Parent Council
2023–2024 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 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)
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
Victor Graves, Lowell, MI
Student: Eddie ’26
Willing to speak about:
- Commuter student life
- Entrada
- Engineering program
Student activities: TBD
Renate Smits, Byron Center, MI
Students/alumni: Jackson ’25, Melaina ’23, Colton ’22, Marissa ’18
Willing to speak about:
- TBD
Student activities:
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
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
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)
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