Common Ground

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Nate Swanson, a recent graduate from GVSU's College Student Affairs Leadership program, and our Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy. Nate will join Gleaves to share his leadership journey, and discuss the challenges of leading higher education in a paradigm-shifting pandemic.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Cameron Jones, a recent Grand Valley State University Political Science and International Relations graduate, and was a 2019 Truman Scholarship finalist in recognition for his deep commitment to public service. He is also a recent graduate of our Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy. Cam will join Gleaves to discuss his work on campaigns and his reflections on leadership.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Brian Bowdle, an associate professor in the Grand Valley Psychology Department, specializing in cognitive psychology. Brian joins Gleaves to discuss what is missing in higher education today and what we can do about it. In their conversation, Brian will touch on wisdom and intellectual humility as concepts necessary for critical thinking.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Freshta Tori Jan, a current Cook Leadership Academy lead fellow candidate, and bilingual student from Afghanistan studying international relations. Freshta joins Gleaves to discuss how her personal journey through poverty, terrorism, and different forms of injustice have enabled her to be a voice for those who are not able to share their stories and those who are not able to receive the opportunities she has sought.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Ron C. White, a New York Times best-selling biographer and historian. Ron joins Gleaves to share his thoughts on leadership in tumultuous times, as well as to discuss his forthcoming book, Lincoln in Private: What His Most Personal Reflections Tell Us About Our Greatest President, set to be released on May 4, 2021. Ron will also give us a glimpse of his current project, a biography of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the famous Union officer from Maine who made a name for himself during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Lucretia Dunlap, a recent graduate from GVSU with bachelor's degrees in psychology and sociology, recipient of the Robert Henderson Leadership Award from the psychology department, and a Cook Leadership Academy fellow. Lucretia joins Gleaves to discuss failure, resilience, and mental health in leadership.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Dr. Jeffrey Polet. Jeff is an author and professor of political science at Hope College in Holland. He joins Gleaves to discuss how COVID-19 is changing the way we think about politics, and the -isms that inform our politics (e.g. conservatism and progressivism).

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Brent Reed, a recent graduate from GVSU with a master's degree in health administration and a Cook Leadership Academy fellow. Brent joins Gleaves to discuss his experience with leadership in crisis, telehealth, and healthcare reform.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Dr. Michael Kimmage in an extended edition of Lunch & Learn with Gleaves. Dr. Kimmage is an author, historian, and professor of history at the Catholic University of America. He joins Gleaves to discuss his new book, The Abandonment of the West: The History of an Idea in American Foreign Policy.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Ellie Harnden, a recent GVSU graduate in special education with an emphasis in cognitive and emotional impairments, and Cook Leadership Academy fellow. Ellie will join Gleaves to discuss school closures related to COVID-19 and children who experience trauma.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by H.W. Brands in an extended edition of Lunch & Learn with Gleaves. Bill is a long-time friend of the Hauenstein Center, a renowned historian, and best-selling author. He will join Gleaves to discuss his new book, Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Connor Cavallaro, a recent GVSU graduate in management information systems and Cook Leadership Academy fellow, to discuss his experience studying abroad in Italy as a Cook Leadership Academy Independent Initiative project.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Hank Meijer. Hank is the executive chairman of Meijer, Inc, a scholar-associate of the Hauenstein Center, and biographer. Hank, author of Arthur Vandenberg: The Man in the Middle of the American Century, joins Gleaves to discuss Frank Murphy, who was mayor of Detroit, governor of Michigan, US attorney general, and justice on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Dami Olufosoye, an international student who in just a few days will earn her Master of Public Health and graduate as Peter C. Cook Leadership Academy Fellow. Dami will share her unique perspective of how two different federal health care systems are responding to this global pandemic.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Dr. Lisa Perhamus, director of Grand Valley State University's Padnos/Sarosik Civil Discourse Program, to discuss ways to create spaces that spark civil discourse.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Kahler Sweeney, a graduating Master of Public Administration major and Cook Leadership Academy fellow candidate, to discuss his commitment to serving in local communities in addition to his experience in the Michigan Army National Guard.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Dr. Michael Ryan. Dr. Ryan has spent more than four decades as a psychologist helping young people with learning disabilities. He also specializes in helping veterans cope with the trauma of their experiences in uniform. Dr. Ryan will discuss treatments and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those who are suffering.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Nate Gillespie, an alumnus from the Cook Leadership Academy, to discuss the new organization he helped develop, Coronavirus Civilian Corps. This organization's goal is to aid individuals and communities who are suffering from COVID-19.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by Gregory Dykhouse, history, Shakespeare, and drama teacher at Black River Public School in Holland, MI, to discuss how his students are faring in the new normal of "stay home, stay safe," and will share lessons he has gleaned from Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.

Gleaves Whitney is joined by graduating Cook Leadership Academy fellow candidate, Riley Pearl, to share her leadership journey as a full time student battling cancer.