Julie Van Otterloo

Julie Van Otterloo serves as an instructor of social work and BSW field director at Dordt University. A Dordt alumna, she earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Dordt and later completed her Master of Social Work degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Prior to joining Dordt's faculty, Van Otterloo spent the majority of her social work career with Bethany Christian Services of Northwest Iowa, where she served in a variety of roles including Adoption Specialist, Adoption Educator, Expectant Parent Advocate, Education Grant Coordinator, Interim Co-Director, and Master Trainer for the Infant Adoption Awareness Training Program through the National Council for Adoption. She also worked as a Hospice Social Worker at Sioux Center Health, supporting individuals and families during end-of-life care. Throughout her career, she has been privileged to walk alongside people across the life span—from pregnancy planning and birth through the final stages of life.

In addition, Van Otterloo has served as Prevention Education Coordinator for the Northwest Iowa Alcoholism and Drug Treatment Unit, Assistant Adjunct at Dordt College, and Lecturer in Social Work at Northwestern College. Her professional experiences reflect a deep commitment to serving individuals, families, and communities through education, advocacy, and compassionate care.

Julie and her husband live in Rock Valley, Iowa. They have four children, two of whom are married, and two granddaughters who bring great joy to their lives. She enjoys working with college students, reading, walking, and spending time with family and friends. As a family, they enjoy traveling, especially to destinations in the mountains or along sunny beaches.