Grand Views

This annual event is a platform to elevate ideas and celebrate voices that inspire. Each speaker presents a 7-minute talk aligned with one of our refreshed university values, introduced as part of Grand View's strategic planning initiative:

  • Excellence
  • Inclusive Community
  • Adaptability
  • Faith
  • Global Curiosity
  • Agility
  • Positivity

Previous Grand Views Speakers

2025
  • “From Meh to Woohoo: Can We Make Life Happier Starting Now?" - Erlin Kakkanad, Director of Operations Excellence, Principal Financial Group
  • "Behind the Mask: Finding My Voice" - Jacob Butz ’27, Mascot Performer, Grand View University
  • "Fire: Agility, Purpose, and Hope" - Amy Landrigan, MA, MCPC - Executive Director, The Beacon
  • "Adaptability and Emotional Intelligence: Why One Can't Exist Without the Other" - Dr. Malinda Shultice - Iowa State University
  • "Be Curious, Not Judgmental" - Rick Eftink, M.S. ’20 - Director of Graduate Admissions, Grand View University
  • "Three Lessons for Leading with Purpose" - Alec Zama - Professor of Business, Grand View University
  • "Receiving Universal Currency" - Ernest Phillips ’03 - Owner Master Coach, Relationship Wealth Enterprises
2024

EXCELLENCE

  • “What is Excellence?” - Greg Hagan ’25, Grand View University

INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

  • “How To Save A Life” - John Paul Derryberry ’06, Executive Director, 43 North Iowa & Storyteller and Public Speaker

ADAPTABILITY

  • “Why Are You Crying? How Crying is Connected to Inclusivity and Adaptability” - Crystal Fierro, Ed.D., Director of Accessibility Services, Grand View University

FAITH

  • “What? Why? And How?” - Mark Slavich, Associate Professor of Sport Management, Grand View University

GLOBAL CURIOSITY

  • “The Metaskill of the Future” - Rachelle Keck, Ph.D., J.D., President, Grand View University

AGILITY

  • “m.A.A.d City Planner” - Caleb Knutson, Senior Planner, Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance

POSITIVITY

  • “The Resilience Revolution: How a Positive Mindset and Contagious Optimism Can Transform Your Response to Adversity” -Giselle Sancen Valero ’19, Client Partnership Advocate, Businessolver
2023

RESEARCH & LEARNING

  • “How Does Factoring Factor into College and Career Readiness?” - Sergio Loch, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics & Computer Sciences
  • “Kurious U: Knowing Thyself” - Krista Tedrow, Director of Development, South Central Iowa Workforce Board

COMMUNITY & BELONGING

  • “Building Compassionate Communities” - Paul Leavenworth, Ed.D., Director of The Center for Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership Development
  • “Finding Humanity in Others”- Andrew Minear ’08, Diabetes Prevention Coordinator, IDPH

CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION

  • “Pivoting Without Passing Out” - Sarah Roemer-Engquist ’19, Lecturer of Business Administration
  • “In Search of Meaning” - Josh Woods, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology

VOCATION & CHARACTER

  • “Progress” - Paul Reedy, Associate Men’s Wrestling Coach
  • “I ♥ the Arts and Humanities. You Should, Too.” - Carl Moses, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
2022

RESEARCH & LEARNING

  • “The Power of What We Don’t Know” - Bonnie Hall, Associate Professor of Chemistry
  • “Lifelong Learning: All Ships Rise” - Carrie Sponheim, Director of Annual Giving and Chris Lee, Vice President for Administration and Finance

COMMUNITY & BELONGING

  • “What If...?” - Amy Schumann, Assistant Professor of Spanish
  • “Belonging in the Yin and Yang” - Stephen Sporer, Associate Vice President for Advancement

CREATIVITY & EXPRESSION

  • “Connecting Disciplines, Traveling Often and Touching the Wild” - Paul Brooke, Professor of English
  • “Chameleon in the Cornfield-Being Black at a PWI” - Miradieu Joseph, Head Coach, Track & Field and Cross Country

VOCATION & CHARACTER

  • “Your Feelings are Irrelevant” - Nick Mitchell, Head Coach, Men’s Wrestling/Assistant Director of Athletics
  • “The Room Where it Happens” - Steve Snyder, Professor of Humanities