SVSU Office of Government and Community Affairs

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!

03/20/2026

Thank you to the Midland Business Alliance and Mayor Maureen Donker for hosting this year's State of the City for Midland. SVSU was glad to be in attendance and hear firsthand about the city’s priorities and progress. We look forward to supporting Midland’s continued growth in the year ahead.

03/16/2026

Thank you to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce for welcoming Micah DelVecchio, Associate Professor of Economics at Saginaw Valley State University, as the speaker for this month’s Eye Opener event.

Micah shared insights on the 2026 Economic Outlook, and we appreciate the opportunity to present and engage with members of the business community in Bay County.

Congratulations, Micah, and thank you for representing SVSU so well! 👏

02/19/2026

Saginaw Valley State University was proud to sponsor last week’s MBA Annual Meeting, joining fellow community leaders and partners for an evening focused on collaboration and progress in Midland. Representing SVSU at the event were Brian Brunner, Teresa George, Ken Fettig, Morgan Clark, and Shawn Wilson.

We were especially honored to have Shawn Wilson, Director of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations, present the MYPros Award Recognition. Congratulations to all of the evening’s honorees on their well-deserved recognition!

Thank you to the Midland Business Alliance for hosting another outstanding event!