By Sean Chase
On Monday, June 21, the Grand Rapids Community College board of trustees unanimously voted to appoint Salvador Lopez to the open seat on the board.
“I think Grand Rapids Community College plays a pivotal role in the community,” Lopez said during his interview that was streamed live on YouTube on June 3. “I think it’s a systems-wide organization that provides access to students, adults, really everyone.”
Lopez, who was in attendance at Monday’s board meeting, graduated from GRCC in 2006 and has worked in a variety of jobs, spending over seven years working at Grand Valley State University. He is currently the president of KConnect, which is a network of organizations focused on providing all Kent County children with a path to economic success through quality education.
The seat Lopez will occupy on the GRCC board of trustees, became available when Kathy Crosby stepped down to focus on health concerns.
“What piqued my interest was, the notion that I started at GRCC,” Lopez said during his interview. “It is a family affair, as well. My older sister got an associate’s from here, my younger sister got an associate’s from here, my mother took English classes here, a number of family members took English classes here. It starts with GRCC for my family, and therefore, I care deeply about it.”
While only one application was submitted for the open seat, GRCC Board Chairperson David Koetje said he feels Lopez was the perfect person for the role.
“As the process goes, we posted that open position to the general public, and we had one candidate who stepped forward,” Koetje said, in Monday’s meeting. “After interviewing Salvador Lopez, the board did not see him as the only candidate. We saw him as the perfect candidate to join this team of trustees.”
Lopez will be sworn-in during the next board of trustees meeting on Aug. 16.
