Calvin School of Graduate & Continuing Studies

06/03/2026

Recent Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) grad Anna Porritt is celebrating a major milestone: landing her first full-time teaching position as a physical education teacher at Mason Public High School.

"Receiving the job offer was such an exciting moment," Anna shared. "I felt relief, gratitude, and excitement all at once. The MAT program involved a lot of hard work, long days, and stepping outside of my comfort zone, so getting that phone call felt like a full-circle moment."

For Anna, the opportunity is about much more than teaching sports and fitness. "What excites me most is building relationships with students and creating a positive environment where they feel seen, supported, and successful," she said. "I love that I get to help students build confidence, develop healthy habits, and find ways to enjoy being active."

With an undergraduate degree in Healthy Lifestyles and Fitness Science, Anna always felt drawn to teaching. The MAT program offered a seamless, year-long opportunity to make that possible.

Anna credits Calvin's MAT program with preparing her for the realities of the classroom through a combination of rigorous coursework and hands-on experience.

"The coursework challenged me to think deeply about teaching and learning, while my field placements and student teaching allowed me to put those ideas into practice," she said. "By the end of the program, I felt prepared not only to teach content but also to build relationships, manage a classroom, and respond to the many unexpected moments that come with teaching."

She also points to the support she received from professors, mentor teachers, and classmates throughout the program. "My professors pushed me to become a reflective educator, my mentor teachers welcomed me into their classrooms, and my cohort supported each other every step of the way."

For those considering a career change or coming from a non-education background, Anna offers simple advice: "If teaching is something you feel called to do, don't be afraid to take the leap. The MAT program challenged me, supported me, and provided meaningful experiences that prepared me for the classroom. I'm incredibly grateful that I took that step."

Congratulations, Anna! We're excited to see the impact you'll make in the lives of your students!

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Calvin University Speech Pathology & Audiology for achieving recognition as a top master's program in the U.S.! Our program was lauded for the integration of five clinical practicums, nearly 100% Praxis pass rates, faith-based framework, and availability in both residential and distance formats. Well done!

Compare the best CAA-accredited Master's in Speech-Language Pathology programs. See rankings, admissions, costs, salaries, and online options for 2026.

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!

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!

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! ❤️💛

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. 💛🎓❤️

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.

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! ❤️💛

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!