Administration Profile: James E. Bultman
President of Hope College

President James Bultman fervently believes in the excellence and tradition of Hope College. As a former student, faculty member, administrator, dean, and, since 1999, as president, he has experienced Hope from every perspective, and has grown to trust ever stronger in the quality of the school and its students.

His experience with hundreds of other schools throughout the country has convinced him of the completeness of the education Hope offers. “I like everything about Hope College. I like the package at Hope—our education in four major dimensions; the intellectual, the spiritual, the social, and the physical,” President Bultman says. “If you look across the country, there are probably institutions that are stronger in any one of those dimensions—that’s very possible—but I think Hope is without equal when you take the whole package into consideration. Hope stands very tall.”

President Bultman attributes much of Hope’s success to its faculty. “The Hope faculty is unusual in its scholarship,” he says, “and in the fact that they can be doing research and publishing in addition to teaching. They’re also very giving in their time. They’re accessible, and willing to spend time with students. That’s very rare on a college campus, and it’s one of the things that we’re extremely proud of at Hope.”

“Hope students are smart, with innate abilities and diligence and respect,” he says. “They understand the mission at Hope—they are able to serve other people. Hope is a very caring and giving community. I like that students here are not one-dimensional. They get involved; they use their abilities to glorify God and to care for other people. This is a very engaged campus.”

President Bultman is solidly committed to the education students receive at Hope. “If you want to be a part of a grand tradition, Hope is a great place,” he says. “If you want to be part of a community where there are exceptional academics and superiority in extracurricular activity and collegiate sports, Hope is a great place. If you want to be in a place where there’s excellence in character and faith development, Hope’s a great place. This is the kind of place that will positively affect your life—not just your first job, but your entire life.”

This profile was written by Megan E. Dougherty, a 2007 Hope College graduate from Normal, Ill., for the 2007-08 Hope College Catalog.

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