�鶹�� stands out in its reputation as a place to build lifelong relationships. Not only do students bond with peers, but they often build lifelong connections to professors who were integral to their experience. Nathan Russell is one of those students. Russell built his career on a Calvin undergraduate degree in psychology. That path ultimately led him to Big Sky country, in Lakeside, Montana. Despite the geographic distance, Russell’s relationship with Calvin remains an active presence in his life.

Russell works for Youth with a Mission, a faith-based program that prepares young people to serve in remote areas around the world. Attentive his faith and calling, Russell took a sabbatical in 2021. “As I looked at my faith, career, and life, I thought I could synthesize a little more and connect the dots.” The idea of an MBA kept returning. During his sabbatical, Russell made a trip to Grand Rapids, meeting with Bob Eames of the Calvin Center for Innovation in Business who shared the new online program was getting under way. Even more compelling to Russell was the specialized MBA curriculum available for those pursuing specific business sectors, in his case, non-profits.

I’m Going to Apply

Russell recalls, “As a Calvin alumnus and the strong sense of belonging we have, it was a perfect fit. Not only could I put my head down and do the work, completing my MBA in a year, but I would receive non-profit knowledge that added significant excitement for me. It was also an opportunity to be on the front end of the inaugural program. The conversations culminated in ‘I’m going to apply.’”

As he undertook the application process and dug into the concept of asynchronous learning, Russell realized how different learning has become. “The technology platform of the program was a lot to consider. Setting up to begin made me gear my mind for something new. I was excited to see what it was like.”

Asynchronous Academics for the Win

From an intellectual and academic perspective, Russell was eager to take the concepts of agency and redemption from his undergrad studies and apply them to his nonprofit ministry career. “It was making sense. We are agents of renewal and change.  We work with the Lord to bring that about. It started to come front and center in the material. The dedicated non-profit courses reframed the approach to social challenges—it’s not cut and dry. Learning design methods to build responsible organizations equipped to impact those issues was powerful.”

Was he worried about the asynchronous nature of the program after the deep bonding of his original, traditional college years at Calvin? If so, the concern was fleeting. “I was so impressed with the personal connection and interactivity that was present in the asynchronous environment.”

Russell described the welcome freedom to do coursework amid his busy schedule as a husband and dad alongside his full-time position. “The recorded lectures, weekly syllabus, and assignments with outcomes were well organized and engaging. As students, we would prepare our presentations and papers using the same tools—videos that would be watched by our classmates and professors with required feedback among students, and of course the faculty.”

Russell further described his enjoyment of the asynchronous experience noting the level of interaction, not just in the form of feedback, but also “really valuable brainstorming for those of us working in nonprofits already.” The “already” was a nod to the diverse classmates in the program. “It was fun, because there were brand new graduates who were still preparing for their careers, while there were a number of us well along the career path seeking that next-level of expertise like I was. It was amazing to be learning alongside these unique perspectives. I hope those of us who were established in the non-profit sector enjoyed our working perspective as much as we enjoyed their enthusiasm to be equipped to join the field.”

In all, Russell hopes that everyone considering graduate education will investigate the rewarding experience he carried with him in earning his . “Calvin’s reputation and longstanding commitment to its students speaks for itself. To deliver this mode of education with such quality and attention to detail and the student experience is an incredible opportunity. I was so thrilled to be part of the inaugural class of graduates and look forward to seeing where the programs expand. It is a thoughtful balance of deep knowledge, with private and group feedback and conversations and new connections to carry forward for both the young grads just starting out, along with those of us taking our callings up a notch.”