RESOURCES & SERVICES
Faculty Resources
Dordt College has a wealth of faculty members who can speak, entertain, and answer questions on a variety of topics of interest to church groups, alumni, and interested constituents all over North America. We are happy to serve the greater community in this capacity.
Below you'll find a list of qualified faculty available to speak in their specialized fields. Feel free to contact the alumni and church relations office at (712) 722-6028 or alumni@dordt.edu for more information or assistance in scheduling an appearance by one of our staff.
Dr. Ethan Brue
Co-Dean for Natural Sciences/Associate Professor of Engineering
Ethan Brue joined the engineering department in 2000. Dr. Brue has taught Heat Transfer, History of Science and Technology, Fluid Mechanics, Machine Design, Intro to Engineering, Solar Energy Engineering, Dynamic Systems, and Material Science. His research interests include biomass gasification and combustion, solar energy engineering, and the history of technology. Dr. Brue is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Iowa.
Dr. Brue has several different topics on which he can speak:
- Energy Conversion and Conservation: The Bigger Picture
- The Future of Biofuels and Biobased Products
- Seeking Sustainability in a World of Boundaries and Limits
Dr. Karen De Mol
Professor of Music
Professor De Mol team teaches courses in liturgy and worship. She teaches Music Theory, Form and Analysis, Music Literature, and Private Clarinet. In addition, she has been music department chair since 1985 and serves as chair of the worship committee at First CRC in Sioux Center, Iowa. Dr. De Mol has written Sound Stewardship: How Shall Christians Think about Music?
With Jason Lief, Dr. De Mol has developed two presentations relevant to worship.
- In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Worship. This session will present the meaning of the Trinity for the shape and content of worship and will suggest means of expressing our belief in all the three Persons of the Trinity in balanced and appropriate ways in worship.
- Keeping the Lord’s Supper Fresh and Faithful. This seminar will examine biblical, theological, and practical issues regarding the practice of the Lord’s Supper in the context of Reformed worship.
Mark Christians
Associate Professor of Psychology
Professor Christians leads a workshop called The Boundaries of Parenthood: Saying "YES" and "NO" in Love
The goals of this workshop are:
- To understand the biblical themes for parenting.
- To learn how our parenting is impacted by healthy and unhealthy boundaries.
- To learn the basics of setting clear boundaries.
- To see the benefits of communicating clear boundaries.
Dr. Paul Fessler
Professor of History
A historian of ethnicity and immigration, Professor Fessler places today’s hot topics of immigration and bilingual education within a historical context—comparing today’s immigration issues to those of the past 200 years. Possible talks include:
- Melting Pot or Exploding Kettle? Immigration, Bilingual Education, and American Politics
- What's Wrong with Multiculturalism?: A Christian critique
Dr. James C. Schaap
Professor of English
A Dordt College favorite, Dr. Schaap reads from the many books and short stories he has published over the years. Listening to Dr. Schaap is a delightful and entertaining event that alumni and friends have enjoyed on many occasions around North America.
Mark Volkers
Digital Media Production Coordinator and Instructor of Communication
Volkers spent the past decade as a photojournalist, writer, and documentary film maker for the CRC denomination. He’s won 15 national awards for documentary work and has done numerous ads and promo pieces for corporations, businesses, and non-profits. He also served in Kenya as a missionary for seven years.
Volkers has a DVD curriculum that he has produced that can be part of a 6-week or 12-week adult education class. It is titled Cultures and Religions from Around the World.
This curriculum uses award-winning documentary films to explore issues like the persecuted church in China, Islam and Christianity in Mali, Voodooism and Syncretism in Haiti, the dusty trails of tradition in Nigeria, Catholicism in Mexico, and more.
Bernie Weidenaar
Emeritus Assistant Professor of Business Administration
Before coming to Dordt College, Professor Weidenaar had over 30 years of experience with ARCO Oil Company. Professor Weidenaar’s presentation is titled Crude Oil, Renewable Fuels, and Gasoline-Where are we going? With ethanol, methane, and the price of oil and natural gas dominating our headlines it promises to be an interesting and informative engagement. Weidenaar has a B.A. in chemistry and an M.A. in marketing.
Dr. Thomas Wolthuis
Professor of Theology
In the area of Bible study Dr. Wolthuis can speak on different books or sections of Scripture, including the Psalms, wisdom books, prophecy, the Gospels, and the book of Revelation. He is also able to lead in explorations of other spiritual disciplines to increase devotional practices for youth and adults. Another area of interest is talking with churches on developing vision and mission. He is presently serving as a ministry advisor to Living Water Community Church, a new church plant in Orange City, Iowa.
Dale Zevenbergen
Instructor of Business
Professor Zevenbergen teaches Marketing and Operations Management. Most recently, Dale has 18 years of experience in accounting, cost management, manufacturing, sales, and distribution management, primarily at Pella Corporation. Professor Zevenbergen's presentation is titled Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement. He will draw heavily on principles learned and cases from his work in management at one of the top 100 companies to work for in America.
