ERIK HOEKSTRA Background Dr. Hoekstra is passionate about bringing joy and meaning to places of work, saying that good leadership is “about creating an environment where those who are being led are being served.” Education • Bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from Trinity Christian College • Master’s Degree in international management from The Rotterdam School of Management of Erasmus University in the Netherlands • Ph.D. in organizational learning and human resource development from Iowa State University Experience • Co-authorship of several publications on coaching, delegation, servant leadership, and change management • Leadership development, executive coaching • Organizational consulting • Industrial construction • Wholesale distribution and retail management • Teaching business courses at Dordt College
Dordt College Provost Dr. Erik Hoekstra is beginning his term as the fourth president of Dordt College. Board of Trustees Chair Lloyd Vander Kwaak describes Hoekstra as “very passionate about the college” and with a “deep-hearted commitment to what Dordt is all about.” He believes that Dr. Hoekstra will help the college maintain a vibrant mission; provide strong leadership; cultivate excellent, mission-oriented faculty members; and capably oversee the college’s ongoing financial stability. “Under Dr. Carl Zylstra’s leadership, Dordt is in a wonderful place now,” Dr. Hoekstra says. “The core of our educational mission will always be to glorify God as a distinctively Christian, operationally excellent college that attracts quality faculty members, eager students, and enthusiastic supporters.” Dr. Hoekstra not only understands Dordt’s current strengths and is committed to its historical roots, he is also an innovator. Vander Kwaak noted, “Dr. Hoekstra’s track record of leading organizations with a blend of excellence and creativity—in both education and business—made him a compelling choice.” In a letter to the Board of Trustees unanimously recommending Dr. Hoekstra for president, Search Committee Chair Randy Kroll wrote, “In the final deliberations, the committee concluded that Dr. Hoekstra’s well-developed and deep passion for the college’s vision and mission, his effective and engaging leadership record at the college in both teaching and academic administration, his knowledge of the college’s positions, strengths, and challenges, and his personal faith and mature understanding of spiritual leadership put him in the best position to lead as the fourth president of Dordt College.”
and new programs in worship arts, construction management, and actuarial science have begun. Dordt athletic programs have grown in size and quality, as have international programs and international student “It is exciting for me to serve at a enrollment. Dr. Hoekstra played a Christian college that has an equal key partnership role with Student passion for programs in agriculture and Services to design and build Kuyper English,” Dr. Hoekstra said. “It is good Apartments, an award-winning student that we encourage some students to residence hall opened in 2010. consider graduate school and that Search Committee member and senior we prepare them well, but it is equally good that we do not put such a calling engineering major Mark Van Weelden says Dr. Hoekstra ‘above’ others for is both intense and our graduates. approachable as an We are called administrator. “He’s to work toward As an institution of higher visible on campus, Christ-centered education committed to and he’ll say hi when renewal in every the Reformed Christian he sees you in the sphere of God’s perspective, the mission of Commons,” he said. creation.” Dordt College is to equip “He has a genuine students, alumni, and the As provost for the passion for Dordt’s past four years, broader community to work mission—just being Dr. Hoekstra effectively toward Christaround him calls you has overseen centered renewal in all to action and brings the reshaping aspects of contemporary out the best in you. He of the academic life. loves this community, structure of and along with his the college. In leadership skills, that addition, he chaired the Enrollment gives us confidence.” Management Team and worked Comparing his experience as a student closely with the advancement office and board member at other Christian and president on the recent Beyond colleges, Dr. Hoekstra says Dordt is Jubilee: Vision 2020 Campaign. unique. “The size and the climate of the In Dr. Hoekstra’s time as provost, campus in which we can know each programs in nursing, engineering, and other well is a wonderful expression of agriculture have grown substantially, Christian community,” he says. Dr. Hoekstra is excitedly taking on his new leadership role and says that seeing firsthand the challenges, joys, and responsibilities of serving in such a role has helped prepare him for it.
Family Dr. Hoekstra is married to Dr. Barb Hoekstra, an education professor at Dordt College with a Bachelor’s Degree from Trinity, a Master’s from Western Michigan University, and an Ed.D. from the University of South Dakota. Their family is a blend of biological and adopted children and includes Arie, 16; Max, 15; Karl, 15; and Zoe, 12.
Personal Mission My personal mission statement is to glorify God and further God’s redemptive plan and coming Kingdom by being a growth steward of resources (people, organizations, self, assets) God has entrusted to my care. For more information visit
Dordt Mission
www.dordt.edu/presidentialsearch
April 2012