ZWEMER VIEWA Decade of Blessings

DOUG BURG

I completed 10 years at Northwestern in December. What a privilege to serve as your president!

I am deeply grateful to my wife, Michelle. Without her love and incredible sacrifice, I could not fill this role. I’m also thankful to our kids—Ryan ’17, Maddie and Kyle—who were uprooted to move here when they were 13, 9 and 6. Michelle and our family—which now includes Ryan’s wife, Caitlyn (Van Es ’16)—are the most precious people in my life.

I will be forever grateful to Drew Vogel ’72 and Jon Opgenorth ’88, who co-chaired the search committee that recommended me. Both have become dear friends and been unwavering in their support through the joys and challenges of leadership. What a blessing to serve with great board chairs in Drew, Dave Van Engelenhoven ’65 and Marty Guthmiller ’82. Each has brought unique gifts to the role and continued to strengthen our board’s passionate commitment to Northwestern’s Christ-centered mission.

On a day-to-day basis, the most satisfying things to Michelle and me are relationships. The members of my cabinet have been amazing, as has my executive administrative assistant, Jill Haarsma ’95. Our extremely talented and devoted faculty and staff ensure Northwestern keeps its reputation for excellent, relational, difference-making Christian higher education.

The greatest blessing of being here a decade is seeing how God is using alumni we once knew as students. I could list many examples but only have space for a few. One of the first students I met was Kyle Blankers ’08. After graduation he served as an admissions counselor and assistant track coach. He’s now an insurance agent in Orange City. Kyle and his wife, Teresa, are involved in their church and church-planting efforts. He takes credit for coining my nickname: PGC.

Greta Hays ’11 graduated with a public relations major. After a memorable theatre career at NWC, she was selected for a prestigious internship at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She recently joined the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities as director of communications.

Davina Ramasamy ’10 came from a Hindu family in Mauritius. She accepted Christ as her Savior at Northwestern. Her brother Dylan ’11 and parents have also become Christians. Davina lives in St. Louis, where she works for RGA insurance and volunteers for her church.

Only God could have written Davina’s story, as well as the others’. What an honor to know these phenomenal young people! They are the embodiment of Northwestern’s mission in a lost and broken world. It has been an honor to meet thousands of alumni and friends like them who courageously and faithfully pursue God’s redeeming work in their families, communities, churches and careers. Thank you for furthering the mission of Northwestern by encouraging students to consider NWC, and by giving generously and praying fervently for the college.