Biology News
Faculty Spotlights
Welcome to: Ryan Bebej, PhD.
Ryan with wife Melissa, son
Kyler and dog Duncan
Ryan enjoys researching the
evolution of cetaceans and
aquatic locomotion
Ryan received a prestigious
Rackham Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
in 2009 while attending
U of M
We are excited to announce that one of the new faculty who will
begin teaching in our department next fall is Ryan Bebej. Ryan is a
2005 Calvin College alum who earned his Ph.D. from the University of
Michigan in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He is currently a member of the Olivet Nazarene University faculty in Bourbonnais, IL,
where he teaches introductory biology, anatomy and physiology.
Ryan’s research interests include the evolutionary morphology of cetaceans (whales) and other secondarily aquatic mammals; and the adaptations to aquatic life in animals such as cetaceans, pinnipeds (seals
and sea lions), sirenians (dugongs and manatees) and otters. Ryan
studied the functional morphology of amphibious fossil cetaceans
rom the Eocene era while in grad school, which involved traveling to
Egypt where he helped map and excavate fossil whales. He plans to
continue his research involving Calvin students by collaborating with
the Museums of Zoology and Paleontology at U of M.
Ryan is also intrigued by the relationship between science and the
Christian faith and hopes to help facilitate science-faith integration at
Calvin. Though Ryan has many academic interests, he is most passionate about developing students’ faith and also teaching students “to
think” rather than “what to think.”
When he isn’t working, Ryan loves spending time with his wife Melissa (another Calvin biology alum), 5-month-old son Kyler, and beagle
mix Duncan. He is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, and also enjoys
baseball, basketball, running, reading, watching movies, photography,
and playing German-style board games.
-By Kelly Peterson
www.calvin.edu/academic/biology/
April 2012
Farewell to: Uko Zylstra, PhD.
We say a fond farewell to our colleague Uko Zylstra as he retires from the
Calvin College biology faculty this spring. We hope to still see him around
campus since he will be the curriculum director for the Calvin Academy
for Lifelong Learning and will have an office in the Youngsma Center. He
and his wife Jane also plan on traveling since visiting their children and
grand-children requires going to California, New Jersey and Australia.
Uko has faithfully served the college, the biology department, the community, and the church throughout his years at Calvin. He has been a
strong contributor to numerous college, divisional and department committees. He has served on the boards of the Ecosystem Preserve and
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute. He served as department chair from 199399 and as Academic Dean from 2004-2010. In these various roles, he has
been involved in changes in the college core curriculum, the biology curriculum, significant expansion of research in the department, and construction of new departmental space in DeVries Hall. He regularly taught
cell biology, zoology, general biology, and capstone biology during the semesters, and taught electron microscopy and DCM courses concerning
hunger and the environment during interims.
Uko and friends celebrated his
retirement on April 12, 2012
Arlene Hoogewerf told of Uko’s
service to Calvin
Energetic, direct, and committed to the Reformed tradition of Christianity
and Calvin College, Uko is a valued teacher, administrator, and colleague.
His philosophical positions concerning his faith, the environment, and
feeding the poor can be seen in the way that he lives his life. We thank
God for Uko’s 36 years at Calvin.
By Kelly Peterson & Arlene Hoogewerf
Uko is greeted by Al Gebben