Calvin University Sociology & Social Work Department

05/18/2026

Are you interested in working with those impacted by human trafficking and expanding your skills in trauma-responsive care? Check out this upcoming free training hosted by the West Michigan Human Trafficking Coalition and Safe Haven Ministries, scheduled for Thursday, May 28th from 1-4pm. This training will be hosted at the Seidman Center on Grand Valley’s downtown Grand rapids campus.

This 3-hour training (approved for 3 CEs) will cover elements of the who, what, where, why, and how of human trafficking, as well as share practical examples of how to implement trauma-responsive care and person-centered services and support within anti-trafficking agencies. This training will cover best practices information about survivor engagement within the anti-trafficking movement, as well as facilitated discussion between attendees about current challenges that they are facing in the work. The goal of this training is to provide attendees with tools and tips to help create a shared understanding amongst anti-trafficking survivors and providers, as well as create a space for brainstorming and collaborative engagement. Sign up here: https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/registration-form/?formId=d8d05785-3877-452c-ab50-7c9fa6d70ec7&envId=p-afKibBqnjkG2R-cnhwOgeQ&zone=usa

05/14/2026

Social Work and Sociology ... keeping it in the family 🤩
Something fun and unique about this 25-26 academic year, is we had four of our own faculty students enrolled at Calvin, all majors within our own department. Naturally we had to document it 📷

Pictured below:
-Professor Hennie Schoon and Karis Schoon, Class of 2026 majoring in Social Work, Psychology, and English with a minor in Ministry Leadership
-Professor Stacia Hoeksema and Seth Hoeksema, Class of 2026, majoring in Social Work and Geography
-Professor Jon Hill and Kayla Hill, Class of 2029, majoring in Social Work
-Professor Mark Mulder and Case Mulder, Class of 2028, majoring in Sociology

05/11/2026

What a wonderful weekend celebrating our Class of 2026 graduates! We are incredibly proud of our department graduates, including Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology majors and minors and Urban Studies and Gender Studies minors. Congratulations to you all!😍🎓🙌

05/07/2026

Thankful for a yummy off-campus brunch this week with some of our senior Sociology, Criminology, Urban Studies, and Gender Studies students. This was a well deserved break from final exams and papers to enjoy time together 🥰 Best of luck to all of our department seniors on their next steps post graduation! 🙌🎓

05/04/2026

Gearing up to celebrate our Class of 2026 Social Work students at our annual BSW Commissioning Celebration! Join us this Friday May 8th at 7:30pm at the Calvin Chapel or virtually via the livestream on Calvin University's YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/live/CtofL4_5voc?feature=share
We are excited to celebrate these amazing grads!❤️💛🎉🎓

05/04/2026

Please join in heartily congratulating Professor Meredith Mockabee, adjunct Social Work professor for many years, on her 2026 Calvin Faculty Teaching Award! Meredith was deservingly awarded the 'Teaching Excellence Award for Adjunct Instructors'. We are so proud!😍🙌

05/01/2026

We are so excited to highlight four students from our inaugural cohort of MSW students! These student have completed their first 400-hour practicum placements during the 2025-2026 academic year. A huge congratulations on this big accomplishment! Join us in supporting their next steps through the educational journey to receive their MSW, which will include their clinical or macro advanced focused practicum and course work. Let's go year two! 🙌

05/01/2026

Congratulations to our BSW seniors who have completed their 400-hour practicum placements during the 2025-2026 academic year! We are so proud of your hard work and dedication to your education, our local community, and the practice of social work ❤️🤲

04/17/2026

Join us in congratulating our NASW-Michigan Student of the Year Award recipient, Seth Hoeksema!
The awardee is selected based on the following criteria:
• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Contribution to the positive image of a social work program
• Commitment to political and community activities
• Success in academic performance
• Degree to which the student represents the professional ethics of social work as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics

Seth will be honored tonight by NASW-Michigan with a ceremony in Lansing, MI, along with fellow award recipients from social work programs at other Michigan colleges and universities.

We also want to highlight Jenna King and Kayla Adkins, who were also top nominees for the award! We are so proud and grateful for the many ways our students have contributed to our program, Calvin University, and the Social Work profession.

02/09/2026

Job Alert! 📣
Our partners at Uganda Studies Program at Uganda Christian University is hiring a Program Coordinator and Field Instructor based in Uganda! Position starts July 2026. Learn more below.

We’re Hiring!
Are you passionate about student mentorship and global learning?
We’re looking for a Program Coordinator and Field Instructor to support students throughout their semester in Uganda. See more information above, and visit the “Alumni & Careers” link in our bio to learn more about this position and submit your application!