“I was privileged to walk through the interview process the last month with 10 of them until Nathan Hart accepted. Nathan, a Hope alum and Trustee, accepted the invitation to transition from his local church pastorate in Connecticut to go to his dream job at Hope. This was a great first slate win and great team effort.”
-Executive Search Consultant Rick Callahan
Hope College is a four-year liberal arts college where academic excellence and vibrant Christian faith join together in a supportive and welcoming community.
Hope’s campus is nestled in the heart of downtown Holland, just miles from Lake Michigan. The college has been part of the community for more than 150 years, growing from the 10 students who enrolled in 1862 to more than 3,200 students on campus today.
Research abounds at Hope. Students and faculty carry out high-quality research projects that are challenging, meaningful, and contribute to exciting new knowledge in a broad range of disciplines.
Hope College faced a significant need in its search for a Dean of the Chapel, a crucial role with the power to drive spiritual growth on campus. The college required a leader who could oversee a large staff and manage the extensive array of programming involved in campus ministries. The Dean of the Chapel would be central to the ministry functions, ensuring that the spiritual needs of the college community were met and that the various ministries were smoothly coordinated.
Recognizing the importance and complexity of this position for the college, the search team enlisted Vanderbloemen’s expertise to find the right candidate for this vital role. Their team worked closely with Executive Search Consultants to pinpoint exactly who would thrive with these responsibilities at Hope College. The ideal candidate would have the mind of a scholar, the heart of a pastor, and the courage of a leader. Once a detailed profile was articulated, the search began.
Roughly 140 resumes were submitted as potential candidates for the job before the deadline in February. Vanderbloemen’s team narrowed the candidate pool down to a slate of 15 candidates worth presenting. From there, Hope College interviewed 10 solid semi-finalists. Thrilled with the options, the search team at Hope College narrowed their selection down to three candidates who would be invited to visit campus in April. In the end, it was a Hope College alumnus and trustee who was called home to commit to his dream job as Dean of the Chapel.
Nathan Hart had grown up in Holland, joyfully attended Hope College (the only college he applied for), and since then has maintained an unwavering spirit for the college. Since graduating, Nathan has grown a passion for college student ministry, which finally called him to return to Holland. Nathan soon began his new role as Dean of the Chapel, bringing his deep connection with Hope College and his passion for student ministry to nourish the college ministries at Hope College’s campus.
If you’re ready to start the conversation around hiring, contact our team. We’ll guide you through the hiring process at every level, from job descriptions to signing the offer letter.