Pre-Conference Activities
Thursday, October 10
10:30 - 11:30 am
INCHE International Coffee Hour
Hickory Room
Network with international guests as we celebrate 50 years of INCHE’s work throughout the world and look ahead to the next 50 years.
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Preconference workshop: Deepening classroom community and learning through engagement with Christian practices
Hickory Room
In this workshop, we will explore how explicit discussion of communities and the practices that facilitate the formation of thriving communities make a difference in the culture, engagement, and learning within the classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on their own vision and hopes for students in their classes and to identify practices they could incorporate into their courses that support both immediate learning and students’ understanding of the connections between faith, learning, and work in their discipline.
Dr. Rachael Baker
Rachael’s research is in the area of mitochondrial rare diseases and what they can teach us about mitochondrial dynamics and regulation. Her interest in Rare Disease research has also led her to connect with and begin to advocate for the Rare Disease community. She is a co-founder of the Rare Disease Network, a collaborative organization that seeks to provide support and education to the Rare Disease community in Michigan. Rachael’s work in the highly interdisciplinary Rare Disease field has also led to her interest in how to prepare students to be effective scientists and collaborators. Rachael is passionate about how faith shapes our approach to doing science and can be a resource for improving the way we do science. In collaboration with other faculty at Calvin, she is developing a training curriculum and associated faculty workshop for using Christian practices to improve outcomes in collaborative science projects.
Dr. Amy Wilstermann
Dr. Wilstermann is associate director of the Calvin Honors Program. She is also the advisor for Calvin's Pre-Occupational Health program and Pre-Physician Assistant program.
Dr. Wilstermann enjoys doing research at Calvin because it provides her with the opportunity to work closely with very talented and curious students. Her students often ask wonderful, thought-provoking questions that prompt the exploration of new research avenues.
Outside of Calvin, Amy enjoys spending time with family. They can often be found outdoors - at a local park or at the beach. She also enjoys baking, ice skating, reading, and spending time with extended family and friends.
3:00 - 4:00 pm
Mini Panel and Snacks: Learn about networks that your conference hosts direct
Hickory Room
Learn about the history, goals, and initiatives of Kuyers Institute, de Vries Institute, and INCHE