De Vos, Peter A. (1940-1993) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Peter Allen De Vos graduated from Calvin College in 1961 and finished his master’s at Brown University in 1964. Later in life, he returned to Brown University to pursue his doctorate, writing his dissertation on Descartes.

In 1965, De Vos returned to Calvin not as a student but rather as a professor of philosophy. From his introductory courses to his upper level courses, students applauded him as an educator; so much so many of his students became teachers of philosophy themselves. In 1977, he became interested in environmental ethics and researched his topic up until his death. By 1978, De Vos was appointed Dean of the Faculty and then elected to provost in 1981. In 1990, De Vos found a new home at Jordan College where he became their dean. Jordan College emphasized environmental concerns, which was of great interest to him.

On a personal level, De Vos and his wife Karen had two children--Michelle and Scott. The De Vos family were members of Grace Christian Reformed Church. De Vos was also a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers and the president of the International Association for Promotion of Christian Higher Education. Due to a heart attack, De Vos passed away at the age of 53.