Elements of Success

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Elements of Success is an interactive display that celebrates Calvin University faculty, staff, and alumni who have made important contributions to the field of chemistry and biochemistry. This display was made possible by a generous donation from Tom and Lois Dykstra.

When you visit the Elements of Success display, you'll learn about the diverse group of teachers and learners who have formed the chemistry and biochemistry community at Calvin over the decades, along with the historical figures who have inspired them. Each block on the display highlights an individual person as well as an element from the periodic table of elements.

Location and hours

Elements of Success is located in DeVries Hall outside the office of the department of chemistry and biochemistry (DeVries Hall 100). It is open to the public during DeVries Hall's normal hours. See hours and location information for DeVries Hall.

Find someone on the display

Use the tabs below, organized alphabetically by last name, to find where a particular person is location on the Elements of Success display.

• A - B (last name)

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  Cheri Ackerman	Os (Osmium)	Alumni
  Bob Albers	Bi (Bismuth)	Emeriti
  Carolyn Anderson	C (Carbon)	Emeriti
  Eric Arnoys	Er (Erbium)	Faculty	1999-present
  Rachael Baker	Pa (Protactinium)	Faculty	2014-present
  Mike Barbachyn	S (Sulfur)	Emeriti	2012-2023
  Dave Benson	Fe (Iron)	Faculty	2018-present
  Julie Bingley	Cn (Copernicium)	Alumni	2008
  Ronald Blankespoor	Kr (Kryton)	Emeriti	1977-2021
  Nick Boersma	B (Boron)	Faculty	2003-present
  Herman Broene	Tm (Thulium)	Emeriti	1956-1984
  Phil Brondsema	Rf (Rutherfordium)	Alumni	1978
  Roger Brummel	No (Nobelium)	Alumni
  Crystal Bruxvoort	Ag (Silver)	Faculty	2005-present

• C - F

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  Uma Chowdhry	Ti (Titanium)	Famous chemist
  Harry Dekker	Te (Tellerium)	Emeriti	1921-1957
  Roger DeKock	O (Oxygen)	Emeriti	1976-2014
  John DeVries	Ra (Radium)	Emeriti	1939-1967
  Jodi Dickerson	Co (Cobalt)	Faculty	2013-present
  Thedford P. Dirkse	Lr (Lawrencium)	Emeriti	1947-1980
  Anand Divakaran	Ca (Calcium)	Alumni
  Luis Echegoyen	Ge (Germanium)	Famous chemist
  Nathan Frazier	Am (Americium)	Alumni	2012
  Kurt Frisch	V (Vanadium)	Advisory board
  Kurt Fynewever	Hf (Hafnium)	Faculty	2009-present

• H - L

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  Kathryn Hamilton	Cr (Chromium)	Alumni
  Alma Levant Hayden	Nb (Niobium)	Famous chemist
  S. Kent Hoekman	W (Tungsten)	Alumni	1975
  Ren Homan	Mo (Molybdenum)	Advisory board
  Percy Lavon Julian	In (Indium)	Famous chemist
  Al Kraker	Zn (Zinc)	Advisory board
  Katie Kwiatkowski	Ru (Ruthenium)	Faculty	2023-present
  Yuan T. Lee	Cs (Caesium)	Famous chemist
  Arie Leegwater	Ar (Argon)	Emeriti	1978-2007
  Brendon Looyenga	Mg (Magnesium)	Emeriti	2013-2021
  Larry Louters	H (Hydrogen)	Emeriti	1984-2018

• M - P

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  Todd Martinez	Ts (Tennessine)	Alumni
  Samuel P. Massie	Pm (Promethium)	Famous chemist
  Darla McCarthy	Na (Sodium)	Emeriti	2000-2012
  Lyndsie Meador	Pt (Platinum)	Alumni	2017
  Maud Menten	Hs (Hassium)	Famous chemist
  Karen Muyskens	Xe (Xenon)	Emeriti
  Mark Muyskens	F (Flourine)	Faculty	1989-present
  Vincent K. Nartey	Fl (Flerovium)	Famous chemist
  Donna Nelson	Yb (Ytterbium)	Famous chemist
  Eric Nollet	Mt (Meitnerium)	Faculty
  Katherine Pasma	Fr (Francium)	Staff	2023-present
  Charles John Pederson	Ac (Actinium)	Famous chemist
  Ken Piers	He (Helium)	Emeriti	1968-2014

• R - U

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  Norbert Rilieux	Np (Neptunium)	Famous chemist
  Dave Ross	Hg (Mercury)	Faculty	2017-present
  Omowunmi Sadik	Og (Oganesson)	Famous chemist
  Kumar Sinniah	Au (Gold)	Faculty	1995-present
  Brian Swierenga	Tb (Terbium)	Advisory board
  Estella Tamungang	Y (Yttrium)	Alumni
  Chad Tatko	Dy (Dysprosium)	Faculty	2006-present
  Paul Urane	Pb (Lead)	Alumni	2012

• V - Z

  Name	Element (location)	Role	Years at Calvin
  William Van Doorne	Pr (Praseodymium)	Emeriti	1966-2001
  Elise Van Noord	Es (Einsteinium)	Faculty
  Douglas Vander Griend	N (Nitrogen)	Faculty	2002-present
  Rianna VanderGaast	Be (Beryllium)	Advisory board
  Leonard Vanderlugt	Eu (Europium)	Emeriti	1955-1971
  Brad Veldkamp	Ni (Nickel)	Faculty	2023-present
  Erin Vogel	Pd (Palladium)	Advisory board
  Laura Westrate	La (Lanthanum)	Faculty	2018-present
  Enno Wolthuis	Sb (Antimony)	Emeriti	1949-1976
  Tu Youyou	Sg (Seaborgium)	Famous chemist
  Ahmed Zewail	At (Astatine)	Famous chemist