June 1, 2007, Grand Rapids, Mich - U.S. President George W. Bush has announced his intention to nominate five individuals and designate two individuals to serve in his administration, including William J. Garvelink, a graduate of Calvin College who just this month was honored as one of two winner's of Calvin's 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award.
A 1971 Calvin graduate, Garvelink will be nominated by President Bush as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In that capacity he would be the President's representative in the Congo and would oversee all official, bilateral relations between the U.S. and the Congo.
The Holland, Mich., native and Holland Christian graduate is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and currently serves at the United States Agency for International Development where he oversees the major humanitarian operations of the United States government.
"It is probably the most visible thing that the U.S. government does," says Garvelink.
It hasn't always been such a high priority for the United States, however. When Garvelink began his career in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1970s, humanitarian assistance was not a big issue, he says.
Garvelink developed a passion for it by working for Congressman Don Fraser after graduating from Calvin with a history degree and from the University of Minnesota with a Master's degree in history.
After a three-year stint as an aide for Fraser, he began working as a foreign service officer for USAID. Since that time he has conducted assessments and has directed relief operations all over the world, including Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Near East, Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Reflecting on his 30-year career, Garvelink said that is has been amazing to represent the U. S. government.
"The U.S. is expected to be everywhere and participate in everything," he says. "There are 18 countries that provide 99 percent of the aid in the world, and for that, we set the tone. The U.S is more involved than it ever has been, and we are expected to provide answers."
For more on Garvelink and his Calvin College award including a recent photo see:
http://www.calvin.edu/publications/spark/2007/fall/garvelink-william.htm
For the White House news release on his nomination see:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070530-10.html# <http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070530-10.html>
Contact Calvin alumni director Mike Van Denend at 616-526-6142.
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Henry Hess
Director of Communication
Christian Reformed Church
To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church visit us at www.crcna.org <http://www.crcna.org