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Academics
Grounded in a general liberal arts education, Hope College offers specialized study in more than 90 majors, minors and pre-professional programs.
Admissions
Flourishing programs in 90+ disciplines. A vibrant Christian mission. $50 million in new campus construction. Championship athletics. 94% placement within 6 months of graduation. There’s never been a better time to consider Hope College.
Research
Research abounds at Hope. Our students and faculty carry out high-quality research projects that are challenging, meaningful and contribute to exciting new knowledge in a broad range of disciplines.
Arts
At Hope College, award-winning student performances share the stage with nationally known writers, musicians, performers and artists.
Campus Life
The Hope College campus is a place to come alive. We have hundreds of student organizations, groups and events you can plug into, serve with, play in, root for and grow with.
Athletics
As a member of the MIAA and NCAA Division III associations, Hope College sponsors 22 varsity sports for men and women. The college is home to the 2022 NCAA Division III National Championship women’s basketball team.

Biology Department

Faculty and Staff

Meet our faculty, instructors and staff.

The faculty and staff of the biology department are a dedicated, enthusiastic and highly published group of people who are extremely passionate about what we do. We're learners with diverse knowledge of the different aspects of biology, and we pass our knowledge on through engaging teaching and research.

Faculty

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Dr. Sean Beckwith
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.6894
beckwith@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 3011 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Aaron Best
Biology DepartmentHarrison C. and Mary L. Visscher Professor of Genetics
Work616.395.7376
best@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 3015 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
Dr. Jennifer Blake-Mahmud
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7717
blakemahmud@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2025 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Francesca Borja
Biology DepartmentVisiting Assistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7226
borja@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Maria Burnatowska-Hledin
Biology DepartmentThe Frederich Garrett & Helen Floor Dekker Professor of Biomedicine & Chemistry
Work616.395.7764
hledin@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 3013 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
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Dr. Erika Calvo-Ochoa
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology and Neuroscience
Work616.395.6819
calvoochoa@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2019A 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Leah Chase
Biology DepartmentProfessor of Biology & Chemistry
Work616.395.7375
chase@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 3106A 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
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Dr. Dean Gibbons
Biology DepartmentVisiting Assistant Professor of Physiology
Work616.395.7720
gibbons@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2023 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Jimena Golcher-Benavides
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7321
golcherbenavides@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2023 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Benjamin Kopek
Biology DepartmentAssociate Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7713
kopek@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2029A 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3698
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Dr. Jianhua Li
Biology DepartmentT. Elliot Weier Professor of Biology, Department Chair
Work616.395.7460
li@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 3017 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
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Shana McCrumb
Biology DepartmentAssociate Professor of Biology Instruction
Work616.395.7226
mccrumb@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 1047 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Virginia McDonough-Stukey
Biology DepartmentProfessor of Biology
Work616.395.7715
mcdonough@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 3009A 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
Terrie Morrow
Biology DepartmentAdjunct Faculty
Work616.395.7720
morrowt@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 1043 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Vanessa Muilenburg
Biology DepartmentAssociate Professor of Biology Instruction
Work616.395.7174
muilenburg@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 3059 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
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Vickie Olson
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology Instruction
Work616.395.7720
olsonv@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2035 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Cody Porter
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7724
porterc@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2027 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Kelly Ronald
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology
Work616.395.7249
ronald@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 2021 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Alexis Snyder
Biology DepartmentAdjunct Faculty
Work616.395.7720
snydera@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Joseph Stukey
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology Instruction
Work616.395.7295
stukey@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 3063 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
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Aaron Welsch
Biology DepartmentAssociate Professor of Biology/Neuroscience Instruction
Work616.395.7637
welsch@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 1049 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Lisa Woolsey
Biology DepartmentAdjunct Faculty
Work616.395.7720
woolseyl@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Yang Yu
Biology DepartmentAssistant Professor of Biology Instruction
Work616.395.7408
yu@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

Staff

Lauren Cribbs
Biology DepartmentGWRI/Day 1:Watershed Next Generation Sequencing Lab Director
Work616.395.7720
cribbs@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 3019 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Jacqueline DeBoard
Biology DepartmentGWRI Program Assistant
Work616.395.7720
deboard@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423-3605
Craig Elston
Biology DepartmentGreenhouse Manager
Work616.395.7720
elston@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
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Dr. Gerald Griffin
Biology DepartmentProvost
Work616.395.7785
griffing@hope.edu
DeWitt Student Cultural Center Floor 2 141 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Dr. Natalie Huisman
Biology DepartmentGWRI/Day 1: Watershed Chemistry Lab Director
Work616.395.7720
huismann@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Emily Kindervater Murphy
Biology DepartmentDirector of Biology Laboratories
Work616.395.7722
kindervater@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2015 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Louis Kopp
Biology Department
Work616.395.7720
kopp@hope.edu
Nicole Larsen
Biology DepartmentAnimal Care Specialistlarsen@hope.edu
Lainee Rokos
Biology DepartmentOffice Manager
Work616.395.7720
rokos@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Vanessa Staggs
Biology DepartmentWastewater Monitoring Laboratory Technician
Work616.395.7720
kardian@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Danny Wade
Biology DepartmentWastewater Monitoring Lab Site Supervisor
Work616.395.7720
dwade@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423
Mackenzie Williams
Biology DepartmentPost-Baccalaureate Research Intern
Work616.395.7720
williamsm@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center Room 2103 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

Professors Emeriti

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Dr. Chris Barney Biology DepartmentRetired Faculty
Work616.395.7720
barney@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

Dr. Tom Bultman Department of BiologyRetired Faculty
Work616.395.7720
bultmant@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

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Dr. Vicki Isola Biology DepartmentRetired Faculty
Work616.395.7720
isola@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

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Dr. Greg Murray Biology DepartmentRetired Faculty
Work616.395.7720
gmurray@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

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Dr. Kathy Winnett-Murray Biology DepartmentRetired Faculty
Work616.395.7720
winnetmurray@hope.edu
A. Paul Schaap Science Center 35 East 12th Street Holland, MI 49423

INTERESTED IN RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES WITH FACULTY?

Hope CollegeBiology Department

A. Paul Schaap Science Center35 East 12th StreetRoom 2103Holland, MI 49423

workP. 616.395.7720

biology@hope.edu