Alumni & Family Engagement

Matt Rutter ’12 was transformed by Hope College during his 4 years here. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Philosophy, Matt has used his education from Hope College to transform the lives of others all around the world. From Zeeland, Michigan to Chisinau, Moldova, Rutter has been running startups and helping others to build their entrepreneurial skills.

“I am a completely different man as a result of my four years at Hope. I was taught how to pray, how to study Scripture, how to think, how to ask questions, how to write, how to present, how to work hard, how to repent, how to serve, how to laugh, how to endure, how to care, and how to love well.”

After his graduation in 2012, Rutter moved to Moldova to serve in the PeaceCorps. During this time he helped women who were at-risk for human trafficking to build start-ups to support themselves financially. He assisted in teaching them the skills necessary for running a business in order to get out of bad situations. Matt helped start-up companies and young people alike grow in leadership and development skills.

After Matt’s two years in the PeaceCorps, he felt called to stay in Moldova long term. He continued the work he had started in helping people to start their business. Now, nearly seven years later, Matt is a leader in the region. He married his wife Catia (a local Moldovan) , and currently serves as the General Manager and Creative Director at Enspire Creative Agency. Rutter still does independent business coaching on the side.

Rutter has said that Hope College taught with how to be a man of God. While at Hope, he was able to grow in his faith and build a personal relationship with God. Rutter is still best friends with his freshman year roommate and their original Bible study group. They are all still walking together in their faith and hold each other accountable through prayer and regular email check-ins. Being surrounded by godly men had a major impact on his faith. It is because of Hope College that Rutter still feels called to serve in Moldova. Prior to his time at Hope, he had never considered volunteering or working abroad. Seven years after graduating, he is feeling, more than ever, called to serve and love the people God has placed in his life.

“Prior to Hope, I had no frame of reference for what it meant to be a godly man, truly grounded in Scripture and faithful to God’s calling. Being surrounded by godly men, both in my dorm, from professors, and the greater Holland community, I was shown a picture of who God has created me to become.”

Hope College is proud to give Matt Rutter ’12 the 2019 10 Under 10 Award. The “10 Under 10 Awards” honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaged in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and use their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity, communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, they are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today!

Seven years after her graduation, Kristin Dittenhafer-Reed ’09 returned to Hope College as a full time faculty member in the Chemistry department. Dittenhafer-Reed is directly impacting current students in the same her professors impacted her just a few short years ago. Teaching and mentoring students through research is a passion of hers that she gets to live out everyday at Hope College.

Dittenhafer-Reed graduated from Hope with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While at Hope, she had her first exposure to research. She conducted undergraduate research with Dr. Moses Lee. Directly following her graduation, she went to grad school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biochemistry. Dittenhafer-Reed received the Graduate Research Fellow from the National Science Foundation. This prestigious award is given to graduate students working towards a masters or doctorate who are doing research in their fields.

While at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dittenhafer-Reed was able to do research while also teaching and mentoring undergraduate students. In 2014, she won the Denton Teaching Award, which is an award that “honors biochemistry graduate students who consistently provide quality guidance and scientific training in mentoring undergraduate students.” This award is a testament to the dedication that she has to both research and her students. She cares deeply about impacting students and helping them during their undergraduate years. Most recently, she was awarded the Towsley Research Scholarship at Hope College. This award will allow her to continue her research on the Mitochondria (a part of the cell) into 2021.

“As a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry, I strive to provide the same high quality, transformative experience to current Hope College students by modeling Hope’s mission. My goal is to offer innovative and rigorous instruction, while encouraging personal development and fostering relationships rooted in faith.”

As a student at Hope, Dittenhafer-Reed was involved in various activities around campus. Though her most prominent being summer and undergraduate research, she was also a student- athlete, playing for the women’s basketball team. She spent a summer in Vienna, Austria in the Vienna Summer School Program. Dittenhafter-Reed recalled how it doesn’t get any better than walking the streets of Vienna looking at the art and architecture of the building for a class. She also explained at the 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Panel that Hope College was instrumental in developing her faith. She was able to grow in her relationship with the Lord while here. She is grateful for the time she spent here as a student and is blessed to be back at the place she loves.

“For the first time, I felt connected to a supportive Christ-following community that encourages believers to intellectually evaluate their beliefs. The solid foundation I established at Hope College, allowed my Christianity to flourish in graduate school and beyond, even as I entered a more theologically diverse environment”

Hope College is proud to give Kristin Dittenhafer-Reed ’09 the 2019 10 Under 10 Award. The “10 Under 10 Awards” honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaged in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and use their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity, communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, they are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today!

When Diego Romero ’09 first stepped on to Hope College’s campus he was a freshman in high school participating in Hope’s TRIO Upward Bound Program. Having spent the next four years on campus in the program, Diego decided to attend Hope College to study Spanish Education. As a first-generation college student and former English Language Learner, Romero was aware of the struggles that he endured and knew many other students were in his same position. He wanted to help the next generation of students. From the start, he was deeply dedicated to education and wanted to make an impact in the lives of students to come. 

While at Hope College Romero was an incredibly active student, involving himself in many co-curricular activities. As a freshman, he joined the Phelps Scholars Program – a living-learning community focused on global learning and diversity. He was a member of various clubs such as the Latino Student Union, the Outdoor Adventure Club, and The Book Club. Romero gained early valuable experience working with young students as a volunteer in the CASA program at Hope.

“I came from a poor family and understand the struggles, but as I was once told, education is the only way out and once you get it no one can take it away.”

Upon his graduation in 2009, Romero moved to Denver, Colorado where he spent the next two years teaching Spanish at Denver Public schools. Over the past ten years, Romero’s passion for his students and dedication to his profession has allowed his to move into leadership positions in the school district. His current role as an elementary school principal at a school where a majority of his students are English Language Learners has given him the opportunity to use his experiences to directly impact students each day. He is committed to giving each student the resources they need to reach their full potential. He believes strongly in the value of an education and life-long learning. He has exemplified this by earning a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Linguistically Diverse Education as well as an Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Certificate and Educational Specialist Certification.

 “I was struck by his work as an elementary school principal and his ability to build trust among the teachers who report to him. He is student-centered, always putting their needs first, but he understands the importance of creating a climate and culture in which teachers thrive as well. He is committed to creating a school culture that values equity, collaboration, community involvement, and open communication.” ~ Elizabeth Colburn.

Romero lives in Denver Colorado with his wife Rachel Bakken ’09 Romero, also a recipient of the 2019 10 Under 10 Award this year, and three-year-old son, Collin. Romero has stayed connected with Hope College over the years despite living in Colorado. Hope College is grateful for his continued dedication and support of his alma mater.

Hope College is proud to give Diego Romero the 10 Under 10 Award. The “10 Under 10 Awards” honors emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaged in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and use their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity, communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, they are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today!

What does a liberal arts education look like after graduation? For Andreana Rosnik ’13, it looks like having a Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemistry from the University of California-Berkeley while also making and selling her own artwork. Just six years after graduation, Rosnik has found a beautiful balance of mixing both STEM and the Arts into her daily life in San Francisco.

“I can have science and art coexist in my life due to my liberal arts background. From Hope’s curriculum to its various seminar series to mere interactions of students and teachers across disciplines, while at Hope I was immersed in a place where different fields constantly intersected.”

Rosnik graduated from Hope College with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Mathematics with a minor in Spanish. Following her graduation she received a Fulbright Research Fellowship at Universitat de Barcelona. There she continued her studies while also engaging in new cultural experiences. Her knowledge from the Phelps Scholars program (a first year program at Hope that aims to foster global learning and community) aided Rosnik while living abroad. Upon her return to the states, she continued her schooling at the University of California-Berkeley. She worked as a Graduate Student Instructor during her PhD program teaching courses such as Chemistry and Thermodynamics.

Rosnik is currently working as a Computational Scientist and Software Engineer at EnelX where she is collaborating with others to make clean energy more accessible and mitigating climate change. She feels fortunate that she has been able to find a career that is challenging her intellectually but that also aligns with her personal morals and beliefs. Andreana also works as a part-time artist. She works with colored pencil to create intricate and colorful pieces of art. Her art gives her an opportunity to express herself in a different way.

“I also do artwork semi-professionally, and while that is not my main career, what I love about making art is that everyone needs art, whether they realize it or not…My artwork gives me the space to wordlessly describe my inner world, as well as to freely explore fantastical elements of some other world. While my work is full of detail and, in some senses, rooted in analysis, expressing myself outside of the context of science in this manner was something that I need”

Rosnik’s liberal arts education at Hope College gave her the tools to pursue both her passions on both ends of the spectrum. While at Hope Rosnik was a very involved student who participated in various co-curricular activities. Rosnik was inducted into four Academic Honor Societies across multiple disciplines. She spent a summer doing research at the college in addition to spending time abroad in Spain. Hope College is proud of Rosnik for how she has used her liberal arts education at Hope and after Hope.

For more information, visit Andreana’s website. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.

Hope College is honored to give Andreana Rosnik ’13 the 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Award. The “10 Under 10 Awards” honor emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaged in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and use their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity, communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, they are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today!

When Rachel Bakken ’09 Romero graduated from Hope College with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a Mechanical emphasis, she was onto bigger and better things. After graduation, she moved to Denver and accepted a position at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Romero describes the mission of NREL “is to advance the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies.” She now works as the Energy Engineer and Project Leader.

Over the year at NREL, Romero’s diligent work and expertise in the field has allowed her to move gracefully through promotions and added responsibilities. She currently manages many ongoing projects and initiatives at the NREL. The work Romero does is having a direct impact on the environment and the way we use renewable energy. She is solving problems and creating solutions in renewable energy. In 2014, Romero went back to school at the University of Colorado Boulder where she received a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering. She also received her Professional Engineering Certification. 

Romero is a member of the professional organization, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). There she is a chair for the Young Engineers program. In addition to ASHRAE, Romero has been a member of the Philanthropic Education Organization for many years.

“Hope provided me with a well-rounded education; my skills include excellent writing, an understanding of cultural topics, and more. This has been invaluable for the variety of work that I have done. Hope prepared me to be not only a professional worker, but a leader in my community”

While at Hope College Romero took full advantage of her liberal arts education by immersing herself into many areas of campus life. Romero swam for four years on the women’s swim team and she earned three varsity letters during her swim career. At the 10 Under 10 Young Alumni Panel, Romero reflected on how being involved in sports as well as other co-curricular activities helped her to learn valuable skills like time management. She also noted that she enjoyed being a part of many aspects of Hope’s campus life.  She also was involved in various clubs such as the Knitting Club and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society.

Romero is still living in Colorado with her husband Diego Romero ’09. Diego was also a recipient of the 2019 10 Under 10 Award. Together they have a three-year- old son, Collin. Diego and Rachel have stayed connected with Hope College over the years despite living in Colorado. Hope College is very thankful for her continued dedication and support of her alma mater.

Hope College is proud to give Rachel Romero the 2019 10 Under 10 Award. The “10 Under 10 Awards” honor emerging leaders who are making significant contributions by living out their callings; engaged in the local and global community through professional and/or volunteer involvement; and use their education to think about important issues with wisdom and clarity, communicate effectively to bridge boundaries that divide human communities and act as agents of hope living faithfully into their vocations. Designed for alumni who are within 10 years of graduation, they are presented by the Hope College Alumni Association. Make a nomination today!