Kuyper President to Retire
Kuyper College President Patricia R. Harris, Ed.D., has announced her intention to retire on June 30, 2026, concluding nine years of service as president and 13 years in senior leadership at the college.
Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Mich., was formerly known as Reformed Bible College and as the Reformed Bible Institute and was started in 1939. It has a long tradition of support from Christian Reformed members and congregations and has served many CRC students.
Harris became Kuyper College’s fifth president in 2017 after serving four years as provost. During her tenure she has guided the college through a season of mission clarity, strategic growth, and institutional strengthening—all grounded in Kuyper’s mission to prepare students for purposeful lives of work and service to God and neighbor.
In a heartfelt statement Harris attested, “The mission and work of Kuyper College have shaped my life since my own college years, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve the Kuyper community over the past 13 years. It has been a true joy and privilege to work alongside dedicated faculty and staff who are committed to helping students grow in their faith and prepare for their callings within every square inch of God’s world.”
Under Harris’s leadership, Kuyper College refreshed its mission and developed a comprehensive strategic plan that continues to guide decision making across academics, student life, and institutional advancement. During this time Kuyper also achieved federal recognition as a Work College, strengthening its distinctive integration of learning, work, and service.
Additionally, the college launched an intercollegiate athletics program, established new academic minors and articulation agreements, and created a Student Success Coach program to support student persistence and completion. During this time the college also increased donor engagement, created a legacy foundation, and secured reaccreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, the Association of Biblical Higher Education, and the Commission on Social Work Education, affirming academic quality and institutional effectiveness.
“These accomplishments reflect President Harris’s steady leadership, collaborative spirit, and unwavering commitment to Kuyper’s Christ-centered mission,” said Dr. Eric Hoogstra, chair of the Kuyper College Board of Trustees.
Kuyper College academic dean Tim Detwiler concurred: “It has been a privilege to work with Patti over the past several years. She leads with compassion and conviction, sustaining the college’s energy through relationships, curriculum, and strategic planning while serving as a trusted representative with donors, accreditors, and partners. Her collaborative, Christ-centered leadership has shaped Kuyper in lasting ways.”
One emblematic aspect of Harris’s presidency came when she led the effort to retroactively recognize Johanna Timmer as Kuyper College’s first president. Although Harris had long been celebrated as the college’s first female president, she advocated for historical accuracy and proper recognition of Timmer’s leadership in 1939, a selfless act that reframed Kuyper’s institutional story.
Those who have worked closely with Harris say that decision reflected her deep commitment to truth, humility, and honoring those who have gone before – values that have shaped the entire tenor of her tenure.
As Kuyper College prepares for the future, Harris said, she has confidence in the institution’s continued faithfulness to its mission: “Looking ahead, I am confident that Kuyper will continue advancing its mission by grounding students in a robust Bible and theology foundation from a Reformed perspective, deepening its Work College model through expanded partnerships, and innovating with new learning opportunities. Kuyper remains committed to inspiring supporters, partners, and students to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ through education and service.”
Hoogstra noted that the Kuyper College Board of Trustees has initiated the presidential transition process and will share timely updates as more information becomes available.
