EDUCATION

CAROL VAN ANDEL

Co-chair Grand Action 2.0

DAVID EISLER

President Ferris State University, Big Rapids/Grand Rapids Carol Van Andel is a fi xture in the West Michigan community. Recently, she became the co-chair of Grand Action 2.0, an organization that is focused on economic development. Grand Action was founded in 1992 and it has completed public-private developments that accounted for $420 million in direct capital investment, including private funding of $130 million. Other projects include DeVos Performance Hall, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and the Secchia Center at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Grand Action ceased operation in 2017, but this year the organization relaunched itself as Grand Action 2.0. Its primary mission is to identify capital-intensive projects that could transform the downtown area, galvanize public opinion and support for those projects, and leverage public and private investment. As a philanthropist, Van Andel has fi nancially donated to a number of projects and she holds prominent positions in organizations, foundations and schoolss. She has donated to the building of a health center at Mary Free Bed YMCA. The facility now bears her name, Carol Van Andel Healthy Living Center. This year, her family donated to open an outdoor entertainment venue in Ada, which is now called the Van Andel Family Pavilion.

EDUCATION:Hope College (B)

Dr. David Eisler has served as president of Ferris State University since July 2003 and is the senior public university president in Michigan. Under his leadership, the university has embarked on an ambitious program of curricular innovation, classroom renovation, cooperative programs with high schools and community colleges, and providing opportunity for students who may not otherwise attend college. Under his leadership, Ferris State was the fi rst university selected to receive the Uncommon Greatness Award from the Center for Community Leadership of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. In 2018, Eisler was chosen to present the President-to-Presidents lecture to his nearly 400 presidential colleagues of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.

EDUCATION: University of Michigan (B, Ph.D.), Yale University (M) FIRST JOB: Woodwinds instructor and assisting with the band program at Troy State University in Alabama. FUNNIEST WORK EXPERIENCE: When I was a dean of fi ne arts at Eastern New Mexico University, a young man was walking the hall and making a disturbance. I went out to see what the problem was and walked with him. He was complaining about the dean, which was me. I said, “Well, he’s like that” and walked back to my o ce. He stopped complaining.

NORMAN BEAUCHAMP

Associate provost and assistant vice president for health initiatives/dean MSU College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids As dean of the MSU College of Human Medicine, Norman Beauchamp leads medical school and research operations in downtown Grand Rapids. Working on an expansion of the research campus with a third facility, his goal is to put the area on the map for health care innovation. Beauchamp started his role over four years ago and since has been dedicated to expansion of the fi eld and overall economic development locally. Prior, he was a professor and chairperson of the department of radiology at the University of Washington.

EDUCATION: Michigan State University (B), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (M), Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (M.D.) MEDICAL SCHOOL RESIDENCY AND FELLOWSHIPS: The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine CHILDHOOD: At age 7, his family moved from Boston to a farm in St. Johns, Michigan, where he helped raise 200 chickens and 20 cows until college. EARLY CAREER: Substantially increased the number of patients treated at Johns Hopkins Medical Institution by reducing wait times BOARDS: Van Andel Institute, The Right Place, formerly Grand Action

J.C. HUIZENGA

Chairman, founder National Heritage Academies, Grand Rapids J.C. Huizenga founded National Heritage Academies in 1995 and now chairs the organization that serves more than 60,000 students in 90 charter schools across nine states. In 2008, Huizenga launched a high school initiative, PrepNet, which operates seven charter high schools serving more than 2,500 students in Michigan. Huizenga founded and is the chairman of Huizenga Group, which manages a portfolio of businesses providing products and services for customers and manufacturers in the security, automotive and pharmaceutical industries, and consumer goods. Huizenga has chaired the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, served as a national judge for Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and serves on the Grand Rapids Promise Zone Authority.

EDUCATION: Hope College (B), Michigan State University (M) BOARDS: Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Acton Institute, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Grand Valley State University Foundation and Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies, Salvation Army national advisory board, Seidman School of Business advisory board FIRST JOB: Washing garbage trucks BEST ADVICE: Never confuse activity with accomplishment DOWNTIME: At our lake house in Holland during the summer

PHILOMENA MANTELLA

President Grand Valley State University, Allendale Philomena Mantella became the fi fth president of Grand Valley State University in July 2019. One of her key initiatives is creating access to educational opportunities for all learners. During her fi rst year at Grand Valley, she launched the Laker Lifetime Learning (L3) Commitment, which puts $1,000 aside for every graduate to use for future classes at Grand Valley, as well as an accelerated online degree program to help adults complete their bachelor’s degree. Prior to GVSU, she spent 18 years at Northeastern University in Boston both as senior vice president of enrollment and student life, and as the chief executive offi cer of the Lifelong Learning Network. She also has been an educator at institutions in New York and New Jersey along with Ferris State University.

EDUCATION: Syracuse University (B, M), Michigan State University (Ph.D.) INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” Franklin Roosevelt TOUGHEST CHALLENGE: The senseless loss of young life on a college campus without a doubt. FAVORITE HOBBIES: Biking, cooking and weightlifting BUCKET LIST: A private plane and a pilot license FEW PEOPLE KNOW: I have a black belt in Taekwondo.

EDWARD MONTGOMERY

President Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo

RICHARD PAPPAS

President Davenport University, Grand Rapids Richard Pappas leads the strategic direction of Davenport University while focusing on implementing quality measures that elevate academic programming, student support, market position and fi nancial strength of the institution. As a result, Davenport’s graduation rate has increased by more than 158% since 2009, and student retention, student satisfaction and philanthropic giving are at all-time highs. Prior to assuming his current position at Davenport in 2009, Pappas also served as president of National-Louis University, Lake Michigan College and Harford Community College. He is a member of the regional board for Fifth Third Bank and a board member for The Right Place and the American Council on Education.

EDUCATION: Eastern Michigan University (B), University of Michigan (M, Ph.D.) FUNNIEST WORK EXPERIENCE: I make videos before each strategic planning session that poke fun at me and the leadership team. Taking our work seriously is important, but we don’t want to take ourselves too seriously — it’s important to have fun while you’re doing important work. HIDDEN TALENT: I was a table tennis champion, and I began to write a fi ction novel a number of years ago. I have to get back to writing it. BUCKET LIST: Travel to Spain and Israel PLAY YOU IN MOVIE: Anderson Cooper

BILL PINK

President Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids Edward Montgomery became the ninth president of Western Michigan University in August 2017. Since then, he has launched initiatives focused on student success, revitalizing the south campus neighborhood, the development of a new budget model impacting all areas of campus and the implementation of the revised core curriculum. As part of his commitment to helping students complete their studies, Montgomery implemented a targeted grant program to assist fi nancially at-risk students. During a more than 35-year academic career, Montgomery has held faculty positions at Carnegie Mellon and Michigan State universities, as well as the University of Maryland. During the Clinton administration, Montgomery held a number of positions, including chief economist and deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. In the latter role, he oversaw operations of a $33 billion federal department.

EDUCATION: Penn State University (B), Harvard University (M, Ph.D.) BOARDS: Center for Law and Social Policy, First National Bank of Michigan, Southwest Michigan First FIRST JOB: Delivering the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE: “Never be too big to do the little things that need to be done.”

Dr. Bill Pink became the 10th president of Grand Rapids Community College in May 2017 and is the fi rst African American appointed to the post in the institution’s 100-plus years. The Abilene, Texas, native has taught and coached in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Oregon. He was inducted into the York College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016 for his performance as a studentathlete. Pink was elected to the board of trustees for the Higher Learning Commission and serves on the Community College Advisory Panel for The College Board, and the American Council on Education board. He was appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation executive committee and most recently was elected to the American Association of Community Colleges board. In West Michigan, he serves on the boards of Spectrum Health West Michigan, the Heart of West Michigan United Way, West Michigan Works!, the Grand Rapids Economic Club and The Right Place.

EDUCATION: Oklahoma Christian University (B), University of Central Oklahoma (M), University of Oklahoma (Ph.D.) BEST ADVICE: Always leave things better than you found them HIDDEN TALENT: I used to be a radio personality (DJ in my day!) on a radio station in Oklahoma City and had the top-rated radio show for that day/time in the city among adults.