Spark Spring 2022 - Calvin University by Calvin University

SPARK T H E C A LV I N U N I V E R S I T Y M A G A Z I N E

President Le Roy bids farewell p. 12

SPRING 2022

The Le Roys’ favorite space on campus: the 100-acre Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens. “Being in that space is very calming and welcoming, and I think it’s great to have a place like that on a college campus.” — Andrea Le Roy

SPRING 2022 VOL. 68, NO. 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Calvin University equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world.

Calvin University is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). To learn more about the CRC’s work in North America and around the world, visit crcna.org.

12 Calvin University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). For more information, visit cccu.org. Spark is published three times a year by the Calvin Alumni Association, office of alumni relations, Calvin University, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. ©2022 by the Calvin Alumni Association. Telephone: 616-526-6142. Email: spark@calvin.edu. Spark on the web: calvin.edu/spark. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Spark, Office of Alumni, Calvin University, 3201 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. CANADIAN POSTMASTER: Publication Mail Agreement No. 40063614. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: CRCNACalvin University, 3475 Mainway, P.O. Box 5070, Burlington, ON L7R 3Y8.

Michael Le Roy placed a high value on students and seeking their input. He often met with student senators, Chimes editors, and other student leaders.

FEATURES

A STUDENT-CENTERED PRESIDENCY

WHY TEACHING?

During his 10 years as president, Michael Le Roy pushed through the headwinds toward an exciting vision for Calvin University.

Calvin professors make lasting impressions on their students. How do they do it? And why? Three faculty members share a bit of their journey.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE CALVIN SPARK Editor: Jeff Haverdink ’97 Managing Editor: Sarah Potter Johnson ’00 Art Director: Amanda Impens Designers: Erin Barents Elders ’16 Olivia Stallmer ’22 Contributing Writers: Jeff Febus ’92 Abigail Hamm ’23 Matt Kucinski HON Contributing Photographers: Ryan Humm Amanda Impens Adrian Van Stee ’23

CALVIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD President: Gene Miyamoto ’77 (Holland, Mich.) Vice President: Jori Brink Hannah ’04 (Chicago, Ill.) Secretary: Karen Zwart Hielema ’94 (Toronto, Ont.) Treasurer: Jim Valk ’87 (Paw Paw, Mich.) Executive Director: Jeff Haverdink ’97

The women’s basketball team features four players from the Denver, Colorado, area.

Natasha Bajema ’98 is on a quest with her dogs and camper to teach you about nuclear weapons.

DEPARTMENTS

ONLINE EXTRAS

Editor’s Desk

Read Spark online

Campus News

calvin.edu/spark

Sports

Alumni Profiles

Events

40 Class Notes 47

In Memoriam

Members: Tyler Amidon ’93 (Centennial, Colo.) Jerry Cooper ex’66 (Holland, Mich.) Minwoo Heo ’09 (Chicago, Ill.) Dale Kaemingk ’77 (Brier, Wash.) Casey Kuperus ’97 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Maxine Asante Mosley-Totoe ’06 (Minneapolis, Minn.) Christine Jacobs Mouw ’88 (N. Little Rock, Ark.) Debra Perry ’91 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Janorisè Evans Robinson ’92 (Oak Park, Ill.) Levi Stoep ’13 (New York, N.Y.) Stephanie Vogelzang ’07 (Alexandria, Va.) Eliezer Yeong ‘18 (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Johanna Chambery Zandstra ’91 (Schererville, Ind.)

ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION

Connect with alumni facebook.com/calvinalumni

Are you interested in receiving Spark via email instead of print? If so, please email alumni@calvin.edu to let us know. Include your email address and let us know if this selection is for you only, or if it includes your spouse/household. Remember to include any additional email addresses if applicable.

Leave a legacy for future alum legacygift.calvin.edu

View the Calvin calendar calvin.edu/calendar

EDITOR’S DESK

A lasting impact In 1989, Tyler Amidon ’93 flew from California to Michigan to meet with Calvin’s baseball coach, Jeff Pettinga ’63. Tyler was 18, the MVP of his high school team, and in his own words “kind of a knucklehead.” But five minutes into the conversation with Jeff, the Lord started talking to Tyler. Tyler knew that Jeff—Tyler still calls him Coach—would be an incredible mentor. Jeff’s competitiveness, gentleness, and work ethic resonated deeply with Tyler. He came to Calvin, and Jeff poured into Tyler, loving and challenging him. His life was changed in profound ways. “I am the way I am because of the impact that Coach had on me,” Tyler told me from his office at Denver Christian Middle School. In fact, to honor the difference Coach made, Tyler and his wife named their son Jeff. And that Jeff is now a student at Calvin, experiencing the same lifechanging education. I love Tyler’s story. I hear some version of this story again and again from alumni. It might be a chemistry professor who spent countless hours with an alumnus in the lab. Or the theater production that shaped an alumna because the director recognized a certain gift. Inevitably, alumni share how those interactions with professors shaped the rest of their lives, even if they didn’t know it at that time.

Calvin has always placed a high value on faculty pursuing academic interests and remaining directly invested in students. Many academic institutions pick one over the other—not Calvin. Although each faculty member has his or her own reasons why they teach, all value the ability to be both scholars and teachers. Faculty are rewarded with the joy of seeing discovery through their students’ eyes or observing the learning process unfold over four years. No doubt, the world around us is changing, but it always has. True to being Reformed, Calvin changes too—or “reimagines,” as we like to say. One thing I can tell you, though: Our faculty are still deeply committed to Jesus Christ and making a lasting impact on the lives of their students. I trust you’ll enjoy some of their stories in this issue. The Calvin community is also celebrating a milestone event in the life of a professor at heart, Dr. Michael Le Roy. After 10 years as president, his time at Calvin is coming to a close. Dr. Le Roy began his professional career in the classroom as a political science professor. As so many of us have observed, the Le Roys’ hearts, passion and joy centered around making a difference in the lives of Calvin students. Thank you, Dr. and Mrs. Le Roy, for your service to our students and to all of Calvin University. We are deeply grateful.

BY JEFF HAVERDINK ’97 DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

SAME VALUES Rooted in the Reformed Christian faith, Calvin’s graduate programs will expand your vision for a career. They'll equip you to lead with conviction and act as an agent of renewal in the world.

SAME WORLD-RENOWNED EDUCATION You already know Calvin’s reputation for quality education. That same deep knowledge and committed faith are at the heart of each of our graduate programs, both online and on-ground.

GRADUATE DEGREES Available now Accounting Business administration Education Exercise science Geographic information science Media and strategic communication Public health Speech pathology

CHANGE THE WORLD— FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD

YOUR FUTURE IS WIDE OPEN

Starting Fall 2022 Intercultural competency certificate Public and nonprofit administration Starting Fall 2023 Data science

LEARN MORE AT CALVIN.EDU/GO/GLOBAL

GLOBAL CAMPUS 5

CAMPUS NEWS

Clarence Joldersma

PROFESSOR HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION In 2020, education professor Clarence Joldersma was invited to be part of a team of 70 researchers organized by the International Science and EvidenceBased Education Assessment, to contribute to a report on educational systems and reforms. This was part of a once-in-a-generation UNESCO report called “Futures of Education,” which came out in November 2021. In essence, it’s an international effort to rethink and revitalize education as a social institution. “UNESCO consults with people from around the world and is creating a vision for how education, organized institutions of education, meet the current challenges facing us globally,” said Joldersma. The project leaders wanted someone to contribute to the project who had an understanding of social, political, and conceptual contexts that shape educational neuroscience. They knew of Joldersma’s scholarly work and asked him to co-author a chapter. “A marker of success [for this project] is if the way we envision education in the report moves the needle even slightly from thinking narrowly about education for human capital development to a broader understanding of education for human flourishing.” 6

Calvin professors will guide high school students as they explore their interests and think about possible careers.

HELPING HIGH SCHOOLERS EXPLORE POSSIBLE CAREERS Career planning and college decisionmaking can be daunting tasks for incoming undergraduate students. Calvin University is introducing a new program to help students work through the many uncertainties they face heading out of high school and into college. “The idea of career exploration is to help our students explore the different interests they have so that when they come to college, they have a more realistic expectation of what their major and possible career outcomes are going to be,” explains Rosalba Ramírez, director of College Access Programs. Ramírez says that many students grapple with the pressure of either attending college or finding a job soon after high school. The Career Exploration

Program, which is partnering with the Career Center, is seeking to make this decision easier for high school students by providing invaluable experiences through its weeklong workshop. This summer, the program is open to local students who are able to either stay with their families for the week or experience overnight residential life without the pressure of being far away from home. The intention is to expand this program to include a broader audience in future years. The program’s expected start date is June 20, 2022, and the application deadline for day programs is April 15. For more information and to learn about registration, go to calvin.edu/go/sce.

Knightletin is a new chemical compound that glows bright blue under UV light.

STUDENTS DISCOVER, NAME NEW CHEMICAL COMPOUND During fall 2021, Professor Mark Muyskens and a group of students created a compound never seen before: a clear liquid that, when shown under UV light, glows a beautiful bright blue. Rachael Denhollander

RACHAEL DENHOLLANDER RECEIVES 2021 KUYPER PRIZE In December 2021, Rachael Denhollander accepted the 2021 Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life at an event hosted by Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary. Denhollander is an attorney, author, advocate, and educator who is recognized as a leading voice on the topic of sexual abuse. The Kuyper Prize was established in 1996 by Rimmer and Ruth de Vries and is named after Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper. The prize is awarded each year to a scholar or community leader whose outstanding contribution to their chosen sphere reflects the ideas and values characteristic of the neo-Calvinist vision

STAY CONNECTED Find more campus news daily at calvin.edu/news.

of religious engagement in matters of social, political, and cultural significance in one or more of the “spheres” of society. “To marry Kuyper’s work to what’s taking place in the public square right now on many levels is incredibly challenging, but Calvin has long had a history of making place and priority for these conversations. It’s a place with a rich understanding of faith and application of theology,” said Denhollander. “So, to be part of that tradition in some small way is deeply humbling.” A recording of the event is available on Calvin’s YouTube channel.

Soon after discovering this coumarin from a series of syntheses, Muyskens held a naming competition for the compound. “It’s not necessarily traditional that if you [just] make a new compound that you will name it,” explains Muyskens. “There probably have been hundreds or maybe thousands of molecules that have been synthesized at Calvin that are brand new and they don’t all get named.” After reviewing the names presented by students, the chemistry department settled on “Knightletin,” after Calvin’s mascot and for its chemical similarity to aesculetin, the compound they were studying. Before naming the compound, students Leah Knoor, George Du Laney, Isaac Jonker, Liam Hoogewerf, Yukun Tu, Hunter Pham, and Joy Yoo composed an article, “Aesculetin Exhibits Strong Fluorescent Photoacid Character,” explaining their processes leading up to the discovery. The article was published in the Journal of Fluorescence as the first to explain the new compound. 7

CAMPUS NEWS

Professor Gary Schmidt

PROFESSOR GARY SCHMIDT HELPS LAUNCH SCRIPTORIA This summer, Calvin is hosting a writing boot camp. Scriptoria is a writing workshop open to adults who want to gain writing experience, hone their craft, and make connections. Morning workshops, afternoon writing conferences, and evening readings are all on the docket for the in-person, workshop scheduled for June 20-24, 2022. Gary Schmidt, professor of English and award-winning author, is collaborating with his colleagues at Calvin, Cornerstone University, and Aquinas College on Scriptoria. He hopes to awaken creativity, teach craft elements, and create a space where writers can wrestle with the ways in which each faith tradition may affect the writer’s purpose and process. Workshops held throughout each day will include small groups of eight writers each, where their work is passed around and peer reviewed. Participants will also work one-on-one with professional writers and editors in the Christian publishing industry. In this immersive atmosphere, writers will experience how professionals navigate the writing world and get a taste of what a master’s program in English at Calvin might look like. For more information, visit scriptoriaworkshop.org.

Senior Freshta Tori Jan and her new book, Courage: My Story of Persecution.

STUDENT PUBLISHES HER INSPIRING STORY

In January, Freshta Tori Jan’s book, Courage: My Story of Persecution, was published. In it, Tori Jan, a senior pre-law student studying international relations, shares her journey fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan, relentlessly pursuing education against all odds, and learning the power of her own voice. Tori Jan and her family are Hazara, a minority ethnic group that has faced a devastating amount of persecution and prejudice. In the fourth grade, Tori Jan witnessed Hazara communities get attacked and killed one after another—and yet no one did anything about it.

“I was surrounded by people who were letting these things happen,” wrote Tori Jan. “I didn’t know how to advocate for my people. I didn’t know how to raise my voice. All I knew was that I was hurting for so long.” Courage: My Story of Persecution is the third book in the I, Witness series by W.W. Norton & Co., which shares first-person narrative stories of contemporary young people who have faced terrible challenges in their lives. The series is aimed at readers 9–12 years old, and Tori Jan wants young people to know that they are not too young to become leaders.

STAY CONNECTED Find more campus news daily at calvin.edu/news.

Calvin Start-Ups

STUDENT ORG HELPS ENTREPRENEURS’ IDEAS COME TO LIFE

Professor Matt Heun and his students discuss low-carbon solutions in Engineering 333.

ENGINEERING STUDENTS PROVIDE KEY INSIGHTS FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Engineering students in professor Matt Heun’s “Thermal Systems Design” class worked in a living lab last fall. They studied the building of Habitat for Humanity’s newly constructed low-carbon house and were tasked with finding out how the organization could reduce the carbon emissions by a further 20%.

from looking at embodied carbon, the onsite carbon emissions, electricity, and heating—and the others focused on what design aspects would help reduce emissions further. The students found that while you can’t ignore the carbon emissions present in the initial upfront activity of getting materials and all the onsite construction actions, the majority of the carbon emissions come after someone occupies and operates the house.

The two sections of Heun’s class were each assigned an existing Habitat house in Grand Rapids to analyze as well as the low-carbon build that was just a foundation when they were introduced to the project in early September. They were divided up to work on two areas, some working on analysis—everything WATCH THE VIDEO STORY Hear more about the Habitat for Humanity project from Professor Heun and the engineering students.

Daniel Kwik, a data science and marketing major, joined Calvin Start-Ups, a student organization geared toward entrepreneurs, during his first year at Calvin. Through this experience, Kwik helped bring students together with diverse skill sets to help a fellow student start a business.

“In the real world, you’re not going to be a businessperson surrounded by businesspeople, right? You’re going to need designers. You’re going to need people smarter than you in different fields,” said Kwik. Leann Gasaway ’21 was the first beneficiary of this new organization. She always wanted to start a bakery. A few months prior to graduation, she started meeting with Calvin Start-Ups to make her pitch a reality. The student organization helped her think through the logistics of her business and connected her with the right people on campus. Later that spring, College Cupcakes was officially up and running. The group also started a podcast, Beyond Ethical, where they interview entrepreneurs about their journeys and investigate what it means to be “redemptive entrepreneurs.”

CALVIN SPORTS

COLORADO BASKETBALL PLAYERS FIND FAMILY FIT BY JEFF FEBUS ’92

In her first two years at Evergreen High School, GalanBrowne was a member of back-to-back state championship teams in girls basketball. As a junior and senior however, she watched rival Valor Christian win state titles with Coors and Nealy playing roles in the title runs. Despite the rivalry, Coors, Nealy, and GalanBrowne teamed up on the same summer AAU travel team. In addition, the trio were all trained by former Calvin men’s basketball standout Derek Griffin ’09, who now lives and works as a coach and trainer in the Denver area. Left to right: Abbie Cooley, Sara Nealy, Stephanie Coors, and Baylee GalanBrowne.

Cooley went head-to-head once with her future Calvin teammates as a high school player while also bumping into them during summer ball. “The thing about Colorado basketball, everyone knows everyone,” said Coors. “We all knew each other beforehand.”

Over the last four years the Calvin women’s basketball team has featured a strong Rocky Mountain flair.

A common theme with the four players was the willingness to leave home and start a new adventure. “There aren’t that many colleges or universities in Colorado, particularly small schools,” said Cooley. “I knew I wanted to keep playing basketball while continuing my education, so moving away wasn’t an issue for me.”

This year’s Calvin women’s basketball team features seniors Stephanie Coors, Baylee GalanBrowne, and Abbie Cooley as well as junior Sara Nealy. The Colorado quartet all hail from the greater Denver area.

As the youngest of the four, Nealy followed the lead of the three who arrived at Calvin a year earlier. “I loved the team dynamic, and I wanted a small classroom size,” said Nealy. “Like the others, [Calvin] felt like home when I came for a visit.”

Coors is a smooth-operating wing forward with all-conference honors included in her Calvin résumé. GalanBrowne has been a key outside shooting threat from her shooting guard position, while Cooley and Nealy are lead ball handlers and defenders in the backcourt.

GalanBrowne is set to graduate this spring with a degree in mechanical engineering. She is busy working with her senior design team on her senior project and has a job lined up with the Grand Rapids office of AECOM Engineering. Coors is a sociology major with a minor in kinesiology. She has plans to attend graduate school after completing her Calvin degree this spring. Cooley is an exercise science major with plans to attend graduate school with the future goal of becoming a strength and conditioning coordinator. Nealy has one year left to go but, like Coors, is a sociology major.

Coors and Nealy are graduates of Valor Christian High School from the suburbs of Denver. GalanBrowne graduated from neighboring Evergreen High School, a conference rival of Valor Christian. Cooley meanwhile is from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, just south of Denver.

PHOTO CREDIT: MATT MITCHELL

Together the Colorado quartet has found a home away from home on the Calvin campus. “I chose Calvin because I loved the family atmosphere and it felt like home,” said GalanBrowne of her choice to attend Calvin four years ago. “It was a smaller school with great academics and a strong women’s basketball tradition.”

Third-year Calvin head women’s basketball coach Mark Christner ’99 states that each of the four Colorado natives add to the program in their own way. “All four contribute heavily to our team, both on and off the court,” said Christner. “They have different gifts as basketball players but the thing that I value the most is that they are positive, hard-working young women who support their teammates and our program. We are grateful to have them and love that they are Knights.”

FEATURE STORY

ROOTED IN PRAYER, CENTERED ON STUDENTS:

PRESIDENT MICHAEL LE ROY

BIDS FAREWELL BY MATT KUCINSKI

“I feel like that’s a place where every morning as I pray, I get in touch with the work I’m called to do today,” said Le Roy. This daily practice has become perhaps the most important routine of his presidency. “He roots himself in prayer. I can’t tell you how many times he’s told me, ‘I was praying for you this morning,’ or ‘I was praying for students.’ It is woven into his life,” said Mary Hulst ’91, university pastor. “When you have someone spending time with the Lord in that way, you know their heart is going to be aligned for the things of the Lord.”

The Le Roys would find that time spent extremely valuable as they entered a challenging environment for higher education generally, and Calvin specifically—encountering things they were prepared to face and others they had not anticipated. “As we look back, we need to be grateful for the heavy load they carried all these years,” said Jennifer Holberg, professor of English. Le Roy is in his 10th year serving as Calvin’s president. In June 2021, he informed the board of trustees that the 2021–2022 academic year would be his final season at Calvin, citing a pull to return to the Northwest to be closer to his and his wife Andrea’s adult children and aging parents.

PHOTO CREDIT: MATT MITCHELL

It’s 5:30 a.m. Michael Le Roy peers out the front window of his four-season room in DeWit Manor. He watches the light change and the campus slowly come alive.

FEATURE STORY

AN UNEXPECTED FIRST VOYAGE In 2012, the Le Roys officially joined the Calvin community. Dr. Le Roy brought an extensive knowledge of Christian higher education, a deep understanding of the challenges academia would face over the next decade, and a strong appreciation for the Reformed perspective. Scott Spoelhof ’84 was chair of the board of trustees when Le Roy started. From the onset, he found him to be both an incredible strategist and someone who never shied away from meeting the challenge of the day head on.

“The immediate never suffered at the expense of the longer term,” said Spoelhof. Upon arriving at Calvin, it soon became clear to Le Roy that focusing on the immediate would actually be a necessary strategy for sustaining and strengthening Calvin for the long term. So, he got to work on helping Calvin strengthen its financial position by reducing its longterm debt and closing its operating deficit. “He was able to clarify the [financial] challenge and help us develop a plan for meeting it,” said Todd Hubers ’84, vice president of people, strategy, and technology.

SHARED SACRIFICE, FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE That plan included asking donors to give toward reducing the university’s longterm debt. For someone who had little experience in fundraising for anything, let alone debt, this seemed like a heavy lift. But within a year of announcing the $25 million ambitious goal, the institution had exceeded it, prompting Inside Higher Ed’s headline of “Unlikely 25 Million.” The plan also involved painful decisions and shared sacrifice in an effort to secure the longevity of the institution. It was not an easy road for the community, nor Le Roy. “He made really hard calls that set us up for a stable, and I pray, hopeful and flourishing future,” said Hulst.

“Michael owned the many difficult decisions made during his tenure. There was never a scapegoat,” said Spoelhof. “He navigated the financial challenges early in his tenure and put Calvin on a solid financial footing.” While he owned the decisions he made, he and Andrea also shouldered the weight of them. “I think I have a deeper appreciation for and a keener understanding of the phrase ‘a long obedience in the same direction,’” said Andrea Le Roy. “During some of the particularly hard times, I questioned why God called us to Calvin. But listening for God and trusting God was the best I knew to do. I think now, maybe, that is exactly what a life of faith looks like.”

Fast forward to 2021 and the university is in a solid financial position. The institution received an A- rating and a stable outlook from Standard & Poor’s. And during Le Roy’s tenure Calvin’s assets have doubled, while its debt has been cut in half. The university has also experienced two of its three most successful fundraising years. “A strong sense of calling helped Michael to be faithful to the work that needed to be done,” said Cheryl Brandsen ’79, who served as provost from 2014–2021. “Michael also drew on his faith to sustain him during hard times.”

FEATURE STORY

LISTENING AND LEARNING Le Roy gained confidence and strength from seeking input from many advisers. While his cabinet team would often joke that with Le Roy’s grasp of all the different aspects of higher education “he could do every one of our jobs as well as we could,” Le Roy, in humility, sought the counsel of many. “Even when there was a big decision to make, he went around the table, what does each of you think? He loves data. He loves to get more information,” said Hulst. “He sought to create an environment where everyone could contribute,” said Craig Lubben, chair of the board of trustees from 2014 to 2020. “As solu-

tions were debated, he made sure no voice was marginalized.” “Michael cared well for faculty and staff by listening carefully to the concerns they expressed. Perhaps the best example of this is Michael’s work through the years to revisit and strengthen the faculty requirements regarding Reformed Christian commitments,” said Brandsen. Le Roy heard the faculty’s concerns in his very first faculty senate meeting. “We desired to develop faculty and staff in a way that focused on their faith commitments and practices rather than their institutional memberships,”

said Brandsen. “Michael worked persistently and patiently with the board, with the faculty, and with external constituents to deepen the university’s commitments in this area.” A key marker of success from this was the establishment of The de Vries Institute for Global Faculty Development. The institute aims to help ensure Calvin faculty and staff along with Christian educators around the world have the resources they need to deepen their abilities to bring their Reformed Christian commitments to bear on teaching and learning. This was made possible by listening, so too was the university deepening its commitment to diversity and inclusion (D&I).

SEEKING UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING TRUST “I think under Michael’s leadership the work of D&I became more institutionalized and the awareness became a higher priority,” said Michelle Loyd-Paige, executive associate to the president for diversity and inclusion. This became clear early on when Le Roy added a cabinet-level position focused on D&I and appointed Loyd-Paige to fill that role. “He trusts my judgment to be the senior spokesperson for the university when it comes to decisions about diversity goals or how to respond to something,” said Loyd-Paige. “I know I can say, ‘You’re off on that’ [to Michael], because I have. And he’s not defensive,’ he says, OK, help me to see where I’m off. Now let’s do the corrective.’” And Le Roy also welcomes advice from students, whom he values so deeply. In the summer of 2020 after hearing students speaking on a panel following the aftermath of the George Floyd murder, Le Roy worked with LoydPaige to form a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) student advisory group who he would meet with monthly. “Michael could enter into that space and suck all the air out of the room by saying, ‘I am president,’ but he shows up as Michael. He’s the last person to speak as opposed to the first,” said Loyd-Paige.

DWELLING AMONG STUDENTS Le Roy’s desire is for every student to have an excellent learning and living experience at Calvin. And when he sees this is not happening for some, he seeks advice from students on how things can be improved. Le Roy’s actions show he values others above himself. And for the past 10 years, he’s placed a high value on students and their input. “I never turn down a meeting with a student,” said Le Roy, who regularly met with student senators, Chimes editors, and other student leaders and groups on campus. Even during a meeting-packed day, he would strategically align his path with theirs. “Being with students always helps to motivate me and center me in my work, and so even in the paths that I would walk during the day if I could plan my walk between meetings before and after class those would be things I would do, going over to the dining hall or Johnny’s and sitting down with students where there was an empty chair. Andrea and I tried to get to as many concerts and athletic events as we could. We would bring our dog Gus to the soccer games, partly because the dog drew students in and they’d come over, and hopefully it made me even more approachable … ‘I’m just a guy with a dog.’” “I remember during orientation he joined our group’s table for dinner, and I was like, ‘Wow, he wants to eat with us at the dining hall and learn our names,’” said Emmanuel Essien, who is now a senior and student body president.

FEATURE STORY The Le Roys were all about trying to help students feel welcome. Among the thousands of house guests they’ve welcomed over the years, including an astronaut, national journalists, college presidents, and distinguished alumni, they count their interactions with students among their favorites. “We loved hosting students at our house,” said Le Roy. The Le Roys would open their home often. For several years, they’d host groups of students by major, department, athletic team, and student group, and have a family style dinner together. “It is such a blast,” said Andrea Le Roy. “They are so happy to be here. We’d ask them questions, they’d talk about their experiences, it was conversational. Those times were really fun.”

A VISION THAT OPENS DOORS The Le Roys were always working to enlarge the circle of affection of Calvin. They believed so much in the mission of the institution that they wanted the doors to be open to more and more learners—of all ages and backgrounds. That’s a key driver behind Vision 2030, which has made great strides in less than three years. The most visible change has been Calvin switching its last name from “College” to “University” in 2019. But what that change has enabled is the ability for Calvin to extend the reach of its mission far beyond the traditional undergraduate populations. Years prior, Le Roy had identified the challenging times ahead for higher education and knew the institution would need to develop a path through

the significant decline in high school graduates in the Midwest. Vision 2030 is that path through. “Michael took the wheel and was like, ‘There’s an iceberg, you can’t see it, I can see it. We are going to go this way, just a couple of degrees is actually going to save us,’” said Hulst. “He knew we needed to get ready, and he didn’t let the headwinds of change drive him off course. And he wasn’t just steering, he was training others how to steer to get us safely where we want to go.” “Many leaders have really shown heavy lifting, and that’s a testament to his leadership,” said Holberg. “He picked good people to help with the work, and they’ve made a difference.” As leaders continue to steer the university toward Vision 2030, they can celebrate the ways the institution has opened doors to new learners. The university’s Calvin Prison Initiative is allowing inmates an opportunity to earn bachelor’s degrees behind bars, the Ready for Life Program is allowing students with intellectual disabilities to be full members of the Calvin community and earn certificates, and the Global Campus has opened a growing number of both in-person and online graduate-level offerings, which will total 10 by fall 2022. The university will also open its new stateof-the-art School of Business building in summer 2022 and established the School of Health this past fall.

ALWAYS STUDENT-CENTERED There’s a lot of changes that have been made over the past decade. Some difficult. Some exciting. But they’ve all been done for students. To Le Roy, every student mattered. “One time I was very down when I was meeting with him, and he spent the whole meeting time praying for me. Sometimes I’ll meet with him, and he remembers what I told him last month,” said Essien. “I feel more like a son than a student or mentee. I can tell him my worries. He is able to advise me and make me feel comfortable. His Christian faith makes him this loving person.” “Everything he does points back to his faith, especially in his mentorship,” said Kay Casturo, a senior who is interning with Le Roy this year. “He mentors me in a way that always points me back to my own faith too, and that’s been really impressive.” “He’ll be remembered by 10 years of students who knew he cared deeply about them,” said Bruce Los ’77, current chair of the board of trustees. “This is why my desk sits right here,” said Le Roy, pointing to his desk that is facing the window and the Commons Lawn. “I get to sit here in the middle of the hard things and see students pass by. No matter what my day is like, that helps me re-center. “Calvin University truly is one of the most amazing Christian higher ed institutions in the world, and I can say that because I’ve been at a few,” said Le Roy. “My parting words to the Calvin community would be to cultivate gratitude: This is an amazing place with an amazing mission.”

“Everything he does points back to his faith, especially in his mentorship. He mentors me in a way that always points me back to my faith too, and that’s been really impressive.” KAY CASTURO ’22

FEATURE STORY

PHOTO CREDIT: STEVEN HERPPICH

Left page, top: In his first year as president, Michael Le Roy joined students in the Cold Knight Plunge. He jumped twice more during his presidency. Left page, bottom: Commencement 2021 at LMCU Ballpark.

Right page, top left: The Le Roys’ favorite space on campus is the 100-acre Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens. Andrea is on the advisory board and regularly volunteers at the preserve. Right page, top right: Every January, the Le Roys opened their home for a luncheon with each of the January Series speakers, underwriters, and invited guests. In 2017, astronaut Leland Melvin, a dog lover, had heard about Gus from students, and so requested a photo with the first dog … and Michael. Right page, bottom: From his first semester at Calvin until now, President Le Roy immersed himself in the student experience.

FEATURE STORY

WHY I TEACH BY SARAH POTTER JOHNSON ’00

MICAH WATSON This professor thinks Christians can do a better job at disagreeing and he’s using an ancient text to open up conversations about life’s big questions.

Political science professor Micah Watson first read Plato’s Republic when he was a student in college. You might remember the Republic—it’s Plato’s best known work that recounts stories of Socrates inviting people into a discussion about life’s big questions. What is the meaning of justice? How should the government reflect justice? And what is the nature of the good? This semester, Watson taught the Republic to students in POLS 240: “Freedom, Justice, and Political Authority.” Watson guides the discussion, but he isn’t heavy-handed. “It’s not me with a box of data that I’m handing over to students. I want to know what they think.” Watson, the son of a pastor and schoolteacher, grew up in California and studied politics at a large public university. He often had more conservative viewpoints than his professors and was one of the few vocal Christians in class. “Being a person of faith in the public university classroom was tricky. I had to articulate my faith in a way that was winsome,” he said. He found that some of his professors shut down his ideas and didn’t welcome dialogue. But some—including the one who introduced him to the Republic—welcomed an open exchange. These dialogues deepened his convictions, and they opened his eyes to the possibility of real conversations amidst people who loved the material but saw it differently. Modeling the exchange of ideas in a civil way is central to why Watson teaches. “Our society is full of polarization and ugliness. We as Christians are called to reason, act, and

HENRY CONVERSATIONS PODCAST Hear Micah Watson talk with friends and colleagues from across the political and religious spectrum about faith, politics, and culture. You can find the podcast by searching for Henry Conversations on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

“

At Calvin, we have range of political v and we have a com framework of Chris belief and commitm

”

discuss with love,” Watson said. “Christians can do a better job at disagreeing. How we disagree and discuss ideas is part of our witness.” Watson was drawn to Calvin because he knew that Calvin would not be one-sided politically. “At Calvin, we have a range of political views, and we have a common framework of Christian belief and commitment. That’s unique and rare, and we should press into that as a strength of who we are rather than a liability.” Students in his classes are told that up front, from the very first day. “If you’re progressive, you’re going to rub shoulders with conservatives. If you’re conservative, you’re going to rub shoulders with progressives. If you were hoping that you’d come to a place where you’d be surrounded by people who thought like you and you wouldn’t be challenged, you’ve come to the wrong place.” Watson still enjoys the journey through the Republic because he gets to see it through the eyes of new students each year. “It’s pretty great to work through a 2,400-yearold text about the big questions in life with students for whom those questions are much more than academic. Calvin is a place where those conversations still happen.” Watson is also the executive director of the Henry Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics and the Paul B. Henry Chair in Political Science.

FEATURE STORY

“

I’m asking you to look to the margins and notice the things that are not the most obvious things. Pay attention.

“Right before the scene in this painting, Icarus is falling out of the sky, plunging toward the sea. Yet everyone has their head down or turned away,” she tells the class. Holberg pulls up a poem by W.H. Auden about the painting and shares, “Auden says that for the people in the painting, Icarus falling from the sky was ‘not an important failure.’”

”

On the first day of literature class, Jennifer Holberg shows her class a painting by Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder. She doesn’t tell them the title, but asks what they see. The first answers are expected: a lake, a man, a boat, a plow. “Wait a minute,” one student says, leaning in, “are those legs sticking out of the water?” It’s the comment Holberg has been waiting for. The painting, unbeknownst to the students, is called “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus.” The student who noted the tiny legs, bare and flailing out of the sea, has uncovered something that Holberg wants them to understand about literature. And it’s something she wants them to understand about the Christian life. It’s important to notice the details, to notice what—and who—is on the margins.

WATCH THE VIDEO STORY In this video, Jennifer Holberg talks about the student-centered way she gives feedback on papers in English 101.

She looks out at the future nurses, software engineers, parents, and social workers. “This painting is why you’re taking a literature class at Calvin University. I’m asking you to look to the margins and notice the things that are not the most obvious things. Pay attention.” If you’ve taken a class with Holberg, you might recognize and appreciate her gentle challenges. A student favorite, the 2002 senior class selected her for Professor of the Year.

Her appeal might be because she’s been championing “student-centered learning” long before it was trendy. “The whole point of English 101 is teaching students to trust their own instincts. They’ve lost confidence or they never had confidence in their writing. It’s my job to encourage them.” That encouragement often comes in the format of one-onone conversations with students. Instead of marking up students’ papers with red ink, Holberg sits across from them and they talk through how to make the work better. It’s her favorite part of her job. “I actually really like college students,” she said. “I like them as an age group, and I love Calvin students in particular because they’re earnest and want to do good in the world.”. It’s no surprise that she’s one of those professors who stays in contact with students long after they graduate. “I love seeing where their lives go,” she said. “I get to have this tiny little contribution to what God is going to do in their life, and hopefully give them a tool or a way of thinking or even just encouragement.” Holberg is also chair of the English Department and co-director of the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing.

WHY I TEACH

JENNIFER HOLBERG Stories have a lot of power. See how this English professor uses a painting and a poem to show students their role as agents of renewal.

FEATURE STORY

WHY I TEACH

ERIC WASHINGTON This professor asks a lot of questions. He’s always learning, reading, and making new connections. And that curiosity often rubs off on his students.

Eric Washington’s office is how you’d imagine a history professor’s office—hundreds of books, thousands of stories. The books go from the floor to the ceiling, and if you read them, all the way around the world. They contain personal accounts from both sides of the transatlantic slave trade. There are heart-wrenching diary entries from the Haitian Revolution. One book is a memoir written by an Iranian-American woman who came to the U.S. when the Iranian Revolution broke out. “Students really get into her story. They tell me on the way out that I have to keep that book.” These stories are at the heart of Washington’s classroom and his profession as a historian. Not because the stories give the answers, but because they invite complex questions. After reading the Iranian-American woman’s memoir, students often write in their papers about how reading it has challenged their views of immigration and revealed some nuance they didn’t understand before. “People have uncomplicated views of the world and of history. I encourage students to live in the tension. History is not an equation that gives you an answer. In fact, you may have more questions after you read these stories— and that’s good,” Washington said. “This is a great big world. And there’s a lot that we don’t know. God has placed us in this world not to remain stuck in our own corners. I want students to understand that you can travel without leaving where you are, through books, through history, through literature. That’s important because we’re in the world to explore it, to see what makes us human.”

DISCOVER EXCELLENCE In 2018, the senior class gave Eric Washington the Professor of the Year award. “He makes class feel like a family,” one student said. Read the whole story.

Exploring the world and what makes us human has always been important to Washington. He was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Some of his favorite books growing up were the encyclopedias and the World Atlas set his parents bought. “I read those over and over. I guess in one sense, that’s probably what started me on a path of becoming a historian.” As for teaching, his first experience teaching was in church. He was 15, his dad was the pastor, and the vacation Bible school program needed a teacher. It was inevitable. “I was teaching kids just a few years younger than me,” he said. “I had to learn how to prepare for class and present the material in an interesting way.” Today, he keeps his class interesting by modeling curiosity himself. “A professor never stops learning, interrogating, and challenging themself. I bring that attitude into the classroom—that’s what I want for my students. If they see me being curious and asking a lot of questions, I think they will, too, and that’s how they learn and grow.”

“

I want students to understand that you travel without leavin where you are, throu books, through histo through literature.

”

ALUMNI PROFILES

Alumni Profiles Calvin seeks to equip students to think deeply, act justly, and live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. These stories demonstrate how our alumni are living out that mission. Brian Brasser majored in nursing at Calvin, and caring for patients has always been his No. 1 priority. Today, he’s the chief operating officer at Spectrum Health, overseeing hospital operations. As a magistrate judge, Lori Tebben Meulenberg often makes tough decisions. Learn how her Calvin experience gave her confidence and expanded her view of the world. Read more profiles online calvin.edu/spark

Attah Obande is passionate about new businesses in his city. As the director of dream fulfillment at SpringGR, he works with underserved entrepreneurs. Studying German at Calvin opened doors for Natasha Bajema. She became an expert in nuclear weapons, worked in Washington, D.C., and now is educating the public about nuclear weapons on YouTube.

JanetBrasser Lenger ’94 Staal ’98 Brian

Attah Obande ’03

Katelyn Ver Woert Egnatuk ’13

Lori Tebben Meulenberg ’85

Natasha Bajema ’98 29

ALUMNI PROFILES

Brian Brasser ’94 Nursing Senior vice president, chief operating officer Spectrum Health Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, Michigan

A leader in health care

When he was a student at Calvin, Brian Brasser ’94 got a job working at the loading dock at Butterworth Hospital in downtown Grand Rapids. Laundry, food, life-saving medicine, medical equipment—it all passed through the shipping and receiving department where he worked. The job opened Brasser’s eyes to the inner workings of a hospital. “ I didn’t know it at the time, but this job gave me a unique perspective on the complexities that exist in healthcare, and all the coordination that occurs every moment of every day to support our front line caregivers.” Today, Brasser oversees the operations of the Acute Health service line across the Spectrum Health hospitals, as well as the overall operations at the Grand Rapids hospitals – Blodgett Hospital, Butterworth Hospital, Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

PANDEMIC NAVIGATION Since the start of the pandemic, Brasser has served as the leader of Spectrum Health System Command Center, which has coordinated all aspects of the organization’s COVID-19 response: from expanding capacity in the hospitals to COVID-19 testing to the distribution of the COVID-19 booster. “I see that there’s a real providential journey that the organization has been on.” Several years ago, Brasser led a major technology initiative at Spectrum Health to bring all the hospitals and physician practices onto the same electronic health records system. Being on the same system allowed the organization to speak the same language and coordinate care more efficiently—which are vital in our current times.

“God’s promises are never more real and sustaining than when we are in a time of grief and crisis.” “We focused on system integration long before 2020, but it equipped us to be able to navigate the pandemic in ways we never would have done before,” Brasser said.

STRONG FAITH

But picking a major wasn’t as clear to him. He switched majors three times, landing on nursing. “What solidified it for me was doing clinical work. I got exposure to interaction between patients and clinicians,” he said. “It’s deeply meaningful work.”

“There have been some really dark times over the past 24 months (of the pandemic), But even then, humanity shines through. Our teams are resilient. They are stretched so thin, and yet they are so compassionate and caring. It’s truly remarkable to see, and it happens again and again.”

His job at the loading dock helped him secure an externship in nursing, which led to a nursing position working nights. “Someone asked me if I wanted to be in leadership. I could see the hassles leaders have—and I thought there’s not a chance,” he said.

It’s times like these, where he says we’re reminded of the limitations of humans and how much we need God. Brasser’s first wife died 10 years ago, when his five sons were between the ages of 5 and 24. “God’s promises are never more real and sustaining than when we are in a time of grief and crisis. When you don’t know what will come next and things are incredibly turbulent, those are the times that have strengthened my faith.” Today, Brasser is remarried and all of his children – and two grandchildren – are doing well. “We are truly blessed.”

‘DEEPLY MEANINGFUL WORK’ Brasser grew up down the street from Calvin, and said it was evident early on that Calvin would be his college choice.

But God had other plans. “Six months after I had that thought, I had my first formal leadership position, and I’ve been on that trajectory ever since,” said Brasser. He became the chief operating officer at Spectrum Health Kelsey Hospital in Lakeview, Michigan, in 2004, and became the president of that rural hospital in 2013, along with a neighboring hospital in nearby Greenville. He came back home to Grand Rapids in 2016. “I found that my nursing background was really important throughout my career. My focus is operations, but my clinical background gives me context for the decisions I make,” he said.

ALUMNI PROFILES Lori Tebben Meulenberg ’85 Sociology and criminal justice Magistrate judge Sandpoint, Idaho

Called to the bench

served as a resident assistant her junior year, and all of those experiences opened her world and gave her confidence.

“I pray every day, sometimes right in the middle of a hearing, for God to give me wisdom.” When people meet Lori Tebben Meulenberg ’85 at her job, they’re often afraid. It might be the worst day of their lives. As a magistrate judge for the state of Idaho in Bonner County, Meulenberg often encounters people who are in very difficult situations. “I am asked to solve problems and conflicts every day from birth to after death,” she said, when asked to describe her job in the simplest terms.

Once a woman came before her for sentencing in a criminal case, and Meulenberg could see from her file that she had lived in more than 40 foster homes. “I looked her right in the eyes and said, ‘I’m sorry that happened to you.’ The woman almost started crying. It was meaningful to her to have someone acknowledge what had happened to her,” Meulenberg said.

WORLDVIEW FROM CALVIN

A LISTENING EAR

Growing up on a farm in central Minnesota, Meulenberg learned how to work hard. “I really liked school, and I always knew I wanted to go to college,” she said. “But there were more people in my dorm at Calvin than there were people in my hometown. At the beginning, Calvin was lonely and overwhelming.”

What they might not expect from the judge who hears their case is a listening ear. “One of the greatest privileges I have is to listen to people’s stories,” Meulenberg said from her chambers in Bonner County. “People might not always agree with my decisions, but I hope that people would say that I listen to them.”

But Meulenberg found her way. She spent a semester in Spain her sophomore year. “Studying in Spain was a wonderful experience,” said Meulenberg, who loves to travel. Returning from Spain, she was a camp counselor at Camp Roger and met her husband, Dan Meulenberg ’85. She also

Since 2013, she has been a general jurisdiction judge hearing a wide range of cases including child protection, divorce, probate, guardianship, and criminal cases.

“Calvin does an amazing job expanding a person’s view of the world and of people. Calvin isn’t afraid of looking at hard issues,” said Meulenberg. “That’s one of the things that we’ve taught our own children. Our daughters are extremely bright, and had we shut them down or given pat answers, I don’t think their faith would be as strong.” At Calvin, Meulenberg majored in sociology and criminal justice, and planned on going into social work. After working at a law firm in North Carolina while her husband went to medical school, she decided to go to law school.

SEEKING WISDOM Meulenberg and her husband graduated from law school and medical school on the same day and headed to Idaho for Dan’s residency. They raised their two daughters while she worked as a prosecutor. “I think our daughters learned a lot from us,” she said. “They learned how to juggle stressful lives and still find time for family, friends, and recreation.” When the judge position opened up, Meulenberg didn’t want it. She knew she would have to make huge, life-altering choices with imperfect information. “It was one of the only times in my life where God was clearly telling me to do something. I either had to say yes, or stand before him in heaven one day and confess that I didn’t obey his call.” Today, she’s absolutely positive that she’s where she’s supposed to be. “I pray every day, sometimes right in the middle of a hearing, for God to give me wisdom,” she said.

PHOTO CREDIT: GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL

ALUMNI PROFILES

Dream director 34

Attah Obande ’03 Graphic design Director of dream fulfillment SpringGR Grand Rapids, Michigan

Attah Obande ’03 knew God was calling him to something new in 2014. He had spent 10 years working in banking. He had degrees in graphic design and marketing, a growing family, and responsibilities at his church. But he didn’t just want to punch a clock—he wanted a career that would bring him joy and purpose. “I read that only one in three people have a job they truly enjoy,” said Obande. To beat those odds, he started reading books about finding passion and talking to mentors, including former Calvin professors. He found that the answer to finding purpose and passion was at the intersection of something that frustrates you and something that brings you joy. “I realized what frustrated me most was seeing wasted potential in people, and what I loved the most was helping people reach their goals,” he said.

FINDING PASSION Today, Obande is the director of dream fulfillment at SpringGR, a nonprofit entrepreneur development organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Specifically, the organization helps underserved entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Obande cites several studies to show the importance of the mission. In 2018, LendingTree published a study that ranks Grand Rapids as No. 2 in the nation for new small businesses. But studies also show that Grand Rapids isn’t a good place for all entrepreneurs. It ranks 122 of 182 cities for “Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs,” and in 2015, Forbes ranked Grand Rapids as second worst in the nation for “cities where African Americans are doing the best economically.” “Grand Rapids has an awesome economy for business, but those benefits are not reaching people of color,” said Obande. More than

700 people have gone through SpringGR programming; 87 percent of them are people of color, and 68 percent are women. SpringGR began because The DeVos Family Foundation wanted to do more to support entrepreneurship in Grand Rapids. Restorers, a nonprofit that was birthed out of Obande’s church, agreed to host the initial pilot of the program and asked Obande to be the business coach. He remembers sitting across from an entrepreneur at a cafe. His experience in banking gave him specific helpful insights. “We were going over her numbers, and she looks at me and says, ‘I think this is possible. I’m getting over my fear.’ A lightbulb went off for me right then and there—I knew this was where I was supposed to be,” he said.

ONRAMP TO SUPPORT Since then, SpringGR developed into its own nonprofit, and Obande’s role has shifted to strategy developing and vision casting. “We like to say that we are an onramp,” Obande said. “The DeVos Family Foundation wanted to fill a gap. We serve the underserved entrepreneurs and get them plugged into existing resources.”

His latest initiative is The 250 Project, which will help minority-owned businesses grow. SpringGR found that of the 11,500 businesses in Grand Rapids that make $250,000 or more a year, less than 1% are owned by people of color. The 250 Project targets minority-owned businesses that make $100,000 annually and will help them scale.

ENTREPRENEURIAL HISTORY In college, Obande didn’t have aspirations to become an entrepreneur himself. “But in retrospect, both of my parents were small business owners,” said Obande, who grew up in Nigeria. His dad owned his law firm and several other small businesses. His mom, who passed away while Obande was a student at Calvin, was a fashion designer and owned a salon. To honor his mom, Obande has started a side fashion venture of his own, iNFable socks. “When God paints a picture, we may not see how the dots connect. But when we turn back around, we see what he was painting the whole time.”

“When God paints a picture, we may not see how the dots connect. But when we turn back around, we see what he was painting the whole time.” 35

ALUMNI PROFILES

On a nuclear trail 36

PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL KIEU

Natasha Bajema ’98 German Director, Converging Risks Lab The Council on Strategic Risks Washington, D.C.

“I think we need to speak more with actions and less with words. This is me speaking with my actions.” On the day of her interview with Spark, Natasha Bajema ’98 has quite a few things on her to-do list. She’s recovering from driving almost a thousand miles in her pickup truck over the past few days. She’s working as the director of the Converging Risks Lab at The Council on Strategic Risks. And she’s coaxing her two dogs, Charlie and Luna, down five stories underground into a former nuclear missile silo as part of a travelogue show she’s producing for YouTube. “Oh, and my friend and I were supposed to have a pajama party tonight at the bottom of the missile silo for YouTube,” she said. But her friend had to cancel their plans due to her boyfriend catching COVID, so Bajema is doing what she does best—going with the flow.

An experimental journey Bajema, who has an MA from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and a PhD from Tufts University, is an expert on nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). She spent more than a decade in Washington, D.C., with the National Defense University and as a senior adviser to an assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon.

But in 2019, she quit. Now she’s on a yearlong mission with her camper and dogs to visit dozens of nuclear-weapons related sites. She’s creating short, entertaining videos as she travels, in the hope of using YouTube to educate the general public about nuclear weapons. “I’m doing this because we’re in trouble. The world still has 13,500 nuclear weapons, and each one can annihilate an entire city. China, Russia, the U.S., and others are modernizing their programs. I ask myself, ‘Is this the future that we want for our country? Do we want a future that’s like the Cold War?’” Bajema is the first to admit that her trip is experimental, and she’s used her entire life savings to fund the project. “I think we need to speak more with actions and less with words. This is me speaking with my actions,” she said.

Open doors Becoming a nuclear weapons expert was an unexpected career path for Bajema, who loved art in high school and had a knack for learning languages. “My first memory of Calvin was a German class with Jim Lamse,” she said. “He had the

energy of an 18-year-old and was eccentric in ways that are hard to describe.” Lamse, who passed away in 2014, helped Bajema get to Germany a few times to work and study. “The first time I went, Professor Lamse arranged an au pair job for me. You pick up language very quickly when you’re in charge of small children,” she said.

The road to WMDs Bajema discovered an interest in WMDs while getting her master’s degree. “Just like Jim Lamse had done for me at Calvin, I had a professor in grad school who really believed in me. He recognized something in me and told me I should pursue WMDs for my career.” She was in the middle of her PhD program when the job at the National Defense University opened up. She knew completing her academic program and starting a new job wouldn’t be easy, but she took on the challenge. “You can’t count on anything in life, and you have to seize what comes to you at the moment,” she said. “We’re not meant to be comfortable. I think that’s what we’re taught in the New Testament with Jesus and his disciples. They weren’t comfortable. When we’re living an uncomfortable life is when we are truly living.” You can follow along with Bajema’s life on the road on her YouTube channel Radioactive RoadTrippin’ or learn about the novels she’s written at natashabajema.com.

EVENTS

REUNION IN A BOX The next time you get together with Calvin roommates, teammates, or friends, let us know. The alumni association will send you a “Reunion in a Box” filled with fun swag to help you celebrate! Each box has one-of-akind T-shirts and some of our favorite Calvin goodies. Visit calvin.edu/go/reunion-box. Events have been held in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Tennessee as well as in Canada and South Korea. Over 290 alumni have participated.

Left to right: Susan VanWolde Stammis ’95, Kim Barrows Smith ’95, Sarah “Gus” White Ziebarth ’95, Betsy Schloesser Moore ’95, Vickie Kooistra Zylstra ’95, Lisa Tysen Faber ’95, Amy Tidwell VanderMeer ’95, and Kim VanderMaas Keller ’95.

Above, from left to right: Susan VanWolde Stammis ’95, Kim Barrows Smith ’95, Sarah “Gus” White Ziebarth ’95, Betsy Schloesser Moore ’95, Vickie Kooistra Zylstra ’95, Lisa Tysen Faber ’95, Amy Tidwell VanderMeer ’95, and Kim VanderMaas Keller ’95. Right, from left to right: Peter Slofstra ’74, Christina SlofstraPagan ’98, Rachel Slofstra-Venema ’01, and Jasmine Slofstra ’21.

Left to right: Michael Kroeze ’14, Tyler Kruis ’14, Brandon Baxter ’15, and Jordan Veltema ’14.

Above left, from left to right: Betsy Lubbers Scott ’92, Laura Wood Burke ’92, Linda Bishop Schuring ’92, Julie Bierens Mackett ’92, and Holly Christians Hester ’92.

Back row, left to right: Roger DeShetler ’91, Julie Pettinga DeShetler ’91, Clark Udell ’89, Jeff Pettinga ’63, Lisa Pettinga Udell ’88, Cindy Pettinga Groot ’89, and Hugh Groot ’87. Front row, left to right: Laurie Pettinga Guikema ’96, Tyler Groot ’21, Annalyse Wiers ’21, and Debbie Pettinga Legters ’93.

Back row, left to right: Jon Lanning ’94, Paul Lanning ’96, Jacob Keuning ’19, and Daniel Keuning ’92. Front row, left to right: Cathy Vredevoogd Rotman ’01, Karen Vredevoogd Lanning ’95, Renee Diepersloot Lanning ’95, and Lisl (Melissa) Diepersloot Keuning ’94.

Above right, Left to right: Kristyn Davidsen Kennell ’12, Rachel Batttershell Choi ’12, and Caitlin Dahmer ’12. Middle, left to right: Jasper Hoogendam ’77, Solita Hoogendam Sipkens ’11, and Jane Reitsma Hoogendam ’77. Bottom, left to right: Aaron Potter ’17, Lucas Potter ’21, Jennifer Vander Molen ’17, Kristi Scholten Potter ’87, Ethan Potter ’16, and Julie Klaassen Brill ’18.

First row, left to right: Jane De Haan Hilbrands ’90, Deb VanderSteen Lenters ’90, Bob Mannes ’89, Kristin Mannes, Laura Campbell Pothoven ’90, and Jany Admiraal-Nykamp ’92. Second row: Dave Hilbrands ’89, Jennifer Siebers Van Regenmorter ’90, Jamie Mannes Vander Henst ’89, Melissa Huizenga Markvluwer ’90, Jamie Ebels Lanser ’89, Sharon Lachowicz Diepenhorst ’91, Jane Dekker Schrier ’90, and Lisa Lubbers. Back rows: Pete Van Regenmorter ’89, Doug Nykamp ’89, Greg Markvluwer ’89, Eric Diepenhorst ’89, Chuck Pothoven ’89, Mark Lenters ’90, Thad Lubbers ’88, Bryan Lanser ’88, and Jameson Schrier.

CLASS NOTES Spark readers: This section emphasizes Calvin graduates’ service, vocational, and reunion stories, along with “In Memoriam” notices. Send us news of your promotions, achievements, recognitions, and other announcements at spark@calvin.edu. Photos must be 300 dpi or approximately 1MB or greater in size. The alumni association is also interested in knowing about important family milestones such as marriages and newcomers. Please send that news to alumni@calvin.edu.

CLASS NOTES

HERITAGE

1980s

(graduated more than 50 years ago)

Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) named Timothy Grubbs Lowly ’81 as one of 2021’s three President Award winners in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of art and faith. Tim is the recipient of the Knippers Award in Painting. He creates art centered around his daughter Temma, who has cerebral palsy with spastic quadriplegia.

01 In September, Ruth VanderMey

Cole ’58 celebrated her 85th birthday with an open house where her 540 hats were on display. The oldest hat on display was worn in 1960 as part of Ruth’s wedding going away outfit. The newest hats were four that were bought two weeks before her birthday and include the one she is wearing in the photo. Pictured with Ruth are her six granddaughters wearing her vintage outfits and hats (a style highlight of the event!)—from left to right are Rose Bosscher Thayer ’11, Lora Huizingh Bosscher ’16, Laura Meekhof Bosscher, Ruth, Grace Cole ’22, Emily Cole ’17, and Lauren Cole ’20. Ruth enjoys staying connected with Calvin through CALL classes and the January Series, both in person and on Zoom. She also sang with the Alumni Choir and in the Messiah for many years.

1970s In September, the latest version of Professor Emeritus James Vanden Bosch’s ’70 work on the grammar and semantics of the Second Amendment was published in a collection of essays on language and the law (DeGruyter/ Mouton, 2021). Any alumni interested in this project can get in touch with him at vand@calvin.edu.

Sherri Bruursema Kraai ’83 received the Grand Rapids Public School’s Jean Hamilton Cope Teacher of the Year Award. She teaches sixth and seventh grade science at Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy. The annual award recognizes passionate teachers who use effective instructional methods to inspire student learning.

Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) named Timothy Grubbs Lowly as one of 2021’s three President Award winners in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of art and faith.

For her work as executive director of His Hands Free Clinic, Dawn De Jong Brouwers ’89 was one of 14 nonprofit professionals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who received the Spirit of Minnie Rubek award—an honor that recognizes quiet but impactful service to the community.

’81 41

CLASS NOTES

1990s

In September, Tricia Huizenga Rathermel was named president and CEO of Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corp. (EDC) after having served as director of economic development and interim CEO.

’06

03 The ladies of Delta 10 1989–1991

gathered for their 30-year reunion at the end of this past December. Photo from left to right are Terry Korstanje Loerts ’92, Mary Wolters Fridsma ’91, Cheryl Hoogeboom Hoogewind ’93, and Mary Emshoff VanderMeer ’91. Missing are Isabel Tong ’90, Caroline VanDriel ’91, and Lyn DeYoung ’91. Joel Vander Weele ’92 was recently promoted to managing director of Accenture. Joel leads Accenture’s work in process mining, a rapidly emerging discipline that blends data analytics and process improvement to help organizations streamline and automate business processes. He still has the flowchart stencil he purchased at the campus bookstore for Professor Slager’s accounting systems class. 04 On Jan. 1, 2022, Marvin Heyboer, III ’95 was promoted to the rank of full professor with tenure by the State University of New York (SUNY) Upstate Medical University. Marvin has been a faculty member in the department of emergency medicine for 12 years. He is division chief of hyperbaric medicine and wound care and fellowship director of undersea and hyperbaric medicine. Marvin serves on national boards and committees, presents at national meetings, and has published multiple studies in hyperbaric medicine and wound care. He looks forward to continuing to contribute to academic medicine through patient care, expanding clinical medical knowledge, and training future physicians.

05 Kevin Schaaf ’97 has opened a new law firm in Grand Rapids, Mich. The new firm, Schaaf Law, PLC, will serve clients with business and real estate needs in west Michigan. He brings 20 years of experience in the large firm and in-house settings to the new venture.

2000s In November, the album One Day as a Thousand Years was released by Irritable Hedgehog Music. Composed, edited, and mixed by Scott Blasco ’00 and performed by R. Andrew Lee, this new composition for piano and electronics follows the shape of the liturgical year, focusing on the central Christological events of the Nativity and the Resurrection. Currently living in Paris, France, Natasha Witte ’01 is an elementary special education consultant at the American School in Paris. Natasha’s previous elementary experiences have been in Istanbul, Turkey; Guatemala; Chicago, Ill.; and Grand Rapids, Mich. In September, Tricia Huizenga Rathermel ’06 was named president and CEO of Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corp. (EDC) after having served as director of economic development and interim CEO.

After eight years at Cornerstone University as the director of events and hospitality, Valerie Smies Probst ’07 is now the vice president of client services at Alpha Grand Rapids. Valerie will be able to assist in the incredible mission of Alpha—to assist pregnant women and families in need and to help those in the community choose life by offering support and goods.

2010s Anand Divakaran ’13 recently completed his PhD in medicinal chemistry at the University of Minnesota. Bethany Cousineau Divakaran ’11 completed her doctor of nursing practice, master of public health (DNP/MPH) in 2018, also at the University of Minnesota. Anand is now conducting postdoctoral research in the department of chemistry at the University of California Berkeley, and Beth was hired as a nurse manager with the Transitions Clinic Network, a San Francisco-based nonprofit improving health outcomes for people coming home from incarceration. In October, Natalie Patterson Daniels ’14 was appointed to the planning commission for the city of Fredericksburg, Va. She earned her master’s degree in urban and regional planning with a focus on nonprofit management and economic development from Virginia Tech in 2017. Natalie currently works for the consulting firm Weave Social Finance, where she facilitates New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investments in innovative green technology, historic property renovation, and community services facilities to revitalize communities primarily in the Southeast and Mountain West. Seven years after first traveling to Ecuador for his engineering senior design project, Mark De Haan ’15

has moved to Ecuador to work full time in the mission field designing and constructing water distribution systems in rural communities as a volunteer engineer through the missions organization Commission to Every Nation. Mark works day-today with Ecuador-based organization CODEINSE as well as Life Giving Water International, an organization whose founders Calvin students and professors have worked with for 30 years, most recently through the Clean Water Institute of Calvin. More information about Mark’s work can be found at cten.org/markdehaan. Fortune magazine listed Andrew Harris ’15 as one of the “30 under 30” in manufacturing and industry. Andrew and his brother Tim Harris ’08 founded ColorHub in 2017. The digital printing company works with large corporations like Pepsi, Samsung, and P&G.

2020s Timothy Cheng ’21 is currently a graduate student in engineering at Tufts University. He is working on a Martian sonic anemometry project, which involves developing a sonic anemometer (an instrument that measures wind speed using sound) for use in low pressure, low temperature environments such as the surface of Mars or the upper atmosphere of the Earth. In September, Claire Murashima ’20 landed a public radio internship at Stateside, a daily news show from Michigan Radio. Three months later, the internship turned it into a full assistant producer role. Claire also serves as a freelance researcher for the NPR show How I Built This with Guy Raz, creating detailed write-ups of the guests’ histories to brief the host.

Fortune magazine listed Andrew Harris as one of the “30 under 30” in manufacturing and industry. Andrew and his brother Tim Harris founded ColorHub in 2017. The digital printing company works with large corporations like Pepsi, Samsung, and P&G.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mark your calendar for these events 50 year reunion celebrations April 29–30, 2022 (Class of 1970, 1971, 1972) We are excited to welcome you back to campus, to reconnect, to remember and to celebrate. Join us for tours, lectures, meals and a medallion service. See event details and register at calvin.edu/reunions. Homecoming & Family Weekend September 30–October 1, 2022 Festivities will include the Calvin Classic 5k and Fun Run, athletic competitions, and more. More details to come!

TRAVEL WITH CALVIN

Join alumni and friends for one of Calvin’s unique travel opportunities. Ireland Highlights: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Blarney Castle, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, and Kylemore Abbey Host: Debra Freeberg June 16–25, 2022 New York City Highlights: Six art museums, a Broadway show, Ellis Island, Central Park, 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Host: Henry Luttikhuizen October 7–13, 2022 See calvin.edu/go/travel for details. Email alumni@calvin.edu to request tour brochures for specific trips.

’15 More on these events and others calvin.edu/calendar

BOOKS BY CALVIN ALUMNI AND PROFESSORS

08 11

Living Under Water: Baptism as a Way of Life Kevin J. Adams ’82 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers Ethan J. Brue, Derek C. Schuurman, professor of computer science, Steven H. VanderLeest ’88 IVP Academic Watchman on the Walls of Zion: The Life and Influence of Simon van Velzen Joshua Engelsma ’10 Reformed Free Publishing Association

David’s Mighty Men Josiah Fogle ’14 Fogleworks Gila River Elegy: Paddling America’s Most Endangered River Jon Fuller ’83 Vishnu Temple Press The Gift of the Cross: Celebrating Christ Through Holy Week Brandon Helder ’06 Credo House Publishers

Levi Journey: An Unlikely Therapy Dog Julie Eldersveld Iribarren ’77 BookBaby Letters to Martin: Meditations on Democracy in Black America Randal Maurice Jelks HON Lawrence Hill Books, Chicago Review Press Inc. God: Eight Enduring Questions Charles Stephen Layman ’77 University of Notre Dame Press When God Calls: The Detailed Account of One Woman’s Relentless Journey in Heeding God’s Call Margaret Njuguna ’94 Arba Publications Ltd. Chasing Paper: Critical Reflections on Christian Books and Publishing Contributors: Jon Pott ’63 and Sandra Lee Vander Zicht ’71 Cascade Books, Wipf and Stock Publishers Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth Debra Rienstra ex’85, professor of English Fortress Press, 1517 Media Ideals of Powers and Powers of Ideals: Intersecting Algebra, Geometry, and Combinatorics Adam Van Tuyl ’96, Enrico Carlini, Huy Tài Hà, and Brian Harbourne Springer, Springer Nature

Deaths HERITAGE Janet Apotheker ’55 Dec. 2, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich. Alison Miles, whose own mobility struggles inspired her to help others, with her children and husband.

Phyllis Peterson Baarman ex’51 Nov. 16, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT

Richard Baker ex’56 Dec. 12, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

One sock at a time Five years ago, Alison Hoff Miles ’06 began to feel “very old and out of shape,” and the feeling worsened as she struggled to recover from an injury. Struggling to stand, Miles began a search for answers. Four months later, she was diagnosed with Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder tied to progressive muscle weakness. It affects about 1 in every 40,000 people. While waiting for a flight home from a conference on Pompe, Miles vented her frustration with the ugly “hospital socks” she had started wearing to prevent falls. Her husband Chad ‘06 responded with a simple question: “Why don’t we make our own?” Gripjoy, a company that now produces dozens of non-slip sock designs for all ages and needs, was born. The name Gripjoy reflects Miles’ positive attitude. It’s “about gripping joy, regardless of your life circumstances,” she said. Gratefulness is at the heart of the brand. Miles’ faith helped her to approach the diagnosis “from a place of hope.” Due to the

timing of her diagnosis, Miles got a spot in a clinical trial; she chose to focus on thanking God for this. “We are called as Christians to find joy in the life that we are given,” Miles said. Since beginning treatment, Miles’ health has improved. Once prototypes of the socks were in, Miles joyfully threw out all her old socks. “It was exciting and nerve-wracking.” There were 1,500 pairs of Gripjoy socks in their garage and they had no idea if they would sell.

Larry Bartels ’67 Jan. 16, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich. Robert Bartels ex’69 Nov. 8, 2021, Lansing, Mich. Andries Batelaan ’60 Nov. 15, 2020, Cobourg, Ontario, Canada Ernest Benally ex’65 Dec. 5, 2021, Farmington, N.M. John Bolt Sr. ex’44 Nov. 30, 2021, Caledonia, Mich. Phyllis Wolters Boonstra ’48 Nov. 28, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich. Gertrude Brouwer Borst ’51 July 30, 2021, Los Angeles, Calif. Lois Rottschafer Bosman ex’58 Nov. 24, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Miles credits Calvin’s business and marketing courses with preparing her to run her own business. The socks did sell, to people facing Pompe disease and others facing mobility and balance issues. “Somebody who doesn’t have this type of need can maybe laugh around the concept of socks being so meaningful to somebody,” Miles said, but she continues to receive email after email from customers for whom the socks made a real difference.

Willis Byker ’59 Dec. 2, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Gripjoy donates 10% back to organizations researching Pompe disease and helping those living with it. More information about Gripjoy can be found at gripjoy.com/pages/our-story.

Robert De Vries ’52 Dec. 29, 2021, Cedar Springs, Mich.

David Claerbaut ’68 Dec. 17, 2021, Las Vegas, Nev. Gordon De Blaey ’60 Jan. 16, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich. Willard De Graaf ’59 Sept. 3, 2021, Hudsonville, Mich. Alice Verhage De Haan ’54 Oct. 13, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Barbara Bergsma Devrou ex’58 Jan. 9, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich. Howard Dirkse ’59 Dec. 29, 2021, Grand Haven, Mich.

Genevieve VanderVeen Van Heyningen ex’51 Aug. 18, 2021, Highlands Ranch, Colo.

David Doyle ’63 Sept. 5, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Glenn Niemeyer ’55 Dec. 30, 2021, Jenison, Mich.

Lavonne Wolters Dragt ’56 Nov. 12, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Kenneth Oosterhouse ’63 Nov. 9, 2021, Ada, Mich.

Wilma Dracht Draisma ex’48 Nov. 3, 2021, Jenison, Mich.

Charlotte Fennema Otten ’49 Nov. 12, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Lois Dykehouse Dykstra ’58 Nov. 22, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Robert Persenaire ’66 Jan. 5, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mary Van Noord Ellens ex’61 Dec. 15, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

David Por ’68 Jan. 23, 2021, Chesterffield, Va.

Frances Ehlers Engel ’48 Oct. 15, 2021, Salida, Calif.

James Reynierse ’59 Nov. 27, 2021, Chesapeake, Va.

Vernon Gort ’63 Jan. 5, 2022, Rockford, Mich.

Ronald Rozema ex’65 Oct. 18, 2021, Byron Center, Mich.

Frank Gortsema ’55 Nov. 20, 2021, Pleasantville, N.Y.

Eugene Rubingh ’52 Dec. 20, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Gerald Holwerda ex’57 May 21, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Arnold Schuring ’57 Dec. 2, 2021, Cleveland, Ohio

John Hoogstra ’55 Sept. 17, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Alverne Mast Sidor ex’51 Dec. 19, 2021, Byron Center, Mich.

Eunice Post Hop ’53 Feb. 25, 2021, Baldwin, Wis.

Ruth Bosscher Smith ex’48 Nov. 29, 2021, San Jose, Calif.

Jerry Huizenga ’65 Dec. 4, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Irene Passchier Starsiak ’69 Dec. 13, 2021, Boston, Mass.

Louise Jacoby Hulst ’51 Dec. 4, 2021, Sioux Center, Iowa

Roger Stouwie ’65 Oct. 6, 2021, Caledonia, Mich.

Audrey Helder Jansen ex’53 Dec. 26, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

William Stronks ’57 Jan. 9, 2022, Spokane, Wash.

Beverly Van Drunen Zuidema ex’54 May 31, 2020, Highland, Ind.

Judith Schurman Kamp ’60 Dec. 7, 2021, Palos Heights, Ill.

Edwin Sytsma ex’61 Nov. 15, 2021, Byron Center, Mich.

Rudolf Zuiderveld ’67 Oct. 29, 2021, Jacksonville, Ill.

Patricia Houseman Keegstra ’59 Oct. 12, 2021, Spring Hill, Fla.

Robert Talsma ’51 Jan. 14, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Robert Zwiers Sr. ’64 Oct. 14, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Edward Lamse ’59 Aug. 2, 2019, Phoenix, Ariz.

Jacob Terpstra ’52 Nov. 30, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Gerrit Zylstra ’59 Nov. 19, 2021, Caledonia, Mich.

Judith Plaggemars Lamse ’59 Dec. 7, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Phyllis Den Braber VanAndel ’47 Dec. 10, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Shirley Deur Los ’54 Oct. 15, 2021, Zeeland, Mich.

Larry Vande Creek ’60 Jan. 6, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Arlan Menninga ’58 Aug. 13, 2021, Matteson, Ill.

Helen Workman Van Der Aa ex’58 Dec. 1, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Anthony Muiderman ’62 Nov. 4, 2021, Eugene, Ore.

Larry Vander Wielen ex’61 Oct. 16, 2021, Lafayette, Ind.

Douglas Nagel ’54 Dec. 2, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Albert Vander Ziel ’63 Nov. 9, 2021, Holland, Mich.

Esther Bouma Nawyn ex’52 Oct. 11, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Eugene Van Dyken ’54 Nov. 2, 2021, Jenison, Mich.

Norma Wolters Veldkamp ’48 Oct. 19, 2021, Kalamazoo, Mich. Henry Vellinga ’58 Sept. 20, 2021, Chicago, Ill. Evert Vermeer ’59 Jan. 3, 2022, Grand Rapids, Mich. John Verstraete ’56 Nov. 28, 2019, Grand Rapids, Mich. Cynthia Kamminga Viel ex’68 Sept. 22, 2021, Kalamazoo, Mich. Annette Steenstra Vos ’48 Jan. 9, 2022, Jenison, Mich. Thomas Weeber ex’54 Dec. 31, 2021, Williamsburg, Va. Betty Becksvoort Westveld ex’57 Oct. 19, 2021, Holland, Mich. Ellen Gritter Wolters ’57 Dec. 6, 2021, Spring Lake, Mich. Philip Zaagman ex’57 Dec. 8, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich. Norman Zuidema ex’53 April 13, 2021, Highland, Ind.

1970s Thea De Koekkoek Beversluis ex’70 June 30, 2021, Kingston, Wash. Doreen Dykstra Blease ex’79 Feb. 8, 2020, Beaver Dam, Wis. Richard Bolhouse ’75 Dec. 10, 2021, Hudsonville, Mich. Barbara Anema Camp ’75 Oct. 26, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich.

James Greydanus ’75 Dec. 30, 2021, Holland, Mich. Kenneth Gritter ’74 Dec. 4, 2021, Grand Rapids, Mich. Hendrik Jonker ’70 Dec. 9, 2020, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada James Mys ex’77 Dec. 31, 2021, Grandville, Mich. Mary Yff Smith ex’78 July 8, 2021, Hudsonville, Mich. Jay VerMeer ex’70 Jan. 3, 2021, Hudsonville, Mich. Ronald Voogt ’72 Dec. 13, 2019, Ravenna, Mich.

1980s Geralda “Frieda” Broos ex’83 Dec. 18, 2020, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Mark Doorlag ’89 Dec. 22, 2021, Ypsilanti, Mich. Arlan Koppendrayer ’80 Dec. 24, 2021, Minnetonka, Minn. Marlon Laverman ’83 April 20, 2020, Des Moines, Iowa James Miller ’88 Nov. 24, 2021, Lansing, Mich. Donald Van Woerkom ex’80 Jan. 1, 2022, Wyoming, Mich.

2000s Kate Leese ’08 Nov. 13, 2021, Beaver Island, Mich.

2010s Stephen Carnegis ex’11 Oct. 27, 2021, Fairfield, Ohio

NICK MOLL, 2000-2021 “He lit up the room he was in and there was never a dull moment when Nick was around,” said Jax Heil ’21, Nick’s resident assistant his freshman year. “When he wasn’t there, everyone asked: ‘Where’s Nick?’ He was truly the life of the party.” Nick Moll, 21, a junior at Calvin University, died Dec. 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in an assault that occurred on Christmas Eve morning in his hometown of Visalia, California. “He gave every aspect of his life the time and attention that it deserved, no matter how much he was juggling,” said Adrian Van Stee ’23, a close friend. Moll worked at times 40 hours a week as a manager at Pet Supplies Plus, took a full credit load at Calvin, played drums in his church band, and took

care of the many animals he had, including at one time an aquarium full of fish, a habitat of lizards, and a tarantula. “The best thing about Nick was that I felt better about myself after meeting with him. That’s a very rare trait for anyone to have, especially for someone who is 20 years old,” said Kevin Vande Streek, co-chair of the kinesiology department at Calvin and a mentor to Moll. Moll had a positive demeanor, but it wasn’t because his life was easy—he just refused to let anything, including his lengthy recovery from a severe car accident in January 2021, steal his joy. Moll is survived by his parents, Dane and Valerie; brothers, Nathan and Case; grandparents; uncles and aunts; cousins; friends; and girlfriend, Baylee.

CHARLOTTE OTTEN, 1926–2021 From the time Charlotte Otten ’49 stepped onto Calvin’s campus to the time she stepped into glory she was invested in people. Otten, 95, died Nov. 12, 2021. She taught in Calvin’s English department from 1977 to 1991. “By the time I arrived at Calvin in 1996, Professor Otten had been retired for five years,” said Debra Rienstra, professor of English. “She was a wonderfully encouraging model to me as a bewildered newbie professor plagued by imposter syndrome. I was always so grateful for her kindness and wisdom.” “She was a strong proponent of both creative and scholarly work and publication in the English department,” said Gary Schmidt, professor of English. “She saw this work as a splendid obligation for professors, and as a way of working out our kingdom work in the academic arena.”

“Her range of publications give some indication of her eclectic interests, from studies of plants in 16th- and 17th-century poetry to Renaissance women writers, from literature about birth to literature about werewolves, from writing about children’s literature to writing literature for children,” said Don Hettinga, a professor of English. Hettinga noted that during the years they taught together it would be a rare week when she wasn’t sending off a couple of poems for publication. She was also instrumental in laying a foundation for teaching children’s literature. Otten was preceded in death by her husband, Professor Robert Otten of the classics department. She is survived by her sons, Gib (Linda DeCelles) Otten and Justin (Janice) Otten, and her two grandchildren, Stephanie and Chelsea Otten.

IN MEMORIAM 47

STEVE SCHUITEMA, 1960–2021 This fall, Steve Schuitema, a supervisor in building services, started his day well before the sun came up. Supervising students, doing work orders, emptying trash, vacuuming, setting up bleachers, restocking supplies in buildings across campus, and even handling calls for pest control were all on his list. Schuitema, 61, died Nov. 19, 2021. His colleagues who knew him well remember him not for the work he did, but for the heart that fueled his work. “He genuinely cared about the students and the staff who worked in building services,” said Emily Taylor, his supervisor. “As a supervisor, he was kind and understanding,” said Zack Smidstra, a line custodian for one of the residence halls. “When he would check in to see how my crew was progressing in the apartments or dorm hall that we had been assigned, he would

always take time to talk with the students. He would ask them how things were going outside of work or share a laugh with them.” While his roles changed a few times during his fiveplus years at Calvin, his work ethic, attention to detail, and kindheartedness remained steadfast. “He cared and loved Calvin and everyone here,” said Taylor. “He was never mad about how much there was to do. He’d say, ‘We are doing this for the students.’” Schuitema was preceded in death by his mother, Marie Schuitema. He is survived by his children, Shelley Ypma, Katelyn (Derek) Wellman, Travis (Tiffany) Schuitema; six grandchildren; father, James Schuitema; siblings Cathy (Mike) Atwood, Daniel (Tamara) Schuitema; and many nieces and nephews.

GORDON DEBLAEY, 1938–2022 Gordon DeBlaey ’60 was grateful to his alma mater for offering “the liberating concept of new perspectives on life and society.” He lived out his more than 30year career as a sociology professor trying to do the same for all of his students.

remarked that Dr. DeBlaey’s analysis of sport in society was informative and challenging, helping them to be more thoughtful of the place of sport in their own lives as well as the Christian life more generally,” said former colleague Peter De Jong.

DeBlaey died on Jan. 16. He was 83 years old.

Known for his snazzy shoes and fun socks, DeBlaey maintained a particular flair. He made friends easily, many of whom remained close throughout his lifetime.

“Gordon was a professor of mine and, later, a colleague,” said Michelle Loyd-Paige, executive associate to the president for diversity and inclusion. “Three words come to mind: approachable, authentic, and fun. He made coming to class and coming to work fun. He loved people. He loved sociology. He loved life.” Early in his tenure at Calvin, he developed an interest in the sociology of sport, an area of study that did not immediately garner the most respect. “I recall his courses attracted many Calvin athletes who

IN MEMORIAM 48

“At every gathering of department colleagues, formal or informal, no matter how serious the purpose, Gord had a way of lightening the load of the moment,” said longtime colleague Rodger Rice. DeBlaey is survived by his wife, Marcie; his daughter, Mary (Bob) Jackson; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael.

ROGER STOUWIE, 1939–2021 While Roger Stouwie was pursuing a career with Spartan Stores in their “cutting edge” computer center in the early 1960s, he was also reading a lot of books on psychology. Throughout the decade and into the next, the field of psychology was going through major changes and garnering a lot of attention. It was this wave of interest that prompted Stouwie to return to Calvin as a student to pursue a degree in the field and would lead to a quarter-of-a-decade teaching career, with 22 of those years at Calvin University. Stouwie died on Oct. 6, 2021; he was 87. Upon graduating from Calvin in 1965, Stouwie attended graduate school at the University of WisconsinMadison. He began his teaching career at the University of Texas-Austin, but returned to Calvin in 1972.

Stouwie joined a burgeoning psychology department, focusing his attention on developmental psychology. “He was always friendly and polite, but reserved,” said longtime psychology administrative assistant Janet Sjaarda Sheeres. While he was reticent about his personal life, he had an inherent interest in kids and their development. “Everything we study about infants and children is a marvelous testimony to human growth and development and a continuing testimony to the wisdom of the Creator,” he said in an interview upon his retirement. “It’s been exciting to be able to participate in that.” Stouwie was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores. He is survived by his two children, Jonathan (Kristin) Stouwie and Kristin Volpe.

DOUG NAGEL, 1939–2021 Doug Nagel ’64 knew it well, and he pursued it with passion. It’s what compelled this successful businessman to give cheerfully and generously to the work of Calvin University for nearly half a century. Doug, 89, died on December 2, 2021, and his life shaped communities around the world. “Doug was passionate about Calvin’s distinctively Christian liberal arts mission and its role in building up Christian communities around the world,” said Gaylen Byker, who served as Calvin’s president from 1995 to 2012. A gift from Doug and his wife Lois established the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity. The Nagel Institute is an educational research institute focused on ways in which the study of World Christianity can change perspectives, foster knowledge, and reinvigorate Christian thought and practice.

Doug, who suffered from polio since his teenage years, was committed to making Calvin’s campus a welcoming place for students with disabilities. In 1996, he and his wife established the Doug and Lois Nagel Disability Endowment. “Their gift truly touched every area of campus,” said Lisa Kooy, Calvin’s disability coordinator. “Doug’s consistent and unwavering support allows us to welcome students, families, and community members of all abilities into the full life of the university. We are grateful and will miss him, his stories, laughter, and his deep love of Calvin University. We look forward to continuing his legacy.” Nagel is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lois Arlene (DeHaan). He is also survived by his children, Julie Nagel, Joni (Tom) DeFouw, Jim (Deb) Nagel and Jan (Peter) Malek, ten grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

IN MEMORIAM 49

CALVIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3201 BURTON ST. SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49546 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED (ACS)

E THE DATE! SAV

CALVIN

CARES APRIL 18–22

All week, generous sponsors will be offering a variety of matching gifts as part of the Calvin Cares campaign. That means your donation can go even further! When you give to what you love most about Calvin, students get everything they need to thrive. Want to get some fun Calvin swag for participating? Consider being an ambassador for the campaign. Email annualgiving@calvin.edu to learn more. And if you want to invest in students right now, you can give at: calvin.edu/go/annualfund

Spark Spring 2022 - Calvin University

Articles inside

Alumni Profiles

Editor’s Desk

Sports

Campus News

Events