Fellows
The Van Lunen Center Fellows Program is an executive management training program for heads of schools based on the historic Christian faith. It is designed for those who have been in their leadership positions for at least one year and report directly to the governing board of their schools. They lead schools large and small, rural and urban, and in wealthy and underserved communities. Program participants (Fellows) are from the U.S., Canada, and abroad. They represent 20 different faith traditions.
Applications for the 2025–2026 Fellows Program will be accepted beginning November 1, 2024.
Training
Each year a cohort of 20–24 Fellows begins the year-long executive management training program. Three of the weeks are spent in residence.
The first and third sessions are focused on executive management curriculum and are held in July at the host school, Calvin University, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The second session is in winter at the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its purpose is to examine and strengthen “leadership from within” in order to lead their staff and community well. All sessions are led by faculty who are experienced heads of Christian schools with proven executive management skills. They represent the diversity of schools within the Christian school movement.
Faculty
Faculty for the Fellows program are six current heads of Christian schools and/or former heads of Christian schools along with specialists and consultants for specific topics.
Curriculum
The curriculum contains strategic planning, change management, advancement, fundraising & development, marketing & enrollment, and board governance – plus occasional specialized subjects.
An applied project must be completed during the management training program that benefits each Fellow’s school. Drawn from new skills and information received in Van Lunen sessions, and guided by faculty experts, the applied project is the culmination of each Fellow’s Van Lunen Center experience. At the final July session, Fellows present their project that reflects its impact on their schools.
Program Pillars
Program pillars for the resident sessions include daily worship with liturgy from various Christian traditions, group instruction by faculty, plus additional faculty experts who lead sessions on marketing & enrollment, development & fund raising, and facilities. Excellent in all program dimensions, the emphasis is on executive management rather than general leadership skills.
An applied project is required during the year-long management training program that benefits each Fellow’s school. Drawn from new skills and information received in their Van Lunen sessions, and guided by the support of faculty experts, the applied project is the culmination of each Fellow’s Van Lunen Center experience. At the final July session, Fellows present their project and its impact on their schools. Examples of Fellow’s projects include new school construction, updated strategic plans, major fund-raising programs, enhanced marketing and enrollment strategies, and new approaches for working with a school’s governing board.
2023–2024 Van Lunen Fellows
Joel Bahr
| Paul Beardmore | Brian Bell |
Amy Boatman | Jonathan Bolton | Jason Borko |
Tracy Bradely | Neil Childs | Earl Driedger |
Thomas Gerds | Mark Helmer | Nate Holton |
Stephen Janssen | Megan Kooiman | Kevin Mosley |
Gabe Pethtel | Jessica Raba | David Robinson |
Chris Sievers | Carolyn Van Zwol | Cindy Westendorp |
Laura Westra
| Mark Witvliet
|