Dr. Karin Maag Receives Honorary Doctorate from Theological University of Utrecht

Watch our full episode of The Forum Podcast with Dr. Karin Maag

On December 6, 2024, Dr. Karin Maag (Director of the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies and Adjunct Professor of the History of Christianity; Co-Director of the Master of Theology (ThM) Program) received an honorary doctorate from the Theological University of Utrecht, recognizing her contributions to the field of Calvin and Reformation studies, especially through the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies. In celebration of this honor, we recently sat down with Dr. Maag on The Forum Podcast, where we learned more about her life, entrance into the field of Calvin studies, and the ways her career has led to this honorary doctorate.

Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Maag never knew a day in her life without the presence of Christian parents, Jesus, and the church. As a teenager, she began to make her faith her own. Around the same time, she began to consider a career in academia that followed in the path of her parents, both professors. Following her undergraduate studies in religious studies and liberal arts, Maag began investigating master’s programs in the United Kingdom. After a year studying at the University of Saint Andrews, faculty members encouraged her to pursue a doctoral degree. Maag remarks, “Because I was Canadian in Britain, I had to pay foreign student fees. It’s very expensive. So, I prayed about it and I said, “Well, Lord, here’s the deal. If you want me to do this, we have to be able to find the funding. I can’t ask my parents to pay for this.” God confirmed this calling through a generous scholarship, which covered her fees and living expenses for her studies. 

Following the completion of her doctoral studies, Maag, at the invitation of Dr. Richard Mueller, applied for a position at Calvin College, where she would serve as  Director of the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies. In 1997, Maag moved to Grand Rapids, where she has served Calvin College (University), Calvin Seminary, and the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies in many capacities and roles, including as a history professor.

In early 2024, Maag found out she had been nominated to receive an honorary doctorate from the Theological University of Utrecht, celebrating her contributions and service to the field of Reformation studies. Calvin Seminary President Jul Medenblik commented, “We are delighted that the scholarship and person of Dr. Maag is being recognized in this way. Our Seminary community and the greater Calvin community has benefited immensely from her contributions and leadership, and this honor is felt throughout our community.”

At the ceremony, Maag spoke about pastoral care for the sick and dying in Calvin’s Geneva. With a lifelong research interest in the lived experience of people during the time of the Reformation, Maag wanted to explore–and share with others–how Calvin understood the duty of pastoral care for those who were seriously ill and dying, specifically addressing their spiritual struggle in those last days. To listen to Dr. Maag’s recent presentation on this topic, visit our YouTube channel, where she shared this research at a 2024 Monthly Mini Colloquium. We’re grateful for the ways Dr. Maag contributes to the field of Reformation studies and continues to serve the Calvin community as professor and Director of the Meeter Center for Calvin Studies.

To watch the ceremony where Dr. Maag was awarded her honorary doctorate, visit the livestream recording on YouTube.