After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to Calvin to teach history and political science in 1946.
In 1956, after becoming president of the college, Spoelhof was responsible for the initiation of the school's move to its current Knollcrest campus.
Toward the end of the 1960s Spoelhof also had to deal with the impact of nationwide student protest movements on the Calvin campus.
[1] On June 17, 1943, Spoelhof applied for a commission or warrant officer's rank in the US Naval Reserve and was accepted, becoming a Lieutenant, Junior Grade.
His mission of gathering intelligence in the Netherlands was terminated on October 10, 1945,[3] and he was released from active duty on November 9, 1945.