Melvin Flikkema

Provost

B.A. (Calvin College, 1968), M.Div. (Calvin Theological Seminary, 1971), D. Min. (Fuller Theological Seminary, 1983)

MFlikkema@kuyper.edu • 616.988.3649

Dr. Melvin Flikkema is Kuyper College's provost. He is responsible for the faculty, Zondervan Library, Student Life Office, Academic Office, Academic Support Office and the Field Education Office.  He is also a member of the faculty. After finishing seminary, he pastored churches in Lynden, WA, and Long Beach, CA. Upon completing his doctor of ministry degree, he worked as a chaplain in Long Beach Community Hospital. Dr. Flikkema moved to Michigan in 1988 to serve as the assistant executive director of chaplaincy for the Christian Reformed Church. In 1993, he came to the Kuyper College community as the director of field education.  He became provost in 1999.

"As an administrator, I hold in mind the 'big picture' of what the Kuyper College experience should look like. Kuyper College must help students to gain a quality education in history, English, philosophy and the Bible.  The College must also help students become deeper Christians who know how to intelligently care about and for God's world. The biology teacher who inspires in his students an awe for the Creator, the social worker who offers hope and healing to her clients, and the missionary who shares the gospel in a foreign country are all serving God.   Hence, the College must also offer to its students a wide variety of professional majors that enable them to serve in a wide variety of vocations."

Mel and his wife, Carol, have been married for 39 years and have three adult children.  He is an avid cyclist, enjoys Starbucks coffee and traveling with his wife.  As a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserves, he served as a chaplain for 21 years, five months of which were served in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2003.  He retired from the USAR in 2006.