As the academic year comes to a close, a few familiar campus faces are saying goodbye. Others are transitioning into different roles. The changes range from positions involving resident life, professors and other staff roles.
Dr. James Mead, professor of biblical and theological studies, has taught at Northwestern for 24 years. Mead has enjoyed teaching and mentoring students as a professor, as well as “having the opportunity to connect with students outside of class through dorm talks, Bible studies, chapel talks and retreats, but also experiencing their artistic and athletic talents through plays, concerts and games,” Mead said.
Before coming to NW, Mead was a pastor for 12 years. “While I enjoyed a great deal about church ministry, my first love was teaching the Bible,” Mead said. “I would sit in my pastor’s study and wonder what it might be like to be a professor in a Christian college.”
“I really like Mead’s ability to relate the content he is teaching to things that are relevant to his student,” said Sophomore Jaden Lorang. “He is also hilarious.”
Mead has taught Christian Story 1, Biblical Interpretation and Elementary Biblical Hebrew and Culture.
“I really liked when Mead described God putting humans on the earth like Squidgames,” said senior Jillian Simon.
“I really liked it when Mead played a song that went: ‘future so bright I gotta wear shades,” said junior Tabitha Thatcher.
“I am grateful to God and also Northwestern for granting me this privilege,” Mead said.
Amber Huizenga, the theatre department’s costume studio supervisor, has helped with NW theatrical productions since 2010. Alongside designing and providing costumes for NW productions, Huizenga has also costumed for Orange City area performances and the Orange City Tulip Court.
There are also NW staff members who are not leaving campus but are changing roles.
Lindsay Simmelink, current resident director of the Bolks apartments and Court Yard Village apartments will officially take on the role of director of student programs and first-year experience. Simmelink is currently interim director while still being RD, but she will drop the RD role effective June 1.
In place of Simmelink leaving her apartments RD position, Jason Katsma, the resident director of North Suites will become the RD of the Bolks apartments and Court Yard Village apartments.
On Thursday nights, Katsma and his toddler daughter, Ellen, often visit the Beacon lab, located in North Suites’s basement, on Thursday evenings.
“The Beacon will miss visits from Jason and Ellen,” said Thatcher.
Caylan DeLucia, the RD of Stegenga Hall for five years will take on the position of Administrative and Communications Coordinator at NW’s Compass Center.
