SVSU Office of Government and Community Affairs

06/15/2026

Last week, SVSU alumni, faculty, staff, and community members came together to volunteer at the Dow Championship, proudly representing Cardinal spirit while supporting one of our region's premier events.

⛳ As the proud sponsor of Hole 18, SVSU was honored to help create an unforgettable experience for attendees. STEM at SVSU was also featured in the STEM Center, providing fun, hands-on educational activities for families throughout the tournament. 🔬

A special thank you to Teresa George, Director of Career Services, for organizing our volunteers and ensuring everything ran seamlessly. We were also excited to have George Copeland and Morgan Clark attend the Regional YPN Luncheon, connecting with young professionals from across the Great Lakes Bay Region and representing SVSU with pride.

Thank you to everyone who volunteered and helped showcase the power of community partnerships and Cardinal spirit. ❤️

06/10/2026

🎉 You're invited!

Join the Henry Marsh Institute of Public Policy and the Michigan Political Leadership Program for our Annual Fundraising Mixer on Friday, July 24, from 8–10 p.m. in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

Connect with alumni, current cohort members, and community leaders while supporting the development of future public policy leaders.

🎟️A donation of $50 is kindly asked to attend! The HMIPP program would not be successful without the encouragement of our donors.
Please visit the link below to save a seat and make your donation.

https://recreation.svsu.edu/program/GetProgramDetails?courseId=bf79dd12-77b4-47d9-b74c-12f0892e03fb

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out [email protected].

06/08/2026

SVSU was pleased to attend the 2026 Heart of the City Awards Banquet as guests and join community leaders in celebrating the individuals and organizations whose exceptional service and volunteerism make a lasting impact throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region.

Representing SVSU at this special event (pictured left to right) were Lex Hallberg, Brian Brunner, Dr. George Grant Jr., Beverly Grant, Dr. Mamie Thorns, David Lewis, and Ken Fettig. We are grateful for the opportunity to support and recognize those who work tirelessly to strengthen the Saginaw community and beyond.

Congratulations to all of this year's honorees on your well-deserved recognition!

05/19/2026

One of our favorite things at SVSU is giving back to the communities that support us. This past weekend, we had the opportunity to do just that at Midland Blooms! 🌸

Teresa George, Andrew Chubb, Erik Trump, and Amy Zastrow, along with their families, rolled up their sleeves and helped plant flowers to make the community even more vibrant and welcoming.

Great Cardinals don’t just learn and lead on campus — they show up, lend a hand, and help make a difference throughout our communities. We’re proud to see Cardinals making an impact beyond SVSU every day.

05/06/2026

Last week, SVSU was happy to host the Regional Civics Bee.

This is what community partnership looks like. A huge thank you to the Saginaw Area Chamber of Commerce, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Midland Business Alliance, and the Mt. Pleasant Chamber for coming together to invest in civic education and the next generation of leaders.

Watching these students engage, think critically, and step confidently into conversations about our democracy is exactly why this work matters.

Congratulations to those moving on to the state competition.

We’re all rooting for you!

04/30/2026

We had some extra excitement on campus last week for Bring Your Child to Work Day! It was a joy to share in the Cardinal spirit, explore what happens across campus, and inspire the next generation of learners and leaders. She had a full day joining a meeting on development and STEM, helping interview candidates for GCA’s next student intern, grabbing lunch at Marketplace, connecting with a community partner on campus, and even squeezing in a mid-afternoon ICEE!

03/31/2026

Great to see strong civic engagement on campus this week!

The College Democrats, College Republicans, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Cards Vote came together to host the Democracy Defense Project for a meaningful conversation with students. We were honored to welcome former Michigan Lt. Governor John Cherry and former U.S. Representative Mike Bishop, who shared insights on the importance of free, fair elections and the role each of us plays in protecting our democracy.

Grateful for the students and partners who continue to create space for thoughtful dialogue across perspectives.

Check out the coverage from ABC12 and WNEMTV5 below:

WNEM - https://www.wnem.com/2026/03/30/republican-democrat-discuss-democracy-with-svsu-students/

ABC12 - https://www.abc12.com/news/bipartisan-leaders-meet-svsu-students-to-talk-democracy/article_ae85a2af-fbc7-4eff-ba47-2cd17d1b80ad.html

Gathering with SVSU students, former Congressman Bishop, Lt. Gov. Cherry spotlight importance of elections, civil discourse

03/27/2026

Yesterday, SVSU was proud to host the 136th Annual Meeting of the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce. Thank you for choosing the SVSU campus for this special event and congratulations to all of the award winners.

We’re grateful for the continued growth of our partnership with the Chamber and Saginaw County, and proud to work together to strengthen our community. We look forward to all we will accomplish together in the future.

03/26/2026

On Wednesday night, our SVSU Cardinal Caucus gathered at the world-famous Kelly's Downtown in Lansing. This group is made up of SVSU alumni serving in a wide range of public service roles across Lansing, and some have been meeting together since their internship days more than 15 years ago.

SVSU is incredibly proud of these servant leaders and the impact they continue to make.

Pictured from left to right: Stephen Prince (Senate Democratic Central Staff), Cameron Bruneau (Rep. Prestin’s Office), Melanie Rhine (Insurance Alliance), Aaron Baylis (Michigan Senate), Erin Dickenson (Sen. Santana’s Office), Cassie Thierfelder (AARP), Justin Alexander (Senate Democratic Central Staff), Rob Mass (Executive Office of the Governor), and Michael Krzyzaniak (Rep. DeBoyer’s Office).

03/23/2026

Cardinal pride was on full display last week as members of our leadership team and staff represented Saginaw Valley State University at the 143rd Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting!

We were honored to receive the Heart of the Chamber Award, accepted by Dr. George Grant Jr on behalf of the university. This recognition reflects the incredible work happening across our campus and community.

From building a strong workforce pipeline through our Office of Career Services, to driving economic impact with our Small Business Development Center and strengthening partnerships through the Business Education Partnership Committee, this award truly represents a team effort.

We’re also proud of the meaningful community engagement led by our staff and faculty, including initiatives like “Hey, Bay City,” and the Middle School Civics Bee.

Thank you to our entire SVSU team for your dedication and impact we are proud to be part of such a strong and connected community!