Hope College Economics & Business Department

10/01/2026

Before the semester even began, our Economics & Business faculty gathered to pray for the generations of students who will one day fill the hallways and classrooms of the new facility under construction in downtown Holland.

When the doors of this new academic building open in 2028, we know it will be supported not just by beams and steel, but also by the countless prayers of so many who are investing in our students every day.

09/25/2026

Sunshine, coffee and shaved ice. What a great start to the semester! ☀️

As students settle into the rhythm of a new academic year, we always enjoy taking an afternoon to focus on what matters most…our community. We gather with new students just beginning to navigate the path ahead, returning students with insight and experiences to share and dedicated faculty eager to equip and guide.

That’s why kicking off each year with our annual Welcome Social is something we always look forward to. Not only do we come alongside students with opportunities to sign up for programs like Launch and Business Club, but we also celebrate that every step is taken with the support and friendship of those around us.

09/22/2026

Last week, we gathered with alumni, friends, faculty and staff as we set the final beam in the new Economics & Business building in downtown Holland.

Before lifting the beam, we took time to reflect, give thanks and pray for those who are involved in the project now, and those who will be impacted by this facility in the future.

As we celebrate this important milestone, we are grateful for the many people who are making this vision a reality: architects and design partners, construction crews, project managers, engineers, contractors and so many more. We are also immensely grateful to all who have invested and believed in the project, paving the way for future generations through their generosity and support.

A moment like this one is a moving display of the MANY people it takes to bring a faithful and excellent education to life.

Hope College marked a major construction milestone Thursday with a topping out ceremony for its new $65 million Department of Economics and Business building in downtown Holland.

09/18/2026

We are grateful for this milestone moment made possible by so many of you! ⚓

09/04/2026

This summer, we’ve enjoyed taking an inside look at the day-to-day of Economics & Business students who put their skills and knowledge to work at various internships in West Michigan and beyond. We couldn’t be more thrilled to wrap up this series with Blake Bendon (’27), a business major who spent his summer as a finance intern at Haworth.

As an intern in a project-based role, Blake spent much of his time working cross functionally across the entire finance department. He applied his analytical skills to data, identifying key trends and insights. He also built core technical competencies through frequent work in Excel, SAP, AI, Python and Power BI.

But even beyond the technical skills, Blake says the networking and professional development he gleaned as part of the experience was truly invaluable. He enjoyed the opportunity to participate in training events, vocational speakers and 4x30s (conversations between interns and individuals in a variety of roles throughout the company).

Blake says that networking with Hope alumni employed at Haworth is what made his summer experience possible. Not only was he able to discuss their work and Haworth experience with them, but he even went on a company tour with a HR rep before being hired for the internship role.

He says every internship is about creating value -- using the skills you already have, while also being eager and willing to learn the skills you don’t yet have.

Looks like it was a great summer of learning and growth, Blake. Congrats!

08/27/2026

08/24/2026

From in-class marketing project to an enriching summer experience, Gale Mercado (’27) is thankful for the journey that led her to her Branch Office Administrator internship at Edward Jones.

Working as part of the George Lee Halvorson Wealth Management Group, Gale has been spending these last few months working on assignments from the 3 financial advisors and 2 Branch Office Administrators that make up her team. She built marketing and event plans, coordinated social media, managed data and completed numerous trainings. She’s gotten a first-hand look at broader company strategy, team culture and the financial planning industry along the way too.

As part of a highly regulated industry, Gale says this summer has been all about precision and compliance – even when it comes to planning her next social media post.

She is quick is reflect on the summer of learning and growth – one that she says began right here at Hope. While taking a Marketing Practicum course with Professor Jackie Nickel, she first became connected with branch as part of the client project. From there, she was able to explore opportunities and secure the internship position.

Thanks for allowing us to share in your journey, Gale!

08/17/2026

Come along for the day with Bella Mast (’28), a business and psychology major who says that working as a Human Resources Intern at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa has made for the best summer experience she could have asked for.

It’s a role that has given her the opportunity to try her hand at many things: creating benefits packages for new hires, updating job descriptions, training staff, mediating conflicts, overcoming cultural differences and even navigating the process of hiring seasonal employees on H-2B and J-1 visas.

Working at such a large organization has provided exposure to the vast array of roles that are critical to the hospitality industry. From marketing professionals to accountants, front desk agents to banquet servers, Bella has enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at what makes one of Michigan’s largest destination resorts run so smoothly. She even gets to work alongside other interns on a project simulating running their own hotel and attend panel discussions led by resort leaders.

Behind every project and task, she has been grateful to be part of a tight-knit team that promotes a positive and motivated work environment. That’s why you’ll often find Bella going the extra mile planning events like staff movie night. Because in the end, it’s the people who make all the difference.

Reflecting on the summer, she is thankful for the learning and experiences she has gained in the HR role.

“Finding an internship can be stressful, but jump for as many opportunities as you can and trust that God will open the right door,” she says.

It’s neat to see how you’ve thrived in this opportunity, Bella!

08/11/2026

Meet Caleb Clinger (’27), a business major who is spending his summer as a Credit Analyst at Mercantile Bank. As part of his internship experience, he is taking part in an 8-week credit college designed to take a deep dive on cash flow, collateral and guarantor support.

The course is a key step for Caleb as he prepares for work in commercial lending. After completing credit college, he will be spending his final weeks of summer working alongside a full-time analyst as they conduct thorough assessments of client financial information.

But even beyond the technical experience, Caleb says this internship is also about staying curious, asking good questions and building relationships. That’s why much of his role this summer has also been about people.

Whether it’s networking with colleagues, checking in with other Hope students and alumni employed at the bank or simply having fun over an after-work game of pickleball, Caleb says it’s so important to connect with those around you.

Caleb, it’s so exciting to see not only your work, but also your community. Thanks for showing us around!

08/06/2026

Recently, our faculty gathered for a research workshop – an opportunity to share ongoing work, gather feedback and spur continued excellence in scholarship. Not only are our faculty invested teachers and mentors, but they also generate knowledge in their scholarly areas of expertise, applying it to a variety of topics ranging from the global economy to the everyday human experience, and often at the intersection with the Christian faith.

Learning from each other in an interdisciplinary setting – including student research collaborators and faculty in accounting, business and economics – is one core element of our academic community in the Department of Economics and Business, and a significant opportunity for our faculty to live out their callings as supportive colleagues, recognized thought leaders and faithful Christians.