Calvin School of Graduate & Continuing Studies

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We connect the best of the Christian liberal arts tradition with professional expertise, preparing adult learners to lead while thinking deeply, acting justly, and living wholeheartedly.

For Hafsa Zarrar, returning to school wasn’t simply a career decision. It was a calling rediscovered.Before moving to th...
05/28/2026

For Hafsa Zarrar, returning to school wasn’t simply a career decision. It was a calling rediscovered.

Before moving to the United States 16 years ago, Hafsa worked as a speech-language pathologist in Pakistan. But after immigrating with her husband and infant daughter, she stepped away from the profession to focus on raising her family.

While she paused her professional career, Hafsa’s passion for speech-language pathology never disappeared. Years later, after facing serious health challenges—including losing her voice following thyroid surgery—Hafsa experienced firsthand the life-changing impact of speech-language pathologists.

“That experience gave me a deeper understanding of what it truly means to lose your voice—and to help someone find it again. I know firsthand how communication difficulties affect every part of life. That is why I intentionally chose speech-language pathology again. I wanted to give back, serve others, and become for someone else what those therapists were for me.”

As she explored graduate programs, Calvin immediately stood out. As a Muslim, she was looking for a place where she would feel welcomed, respected, and able to openly share her perspectives. “Calvin became that place for me,” she said. “I found a welcoming environment where I could share my thoughts openly, learn from others, and feel included.”

Hafsa first entered Calvin through the certificate in speech and hearing foundations program before starting the master’s program. Along the way, she found encouragement from faculty, mentors, and classmates who helped make returning to school after many years feel possible.

“That experience gave me a deeper understanding of what it truly means to lose your voice—and to help someone find it again. I know firsthand how communication difficulties affect every part of life. That is why I intentionally chose speech-language pathology again. I wanted to give back, serve others, and become for someone else what those therapists were for me.”

Now completing her second semester in Calvin's Speech and Hearing Clinic, Hafsa hopes to specialize in early intervention and serve diverse families with culturally responsive care.

“My goal is not only to practice speech-language pathology,” she said, “but to make others feel seen, heard, and supported.”

Stories like Hafsa’s remind us that calling can unfold in unexpected ways—through perseverance, faith, healing, and the courage to begin again.

05/21/2026

Who made the biggest difference in your educational journey?

For many of our graduate students, it was faculty who took time to invest personally, encourage consistently, and teach thoughtfully. ❤️💛

Another round of graduate faculty appreciation. Thank you, Sara Leo, Brian Kreisman, John Sparks, Soyeon Chun, and to all faculty teaching in grad programs at Calvin!

As we look to next academic year, we're excited to welcome three new graduate program directors to the team: ➡️ Al Boere...
05/14/2026

As we look to next academic year, we're excited to welcome three new graduate program directors to the team:

➡️ Al Boerema, Master of Education

➡️ Rachel Hammond, Master of Business Administration

➡️ Kathi Groenendyk, Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication

Welcome!

Thank you to all who made the Master's Hooding Ceremony a special celebration this weekend, and especially to Meredith S...
05/11/2026

Thank you to all who made the Master's Hooding Ceremony a special celebration this weekend, and especially to Meredith Segur for organizing it!

Here are a few of our favorite pictures from the event. Go to CalvinGrad.com to search for your images from the hooding ceremony and commencement!

Congratulations on a job well done to all the graduates! ❤️💛

Today we celebrated the hard work, resilience, and purpose of Calvin’s graduate students at the Master’s Hooding Ceremon...
05/09/2026

Today we celebrated the hard work, resilience, and purpose of Calvin’s graduate students at the Master’s Hooding Ceremony. Congratulations, grads—we can’t wait to see where you go next. 💛🎓❤️

Coming to the Hooding Ceremony and/or Commencement tomorrow? Pick up your cap, gown, and hood today until 4:00 in Hoogen...
05/08/2026

Coming to the Hooding Ceremony and/or Commencement tomorrow? Pick up your cap, gown, and hood today until 4:00 in Hoogenboom 290.

Adult learning is alive and well at Calvin! Yesterday was a momentous day for our two Wayfinder programs. 👏🎉🥳 Wayfinder'...
05/07/2026

Adult learning is alive and well at Calvin! Yesterday was a momentous day for our two Wayfinder programs. 👏🎉🥳

Wayfinder's inaugural cohort at Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility finished their program with moving reflections by students, who even on their way out, were still debating whether Antigone should have buried her brother Polynices, disregarding King Creon’s authority. 🤔

The second cohort of Wayfinder students in Grand Rapids presented their final creative reflections as the culminating project they've been working on this year. They reflected on their personal growth through the program, the competencies they built through debating, evaluating, and discussing different perspectives. Over the year, they engaged the disciplines of philosophy, literature, art, and history to grapple with questions like: "What is the good life?" and "How can I better understand my place as a leader in the community?"

Congratulations to Calvin's Wayfinder students! ❤️💛

Bawi Lian's story mirrors that of many adult students who come to Calvin. Sensing that they were made for more in life, ...
05/06/2026

Bawi Lian's story mirrors that of many adult students who come to Calvin. Sensing that they were made for more in life, they follow their curiosity back to the classroom. For Bawi, that call led him to follow his sister’s path, who was already enrolled as an undergraduate at Calvin. ❤️💛

With an associate’s degree in business, Bawi had landed a solid job in quality control for a manufacturing company. “I was doing well in work, but I felt like finishing my degree would present me with better opportunities down the line,” said Lian.

His vision for growth steered him to Calvin’s Applied Leadership adult bachelor’s degree completion program, where he’s thriving. Courses in organizational behavior, design thinking, human resources, leading through change, and more provide powerful formation for aspiring leaders like Bawi.

Lian highlights, “I am taking around four classes a semester right now to speed up my degree progress.” His goal upon completion? To seek out management and leadership positions where he can put his degree to use at an organization with growth opportunities.

Bawi shared that the design of Calvin’s program has made it possible to envision success. “The program allows adults to take one accelerated class at a time to work toward finishing a degree.” Class is held just one evening per week on campus, building a supportive community while also accommodating busy schedules.

“Many adults have multiple competing priorities – work, family, friends, and many other responsibilities. We designed the program so students can focus on one course at a time, one evening per week while still making progress toward their educational and career goals,” shared Abbie Lipsker, director of degree completion at Calvin University.

For Bawi and the others adult learners in his cohort, their dreams feel closer than ever. And even though it’s not always easy, they have a strong support system and network.

“Bringing adults together on campus weekly helps create a bond with each other that will last beyond their time at Calvin,” shared Lipsker. “They’re already becoming each other’s biggest cheerleaders, and I will be thrilled to watch them grow into leadership roles together.”

Thanks to undergrad student Taylor Barnes for recording Bawi's story!

05/06/2026

Walking across the stage at the Master's Hooding this Saturday? Check out this video from last year's event to see how it works—so you can focus on the moment, not the logistics. 🎓

04/29/2026

The impact of great faculty lasts long after the final assignment is turned in.

As our graduate students reflect on their time at Calvin, they continue to point to the professors who challenged them, supported them, and helped them grow—both professionally and personally. ❤️💛

We’re grateful for faculty who show up with expertise, care, and a genuine investment in their students’ journeys.

Thank you, Hennie Schoon, Jason VanHorn, Kerrie Berends, and Debbie Snyder!

More comments of gratitude coming soon!

When Calvin’s Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication (MMSC) program was considering who could lead its Adva...
04/28/2026

When Calvin’s Master of Arts in Media and Strategic Communication (MMSC) program was considering who could lead its Advanced Public Relations course, alumna Nicole Zwiers, MA ’17 quickly rose to the top. As a current communications leader actively shaping strategy in the field, she brings real-world insight that helps bridge the gap between theory and practice for students.

Nicole has years of experience helping organizations tell their stories with clarity and integrity—at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Bethany Christian Services, in software development/digital consulting, and now as the director of marketing and communication at the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids. “I’ve worked in nonprofit and consulting settings, helping organizations articulate what they stand for, navigate change, and communicate responsibly with the people they depend on—donors, communities, clients, and policymakers.”

Her work is grounded in the critical importance of communication. Zwiers shared, “Communication is a form of stewardship because the way organizations tell their stories shapes how people understand their work and whether they trust it. My work focuses on helping teams communicate clearly and build the systems that make strong outcomes possible.”

Nicole will bring that day-to-day experience into the classroom, helping students not only learn key concepts but apply them in ways that reflect current industry realities. She’s passionate about helping students master the fundamentals—clear writing, audience awareness, and communication that helps people—while also diving into campaign planning, crisis communication, and the art of a meaningful public apology. She shared, “If I can teach students how to apologize better than most CEOs, the world will be a better place!”

For Nicole, teaching at Calvin feels personal. As an alumna, she credits her professors and experiences here with shaping her career—and she’s eager to pour that same investment into today’s students.

“I had such a great experience at Calvin as an undergrad.” The strong relationships that Nicole formed at Calvin have been pivotal to her life. “I learned from amazing faculty who have continued to support and encourage me and serve as references. I credit any career success I have to Calvin because I learned so much.”

We’re thrilled to have practitioners like Nicole sharing a passion for their field with master’s students at Calvin!

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3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI
49546

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