Mintline brings vast educational experience to new Omni role in Detroit

Mintline said she's very familiar with Omni's population of adult learners, as she once was one. Mintline lost her job during the 2008 recession when she was a traditional undergraduate student at the University of Michigan-Flint.

"Things snowballed from there. I was evicted from my apartment and couch surfing with friends for a while," she said.

About six years after leaving college, Mintline talked to an academic advisor. That conversation spurred her to complete a bachelor's degree in sociology and begin a career path. "I told that advisor, 'I want to do what you do,'" she said.

Mintline earned a master's degree in educational leadership, with an emphasis on higher education student affairs, from Eastern Michigan University. She is completing a doctoral degree in counseling and student development from Kansas State University.

In her new role, Mintline said her initial plan is to meet with Grand Valley leaders who work in Detroit or travel there for recruitment or programs, become familiar with the university's established articulation and transfer agreements, and begin connecting with Southeast Michigan businesses, educational partners and organizations.

"Omni is targeting people who were like me, people needing to finish their degrees. That type of program is missing at many universities; I'm grateful to Grand Valley for creating Omni, which offers flexibility to students," she said.