Dr. Dykstra: A Pillar of MBU
The legacy of MBU’s beloved provost, Dr. Arlen Dykstra
How should one’s time at MBU be measured? Should it be by the number of lectures? Books lining the office walls? The number of lives inspired?
It could be any of these things for Dr. Arlen Dykstra, MBU’s retiring provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. Even measuring the rippling wave of impact by more than 40 years of service seems monstrously insufficient when it comes to Dykstra’s tenure at MBU.
“Dr. Dykstra is wise, a person of high character and one of the finest Christian men I’ve had the pleasure to know and work alongside,” said President Keith Ross. “He is a true statesmen and I am proud to call him my colleague and friend.”
MBU has seen marked growth and change since he first walked through the doors of what was then Missouri Baptist College, which was just a decade old. From financial turmoil to financial strength. From College to University. From the new kid in town to a serious player in national higher education.
Dykstra first moved to St. Louis to attend Covenant College, then located down the road of where MBU now stands. After graduation, Dykstra began teaching at private and public schools while working at a funeral home at nights — all while earning his Ph.D. in history from St. Louis University.
“The headmaster at Sherwood Day School was a great supporter of education,” said Dykstra. “So he helped me in my scheduling so that I could teach and start my master’s. While I was at Sherwood for five years, I was able to get my master’s degree and all of my doctoral classes taken care of except for my dissertation. It’s interesting to see the way the Lord provides. It was a very modest position. However, I loved what I did.”
While teaching high school, Dykstra was asked to teach a summer course at Missouri Baptist College. In 1972, Dykstra was hired as the department chair of social sciences. This was the starting point of Dykstra’s legacy at MBU.
He left the University twice, but couldn’t stay away for long. The first time was in 1974 when the University closed for 10 days. Dykstra and his family packed up their things and left for a new life in Florida, but returned from the beaches of Naples the next year after receiving a phone call from MBU President Robert S. Sutherland.
“He said, ‘Arlen, I know they’re paying twice as much salary where you’re at, but I believe over time you would really rather work teaching college students than younger students,’” recalled Dykstra.
“And that was like a stake in my heart because I knew he was right.”
He left again to become the first headmaster at Westminster Christian High School, but would return to mbc again. The division chairs asked him repeatedly why he came back. His reply was succinct:
“The Lord was leading me back.”
For the amount of love Dykstra has for MBU and its students, his students adored him equally. He was the professor who sparked an adoration for knowledge and invested into the lives of his students so each person felt cared for and known.
His lectures came easily. He would bring in stacks of detailed handwritten notes, but barely glanced at them. While his knowledge seemed endless, he would admit his ignorance when a question was asked outside of his scope of expertise. And he would then go on a quest to find the answer.
The deep adoration for history was contagious. Dykstra would often teach reluctant students completing the course simply for graduation requirements, and inspire them to become history majors.
Kathleen Wendt, who has worked for Dykstra in various capacities for more than 40 years, was one of those students.
“History was my absolute least favorite subject coming into college,” remembered Wendt. “I was an English major and leaning towards doing an individualized major in Greek. I took a history class with Dr. Dykstra that I thoroughly enjoyed, which was unusual. He converted you to appreciating history. And that’s how I was drawn to changing my major to history education.”
He began each course with something often unheard of: the questions to the final exam. Don’t be fooled, the final was not easy, but it was designed to highlight the knowledge the students learned throughout the semester.
“Many tests highlight the facts a student does not know,” said Dykstra. “I wanted to highlight the analysis and vast amount of information a student did know.”
The exam consisted of a question like: “Evaluate the origins of the American Revolution.” On the day of the final, the students were simply given lined paper and instructed to write. And write they did.
When Dykstra was promoted to director of students, and then dean of students, he continued to be a beloved professor of MBU. He was willing to be the comedic relief in support of his students. He would volunteer for students to throw a pie in his face at the Harvest Festival, laugh side-by-side with his students and volunteer to be the subject of the infamous scholarship-raising roasts.
The theme for Dykstra’s roast: “Great bald men in history.” This included Porky the pig, the Principal from Archie, and Dr. Dykstra, recalled Wendt.
“Dr. Dykstra was just a good sport,” Wendt said. “As a reward for being in the roast, he got a ceramic pig and that was the start of his pig collection that grew out of control until he moved offices.”
The gifted pig collection served as a double metaphor for his upbringing on a farm in Iowa. His parents adopted him at the beginning of his life, and his father passed away when he was young. He was raised by his mother, who also ran the family farm.
“I don’t know who my birth parents are,” reflected Dykstra. “A farming couple could not have children and they badly wanted a child. A family doctor told them of an infant they were using to test baby formula. The couple adopted me. A year after that, my dad passed away, so my mother raised me on the farm by herself. She was such a strong woman.”
Dykstra continues this legacy of strength. As he transitioned into the role of provost from dean of students, he became not only a beacon of strength for students, but for the professors who are strength for their students.
“Dr. Dykstra is open and warm with talking to people,” Wendt said.
“He’s just real and genuine. As a student, you knew that he cared about you as a person. We weren’t just students sitting in a seat in his classroom. To Dr. Dykstra, you are somebody that matters, and he’s quick to offer support. And I think that’s the way Christians should care for one another.”
Dykstra believes caring for MBU’s faculty and staff is vital to MBU’s success.
“Faculty have come to my office to seek solace and wisdom in dealing with their burdens,” said Dykstra.
“We have so many faculty that carry on with such strength, that you would never assume that anything was wrong. My office is a safe place for them to share Christian community and support. Like I say, ‘MBU is a great place when things are going good, but it is an even better place when things are going bad.’”
The unwavering support of Dykstra has led to a team of faculty and deans who feel empowered to bring innovation to MBU. Even though he has brought significant progress to MBU, he won’t list these as a personal triumph, but as a triumph of the University and those he worked with to make these changes.
The unwavering support of Dykstra has led to a team of faculty and deans who feel empowered to bring innovation to MBU. Even though he has brought significant progress to MBU, he won’t list these as a personal triumph, but as a triumph of the University and those he worked with to make these changes.
“These aren’t my triumphs. A great joy of mine is recruiting outstanding faculty and observing the contributions that they’re now making in the classroom,” reflected Dykstra.
“We have excellent faculty who our students respect and continue to put us on the map of a major player in higher education.”
One of these faculty members is Dr. Amber Henry, associate vice president for extended learning and professor of education.
“With the significant growth and demands of the job, Dr. Dykstra has always taken the time to mentor, guide, support, and direct with unending grace,” said Henry.
Dykstra’s accomplishments throughout his tenure are numerous.
A pivotal point was when Missouri Baptist College transformed into Missouri Baptist University. Catalyzed by the first offerings of graduate programs at MBU, the University has grown to include 23 graduate offerings, including the University’s doctorate in education. Today, many of these offerings are now offered online.
This, along with the creation of the new undergraduate degree programs with MBU Online, reduces the barriers for students to receive their degree and fulfill their mission.
“For forty plus years, Arlen Dykstra has served as a faculty member and senior administrator at Missouri Baptist University,” said Dr. Clark Triplett, emeritus dean of graduate studies and professor of psychology.
“During that time, he has been thoroughly invested in almost every important event, initiative, project, and/or celebration on campus including major accreditation visits, establishment of the dual credit program, development of the graduate program, and initiating new regional learning centers and online programs, to name a few. He has been a constant presence in the formation of the university, the constant dean.”
His unequivocal steadfast faith has steered the University throughout his tenure.
“Only heaven knows the full extent of Dr. Dykstra’s impact on Missouri Baptist University over his 43 year tenure here,” said Dr. Andy Chambers, the new provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. “His steady leadership as Provost kept us focused, in his words, on ‘Jesus Christ as the touchstone of all true learning.’”
Dr. Clark Triplett
Emeritus Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Psychology
The word constancy is a quaint and rather obscure word that is not used very often in contemporary discussions, but it has particular relevance for any discussion of the legacy and tenure of Dr. Arlen Dykstra, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs/Provost at Missouri Baptist University.
When applied to Arlen Dykstra, however, constancy is more than an occasional activity; it is a set of continuous activities that reflect his character, that describe a personal quality, trait, virtue, habit, or moral goal. Constancy is a word that not only conceptually defines who he is and what he does, but also conjures up a vivid and concrete picture of his relationships with people (faculty, staff, students), administrative leadership, and commitment to Christian education.
For forty plus years, Arlen Dykstra has served as a faculty member and senior administrator at Missouri Baptist University. During that time, he has been thoroughly invested in almost every important event, initiative, project, and/or celebration on campus including major accreditation visits, establishment of the dual credit program, development of the graduate program, and initiating new regional learning centers and online programs, to name a few. He has been a constant presence in the formation of the university; the constant dean. This work has been the center around which the history and culture of MBU has flowed for the past forty years. His efforts have clearly defined the climate and identity of the University. During times of struggle and significant change, when the center has threatened to pull apart, Dr. Dykstra has provided the glue to bind the community together to weather the storms. He has been part of the blood stream of the institution, and his contributions have shaped the brand of Missouri Baptist University. For many faculty and staff members, he has always been known as “Dean” even though his title and responsibilities have changed and expanded during his tenure. The Dean will always be an essential character in the story of MBU.
Long after the “Dean” retires and moves on to new projects in his life, the classrooms and hallways will continue to echo with his words and presence. Since all institutions are historically conditioned, it will continue to change and mature in the future as an institution of higher education, but it will do so on the foundation that Dr. Dykstra has helped build and that he has been dedicated to since the beginning. The institution is the product of what has gone before. Constancy is the mark or deposit that he leaves with the University upon his retirement, a legacy of perseverance and faithfulness that will help guarantee the academic quality and faith commitment of the faculty, staff, and students of the University that he has served. May this testimonial be a litany of remembrance in honor of his contributions.
Dr. Amber M. Henry
Associate Vice President for Extended Learning and Professor of Education
How does one find the words to describe a person who has left the most significant impact, of any one person, on an institution and its members? The word that comes to mind is legend. It has been my greatest pleasure to work for Dr. Arlen Dykstra for over 20 years. With the significant growth and demands of the job, Dr. Dykstra has always taken the time to mentor, guide, support, and direct with unending grace. I am humbled to call him my mentor. Through this time, he has guided me as a leader to look past the negative to find the good in people, to listen to those around me and show true compassion, to direct with patience but to be tough when needed, and to love my colleagues as family. As he says, “MBU is a great place when things are going good, but it is an even better place when things are going bad.”
With humor, quick wit, and a deep love for Missouri Baptist University the legacy he leaves behind is too great to identify. Scores of students, parents, faculty and staff have darkened the doors of MBU and will never know the unending work and perseverance that has gone into the success of the institution under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Dykstra.
As an era ends, I pray that those who have had the privilege of Dr. Dykstra’s mentorship can continue to uphold his legacy and the lessons he has bestowed. I hope we continue to work diligently with passion for Christian higher education, show compassion for our fellow brothers and sisters, and grow in our love for Missouri Baptist University. It has been a true honor to serve and learn from a true legend.
Dr. Keith L. Ross
President, Missouri Baptist University
Dr. Dykstra began his career in 1972 at what was then Missouri Baptist College. Spanning the last 43 years, he has served countless students first as a history professor and then later as an administrator. Over the years, numerous alumni have often remarked that they enjoyed having Dr. Dykstra as a teacher and how much they learned from him. He is remembered fondly for his academic rigor and high expectations in the classroom.
By the mid 1980s when I was a student at the College, Dr. Dykstra had been promoted to the chief academic officer. I vividly recall sitting in what was then Bywater’s Lounge as Dr. Dykstra strolled out of his nearby office and flipped the lights in the lounge on and off, announcing to all of us that it was “chapel time.” It was as if God himself were commanding us to go to chapel. And for the record, we all went!
During Dr. Dykstra’s storied tenure, his contributions to MBU are profound. He has helped lead the University to experience transformative growth in academic programs both in number of locations and students. Dr. Dykstra has shepherded MBU through numerous accreditation processes, which have greatly enhanced the University’s academic reputation regionally and nationally. He has assembled exceptional faculty members, who are today, the strongest in the institutions history.
Perhaps most importantly, Dr. Dykstra has been a faithful steward of the mission and vision of MBU, and his leadership has proven invaluable during these years of significant growth and expansion. His contributions in the lives of colleagues, students and alumni is notable; his influence is both deep and wide. First as a student and later as a colleague, I have admired his unwavering commitment to his family, his church and this University. He is a shining example of authentic Christian faith.
Dr. Dykstra is wise, a person of high character and one of the finest Christian men I’ve had the pleasure to know and work to alongside. He is a true statesmen and I am proud to call him my colleague and friend. There is no question that Arlen Dykstra is an icon of MBU and it’s surreal to imagine this University without his presence. As Arlen and Nancy begin this next chapter of their lives, I wish them all the best and want them to know that MBU is a better place because they were here.
