Re-examining Evangelical Populism and Evangelical Internationalism: Annaka Ediger and Debora Haede are working with Kevin den Dulk to compile an annotated bibliography of materials for use in the research of exploring evangelical Protestant Christianity and its role in American global engagement generally and U.S. foreign policy specifically.

Annaka Ediger 2018-19 Debora Haede dendulk2014
Annaka Ediger
Sophomore, majoring
in International
Relations and French,
minor in Business
from Hudsonville, MI
Debora Haede
Junior, majoring
in International Relations,
minor in Economics
(pre-law specialization)
from Kuşadası, Turkey
Kevin R. den Dulk
Calvin University
Political Science Department;
Henry Institute
Executive Director

Racial Reconciliation in Foster Care: Critically Examining Selves to Better Serve Others: Selena Walters is working with Professors Kristen Alford and Stacia Hoeksema as they explore the effectiveness of the CORR Understanding Racism workshop on foster care worker decision-making and the operation of foster care delivery systems.

Selena Walters 2018-19 Kristen Alford stacia hoeksema
Selena Walters
Junior, majoring
in Social Work, minor
in Spanish
from Hudsonville, MI
Kristen Alford
Calvin University
Sociology
Department
Stacia Hoeksema
Calvin University
Sociology
Department

Masculinity and Militarism in American Evangelicalism: Calvin History Professor Kristin DuMez is researching evangelical constructions of militant masculinity from 1980 to the present.

Kristin DuMez
Kristin Kobes DuMez
Calvin University 
History 
Department

Rustbelt Religion: Eleanor Vander Ark is working with Professor Mark Mulder to explore fieldwork and interviews in central Wisconsin to explain how religion shapes the politics of rural white voters.

Eleanor Vander Ark 2018-19 Mark Mulder
Eleanor Vander Ark
Senior, majoring in Sociology,
minors in Gender Studies, 
  and Philosophy
from Madison, WI
Mark Mulder
Calvin University
Sociology Department

Politics of Water: Kevin den Dulk is working with Jonathan Winkle and Olivia den Dulk to explore the appropriate role of government in addressing problems involving availability, stewardship and economic justice issues that surround distribution of water as a matter of public justice.

Olivia den Dulk 2018-19 2016jonathanwinkle dendulk2014
Olivia den Dulk
Junior, majoring
in International Relations
and Environmental Studies,
minor in French and
Data Science
from Grand Rapids, MI
Jonathan Winkle
Junior, majoring in
Political Science
from Grand Rapids, MI
Kevin R. den Dulk
Calvin University
Political Science Department;
Henry Institute
Executive Director

Mapping Applications for Re-entry: Liam Farraby, Annalane Miller, and Skyler Rich are working with Jason VanHorn and Kevin den Dulk to expand the user-friendly intuitive map created earlier for Kent County to two additional Michigan counties, again providing information about facilities and organizations that would be indispensable to new parolees and those returning as citizens from incarceration. (See an article about the Restorative Justice project work)

Liam Farraby 2018-19 Annalane Miller 2018-19 Skyler Rich 2018-19 dendulk2014 Jason Van Horn
Liam Ferraby
Junior, majoring in
Biology and
Environmental Studies
from Hiram, OH
Annalane Miller
Senior, majoring in
Political Science, minors
in International
Development
and Data Science
from Dexter, MI
Skyler Rich
Senior, majoring in
Business Marketing,
minor in
Political Science
from Lake Tapps, WA
Kevin R. den Dulk
Calvin University
Political Science
Department;
Henry Institute
Executive Director
Jason Van Horn
Calvin University
Geology, Geography, and
Environmental Studies
Departments

Interfaith Photovoice: Elena Van Stee, Elias Jesus, and Calvin Sociology Professor Roman Williams are exploring the effectiveness of an arts-based research technique called photovoice as a strategy for interfaith engagement, using four projects led by team members in cities across North America; Van Stee and Williams will be interviewing Christians and Muslims from the Grand Rapids area and assisting with the final photovoice project in New York City.

Elena vanStee 2018-19 Elias Jesus R Williams-web
Elena Van Stee
Senior, majoring
in Religion and Sociology, minor in French
from Western Springs, IL
Elias Jesus
Sophomore, majoring
in Religion and Sociology
from Plano, TX
Roman Williams
Calvin University
Sociology
Department

Restorative Justice Conference: Sarah Bass is working with Matt Walhout and other students and faculty in the Calvin Prison Initiative to coordinate and administer an October 2018 conference on restorative justice.

Sarah Bass 2018-19 Matt Walhout
Sarah Bass
Senior, majoring in
English Literature, minor in Gender Studies
from Holland, MI
Matt Walhout
Calvin University 
Physics Department

Communicating Virtuously across Division in the Church: Karolyn DeKam and Professor Stacey Wieland are considering how Christians who disagree about significant social issues can engage in productive dialogue. The project considers how dialogue might be enacted in contexts where participants share a deep commitment to core Christian beliefs, yet diverge in their understanding of the implications of those beliefs for a modern social issue.

2017-18 karolyn dekam Stacey Wieland
Karolyn DeKam
Sophomore, majoring in
Sociology, minor
in Women and Gender
Studies from
Muskegon, MI
Stacey Wieland
Calvin University
Communication, Arts
and Sciences
Department

The Moral Power of Stories: A Meta-Analysis: Allyson Fea is assisting Peter Meindl as they explore the power of stories in developing a readers'  moral character, as the themes and narratives often inspire moral change and influence moral beliefs and values, moral motivation, and even moral behavior such as volunteerism and charitable giving. Psychologists have begun to look into whether stories shape morality, but the findings are inconsistent This research seeks to meta-analyze these results to get a better sense of the moral power of stories.

Allyson Fea 2018-19 Pete Meindl
Allyson Fea
Sophomore, majoring in
Psychology and History
from Mechanicsburg, PA
Peter Meindl
Calvin University 
Psychology Department

Converted Structures: Working with Roman Williams, Taylor Hartson and Elias Jesus are exploring the prevalence, causes, and meanings of converted buildings from sacred to secular uses and vice versa, as churches across the U.S. and Canada have been adapted to other uses, including restaurants, condos, houses, indoor climbing gyms, libraries, concert venues, playhouses, community centers, and more. The two are developing a strategy for mapping structures and taking a closer look at the phenomenon through a case study. In September of 2020, their work was prominently referenced in an article in Christianity Today.

Taylor Hartson 2018-19 Roman Williams
Taylor Hartson
Senior, majoring in Sociology, minors in Psychology and Writing
from Pella, IA
Roman Williams
Calvin University 
Sociology Department

Trust, Media and Democracy: Jesse Brink and Matthew Bone are working with Professor Jesse Holcomb on two initiatives: The first (in conjunction with the Knight Foundation and the Gallup Organization) measures public opinion and behavior across a wide range of issues related to trust and news in society. The second (in conjunction with the Institute for Nonprofit News) tracks and surveys the emerging field of nonprofit journalism across North America.

Matthew Bone 2018-19 Jesse Brink 2019 Holcomb 2018-19
Matthew Bone
Junior, majoring in Mathematics and
Psychology and a minor in Economics
from Midland, MI
Jesse Brink
Senior, majoring in 
Political Science and History and minoring in Economics
from, Ipswich, MA

Jesse Holcomb
Calvin University
English and Communication Department

Civic Engagement Fellow: Yejae Kim will be working with Kevin den Dulk on various Henry Institute civil engagement projects, as well as assist with other Civitas Lab projects as needed.

Yejae Kim 2018-19 dendulk2014
Yejae Kim
Junior, majoring in
Data Science and 
International Relations,
from Bogotá, Colombia
Kevin R. den Dulk
Calvin University
Political Science 
Department;
Henry Institute 
Executive Director