It is Greg Elzinga, the current interim president.
Elzinga stepped-in after the departure of disgraced former president Wiebe Boer. Calvin has now removed the “interim” from his title.
It looks like a safe move. I am guessing Calvin didn’t want another rock star president who would turn the campus into a soap opera again. I am guessing that Elzinga will not bring a lot of drama to the Christian Reformed university.
Here is the email sent to Calvin stakeholders:
The board of trustees, in forming a presidential search committee, gave us a charge to find the right person to lead Calvin University as president. As we reflect on this charge, we recognize both the exciting ways God is working within our community and the challenges we currently face. We acknowledge that navigating through such complexities requires wisdom, stability, and vision.
As a committee, perhaps the more straightforward approach would have been to do the conventional: hire a search firm, convene a public search, and entertain applicants interested in leading Calvin. However, this summer of listening, prayer, and discernment showed the committee another path.
We are delighted to announce the Board of Trustees, following our unanimous recommendation, voted unanimously at its most recent meeting to appoint Greg Elzinga as president of Calvin University.
Greg has been serving as our interim president since the spring and has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and vision during this transitional period.
In preparing for the next chapter of Calvin’s leadership, the search committee used the summer to gather feedback from faculty, staff, students, and the president’s cabinet regarding the criteria needed for the next president. What we heard highlighted the following key qualities, including the critical functions of:
- Embodying Christian commitment;
- Being an excellent chief fundraiser;
- Having organizational effectiveness;
- Being an external ambassador;
- Having high emotional intelligence;
- Demonstrating a track record of advocacy for DEIB; and
- Being able to galvanize the community.
We also heavily weighed the current environment that Calvin exists in today. The university is currently navigating a season where significant external pressures require a steady display of consistency, dependability, and trust. Four significant items stood out to us:
- Navigating the changing landscape of higher education
- Engaging and stewarding donor relationships as the university prepares for a campaign that will support the continued growth and impact of Calvin University
- Responding to the Synod of the Christian Reformed Church in North America’s request for a report on how Calvin will handle confessional subscription
- Preparing for Calvin’s Sesquicentennial, a 2026 milestone that will celebrate 150 years of legacy, requiring careful planning and leadership
It is in this context that Interim President Greg Elzinga’s leadership has proven to be especially vital. His background, expertise, and strong relationships in the work of fundraising are essential for this time. His experience as a first-generation college student and his previous background leading faith-based global engagement initiatives have equipped him to lead with empathy and vision, connecting deeply with the student body and the broader Calvin community throughout the U.S. and around the world. The committee consistently heard that throughout this period Greg has shown resilience, adaptability, and trustworthiness within each group of constituents. In short, he is the best leader for Calvin at this moment.
As we move forward, we know Greg will continue to lead Calvin University with the same passion and integrity that he has shown as interim president. We are confident that his vision for the future will guide us towards new heights of academic excellence, innovation, community engagement, and Christ-centered influence in the world.
In Greg’s own words: “In this next season, we are focused on leveraging comprehensive enrollment growth, making disciplined investments in infrastructure, strengthening workplace culture, and fundraising. Our shared strategy will drive us toward success and ensure that Calvin University continues to thrive and serve our community effectively.”
I was not familiar with the “B” in “DEIB.” Turns out it’s “belonging.” I’d be curious whether that’s actual “belonging,” or the oft-heard “sense of belonging”? Either way, I’d love to know what that is. Perhaps related, I’d be interested in what a “strengthened” workplace culture would be? A “more just and virtuous” workplace would be nice, as might a more “Christlike” workplace (though I’m not sure that’s a thing any more than a “Christlike nation” is possible), but a “strong workplace culture” actually sounds a little worrisome.