Arend Donselaar Lubbers was president of Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...

 (and predecessor Grand Valley State College) from 1969 to 2001. He was the second president of Grand Valley, serving after James Zumberge

James Zumberge

James Herbert Zumberge was a professor of geology and president of Grand Valley State University from 1962 to 1969, of Southern Methodist University from 1975 to 1980, and of the University of Southern California from 1980 to 1991.-Early life and education:James Herbert Zumberge was born in...

 and before Mark Murray. He currently holds the title of President Emeritus

Emeritus

Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...

. Most of the university's growth came during his tenure.

Early life

Lubbers graduated from Hope College

Hope College

Hope College is a medium-sized , private, residential liberal arts college located in downtown Holland, Michigan, a few miles from Lake Michigan. It was opened in 1851 as the Pioneer School by Dutch immigrants four years after the community was first settled...

, wher his father Irwin Lubbers was president, and received his master's degree from Rutgers University

Rutgers University

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...

 in 1956.

He taught at Wittenberg University

Wittenberg University

Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...

 .

He served as president of Central College in Pella, Iowa

Pella, Iowa

Pella is a city in Marion County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,832 at the 2000 census. Pella is the home of Central College as well as several manufacturing companies, including Pella Corporation and Vermeer Manufacturing Company.- History :...

, until he became Grand Valley's president.

Grand Valley State University

Lubbers became president of GVSU at the age of 37, making him one of the nation's youngest university presidents.

The university expanded from a small cluster of colleges to Michigan's fastest growing university.

Lubbers Stadium

Lubbers Stadium

Lubbers Stadium, or Arend D. Lubbers Stadium, is a stadium on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University in Michigan. The stadium was named after former university president Arend Lubbers. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field of the Grand Valley State Lakers...

 on the Allendale

Allendale Charter Township, Michigan

Allendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708...

Campus is named for him.

When he retired in 2001, Lubbers was the longest serving state university leader in the country.