The First Woman President of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities

The board of director of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) has named Shirley V. Hoogstra as the seventh president of the organization. When she takes office on September 29, she will become the first woman president of the council.

“I am passionate about Christian education generally and Christian higher education specifically,” Hoogstra said. “The world is increasingly complex, and the liberal arts education that CCCU institutions offer prepares students to understand why faith deeply matters to people.”

Since 1999, Dr. Hoogstra has been vice president for student life at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Earlier, she practiced law in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dr. Hoogstra is a graduate of Calvin College, where she majored in education. She holds a juris doctorate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.