Cornerstone University Alumni Journal 2021

SUMMER 

2021 

“Christ-centered higher 

education is one of 

the highest callings and 

noblest endeavors 

in which a follower of 

Jesus Christ can serve.” 

DR. GERSON MORENO-RIAÑO 

STORY ON PAGE 5.

IN THIS ISSUE: 

FROM THE ALUMNI 

RELATIONS OFFICE 

03 Dr. Joe Stowell Letter 

04 Alumni Relations Letter 

05 Introducing Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño 

06 Alumni Celebrate Dr. Joe Stowell 

ALUMNI STORIES 

10 1960s, 1970s and ‘80s 

11 1990s 

16 2000s 

17 2010s 

23 2020s 

FEATURE STORIES 

12 Terri (Burns, B.A. ’81) Fowler 

A Life Ordained by God 

14 Sandra Gaddy (B.A. ’99) 

How Faith Operates 

18 Brad Gray (B.A. ’02) 

Advancing God’s Kingdom 

20 Joe Jones (M.A. ’12) 

Power in Learning 

24 Shomari Tate (M.A. ’21) 

Mentoring the Next Generation 

COMMENCEMENT 

26 Ceremonies Featurette 

28 Class of 2021 

2021 ALUMNI JOURNAL STAFF 

CAROLINE CAHOON (B.A. ’03) 

Art Director 

LAYNE FULLER 

Director of Marketing 

KRISTINA GARVELINK (M.S. ’15) 

Website Manager and Content Coordinator 

DENNIS GRAHAM (B.A. ’05, M.B.A. ’12) 

Director of Alumni Relations 

JORDAN GROOTERS (B.S. ’17, M.B.A. ’19) 

Communications Manager 

BOB SACK 

Vice President for University Advancement 

AUDREY WIERENGA (B.A. ’18) 

Copywriter 

PHOTOGRAPHY: 

Benji DeYoung (B.A. ’19) 

Coastline Studios 

Stephen Norregaard 

Ryan Prins Photography 

Permission to quote short portions of this publication 

is granted as long as content is preserved and proper 

credit is given to the Alumni Journal. 

Cornerstone University does not discriminate on the 

basis of race, national origin, sex, age or disability in its 

policies and programs. 

CONTACT US 

cornerstone.edu/alumni 

alumni@cornerstone.edu 

616.222.1439 

Cornerstone University 

Office of Alumni Relations 

1001 E Beltline Ave NE 

Grand Rapids, MI 49525 

© 2021 Cornerstone University. 

All rights reserved. 

This summer, we welcome Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño 

as the 12th president of Cornerstone University. 

Dr. Joe Stowell left an indelible footprint on 

Cornerstone’s campus. Now, we look to a new 

season with Dr. Moreno-Riaño. By maintaining 

Christ’s preeminence and supporting the 

transformative environment of Cornerstone, 

Dr. Moreno-Riaño will continue the legacy 

of all the faithful leaders who came before him.

Beloved Cornerstone alumni, 

As I sit at my desk on my last day in the office, my heart is full of gratitude for the privilege of serving our students, 

faculty and staff for these last 13 years. It has been a delight to see our Lord prosper the work of our hands and 

to enjoy the company of such awesome students, a highly impactful faculty who have loved our students and 

a competent leadership team who have made so many of our dreams a reality. And, as alums, your words of 

encouragement, financial support and prayers have played an important role as well. 

So this is my thank you to you, to all of our alumni who have represented Cornerstone well through the decades 

and lived out our mission so effectively. I have always been proud—in a biblical sort of way—to be known as 

your president! 

In this edition of the Cornerstone University Alumni Journal, you’ll find stories of people just like you who live out 

their calling every day—not just in their nine-to-five jobs, but in every aspect of their lives. By treating others with 

dignity and respect, by serving those around them with opportunities to succeed and by bringing individuals closer 

to the heart of Christ, they light up their world to the glory of Christ our Redeemer. 

It is also my privilege to use this journal to introduce you to Cornerstone’s 12th president, Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño! 

It has been a joy to get to know him and his wife, Ellen, as they become accustomed to West Michigan and as Dr. 

Moreno-Riaño transitions into this role. I can’t wait to see where Cornerstone goes in this new chapter. Martie and I 

will continue to be its most enthusiastic cheerleaders! 

It has been my highest reward to see you, our alumni, making a difference in your areas of influence. May our Lord 

bless and keep you! 

CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI JOURNAL 2021 

03 

With gratitude, 

Dr. Joe Stowell 

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands 

for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” 

— Psalm 90:17 

PICTURED: Dr. Stowell reminiscing with 2020 graduates Mordecai Njoroge, Madison Johnson and Cecilia Calzada Munoz during the May 2021 

commencement ceremonies.

CELEBRATING 

THE PAST, 

ANTICIPATING 

THE FUTURE 


04 

DEAR CORNERSTONE 

ALUMNI, 

This season at Cornerstone University has us 

saying a lot of “goodbyes” and “see you laters.” 

On April 30, May 1 and May 8, we saw hundreds 

of graduates cross the stage from the classes of 

2020 and 2021. It was an incredible opportunity 

to welcome back students to celebrate graduation 

after last year’s events were unfortunately 

canceled. This year, both classes enjoyed a 

memorable send-off! 

We are also honoring and recognizing 

Dr. Joe Stowell’s retirement after 13 years as 

CU’s president. This has been bittersweet as 

we remember all of the outstanding service 

Dr. Stowell has given Cornerstone. 

At the same time, we celebrate the arrival of 

Cornerstone’s 12th president, Dr. Gerson Moreno- 

Riaño! We are so excited as he transitions into 

this role, and we can’t wait for all of you to 

meet him! 

In the midst of a noteworthy spring, God 

continues to richly bless our university and our 

alumni. Our goal for this upcoming year is to find 

more opportunities to invite you back to campus 

and to network with one another. In addition to 

Homecoming & Family Weekend on Oct. 22-23, 

we’re working on ways to connect more alumni 

across the region through after-work gatherings 

at alumni-owned businesses. Trust us—you won’t 

want to miss the events coming this year! 

Summer is such an exciting season at 

Cornerstone as we congratulate our graduates 

and look ahead to our incoming classes and 

cohorts. I hope this season is just as refreshing 

for you and that God gives you, just as the 

beloved hymn says, “strength for today and 

bright hope for tomorrow.” 

In Christ, 

Dennis Graham (B.A. ’05, MBA ’12) 

Director of Alumni Relations

DR. GERSON 

MORENO-RIAÑO 

12th President of Cornerstone University 

Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riaño was most recently executive vice 

president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Regent 

University in Virginia Beach, Va. While there, he led a talented 

team of deans, faculty and enrollment staff that helped grow the 

enrollment by over 70%. While at Regent, Dr. Moreno-Riaño was 

also a tenured professor of government. 

Born in Colombia, South America, Dr. Moreno-Riaño came to the 

United States at the age of 9 with his family, where they lived in New 

York City. He felt the call to lifelong ministry at the age of 14 and has 

followed it ever since. Dr. Moreno-Riaño is a graduate of Cedarville 

University in Cedarville, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor of 

Arts in political science and pre-seminary biblical studies. He then 

received his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in political science from the 

University of Cincinnati. 

Prior to joining Regent University, Dr. Moreno-Riaño began teaching 

as a graduate student at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, 

followed by a tenured position at Cedarville. He is the author of six 

books and has edited and written chapters for several others. 

He is blessed to be the husband to Ellen and father to 

Isaac, Victoria, Abraham, Emma, Abigail and Zachariah. 

Christ-centered higher education is one of 

the highest callings and noblest endeavors 

in which a follower of Jesus Christ 

can serve. The incredible opportunity to 

shepherd the hearts, minds and souls of 

university students in and toward the 

beauty, truth and reality of Jesus Christ 

stands as one of the greatest privileges 

and blessings in which one can partake. 

It has been my great joy for over two 

decades to have served in Christ’s vineyard 

of Christian higher education. And it is 

my intention to continue serving in this 

vineyard until the Lord decides otherwise. 

— DR. GERSON MORENO-RIAÑO 


05

IMMEASURABLE 

IMPACT 


06 

Cornerstone alumni share the ways that Dr. Stowell 

has shaped the culture of Cornerstone University.

MIKE KILDAL (B.R.E. ’82) 

“I was a brand-new believer at GRBC in 1978. I felt like a fish out of water much of the time because I didn’t 

know the Bible like the other students around me. In hindsight, I realize I wasn’t alone. 

“I remember leaving my room in Quincer and going down the hill to chapel (then held in the gym) and 

hearing this pastor from Kokomo, and it was you, Joe. You made the Scriptures make sense to me. 

“I remember having dinner with your dad once in Niagara Falls, and we talked about his son. It was you, Joe. 

You were his pride and joy. 

“I remember picking a visiting speaker for chapel when I was on staff at The Master’s College. It was you, 

Joe. I was excited to chat with you on the short car ride. 

“I remember going to Chicago for a pastor’s conference every year with the pastoral staff at my church in 

Dayton, Ohio. There was always good content and great worship, but the best message was always on 

Monday nights; it was you, Joe. You were always ‘our pastor’ during those weeks. 

“There was the year when I got an email announcing that my college was bringing in a new president ... it 

was you, Joe. I was proud that you chose to lead my school. As an alumnus, I looked forward to hearing what 

God was doing on the corner of the East Beltline and Leonard Street. 

“Thank you for following Christ and leading well.” 

JIM FARRELL (B.A. ’88) 

“I can’t begin to share all the ways you have been a great blessing to me and to CU! The Lord brought you to 

us at the perfect time, and your faithfulness to Jesus Christ has allowed you to do extraordinary things here. 

What a great season it has been. 

“I always appreciated your willingness to sit down and talk at lunch or show up and watch a softball game. 

That meant so much to me. I also have loved to sit under your teaching and preaching, beginning back when 

I was a student in the early ’80s at Bible Conference. I also always enjoyed hearing your dad preach back in 

Colon, Mich. I can still hear that voice. 


07 

“Please know that you are deeply loved and respected by myself and also my family. Mom and dad have 

always loved you and ask about you often. 

“You continue to be a source of encouragement to me, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to 

know you and serve Christ along with you.” 

DAN TREIER (M.DIV. ’96, TH.M. ’98) 

“What a delight to celebrate the fruitfulness of your years in leadership at Cornerstone! God has been faithful 

and generous to the school through you. And you have been a creative and faithful steward of what God 

has entrusted to you. You have fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith. Well done, faithful 

servant, and thanks for sharing your infectious joy—that twinkle in your eye—with so many of us for so long.” 

JEFFREY COUSINS (B.S. ’04) 

“We have all been honored and blessed to have you as our leader. Also, as the father of several Cornerstone 

students, the way you mentored and interacted with my children personally will never be forgotten.”


08 

KELAMENTER SMITH (A.S. ’05, B.S. ’07) 

“It is my prayer that new beginnings follow you with 

great success. Thank you for your time as a leader of 

this great university. You have touched so many lives 

and seen a lot of growth in others. I am honored to 

have been a part of your journey. Don’t stop writing 

and sharing what is embedded in you. Enjoy your 

new endeavors!” 

BETH REDFORD (B.S. ’08) 

“I will never forget your demonstration of humility 

when you presented me my diploma. I am a 

wheelchair user, and you got down on one knee to 

present my diploma to me on stage.” 

ELAINE WILLIS (A.S. ’14, B.S. ’20) 

“I am sure so many people have said wonderful things 

about you. What else can I say but thank you for 

giving to the Lord all these years. Because you gave, 

a difference was made in my personal educational 

experience. I loved attending Cornerstone University 

because of the Christ-centered approach and 

environment. By you allowing God to use you in this 

realm, my life was enriched and blessed—even to this 

present day. God be with you in the next chapter in life, 

and continue to bring forth precious fruit for His glory!” 

TANNER FREY (B.S. ’16) 

“Thank you so much for your time and tremendous 

contribution to Cornerstone! I will never forget the 

way you made every student feel so important and 

valuable. You led with wisdom, humility and passion, 

and I have been blessed to know you. I pray God will 

continue to bless you in this next season of your life. 

Thank you for everything you’ve done for me and 

this university.” 

RACHEL WILKINSON (A.A. ’16, B.S. ’16) 

“When I was a student, there was a popular T-shirt 

worn by many a CU student that read ‘Joe Stowell 

my heart.’ I think every person who meets Dr. Stowell 

needs one of those shirts; his kind heart, sense of 

humor, love for Jesus—to name a few of his best 

qualities—are so contagious one cannot help telling 

the whole world about him. I always appreciated that 

Dr. Stowell was so interested in students. And I don’t 

mean he just smiled and waved at each student he 

passed by (though he did that too!); he was genuinely 

interested in getting to know students personally. 

When he wasn’t too busy, he would come to the 

Corum or caf and sit and talk with students, listen to 

them, ask how they were doing. It seems like such a 

small thing, especially considering all the big things 

he has done for the university, but it has made a world 

of difference in the lives of young adults (including 

myself) who are trying to figure out their place in the 

world and God’s calling on their lives.” 

TAMMY ERSTE (B.S. ’17, M.A. ’20) 

“Thank you for the wonderful opportunity to grow 

in my faith and walk with my Lord and Savior, Christ

Jesus, through my studies. Through Cornerstone 

University and the encouragement of you and the 

entire community, I extend my deepest thanks and 

gratitude for the dedicated work of you all. May the Lord 

bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine 

upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His 

countenance upon you and give you peace all the rest 

of your days.” 

LEAH GEORGE (B.A. ’20) 

“I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to get to 

know you during my time at Cornerstone. Thank you for 

welcoming me and other President’s Partners into your 

home. You made us feel cared for and known during our 

busy college years. Your love for students and for Christ 

is so evident in the way you interact with students. 

Thank you for helping to make Cornerstone feel like 

home. May the Lord bless you as you move forward.” 

During Dr. Stowell’s 13-year presidency, 

he influenced so many lives and impacted 

so many people. Read more stories like the 

ones above at cornerstone.edu/legacy. 

GRTS ANNOUNCES 

THE JOE AND 

MARTIE STOWELL 

SCHOLARSHIP 

To honor Joe and Martie Stowell’s commitment 

to lifelong ministry, Cornerstone has established 

a generous scholarship in their name for Master 

of Divinity students at GRTS. The Joe and 

Martie Stowell Ministry Leaders Scholarship 

gives select M.Div. students the opportunity to 

graduate with reduced educational debt. 

The Joe & Martie Stowell Scholarship is 

our opportunity to honor the Stowells and 

their passion for ministry and Christian 

higher education. 

Contribute to this scholarship at 

cornerstone.edu/stowell-scholarship. 


09

ALUMNI 

STORIES 

Deborah (Lambert) Woodard 

Lois (Hart) Taylor 


10 

1960s 

DEBORAH (LAMBERT, B.A. ’60) WOODARD authored 

three children’s books titled “Naughty Pants Believes a Lie,” 

“Fancy Pants Finds True Beauty” and “Smartie Pants Are 

You Listening?” 

MARILEE (WIITALA, B.R.E. ’66) DUNCAN is the 

manager of Little Mary’s Hospitality House in Wellston, Mich. 

This house offers free vacations to families with children who 

are battling life-threatening or serious illnesses. 

LOIS (HART, B.R.E. ’67) TAYLOR married James L. 

Taylor on March 22, 2020. 

1970s 

hile Suzi and Tim Klomparens were preparing for 

Wmission work in Nigeria under SIM (Sudan Interior 

Mission) and awaiting the birth of their first child, Tim’s 

diagnosis of aggressive cancer changed everything. Sixteen 

months after Tim passed away, Suzi went to Nigeria with 

toddler Joel to work as a Dorm Auntie at Kent Academy, 

a boarding school for children from many countries. 

As Suzi adjusted to the emotional and spiritual challenges 

of grief and single-parenting, letters from her mother-in-law 

Mom K. were like Good News from Afar. 

Suzanne (Suzi) Bell is retired 

from teaching college classes at 

Cornerstone University in the 

Teacher Education Department. 

She currently teaches English to 

Japanese students in the area. 

She is an avid reader, loves crossstitching, 

collects Beatrix Potter 

(Peter Rabbit) memorabilia, and enjoys taking walks. She 

and her husband Dan live in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and 

love living near their kids and grandkids. 

SUZANNE (AVERILL, B.A. ’75) BELL completed 

a memoir titled “Good News from Afar,” telling of her 

experiences as a young missionary widow. 

RON SHEVELAND (B.A. ’76) serves as an interim pastor 

at Calvary Church in Webberville, Mich. 

GARRY NUTTER (B.R.E. ’77) has worked as an 

outpatient therapist for eight years with the underserved 

mentally ill in Denver, Colo., finding everyday opportunities 

to represent Christ’s love. 

Good News from Afar A memoir of a young missionary widow SUZANNE J. BELL 

SUZANNE J. BELL 

Good News 

from Afar 

A memoir 

of a young 

missionary 

widow 

Suzanne (Averill) Bell 

1980s 

Garry Nutter 

Dennis Dudley 

CRAIG (B.A. ’82, M.DIV. ’87, M.TH. ’02) and Dorothy 

(Truax) JOHNSON work as business partners in northeast 

Grand Rapids. Craig began a new career in financial services 

and has served as a financial advisor for seven years with 

Upstream Investment Partners. He comes alongside families, 

individuals and owners of small businesses to help them 

prepare for their future through investments and insurance. 

Dorothy works as his administrative assistant. 

CARL KRESGE (B.A. ’80, M.DIV. ’84) is a full-time 

missionary with SEND International, serving as the Eurasia 

regional director. With God’s help, he has also grown a small 

business called uDog on the side. He fell in love with a board 

game while in Europe in 2013 and made one for himself after

LIFELONG LEARNING COURSES 

The Welch Heritage Institute for Lifelong Learning at Cornerstone is 

hosting courses this summer! Our seasoned faculty offer courses on topics 

such as dune ecology, economics and the culture of today’s church. These 

courses are open to anyone who desires to continue learning beyond the 

college years. 

Register today at cornerstone.edu/whill-courses. 

PICTURED: Dr. Michael Stevens leading a class on the history of baseball. 

returning to Grand Rapids. He spent nights and weekends 

on a small CNC machine, crafting 55 different games in the 

course of one year. 

LORI (MANZER, CU ’87) DAWE became a partnership 

liaison for Steve Douglass, the president emeritus of Cru. 

CHARLOTTE (OVERHOLT, B.A. ’89) WEDDINGTON 

lives in Loveland, Colo., and is a remote technical writer. 

DR. LIBBY KNEPPER-MULLER passed away on June 

25, 2020. As a professor in Cornerstone University’s Teacher 

Education Division from 1989 to 2002, she served an 

instrumental role in establishing the department. 

1990s 

MICHAEL STEPHENS (B.A. ’92) was hired in August 

2020 as the wastewater product manager for Valley 

Farms Supply. Valley Farms Supply is part of Headwater 

Companies, one of the largest national wholesalers in water 

equipment components. 

DENNIS DUDLEY (M.T.S. ’93) retired in March 2020 after 

serving for 42 years on the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 

CORNERSTONE HOSTING ANNUAL 

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 

The Global Leadership Summit is one of the most transformational 

experiences for business owners, ministry leaders and entrepreneurs— 

just ask anyone who’s attended. On Aug. 5 and 6, Cornerstone will host 

the Global Leadership Summit on campus, livestreaming the worldwide 

event which features speakers such as Craig Groeschel, Malcolm Gladwell, 

Juliet Funt and Henry Cloud. This two-day event offers opportunities for 

networking with local professionals and invigorating your team. 

Learn more at cornerstone.edu/gls-2021. 

staff. During his career, he spent 30 years at Miami University, 

ministering to students in various capacities. He now teaches 

at First Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ohio, and continues to 

volunteer at Miami University with InterVarsity. 

LISA (BURGESS, B.A. ’94) GODWIN published a book 

titled “Dear _____, There’s Hope on the Other Side.” She 

serves as the director of a women’s and children’s shelter 

in Washington and also created a nationwide project called 

Adopt a Shelter that will encourage business and churches 

to partner with women’s shelters across the country. 

NATHAN HAGER (B.A. ’96) is a Michigan Master 

Assessing Officer (MMAO/4) and a Certified Residential 

Appraiser. He is now the president and owner of Lapeer 

Appraisal Inc. upon the retirement of his father, Dale R. Hager 

(B.A. ’70). The company provides real estate valuation and 

property tax assessment services in Lapeer, Sanilac and 

Tuscola counties. Nathan is married to Rachel (CU ’93-94) 

who is the director of children’s ministries at First Baptist 

Church in Caro, Mich. 

DESSIE (GARLOCK, B.A. ’99) CAULK recently changed 

professions from philanthropy to real estate. A former 

employee of Keller Williams Grand Rapids North for two 

years, she joined the Peter Albertini Properties team within 

Keller Williams. 


11


12 

TERRI (BURNS, 

B.A. ’81) FOWLER 

A Life Ordained by God 

Many years ago, Terri (Burns) Fowler received an invitation to lunch. 

The invitation was from Marketplace Chaplains U.S.A., which provides chaplain services to a variety of workplaces. They offered 

Fowler a job. Initially, she declined, asserting that it wasn’t what she wanted. However, she agreed to pray about it and consider a 

role as a chaplain. 

“I didn’t think it would ever work out,” Fowler said. But during the second lunch interview, Marketplace Partners asked her if she 

wanted to work in the office of a large, local business. Fowler enthusiastically agreed. Ministering to professionals was an answer 

to prayer, and it fulfilled a deep desire to work in a business setting. 

This was just one of the many affirmations of God’s sovereignty in Fowler’s life. 

Fowler became a Christian at the age of 7. Later, when she decided to go to Cornerstone University—which was Grand Rapids 

Baptist College (GRBC) at the time—God graciously put people in her path to bolster her along the way. 

On a blustery Michigan day, Fowler’s youth pastor brought her youth group to visit the college. Fowler wondered why anyone 

would want to go to college where it was so cold and snowy. But God wanted her there, and her youth pastor encouraged her 

to attend.

I come alongside people in their 

good times and their in-between 

times. People allow me to come 

into their story. 

CORNERSTONE UNIVERSITY 

“For me to go to GRBC at that time was the perfect situation,” Fowler 

reflected. “The school was a hothouse for spiritual growth.” She recalled how 

professors at GRBC inspired her to build a Christian worldview and to be an 

agent of Christ wherever she went. 

13 

Even after college, Fowler was confident that God provided every situation 

in her life for her benefit. She sought out various opportunities as she tried 

to seek out her career. God used that season to help her grow. After working 

a few different jobs and pausing work to raise her family, Fowler accepted a 

job at Marketplace Chaplains following that providential lunch meeting. 

Fowler currently serves as chaplain for the corporate offices of Gordon 

Food Service and Our Daily Bread Ministries, both located in Grand Rapids, 

Mich. Some of Fowler’s assignments are out of the ordinary. You’ll find her 

anywhere from tool-and-die facilities to intensive care units. For Fowler, it’s 

all about being available for people. 

“I talk to a lot of different kinds of people,” Fowler said. “I often start with basic 

chitchat—sports, the weather, gardening—but in the middle of that, we talk 

about things that are important.” 

“It is my desire to affirm people,” Fowler said, “whether they’re the person I 

stand with in line at the grocery store or the person cutting my hair.” 

Fowler’s faith isn’t pigeonholed into one area. It permeates her entire being. 

She understands that she is an instrument for God’s goodness, and He will 

use her as He sees fit. She encourages others to understand that God is using 

them no matter where they are. Fowler is a light to everyone, whether she’s 

at a restaurant or in an office. 

“All truth is God’s truth,” Fowler said. “All ministry is God’s ministry.” 

ALUMNI JOURNAL 2021 

By intersecting the lives of others around her, Fowler finds that she can also 

help them explore their faith. In her experience, anything can be a ministry— 

marriage counseling, child dedication and even divorce care. She has seen 

people come to faith in each of those situations. Sometimes it’s not a big 

event—it’s a mere conversation. 

“I come alongside people in their good times and their in-between times,” 

Fowler said. “People allow me to come into their story.” 

Fowler’s entire life and career is dotted with stories of her pouring into 

others. To her, every interaction she has is ordained by God, even if she’s 

not on the clock. It all comes back to how she felt affirmed during her studies 

at GRBC. 

ABOUT TERRI 

Terri Fowler graduated from Cornerstone University with a degree in 

speech communication. She currently works as a chaplain for Marketplace 

Chaplains U.S.A. Fowler serves employees of Gordon Food Service and 

Our Daily Bread by making hospital calls, assisting in funerals, performing 

weddings and coming alongside those employees in moments of crisis. 

Terri and her husband, Bruce, currently reside in Grand Rapids. They have 

two adult children.


14 

SANDRA GADDY 

(B.A. ’99) 

How Faith Operates 

Sandra Gaddy is passionate about making sure no woman gets left behind. 

She knows what it’s like to be a working mom—and some of the obstacles women face in their career path every day. Gaddy 

spent her early career in banking, having previously put college on hold to get married and raise three children with her husband. 

She credits her banking career with teaching her how to tap into and build on relationships. It was then she envisioned a 

different career path and decided to finish her degree. 

Since she was a working mom, a traditional college classroom wasn’t going to work for her. Gaddy returned to school 

through Cornerstone’s Professional & Graduate Studies (PGS) program. Taking night classes while working and caring for her 

children helped her understand the difficulty of balancing school, work and family and how vital it is for women to achieve 

their full potential. 

When the opportunity came, many years later, to serve as president and CEO of Women’s Resource Center (WRC) in Grand Rapids, 

Mich., Gaddy jumped at the opportunity. 

WRC meets women where they’re at, whether they are reentering society after incarceration or are seeking a promotion at 

work. The organization empowers and elevates women to achieve their greatest potential and provide financial stability for 

their families.

When I got the job, I said, “God, you have 

me on this platform, so I’m going to be 

intentional about everything I do and say, 

and how I listen.” 

“The work at WRC makes my heart sing,” Gaddy said. “It’s important to me 

that all women have every opportunity to succeed.” 

Gaddy is able to use both her passion and her lived experience to pour into 

women as they face similar challenges that she’d faced years before. 

“Our goal is to transform a system that sustains poverty to one that provides 

women with poverty-ending occupations,” Gaddy said. For women seeking 

jobs, WRC offers career exploration, certifications and technical training. 

Their participants end up in a variety of different jobs, from traditional office 

settings to trades like welding. Women have access to rent laptops if they’re 

required to work from home. They can receive a retail certificate to help 

them become better employed. And they can learn technical skills they 

need to get ahead in their career. 

As a result of WRC’s tireless work and Gaddy’s leadership, 70% of 

women in the organization’s programs remained employed and have 

not been reincarcerated. 

The economic climate of 2020 proved a challenge for women across 

the board. WRC interacted with as many participants and their families 

throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in crisis, including women reentering 

the community early from their New Beginnings program at Kent County 

Corrections. In September 2020, over 800,000 women left the workforce, 

according to a report from the National Women’s Law Center. Gaddy noted 

that many women left the workforce during this time, either to help their 

children learn online or because of the lack of available childcare options. 

Gaddy recalled a recent participant that she and her team worked with, a 

working mother of a special needs daughter. The organization changed 

her hours suddenly to third shift at the factory where she worked, which 

caused her to have to seek new employment so that she could be there for 

her daughter. 

been an accident. Her husband and young son were in a car accident 

while traveling in a busy intersection and were taken to a hospital near 

Valparaiso, Ind. 

The administrator took Gaddy’s hand and prayed for her before she left for 

the hospital. 

“I don’t remember his name,” Gaddy said. “But I remember his act.” Her 

husband and son recovered well. 

Even if some participants at WRC do not know Gaddy by name, they 

can certainly see the work that she leads through the impact that the 

organization has on women in West Michigan. “Our team and volunteers are 

second to none,” Gaddy said. “They walk alongside each woman to help them 

reach their potential and/or personal goals”. 

Gaddy’s advice to women who have a lot on their plate is simply this—”Don’t 

give up. I know how challenging raising a family, working and going to school 

or learning a new trade can be.” Although it’s a challenge, it’s possible and 

we can all do it with the right support system. 

“I believe the Lord opened the door for me to come to WRC,” Gaddy said. 

“When I got the job, I said, ‘God, you have me on this platform, so I’m going to 

be intentional about everything I do and say and how I listen.’” 

That’s how Gaddy lives out her faith—by using a platform to transform lives 

and make a tangible impact for Christ wherever she goes. 


15 


“Moving forward, it will be incumbent upon companies to create an 

environment that offers flexibility,” Gaddy said. “We’ve learned that we can 

work from home successfully and create opportunities for moms to do so.” 

Gaddy is passionate about helping to provide women avenues to overcome 

barriers to gainful employment and personal success. That passion is guided 

by her faith and how Christ calls His followers to help those who are in need. 

Gaddy would be the first to tell you that actions speak louder than words. 

During her time at Cornerstone, while sitting in night classes at PGS, she was 

called into the office of a Cornerstone administrator. He told her there had 

ABOUT SANDRA 

Sandra Gaddy serves as CEO of Women’s Resource Center in Grand Rapids, 

Mich., having previously served at both Mel Trotter Ministries and Inner 

City Christian Federation. She received her Bachelor of Science in business 

management from Cornerstone University’s Professional & Graduate Studies 

program in 1999 and her executive MBA from Grand Valley State University. 

She and her husband, Arlen-Dean, have three adult children.

Kristin (Wheeler) Amama 

Laurie (Korb) Hart 


16 

2000s 

Jake Houf 

DAVE (B.R.E. ’00) AND CYNTHIA (HOLTZHOUSE, 

B.A ’86) BEACH created a nontraditional publishing house 

for fiction and nonfiction concerned with spiritual formation 

and the human dilemma. 

KRISTIN (WHEELER, B.A. ’00) AMAMA and her 

husband, Henry, finalized the adoption of their ninth child, 

Natalie Ruth, on Dec. 20, 2019. 

LAURIE (KORB, B.A. ’01) HART and her husband, 

Michael, recently adopted two children: Lexus and Xavier. 

JOAN (MIKKOLA, M.R.E. ’02) GUEST and her husband, 

Steven, transitioned into new positions as professors at 

Baptist Theological College and Cebu Graduate School of 

Theology in Cebu, Philippines. 

KANEITHA KELLY (B.S. ’04) was promoted to lease 

consultant in February 2021 at Caterpillar Financial Services 

Corporation. 

NOAH FILIPIAK (B.S. ’04, M.A. ’09) finished his 

new book titled “Beyond the Battle: A Man’s Guide to His 

Identity in Christ in an Oversexualized World.” Published by 

Zondervan, the book will be available on July 13, 2021. 

Crystal (Richards) Kitten 

Debra (Ziehm) McGuire 

Matt Kunnen 

Alan Warner 

ANDREW BOSSARDET (B.A. ’06) became the lead 

pastor of First Reformed Church in Byron Center, Mich. 

CRYSTAL (RICHARDS, B.A. ’07) KITTEN started as 

the director of housing for A.Y.A. Youth Collective, a newly 

merged nonprofit in Grand Rapids serving homeless youth, 

in October 2020. 

JONATHAN HIGHMAN (B.S. ’08, MBA ’10) partnered 

with Kevin Damghani in 2017 and co-founded ITPartners. 

ITPartners is a technology sales, service and consulting 

company with an emphasis on doing great work, thinking 

big and making it fun for their partners! 

MATT KUNNEN (B.A. ’09) joined Wyoming-based JVL 

Wealth Strategies in 2013 after working as an investment 

consultant for a national brokerage firm. In 2021, he was

4TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION 

OF SCHOLARSHIP 

In April 2021, Cornerstone University’s traditional undergraduate 

division hosted its annual Celebration of Scholarship. This year’s 

showcase featured 117 posters, 71 papers and presentations and 34 

musical performances. 

Learn more at cornerstone.edu/cos. 

PICTURED: Students reviewing posters during Celebration of Scholarship. 

elected as a partner at JVL Wealth Strategies. He graduated 

from Cornerstone University with a Bachelor of Arts in 

finance and business management. 

MEGHAN POWELL (B.A. ’09) has lived in Chicago for 

the last six years. She started her business called iMProv 

Boss in 2018. While it was a big jump to walk away from a 

corporate job, her faith and the education she received at 

Cornerstone gave her the tools she needed to make the leap. 

NEW MASTER OF PUBLIC 

ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM 

The new Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) program at 

Cornerstone’s Professional & Graduate Studies division provides 

avenues for current and aspiring nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs 

to enact transformative change in their organizations. The Higher 

Learning Commission recently approved this program, and the first 

cohort is anticipated to launch in September 2021. 

Request information at cornerstone.edu/public-administration. 

NICOLE (RICKS, B.S. ’13) KRAAYENBRINK owns Burly 

Bison Bakery, a bakery that offers gluten-free, dairy-free and 

vegan desserts with no added refined sugar and made from 

organic ingredients whenever possible. 

MYKEL HALL (B.S. ’13, M.DIV. ’20) recently accepted 

the position of senior pastor at Trowbridge Community 

Church in Otsego, Mich. 

SARA BETH GRISSOM (A.S. ’13, B.S. ’17) moved back 

home to Alaska in June 2019 and accepted a position at a 

residential reentry center in October 2019. 


17 

2010s 

DEBRA (ZIEHM, M.B.A. ’10) MCGUIRE was selected 

as the executive director of the International Association of 

Assessing Officers in Kansas City, Mo. 

JAKE HOUF (B.S. ’10) and his wife, Katie, welcomed their 

first child, Anna Kay Houf, on July 3, 2020. 

ALAN WARNER (B.S. ’13) began a podcast titled The 

Wonderful Lizard, reading of the public domain work “The 

Wizard of Oz” and changing the word wizard to lizard. To 

listen, visit anchor.fm/lizarding. 

ANNE OSTRANDER (B.A. ’14) spent four years serving 

as a missionary in the Middle East. In July 2020, she returned 

home to continue serving Muslim and refugee communities 

and helping lead them to know Jesus. 

KAREN (FOWLER, M.A. ’14) MOORMAN was appointed 

as the supply pastor of Grant Chapel African Methodist 

Episcopal Church in Three Rivers, Mich. 

JOELLE WRIGHT-TERRY (B.S. ’15) is a surviving widow 

due to COVID-19, and she is continuing Marshall’s legacy 

with Memorials By Marsh & Sassi for her two boys, Joshua 

and Micah. Her company specializes in the creation and 

customization of gravesite headstones, monuments, benches 

and cornerstones for those who have passed away.


18 

BRAD GRAY 

(B.A. ’02) 

Advancing God’s Kingdom 

Every morning, Brad Gray wakes up and asks God, “What can we create today?” 

His attitude toward faithfully listening to God and using his passion for storytelling has led him across the country and around the 

world as he seeks to help people better understand the Bible in its original context. 

Gray’s path to becoming a teaching pastor and creator of resources for learning about Scripture began unconventionally. As 

a business major and basketball player at Cornerstone University, Gray originally planned to help his father in his exercise 

education and physical rehabilitation business. But, as Gray likes to say, “Following Jesus is always an adventure. Buckle up, and 

hold on tight because you never know what will happen next.” 

After three years of working for his father, Gray felt prompted to change professions, attend seminary and become a pastor— 

something his grandmother knew all along. “I talked to her on the phone after I made the decision,” Gray laughed. “She said, ‘I 

always knew you were going to be a pastor.’” 

After receiving his Master of Divinity and spending an additional year studying in Jerusalem, Gray became a teaching pastor at 

Solomon’s Porch church in Jenison, Mich., and three years later for Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Mich. Four years later, 

Gray sensed God had a new plan for him.

We want people to experience 

the transformational power of the 

Word of God when it is lived 

out in faithful obedience to Jesus. 

Over the course of a two-week time period, Gray and his wife, Shallon, were 

convinced that God was calling them to resign and move to Nashville, Tenn., 

with their children: Denyon, Aryah, Calyx and Xyler. Within the course of two 

weeks, they knew that this was what God had planned for them. 

“Eleven days later, we stood in front of our congregation at Central Wesleyan 

and told them, ‘We’re moving to Nashville for no reason other than God is 

literally telling us to,’” Gray said. 

The first year was difficult. Gray and his wife still had no idea why God had 

called them there. Gray had some speaking engagements lined up as well as 

some trips to Israel and Turkey he would lead. Beyond that, there were still so 

many unknowns. 

By the end of the last year, things began to crystalize. Gray launched Walking 

The Text, a crowdfunded, nonprofit organization that creates resources and 

study trips to biblical lands and helps people understand the Bible in its 

original context. 

As Gray pointed out, “The biggest thing I’ve learned is that context is 

everything, and yet the vast majority of people have never been taught how 

to engage the Bible in its original context. It’s why so many people find the 

Bible difficult to understand. Our goal is to provide necessary tools to help 

people read the Bible with clarity and confidence.” 

Over the last three years, Walking The Text has become a hub of information 

and rich resources to help believers understand and connect with Scripture. 

and how Jesus operated within it as a Jewish rabbi. By carefully examining 

the history and culture of Jesus’ world, Gray paints a vivid picture of what it 

looked like to be a disciple of Jesus two thousand years ago and what those 

implications are for us today. 

Walking The Text hosts study tours to the Middle East, guided by Gray himself. 

These aren’t just “bus tours”—travelers can expect to walk where Jesus 

walked and dig deep into the culture and history of His world. 

On a national level, Walking The Text hosts the Infusion Bible Conference, 

a three-day crash course on biblical context hosted in the Nashville area. 

It’s dedicated to helping participants understand context through history, 

geography, culture backgrounds and more. And it is available for anyone 

to attend. 

“When I first learned context, the text went from black-and-white to 4K ultra 

high definition,” Gray explained. “I think we often make reading the Bible a 

chore, so I get jazzed when I can bring people inside the story.” 

That philosophy is at the heart of Gray’s ministry—to effectively tell the 

greatest story in human history and to help others be transformed by it. 

“The grace of God is in all of this,” Gray said. “I have the privilege and freedom 

to do everything I can to advance His kingdom in a way that changes 

people’s lives.” 

For Gray, the move was worth it—an opportunity to be unexpectedly blessed 

and to bring God’s kingdom to earth for people around the country. 


19 


“The idea of ‘walking’ the text is a reference to the Hebrew word halakh,” Gray 

said. “Its normal translation is ‘to live’ or ‘to go,’ but it emphatically means ‘to 

walk,’ as in to walk something out in your life. We don’t want to necessarily 

help people be smarter—we want them to become more faithful. If you’re 

gaining information but not experiencing transformation, there’s something 

wrong. We want people to experience the transformational power of the Word 

of God when it is lived out in faithful obedience to Jesus.” 

Gray publishes multiple videos and podcast teachings on the website on 

a monthly basis, all of which are completely free. For example, he recently 

released an eight-part series on the rabbinical world of the New Testament 

ABOUT BRAD 

Brad Gray graduated from Cornerstone University in 2002 with a degree in 

business management. After working for a time with his father, Gray studied 

at Western Theological Seminary and received his Master of Divinity. In 

2009, he received a graduate certificate in biblical history and geography 

from Jerusalem University College. He has pastored at both Solomon’s Porch 

Church in Jenison, Mich., and Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Mich. He 

now lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife, Shallon, and their four children. To 

learn more about Brad and his ministry, visit walkingthetext.com.


20 

JOE JONES 

(M.A. ’12) 

Power in Learning 

Joe Jones understands that in order to be more like Jesus, he has to learn how to be more like Jesus. 

He often reflects on the “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelets that were popular in the mid-2000s. This question calls Christ 

followers to be students—a charge Jones doesn’t take lightly. 

“How do we know what Jesus would do if we don’t know what Jesus has done?” Jones asks this question often to his 

congregation at Brown Hutcherson Ministries in Grand Rapids, Mich. But Jones has also lived this truth throughout his 

career and his life. 

Jones served as president and CEO of the Urban League of West Michigan for nine years. That unique opportunity helped 

develop his perspective for how God could use him in his work as a leader, a change agent and a Christ follower. 

“That work helped me become the person I am today,” Jones recalled. “Whoever came through our doors, the expectation was 

that we would treat them with dignity and respect.” 

Dignity and respect—it’s not always easy to live these out in today’s culture. In late 2020, Jones saw an opportunity to coach 

people in these areas and inspire them to see others the way Jesus would see them. That involved tackling difficult topics.

We need to look at people through 

the lens that God made them in His 

own image. This is in many ways the 

missing element in today’s society. 

“I know that the topics of race, equity, diversity and inclusion are not easy 

for a lot of people to discuss,” Jones said. “A lot of organizations are trying to 

enhance what they’re doing in those areas, but they don’t have anywhere to 

start from. There’s a tension and fear that they’ll say or do the wrong thing.” 

Earlier this year, Jones founded The Hekima Group LLC. “Hekima” is Swahili 

for wisdom. His vision is to provide sound wisdom and strategy to a variety 

of industries in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion; strategic and 

multicultural communication; crisis management; and board recruitment. 

Jones has been an active consultant for decades, but after the racial tension 

of 2020 and the effects COVID-19 had on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people 

of color) communities, he felt that it was time to focus even more energy on 

this area of his life. 

“We need to look at people through the lens that God made them in His own 

image,” Jones said. “This is in many ways the missing element in today’s 

society. Because of my faith, I know not to approach people as being inferior 

or superior. When you start by treating people based on their rank or social 

status, there’s the potential to go away from what the Word teaches us.” 

Jones finds strength and purpose in the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19, 

his life’s mission statement. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has 

anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that 

captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be 

set free and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” 

Jones uses his lived experience to both teach and learn, in the marketplace 

and at the pulpit. Whenever Jones comes across an opportunity to expand 

on his knowledge, he takes it. That led him and his wife, Jessie Jones (M.A. 

’12), to complete their Master of Arts in ministry leadership at Grand Rapids 

Theological Seminary as part of the very first Urban Cohort. 

Through that experience, the Joneses fostered valuable connections with 

members of the urban church community and engaged deeply with GRTS 

faculty on issues that our communities face every day. 

When it comes to leading, Jones takes his own advice. In order to answer the 

question, “What would Jesus do?,” he dedicates himself to learning how Jesus 

led. In all of his experiences—in leading nonprofits, returning to school and 

teaching the gospel—the teachings of Christ act as his guide. 

“There’s power in learning,” Jones said. “That’s what’s required of us—to never 

stop learning because none of us have fully arrived.” 

In a challenging, divisive climate, Jones is using both the gifts and the 

influence that God gave him to build relationships, start conversations and 

grow community. He is the first to say that it’s not an easy task, but it is 

possible through God’s grace and favor. 

“At the end of the day, the work that we do is how we meet the challenge 

before us,” Jones said. “It’s a challenge and sometimes seems to be 

impossible work, but I love waking up in the morning and trying to master 

that craft. Even when I fall, He’s there to help pick me back up.” 

After each fall, Jones learns something new. And because he learns, he grows 

closer to his Savior. 

ABOUT JOE 

Rev. Joe Jones is the president and CEO of The Hekima Group LLC, a 

consulting firm that provides sound wisdom and strategy to a wide variety of 

industries in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; strategic 

and multicultural communication; and crisis management. He holds a 

Bachelor of Arts in communication arts from Oakland University and a Master 

of Arts in ministry leadership from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He 

has graduate certificates from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, 

Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stern School of Business at New 

York University. He also serves as Second Ward City Commissioner for the 

City of Grand Rapids and pastor at Brown Hutcherson Ministries. Jones and 

his wife have four children and five grandchildren. 


21 

ALUMNI JOURNAL 2021

Carlee (Iwema) Veldhuizen 

Abbigail Rennes 


22 

Caleb and Paula Vredenburg 

DONNA (KNOPER, M.A. ’16) VANDERKODDE opened 

Kodde Counseling LLC (Begin Anew Counseling) in January 

2019, assisting individuals, couples and families who are 

dealing with complex issues through a Christ-centered 

worldview. 

CARLEE (IWEMA, B.A. ’16, M.A. ’18) VELDHUIZEN 

married Troy Veldhuizen on Sept. 18, 2020, and they live in 

Grandville, Mich. 

Eric and Connie Sattler 

Jesse (Sheridan) Maas 

Kenna Goodale 

Hannah (Haviland) and Matt Winright 

ELIZABETH (RICHTER, B.S. ’16) HERSHBERGER 

completed a master’s degree and accepted a position in 

the microbiology lab at Spectrum Health as a laboratory 

assistant. 

ABBIGAIL RENNES (B.S. ’16) was inducted as an 

affiliate member of the American Cinema Editors. 

SHELBY GOMBOSI (B.S. ’16) completed her Master 

of Arts in rehabilitation counseling in 2020. She started 

a new position as psychiatric ability access specialist at 

the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) 

at Michigan State University. At RCPD, she launched a 

program for students with mental health conditions who 

are navigating the academic environment, as well as colaunched 

a program to help students with disabilities build 

community with each other during the pandemic. 

CALEB (B.A. ’17) AND PAULA (B.S. ’17) 

VREDENBURG welcomed their first child, Esther Hope, on 

Sept. 9, 2020. 

ERIC (M.B.A. ’17) AND CONNIE (M.S. ’13, MBA ’16) 

SATTLER opened a travel agency in Grand Rapids in 2018. 

They specialize in cruise travel (ocean and river) and also 

help clients plan land-based vacations, including hotels, 

resorts, tours, adventure travel and vacations by rail. 

KENNA GOODALE (B.A. ’18) started a job in ABA as a 

behavior therapist in December 2018. She supports kids and 

families impacted by autism. 

GRACE HAMILTON (B.S. ’18) recently moved to 

Westcliffe, Colo., where she serves as the retreat coordinator 

at Sky Ranch.

CORNERSTONE UNVEILS MARY DE WITT 

CENTER FOR NURSING 

In April 2021, Cornerstone officially opened the Mary De Witt Center for 

Nursing in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The building is generously funded 

by the De Witt family, Tammy and J.C. Huizenga and David and Carol Van 

Andel. Bachelor of Science in Nursing students at Cornerstone will learn 

in this building using state-of-the-art technology like artificial intelligence 

mannequins and hospital-grade equipment. The Bachelor of Science in 

Nursing (BSN) at Cornerstone is pending approval from the Higher Learning 

Commission in summer 2021. 

Learn more at cornerstone.edu/bsn. 

DAKOTA STRAUB (B.S. ’18) accepted a job at SBC as a 

director of student ministries, overseeing students from birth 

through college. 

PICTURED: Dr. Maria McCormick, nursing division chair, Mary De Witt, Martie Stowell and Joe Stowell 

CORNERSTONE ADDS MEN’S WRESTLING 

TO ATHLETICS PROGRAMS 

Beginning in fall 2021, Cornerstone will officially add men’s wrestling as a 

varsity sport. The team already has eight incoming students committed, 

and construction is underway for a training facility on campus—the Steve 

Cochlan Wrestling Center. Wrestling is a quickly growing athletic program 

for schools in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 

Follow the new team at cornerstone.edu/wrestling. 


23 

JESSE (SHERIDAN, B.S. ’18) MAAS authored her first 

novel, “The Desiccant Keepers,” and is now working on other 

projects to publish soon. 

KIMBERLY ATWOOD (B.A. ’19) serves in multiple roles. 

She works as the communications administrator at Cascade 

Community Foundation, content coordinator at Best Version 

Media, content coordinator for Storybirds Inc. and social 

media coordinator for Breathe Christian Writers Conference. 

BENJAMIN COLLINS (B.A. ’19) recently started his 

position as director of communications at Spirit of God 

Fellowship. 

HANNAH (HAVILAND, B.A. ’19) AND MATT 

WINRIGHT (B.A. ’19) were recently married. Hannah 

works as the client services coordinator of 7C Lingo, a 

language agency. 

NATALIE (WYNALDA, B.S. ’19) VANDYKE accepted 

a job as the community engagement specialist at RISE 

Advocacy. Her primary responsibilities include managing 

volunteers and interns, giving community presentations 

and coordinating social media. 

REBECCA (COOPER, B.S. ’19) PUNCHES and 

ANDREW PUNCHES (B.A. ’20) were recently married. 

Rebecca also has transitioned roles at Protect Life 

Michigan, accepting the position of high school and 

young professionals for life coordinator. 

2020s 

EMILY QUELLET (B.S. ’20) was promoted to chief 

operating officer at DeHaan Homes.


24 

SHOMARI TATE 

(M.A. ’21) 

Mentoring the Next Generation 

As a student at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School, Shomari Tate wished he had someone to talk to about cultural issues 

and how he approaches them as a Christ follower. 

Now, he is blessed to be that person for students at his alma mater. 

Tate never thought he would be a mentor for high school students, but in 2019, God called him to just that. 

“It came to me that what God was working on was not just a vocation where I would be helping people, but also one where I can 

spread the mission and the gospel of Jesus Christ,” Tate said. 

As the director of equity and multiculturalism at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Tate has the privilege of leading and engaging 

with students as they seek to create a more inclusive culture. Tate’s role also includes leading the charge on the school’s 

multicultural efforts and making sure educators have tools to teach diverse perspectives on each subject, whether that’s math, 

science or history. 

“The mission of Catholic Central is to know and love God, seek knowledge and truth, respect the dignity of each person and 

contribute to society through leadership and service,” Tate said. “It becomes very easy to insert cultural topics into the curriculum 

because our mission alludes to this.”

It came to me that what God was 

working on was not just a vocation 

where I would be helping people, but 

also one where I can spread the mission 

and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Tate is amazed by how today’s high schoolers seem to eagerly engage with 

today’s cultural issues and discern how they can work to solve them. 


“I’ve never seen a more intellectual group of kids,” Tate said. “They have so 

much information at their disposal. They’re asking questions I never would 

have thought of at that age.” 

Tate examines social justice not only one-on-one and in the classroom but 

also as the defensive line coach and chaplain for Catholic Central’s state 

championship football team. 

“For high schoolers, living as a Christian is countercultural in 2021,” Tate 

said. “They have been set apart, as 1 Peter 2:9 tells them. Our 2020 state 

championship theme was having a humble heart. I’m trying to teach these 

young men that while football is an important part of their lives, it’s also 

preparing them for the battles they will face later in life.” 

Tate accepted his position at Catholic Central at the same time he began his 

degree program at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He fully believes that 

this was no accident—God is teaching him in both classrooms, whether he’s 

the student or the instructor himself. While his students wrestle with the 

culture of today, he is wrestling with theology and doctrine. 

“During my program, I applied what I was learning in my classes to what I 

was talking about with my students,” Tate said. “The courses helped me stand 

on the teachings of the Bible while providing an ethical approach to those 

under my care.” 

At the heart of Tate’s ministry to high schoolers, whether that’s in class or on 

the football field, is a desire to help them view social justice through a biblical 

lens. He often uses the story of the Good Samaritan—a story familiar to most 

Christ followers but oftentimes misunderstood. 

In the story of the Good Samaritan, the religious clergy of the day ignored the 

man in the ditch. The man was ritualistically unclean, so avoiding him was 

doctrinally correct. But through the lens of the Gospels, the clergy should 

have treated the man with love first. 

“The Samaritan in the story would be considered a person of color by today’s 

standards,” Tate said. “While doctrines and theology are important, I want my 

students to understand that loving others as Christ loves us is essential to 

both the gospel and social justice.” 

Being a mentor to high schoolers isn’t always easy, Tate says, but it’s an 

extreme privilege to have influence on their lives. At an age where they are 

forming their own worldviews, it’s important for teens to have a mentor they 

can come to with questions. Tate listens and responds but also knows there 

are lessons they have to learn on their own. At the end of the day, his high 

schoolers will enter into a world that might not understand their faith. 

“We are in the midst of a cultural reckoning, and the Lord is calling us to 

speak to some things that have been ignored for quite some time,” Tate said. 

“My prayer is that we come out more unified than ever.” 

And Tate’s role as a mentor to young minds is exactly where God wants him 

in the midst of this reckoning. He’s preparing students to preach a gospel of 

radical love in a culture that is thirsty for the truth. 

ABOUT SHOMARI 

Shomari Tate serves as the director of equity and multiculturalism 

at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School. He graduated from 

Michigan State University in 2017 with his Bachelor of Arts in political 

science and government and again in 2019 with a Master of Public Policy 

in political science. He graduated from GRTS in 2021 with his Master of Arts 

in ministry leadership. In fall 2021, he will begin his Doctor of Education 

degree through PGS. 

25 


COMMENCEMENT 



26 

51 volunteers. 

7 ceremonies spanning two weekends. 

490 graduates crossing the stage. 

Countless happy tears shed over the 

two weekends. 

Nothing was going to stop us from giving graduates from 2020 and 2021 the 

commencement they deserved this year. After months of careful planning, 

hundreds of volunteers, and weeks of coordination, we welcomed excited 

families on campus to celebrate their graduates. The new alumni received 

their diploma accompanied by a fist bump and enjoyed the celebration 

they’d been waiting for—the chance to say, “I did it.” 

Congratulations, classes of 2020 and 2021!


ALUMNA OF THE 

YEAR AWARD 

RECIPIENTS 

TRADITIONAL 

UNDERGRADUATE: 

DR. STEFANIE WISE 

(B.S. ’06) 

Emergency physician 

and EMS medical director for 

Detroit Receiving Hospital 

PROFESSIONAL & 

GRADUATE STUDIES: 

SHANA LEWIS 

(B.S. ’12) 


27 

Executive director of talent 

acquisition and workforce 

programs for Trinity Health 

GRAND RAPIDS 

THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY: 

ANNE PARPAS 

(M.A. ’13) 

Owner and therapist for 

Integrative Health Consultants 

of West Michigan

CLASS OF 2021 


28 

Determination and Grace 

Through dedication and faith in God’s goodness, 

the class of 2021 has made this an incredible year. 

And they’re just getting started. Congratulations, 

and welcome to the alumni association! 

* TRADITIONAL UNDERGRADUATE GRADUATES 

** PROFESSIONAL & GRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATES 

^ GRAND RAPIDS THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY GRADUATES 

§ ASIA BIBLICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY GRADUATES 

David A. Adams** 

Andrew David Ahrens* 

Grace Akanksha* 

Benjamin David Anderson^ 

Dawn Marie Anderson** 

Joshua David Anderson* 

Shannon Anderson** 

Daryl Edward Andresen^ 

Samantha Alexis Angus* 

Katie Asencio* 

Corey Aukerman** 

AnnMarie Joy Aulbach* 

Angela Joy Bailard* 

Benjamin D. Bailey* 

Laura K. Baker^ 

Tyler Baker* 

Marcus J. Balocca** 

Alisa Ann Barber** 

Chelsea Lynn Barker** 

Courtney Barr** 

Emily Bauer* 

William Baumann* 

Hailey Kathryn Baun* 

Tanya M. Belbeck** 

India C. Bell** 

Angela Bell-Alexander** 

LaToya Naikita Benson** 

Madeline Anne Berce^ 

Dylan Michael Berens* 

Dana Beute** 

Kayla Elizabeth Bidwell* 

Kelsey Ann Billingsley* 

Eric V. Black^ 

Meghan R. Blakely** 

Moriah Kaye Blazer* 

Micah Aaron Boggs* 

Juliana Bonilla* 

Elizabeth Denae Boock* 

Jaclyn Joanne Bouma* 

Diane Erin Bowyer** 

Eric Liam Bradberry* 

Brandy Braman** 

Autumn Bethany Brister* 

Zachariah Brog* 

Abigail Bronkema* 

Alisha Nicole Brown** 

Bailey K. Brown^ 

Jill Brown** 

William Brad Brown** 

Daniel Buffham* 

Mari Elizabeth Bugg** 

Brandon Burie* 

Kerry Ann Burkhart^ 

Katelyn Joy Burmaster* 

Nicholas Burner^ 

Kendall Calhoun** 

Fernanda Calzada Munoz** 

Zachary Cantalice* 

Adam Carlson* 

Caitlin Carroll* 

Celeste Carwile* 

Logan Montgomery Chagdes* 

Brendan Lee Champine* 

Gregory L. Chandler** 

Sheila Chandler** 

Kai Chun Chang* 

Brandon Jeremiah Chase* 

Rene Chatman** 

Nathan Chenoweth**

Emily Childers* 

Dennis Keith Chitwood** 

Madison Christensen* 

Sara Clapper* 

Amanda Elizabeth Clark** 

Kayla Clark* 

Jama Lynn Claxton* 

Mary Leanne Clementz** 

Moriah Clinger* 

John Esteban Cocoma Hernandez* 

Amy Rebecca Cole** 

Alissa Collins^ 

Kaylee L. Collins* 

Emily Comeau* 

Rabecka Kaylin-Leeann Commans* 

Amber L. Coniglio** 

Linnae Conkel* 

Charles Allan Connell II** 

Grace A. Connell** 

Chad Cook** 

Richard L. Cook** 

Samantha Cook** 

Delight J. Cooley** 

Charity Lynn Cooper^ 

Mya Sulema Copado* 

Riley Costen* 

Jennifer Renee Cox* 

Krista M. Cramer** 

Marcus Cronin** 

Jerry Cross** 

Bailey Cummings* 

Denver Scott Daniel* 

Brittany Lynn Darling* 

Mark A. Davidhizar^ 

D’Amaie Elaine Davis* 

Angela M. Davis** 

Sterling DeGayner* 

Alexis Aidden DeBoer* 

Sara Jean Dekker^ 

Nicholas Dekkenga* 

Ryan Allen Dekkinga** 

Benjamin Paul DeMaagd** 

Tyler James DeMoss** 

Chloe DeVries* 

Lluvia Diaz-Lanier** 

Kimmular Dortch** 

Erika Leigh Doster-Funk** 

Courtney Eileen Ducharme* 

Curtis James Dunkerley* 

Angela Durrah-Bays** 

Kristen Dussault* 

Joel Van Dyke* 

Brandi L. Dyke** 

Chelsea Joyce Dykstra* 

J. Austin E. Huffer^ 

Melissa M. Eding** 

Hannah Marie Edmonds* 

Keith J. Edwards^ 

Blaise Orion Eisele* 

Justin Ellenwood** 

Brendan Emmerich* 

Trina L. Enoch** 

Jennifer Marie Enos** 

Tammy J. Erste^ 

Emily Danielle Ervin* 

Brandy Everest** 

Nicholas Ewald^ 

Lisa Jo Fanelli-Greer^ 

Emma Falls* 

Kristi Fender** 

Jessica Finn-Bloomberg** 

Chelsia Paulinn Firlik^ 

Justin David Fleser^ 

Kyle Ford^ 

Cosby Danielle Franks* 

Macaul Lynae Franks* 

Mrs. Deannia L. Friend** 

Christopher Jonathan Fry^ 

Martin Fuss** 

Quincy Gainey* 

Brooke Ashtyn Galloway* 

Gabrielle Gardner* 

Keoshi M. Gardner** 

Tonya Gardner-Hill** 

Jason DeWayne Garland** 

Vincent John Giannecchini* 

Ashley Kay Gilmore^ 

Ashley Glass* 

Katrina Ann Goebel* 

Christy Vivek Gogu§ 

Joanna K. Gordon^ 

John C. Grafton** 

Nicole Margaret Greenhoe** 

Lexis Rose Guarnaccia** 

Thomasina S. Guidry^ 

Natalie A. Guinn* 

Joshua J. Gundlach** 

Tamara L. Gurley^ 

Dwight Gutridge** 

Amber Alexis Guzman* 

Samantha Ines Guzman* 

Donald Haff** 

Denique Hamilton** 

Ryan Anthony Hannah^ 

Shirin Subhi Hannan* 

Caitlyn Hannum^ 

Kodie Edward Hansen* 

Kari Hanson** 

Michelle Hardman** 

Emily Jane Arlene Harris* 

Jamona Chanel Harris^ 

Makenzi Morgan Harrison** 

Stephanie Hartsock** 

Kyle Hayes** 

Emily J. Harvey* 

Keyanna Heddy** 

Madison E. Herrema* 

Ashley Heyboer* 

Amy Joy Heyduck** 

Braelyn Hill* 

Kiley Ann Hilton* 

Jared James Hla§ 

William Robert Hobson V* 

Robert J. Hoffman** 

Kimberly D. Hofstra** 

Kellsie Marie Holtz** 

Ryan Craig Hoogerheide* 

Caleb John Horjus* 

Timothy Hoult** 

Carrie Rose Hourican** 

Isaiah R. House* 

Ryan Huls* 

Jill Hultink** 

Teresa Gayle Hultink^ 

Kaylynn Hume** 

Katherine Hunter** 

Madison Delaney Hunter* 

Cristin Leigh Jamba** 

Rebecca Jellison** 

Eric A. Jobe** 

Logan Strader Johns* 

Grace Marada Johnson* 

Mikayla Johnson* 

Arissa M. Johnston* 

Amy Lauren Jones** 

Daniel Gerard Jones** 

Jeffrey L. Jousma** 

Alyssa Kaiser* 

Sacree Kandi* 

Erin Dean Kane** 

Kimm Kyle Karrip Jr.* 

Jennifer Anne Katich** 

Susan Princess Kayuni* 

Kathleen Ann Kent** 

Stephane Keo* 

David Fredrick Kerkstra* 

Kyoung Cheon Kim* 

Nicholas Alan Kleitch* 

Hannah Jo Klepal* 

MacKenzie A. Knoll* 

Katlyn Marie Koetsier* 

Annika K. Kolean* 

Kaycee Grace Kooima* 

Ryan Michael Koontz* 

Ellen Marie Kresge* 

Keith James Krueger** 

Madissen E. Kruit* 

Chloe Marie Kuhns* 

Samantha J. Kuiper* 

Julianna Kusneske* 

Anita Kwarteng** 

Phoebe LaCroix* 

Damiane Lake** 

Andrew Yalmer Lamppa* 

Justin Laney** 

Regan Lang* 

Cierra Lynn Langejans* 

Abigail I. Langerak** 

Tori Marie Lankford* 

Mark J. Lardieri** 


29


30 

Yuiki Lau* 

Aliyah N. Lemmer* 

Sara Lemon* 

Jaclyn Lenger** 

Marcus Leslie** 

Robert Edward Lewis IV* 

Ashley Nicole Lewis** 

Dylan Matthew Linton* 

Averi Anne Lohman* 

Adam P. Looman** 

Edna Lopez** 

Christiana L. Lovegrove** 

Lina Rebekah Low§ 

Alaina Mary Lubbers* 

Alan J. Luchtenburg* 

Alida Marie Luck* 

Josiah Ludema* 

Morgan Elizabeth Luedy* 

Jacie Lutke* 

Holly Lynn Lynema** 

Jaela B. Maat* 

Joshua D.A. Magley* 

Garrett Marshall Maher* 

Garrett Marshall Maher* 

Chad Malinowski** 

Isaac Matthew Mangione* 

Emily Kaye Margaret Grace 

Veenstra-Banning^ 

Jennifer Nicole Marquez** 

Andrew J. Marshall* 

Adam R. Martens** 

Kara Elizabeth Martin** 

Amanda Martinez** 

Brianna Marie Martinez* 

Juanita Martinez-Ellis** 

Johanna M. Mason^ 

Connor Matthysse* 

Chandler Eugene McKinney* 

Jennifer Anne McKinstry^ 

Vanthony McMullan** 

ChaVon McMurray** 

Lucas McNinch* 

Daniela Medrano** 

Jaxsen Meldrum* 

Michael C. Melillo* 

Nicole Kimberly Clara Mendez* 

Eric Jon Merchant** 

Gabriel Michael Meriwether* 

Conner Edward Meyers* 

Erica Lynn Mick* 

Cassandra Middaugh** 

Aimee Danielle Miller* 

Brandyn Jaymes Miller^ 

Sean Miller^ 

Shaloria Michaela Mitchell** 

Brooke Maria Modderman* 

Hannah J. Moore^ 

Angelica Moore-Johnson** 

Silvia M. Morales** 

Faith Morgan* 

Bethany Mae Morse* 

Rebecca Mrozinski** 

Jeffery S. Mudget** 

Josue Y. Uquillas Muniz** 

Melissa Sue Mys** 

Hilda Nadar§ 

Brooke Avery Nelson* 

Natenael Nesibu* 

Mitchell James Nichols* 

Brooke Kimberly Nicholson* 

Joshua Nicholson* 

Mustapha A. Njie** 

Salvation O. Nkiko* 

Brent Montagnino Nudo* 

Shelby Nyboer* 

Leslie Nyquist* 

Maurita Oduor* 

Noah R. Oeverman* 

Alexandra Lyn Oosse^ 

Brendan Lee Oosterheert* 

Samuel Ottosen** 

Bridgett Nicole Ozuzu** 

Drew Gordon Parker* 

Megan Parker** 

Chevoy Parson** 

Bailer Patterson* 

Delonte Pearson* 

Graciela Pecina* 

Leah Peirce* 

Joseph Pena** 

Cameron M. Perini* 

Kourtney Yvonne Perkins** 

Lucas Perkins* 

Sydney Elena Perry* 

Joshua Petrusma** 

Jenifer Pezzelle** 

Ntando Palesa Phillips* 

Victoria Piovesan* 

Demetrius Pittman** 

Evette R. Pittman** 

Madeline Pluta* 

Sam Popik* 

Taylor Pratt* 

Emily Quellet** 

Garrett A. Race** 

Michaela Katherine Ransler* 

Trevor Holt Reed* 

Jennifer A. Reil^ 

Morgan Marie Renkema* 

Mackenzie Ribbink** 

Allyson Richards* 

Jared Riley* 

Ashley Marie Rios^ 

Connor Robertson* 

Angel Louise Ciara Robinson* 

Meoshi Renee Robinson-Atkinson** 

Silvio Romeo Rodriguez Guerra* 

Christian James Rodriguez* 

Emily Lyn Rogers* 

Amanda Grace Rohling* 

Kyle Rouse ^ 

Brianne Ilyse Roux^ 

Rebecca Rowley* 

Ellyssa Marie Rudolph* 

Michelle Rummelt** 

Caleb T. Ryan* 

Cameron Scott Ryder* 

Skylar Shorland Ryskamp* 

Adrianna Saldivar** 

Noah James Sall* 

David Sanchez* 

Sierra Rose Sanchez* 

Zam Kap Sang* 

Reu Jardinico Sausa§ 

Sheryl Yap Sausa§ 

Emily Schaafsma* 

Jared Andrew Schmatz* 

Katelyn Paige Schmidt* 

Luke Andrew Schrock* 

Laurie Schreur* 

James E. Schroeder* 

John C. Schroeder^ 

Annette Whitley Scott** 

Cindy Marie Seaney** 

Liuel Kenaz Selorio§ 

Lucas Owen Sharar* 

Melvin L. Shelton** 

Samantha Joelle Sherman* 

Riane Sheick** 

Kaylie A. Sieglaff* 

Carson Silverstein** 

Jessica Lynn Slater** 

Robert E. Slaughter** 

Acacia R. Smith* 

Brad Smith** 

Gabrielle Smith* 

Jessica E. Smith** 

Staci R. Smith** 

Sarah Smitter** 

Sydney Marie Smullen* 

Maegan A. Sneller* 

Caleb Snoeyink* 

Josiah Snyder* 

Kaleb Soller** 

Amanda Nicole Sorokin* 

Jacqueline Rosemary Stanko* 

Brooke Lauren Statema* 

Brittany R. Stichter^ 

James Charles Stokes** 

Deborah Stowie^ 

Emily Autumn Stump* 

Rachael Elianna Suraj* 

Jacob Swift* 

Cassondra Taber** 

Mercedez Tahtinen** 

Tanner Richard Tamminga** 

Hanita C. Tampos§ 

Leanette M. Tanner** 

Madeline Tassoni* 

Shawna Tate**

Shomari Jalen Tate^ 

Alyisha Taylor** 

Stephanie TeSlaa^ 

Babalo Thiyane* 

Maryam Thomas^ 

Mitchell Tiesma* 

Tyler Timmer** 

Moya Tobey* 

Edwin Eric Tolbert Sr** 

Mark W. Tremaine** 

Amanda Harriet Trilla** 

Brady Lee Troyer* 

Peggy Gene Tuttle** 

Sara Tysman^ 

Martin Uchendu** 

Karen Nicole Underwood* 

Jaden Alexius Valentine* 

Anna Mae VanCoonis* 

Raelee VandenBerg* 

Derryk Mark VanderJagt* 

Trisha Ann VanderWagen** 

Heather Lynn VanderWoude* 

Andrew J. Vangunst* 

Betty Verburg^ 

Amanda VerHulst* 

Nicole Lynn VerHulst* 

Milica Vickovic** 

Blesswin Victor§ 

Taylor Vink* 

Frank Paul Viso** 

Anthony Dominic Vulcano III** 

Charles David Walker** 

Michaela Lynn Walker** 

Jacob Michael Walters* 

Seth Christian Walters** 

Ruoyao Wang* 

Glenn Alexander Watson^ 

Alisha Nicole Webbs** 

Anthony Weber II** 

Nathan Weems* 

Eric H. Weller** 

Julie Wentworth** 

Nichole Lynn Whitfield** 

Kayla Whitham^ 

Derek D. Wieringa** 

Grace Kelly Wiersema* 

Moriah Wilke** 

Brielle Denise Williams* 

Aliyyah Denise Williams** 

Ryan Kleeves Wilson** 

Thomas E. Wilson** 

Patricia E. Wimbley** 

Eric Scott Winer^ 

Eve Roseanne Wixtrom** 

Owen K. Woltjer* 

Luke Wood* 

Dana Woodard** 

Eric D. Woods^ 

Abigail Workman 

Alicia D. Wyant** 

Amie Lynn Zapf** 

Abigel Zewde* 

Feben Zewde* 

Daniel L. Zolinski* 

Natalie Zysk* 


To God be the glory, 

now and forever. 

AMEN! 

31 


Alumni Association 

HOMECOMING & 

FAMILY WEEKEND 

OCT. 22-23 

We can’t wait to welcome you back to campus for 

Homecoming & Family Weekend 2021! Save the 

date for Oct. 22-23 to reconnect with friends and 

other alumni in a variety of events, including the 

inauguration of our 12th president. 

cornerstone.edu/homecoming

Cornerstone University Alumni Journal 2021

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