Dordt University has added four faculty members whose expertise will help meet the needs of students across its Core program while maintaining the personalized, Christ-centered education that defines the Dordt experience.
As Dordt University's enrollment continues to grow and positions change within the institution, the university has added four faculty members whose expertise will help meet the needs of students across its Core program while maintaining the personalized, Christ-centered education that defines the Dordt experience.
Joining Dordt's faculty this fall are Dr. Isuwa Atsen, associate professor of theology; Dr. Justin Vos, assistant professor of history; Dr. Kitrick Fynaardt, instructor of mathematics; and Taylor Droog, biology teaching fellow.
![Dordt University Logo]()
"Our faculty understand that they're not simply teaching content. They're equipping students to understand God's world, to think deeply about their disciplines, and to faithfully live out their calling wherever God leads them."
Dr. Leah Zuidema, Vice President for Academic Affairs
Because every Dordt undergraduate student completes the university's Core program, enrollment growth across the institution creates demand for foundational courses in disciplines such as theology, history, mathematics, and the sciences. The new faculty members will help ensure students continue to experience small class sizes and meaningful faculty mentorship.
"Like any university, we have foundational academic competencies that every student needs to fulfill," says Dr. Leah Zuidema, vice president for academic affairs at Dordt University. "As enrollment grows, more students are taking courses in theology, history, biology, mathematics, and other Core disciplines. That means we need additional sections and additional faculty to continue providing the kind of education Dordt is known for."
Beyond meeting instructional needs, Zuidema says the new faculty members share Dordt's commitment to helping students understand every academic discipline through a biblical worldview.
"Our faculty help students understand how their field fits within the larger story of creation, fall, redemption, and renewal," she says. "Whether they're teaching students in a major or introducing them to a discipline through the Core, they help students see that all of God's world is interconnected and that their education prepares them to faithfully serve him in every area of life."
Atsen joins Dordt after teaching at Trinity Christian College in Illinois and Gindiri Theological Seminary in Nigeria. He also has served as a pastor in both Nigeria and the United States. His academic background includes a doctorate in theological studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.
Vos returns to his alma mater after serving as assistant teaching professor of history at Florida State University. A 2016 Dordt graduate with degrees in history and political science, he earned his doctorate in history from Florida State in 2022.
Fynaardt also returns to Northwest Iowa after completing his doctorate in mathematics at the University of Iowa. While pursuing his PhD, he taught several undergraduate mathematics courses, including a popular class exploring the mathematics behind Pokémon GO that was later featured by Newsweek.
Droog, a 2023 Dordt graduate, will continue serving as the university's grants manager and online enrollment counselor while transitioning half of her responsibilities to the role of biology teaching fellow. She is completing her Master of Public Health in epidemiology through the University of Texas Health Science Center this summer and will begin doctoral studies in epidemiology later this year.
"Our faculty understand that they're not simply teaching content," says Zuidema. "They're equipping students to understand God's world, to think deeply about their disciplines, and to faithfully live out their calling wherever God leads them."
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, and other national publications.
"By preserving what makes Heartland unique while expanding access to CACE's professional development initiatives, research, leadership resources, and Dordt University's educational expertise, we believe we can accomplish more together than either organization could accomplish alone."
“I love that this partnership is local supporting local. We live and work in a small community in Northwest Iowa, and so many of us are proud of this area and understand how closely agriculture, business, education, and community are connected.”
Related Events
