After a number of departures from the social work department in the spring and summer of 2022, and as the university enters a season of growth, Calvin recently finalized the hiring of three full-time tenure-track faculty in the social work department: Sherita Washington, Hendrika Schoon and Jenny Siegel.
All three women have a variety of experiences across the “breadth” of the field of social work — including global focuses, research focuses, macro-level policy focuses and individual focuses — which makes for “a strong team,” according to program director Stacia Hoeksema.
Washington and Schoon were hired a little less than two years ago as “full-time, but non-tenure track faculty helping the department through that transitional moment,” according to Provost Noah Toly.
Despite their temporary appointment, “they have not operated in a temporary way,” Hoeksema told Chimes. Schoon and Washington have stepped into a difficult moment for the department “with grace and wisdom” and “have been just amazing with our students,” she said, which makes her excited to continue to work with them –– and Siegel –– going forward.
Siegel, who will be brand new to the department, is a Calvin alumnus who has extensive social work experience, specifically in refugee integration and issues that pertain to refugee youth.
For senior Cora Vanden Heuvel, who is a social work student and the department assistant, “It’s really exciting to see this new phase…they’re all going to be wonderful people and great assets to the department.”
Washington came to Calvin for a few reasons — not the least of them divine calling — and she stayed in part because, in order to prepare students for working in the diverse field of social work, “you need diversity…on campus and in the classroom,” she said. The support she received from former president Wiebe Boer and his wife Joanna Boer was instrumental in her decision to stay, she told Chimes.
Her vision of teaching as her ministry — informed by her seven years of experience as a pastor — was also significant as she decided to continue as a professor.
According to Hoeksema, hiring isn’t the only reason the department is experiencing “new energy” that “feels really exciting” though.
Growth happening in other areas of the university with which the social work department will likely be engaged — such as adult degree completion programs, the continued success of the Calvin Prison Initiative and explorations into what establishing a Master’s of social work program at Calvin might look like — is also bringing increased energy, Hoeksema said.
Washington, who works with the social work students seeking internships, hopes to build the program’s reputation “to be top-notch in this city, and not just this city, but this state.”
Furthermore, time has helped heal some of the grief students and faculty close to the department experienced with the departure of three beloved faculty in a short period, according to Hoeksema and Vanden Heuvel.
“The last time that Chimes interviewed me about our department, it was like we’re standing in the tension of grief and hope.’ Hoeksema said. “Now I feel like we still stand there, but maybe a little more weight is on the hope foot.”
