Edgar Boevé, Art
He taught me to love art history and architecture. I have since gone to Europe four times and was able to appreciate the great art that is there as well as and share that appreciation with my children.
~ Mary Beth Brown Roossien
I was inspired by his love of the beauty around him. He encouraged you to look at things in different ways.
~ Dawn Kragt VanDerMolen
Jim Bosscher, Engineering
Professor Bosscher is a very knowledgeable engineer who showed his Christianity in his work teaching new engineers the fundamentals of their profession.
~ Steven Overway
He inspired me to look closely into our world, understand how it works and strive to make it a better place to live.
~ Joel Zylstra
Randy Bytwerk, Communication Arts & Sciences
He was enthusiastic about what he taught and he opened up the world of communications, marketing and mass media to me. I enjoyed his passion for life.
~ Kristi Scholten Potter
Dale Cooper, Chaplain
Some of my favorite recollections of the staff and faculty at Calvin include Chaplain Cooper. His humble presence on campus reflected his deep and sincere dedication to the Lord. I can recall his vision and his calling for the Calvin community to be like “a city on a hill.” Today, I can still define worship with the elements of “ashes, trumpets and tears.” In the times when tears were shed, Chaplain Cooper was there to offer comfort, reassurance and peace. In times when laughs were shared, Chaplain Cooper could join in the fun and antics, sometimes even in the mischief. Most of all, I remember the laughter. As a spiritual activities coordinator (SAC) for Schultze-Eldersveld and a member of the Knollcrest Worship Committee, I can recall the howling and rip roaring fun in our meetings and retreats. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun playing Trivial Pursuit. (Of course, Laura Mulder and I were so reserved with a very quiet chuckle.) Boy, did we know how to rejoice in the Lord.
~ Ronald DeVries
I worked with him in his role as chaplain when I was a dorm spiritual activities coordinator, but also had him for Calvin’s Institutes. The key to his inspiration for me was his ability to develop and maintain a personal connection. He inspired me to have a sense of wonder about God and to be curious about His creation. As an educator, this has translated into my work in a way that inspired me to be very curious about my students as individuals and strive to understand how God created them as learners.
~ Mary Rozendal
Derald DeYoung, Music
He really cared about me as a person. He was willing to talk with me about school, future plans and possibilities. He invited me into his home.
~ Victor Norman
Bert de Vries, History
He brought history to life for me and inspired me to do the same when I taught history to my students.
~ Betsy VanNoord Marvin
Robert DeVries, Political Science
He encouraged me to my fullest potential. I remember clearly the times in his office when he made me feel like I was his only student he was advising and took a special interest not just in the political science classes but me as a person. Based on my experience with Professor DeVries, I have tried to model this same approach as I work with my employees or minister to others at church.
~ Deb Hubbard Ryan
David Diephouse, History
He was a master lecturer who could enthrall an audience (at least me…) and he selected readings for his courses in 19th and 20th Century history that were challenging, relevant and off the beaten track. It made me a historian.
~ Jacqueline deVries
John Dodge, Economics and Business
He was passionate about his teaching and his discipline but also invested time into getting to know and understand his students. He inspired me to take nothing for granted, grasp every available opportunity and enjoy and be curious about life.
~ Jill Markus Feikema
Samuel Greydanus, History
I had Professor Greydanus for History 101 in my first year. His lectures were like listening to a storyteller. He put historical events into a context that made them relevant to the history that we are making each day.
~ Michael Westra
Thomas Hoeksema, Education
Dr. Hoeksema is still a person that God uses powerfully to continue His plan for our special needs friends and me. Dr. Hoeksema connected me with Tim Bolt, my first Friendship Ministries friend at Woodlawn CRC. God continues using special needs folks in unique ways to broaden my personal walk by teaching not only my students and family but whole communities that God placed us in over the years since Calvin. “Remember: God made our friends more like us than different from us” is the lesson God has used in the different music, socio-economic, cultural, church and skills communities over the years. The Holy Spirit is so faithful, and it is truly a blessing to have been taught by one sharing his unique gifts and faith in such a way that I, in turn, enjoy sharing with others. He taught us, even while he laid his own father to rest. Amazing! It is pure joy to work “alongside,” so to speak, someone to whom God gave the gift of modeling a precious way of life that some in my generation are laying aside. Now my students are teaching the lessons I learned from Dr. Hoeksema. It is Jesus who inspires me, and He is using Dr. Hoeksema in very timeless ways!…like the Great Teacher does! (Yes, I still read and use my college notes and papers—many revisions added). The “test notebook” assignment was brutal at the time, but it is the best ever, especially since grace says the marks in our Great Teacher’s record books are always 100% at the end of time! And, yes, we know the test mark has validity and reliability!
~ Adriana Tavenier Vander Werff
Henry Holstege, Sociology
I enjoyed his common sense and no nonsense approach to the social realities of our society. He was articulate, spiritual, and wise, and funny. I learned how to present quality material from Dr. Holstege. Thank you. He taught with confidence, faith and genuine compassion.
~ Peter Byma
James Lamse, German
He passionately loved teaching the German language. He inspired me to skip a year of German by working very hard over the summer. This meant that I could take the spoken German class and then do an internship the following summer in Germany. The summer in Germany was a tremendous growth experience. If he hadn’t inspired me to try something I hadn’t contemplated on my own, I never would have been able to have that summer experience.
~ Daniel Lieuwen
Michelle Lloyd-Paige, Sociology
She was a non-business professor who was young but able to wonderfully help us understand society and how different cultures and communities that we experience can influence our lives both positively and negatively. I remember the first day of class she ripped a $20 bill up, explaining that it was just a piece of paper—unless you understood what the ink on the paper meant.
~ Bob Brasser
I had her for one sociology class, but that one class changed my outlook on the world.
~ Steve DeBoer
James Miller, History
He was passionate about his teaching and his discipline but also invested time into getting to know and understand his students. He inspired me to take nothing for granted, grasp every available opportunity and enjoy and be curious about life.
~ Jill Markus Feikema
Dan Miller, History
Professor Miller was able to quietly communicate a more complex and controversial history of the United States than the one that tended to be taught in the schools I attended previously. His class on Latin American history challenged my assumptions and was one of several factors that led me to commit to a life of service.
~ James Padilla DeBorst
Pat Oostenink, Education
She modeled what it was like to be a Christian teacher to her students. She came alongside her students and shared her knowledge and wisdom. Professor Oostenink was very influential in helping me find my first teaching job.
~ Sandra Zylstra Vroon
Charlotte Otten, English
Foremost, Professor Otten cared for me as a person. She took time whenever I came by her office to talk with me, mostly by listening and saying “yesss” as I let my angst spill forth. In the classroom her small stature rose to that of a literary giant as she spoke with passion and insight on such disparate topics as Shakespeare, flowers and werewolves. In short, I am not sure I would be an English teacher today had I not had the privilege of being mentored by Charlotte Otten.
~ Roderick Smith
Chris Overvoorde, Art
He was so centered, kind and caring, and he and accepted everyone where they were at. He was a terrific instructor. He was very knowledgeable and he painted beautiful clouds. He used to read Living Psalms to us until that book was stolen. After a few years of living in New York City, I came back to him to ask if I should get my diploma and he said, “What do you want a piece of paper for? You’re living many people's dreams.”
~ Heidi Kloosterman Stein
Bernie “Pek” Pekelder, Chaplain
One of the first messages I can recall at Calvin can be traced to Reverend Pekelder. The phrase “All truth is God’s truth” comes to mind. These words allowed me to pursue many endeavors in life, academically and personally, with confidence. Certainly there are moments when the truth is not clear. The line between accuracy and falsehood often becomes blurred. Our intentions become confused, and our vision becomes lost and misguided. The reflection of God in our truths becomes dim, because our truths do not adequately mirror the image of God. Rev. Pekelder’s words (and my Calvin education) help remind me that to be an authentic image bearer of God, I need to let God’s truth reflect in my life, not the other way around.
~ Ronald DeVries
Jeff Pettinga, Physical Education
He showed me through his life how a Christian man can be strong and compassionate at the same time.
~ Steven Tameling
Arden Post, Education
She modeled what it was like to be a Christian teacher to her students. She came alongside her students and shared her knowledge and wisdom. Dr. Post supervised my Master's thesis on top of her full teaching load.
~ Sandra Zylstra Vroon
Al Reynolds, Psychology
His life story was very interesting, especially the time he spent flying bombers in World War II and his later work on the early stages of psychological testing, but his care and concern for students, even in an area as dry as statistics for the social sciences, was genuine and heartfelt.
~ Curtis Taylor
Peter Tigchelaar, Biology
As my pre-med advisor, Dr. Tigchelaar encouraged me not just in the science curriculum but in my humanities pursuits as an English major who also spent and a lot of time in the music department. I saw his commitment to Christ and to outreach first-hand on a trip to Africa. His dedication to teaching and the genuine, compassionate interest he took in his students helped shape the ideal of the teacher I strive to be today.
~ Joseph Gibes
John H. Timmerman, English
He opened up a whole new world to me—the world of actually enjoying literature, learning to read with a discerning mind and then being able to communicate in writing what I had discovered. Reading and writing comprise most of my life as an attorney and those skills learned at Calvin have served me well.
~ John Vos
Glen Van Andel, Recreation
Glen was a true professional and a genuine teacher and mentor. His interest in students was also genuine and his guidance was thoughtful and provocative.
~ Tom Medema
James Vanden Bosch, English
Professor Vanden Bosch made the English language and literature come alive…and made it fun!
~ Sari Brummel Swets
His wit, engaging lectures, high expectations, and radius of respect and warmth surrounding him that enveloped those with whom he interacted.
~ Kathleen Harris Devarenne
Evert Van Der Heide, Economics
He taught a complex subject—economics—and made it interesting.
~ Christine Krombeen Mastandrea
Howard Van Til, Physics
He was not afraid to engage his faith with his discipline. It was a difficult time for him in the mid-1980s, yet he did not stay quiet, even if it did make him unpopular. It was an example of the challenges that face those who hold a Reformed world view, but in the end, he followed his conscience and did what any solid Reformed thinker would have done.
~ Della vanDokkumburg Stroobosscher
Glenn Weaver, Psychology
Dr. Weaver introduced me to complexities of the human mind and human psychopathology. His class on the psychology of religion inspired me. Perhaps my own desire to pursue the integration of psychology and theology came from the words, concepts and insights he shared. In every electronic correspondence for my daughter’s fourth grade class, her teacher included a quote from William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Dr. Weaver and the Calvin College psychology faculty (e.g. Sanderson, Reynolds, Stouwie) lit a fire which ignited my clinical and academic aspirations.
~ Ronald De Vries
Ron Wells, History
I admired Professor Wells because of his idealism and his animated lectures as well as because he went out of his way to get me to be able to come with him on his course in England.
~ Albert Stadt
Don Wilson, Sociology
Don was creative in his teaching and unafraid of controversial subjects. He instilled a love for the unknown and different that still moves me forward professionally to this day.
~ Jeff Bouman
Marvin Zuidema, Physical Education
Dr. Zuidema worked tirelessly to help people understand the importance of physical activity and to teach kids to love activity.
~ Sari Brummel Swets
Paul Zwier, Mathematics
He was always very excited about calculus and made it interesting for us.
~ Helen Verbrugge Arkema
