Grand Valley State selects its 1st woman as president

ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) — Grand Valley State University has selected a woman as the western Michigan school's president for the first time in its history.

The appointment of Philomena Mantella as the school's president was unanimously approved Tuesday during a special board meeting at the university's Allendale campus. She says in a statement that the school is among those helping to "carry the promise of a degree and a path to prosperity for learners from all backgrounds."

Mantella is currently senior vice president and chief executive officer of the Lifelong Learning Network at Northeastern University in Boston. She has a Ph.D.