Becky Bagnall named Calvin University director of alumni, parent, and donor engagement
This fall, Becky (Weima) Bagnall ‘07 is returning to her alma mater as Calvin’s new director of alumni, parent, and donor engagement.
“I’m really thankful for the experiences I’ve had over the past two decades that have prepared me for this role,” said Bagnall.
Bagnall graduated from Calvin in 2007 with a Spanish K-12 Education major and psychology minor and was a Division III All-American swimmer. Since leaving Calvin, she taught Spanish at Holland Christian High School and Grand Rapids Christian Middle School and was a Young Lives Initiatives Director at Grand Rapids Young Life.
“When I look at the people who are closest in my life, the jobs that I’ve held, the mentorships I’ve had, the discipleship opportunities I’ve been invited into, a lot of those have roots or connections to Calvin,” said Bagnall. “There’s a continued gratitude for the seeds that were planted during such a formative time of my life and that have had such an impact later in life.”
Returning with gratitude
Bagnall’s desire to return to her alma mater may seem surprising considering she almost didn’t attend Calvin as a student. Growing up in the area and with her dad working across the street at Calvin Theological Seminary at the time, Bagnall said she had the mentality of many high school students coming from a local Christian high school – that Calvin was too familiar and too close to home. But her experience at Calvin, as it has for so many students, quickly shattered her preconceived notions. She found her four years at Calvin to be among the most formative years of her life.
“At Calvin I felt like I was seen and poured into as a whole person, academically, athletically, and spiritually,” said Bagnall, who highlights the Gainey Leadership retreat and the leadership development that followed as especially formative in her Calvin journey. “When I reflect back on my time here, I can see how those four years just propelled me into so many amazing opportunities and connected me with people who are still a part of my life.”
Excited to meet and hear from alumni
Since graduating from Calvin in 2007, Bagnall hasn’t been shy about sharing her experience with anyone considering college. And now, she’s excited to connect with alums from all generations and hear the many stories of how being a part of the Calvin community has been formative in their lives.
“What I’m excited about in this role is giving alums an opportunity to remember what it was about their experience here that made it so meaningful and to be reminded that their story still matters and they still matter to Calvin,” said Bagnall. “I want them to feel like Calvin still sees them whether they graduated last year, 20 years ago, or 50 years ago.”
Inviting alumni from all generations into community
Bagnall is also committed to providing opportunities for current students to see and experience what it means to be an alum and to develop that lifelong sense of purpose and connection long before graduation.
“I hope being a Calvin alum is a continual question of ‘what is God calling me into besides just myself?’ This idea of being blessed to be a blessing. I hope that during our time at Calvin and years after graduating, as alums we can see different ways that we’ve been blessed and how then God is asking us to use those experiences to bless others.”
As she begins her new role, Bagnall hopes to help alumni deepen their connection to the Calvin community and to one another.
“I want there to be excitement and joy around being invited back into the Calvin community,” said Bagnall.
Bagnall is married to Luke Bagnall ’06 and they have three children, Leo, Reeva, and Hendrix.
