Wiebe Boer begins presidency at Calvin University
Dr. Wiebe Boer, his wife Joanna, and youngest son arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan this week. Within hours of their arrival, they were greeted by hundreds of new faces. Boer’s tenure as Calvin University’s 12th president is now officially underway.
O Canada
Boer, who holds triple citizenship from Canada, the United States, and the Netherlands concluded his first week as Calvin’s president by celebrating Canada Day with dozens of students and colleagues, some who share Canadian citizenship with him.
“Calvin University is a bi-national Canadian and American institution,” said Boer. “It’s wonderful to celebrate that heritage and acknowledge the important contributions that Canadian students, faculty, and staff have and continue to make at this great institution.”
A shared vision
Calvin’s current student body hails from four Canadian provinces and 49 other countries around the world. The university’s Vision 2030 aims to expand on that strength in international geographic diversity by reaching even more learners around the world. Boer’s international experience and vision seem to position him well to lead the university toward that aspiration.
Boer brings a unique combination and depth of experience to Calvin having worked across the private and social sectors in four countries in two continents over the past two decades, most recently as CEO of Shell-All On, a renewable energy investment company in Lagos, Nigeria.
Learn more about Wiebe and Joanna’s previous experience.
“Throughout the different countries and contexts I’ve served in, my focus has always been on creating impact, on making people’s lives better. So, to be called to help lead Calvin who is forming graduates to be agents of renewal is humbling,” said Boer. “I am excited to innovate and collaborate with a talented faculty and staff as we together pursue Calvin’s ambitious vision and articulate that vision in a way that gains momentum both locally and globally.”
While Boer’s tenure is underway, his official inauguration ceremony will take place in October 2022.
About Calvin University
Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its nearly 3,300 students from 47 U.S. states, 49 countries, and four Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is located in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at calvin.edu.