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��͹��Ƶ gives thanks for a notable act of generosity from Jim and Marilyn Dean, whose most recent gift will support the new recital hall and enrich the experience of students engaging in the performing arts. In appreciation for the Deans’ faithful stewardship, ��͹��Ƶwill name the performing arts center the Dean Family Performing Arts Center and the recital hall the Jim and Marilyn Dean Recital Hall.

“We are so thankful for the opportunities to serve in the ongoing development and expansion of ��͹��Ƶ to provide Christian education at the university level by an incredible leadership group and staff preparing students for their future endeavors,” says Jim and Marilyn Dean. “To God be the glory!”

Though neither had the opportunity to attend college, Jim and Marilyn Dean have embraced ��͹��Ƶas their adopted college. They have served on Dordt’s Leadership Advisory Council, supported the expansion of Dordt’s two-year technical programs, and played a key role in the creation of the Science and Technology Center.

Together, Jim and Marilyn Dean have spent more than 50 years in the egg industry, most recently leading Versova and the Center Fresh Group companies in Sioux Center.

The Deans are “possibility thinkers,” says ��͹��ƵPresident Dr. Erik Hoekstra–“but they don’t just have good ideas, they invest their time and resources into our community with lasting impact.”

“Jim and Marilyn Dean are eager to make better the communities in which they live,” adds Education Professor Dr. Barb Hoekstra, a friend of the family. “The companies they have built have supplied many jobs in the Sioux Center community, and they are also eager to support with their resources and time.”

The Deans' shared love of music and the arts led Marilyn to serve on Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra’s board soon after the couple moved to Sioux Center about 20 years ago. Over the years, they have enthusiastically supported the development of a performing arts center on Dordt’s campus—one that would enrich the cultural and spiritual life of the campus and community they love.

“It’s been a joy to see them embrace ��͹��Ƶas their college and champion a vision for excellence in music and the arts,” says Dr. Brandon Huisman, vice president for advancement and marketing.

The recital hall is a newly constructed, multi-purpose venue intended to serve both artistic and academic needs on campus. With seating for up to 150 people, it will host student and professional performances, rehearsals for groups such as the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra and the ��͹��ƵWind Symphony, and a wide range of lectures and academic events. The space’s acoustics are crafted to provide an optimal environment for solo performances, chamber ensembles, and other small-scale musical works.

The performing arts center encompasses the B.J. Haan Auditorium as well as the recital hall. It also includes academic classrooms, faculty offices, a video production center, and more.

“Having a world-class recital hall on Dordt's campus has been a desire for decades,” says Erik. “We’ve been blessed by the acoustics and space of the B.J. Haan Auditorium for more than 50 years, and this new venue will offer flexible options for smaller recitals, concerts, lectures, and other gatherings.”

“I’m deeply grateful for the Dean family’s generosity and their heart for what God is doing at Dordt,” adds Huisman.

About ��͹��Ƶ

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, ��͹��Ƶ equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, ��͹��Ƶis a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by U.S. News and World Report, the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.