10/26/22 - Calvin University Celebrates New President

Calvin University will inaugurate Dr. Wiebe K. Boer as their 12th president this afternoon.

((Press Release) - Calvin University has been hosting a series of events during the month of October that will culminate in the inauguration of the institution’s 12th president. The formal inauguration ceremony for Dr. Wiebe K. Boer will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, in Calvin’s Van Noord Arena.

Wiebe K. Boer, PhD, has spent the past two decades serving in the private and social sectors in four countries on two continents. His work has consistently focused on leveraging private capital to create social impact.

Boer earned a doctorate and two master’s degrees from Yale University and a bachelor’s degree from Calvin, all in history. He has served professionally in economic development, management consulting, philanthropy, and impact investing. For the past 12 years, Boer was living in Lagos, Nigeria, most recently serving as CEO of All On, a renewable energy investment fund of Shell.

Boer’s wife, Joanna Bachew ’03, born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, holds a master’s in human resource management from the University of London and is the CEO of Empire Jane, a Nigerian soft home furnishings company. The couple have four sons: Jehan, Stephan, Gerrit, and Markus.

Boer’s tenure at Calvin University officially began on July 1, 2022. Since he’s arrived, the Calvin Prison Initiative has been visited by the undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education, the university has signed a memorandum of understanding with SunFundED to pursue solar energy solutions for the campus, and Calvin has welcomed its most diverse incoming class of students. The university also opened its School of Business, developed a key partnership with Pine Rest through the School of Health, and launched an entrepreneurial incubator, the Calvin StartUp Garage.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

10:00 a.m.
Worship: God’s Invitation to Renewal
Calvin University Chapel

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Campus Showcase & Activities
Get a glimpse of campus life at Calvin! Attend a sampling of student and faculty research presentations in the CFAC Recital Hall:

• 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  “Join our Journey”: Local and Global Partnerships within Calvin’s School of Health
  Presenters: Adejoke Ayoola, Kerrie Berends, Brian Kreisman, and Gail Zandee
• 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
  The Knollcrest Campus at 50: A “Sound Environment, Physical as Well as Intellectual”
  Presenters: Craig Hanson, Brent Williams, and Natalie Sytsma
• 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.
  Luminous (Documentary Film screening with Q&A)
  Presenters: Larry Molnar and Sam Smartt

Throughout the day, see an Art Gallery installation by a Calvin alum (the largest piece of foil you’ll ever see), pop into the Dice Mineralogical Museum for a special showcase of maroon and gold collections, check out the solar telescopes at the Calvin Observatory, or take a campus tour and visit the new School of Business building, and more. Peet’s Coffee will feature Boer family favorites, and the Campus Bookstore will be offering a 12% discount (for the 12th president). Download the poster or visit an Inauguration Welcome Table in the Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex or Prince Conference Center for more information.
Various Locations

1:30 p.m.
Reception for Delegates and Esteemed Guests
By invitation only. Please refer to your invitation or email inauguration@calvin.edu with questions. RSVP here
Prince Conference Center

4:00 p.m.
Inauguration Ceremony: Renewing Calvin’s Call to Global Good
Join us for the Inauguration Ceremony honoring Calvin University’s 12th President, Dr. Wiebe Boer.
Spoelhof Fieldhouse Complex and Livestream
Download your Inauguration Program

5:30 p.m.
Post Inauguration Ceremony Reception
After the Inauguration Ceremony, enjoy global foods and Boer family favorites at one of Calvin’s dining halls. Knollcrest, Commons, Johnny’s, and Uppercrust will all be open.
Commons and Knollcrest Dining Halls

8:00 p.m.
Inauguration Celebration Dance
After the day’s events, join President Boer in the Hoogenboom Gym for a dance party complete with desserts and live music. Students, Calvin staff and faculty, and all of our campus guests are welcome.
Hoogenboom Gym