Grand Valley and West Michigan are celebrating the life of community philanthropist Jack H. Miller. Miller was a member of the Grand Valley University Foundation and served as a foundation advisor. He died on April 2 at the age of 92.

The GVSU community celebrates the life of Curtis Jones, who established strong Laker ties within his family as the first Black faculty member hired at Grand Valley. Jones, professor emeritus of sociology, joined the faculty in 1967. Jones died March 7 in Grand Rapids. He was 86.

Grand Valley remembers the life of Vernon Ohlman, who died January 21, at 85. Ohlman designed many of Grand Valley’s most notable buildings, including the Kirkhof Center, Padnos Hall, DeVos Center and the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences. 

GV Faculty Focus podcast interviews and highlights individual faculty members including their contributions to students and the greater community. The podcast will release monthly, and you can listen to the first episode now. 

The university's Board of Trustees approved the AI programs last February. The programs will provide educational training that aligns with GVSU's Blue Dot initiative, which plans to enhance the tech talent pipeline for Michigan. 

For the second time in program history, the GVSU women's basketball team are National Champions. The Lakers took down California State-Dominguez Hills 70-58 in the championship game to win the title for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

Together, we have empowered learners and shaped a bold future. Join us as we celebrate our collective impact and look to the future. The celebration will take place Thursday, April 17, from 2-4 p.m. at the Loosemore Auditorium (Pew Campus).

Complimentary appetizers, beer and wine, and other beverages will be served.

At the Spring Dance Concert, GVSU Dance Company and Freshman Dance Company will perform pieces by faculty and guest artists at the Louis Armstrong Theatre (Allendale Campus) on:

• Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 PM 
• Sunday, April 19 at 2:00 PM 
 
This event is free and open to the public.

The GVSU Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on Friday, April 25 from 11 a.m.–Noon at the L. William Seidman Center (Pew Campus).

Groundswell is proud to celebrate the work of student stewards in an interactive event with participating K12 schools through its annual Student Project Showcase. Students will host tables at an exhibit fair, offering insight for attendees about their community stewardship activities.Please join us to help recognize student-led efforts to protect the Grand River and Great Lakes. This event is free and open to the public.

For three decades the Cook Carillon has stood as a symbol of history, harmony, and community. Join President Mantella for a luncheon and concert to celebrate Grand Valley’s most iconic landmark. Invitation to follow.

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.

Since retiring, have you participated in any events or group gatherings with other GVSU retirees on a regular basis (e.g., GVSU Faculty & Staff Golf League)? If so, we’d love to hear more about your experience! The Human Resources office, along with other campus partners, is working on coordinating opportunities for GVSU retirees to reconnect. In this effort, we're looking to understand what current opportunities already exist to avoid any overlap.

If so, please submit your interest in joining the temporary hourly employment pool at GVSU. If a department is in need of a temporary employee, they will refer to this database and reach out to those with related skills to gauge interest.  

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.