Russell Retires as Director of Financial Aid
When Agnes Russell first came to work for Kuyper College in 1996, she immediately knew she was in the right place.
“I was accepted and welcomed right away. It was a great feeling, coming back to a Christian organization, after having spent a short time in a secular workplace,” she recalled.
Russell – who retired at the end of September – was initially hired as Financial Aid Administrator and promoted to Assistant Director of Financial Aid before assuming her current title of Director of Financial Aid.
Through every phase of her 30-year career, she has worked alongside the rest of the Kuyper enrollment team to guide prospective and incoming students through the process of sourcing financial aid for their education.
The goal, she says, has always been to make things accessible and smooth to everyone, whether they are first time college students, international students, or transferring from a different institution.
“The Financial Aid Office serves anyone needing funding for their education,” she emphasized. “As part of the enrollment team, we work closely with Admissions to make sure students can afford to come to Kuyper, then with the students during the rest of their college years to make sure they can afford to stay.”
And doing this work at a place like Kuyper has always felt like more than just a job, Russell added.
“I love being with students and helping them as they prepare for the future. I have told people that I was not called to be in ministry, but I was called to help those who were called to ministry to pay for the training they would need,” she said.
Though she will miss being on campus every day, Russell says she is eager to see what God has in store for her once she retires.
“I feel extremely blessed to be a part of the community that is Kuyper College. I believe Kuyper exists for a purpose, and I will continue to support my Kuyper family even when I am no longer here,” she said. “It’s bittersweet, but I’m looking forward to what God has planned for me.”
Stepping into her shoes is Jon Versluis, a Rockford, Michigan native and 2017 Kuyper graduate, who previously served as Kuyper’s first-ever Financial Aid Specialist.
In that role, he was the point of first contact for incoming students as they navigated the process of applying for financial aid.
He says that the best part of being on the enrollment team has been meeting people from all walks of life and partnering with them as they work to accomplish their goals.
“I’ve loved getting to know current and prospective students and seeing what they are passionate about, where God is leading them,” he said. “And I’ve loved being a part of their journey, helping them tackle the financial aid side of things and easing the tension or nervousness or anxiousness that might come with this.”
Before returning to Kuyper, Versluis worked at Carvana and Corewell Health, where he built expertise in Google Analytics, data analysis and visualization, database relationships and more.
All of his previous experience has positioned him well to take the helm of Kuyper’s Financial Aid office and lead it into its next chapter, he says, whatever God may have in store along the way.
“Reflecting on the path that has brought me to this point. I feel it has prepared me for this new role, and I eagerly await the new learning opportunities and challenges that I will encounter,” he said.
