Dr. Philomena (Philly) V. Mantella is the fifth president of Grand Valley State University. She oversees Michigan’s third-largest public university, with more than 22,000 students, 3,000 faculty and staff across three campuses, and six regional centers.

Dr. Mantella’s commitment to growth and disruption is at the core of her work to redefine what higher education is for the public good. Since taking over in 2019 as the university’s first female president, Dr. Mantella has expanded the university’s offerings and potential learners with programs aimed at non-traditional and underrepresented students. This led to GVSU welcoming their largest and most diverse incoming class ever in the fall of 2023 and an overall increase in enrollment at a time when higher education faces consistent challenges and steep demographic declines.

Mantella has worked at public and private institutions in New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Massachusetts. She has a Ph.D. in college and university administration from Michigan State University, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Syracuse University. Immediately prior to joining GVSU, she spent 18 years at Northeastern University as senior vice president of Enrollment and Student Life and the chief executive officer of the Lifelong Learning Network.