History

The Center for Faithful Leadership: A Brief History

The Center for Faithful Leadership continues a tradition dating back to Hope’s incorporation in 1866. The college's incorporation articles state Hope's purpose: "to provide comprehensive courses of study... enabling students to… prepare for positions of leadership in the nation and the world."

Hope's academic officials have long envisioned a leadership program for students. Early in President Bultman's tenure, a gift from an anonymous donor made that vision possible. The Center for Faithful Leadership began in the summer of 2005 under the direction of CFL’s first director, Professor Doug Koopman. To assist him, Professor Koopman hired current part-time CFL administrative assistant, Sarah Kolean.

Professor Koopman determined that one way CFL could help educate students for positions of leadership was through an academic minor. Professor Steve VanderVeen built on that idea when Provost Jim Boelkins named him interim director in February of 2007. In August of 2007, Provost Boelkins gave him his first three-year contract as director.

Also in August of 2007, CFL launched Hope’s Minor in Organizational Leadership Practice as well as Hope’s Mentoring Program. In November of 2007, to assist with the mentoring program, CFL partnered with the CrossRoads program to hire a part-time mentoring coordinator, Marcia Floding. In May of 2008, CFL offered its first May term course on entrepreneurship, believing economic and social entrepreneurship—or innovation leading to the more effective and efficient use of resources and more synergistic collaboration among people—are expressions of leadership.

From its beginning, CFL has drawn its inspiration from the leadership philosophy known as servant leadership. Servant leadership can be defined as a way of life and a vehicle for giving and receiving love in collaboration with others. The practice of servant leadership involves serving others and leading from the inside out. This involves opening our hearts (feeling), finding our souls (reflecting), exercising our hands (doing), and involving our minds (thinking). But CFL seeks not to teach servant leadership, but to empower students to empower others.

To empower students, CFL needs empowering leaders. CFL named its first Servant Leader-in-Residence in January of 2009. Virgil Gulker works part-time with CFL and serves students as director of Hope’s ASI (Assessment, Solutions, Implementation) Research and Consulting Program. Students, supported by a network of subject area specialists and guided by Dr. Gulker, assist organizations, non-profit and for-profit, in their work to heal the world.

CFL named its second Servant Leader-in-Residence in January of 2010. Paul Jones serves students by contributing his time and wisdom to Hope’s Mentoring, ASI Student Consulting, and internship programs.

In 2010, as an offshoot of the LDRS minor and ASI Consulting, CFL launched Hope’s LdOut³ (“Lead-out”) Program under the direction of Dr. Gulker. LdOut³ gives Hope College students the opportunity to train 11 th graders who then train 7 th graders. Also, in 2010, CFL was given the opportunity to develop the Hope Entrepreneurship Initiative (HEI) Program. HEI seeks to help students become entrepreneurial leaders by helping them better understand who they are and whether they are called to be entrepreneurs.

CFL named its third Servant Leader-in-Residence in 2011. Jim Cnossen serves Hope’s Mentoring, ASI Consulting programs, and HEI programs. Jim also serves CFL (along with Paul, Virgil, and Tracy Michael) as a Senior Adviser.

Through the help of many volunteers, CFL continues to impact both the Hope College and Holland-area communities. Three volunteers who have mentored students in Hope’s Mentoring Program for more than five semesters: Abby Reeg (seven semesters), Paul Jones (six semesters), and Tony Muiderman (five semesters). Ten volunteers have mentored for four semesters: Ann Piet Anderson, Ellen Awad, David DeVisser, Leah Dykstra, Jeanette Hoyer, Al McGeehan, Garrick Pohl, Cheryl Smith, and Brenda VanderMuelen. Six more volunteers have mentored for three semesters, and 27 for two semesters. CFL’s mentoring program averages about 30 students and 30 mentors per semester.

Volunteers also contribute to Hope’s LdOut³ Program. While LdOut³ has grown to include 20 Hope Students serving 11 th graders who serve 7 th graders in four organizations per semester, it could not have grown without the leadership of student Reed Swift and volunteer and CFL Senior Advisor Tracy McMichael.

Many volunteers have also already served through the HEI Program. HEI now sponsors a Idea Pitch and Learn competitions as well as a May term class and summer fellowship program. 17 Community members have graciously offered their time as idea pitch judges and May term speakers and hosts. More than 60 students participated in idea pitch and learns in the 2010-2011 academic year, and over 10 students are enrolled in the May term course, to be guided by Virgil Gulker and Jim Cnossen. Nine $4000 fellowships were awarded for the HEI Summer Fellowship Program, funded by a generous donor. The HEI Summer Fellowship Program students will be mentored by HEI’s new Entrepreneur-in-Residence and part-time staff person, Garrick Pohl.

Former Hope College Provost Jim Boelkins led a four-student team for Hope’s ASI Student Consulting Program. His team focused on a project for Holland Rescue Mission and the “gap” population in Holland. Virgil Gulker and Jonathan Koop worked with a two-student team on research for a financial literacy program sponsored by Community Action House. On average, 10 students are employed by ASI.

Hope’s Leadership Minor has also grown, as has enrollment in leadership courses. Enrollments in the LDRS 201 course are total 65 students per year, spread over four course sections. At least one student’s final paper reflects the heart and soul of CFL’s philosophy of leadership:

When I enrolled in [LDRS 201] I thought I would be learning of tools and skills that are needed to be a leader. Now I realize that leadership is not that at all. It is a life of service and a commitment to others that brings out the leadership in someone. I used to see leaders as people in charge who make decisions and control people. I see that true leaders are people who work with others, teach share, and above all other things love others. -- Zack Lockhart

In short, empowering students to empower others involves knowing the source of one’s strength. Knowledge and experience are also important. Therefore, a hallmark of leadership courses are that book learning and experience—theory and practice—are integrated. Leadership student engage organizations and people in the Holland area community. Learning flows in two directions. This is also true of CFL’s latest course offering. This fall semester, Dr. Gulker is offering an independent study course called “Leading Faith-based Ministries” and seven students have enrolled.

As CFL is empowering students, it is also being empowered by volunteers and a supportive campus community. Because of this fertile soil, CFL is growing and transitioning from infancy to adolescence.  CFL is now a “quasi-department” focused on giving students opportunities to be servant leaders and grow in self-knowledge. As it matures, CFL will continue not only to help the college achieve its original mission of preparing students for positions of leadership, but also to help it “educate students for lives of leadership and service…in the context of the historic Christian faith” no matter their calling in life.