Pruis Moves from Wall Street to Burton Street to Become Calvin VP

April 20, 2005 == MEDIA ADVISORY
<<< for the full story, and a pic, see www.calvin.edu/news >>>

The 2001 winner of Calvin College's Outstanding Service Award is returning to
his alma mater as the new Vice President of Advancement.

Dirk Pruis, a 1982 graduate of Calvin and All-American diver for the Knights,
is leaving his post as President and CEO of EquiLend, a firm for securities
lending owned by 10 of the world's leading financial institutions.

Pruis, a Grand Rapids native, earned an MBA from the University of Michigan
after his Calvin graduation, and then began his career with the local office
of then Big Eight accounting firm Touche Ross before transferring to New York
City where he later landed at Goldman Sachs. There his career included
launching an office in Mexico City and serving as Controller of Goldman's $2
billion Tokyo operation.

He then helped form EquiLend, which was founded in May 2001 by Barclays Global
Investors, Bear Stearns, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Lehman Brothers,
Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, State Street and UBS.

And while he admits working on Wall Street has been a heady experience, he
also says he's eager for the challenges and opportunities he sees at Calvin.

"This is an investment," he says, "of the second half of my career in a place
that is making a difference, a place that is shaping the next generation of
Christian leaders. As a Calvin student I was taught that everything I do
counts. So even though I've never worked in a non-profit setting I've always
felt it my calling to renew God's world in any way I can. Now I have a chance
to come back to Calvin and give back to the institution that has given me so
much."

Pruis moves into a position that has been retooled and renamed for his arrival
(alumni relations and some communications functions have been added to the
portfolio, joining the development function previously there when the job was
titled Vice President of Development). Former Vice President of Development
Robert Berkhof remains at Calvin as Senior Associate to the President for
Development.

In his new post Pruis will direct, manage and coordinate Calvin's fundraising
efforts; manage alumni operations; represent the college to corporate,
foundation, donor and alumni communities; serve on the President's Cabinet; and
oversee the relationship with the Christian Reformed Church on matters of
development.

Calvin President Gaylen Byker says the hiring of Pruis and the shift in focus
for Berkhof puts Calvin in a strong position.

"Dirk brings a unique combination of skills and experience to the
(advancement) division," says Byker. "He has a great deal of valuable
experience from a highly successful career in finance and management in this
country, as well as in Mexico and Japan."

Pruis has a lifelong connection with Calvin. Some of his earliest memories of
the college are set on the old Franklin Street campus back in the days when his
father Don was a Calvin business professor. In fact, Pruis can still remember
helping his dad move offices from the Franklin campus to the Knollcrest
campus.

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Received on Wed Apr 20 13:38:00 2005