Alumna named education secretary
Calvin alumna Betsy DeVos 鈥79 has been named the U.S. Secretary of Education. It鈥檚 the first time in the college鈥檚 141-year history that one of its graduates has become a member of the Cabinet of the President of the United States.
鈥淲e congratulate Betsy (on her confirmation),鈥 said Michael Le Roy, president of Calvin College, 鈥渁nd we pledge to pray for her as she takes on her important tasks and duties in the days, weeks, months and years to come.鈥
鈥淚t is a profound honor to serve America鈥檚 students in this capacity. Regardless of one鈥檚 views, we all share a common goal: to make public education better,鈥 said DeVos.
DeVos was confirmed on Feb 7, 2017, thus becoming the primary adviser to President Trump on federal policies, programs and activities concerning K-12 and higher education in the United States.
Leading up to DeVos鈥 confirmation, Calvin alumni expressed a wide spectrum of opinions on her nomination and organized themselves to influence the confirmation process.