By Michele Coffill
Grand Valley State University
Philomena V. Mantella announced two initiatives that will strategically position Grand Valley State University into what she called a “breakout university” during her investiture address Nov. 15 as the institution’s fifth president.
Mantella detailed the Laker Lifetime Learning Account, money available to alumni to use for continuing education, and establishment of a talent epicenter, a physical space where companies, nonprofits, students and entrepreneurs will collaborate on ideas. She called both initiatives investments in the future during a time when the landscape of higher education is changing.
“The Laker Lifetime Learning Account will be available for Lakers to reduce costs and improve access to badges, certificates and advanced degrees at Grand Valley,” she said, adding this program will begin in the spring. “The promise of our future demands these changes, investments and our collective fortitude. The commitments I’ve outlined today will ready Grand Valley, and those who partner with us, to create and shape our future as a 21st century education leader.”
Hundreds of people attended the investiture ceremony in the Fieldhouse on the Allendale Campus, including representatives from colleges and universities around the country. Mantella was joined by her family, including her husband, Robert H. Avery, and her mother, Lucille.
Mantella assumed the presidency at Grand Valley July 1; she spent the last 18 years at Northeastern University as senior vice president of Enrollment and Student Life and the chief executive officer of the Lifelong Learning Network.
Mantella said Grand Valley must meet the changing, and challenging, demands higher education faces. These include a declining Michigan high school population, higher education access and affordability and a workforce talent gap. She said the time is act is now and sent a call to the campus community to “Reach Higher Together,” an initiative to lead change in higher education.
“Our state and our nation need Grand Valley to seize the new reality that allows a university in Michigan to be a ‘breakout university’ by asserting its entrepreneurial spirit, its history of being agile, fearlessly growing and changing to meet new demands, and being hungry to shape education to learning styles that are as numerous as individuals are different,” she said.
To meet these demands, Mantella gave five commitments to the university community: evolving Grand Valley’s liberal education foundation, creating an unparalleled educational model, expanding experiential learning, supporting more students at different stages of life, and investing in alumni through the lifetime learning account program.
“We commit to supporting more students at different stages of life, acknowledging their multiple roles and delivering when they want to learn, where they want to learn, and how they want to learn,” she said. “This will require us to build a sophisticated infrastructure that leverages the power of place and the digital medium.”
During the investiture ceremony, segments of the campus community offered greetings to Mantella. Kelly Dowker, executive vice president of the Student Senate, said she has had several opportunities to work with Mantella and appreciates her forward-thinking vision.
“President Mantella is adamant about including student voices,” Dowker said. “She is of enormous importance in higher education, not only in Michigan, but throughout the United States.”
President Emeritus Thomas J. Haas, Grand Valley’s fourth president, handed Mantella a baton that had been passed to him by former President Mark A. Murray.
“Leading a public university is a noble calling and representing my colleagues, we look forward to this next chapter,” Haas said. “We have confidence that you are the right individual to lead our grand university. The seed planted in 1960 is adapting to its ever-changing environment and is now growing and shaping people for the next 100 years and beyond.”
Four campus community members offered video greetings during the “Reach Higher Together” portion of the ceremony. They were Lavar Green-Jackson, representing current students; Sarah Daniels, ’09, representing alumni; Shawn Bultsma, representing faculty members; and Eric Payne, ’86, alumnus and Grand Rapids Police Dept. police chief, representing community.
Mantella was emotional when speaking about her family. She said she learned about bold moves from her father, whom she called “the original experiential learner in the family.” He left work as a laborer to start his own business.
“Through sheer grit, and many failures, he made the most of everything and everyone he encountered,” Mantella said. “My dad showed me how to work hard, follow my passions and turn my lessons into leadership gold.”
