and Ayana K. Weekley, Associate Professors of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies for a $100,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS) will use the funds to advance the study of gender, race, and sexuality. Grant activities include supporting on-going programs and new initiatives including discussion groups, speakers, and building connections with regional WGS faculty to amplify work in the discipline.

Valerie Peterson, Professor of Communications, published Sex, Ethics, and Communication: A Humanistic Approach to Conversations on Intimacy. This book addresses the need for thoughtful consideration of human sexuality and sexual communication. Designed to encourage discussion, the book places communication, rather than psychology, biology, or religion, at the heart of our understanding of sex and sexual behavior. Click here to learn more about this book.

Updates

Join our 2024 graduates in celebrating their academic achievements during the Winter Commencement ceremonies April 26 - 27. Please RSVP by April 17, if you plan to attend and process during one of the ceremonies. More information can be found on the Commencement website.

Join colleagues and friends as we celebrate Dean Paul Plotkowski for his outstanding service and unwavering commitment to Grand Valley State University and the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing. A retirement celebration is scheduled on April 23, 4:30-6:30 p.m., L. William Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus. RSVP your attendance plans by April 15.

Events

Dr. Kent Kirshenbaum from New York University will present "Biomimetic Cuisine: The Chemistry, Craft, and Culture of Our Future Foods" on April 18, 6:00 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus, as part of the Arnold C. Ott Lectureship in Chemistry. Dr. Kirshenbaum will also give a seminar titled, "Biomimetic Chemistry: Innovating Molecular Structures and Functions Inspired by Nature" on April 19, 1:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus. Visit the Chemistry website to learn more.

Important Dates and Links

Previously Shared Events 
4/8 - Student Awards Convocation - 6:00 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/9 - Final Exam Prep & Test Anxiety Workshop - 12:00 p.m., 2201 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/9 - Student Scholars Day Keynote Speaker - 4:00 p.m., 2204 Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/10 - Student Scholars Day
4/10 - Climate Change Student Symposium - Virtual
4/11 - Student Scholars Day: Exhibitions of Art - 5:00 p.m., Calder Art Center, Allendale Campus
4/12 - Valuing Recycled Water for Irrigation: Direct and Indirect Benefits to Coastal Agriculture - 2:00 p.m., 225 Lake Michigan Center, Muskegon Campus
4/12 - Reach Higher Showcase - 4:00 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/15 - Jordan Christian LeVan, Fighting for my Voice - 10:00 a.m., Cook-DeWitt Center Auditorium, Allendale Campus. 
4/17 - Toast to the Class of 2024 - 5:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m., L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/18 - Biomimetic Cuisine: The Chemistry, Craft, and Culture of Our Future Foods - 6:00 p.m., Grand River Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/19 - Biomimetic Chemistry: Innovating Molecular Structures and Functions Inspired by Nature - 1:00 p.m., Pere Marquette Room, Kirkhof Center, Allendale Campus
4/19 - The Graduate School Citation Awards - 5:00 p.m., Loosemore
Auditorium, DeVos Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/23 - Paul Plotkowski Retirement Celebration - 4:30 p.m., L. William Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus
4/23 - Graduate Showcase - 3:00 p.m., Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall, Allendale Campus and Awards Ceremony, 4:30 p.m., Loosemore Auditorium, Allendale Campus
5/13 - From Surviving to Thriving: Bb Ultra Half-Day Celebration - 10:00 a.m., 1008 Seidman Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Dates
4/20-4/27 - Exam Week
4/26-4/27 - Commencement Ceremonies 

Links
Lakers Ready - repository of this weekly 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