A Message from VP Shorty

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

In my short time at GVSU, I have become even more excited as we continue to build our next chapter at the university, one rooted in shared leadership and a commitment to shaping the kind of community we aspire to be. As you read this, I urge you to think about how we are coming together in new ways.

Over the past few months, I have engaged in meaningful sessions with the Senior Leadership and Faculty Leadership teams, the Reach Higher Collaborative Network, and others across campus to reimagine how we lead—not from a single office or position, but as a diverse community of educators, professionals, and learners who each play a vital role. As we move forward together, I am energized to be co-creating a culture that reflects our shared values and aspirations.

Continuing through the month of June, I want to again invite you to engage in a few upcoming GVSU events to keep the momentum going: From Roots to Rise: GVSU Community Juneteenth Celebration on June 20, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., and GVSU Reel Pride, an outdoor movie night featuring But I'm a Cheerleader, happening June 26 beginning at 4 p.m on the GVSU soccer field. These aren’t just learning moments or celebrations—they’re expressions of our inclusive, vibrant, and engaged community.

Together, we’re shaping something powerful that starts with each of us showing up as leaders, as colleagues, and as part of something bigger. I look forward to continue to carry this work into our upcoming academic year!

Sincerely,

Robert Shorty
Vice President for People, Equity, and Culture
Chief People and Inclusion & Equity Officer

Haven't met with a wellness coach yet this year? Now's the time to sign-up with a coach through Thrive at GVSU! Whether you're looking to jumpstart your health goals, reduce stress, improve nutrition, or simply stay on track, coaching is here to support you. It's confidential, personalized, and completely focused on your well-being.

Sign up before June 30, complete three months of coaching, and earn an $100 reward! Coaching is available for benefit-eligible faculty, staff, spouses and household members. Contact wellness@thrivegvsu.com to get started, or enter your email by following the link below.

Leadership Roundtable: Student Engagement in a Post-COVID World
June 25, 1-2 p.m., Valley Campus

Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring GVSU staff experts from across campus as we explore how student engagement has evolved in a post-COVID world. Hear insights from Admissions, Student Life, Multicultural Affairs, Athletics, and the Dean of Students Office on what today’s students need to feel connected, supported, and involved.

We have 3 days of Pride festivities this year, and we need your help. Sign up to represent GVSU, PEC, and the LGBT Resource Center at our community booths for:

Grand Rapids Pride Festival
June 21-22, beginning at noon,
Calder Plaza
Volunteer at Grand Rapids Pride

Holland Pride Festival
June 28, 1-6 p.m., Kollen Park

Volunteer at Holland Pride

Come celebrate, connect, and show your Laker Pride...one shift at a time. Sign up now and be part of the joy!

West Michigan’s 2025 Loving Day Celebration, presented by The Grand Rapids Children’s Museum in partnership with Ebony Road Players!, will take place Saturday, June 14, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m, at the GR Children's Museum. Join community members in celebrating the many different faces of family with hands-on interactive activities, seed planting, and more. Come celebrate love, family, and community with us! ❤️

Event Details:

Loving Day importantly commemorates the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in Loving v. Virginia (June 12, 1967), which struck down state bans on interracial marriage as unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment.

In 1958, Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial couple from Virginia, were legally married in Washington, D.C. However, after returning home, they were arrested and charged with a felony for violating Virginia’s anti-miscegenation laws.

With the support of the ACLU, the Lovings spent nearly a decade fighting for their right to live as a married couple. The Supreme Court's 1967 ruling not only overturned their conviction but also dismantled similar laws in 16 other states. This landmark case challenged centuries of racial segregation in marriage law and remains an historic victory for civil rights and racial justice.

Please join the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX in welcoming our newest team member, Beth Vendal, Assistant Director for Civil Rights Compliance and Lead Investigator. She became a member of the OCRTIX team in February, and first joined GVSU in the Dean of Students Office in 2022. While in that role, Beth contributed to the OCRTIX Resolution Pool and served as a co-investigator for OCRTIX and the Central Investigation Unit. She is certified as an Inclusion Advocate, working with campus search committees to ensure inclusive hiring practices. 

With a deep commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Beth strives to create a respectful and supportive environment at GVSU. Her efforts focus on fostering a sense of belonging for all students and employees.

Beth makes her home in Jenison and is the proud mother of five adult children and grandmother of three. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, and long walks with her beloved dog, Miggy. 

As additional information and support for business and personal interactions and relationships, your Employee Ombuds has specifically curated a collection of titles available to you!

Access the online catalogue to view available resources (i.e. books and/or magazines), all of which are available to be checked out through the Ombuds office in Lake Michigan Hall, Suite 133.

Friendly competition amongst colleagues was alive and well in the month of May! PEC cohosted the 5th Annual GVSU Cornhole Tournament in partnership with University Development (Alex Priebe) and Registrar's Office (Dan Vainner). Thank you to all who joined us, and congratulations to our this year's champions, Mike Przydzial and Joe Bitely of team Cob Mob!

You know the drill: enter for a chance to receive PEC swag as a thank you for your engagement. ⚓️