MISSION STATEMENT Kalamazoo Valley Community College creates innovative and equitable
opportunities that empower all to learn, grow and thrive.
April 1, 2026
Greetings, College Community,
Together with over 1,000 other community colleges across the country, Kalamazoo Valley will celebrate Community College Month during April. You know that community colleges are first-class institutions that are vital to our local and state economies. You also know firsthand the importance of the inclusive community college mission.
Community colleges are respected collaborators, leaders and partners, creating innovative and equitable opportunities to prepare learners for existing and emerging careers. For almost 60 years, Kalamazoo Valley has been at the forefront of change and at the workforce and economic development table ' collaborating with local, regional and state partners and creating innovative educational and training programs that fuel the economy.
I am proud of the impact that our staff and faculty make on the lives of our students and their families. Kalamazoo Valley Community College employees are among the most dedicated individuals in higher education. You have helped to make the success of our students possible. I admire your unwavering commitment to the college mission.
Therefore, during this month of celebration, I celebrate you and thank you for making Kalamazoo Valley a great place for every student, employee and guest to learn, grow and thrive!
Sincerely,
L. Marshall Washington, Ph.D.
President
Bring Your Child to Work Registration Deadline is April 17 Employees planning to participate in Bring Your Child to Work Day should complete this form by April 17, then email it to hr@kvcc.edu. The event will be held Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24. The job shadowing day is intended to give children a glimpse of the working world through the guidance of their parents and guardians. For more information, contact Kristen Dame in Human Resources at kdame@kvcc.edu or ext. 4450.
Come out to the Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Reception April 14
Join us as we celebrate 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Laurie Cooper at a public reception on Tuesday, April 14, at 5 p.m., during Taps on Tuesday at the Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, located at 418 E. Walnut St. in downtown Kalamazoo. There will be complimentary food with beverages for purchase. This is a drop-in event. Have a nominee for the 2027 award? Submit the name here.
Annual RespectingDifferences Event Takes Place April 8
It's time once again for the annual Respecting Differences event! This year, the speaker is Jennifer Bott, Ph.D., who will present on "From Friction to Fuel: Leveraging Strengths in Intergenerational Work Teams" on Wednesday, April 8. Choose one of two sessions, 9 to 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 to 3 p.m., to attend at Western Michigan University's Miller Auditorium. For free parking locations and more information, visit wmich.edu/respectingdifferences. Kalamazoo Valley Community College sponsors this free event, along with Western, Kalamazoo College, the city of Kalamazoo, the city of Portage, Kalamazoo County and Integrated Services of Kalamazoo. Registration is not required.
2026 Fourth Annual Staff and Administrator Excellence Awards Kalamazoo Valley Excellence Awards will be presented to highlight the outstanding work of Kalamazoo Valley staff and administrators. The awards recognize those who have a demonstrated record of exceptional work in support of the college mission. Regular full-time, part-time employees and paraprofessionals are eligible. Kalamazoo Valley welcomes all faculty and staff to participate in the nomination process. You may nominate up to three individuals per year by filling out this form. Some restrictions apply; please visit the nomination website for more details. Nominations must be submitted by May 15. If you have any questions, please contact Kimberly Dupree (kdupree@kvcc.edu) training and development coordinator.
No Fooling! College Observes Summer Hours Beginning Monday, May 4 For the period of Monday, May 4 through Sunday, Aug. 9, Kalamazoo Valley Community College will observe summer hours. The hours of operation are as follows:
Mondays through Thursdays: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (30 minutes for lunch)
Fridays through Sundays: College closed
Regular hours resume the week of Aug. 10.
Kalamazoo Valley Community College would like to take this opportunity to share important reminders about severe weather.
Know the difference: A tornado WATCH means conditions are favorable for a tornado to develop; a tornado WARNING means a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.
Know the signs of an approaching tornado: dark, often greenish sky; large hail; a large, dark low-lying cloud; and a loud roar, like a freight train.
We strongly encourage all students, faculty and staff to familiarize themselves with the emergency shelter locations on campus. Shelter locations are marked with yellow placards as 'emergency shelters.' Most classrooms contain maps with the nearest shelter location(s). There are also maps located at most hallway intersections, highlighting shelter locations. In addition, bathrooms and protected stairwells (interior stairs with no windows) can be used to shelter, if necessary.
Upon indication of an approaching tornado, the college's emergency warning system will be activated and announcements will be broadcast at each respective building. When announced, move to the nearest tornado shelter. If able, help those with mobility challenges to the shelter. Remain sheltered until the weather has passed and you hear the 'all clear" over the speaker system.
Employees designated as area leaders wearing yellow vests are available to guide you to shelter locations. Contact Public Safety, if needed.
Once sheltered, remain calm. Shut the door and protect yourself by covering your head and face.
More information can be found in the yellow 'Guide to Emergency Preparedness' booklets located in all classrooms and offices, on the yellow 'Emergency Procedures' posters placed throughout campus and on the Public Safety webpage at https://www.kvcc.edu/services/safety/.
Kalamazoo Valley Public Safety recommends that you also take this time to prepare for severe weather off campus. Formulate an emergency plan and talk to those close to you about planning ahead. Visit www.michigan.gov/miready for more information on how to prepare for an emergency.
Lend a hand for the planet! Volunteers are needed to direct traffic and collect materials at Kalamazoo Valley's Sustainability Committee Recycling Event Saturday, April 18, at the Texas Township Campus. Interested in helping out? Email Facilities Services at facilities@kvcc.edu for details.
Welcome New Employees This list of new employees and employees in new roles was provided by the Human Resources department and is a quarterly feature in this newsletter. All full-time employees who were hired between January to March 2026 are included. Join us in welcoming these new colleagues.
New Employees Damien Faust | Instructional Computing & Media Services Manager Jaymes Kyle | EDMT Lab Operations Manager Mandy Porter | Academic & Career Pathway Advisor (Kalamazoo Promise Services) LaShon Potts | Custodian Hailee Rose | Dental Hygiene Program Director Beth Slater | Custodian Julie Smith | Associate Director of Marketing Artur Stasieluk | Academic & Career Pathway Advisor Rachel Stickney | Library Services Assistant Carey Stolsonburg | Director of Early Middle College, Dual Enrollment & Youth Pipelines Julia Tresca | Senior Office Specialist
Employees in a New Role Korina Christensen | Student Financial Services Representative Jeanne Doonan | Academic & Career Pathway Advisor (KVAAP) Anita Gonzales | Payroll Manager Miranda Gonzalez | Network Analyst Rose Ponce | Lead Student Financial Services Representative Jessica Potter | Assistant Director of Events, Hospitality and Operations
Employee Benefits Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employees and their family members have access to our Employee Assistance Program, offering expanded support and resources. Employees will need to create an account before logging in.
EyeMed Vision ' Now What You See Is What You Hear
Introducing Nuance Audio for someone with mild to moderate hearing loss. Click here for more information on this benefit.
You Are Not Alone 'Community Resources Available Some of our students, coworkers, friends, relatives or even ourselves may need assistance from time to time. The college has a list of community resources on our website. We encourage you to share the list with others.
The Pool App Employees who have our medical coverage will want to make sure to download The Pool App by clickinghere. You will find resources for eligible employees.
Retirement Services TIAA Webinars Would you like more financial information? Click here to register for upcoming webcast sessions offered for TIAA members.
Michigan Public Schools Employee retirement Services (MPSERS)
Are you a member of the Michigan Public Schools Employee Retirement Services thinking about retirement? There may be some things you need to cross off your to-do list. MPSERS provides a Countdown to Retirement that begins 24 months ahead of retirement.
Voya Financial
Provides virtual appointments and webinars for employees that have account with them. Click on herefor a complete listing of dates and times.
Save More for Retirement in 2026
Interested in saving more towards retirement? Kalamazoo Valley offers a Supplemental Retirement Plan for employees that would let them save more towards their retirement. After-tax Roth contributions are available for employees. To find out more information on after-tax contribution, click here. If interested, complete the Supplemental Retirement Plan Salary Reduction Agreement and turn into Human Resources.
The Search Committee Process Training We offer "The Search Committee Process," a two-hour training exploring the basics of how a search is conducted to fill full-time vacancies. It also explores how implicit or unconscious bias impacts the decision-making process, assessment of candidates' application materials and the interview process. The training is required for those who wish to serve on a search committee, but it is open to anyone wishing to learn more. To sign up for a training, click on the registration link below for your desired session.
Wednesday, May 13| 9 - 11 a.m. | Room 4520, TTC | Register here
Arbor Day Ceremony Honorees Deadline is April 16 This year's Arbor Day Ceremony to honor loved ones who have passed away is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, April 24 at the Texas Township Campus. It will be held in the memorial tree garden near the south storm ponds (behind the Advanced Technology Center). April 16 is the deadline to submit names of current and former staff and faculty members and your loved ones for consideration to be honored at the Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony. The submission form is located in the employee portal. (Click here.)
Campus Tours Available for Employees Campus tours are in full swing and available to any employee wishing a guided tour of our buildings outside of the Texas Township Campus. Please remember to check with your supervisor prior to registration. Scheduled guided tours showcase the facilities and programs. This is a great chance to learn about some of the great things going on at the college. Register for tours by clicking on the dates below:
Arcadia Commons Campus | 60 min. | 2 p.m.
Consists of Anna Whitten Hall, Center for New Media and the Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Employee registration for the Fall 2026 semester will be April 3 - 6. Full and part-time employees may request access to online registration for themselves and/or their dependents through 4 p.m. on Friday, April 3.
To request access:
1. Send a message from your Kalamazoo Valley employee account to arr@kvcc.edu. Enter 'Employee Registration' as the subject so we can easily find your request for early access to registration among all of the emails we receive from students. It must be from a '@kvcc.edu' address.
2. List the name and Valley number or birth date for each admitted person who will be registering.
3. We will add authorization to each person's record and reply to confirm.
4. Beginning April 3, each authorized individual may log into MyValley, select register or drop classes from My Links and register.
If you miss this opportunity, you may still register following the standard registration schedule for all students beginning Monday, April 6. Please email the Admissions, Registration and Records office at arr@kvcc.edu or call 269.488.4281 with questions.
KV Foundation Mini-Grants The Kalamazoo Valley Community College Foundation offers mini-grants of $2,500 or less for projects that will help students learn, grow and thrive. The funding is intended to facilitate learning and to support a culture of giving. Students, individual employees and groups are all encouraged to apply. Awards must be spent before July 1, 2026. If you are interested in applying, contact Alisha Siebers or Suprotik Stotz-Ghosh.
Planning Ahead! It's not too early to start planning for the Fall Summit! Do you have an idea for a presentation or workshop? The Summit planning committee is welcoming proposals now. At this point, all you need to provide is a title and a basic description. Then, you have all summer to perfect the content of your workshop! Please submit your presentation proposal here.
April 2026 Events Project Management Series #4 Project Completion Friday, April 3 | Noon - 1 p.m. | Register | TTC 1330 |Zoom
Come and learn about the entire project management process in small doses. From starting your project to the project delivery phase, these trainings lay out the essentials you need.
Smart Money Habits: Budgeting & Reducing Debt Friday, April 17 | 11 a.m. - Noon | Register | TTC 4230 | Zoom
Plan, save and succeed! Grab your lunch and join us for a practical session on getting budget-ready. Participants will learn how to complete a budget form, discover smart money-saving strategies and explore ways to pay off debt faster. Whether you are a complete novice or have been managing a ledger for years, this session provides new insights to help you master your personal finances. Note: Make sure your supervisor encourages you to attend and please bring your own lunch. Questions? Contact Kimberly Dupree, training and development coordinator (kdupree@kvcc.edu).
Explore Your Strengths What are your strengths and how can they help you thrive at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and beyond? In this introductory session, employees will explore their natural talents through the CliftonStrengths framework and learn how to apply them for personal and professional growth. Before attending, you'll complete the assessment and bring your results. This is a great first step toward a strengths-based approach to success at Kalamazoo Valley! To sign up, click on the session below.
Friday, April 17 | 3 p.m. | Room 1350 (TTC)
Libraries Have a Database for That ' The Kalamazoo Valley Libraries subscribe to over 100 databases ' searchable online collections of articles ' so that you have access to high-quality information for free. If you have a research project of any kind, chances are we have a database for that.
What's for Lunch at the Texas Township Campus? Cougar Cafe is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Coffee Den is open Mondays through Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This week's menu includes: Monday | March 30 | Cheeseburger soup; grill station selections Tuesday | March 31 | Cheeseburger soup; grill station selections Wednesday | April 1 | Cheeseburger soup; wings Thursday | April 2 | Cheeseburger soup; goulash, breadsticks
MCCAA Picks Two Softball Players as Player/Pitcher of the Week The Lady Cougars' softball season officially began less than two weeks ago and already the accolades are rolling in! Congratulations to Camryn Jilek on her selection as a Player of the Week and Emily Rice as a Pitcher of the Week for the Western Conference of the Michigan Community College Athletic Association! The MCCAA made the announcement on its Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts on March 24.
It's That Time ' Baseball and Softball Season! Enjoy some fresh air and support the softball and baseball teams at the same time! You're invited to drop in at any time at the home games, which are always FREE at the college's Texas Township Campus. See below for the home games from now through May. Visit athletics.kvcc.edu for the full schedule of home and away games, plus scores. For a story about the season, click here. BASEBALL
1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | APRIL 4 vs. Lansing Community College
2 & 4:30 p.m. | Thursday | APRIL 9 vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
4 p.m. | Wednesday | APRIL 15 vs. Kalamazoo College JV
2 & 4:30 p.m. | Thursday | APRIL 16 vs. Kellogg Community College
3 p.m. | Tuesday | APRIL 21 vs. Grand Rapids Community College
2 & 4 p.m. | Thursday | APRIL 23 vs. Lake Michigan College
2 & 4 p.m. | Tuesday | APRIL 28 vs. Mid Michigan College
1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | MAY 2 vs. Glen Oaks Community College
SOFTBALL
1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | APRIL 4 vs. Marian University's Ancilla College
3 & 5 p.m. | Friday | APRIL 10 vs. Lake Michigan College
3 & 5 p.m. | Friday | APRIL 24 vs. Lake Michigan College
3 & 5 p.m. | Friday | MAY 1 vs. Jackson Community College
1 & 3 p.m. | Saturday | MAY 2 vs. Lansing Community College
Student Spotlight: Sondra Lewis
Hear from current KVAAP Student Sondra Lewis on her college and KVAAP experience:
'Returning to school after a 42-year hiatus could have been intimidating, but my experience with Kalamazoo Valley Accelerated Associate Program has been one of encouragement, understanding and genuine support. As an adult learner, I found that many of the anxieties I carried as a teenager were no longer there, yet exams still presented challenges for me. During those moments, the KVAAP staff stepped in with resources, guidance and, just as importantly, a safe place where I could talk through my frustrations and regroup. Beyond academics, they created a true sense of family. Over the past 2-1/2 years, as my family endured the tragic loss of two close loved ones, their sincere concern for both me and my children meant more than words can express. They have also made it clear that my life experience matters. As much as they pour into me, they value the perspective and encouragement I bring to others. Because of that environment of care and empowerment, I now stand on the threshold of something deeply meaningful, graduating this May and completing a goal I first began over 45 years ago. KVAAP has not only supported my journey, they have helped prepare me to finish strong.'
Upcoming KVAAP Info Sessions We are continuing to look for students for the Summer 2026 semester! Students can attend these information sessions via a Zoom meeting link that will be sent to them upon signing up. These sessions will explain how KVAAP can assist students with achieving their educational goals. Interested students can register here.
Thursday, April 2 | 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14 | 5:30 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 16 | 3 - 3:30 p.m.
Kudos to the Museum on a Successful Fretboard Festival! More than 1,500 people attended the 21st Annual Fretboard Festival! Another 225 folks tuned in online! The Kalamazoo Valley Museum extends a big thank-you to the guests, performers, vendors, workshop presenters and volunteers who made the festival a success. It took place at the museum and Kalamazoo Valley Community College's Anna Whitten Hall on Friday, March 20 and Saturday, March 21. Click here and here for 150-plus photos from the event.
Museum Offers Kids Spring Break Fun This Week Visit the Kalamazoo Valley Museum for FREE hands-on art, music and animation programs designed for kids and families during spring break this week! Drop-in activities will offered be each day from today,Wednesday, April 1, through Friday, April 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. In addition, special planetarium shows will be shown twice daily, with 'Expedition Solar System' at 1 p.m. and 'The Sky Above Us' at 2 p.m. Cost is $3 per show. Visit kalamazoomuseum.orgfor program details.
'SHAPE SHIFTING' Exhibit Featuring Electric Guitars Wraps Up April 26 If you love music, be sure to check out the new "SHAPE SHIFTING: The GUITAR As Modern ARTifact" traveling exhibit at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum before it ends on April 26. Explore 40 instruments that embody the art of the guitar, displaying it as both an instrument and as a physical canvas for artists and builders.
Have You Seen the 'Black Cowboys' Exhibit Opens at the Museum? Did you know that one of four cowboys who went on the Western trail was Black? Learn more fascinating facts about the Wild West from the Kalamazoo Valley Museum's newest traveling exhibit, 'Black Cowboys: An American Story,' open now through July 26. Admission is free to the exhibit and to the museum. Read more here.
Last Chance! Final Spring Honorable Harvest Lecture is April 21
Enjoy weekly talks examining ways we restore the tenets of reciprocity with the natural world as a community and as individuals. Organized by Kalamazoo Valley Community College's ValleyHub in partnership with the museum, the sessions are held every Tuesday, from March 10 to April 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This drop-in lecture series takes place at the college's Marilyn J. Schlack Culinary and Allied Health Building, located at 418 E. Walnut St. in downtown Kalamazoo. View the list of topics at valleyhub.kvcc.edu/events.
Winter Book Buyback Scheduled for April 27 - May 1 Let students know that they can get cash for their used Winter 2026 books at Book Buyback. It takes place April 27, April 28, April 29, April 30 and May 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Texas Township Campus Bookstore. To find out which books will be accepted and for what amount, call the Bookstore at 269.488.4030, visit bookstore.kvcc.edu or email bookstore@kvcc.edu.
