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Elements of Success

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Elements of Success is an interactive display that celebrates Calvin University faculty, staff, and alumni who have made important contributions to the field of chemistry and biochemistry. This display was made possible by a generous donation from Tom and Lois Dykstra.

When you visit the Elements of Success display, you'll learn about the diverse group of teachers and learners who have formed the chemistry and biochemistry community at Calvin over the decades, along with the historical figures who have inspired them. Each block on the display highlights an individual person as well as an element from the periodic table of elements.

Location and hours

Elements of Success is located in DeVries Hall outside the office of the department of chemistry and biochemistry (DeVries Hall 100). It is open to the public during DeVries Hall's normal hours. See hours and location information for DeVries Hall.

Find someone on the display

Use the tabs below, organized alphabetically by last name, to find where a particular person is location on the Elements of Success display.


NameElement (location)RoleYears at Calvin
Uma ChowdhryTi (Titanium)Famous chemist 
Harry DekkerTe (Tellerium)Emeriti1921-1957
Roger DeKockO (Oxygen)Emeriti1976-2014
John DeVriesRa (Radium)Emeriti1939-1967
Jodi DickersonCo (Cobalt)Faculty2013-present
Thedford P. DirkseLr (Lawrencium)Emeriti1947-1980
Anand DivakaranCa (Calcium)Alumni 
Luis EchegoyenGe (Germanium)Famous chemist 
Nathan FrazierAm (Americium)Alumni2012
Kurt FrischV (Vanadium)Advisory board 
Kurt FyneweverHf (Hafnium)Faculty2009-present

NameElement (location)RoleYears at Calvin
Kathryn HamiltonCr (Chromium)Alumni 
Alma Levant HaydenNb (Niobium)Famous chemist 
S. Kent HoekmanW (Tungsten)Alumni1975
Ren HomanMo (Molybdenum)Advisory board 
Percy Lavon JulianIn (Indium)Famous chemist 
Al KrakerZn (Zinc)Advisory board 
Katie KwiatkowskiRu (Ruthenium)Faculty2023-present
Yuan T. LeeCs (Caesium)Famous chemist 
Arie LeegwaterAr (Argon)Emeriti1978-2007
Brendon LooyengaMg (Magnesium)Emeriti2013-2021
Larry LoutersH (Hydrogen)Emeriti1984-2018

NameElement (location)RoleYears at Calvin
Todd MartinezTs (Tennessine)Alumni 
Samuel P. MassiePm (Promethium)Famous chemist 
Darla McCarthyNa (Sodium)Emeriti2000-2012
Lyndsie MeadorPt (Platinum)Alumni2017
Maud MentenHs (Hassium)Famous chemist 
Karen MuyskensXe (Xenon)Emeriti 
Mark MuyskensF (Flourine)Faculty1989-present
Vincent K. NarteyFl (Flerovium)Famous chemist 
Donna NelsonYb (Ytterbium)Famous chemist 
Eric NolletMt (Meitnerium)Faculty 
Katherine PasmaFr (Francium)Staff2023-present
Charles John PedersonAc (Actinium)Famous chemist 
Ken PiersHe (Helium)Emeriti1968-2014

NameElement (location)RoleYears at Calvin
Norbert RilieuxNp (Neptunium)Famous chemist 
Dave RossHg (Mercury)Faculty2017-present
Omowunmi SadikOg (Oganesson)Famous chemist 
Kumar SinniahAu (Gold)Faculty1995-present
Brian SwierengaTb (Terbium)Advisory board 
Estella TamungangY (Yttrium)Alumni 
Chad TatkoDy (Dysprosium)Faculty2006-present
Paul UranePb (Lead)Alumni2012

NameElement (location)RoleYears at Calvin
William Van DoornePr (Praseodymium)Emeriti1966-2001
Elise Van NoordEs (Einsteinium)Faculty 
Douglas Vander GriendN (Nitrogen)Faculty2002-present
Rianna VanderGaastBe (Beryllium)Advisory board 
Leonard VanderlugtEu (Europium)Emeriti1955-1971
Brad VeldkampNi (Nickel)Faculty2023-present
Erin VogelPd (Palladium)Advisory board 
Laura WestrateLa (Lanthanum)Faculty2018-present
Enno WolthuisSb (Antimony)Emeriti1949-1976
Tu YouyouSg (Seaborgium)Famous chemist 
Ahmed ZewailAt (Astatine)Famous chemist