DU Review - Vol. 16, July 2020

Review

Propelling student success Davenport recognized for performance excellence

Davenport University

Summer 2020 | Volume 16

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED STRIKES Students impacted by COVID-19 receive an outpouring of support as the Davenport community rallies around the Student Emergency Fund | pg. 05

In This Issue

Review

Summer 2020 | Volume 16

The DU Review is designed and published

University News

02 | 03 | 14 |

by Davenport University

A message from the president

Advancement

Introducing new leaders

Executive Vice President Rachel Render

Propelling student success

Executive Director of Development Ana Doonan

Features

10 11 16 17 19 22 23

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Director of Alumni & Donor Engagement Whitney Enge

Classrooms go virtual

Director of Major Gifts Jon Hankins

Rapid adaptation

Director of Advancement Operations Laura Macka

Computing a cure It’s the least I can do How to knock a virtual interview out of the park Congratulations, Class of 2020 Four successful alumni share insights with the Class of 2020

Marketing & Communications Executive Vice President Deb Cooper Executive Director of Communications & Public Relations Amy Miller

When the unexpected strikes Why I give

Director of Communications Karah Bradshaw Graphic Designer Ben Huff

Alumni News

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Assistant Director of Annual Giving Megan Sjolander

It’s a calling

Giving

05 | 07 |

Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Events Erik Dane, ’07 MBA

Project Manager, Marketing & Communications Rachel Glupker

Class notes

Have something to add? Share your thoughts and images on one of our social media platforms.

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This recognition represents the culmination of a lot of hard work by our faculty and staff. But more than that, it is tangible proof of our commitment to Davenport’s mission to achieve the highest level of business outcomes and quality of education for our students.

– Dr. Richard J. Pappas on Davenport’s recent Michigan Performance Excellence recognition

A message from the president The Davenport community always has so many reasons to be proud but recent events have created opportunities that highlight the resilience and dedication of our staff, faculty and students. I have included just a few of these milestones below.

Celebrating operational excellence

Davenport University was just recognized with the prestigious 2020 Michigan Performance Excellence Award — an assessment based on the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award criteria from the Michigan Performance Excellence (MIPEx). This is the highest honor given to organizations in Michigan that demonstrate outstanding performance, leadership and operational excellence. Davenport is the first university to earn this distinction in Michigan.

With this honor, Davenport is one-step closer to earning the National Malcolm Baldrige Award. In this issue, you will learn more about the operational standards and performance measures Davenport University established to become a high-performing academic institution.

Our response to the pandemic

As a community and a country we have been faced with incredible challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our university moved quickly to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff. In a matter of days, we moved nearly 7,000 students into online courses, closed our campuses and asked nearly 670 full-time and 700 part-time employees to work from home.

In the last few months, Davenport has quickly developed programs and funding initiatives to support students and our communities during this difficult time. These programs and initiatives include:

•

In early March, Davenport awarded more than $33,000 to students through its Student Emergency Fund to help with unexpected challenges they faced at the onset of the pandemic.

•

In late March, the university donated more than 12,000 pieces of personal protection equipment to hospitals across Michigan.

•

In April, Davenport introduced a free course to individuals laid-off because of COVID-19 to help them skill-up and land their next job.

•

In May, the university introduced the Launch Scholarship, valued at $8,000 per year for four years and available to individuals laid-off or furloughed by COVID-19.

I am incredibly proud of our team and the work they have accomplished over the last few months. Their concerted effort aligns with what we strive to do every day to live out our mission and change the trajectory of students’ lives by providing them with a quality education and preparing them for successful careers.

Looking ahead

As we look ahead, we are more committed than ever to ensuring our students are prepared to be successful in the ever-changing job market.

We are now focused on our new five-year strategy, Vision 2025, which will align our work to broaden the reach of Davenport University and propel student success. With our continued focus on Malcolm Baldrige’s operational best practices, we will have the flexibility, the agility and the experience to adapt to the everchanging economic landscape while ensuring our students do not miss a step when it comes to their future.

Sincerely,

Richard J. Pappas, Ed.D. President Davenport University | 2

Introducing new leaders at Davenport University As Davenport gears up for a new academic year, we’re excited to introduce three new leaders who bring impressive experience and expertise to the university.

L

atoya Booker joined Davenport in February as the university’s new executive director of diversity, equity and inclusion. With more than 15 years of experience, she has a tremendous track record of working with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to advance diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Booker, who is no stranger to the challenges and opportunities of developing and maintaining strong frameworks to support such initiatives, will continue to advance the university’s work in these areas.

Latoya Booker

Executive Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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Most recently, Booker served in the nonprofit sector as executive director of the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance in Holland, Mich. Other previous positions in which Booker has served include director for diversity and inclusion at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, assistant director of the Office of Multicultural Education at Hope College in Holland, classroom instructor for the TRiO/Upward Bound program at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, and manager for the Preparing Raciallydiverse Educators Program (PREP) at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

marginalized populations across all sectors,” said Booker. “I’m honored to be leading Davenport’s efforts to help create a learning environment that prepares our students for success, and equips all our students, staff and faculty to engage equity as a way of being and leading in the world.”

As a Leadership Grand Rapids alum (2017), Booker has served as a community trustee committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; she is a former board member of Camp Blodgett and the Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance. Her accolades include being awarded the Outstanding Aquinas Woman Award by Aquinas College in 2014, where she led diversity initiatives across campus for five years, which included leading support programs and services for underrepresented students.

Booker earned a Master of Education in college student affairs leadership and a bachelor’s in secondary education from Grand Valley State University. She also holds a bachelor’s in early childhood education from Aquinas College.

“Today more than ever, there’s widespread awareness of the necessity to educate students within a global context. This includes the inequities that exist for

Summer 2020

W

hitney Enge, who joined Davenport in January as director of alumni and donor engagement, brings a solid track record of experience in driving high-impact and innovative fundraising strategies, corporate sponsorship and community partnerships in West Michigan.

Whitney Enge Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement

A

nother new face at Davenport who’s already known in the West Michigan community is Ana Doonan, who joined the university in January as executive director of development.

Doonan has led several Grand Rapids nonprofits including Safe Haven Ministries and LINC Community Revitalization, Inc. through successful multi-million-dollar capital campaigns, community development investments and revitalization initiatives. In 2017, she was named the lead fundraiser for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas after contributing significantly to a $130 million comprehensive capital campaign.

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As the senior community development manager at the American Cancer Society (ACS), Greater Grand Rapids Area, she garnered more than five years of engagement and marketing experience, specifically within campus communities.

By facilitating the growth of numerous large-scale collegiate events, building relationships within the Grand Rapids community and directing fundraising events such as ACS’s Farm to Table Dinner, she raised more than $1.5 million for the organization through her fundraising portfolio.

Her career also includes a position with the American Cancer Society in Tucson, Ariz., after serving as a certified nursing assistant at Altercare of Big Rapids, Mich., and Portage Health.

“I’m excited to be leading the charge in providing meaningful engagement with Davenport’s alumni community, optimizing our efforts and raising visibility of the university’s mission, successes and needs,” said Enge. “Our alumni play such a vital role in our communities, our country and throughout the world. As our supportive ambassadors, they help make it possible to achieve the standards of excellence that make Davenport such a special place.”

A graduate of Ferris State University with a degree in business administration, Enge also studied photography at Grand Rapids Community College.

“I believe that the biggest footprint we can leave in this world is what we do to make the lives of others better and fruitful,” said Doonan. “I’m thrilled to be back in Michigan and helping Davenport build relationships and increase the support for our incredibly generous philanthropic community. Together, we can continue to advance Davenport’s mission and legacy of innovation and excellence and ensure that our students don’t miss a step when it comes to their future.”

Doonan holds a master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University and a master’s degree in political science from Central Michigan University. She also earned an international diploma in municipal management from Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, Venezuela.

Ana Doonan Executive Director of Development

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED STRIKES Students impacted by COVID-19 receive an outpouring of support as the Davenport community rallies around the Student Emergency Fund Have you ever heard that a crisis can bring the best out of people? When the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, it sent waves of uncertainty everywhere.

We had stepped into uncharted territory

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all at once, very quickly, and with little warning. The events that unfolded are unprecedented in every way, but the impact of people coming together in response has also been unprecedented

and overwhelmingly encouraging — nothing short of amazing.

The Student Emergency Fund is one example of how the Davenport community rallied to support students at a time of great need. The fund was created in 2013 to address the basic needs of students during an emergency — to help them with things like food, gas, utilities or rent.

When staff, faculty, alumni and friends heard about the immediate need of Davenport’s students after the pandemic

Summer 2020

hit, they only had to be asked once and they jumped into action.

Megan Sjolander, assistant director of annual giving, reports that we raised over $18,000 in the first few weeks and 70% of these funds came from Davenport employees who wanted to support the increased student demand for assistance.

To put this all into perspective, last year, the Student Emergency Fund provided aid to 18 students totaling $3,500. When the pandemic hit, “over eight times that number of requests flooded in,” Sjolander said. “When we announced that the Student Emergency Fund was available to students facing challenging times due to the pandemic, requests poured in daily. Since March 19, nearly 150 students experiencing immediate and unexpected financial hardships received over $33,000 in support.”

Access to the fund meant that students and their families had the assistance they needed to stay in their homes, put food on their table, or continue their education.

We could not have done this on our own — it was a concerted effort. “Our entire community got on board and the heartfelt support and words of encouragement we received along with the donations were incredible,” added Sjolander.

We have many people to thank for their part in this process. Davenport faculty helped lift the burdens of our students quickly and compassionately. The Center for Campus Life played a crucial role in announcing an early move out date — determining who needed to continue to live on campus, communicating and overseeing a prorated refund for housing and dining, and officially moving over 730 students out of the residence halls.

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Dr. Joe Bishop, executive director of campus life, was not only at the forefront of those initiatives but worked closely with the Office of Advancement to review and award students the emergency funds that were requested.

Beyond the institutional effort and collaboration, we learned of the deeper and lasting impact that the Student Emergency Fund has had and will have on our students — they can continue working toward their dream of achieving a higher education. The testimonials from students paint a bigger picture of the circumstances surrounding them.

From the student that usually works two jobs to make sure she can make ends meet to the single mother who lost her full-time job or the students that could not go home because the situation had simply become too dangerous to take any risks — and the list goes on. What was thought of as immediate relief became a mid- or long-term solution for many students.

Bishop recalls, “Initially, there was a significant gap in terms of access to technology with the shift to online classes. The Student Emergency Fund ended up being a great resource for our students by giving them access to funds to purchase devices like a Google Chromebook to complete their classes.”

Bridging the digital divide was critical to ensuring many of our students continued to have access to their education as we transitioned to online classes.

The Student Emergency Fund provided the financial resources for students at a time of greatest need. We thank you again for answering their call for help.

Indeed, this pandemic helped bring the best out of our Davenport community!

150

received funding

$33,000+ given in support

Received

9X

more funding in 2020 than in 2019

70%

of donors were Davenport employees

If you’re interested in giving to the Student Emergency Fund, please go to davenport.edu/give Davenport University | 6

Why I give… to the Student Emergency Fund

Many Davenport students were impacted by COVID-19 — the move to online classes, housing displacement and job furloughs affected many.

The Davenport community stepped up and provided funding to help these students during this transition in their lives. We asked a few of our donors why giving to the Student Emergency Fund is important to them. Here’s what they had to say.

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Summer 2020

Cherie Reitzel Assistant professor, nursing associate department chair, Davenport University – Warren Campus

that support helped me and I thought it was important to give something back.”

“My husband and I are both college graduates and know the pitfalls students can fall into while attending college. We wanted to be able to give back and pay it forward to people in need of financial

pandemic impacted so many students and we knew they needed help. At this time, we are not spending

Assistant professor, social sciences and co-chair, DEI Council, Davenport University – Grand Rapids

Carol D. Moss RN, MSN, CDE

students. Although

everyone’s situation is different, we all need a little help at some point in life. Some returning adult

students may be experiencing additional life concerns such as children, reduced work hours, etc. My donation is my small effort to help someone in need.”

Gerry Yon ’91 AS Computer Information Systems

emergency fund ensures that when something goes seriously wrong in their world, something can also go right to help them remedy the

Dr. Colleen Coughlin

money on travel, dining out or on other extras, so we thought we could donate that money instead.”

“I was once a struggling student, and someone helped me. At Davenport, we have both traditional and nontraditional

degree programs successfully. The

problem and continue down their path to success.”

assistance. The

Adjunct nursing instructor, Davenport University – Warren Campus

have every opportunity to complete their

Bruce Peinton ’73 AS Sales & Marketing Senior vice president of investments, Wells Fargo Securities “Decades ago, I read, ‘If

not to carry each other’s burdens, what are we here for?’ I donate to

organizations that address acute and immediate needs. If a person’s basic needs in life aren’t being met, it’s hard to focus on life goals – like an education.

If my gift will help a student journey back home to their family or buy food to put on their table, then I’m happy to help. I am an investment professional and I consider the return on this relatively small amount to rank with the best investments I will ever make.”

“When I was an undergraduate student struggling to make ends meet, I got to the end of my senior year and was short money for my final school bill, even though I was working three parttime jobs and using my father’s GI bill discount. Through my own college’s emergency fund, my balance was paid off and I was able to graduate on time.

When you have been given such a gift, you need to pass it along. I

know firsthand how unexpected hardships can create havoc and upheaval in a student’s life. Helping with the emergency fund

gave me a chance to give back and make today’s DU students’ lives just a bit better and perhaps a bit less stressful.”

Application support, Kent County Financial/HR/Payroll Systems “Fortunately, my work has not been impacted by COVID-19. Looking back at my Davenport experience, in my second year, I was the recipient of the Dawn VanDyke-Hibbler Memorial Scholarship. I

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know how much

Shelley Lowe Director of career services, Davenport University “I support the Student Emergency Fund because it is essential our students feel valued and understood and that they

Davenport University | 8

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Summer 2020

Classrooms go virtual Davenport is the first university in Michigan to enhance online learning with virtual reality

I

magine walking into class — you see your classmates, your professor, and today’s lesson displayed on the TV screen. You take your seat and chat with the person next to you until the class begins. When the professor asks a question, you raise your hand and the professor calls on you to answer. A discussion ensues.

In March, the admissions team hosted its first virtual graduate fair.

While the university will continue to look for ways to expand Davenport’s use of the platform, the focus will remain on creating greater access to education and improved outcomes for all types of online students. As Brian Miller, dean of Davenport’s global campus, explains it, “Adopting VirBELA not only allows us to offer our online community a heightened sense of togetherness, it simultaneously gamifies the online classroom experience to benefit individuals of all learning and working styles.”

Sounds like a typical class, right? What if we told you that you were walking across a virtual Learn something new campus and into a virtual Gam·i·fy / noun / the process of adding classroom as an avatar?

Davenport’s health games or game-like elements to something information management (such as a task) to encourage engagement students experienced this new way of attending class last spring, when they became the first to take an official Davenport is the first university in Michigan course in VirBELA — the university’s and one of the first in the nation to adopt virtual reality platform.

VirBELA. “We have a 20-year history of offering bachelor and graduate programs “Students, faculty, and staff have all online,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas, university enjoyed the adaptability of VirBELA and president. “We are leaders in this space and the real-life interactions it replicates,” will continue to look for ways to expand said Jeff Wiggerman, Davenport’s director our use of new technologies to create more of instructional technology and delivery effective online experiences for our students systems. “Even after leaving the software, and professors.” the virtual space persists just as it would in a physical setting — providing them with a sense of place and community.”

Over the past year, Davenport introduced this new sense of cyberspace to select students while teams across the university sought new ways to utilize the technology.

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Get a glimpse of the virtual campus at bit.ly/virbela

Davenport University | 10

It’s the least I can do Student 3D prints, donates masks to health care workers

As a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, second-year Davenport student Josh McCurry, 36, knows a lot about confronting risks. Even so, he’s certain that what he experienced in the military doesn’t compare with what doctors, nurses and other health care workers have faced on the frontlines of the battle against the coronavirus.

“As a Marine, I signed up to take on that experience — I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting into,” he explains. “But the people in health care today didn’t sign up to fight a pandemic like this.”

The more McCurry read about COVID-19 in the news, the stronger his conviction became that empathy wasn’t enough; he urgently wanted to do something to help. His big “aha! moment” came when he realized his skills at making things with a 3D printer could be put to use creating the N95 masks that are critically important for health care professionals — but were also, sadly, in too short supply.

Starting with a fascination as a kid for how his Nintendo worked — which ultimately resulted in taking it apart and putting it back together again — and through a succession of jobs following his military experience, McCurry has accumulated a wealth of technical expertise. Now working on a Davenport degree in computer information systems to advance his career, he’s also working full-time as an engineer for Ionetix, a pioneering radiopharmaceutical company in Lansing that makes particle accelerators for cardiac imaging. That job became the springboard for his mask-making effort.

With the blessing of his employer, he was able to borrow their 3D printer to experiment with producing N95 masks from his basement. After researching multiple designs online, he started tinkering, making his own modifications to improve both the performance and appearance of the masks. Several rounds of trial and error later, he perfected a design in early April.

“Since then, I’ve pretty much been churning them out 24 hours a day,” he reports, producing at least two to three dozen new masks each day.

Thanks to his job, McCurry had ready contacts in both the McLaren and Sparrow health care systems. Needless to say, they were extremely receptive to the idea of becoming recipients of the quality masks he was creating.

Equally as impressive as McCurry’s technical skills is his generous spirit of service. When asked if he’s being reimbursed in any way for the masks he’s making, he responds, “Oh my goodness, no. It’s 100% donation.

People in health care need these things more than anybody. I am more than happy to sacrifice my time, money, whatever it takes to help them.”

As busy as his life has become — working full-time in an essential industry, taking two classes at night, and running a cottage industry in his basement — McCurry still finds time to participate in and promote a student organization he co-founded called Local Maxima, a collaborative, now-online-only group for like-minded geeks.

“I realized in my experience being able to understand how things work on your own is great, but if you have somebody to help you or guide you, then it’s kind of like a shortcut,” he says. “If I can share that experience, then I can watch and help others to succeed and learn more myself.”

As his mask-making continues and word of his everyday heroism spreads, McCurry has been garnering support for his efforts. 3DXTECH, a Grand Rapids company that produces filaments for 3D printing, donated a large roll of it, and Ionetix has offered to buy the filament McCurry needs going forward. He’s also received donations of the furnace filter material he’s using to produce a more filtered version of the masks. Like everyone making masks to help amidst

the pandemic, McCurry discovered that elastic is in short supply. But bungee cord is proving to be a workable substitute.

As long as he can secure the materials he needs and keep the printer running, McCurry plans to keep on producing as many masks as he can.

“With everything people in health care are experiencing, it’s the least I can do,” he says.

Do you know of another amazing alum? Tell us about them at officeofadvancement@davenport.edu.

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Davenport University | 12

Rapid adaptation How four organizations flexed during the early days of the pandemic to keep business moving

The first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic were challenging for companies as they tried to make sense of what COVID-19 meant to their customers, their businesses and the larger community. Now that they’ve found their footing, we asked a few friends of Davenport University how their companies adapted to COVID-19.

Changing the way they engage Quickly coming alongside customers in their new reality has been key during this time. Ken Fortier (BBA ’01) is vice president of business development at Hylant Group, Inc., a provider of insurance and brokerage services.

He said the first thing the company did was help a group of clients get the approvals they needed to acquire personal protective equipment.

Then they started facilitating meetings between manufacturers, supply chain businesses, human resources organizations, construction companies and retailers. The meetings are an opportunity for everyone to share what’s been working for them and

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“Empowering our customers is the most useful tool we can offer at this time.”

to learn from special guests like attorneys, bankers and certified professional accountants. When it comes to Hylant helping their customers, “empowering them is the most useful tool we can offer at this time,” said Fortier.

MCPc, a global data protection company, has been helping its customers address the new day-to-day needs of employee mobility and data security. “Every organization was looking for laptops and mobile devices as they transitioned employees to work from home,” reported Andy Shannon, regional president at MCPc. And health care clients needed technology to allow their patients to communicate with loved ones. To help customers with significant constraints in

the global electronics supply chain, MCPc tapped its manufacturers and distributors to reduce the lead times of in-demand devices.

When that wasn’t an option, the company located or configured alternative devices to minimize disruption to clients’ businesses.

Amway’s Brian Hart, vice president of ABO and customer solutions, reported that the company has adapted to the “surge in online orders” due to the closing of retail stores across the globe. “We are seeing new patterns and ways we can work better and more efficiently to support our business,” said Hart. “And we’ve seen innovation within our partners who have created contactless pick-up options for our business owners to receive their product.”

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The new normal The “new normal” is a moving target, and everyone is adapting as they go. MCPc’s Shannon thinks that the new normal for its customers will include increasing agility and giving employees more flexibility on where they work. “Many customers are revisiting their cloud, mobility and security strategies,” he said. “As more organizations lean into flexible work location policies, the need for proper endpoint security is paramount.” MCPc has already been consulting with customers on maintaining security for their now-remote employee devices.

Westbrook reports that Spectrum’s new normal is caring for COVID-19 patients, along with all the other people they have always treated — those with non-COVID health problems like diabetes, asthma or cancer.

Preventive care also remains a priority.

David Madiol, manager of Amway’s corporate social responsibility, sees the company moving toward providing more online opportunities. “The pandemic opened up many more ways to create supplemental income through e-commerce, and we expect this to continue to grow. We are an entrepreneurial business, and going forward, we need to provide the skills and tools that make it easy for budding entrepreneurs to create their own journeys.”

Firefighting replaced the day-to-day For MCPc, firefighting has taken the form of going onsite to help health care clients prepare for the potential surge in patients. “Our employees have been going above and beyond by working onsite at health care system hot zones,” said Shannon. “This is a core element of MCPc’s service culture.”

“Our employees have been going above and beyond”

Shelly Westbrook (BA ’01), the foundation director at Spectrum Health Foundation, who was also asked to provide leadership coverage for the Environmental Services Team in Greenville and Lakeview amidst the pandemic, reported that she characterizes the feel of the last “We are all in few months as “we are all in this together.” this together.”

“We demonstrated our value to our communities and each other in everything we have done,” she said. Spectrum Health’s methods included redeploying a large number of employees to assist with COVID-19 planning and care, increasing communication between departments and reducing red tape — all of which increased their ability to move quickly. She credits Spectrum’s teams, which have been “amazingly creative in developing new processes and procedures.”

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Employees become “unsung heroes” Hardship often results in people rising to the occasion, and that has been true during the pandemic. Shannon, Fortier, Hart and Westbrook all report that their employees have come through in the crisis. “Joe Hicks (BAS ’12), one of our technical project managers, has effectively been on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for many of our clients,” said Shannon. “In one instance, he responded to a customer call at 11 p.m. on a Sunday, was in our offices by 3 a.m. and helped resolve the customer’s dilemma by 5 a.m. that same morning.”

Fortier refers to Jeff Lumpp (MBA ’13), Hylant’s local president, as a “rock star,” for the way he encourages everyone through stories about how other employees are stepping up. And Westbrook said Spectrum’s “unsung hero” is the entire Environmental Services Team, which is responsible for cleaning patient rooms and the rest of the hospital, and for handling biohazard materials. Because of their work, she said, “I’m confident our patients, community and staff members are safe.”

Madiol has been amazed by the initiatives his co-workers have taken to help the community.

“People were raising their hands with great ideas and everyone was pitching in to help,” he said.

“We mass produced and delivered hand sanitizer to local health care communities, loaned out our 3D printers to people making face shields and supplied Kent County’s homeless with nearly 1,000 hygiene kits. It’s a proud moment during times like these when I see Amway’s values and beliefs personified by its employees.”

“People were raising their hands with great ideas and everyone was pitching in to help.”

Davenport University | 14

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Summer 2020

Propelling student success Davenport recognized for performance excellence If you don’t know where you are, you don’t know where you’re going.

commitment to Davenport’s mission to achieve the highest level of business outcomes and quality of education for our students.”

During the past decade, that perspective — a winning combination of fact-based reality and targeted aspiration — has propelled Davenport on an upward trajectory of steady improvement. As a result, the university was selected in February as a 2020 Michigan Performance Excellence Award recipient by Michigan Performance Excellence Council (MIPEx). The MIPEx award is the highest honor given to organizations in Michigan that demonstrate outstanding performance, leadership and operational excellence.

Davenport is Michigan’s first university to earn this distinction.

With its focus on metrics, data analytics and market intelligence, Davenport has successfully raised key performance outcomes in several areas during the past decade. Especially noteworthy has been the university’s improvements in retention rates, which measures the percentage of students who return year after year. In 2009, year-to-year retention was just 60%. By last year, it had climbed to 77%. Dr. Pappas now hopes to build on that success and drive retention even higher with Vision 2025, Davenport’s latest five-year strategic plan. Achieving this retention goal requires a special focus on the challenges of first-year students who are the first generation in their families to attend college.

MIPEx is one of more than 30 state and regional performance excellence award programs that use criteria from the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to evaluate organizations and industries including health care, nonprofit, education and businesses. Using the Baldrige criteria as its framework, MIPEx deploys an extensive review process to determine top performers.

The MIPEx selection process was demanding and extensive, requiring a university wide commitment to the effort.

Davenport leaders completed a 50-page application before MIPEx examiners spent 12-15 weeks evaluating the university’s performance. Nearly half of all full-time employees were interviewed as part of the evaluation process.

“This recognition represents the culmination of a lot of hard work by Davenport’s faculty and staff,” said Dr. Richard J. Pappas, president of Davenport University. “But more than that, it is tangible proof of our

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“It’s key that we provide strong support for our first-generation students, who often don’t have experience — or others who can help them — with scheduling, financial aid and degree planning,” Dr. Pappas emphasizes.

“If we provide the right support to all of our students, we can raise our retention rate into the 80s. It’s one of the most challenging goals in Vision 2025, but we’re confident it’s achievable.”

Another performance indicator that contributed to Davenport winning the MIPEx award is satisfaction rates among graduates, which rose from 88% a decade ago to an impressive 95% today.

In addition, Davenport has added 24 new degree programs since 2009, including graduate programs in data analytics and cybersecurity, plus bachelor’s degrees in nursing, occupational therapy and health informatics and informational management. As a result of these aggressive and timely curriculum development efforts, employment of graduates has increased from 84% in 2013 to 92% in 2019.

Dr. Pappas expects Davenport’s enrollment to exceed 8,000 students within five years under Vision 2025, but other metrics matter even more, he emphasizes.

“Retaining and graduating students, then placing them in good jobs is most important to us. Now, more than ever, the Davenport University mission — to prepare and transform students to achieve the highest levels of academic performance, leading them to excel and advance in their chosen fields — is vital for ongoing progress and prosperity in our communities, our nation and our world.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Pappas believes that the MIPEx award puts Davenport on the right path to become a worthy contender in the future for a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

“We’ve raised the bar during the past decade, but we also believe that education should always be moving forward,” he notes. “As trailblazers, we’re continuing to raise our aspirations and look to future possibilities.”

Davenport University | 16

COMPUTING A CURE

Professor’s computational research extends from staph to COVID-19

F

or Dr. Laura Harris, assistant professor and science laboratory coordinator at Davenport University’s Lansing and global campuses, doing cell research usually involves more hours at a computer than working with petri dishes at a lab bench.

Dr. Laura Harris

17 | DU Review

Over the past several years, Harris has been studying what changes inside a bacterial cell to make it resistant to antibiotics. She studies these changes using a custom computer program she developed while working toward a Ph.D. in biomedical informatics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Harris’ dissertation applied her computer program to solve for antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus (staph) infections, a serious and sometimes deadly threat in health care.

“Biomedical informatics is a relatively new interdisciplinary field,” said Harris.

“It’s focused on developing computer intelligence to solve complex challenges in biology and medicine.”

As Michigan began its stay-at-home orders in March, Harris participated in the COVID-19 International Summit led by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). She is the president of ASM’s Michigan chapter.

During the summit, experts from across the nation set COVID-19 research priorities, so ASM could leverage its collective scientific expertise to advise on political decisions and coordinate global research efforts. Their ongoing research has since been recognized by the U.S. White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Summer 2020

Harris returned from the summit with a new mission — to contribute to the global race to find a cure for COVID-19.

So in April, Harris rapidly switched gears, bringing in two volunteers — Davenport senior Amber Park and recent graduate Jared Geller — to help apply her computer program to the betacoronavirus family. This group of viruses includes SARS-CoV (SARS), MERSCoV (MERS) and now SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) — all genetically similar viruses that mutate and spread rapidly.

Since the SARS virus has been around the longest and there’s more data to work with than the more recent coronaviruses, that’s where Harris and her team began.

"My big aha! was that the genes and the pathways we’re finding can be potential therapeutic targets" “We’ve used this computer program to look at human lung cells and their response to a SARS infection, based on changes in pathway activity,” Harris explained. “In the past, people have looked at individual genes or groups of genes working toward a common function — what we think of as a pathway.

But that method produces a limited perspective because you only focus on one gene or pathway change. Now, we’re gaining a broader view using the approach that I developed as part of my Ph.D. work. The approach looks at

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how genes and pathways might change together in response to an infection.

We’re applying it to data sets that laboratories have posted publicly, so we can use my computer program to find new genes and pathways associated with these infections.”

If that sounds complex, it’s because it is — by any measure. The data sets that Harris and her team have been working with are so large, they cause typical computers to crash. Despite this, the team has pinpointed approximately 150 genes that change in response to a SARS infection, only 30 of which had already been identified by other scientists.

Harris’ team has successfully reproduced the results across several different data sets, too — a good sign when you’re a scientist.

“Our next step is to compare the genes we found associated with SARS to see if they’re reproducible in other betacoronavirus strains,” said Harris. “If they are, we’re really onto something.

My big aha! was that the genes and the pathways we’re finding can be potential therapeutic targets, meaning drugs can be developed that counteract the changes we’re observing to help infected people overcome COVID-19.”

With a half dozen published research papers already on her vitae, Harris says COVID-19 isn’t all-new territory to her or other scientists. And that should be reassuring to the general public.

“Yes, we’re in a pandemic, but antibiotic resistance has been around for quite a while as a major killer. Just because the topic has changed and COVID is more relevant now, that doesn’t mean that it’s scarier — at least not to me,” she said. “I’m optimistic that my computer programs can help antibiotic resistance as well as the COVID pandemic, and I’m inspired because I can do something about it. I get the same feeling from my students. They’re eager to help out and go the extra mile.”

"I’m optimistic that my computer programs can help antibiotic resistance" As important and high-profile as her research is becoming, Harris retains a passion for teaching. A big believer in experiential learning, she teaches classes in pathophysiology, microbiology, introductory biology, bioinformatics, and soon, data analytics — all the while leading Davenport undergraduates in a broad range of computational and laboratory research projects.

Several of her students and alumni have presented at local, regional and national conferences, and won awards for their work. Park, who has been working with Harris since she was a freshman, was a back-to-back winner of Davenport’s Day of Research for her work in antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas, a common cause of urinary tract infections. Park is the only student to take first place at Davenport’s Day of Research twice.

Harris believes research experience is essential for undergraduates, and she works beside them as an active mentor rather than an observer. “In my graduate work, I saw a lot of professors don’t actively participate in the research. But I find it helpful, for me and the students, to have a part alongside them so we’re all active in our learning.”

As Harris and her team continue their work toward identifying the pathways that can be targeted to combat various beta-coronaviruses, they continue to share their findings with the public — aiding in the collective race to find a cure for COVID-19.

Davenport University | 18

How to knock a virtual interview out of the park As virtual interviews continue to gain popularity, it’s essential that job hunters understand the nuances of virtual interviewing and how to prepare for success. Check out these practical tips and tools that anyone can use to successfully navigate a virtual interview.

Step 1 Prepare using in-person interview standards

Research the job and company. The more research you do, the easier it is to connect your experience and skills in a meaningful way that resonates with the employer.

Gather common questions. Be prepared to answer questions related to your background and give specific examples of how you can contribute to the company.

19 | DU Review

Practice out loud. Stand in front of a mirror to rehearse your answers. Pay attention to your mannerisms and get used to your voice, so you can speak confidently at an appropriate volume.

Prepare your own set of questions.

You should have a minimum of three questions to ask your interviewers to confirm if the job is a good fit for you.

Summer 2020

Step 2 Plan for the nuances of a virtual interview

No pets, no kids allowed. Be sure to put pets in a different room and make plans for children or others in your home to be in another room or location, so you don’t get interrupted.

Prepare to handle disruptions. You can’t control everything but you can be prepared to deal with issues calmly and effectively. Think of different scenarios and plan out how you’d respond.

Appearances are key. Make sure your clothing and background are professional. Make sure your lighting is good and that what’s showing behind you is clean and appropriate.

Show personality. Your personality could make the difference between you and another candidate. Be sure you understand how to use your facial expressions and voice to convey your personality.

Look for and provide visual cues. Watch your interviewer’s facial expressions and body language for cues like when to elaborate or move on. Similarly, cue the interviewer that you agree with what they’re saying.

Pause, effectively. It’s okay to take a few moments to collect your thoughts or look at your notes before answering a question. Use body language to show the interviewer you’re still engaged.

Step 3 Practice using this free tool

Access the tool. Davenport offers a free virtual interview practice tool that anyone can use. The tool allows you to choose from predetermined interviews or build your own set of questions.

Send in your recording for personalized advice. Once you’ve recorded your best interview, send a copy to careerservices@davenport.edu to get personalized advice on how you can improve.

Visit bit.ly/practice-interview, register for an account and get acquainted.

Practice a few times, then record. Record yourself answering the selected questions, then watch your recording. You need to know how your expressions and voice comes through online, so you can make adjustments and leave your interviewer with the best possible impression.

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Are you a Davenport University student or alum?

Don’t forget — the Career Services Department provides lifetime support.

Visit davenport.edu/career-services to learn more.

21 | DU Review

Summer 2020

Congratulations, Class of 2020 1,605

574

GRADUATES

WITH ACADEMIC HONORS

59%

29%

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

MASTER’S DEGREES

19

66

YRS OLD

YRS OLD

YOUNGEST GRAD

OLDEST GRAD

32%

230

FIRST-GENERATION GRADUATES

ATHLETES

Watch our first-ever drive-through graduation Davenport graduates will walk across the stage at the drive-through commencement ceremony on Sunday, August 9.

Tune in and share your support at davenport.edu/commencement

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Davenport University | 22

Four successful alumni

share insights with the Class of 2020 We asked four recent Davenport grads to share how they got where they are today and what advice they’d give to the Class of 2020.

from a paper process to a website. Although I wasn’t involved with the launch of that project, I have spent the last three years maintaining and enhancing the application. The more effective the application, the better inspections can be performed and tracked, and the safer the kids that ride Michigan buses are!

Vincent Conrad Douglas Jr.-Austin Bachelor of Science in Biometric Security ’16 IT Business Analyst, Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget

What innovative projects have you tackled?

Michigan was the first state to move the school bus inspection

23 | DU Review

What advice would you give 2020 graduates?

Get in touch with the career services team to help you. Of course, you could look for a great career on your own but the career services coaches are paid to help you succeed.

Not to toot her horn but Cindy Whittum at the Lansing campus is amazing! She has helped me find jobs at the last two companies I’ve worked for and set me on a path to success. Thanks, Cindy!

Arnaldo Melendez Master of Education ’17 Instructional Administrator, Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) Adjunct Instructor, College of Urban Education, Davenport University

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your career?

As an instructional administrator, it’s fulfilling to create and build a strong vision and mission in the school, allowing all students to become successful learners. My position as an adjunct instructor at Davenport has two benefits — supporting and guiding teachers to become highly effective in their field and then later being able to work together as professional educators.

What piece of advice would you give 2020 graduates?

My advice to fellow educators would be to remain focused on your professional goals, create a system of support for yourself, and continue improving your teaching practices through professional development opportunities.

Summer 2020

Meghan Reed Bachelor of Business Administration in Management ’12, Master of Management ’16 Director of Operations, ITS Partners, LLC

What is the most fulfilling aspect of working at ITS Partners?

I’ve never had a dream job or title in mind, I just always knew I wanted to work in a place where I felt like I belonged. ITS Partners is that place for me.

Our core values are Work and Life in Balance, Value Trust First and Driven to be a Better Version of Ourselves. These values were born the way all core values should be born; we looked at the culture we already built and found them living in it. We truly live and breathe

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these values every day, whether it’s having those difficult yet immeasurable conversations with our teammates, giving employees a random Friday afternoon off to enjoy time with family or creating opportunities within our company. We treat each other as human beings rather than employees. We work hard and play hard together, and if you ever tour our office in Ada, Michigan, or catch a Zoom meeting, our culture is palpable.

What piece of advice would you give 2020 graduates?

Stay in touch with professors and mentors, and if you don’t have a mentor, find one — I wouldn’t be anywhere without mine. Be patient in finding the right job. I worked four jobs in college (simultaneously) and two jobs after I graduated before I found ITS. While the first jobs I found out of college did not end up being right for me, I still put in my time, paid my dues, networked and learned everything I could so that I would be ready for the right one. Be intentional about every opportunity you are handed, especially the ones that may not present themselves as opportunities right away, because every experience can help you grow.

Zachary Rybiski Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business ’20 Financial Planning & Analyst Controller, Perrigo Company plc., Germany

What prepared you most for your job at Perrigo?

My internships and my time at Davenport University prepared me for my current position. During my first three years at Davenport, I interned at Robert Bosch, LLC as a logistics and product management intern — and I was able to get practical experience right from the beginning of my college career. During my senior year at Davenport, I accepted an internship at Perrigo working as a corporate FP&A intern.

This internship provided me tremendous opportunities in financial planning with Perrigo. I would not have been able to be successful in my internships and my current career without my Davenport education. The professors were amazing in teaching practical knowledge on

how to perform finance and accounting; if it weren’t for them, I’m not sure I would be where I am today.

What piece of advice would you give 2020 graduates?

Do not wait for opportunities but seek opportunities. Prove to companies that you are interested in them. I reached out to Perrigo Germany’s HR department on LinkedIn and explained how I enjoyed interning at Perrigo, learning about their mission and culture, and shared my interest in working abroad. They were impressed by my initiative and they found a position that fit my background.

Davenport University | 24

Virtual training that works Led by industry experts, IPEx courses and workshops develop promotion-worthy, organization-enhancing skills in a succinct, engaging format. With custom corporate training options and preset courses available in human resources, project management, leadership and more, IPEx offers the training you need to enhance your organization.

Mention “DU Review” to receive 20% off of one IPEx course of your choice.

davenport.edu/ipex

It’s a calling Davenport nurses brave the frontlines across the nation in the battle against COVID-19

As nursing and health care professionals around the world risk their lives and contribute so much in the battle against COVID-19, some of us watch and wonder how they do it. Others know — it’s a calling. Those on the medical battlefield are compelled to help their fellow humans, despite the immense risk to themselves. And, for answering that calling, we can’t say “thank you” enough.

Here are the stories of two nursing students and three alumni who were called to the frontlines of the pandemic.

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Davenport University | 26

LaTanya Edmondson-Powis

first, there was a lot of anxiety,” she recalls. “We were getting a lot of cases every day and there was a sense of panic — especially because supplies were in such short supply,” she adds.

Despite the many stressors of working in a hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, LaTanya Edmondson-Powis, senior at Davenport’s Warren Campus, says the experience has only strengthened her conviction that she’s made the right career choice.

LaTanya is completing a clinical externship at Beaumont Hospital Dearborn in Wayne County, the Michigan locale hit hardest by the pandemic. “This experience of providing care during COVID has caused me to know for sure that nursing is what I’m called to do,” she reports.

Initially assigned to the oncology unit at Beaumont, LaTanya’s hours were dramatically reduced when nonessential medical procedures were curtailed. Instead, she was pulled into COVID-19 units as cases rapidly accelerated. “At

A big impact of COVID was the requirement of wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE) every time she entered a patient’s room — and then making sure she followed all the necessary precautions when she returned home to her husband and their two-year-old child. “It was draining — physically and mentally,” she admits.

The emotional support of coworkers that typically relieves on-the-job tensions was also an early and unfortunate victim of the virus, LaTanya reports. “We didn’t know who had it, so we didn’t hug. We didn’t want to get too close to each other.”

At the same time, due to mandatory campus shutdowns, all LaTanya’s Davenport classes moved online.

Especially with a toddler at home, adjusting to that new normal wasn’t always easy. Then, on top of everything else, she was ill for several weeks. Luckily, she tested negative for COVID-19.

“Nursing is what I’m called to do” demands of providing care on the frontlines of COVID-19.

“I’d already learned how to care for patients in isolation, and my professors had stressed how important it is to take protocols seriously. So when COVID came along, I was able take what I’d already learned, get in there, and do my job.” She’s also very thankful to her professors from this past semester who gave her the personal encouragement she needed to keep up with the demands of her classes and clinical externship.

Her advice to other nursing students and recent grads who are now on the job? “Stay positive, do your job and follow your protocols.

Without protocols, this virus would be even more of a disaster.

By continuing to practice proper protocols, we can get through it.”

ALUMNI AWA

She credits the training she’s receiving at Davenport and the above-and-beyond support of her professors for helping her meet the

Grand Rapids, MI Grandville, MI Dearborn, MI

27 | DU Review

Summer 2020

Jordan VanOostenbrugge

Since the beginning of this year, Jordan has been an intensive care RN at Mercy Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, working in a designated COVID-19 unit. About half of the patients that have come in have tested positive for the coronavirus and had to be put on ventilators.

“It’s been an unprecedented time that can be very stressful, but it’s a learning opportunity too as we take care of these patients and learn about what they’re experiencing,” he says.

A 2018 graduate and former soccer player from Davenport’s national championship team, Jordan VanOostenbrugge says he came to Davenport to play soccer and found nursing along the way. “As an 18-yearold, I was gung-ho to play soccer and beyond that didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” he recalls. “But I’ve always had a feeling that I wanted to help people and make a difference, and nursing was something that really spoke to me and highlighted that.”

ARD WINNERS

For Jordan and the other ICU nurses, the need for stringent adherence to personal protective equipment procedures has added challenges to an already challenging job. “Before we go into a patient’s room, we have to completely suit up with an N95 mask, gloves and a gown. And once in a room, you can’t just wash your hands and leave if you’ve forgotten to bring something in. Going in and out, you have to properly protect yourself and you also have to properly protect others, so you don’t become a mode of transmission,” he reports.

Alexis Koza

So far, thankfully, there’s been no coronavirus in the facility, but her job has definitely been affected by it.

“We’re taking more precautions,” she reports. “We have a unit that’s blocked off from the rest of the facility. If we were to have someone who’s positive for COVID, that’s where they would stay.

We wear masks on all shifts, and if our residents leave their rooms, they have to wear a mask, too. We’re also making sure that we’re wiping down all of our equipment, wheelchairs and things like door handles several times a shift.”

Junior student and Davenport softball player Alexis Koza is working 3-4 days a week at Brookcrest Rehab & Life Center in Grandville, Michigan, as a certified nurse’s aide. She decided to take on the job amid the coronavirus outbreak to gain additional experience in the field after her softball season was canceled.

A big change for the residents is that family can no longer visit inside the facility. “They can see each other through the windows and talk on the phone, but I think a lot of our residents are getting bored and don’t understand what’s going on. We remind them, but they forget. So that’s sad to see. But we

Those high standards of precaution follow him home, as well. He changes all his clothes, keeps his laundry separate and showers immediately after every shift to reduce the chances of transmission to his wife. And even before Michigan’s stay-at-home order, he curtailed his socializing, afraid of being a carrier to someone more vulnerable.

Recently, the first COVID patient from Jordan’s unit was discharged after being very ill for an extended period of time.

The ICU team assembled to cheer him on as he was wheeled out. “It was really good to see him get better and to have been part of that effort,” he reports.

Jordan credits Davenport’s nursing program for preparing him to enter the field immediately after graduation and “hit the ground running.” As challenging as his job has become, he’s glad to be working on the frontlines of care. “It’s a calling,” he says. “As much as it can be stressful and hard, I think it’s also very rewarding and exciting. You get to help people each and every day.”

try to keep them busy with activities and by taking them outside when it’s nice.”

She believes that the leadership skills she’s learned as a student and softball player at Davenport are paying off in her job.

“It’s important to make sure that you’re taking the right precautions to be a good teammate and taking on something extra whenever you can,” she says.

She also advises that the importance of creating good relationships can’t be underestimated. “At school, creating a good relationship with your professors will help you because they’ll see that you’re reliable and putting in all your effort. At work, it’s important to create those same kinds of relationships so that the residents know they can trust you to take care of them.”

Davenport nurses in

Matt Lawrence graduated from Davenport’s Midland campus with a Master of Science in nursing degree in 2019. He was working in the intensive care unit of Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids when the coronavirus began its quick spread in the New York metro area. “At the hospital, on the news, on social media – everywhere

Having gained experience at several different hospitals in different parts of the United States, she recently took on a crisis job as an emergency room nurse at East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey, leaving her assignment in Texas to go where there was a greater need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Michaela Tweh

34 states

Matt Lawrence

2,196

For Michaela Tweh, a 2017 graduate from Davenport’s Midland campus, nursing has been a way to fulfill her ambition to travel while working. After a year post graduation in a residency program as an emergency room nurse at MidMichigan Health, she took the plunge and became a traveling nurse.

“My husband is in school full-time online, so we decided this was probably our last opportunity to do this,” she explains.

29 | DU Review

She admits she was initially nervous about putting herself more directly in harm’s way. “But the more I thought about it, the more I felt guilty about not going where people needed us. And it’s been a good experience. The hospital where I work is very concerned about our health as well as everyone else’s, and they have proper personal protective equipment.”

Of course, the job is very challenging.

“It’s not like a typical emergency room because they’ve got these big filters running. It’s super loud and chaotic. The ER is full of people who are pretty sick.

Almost every single person coming in is testing positive for the virus. I’m wearing this big long suit and an N95 mask, so

Summer 2020

everyone was talking about how hard and fast New York was being hit with it,” he recalls. “I realized this could be an opportunity for me to go there as a traveling nurse, something I’d always been interested in but never pursued.

I decided if I didn’t at least apply, I’d probably kick myself later.”

Just a few weeks after submitting his application, Matt is now working the night shift 48 hours a week in the ICU at New York University’s Winthrop Hospital in Long Island, New York, where almost all of the patients are seriously ill with COVID-19. Hundreds of miles from home in a new-to-him hospital with new co-workers, he sleeps between shifts in a hotel provided to out-of-state staff.

He describes being on the frontlines at the pandemic’s U.S. epicenter as “an opportunity to help people when they need it most.”

it gets really hot. It’s hard to completely overcome the mental aspect of it and assure myself that, yes, I can breathe and I’m going to be OK.” Michaela says that Davenport prepared her for her career with more hands-on experiences than many other nursing schools offer. For example, she reports, she’s met co-workers who didn’t start doing IVs until after graduation. In contrast, Davenport nursing students practice IVs frequently on a machine and then have many opportunities to do the actual procedure in clinicals.

“By the time I graduated, I was pretty comfortable with it,” she says.

“To help people when they need it most” “It’s definitely been difficult,” he admits, “but it’s also actually been a positive experience. There’s great teamwork among all the nurses. A lot of us are traveling nurses who came here for the same reason: to help out. Everyone’s mindset is that we are all in this together.”

Of course, even strong camaraderie can’t eliminate the anxiety and frustrations of fighting COVID-19. “The low points are when the whole team is doing everything they can and we’re all trying our hardest to do everything right, but we’re still not getting the results we want — the patients just aren’t progressing the way we would like,” he says. Counterbalancing those

East Orange, NJ

stressful experiences, however, are the occasions when patients have made headway and are transferred out of the ICU. “They know they’ve been in a really bad situation and are very appreciative of the care they’ve been given,” reports Matt.

Especially now in this crisis, Matt values the strong base knowledge he received at Davenport, particularly the curriculum’s focus on the importance of teamwork, flexibility and emotional intelligence in addition to mastering all the scientific and technical skills it takes to be a good nurse. His advice to students? “There are so many different things you can do with a nursing degree. Figure out what you want to do with it and then don’t settle for less.”

Long Island, NY

“It’s not like a typical emergency room”

She recommends building on the foundation of a Davenport nursing degree by seeking a first job at a hospital that invests in continuing your education. “At MidMichigan, I was able to get a ton of certifications and more education while also working the floor,” she says. “The residency program was a really good place for me to get started.”

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Davenport University | 30

Class notes

Personal and professional updates Class of 1960-1980

Jody Prause ‘93, paramedic diploma, is a service technician at Alpine Power Systems Susan Tolksdorf ‘94 AS is an administrative assistant II at CNA Insurance Joanne Tyner-Goolsby ‘98 BBA is an accountant/ realtor at National Realty Centers Birmingham Lynette Wentworth ‘87 AS is a senior logistics analyst at Steelcase

Jay King ‘73 AS retired from 1st Source Bank Pastor John Pegues ‘77 AS retired from General Motors Ross Wellman ‘77 AS is the president of Trailer Equipment and Trailer X-Press, Inc.

Class of 1981-2000

Michele Hoffman ‘05 BS retired from Saginaw Valley State University

Dan Winer ‘10 BBA is a director of marketing and supply chain at Studio TK

Dustin Isenhoff ‘07 BBA is a marketing research specialist at the State of Michigan

Class of 2011-2020

Regina King ‘05 BAS, ‘12 health care management PG certification, is a senior global infrastructure project manager at Lear

David Alexander ‘09 BBA, ‘11 MBA is a director of midwest operations at First Community Care

Class of 2001-2010

Nicholas Kraska ‘05 MBA is a senior business intelligence analyst at Spectrum Health

Wendy Bardwell ‘04 BBA is a senior compliance analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Kimberly Patton ‘06 BBA is a deputy treasurer at the Charter Township of Independence

Cassidy Baker ‘18 ABA, ‘20 BBA is an admissions representative at Davenport University

Max Costner Jr. ‘09 BAS is an assembler at Metal Components

Mark Sheehe ‘01 BAS is an account executive at Johnson & Johnson

Cassie Clark ‘18 BBA is a national advertising sales director at Power Play Marketing

Carol Svihl ‘06 BBA, ‘09 MBA is a trust officer and registered investment representative at Highpoint Community Bank Wealth Management

Jeline Djonaj ‘98 BBA is a systems analyst at Beaumont Health System

Kevin Trahan ‘07 AAS, ‘07 BAS is an industrial network specialist/controls specialist at FlexFab, LLC

Tammy Homan ‘98 AS is a court manager at Porter County Prosecutors Office

31 | DU Review

Shirley Whittaker ‘10 BBA is a phlebotomist specialist at University of Michigan

Katie Arnson ‘11 AAS, ‘13 BS is a health information management specialist III at Metro Health Hospital

Charles Boettcher ‘90 ABA is a network/desktop systems support manager I at McKesson Pharmacy Systems

Lisa Larsen ‘90 BBA is a polysomnographic technologist at William Beaumont Hospital

Tamlyn Fowler-Lee ‘02 AAS is a direct support professional at Intrinsic Home Care

Tonie Dance ‘96 ABA, ‘97 BBA, ‘05 MBA is an adjunct professor at Wayne County Community College

Wesley VanDenburg ‘05 BBA is vice president and general manager of sales at Alert Logic

Max Coon ‘14 BS and Amy Knuver are engaged to be married

Summer 2020

Lisa England ‘05 AS, ‘12 BBA is a chief human resources officer at Kerkstra

2020 in memoriam: Friends and alumni of Davenport

Victor Frye ‘20 BS is an associate application development analyst at Spectrum Health

Marvin G. Dietz ‘88 BBA passed away on January 27

Donald Kimble, assistant swimming and diving coach, passed away on May 25

Mary J. Etter, former employee, passed away on April 29

Dennis M. Kroll ‘00 BBA passed away on January 5

Diane E. Foster ‘96 AAS passed away on January 29

Timothy C. Mulder, Ph.D. ‘62 AS passed away on April 25

Nichole Lyke ‘15 BBA is a director at Village of Middleville DDA

Reid A. Francis ‘92 BBA passed away on April 11

Teresa Pickard ‘10 BBA passed away on February 4

Michael Pelfrey ‘13 BBA is a staff officer I at the University of Kentucky

Matthew S. Gardner ‘11 ABA, ‘13 BBA passed away on January 12

Lisa M. Sanchez ‘07 BBA passed away on April 30

Ryan Prichard ‘19 MBA is a branch manager/ realtor/owner at Kellogg Community Credit Union and Keller Williams Rivertown

Mary J. Havenaar ‘90 BBA passed away on January 30

Samantha Sobaski ‘18 BBA is an appraiser at Manistee County Equalization Department

Sue E. Huffman ‘61, secretarial diploma, passed away on April 24

Clara Lambert ‘15 BBA is a director of financial navigation at TailorMed

Brent Vaalburg ‘17 AAS, ‘19 BS is a support engineer at Qualcomm, Inc.

Terrelene A. Hovis ‘57 AS passed away on February 9

Jerald L. Jarsma, Jr. ‘85 AS passed away on March 28

Elizabeth M. Schaefer ‘81 AS passed away on March 29

James E. Stressman ‘76 AS passed away on February 4 Kip N. Taylor ‘01, payroll specialist diploma, passed away on April 12 Patricia A. Walenga ‘65, stenographic diploma, passed away on January 7 David J. Wymer ‘98 BBA passed away on February 7 Micki Young, former employee, passed away on February 28

Denis M. Smith, ‘20 BS passed away on April 9 Dennis T. Sobocinski ‘78 AS, ‘82 BBA passed away on January 2 Paulene Stewart ‘02 BBA passed away on January 11

Justin VanArman ‘14 ‘16 ABA, ‘17 BBA is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force

Keep in touch!

Share your milestones with fellow alums. Tell us about career changes, personal updates and more.

Visit my.davenport.edu/classnotes

Volume 16

Davenport University | 32

6191 Kraft Avenue SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS GALA 2020 An evening to support student scholarships

Join us for an exclusive conversation with the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush

& in honor of this year’s Peter C. Cook Excellence in Business Award winner, J.C. Huizenga

DeVos Place | Friday, May 14, 2021

President George W. Bush

Get your tickets before they’re gone davenport.edu/eib