Schedule of Events

RSVP for Pre-College Conference activities

August 21–25, 2024 

Faculty and staff are encouraged to wear their Hope College name tag to all events.

Wednesday, August 21

Faculty and Staff Photos
No Appointment Necessary

Morning Session
All Employees are Encouraged to Attend

All- Employee LuncH
(optional) for All Faculty, Emeriti, &  Staff 

Thursday, August 22

Participation by full-time faculty is expected.
All faculty and staff are welcome.

Morning session (Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts)
9–11 a.m.

Keynote AddressThe Honorable Juanita F. Bocanegra, Ottawa County 58th District Court Judge

Judge Bocanegra’s journey from a migrant farmworker’s daughter to a respected judge is a testament to her resilience and determination. She migrated with her parents between Texas and Michigan, switching schools twice per year, from early elementary through high school graduation. She was the first person on both sides of her family to graduate high school. With the unwavering support of her parents and husband, she graduated from the Honors College at Grand Valley State University with a major in international relations and double minors in legal studies and Spanish. A few years later, she earned her juris doctor degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, attending classes on weeknights and weekends while working full-time as a legal assistant, part-time as a bank teller, and raising two small daughters with her husband. 

While still in law school, she accepted an offer from the law firm of Rhoades McKee in Grand Rapids, where she practiced law until 2011, when she joined the Ottawa County Prosecutor’s Office. She served as an assistant prosecuting attorney for almost 10 years until 2020, when she became the first Latina to be elected to the bench in Ottawa County. Judge Bocanegra currently serves on the bench of the 58th District Court, where she handles both a criminal and civil docket and runs two sobriety treatment programs. 

Judge Bocanegra’s commitment to her community leadership roles is unwavering. She has served in various leadership positions on the boards of the Holland/Zeeland Community Foundation, Holland Hospital, Holland Symphony Orchestra, Ready for School, Lakeshore Community Advisory Board for Chemical Bank, Model Communities (now the Lakeshore Leadership Council), and Lakeshore Alliance Against Domestic and Sexual Violence when she led the Domestic Violence Unit in the Prosecutor’s Office. 

Judge Bocanegra’s influence extends beyond her legal and community leadership roles. Her contributions to the business community were recognized in 2017 when she received the West Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Minority Business Champion of the Year Award. She co-founded the Lakeshore Latinas, the chamber’s first affinity group, further demonstrating her impact. Her influence also extends to the state level, as Governor Snyder appointed her to serve on the Hispanic Latino Commission of Michigan.

Judge Bocanegra serves on the Board of Directors of the Michigan West Coast Chamber of Commerce, Movement West Michigan, and Tri-Cities Puentes Initiative and is an active member of the Holland Chapter of Women Who Care and Women of Color Give. The Michigan Supreme Court appointed Judge Bocanegra to serve on the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.

Making Space in the Moment:  A Lectio Divina, Anna Bonnema 

What would it look like for you to make space during your work day to breathe, to regroup, to ground yourself? Anna Bonnema will join us today with a short guided lectio divina practice, using the poem, “The Bowl” by Jane Hirshfield. Then, to encourage this practice, she created 50 “making space” cards with prompts for 5–20 minute activities that can be done while you are on campus, in the midst of your day. Each of you will receive one card today, we encourage you to complete that card and trade with a colleague, then trade again — let’s see how many you can complete this semester.

Advising Session: Micro-affirmations in AdvisingKrista Carter, Director of Academic Advising & Dr. Ryan White, Associate Dean for Leadership Development and Applied Learning

Advising sessions are personal, identity-concentrated spaces. As you guide your advisees through decisions such as course selection, academic discernment, or graduation plans,  research provides simple, micro-level changes that allow us to increase belonging and inclusion. Come and learn about how to implement micro-affirmations as you advise.

Afternoon Session
1–3:30 p.M. 

BREAKOUT SESSIONExpress Yourself! Freedom of Expression Breakout Session

An interactive workshop session engaging Hope’s new Freedom of Expression statement. Developed by employee and student voices, the statement was shared with the Hope community for feedback and was further shaped by the insights and comments shared by our colleagues. Now, the statement is ready for us to roll out together and apply to scenarios that arise in our daily lives. Join with friends and colleagues on this important journey of exploration.

Registration Deadline: Friday, August 16

Pre-registration is REQUIRED for our afternoon workshop this year.

Please RSVP for Pre-College Conference events here.

Location: You will receive a calendar invite from Amber Tejeda-Nier prior to the start of Pre-College Conference. This invite will include room location details and additional information for the breakout session. 

Friday, August 23

Provost’s Address and Faculty Business Meeting
All faculty are encouraged to attend

Sunday, August 25

Fall Convocation
Full-time Faculty are Expected to Attend in Full Academic Regalia