President of Calvin College
Encyclopedia
The President of Calvin College is the chief executive officer
of the school. The office is not as old as Calvin College
, which had no need for such a position when it was founded in 1876. When the Theological School of the Christian Reformed Church
opened in 1876, it had one instructor
. As other instructors joined the staff, the title Rector
was applied to the person in charge of daily affairs, while the title of docent
was applied to all other faculty. When the literary curriculum was added in 1894, the head of the Literary section went by the title of Principal. The office of College President was created in 1918 to replace the office of Principal. The seminary head remained the Rector until 1931, when that title also was changed to Seminary President.
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the school. The office is not as old as Calvin College
Calvin College
Calvin College is a comprehensive liberal arts college located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founded in 1876, Calvin College is an educational institution of the Christian Reformed Church and stands in the Reformed tradition of Protestantism...
, which had no need for such a position when it was founded in 1876. When the Theological School of the Christian Reformed Church
Christian Reformed Church in North America
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States and Canada. Having roots in the Dutch Reformed churches of the Netherlands, the Christian Reformed Church was founded by Gijsbert Haan and Dutch immigrants who left the Reformed Church in...
opened in 1876, it had one instructor
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. As other instructors joined the staff, the title Rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
was applied to the person in charge of daily affairs, while the title of docent
Docent
Docent is a title at some European universities to denote a specific academic appointment within a set structure of academic ranks below professor . Docent is also used at some universities generically for a person who has the right to teach...
was applied to all other faculty. When the literary curriculum was added in 1894, the head of the Literary section went by the title of Principal. The office of College President was created in 1918 to replace the office of Principal. The seminary head remained the Rector until 1931, when that title also was changed to Seminary President.
List of Presidents of Calvin College
- 1876-1902 Geert BoerGeert Egberts BoerGeert Egberts Boer was the docent of what became Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 1876 to 1902.Boer was born in Roderwolde, in the Netherlands and graduated in 1864 from the theological school in Kampen. Afterwards he joined the ministry...
(Docent) - 1900-1918 Albertus RooksAlbertus John RooksAlbertus John Rooks was the Principal of Calvin College from 1900-1918.-Notes:...
(Principal) - 1919-1925 John HiemengaJohn HiemengaJohn J. Hiemenga was a Dutch-American pastor and educator and first President of Calvin College from 1919-1925.Born Jan Hiemenga to Jan Hiemenga Sr. and Romkje Zoodsma in Arum, Friesland, the Netherlands, he emigrated with his family to Borculo, Michigan in 1889...
- 1925-1930 Johannes BroeneJohannes BroeneJohannes Broene was an academic and twice served as president of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan, U.S., and his father was a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. Broene attended the University of Michigan and Valparaiso University, from which...
- 1930-1933 Rienk KuiperRienk KuiperRienk Bouke Kuiper was born in Garrelsweer, in the municipality of Loppersum, in the Netherlands. His family moved to Grand Haven, Michigan in 1891 when his father accepted a call to be minister of the Christian Reformed congregation there...
- 1933-1939 Ralph StobRalph StobRalph Stob was an educator, academic, and former president of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Stob was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Roseland Christian School. He felt called to Christian ministry. He enrolled in the preparatory curriculum of Calvin College in 1909 from which...
- 1939-1940 Johannes BroeneJohannes BroeneJohannes Broene was an academic and twice served as president of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He was born in Muskegon, Michigan, U.S., and his father was a minister of the Christian Reformed Church. Broene attended the University of Michigan and Valparaiso University, from which...
- 1940-1951 Henry SchultzeHenry SchultzeHenry Schultze was an American academic and former president of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Having been born in Sully, Iowa, Schultze graduated from Calvin College in 1915. He also attended Calvin Theological Seminary and went on to study at Yale University and graduated in 1920...
- 1951-1976 William SpoelhofWilliam SpoelhofWilliam Spoelhof was the President of Calvin College, and President Emeritus of the Grand Rapids, Michigan school.-Biography:...
- 1976-1995 Anthony J. DiekemaAnthony DiekemaAnthony J. Diekema is a former President of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.Diekema graduated from Calvin College in 1956 and went on to receive a master's degree and a doctorate in sociology from Michigan State University.When Diekema came to Calvin College in 1976, he completed the...
- 1995-Present Gaylen James BykerGaylen BykerGaylen James Byker is a former international businessman and the current President of Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also a director for InterOil Corporation. Byker is a native of Hudsonville, Michigan. He served in the United States Army from 1967 until 1970. Following his...