Donald Bouma Lecture Series

Attend the Donald Bouma lectures

The Donald Bouma Lecture Series is regularly offered by Calvin College's sociology department to provide a context for discussion of contemporary social issues.

Donald H. Bouma was a graduate of the college and taught at Calvin from 1946 to 1960. He was instrumental in establishing the Calvin sociology department and also served as the new department's chair.

Today Calvin continues to honor his contributions to the college with the Donald Bouma Lecture Series, sponsored by the sociology and social work department. The lecture series honors the memory of a man who made a mark at Calvin during his 14-year tenure and who made a mark in his work apart from his alma mater.

2011 Bouma lecture

Dr. Mary Pattillo, Harold Washington Professor of Sociology and African American Studies at Northwestern University in Chicago, lectured on “Race, Poverty and ‘Choice’ Policies” on Wed., Nov. 2 at 3:30 p.m. in the Commons Lecture Hall. Professor Pattillo's areas of interest include race and ethnicity (specifically the black middle class), urban sociology, and qualitative methods. Current research projects include a study of how parents negotiate school choice and how families make housing choices in Chicago.

Donald Bouma bio

Learn more about Donald Bouma.

Past series speakers

Watch a video from the 2008 Donald Bouma Lecture, and see past lecturers.