Redeemer University is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Hank de Jong ‘99 as associate vice president, external relations.
De Jong brings a wealth of experience in local and international stakeholder relations, fundraising and leadership development. He has served as the Executive Director at EduDeo Ministries (formally Worldwide Christian Schools) since 2003. EduDeo is a not-for-profit that aims to advance Christ-centred education for children in classrooms around the world. De Jong holds a Master of Arts in Leadership from Trinity Western University and is currently enrolled in Arrow Leadership’s Executive Stream Program. He is an alumnus of Redeemer, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology in 1999. In 2017, he was awarded Redeemer’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Hank’s passion for the mission of Redeemer is undeniable,” said Dr. Robert Graham, president of Redeemer. “His leadership skills, strategic thinking and community mindedness will be an asset to the Redeemer community.”
The passion de Jong exhibits for communities around the world is matched by his desire to support those in the local Hamilton community. In 2015, EduDeo purchased a building on Barton Street in Hamilton that became office space for the non-profit, as well as a hub for local and global renewal. Office space is rented by community organizations at reasonable rates, and community partners and churches are able to use the meeting space. Christ-centred education remains at the centre of it all, and that makes a Christian university in Hamilton an obvious choice for de Jong’s next chapter.
“Christ-centred education has been a passion of mine for many years. I am excited to use this passion along with my gifts to help propel the mission of Redeemer forward. I’m drawn to the growing momentum the university has been experiencing for the past several years. The future is very bright for Redeemer University.”
De Jong also spends time supporting the community through volunteer work as an auxiliary police constable, with a local minor hockey league, as an elder at his church, as a foster parent, and as a board member with Canadian Christian Relief and Development Association. He will begin at Redeemer this August.