Dordt University announces administrative cabinet leadership transitions

Dordt University officials recently announced changes to key leadership roles within the administrative cabinet.

Dr. Brandon Huisman has been appointed as Vice President of Advancement and Marketing, and Greg Van Dyke will serve as Vice President of Enrollment. Vice President of Advancement John Baas has made the decision to step back from his role due to ongoing health concerns, with the full support and gratitude of the university community.

This succession planning process began over 18 months ago, says Dordt University President Dr. Erik Hoekstra, when Baas expressed a “desire and an openness to remain full-time with Dordt, but perhaps not in the role of Vice President.” Hoekstra began a search process including both internal and external candidates, which resulted in a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of “precisely the transition that I’ve announced today.”

“We had planned to make this transition in the summer of 2025—likely in June or July. However, those were our plans—the Lord knew that we needed to have the plan ready for January.”

For more than six years, Huisman has worked as Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing at Dordt. Passionate about advancing Christian higher education, he has led initiatives in enrollment, marketing, and institutional strategy. He is committed to fostering kingdom-minded collaboration and innovation, equipping teams to engage with Christ-centered purpose until all is made new.

“I am eager to step into this role and serve Defender Nation in new ways,” says Huisman. “Dordt has momentum, thanks to God’s faithfulness and the missional clarity we enjoy. I count it a blessing to invite people into what God is accomplishing at and through Dordt University.”

Part of the momentum Dordt University is experiencing includes four straight years of record enrollment. Van Dyke has felt that momentum firsthand in his role as Director of Admissions. A recipient of the 2023 Annual Service Award for Outstanding Achievement from the North American Coalition for Christian Admissions Professionals (NACCAP), Van Dyke has worked in Dordt’s admissions office for more than 20 years to help recruit countless students to Dordt. He looks forward to continuing to serve at Dordt through this new role.

“I am excited for the opportunity to continue working with the amazing team in the admissions office while expanding partnerships across campus,” says Van Dyke. “Dordt is filled with incredible people who live out the university’s mission every day, and I’m honored to join them in furthering that work.”

Huisman and Van Dyke both attended Dordt for their undergraduate degrees. Huisman went on to earn an MBA from Regent University as well as an Ed.D. in Higher Education from Bethel University.

John Baas has served as Vice President of Advancement for nearly 20 years at Dordt University; he is moving into a new role as a senior development officer, to focus more time on ongoing health issues. To learn more, please visit Baas’ CaringBridge site.

Baas says he has loved seeing how Dordt has grown and developed. “At the same time, I’ve especially appreciated Dordt’s unwavering and unapologetic commitment to the authority of Scripture that has only strengthened over the past few years.”

“It has been great to serve in an organization where there is so much genuine institutional alignment from the board, to the cabinet, to faculty, staff and friends. That God has used me in some way to contribute to what Dordt has become and is becoming is an amazing gift.”

Under Baas’ leadership, Dordt University was able to raise more than $103 million as part of the “Planting for the Future” campaign, which was the most successful campaign in the university’s history. Dordt has also tripled annual fundraising efforts during Baas’ tenure.

“New leadership for a new generation is a good thing,” adds Baas. “As I and others on our team are late in our careers, we’ve begun building a younger team. Brandon has proved his effectiveness as a leader and developer of people, and I think he will very quickly help take advancement to the next level of performance.”

Through this time of transition, President of Dordt University Dr. Erik Hoekstra has considered Proverbs 16:9: “The heart of man makes his plans, but the Lord determines his steps.”

“Nearly a decade ago, John hired Brandon as Director of Alumni and External Relations,” says Hoekstra. “Over the years, John has been a great mentor to Brandon. The love and trust that these two have for one another is just another way God has prepared the way for this leadership transition.”

Hoekstra is confident in Van Dyke’s ability to lead the enrollment team as well. “The team in that area is strong and supportive of his leadership, and I know he’ll help them all thrive in their work,” says Hoekstra.

“As Erik has said, God’s timing is always perfect,” says Baas. “I have great confidence that God has wonderful plans for Dordt and for our teams, many of them far greater than what we imagine or hope for.”

Hoekstra encourages the Dordt community to keep Baas and his family in their prayers. “We ask for prayers that the Lord would provide full healing for John, and give him, Beth, and their family peace as they face the healing journey ahead.”

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.