Dordt University welcomes new faculty

Dordt University is pleased to introduce new faculty hires:

Nathaniel Benjamin will join the Dordt University community as an assistant professor of mathematics. Nathaniel earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Education Mathematics from Kutztown University. For the past five years, Benjamin has been working on earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from Iowa State University, which he is scheduled to complete this summer.

Jerry De Groot will serve the Dordt University community as instructor of mathematics. De Groot earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Dordt University (previously College), a Master of Arts in Math Education from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Master of Arts in Mathematics from the University of California. The past two years Jerry has taught math at Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. Prior to that he was a part-time instructor at Indiana University Northwest as well as a continuing lecturer of mathematics at Purdue University North Central/Northwest. Before his experience in higher education, Jerry served for 15 years as a department chair and instructor at Ripon Christian High School.

Laremy De Vries will join the Dordt University community as instructor of philosophy. De Vries earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Dordt University (previously College). He also earned a Master of Philosophy from Vrije Universitieit in Amsterdam. For the past two years, he has been serving as an adjunct instructor for Dordt. He is also the owner of the Fruited Plain Café in Sioux Center.

Ryan Eckert will serve at Dordt as assistant professor of art and design. Eckert earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts from Eastern Illinois University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from Arizona State University. The past year, he has served as an art and art history teacher at Trinity School at Meadow View. He also served for three years as a drawing instructor at Arizona State University before moving to the position at Trinity. Before his time at Arizona State University, he served one year as a studio art instructor at Eastern Illinois University.

Dr. Geoffrey Fulkerson will join the Dordt community as an associate professor of philosophy. Fulkerson earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Doctor of Philosophy in Systemic Theology. For the past two years, he has worked as the director of the Henry Center for Theological Understanding as well as an affiliate faculty of theology for Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Prior to that he was the managing director and then associate director for the Henry Center for Theological Understanding as well as associate director of Jonathan Edwards Center at TEDS. Over the last decade, Fulkerson has written or contributed to, as well as administered, nearly $10 million in grants and will continue his grant and interdisciplinary research experience at Dordt University.

Dr. Jonathan Gingrich will serve the Dordt community as assistant professor of engineering. Gingrich earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and in Engineering with a chemical concentration from Calvin College. He also has a master’s in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and his Ph.D. in civil engineering. His primary focus is air quality, with a focus on human exposure to particulate matter in India. This work included leading a field study in Bangalore, India.

Dr. Robert Hobgood has been hired as an assistant professor of music at Dordt. Hobgood earned a Bachelor of Music in Church Music from Covenant College and a Master of Music in Sacred Music from Westminster Choir College. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Church Music with concentrations in both choral conducting and organ performance from the University of Kansas (KU). Prior to moving to Kansas, Rob served for eight years as director of music and organist at Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Dr. Joshua Hollinger will serve at Dordt as assistant professor of economics. Hollinger earned a Bachelor of Arts in Actuarial Science and Economics from Northwestern College, and he earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from the University of Rochester. He also worked as a Pricing Analyst at Nationwide Insurance for two years before graduate school.

Lisa Mouw will join the Dordt community as instructor of education. Mouw earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and School Leadership from Dordt University (previously college). She has been serving as director of learning at Sioux Center Christian School (SCCS) for the past five years. She also served for eight years as a fourth and sixth grade teacher at SCCS. Before her time at Sioux Center Christian, she served as a teacher at Wee Blessings Preschool in Orange City, Iowa, as well as teaching first grade and middle school at Heritage Christian School in North Liberty, Iowa.

Dr. Rebecca Niemeyer Rens will serve the Dordt community as assistant professor of business. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Dordt University (previously College), a Master of Business Administration from University of Sioux Falls, and a Doctor of Business Administration with a leadership cognate from Liberty University. For three decades, she has served as president and managing partner of multiple small businesses. Prior to her calling as an entrepreneur, she worked as a sales and marketing professional at a manufacturing firm, and as a development officer in the Advancement Office at Dordt.

Justin Pastoor will be joining Dordt University as a staff member with teaching responsibilities. He will serve as an instructor of Health and Human Performance (HHP) as well as the throws coach for the track and field program. Pastoor earned his bachelor's degree in HHP with an emphasis in Exercise Science from Dordt and his master's degree in Human Performance: Strength and Conditioning from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Prior to Dordt, he served in Omaha, Nebraska for five years working at a private sports performance facility called The Xplosive Edge as an assistant director of sports performance and internship director.

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 U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.