News & Announcements

Au Sable Institute Names New Director: Current Director to Become Institute President
08/07/04

Au Sable Institute has named a new Director, Dr. Roger Brummel, to succeed founding Director Calvin DeWitt, who will become President.  Here is the text of the official news release announcing this appointment:

Au Sable Institute Names New Director:

Current Director to Become Institute President

Coupeville, Washington - August 7, 2004: The Board of Trustees of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies announced the appointment of Dr. Roger N. Brummel as the Institute's CEO/Director at its regular meeting on August 7. Dr. Brummel fills the position of Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt who is moving to the position of Institute President.

Dr. Brummel's leadership skills and organizational ability are well established and recognized as former Vice President of Chemical Development with Parke Davis and Pfizer. He also has served as Professor of Chemistry at Calvin College.

Dr. Brummel earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from Wayne State University in Detroit, his Master's from the University of Missouri-Rolla and Western Michigan University, and his Bachelor's in chemistry from Calvin College. He and his wife, Connie, have lived in Holland, Michigan since 1976 where their three daughters grew up. He has served as an officer on the boards of the Greater Holland United Way, the Holland Christian Education Foundation, and Calvin College and Seminary. For the past three years, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Au Sable Institute where he has served as Vice Chair and Chair of the Investment, Finance, and Budget Committee.

In making the formal announcement of Dr. Brummel's appointment, Board Chair, Dr. Orin Gelderloos, said that he and the Institute Trustees are pleased to have a person of Dr. Brummel's leadership experience, commitment to Christian higher education, and dedication to Christian environmental stewardship.

Dr. Brummel will succeed Dr. Calvin B. DeWitt, who will move to the new position of President and Academic Dean. In this capacity, DeWitt will continue to speak and write as a recognized leader nationally and internationally in Christian environmental Stewardship, will oversee the development of the Institute's Pacific Rim campus on Whidbey Island, and will provide leadership as academic dean for the 35 faculty who teach for the Institute and to the 60 member Academic Council that represents the colleges and universities served by the Institute. DeWitt also will maintain his position as Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

With the expansion of the Institute's programs from the Great Lakes campus in Mancelona, Michigan to Whidbey Island in Washington State, to Tamil Nadu in South India, and to Kenya in Africa, the administrative needs of the Institute have also expanded. In serving its 60 participating colleges with courses and programs that grant transferable college credits, the Institute offers 35 courses to 200 students at its two campuses in North America and also to students in East Africa, South India and South Florida. The Institute also administers an environmental education internship program for community schools at the Great Lakes campus, a community-based program in restoration ecology at the Pacific Rim campus, and an Outreach Office that provides research services and publications to Au Sable also provides publications and assistance to individuals, denominations, and a wide array of organizations through its Outreach Office in Madison, Wisconsin.

Dr. Gelderloos announced that the Board of Trustees looks forward to advancing its mission of Christian environmental stewardship under the leadership of Dr. Brummel.

Au Sable Institute serves 200 students from 60 colleges each year, provides an Environmental Education internship and elementary educational program for schools in Michigan, a community-based restoration ecology program in Washington, and a Graduate Fellows Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and Cornell University. Au Sable also provides publications and assistance to individuals, denominations, and a wide array of organizations through its Outreach Office in Madison, Wisconsin.

Contact the Au Sable Administrative office for more information.

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