Ross Douma Joins Dordt Administrative Cabinet

Ross Douma, athletic director at Dordt University, recently joined the administrative cabinet.

In his role as athletic director, Douma has championed the Defender Way, a tangible summary of the commitments of the athletic department and its approach to competitive athletics. Based on Romans 12:1, the Defender Way includes four points:

• We are committed to the Great Commission and cultural mandate
• We are committed to equipping student-athletes to be servant leaders
• We are committed to the academic development of all student-athletes
• We are committed to the pursuit of championships

“Administered well, Christian athletics has the propensity to impact culture,” says Douma. “Through the Defender Way, Dordt shows that there is a better and different way to administer athletics than what society currently deems as appropriate. With nearly 600 students at Dordt as members of an athletic team, it is essential that our athletes are empowered with the necessary skills to impact their sphere of influence by way of athletics.”

Douma has had many accomplishments during his time at Dordt. In the 2019-20 academic year, all 18 teams at Dordt earned NAIA Scholar-Team recognition. Douma has helped oversee the Defender Gold Club, which has increased its revenue generation by 137 percent since 2017. Also, in the 2021-22 academic year, Defender athletics will add its 19th program, competitive cheer.

“Leading athletics is an academic, student development, and university advancement pursuit. My goal is to do all we can to shape athletics to continue in its alignment with and support of Dordt’s Task and Framework,” says Dr. Erik Hoekstra, president of Dordt. “Ross has already proven to do that well through campus partnerships and with the Defender Way.”

Douma has served as athletic director at Dordt for the past four years. Prior to that, he worked as associate athletic director and men’s basketball coach. He spent two years working at Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa, and he was an administrator at Southwest Chicago Christian Schools for five years. Douma earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Governors State University. He also earned a bachelor of arts degree in health and physical education from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.

“At Dordt, it is motivating and empowering to serve alongside reputable leaders who are intent on placing students at the forefront of decisions. I enjoy learning best practices from proven colleagues who have an unyielding commitment to Dordt University,” says Douma.

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. For four years in a row, Dordt has been named number one in the nation for student engagement by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. 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. To learn more, visit dordt.edu.