In December 2019, Jim English became Calvin’s next vice president for finance. Calvin University president Michael Le Roy appointed Jim English to the position and was advised by a nine-member search committee, which included representatives from the university’s faculty, administration, and staff. He was chosen for the position following a rigorous national search.
Prior to joining Calvin, English served for nearly two decades in assistant and associate superintendent of finance and operations roles for three school districts across Michigan. He spent the past eight years with Holland West Ottawa Public Schools.
During English’s tenure at Holland West Ottawa, the school district passed $188 million in bond proposals and invested in and planned for new facilities while improving existing infrastructure, technology, and transportation. Under his leadership, West Ottawa earned recognition for its improved financial reporting and transparency, realized better value for its health benefits, and created competitive pay structures for its employees.
English steps into the role previously filled by Sally Vander Ploeg, who retired from Calvin in December 2019. Vander Ploeg served the institution for 20 years, the latter seven as the institution’s vice president for finance and administration.
