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Museum Staff

Kent Ratajeski

Dr. Kent Ratajeski, Director

Dr. Ratajeski has served as the Director of the Dice Mineralogical Museum since 2023.  Having enjoyed being around minerals, rocks, fossils, and meteorites from a young age, Dr. Ratajeski studied geology in college and grad school, eventually specializing in the igneous petrology of granites in graduate school.  His research and teaching assignments all across the country eventually culminated in his joining Calvin鈥檚 Department of Geology, Geography, and Environment at Calvin as a Lecturer where he teaches courses in introductory geology, mineralogy, petrology, tectonics, geology field methods, and geology as vocation. In his spare time, Dr. Ratajeski enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and music.  His favorite mineral is cuprosklodowskite, a green, radioactive mineral named after Polish scientist Marie (Sklodowska) Curie.

Zach Guikema

Zach Guikema, Docent

Zach Guikema is a geology major from Grand Rapids, Michigan. He enjoys hiking, woodcarving, and hanging out with friends. He is interested in environmental geology and had the opportunity to do summer research in 2024. His research project resulted in the first collection of micrometeorites obtained from rooftops on the Calvin campus. His favorite mineral is marcasite.

Carl Martin

Carl Martin, Docent

Carl Martin is a geology and biology major who is interested in paleontological research. He is from Mishawaka Indiana, but loves rockhounding and fossil hunting across the United States. HIs favorite part about being docent here at the Bruce Dice Mineralogical Museum is giving long tours to guests and being able to share his passion for the geosciences.

Ruth Diepstra

Ruth Diepstra, Docent

Ruth Diepstra is a junior majoring in Geology and Environmental Science, from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the 2024 fall semester, she was a First Year Research in Earth Science (FYRES) mentor, where she and her students studied the patterns of a rare thistle and sand fences on a large dune. She hopes to continue studying at Calvin for a GIS Master's. Outside of school, she has always enjoyed collecting rocks and minerals, her favorite being labradorite.