AJS-U.S. has two full-time staff members who concentrate primarily on fundraising, communications, advocacy, and education:
- Abram Huyser-Honig, Director of Operations. Abram holds a B.A. in English and Spanish from Calvin College. He spent both a January term and a semester in Honduras in college, and soon after graduation in 2004 he moved to Honduras. In college and during his first year in Honduras Abram did freelance news and public-relations writing for a variety of clients. Starting in fall 2005, Abram began working with AJS. Abram works out of the AJS / Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Email: abram@ajs-us.org
- Jill Van Beek, Fundraising and Administrative Associate. Jill has a B.A. in International Development from Calvin College, and also spent both a January term and a semester in Honduras. She did an internship with AJS in the spring of 2009 and joined the staff of AJS in June of that year. Jill works out of AJS's U.S. office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She also travels to Honduras several times a year, and travels to different parts of the U.S. and Canada promoting AJS's work and God's call for His people to do justice. Email: jill@ajs-us.org
Board of Directors
AJS-U.S. board members are passionate about God's call to justice and contribute generously of their time, energy, expertise, and finances to promote the mission of AJS.
- President: Gary Nederveld. Gary does development work for Rehoboth Christian School in Rehoboth, New Mexico. Previous work experiences include a leadership position with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC).
- Vice-President: Pete Harkema. Pete worked for Calvin College for 21 years before taking a job at Fuller Seminary in California. Currently he is Director of Denominational Advancement for the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA).
- Treasurer: Scott Johnson. Scott is a professor of Business at Oklahoma State University. His previous work experience includes working for CRWRC both in the U.S. and abroad.
- Secretary: Kate Kooyman. Kate worked for two years as Congregational Justice Mobilizer for CRWRC / the CRC Office of Social Justice. She recently took a position as Director of Social Justice and Outreach at Hope College.
- Sharon Baker: Sharon is a teacher at Byron Center (Mich.) Christian school.
- Jotham Ippel: Jotham is the director of PARA refugee resettlement agency, part of Bethany Christian Services, in Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Russel Jacobs: Russel is an attorney for Starbucks Inc. in Seattle, Wash.
- Virginia LaGrand: Virginia worked for Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., for 18 years before retiring to Grand Rapids in 2006.
- Kelli Schutte: Kelli is a professor of business at William Jewell College (Missouri). She taught business at Calvin College from 1995 – 2003. She was a Christian Reformed World Relief Board Member from 2001 – 2007. She has also served on the boards of other charitable organizations, including on the Criminal Justice Chaplaincy Advisory Board from 2002 – 2003.
- Brad Van Beek: Brad is a teacher with the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Public Schools.
- Jo Ann Van Engen: Jo Ann leads Calvin College’s Third World Development Studies Program in Honduras along with her husband, Kurt Ver Beek. During her first six years in Honduras, Jo Ann worked for CRWRC. Jo Ann and Kurt are founding members of both AJS-U.S. and Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa, and serve on the boards of both organizations.
- Dr. Kurt Ver Beek: See above. In addition to his work with Calvin and AJS, Kurt has conducted research among Honduras' indigenous Lenca people, on working conditions in maquilas (clothing assembly factories), and on the impact of short-term missions.
- Dr. Uko Zylstra: Uko is the academic dean for Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
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