S O C & S O C W O R K T A L K
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A S E M I - A N N U A L N E W S L E T T E R O F
T H E D E P A R T M E N T O F S O C I O L O G Y & S O C I A L W O R K
H T T P : / / W W W . H O P E . E D U / A C A D E M I C / S O C I O L O G Y /
D R O P U S A N O T E O N Y O U R O W N A C T I V I T I E S .
G R A D U A T E P R O G R A M S S U C K U P D E P A R T M E N T G R A D S !
Erin Sundberg writes that she is enrolled in the MSW program at the University of Michigan. She intends to concentrate in “Interpersonal Practice with Children and Families” as she works toward social work accreditation.
Eric Gustafson is working on an MA in sociology at Western Michigan University, pursuing his interest in research methodology. He intends to use this as a stepping stone to seeking a PhD.
Brittney Jatzo has begun work on her MSW at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland. Her focus will be on direct practice with children, youth, and families. Toward that end, she has an internship with Bellefaire JCB, an agency dealing with adoptions and foster care.

S O C & S O C W O R K T A L K
M O R E G R A D U A T E S C H O O L S T U D E N T S . . .
Caitlin Schrock (got married on November 21 to Nate Johnson!) is enrolled in an ESL masters program at Cornerstone University. She hopes to be able to teach in a multi-lingual, multicultural setting when she completes her graduate program.
Christine Washington is a law student at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She reports that she has been able to keep up with the day-to-day grind, and that has meant that she can face the end of term pile-up with greater equanimity. She’s planning to sleep all through the
Christmas break.
Gretchen Davis informs us that she is “enrolled in the Advanced Standing Graduate School of
Social Work at the University of Denver.” She’s excited that she will be able to complete the program in only one year — one of the benefits of Hope’s CSWE accreditation — and her hard work!
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Arcadial Pine Grove
. . . A N D M O R E G R A D U A T E S C H O O L S T U D E N T S !
Following a summer during which “I spent some time at the lake, horseback riding, and reading for fun,” Caryn Vennema has been busy in her MSW program at Grand Valley State.
She is finding that her classes are all consuming, but sends her regards to her friends.
Chicago has become the home of Anne Lockwood who is an MSW candidate at Loyola University. Anne enjoyed the benefit of advanced standing in her program, which began in the summer right after graduation. Her internships (!) are at the Pillar Community Center and the
Community Nurses Association where she conducts individual and group therapy sessions with children and adolescents in an out-patient setting.
Sociology and Social Work
Van Zoeren Entrance
S O M E A L U M S H A V E B E G U N J O B S A L R E A D Y . . .
Ashley Yowtz (student editor of our last Soc&SocWork Talk ) now lives in Denver where she is employed “as a Mental Health Worker in a classroom of 6-7 year old boys” at Mt. St. Vincent
Children’s Home for kids with behavioral problems. Ashley may use this job as a springboard for a masters in art therapy. How’s that for a Rocky Mountain high?! Ashley is also a distributor of Juice Plus “on the side.” Anyone interested in good health?
Effie Van Dyke has been working as a job placement and learning coach specialist at Michigan Works in Holland. She assists folks who are job hunting as they take placement tests.
She, too, hopes to go on to grad school in a year or two.
Alli Van Beek sends “greetings from D.C.!” She works at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights
Coalition as a “legal assistant.” Her job takes her to jails in Maryland and Virginia to consult with persons held for alleged violation of immigration laws. In the process, Alli is becoming an authority on immigration laws.
Newly Renovated Graves Hall
New VanAndel
Soccer Venue

T H E N T H E R E A R E T H E A D V E N T U R E R S !
Writing from “down under,” Meghan Servais is enjoying her stay in Australia. She has found
“casual work” to keep her financially afloat. Happily, “the unemployment rate is only 2%,” which works to Meghan’s advantage. While her current plans call for a return to the US in a year or so, she may find that a job beckons her to stay in Australia. Toss one on the barbie for us, Meghan!
Cedra Moore is looking for a permanent position in law enforcement. In the meantime, she hasn’t been coasting. She’s ridden with police on their daily rounds in Southfield (where she’d love to land a full-time position). Undercover work may not be on her immediate horizon, but in the future. . . . We’ll keep you posted.
Natalie Dall’Olmo is in her second year as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Romania. Taking advantage of her exotic locale, Natalie is applying to graduate programs in anthropology and sociology in Central Europe. Salut, ce mai faci , Natalie!?
M E A N W H I L E , S O M E O L D T I M E R S W R O T E I N :
Prof.
Elizabeth Hoisington (‘81) is an associate professor of sociology at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. She writes that a recent sabbatical was re-energizing
(something that the veterans on the Hope faculty can affirm!).
Jane VanderHaar VanEs (‘83) remembers when . . . Luidens was a rookie teacher in the late
1970s. (N.B. Luidens can’t remember that far back, any more.) Jane and Rowland (‘83) are missionaries in Kenya and have lived in Malawi and Sierra Leone, as well. Their children,
Jennifer and Michelle, are world citizens — something we are working to nurture at Hope.
Linda Aldrich (‘85) tells us that she’s busy as a “public school peon,” and that she’s “just beginning to tell [her] children that Hope is where they will be going to school “ (if her husband’s wishes don’t get in the way). Love to hear that long-term affirmation of Hope College!
Since her graduation from Hope in 1987, Sandra Barcanic Kee has lived in (count ‘em)
Grand Rapids, Vienna, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Albuquerque, and
Phoenix (again). If that’s not enough, she has studied “pedagogy, nutrition, pre-med, homeopathic medicine and spiritual healing.” She’s certified in “Holistic kinesiology” and has “a tiny practice as a healer.” If that’s not enough, she’s a “chauffeur for my two girls” aged 10 and
12. Most movingly, she writes that, “of all that I studied at Hope and elsewhere, nothing has stuck with me as long nor been as useful as these two thoughts: always, always, always to
‘respect the dignity and uniqueness of the individual’ and to facilitate a situation that ‘meets the needs that a person perceives.’” Sounds like something Prof. Piers might say!
Ronda Berg (‘91) writes from Ann Arbor where she is a researcher for ForeSee Results. They do studies of customer satisfaction with websites using the American Customer Satisfaction
Index. Her company is growing in the midst of Michigan’s malaise! Ronda’s responsibilities focus on internal research and consulting through the PR office.
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F A C U L T Y N I C H E :
F R O M J I M P I E R S :
Jim presented three (!) papers at the annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education in San Antonio: “The Foundation
Outcome Assessment Measure (FOAM): Exploration and Replication,” “Skill Development Sequences in Family Practice
Classes,” and “Applying Deliberate Practice Concepts in the Practice Classroom: Toward Competence-Based Learning.” Jim’s most important lesson? Don’t submit more than two paper topics; you might have to do them all!
Jim is in his fourth year as a co-leader of Hope’s May Term at the Rosebud Reservation, where social work field exercises have been very successful.
F R O M D E B R A S W A N S O N
Deb was pleased to be selected as the winner of the John F. Schnabel Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award of the
North Central Sociological Association. [The rest of the department was pleased, too!]. As part of the award, she delivered the keynote address on teaching to the NCSA annual meeting in Dearborn. Her bottom line? “Value your students” by
“providing opportunities for students to use their social networking and technology skills in class” and “by using outside of the classroom experiences for learning, and by always being enthusiastic about Sociology.” No better advice!
F R O M D E B O R A H S T U R T E V A N T
Deb’s been on the road again this year, with a program that took her to East Africa, where she participated in a program between the Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia and Bethany Christian Services. Sociology and Social Work majors David
Dethmers, Bethany Braaksma, and Sarah Wenz worked with Deb on the report of her experience, which they presented at an international conference on Zambia's orphans and vulnerable children held in Grand Rapids.
F R O M R O G E R N E M E T H
Japan has been a recurring theme in Roger’s academic career. During the summer of 2009, he took a group of students to study Japan’s responses to their rapidly aging population. Focus groups and individual interviews highlighted the trip, with wonderful contacts made. Roger delights in grandparenting, with two girls and two boys to spoil. A summer canoe-camp trip with granddaughter Hillary, always scares up moose, wolves, and loons.
F R O M M E L I S S A V I L L A R R E A L
Melissa recently submitted two manuscripts for publication, “Latina and White Non-Latina Women’s Disclosure on Sexual
Assault” and “A Policy Analysis of the State of Michigan’s ‘Sexual Assault Victims’ Medical Forensic Intervention and Treatment
Act’ SANE Legislation (2008 PA 543, PA 545, PA 546, & PA 547).” How’s that for hefty titles? Melissa has made steady progress in pursuit of her PhD from Western Michigan University. She’ll be defending her dissertation proposal in December and will be able to concentrate on her dissertation for the coming year. Not bad for someone who is teaching full time!
F R O M P A M K O C H
Pam’s second year has been a busy one. An article of hers, “From Molehills Mountains Made: An Examination of Red and
Blue State Cultural Stereotypes,” appeared in Cultural Sociology. She presented a paper on educational grouping of kindergarten students at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, in San Francisco. She has also reestablished Hope’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the Sociological Honor Society, so that we can recognize outstanding students in the future. On top of all of this, Pam and husband, John, have acquired their second pug, a dog aptly named.
F R O M D O N L U I D E N S
Don has enjoyed becoming a grandpa this semester, a wonderful time-sucker which brings a rosy glow to his cheeks.
Grandson Jack has already received a wardrobe of Hope clothes, although his parents missed the Hope boat. Don has recently published an article on the future (or lack thereof) of the Reformed Church in America — Hope’s founding denomination. Along with Roger Nemeth, Don has spent a good bit of time developing and promoting next summer’s alumni seminar, “Mediterranean Odyssey,” which will include a two-week trip from Rome to Istanbul with stops along the way!
We hope you’ve enjoyed catching up with these classmates. It is our hope that we can include many more of you in future Newsletters. Please send us an e-note or a snail mail letter bringing us up to date on your life. Send letters to Luidens@hope.edu or to the Department at
Hope College. We look forward to hearing from you.