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Parent Council

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A group photo of the 2024–2025 Calvin Parent Council.

2024–2025 Members

Parent Council members are willing to talk to the families of prospective or current students about a wide range of topics. Check out each member's profile below to see their Calvin connections and areas of knowledge and support.


Bill and Barb Fetters smiling, photographed outside.

Bill and Barb Fetter, Saint Charles, IL

Students/alumni: Jacob ’25, Katherine ’20

Willing to speak about:

  • Supporting your students from another state
  • Residence life
  • International off-campus opportunities
  • First to Calvin students (families new to Calvin University)
  • Favorites near Calvin (restaurants, shopping, hotels, tourist sites)

Student activities: Geology major / GIS (geographic information systems)

Contact

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Jon Hoekema, Bolingbrook, IL

Student: Katelyn ’25

Willing to speak about:

  • Transitions from a public high school
  • Taking early college courses in high school
  • Supporting your students from another state (with family in West Michigan)
  • Balancing time commitments with sports and study (pre-med, double major)
  • Calvin's Reformed faith commitments and spiritual formation—perspectives from a CRC pastor

Student activities: Basketball, pre-med

Contact

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Victor Graves, Lowell, MI

Student: Eddie ’26

Willing to speak about:

  • Commuter student life
  • Entrada
  • Engineering program

Student activities: TBD

Contact

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Renate Smits, Byron Center, MI

Students/alumni: Jackson ’25, Melaina ’23, Colton ’22, Marissa ’18

Willing to speak about:

  • TBD

Student activities:

Contact

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Deb and Todd Gaffner, Hudsonville, MI

Students/alumni: Caleb ’24, Hannah ’22, Jena ’20, Hope ’17

Willing to speak about:

  • Athletics (particularly cross country and track)
  • Giving students space while living close to home
  • Utilizing academic support systems
  • Working with Calvin’s disability services (Center for Student Success)

Student activities: track (indoor and outdoor), cross country, Barnabas student leaders, kinesiology major (pre-physical therapy), nursing major, business marketing major, mechanical engineering major, Calvin Lifework

Contact

James and Robin Johnson, parent council

James and Robin Johnson, Manteno, IL

Student: Nicholas '28

Julie Knoop, Parent Council

Julie Knoop, Reed City, MI

Student: Cailin '28

Willing to speak about:

  • Athletics
  • Student support and guidance from afar
  • Meeting your student's emotional needs when you can't be with them
  • Promoting professionalism in your student: tips for success

Student activities: softball, honors scholar program

Renee Lanning, Grandville, MI

Renee Lanning, Grandville, MI

Students/alumni: Grant ’24, Emma '24, and Jack '26

Willing to speak about:

  • Dual enrollment and Spanish immersion programs
  • Life and Career Studies program
  • Nursing
  • Clubs and student involvement

Student activities: Resident life, gospel choir, capella choir (and tour), Barnabas leaders in dorms, social events team (SET) in dorms

Contact

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Kimberley MacGillivray, Northborough, MA

Students/alumni: Ethan ’27, Michael ’24, Benjamin ’23, Justin ’22

Willing to speak about:

  • Transition to another state for college
  • Academic support resources
  • NEXUS peer financial coaching
  • Knight Investment Management (KIM, student org)
  • Jobs on campus
  • Financial aid, scholarships available
  • Internships in your home state and in Michigan
  • Jobs on campus
  • Relationships with professors
  • Church connections
  • Any general questions about the Calvin experience

Student activities: Intramurals (basketball, soccer, volleyball); Perkins Fellows; leadership opportunities in the business program (KIM, NEXUS, and others); majoring in finance, accounting, marketing, or financial planning

Contact

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Jenn and Peter McDonough, Redmond, WA

Students: Peter ’23, Kate ’25

Willing to speak about:

  • Supporting your student from the West Coast
  • Transitioning from home to college
  • Residence life

Student activities:RA (resident assistant), theater, Arts Collective, student jobs on campus (academic support office)

Contact

Randy Meyers, Parent Council

Randy Meyers, Zeeland, MI

Students: Ethan '25, Josiah '28

Willing to speak about:

  • Spiritual growth, religions questions, and the Reformed perspective (as a CRC chaplain)
  • Mental health and ministry
  • West Michigan culture, local activities, and services
  • International or distance student supports

Student activities: Chimes, Honors scholars cohort, Student Senate, ultimate frisbee, international relations, Spanish, French, economics, Residence Life

Contact

Marc and Kari Stonehouse, Parent Council

Marc and Kari Stonehouse, Englewood, FL

Students/alumni: Samuel '22, Colton '24, and Briar '27

Willing to speak about:

  • Supporting your student from another state
  • Using academic support & Health Services
  • Guiding your student with an undecided major
  • Honors program
  • Engineering program
  • Calvin Core and getting credit for high school classes

Student activities: Honors scholar cohort, History, German, Chemistry, Sustainability Coordinators

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Tami Van Veldhuisen, Brookeville, MD

Students/alumni: Jason ’26, Trevor ’23, Emily ’18

Willing to speak about:

  • Nursing careers
  • Residence life
  • Athletics
  • Intramural teams
  • PORT Club (physical, occupational, recreational therapy)

Student activities: Women’s soccer, men’s JV soccer, intramurals, social events team (SET) in the residence halls, PORT Club

Contact