1949 Legacy Fund

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Ada Webb and Shannon Dycus In 1949, Eastern Mennonite University welcomed Ada Webb, the first Black woman student. It was a moment of courage that transformed our learning community. Now in 2025 we celebrate the leadership of Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus, EMU’s first Black woman president.

President Dycus shares, “Today, as EMU’s first Black woman president, I carry Ada Webb’s legacy with deep gratitude and responsibility. The 1949 Legacy Fund is our opportunity to honor the trailblazers who came before us and to ensure that every student who follows finds a place of growth and strength at EMU.”

Goals of the 1949 Legacy Fund
- To inspire the support of a new generation of EMU alumni who have been waiting for the right moment to engage with EMU’s vibrant mission and vision.
- To inspire increased generosity among loyal EMU alumni and friends who desire President Dycus’s success and the growth of EMU’s enrollment.
- To expand access to EMU’s transformative education for more students seeking to become unifying leaders.
- To honor EMU's past and celebrate its present and future.
Giving Levels
Alumni and friends of EMU who celebrate the appointment of EMU's first Black woman president and who are committed to financially supporting the success of the President Dycus and her vision for EMU are invited to support the 1949 Legacy Fund. Contributions of any amount are gratefully received.

We invite annual gift commitments at one of these four levels to support the 1949 Legacy Fund. Donors at these levels receive periodic communications from President Dycus highlighting the impact of their support.
- Legacy Fund Champions: $10,000 or more*
- Legacy Fund Leaders: $1000 or more*
- Legacy Fund Sustainers: $500 or more*
- Legacy Fund Advocates: $25 or more
*Gifts of $500 or more also qualify as EMU President’s Partners
Impact of Your Giving

All contributions to the 1949 Legacy Fund will be divided equally to support the University Fund and the 1949 Legacy Impact Fund. The Legacy Impact Fund provides direct grants to students with financial need, with preference to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and first-generation students.

Join us!

As we honor the legacy of Ada Webb and the leadership of President Shannon Dycus, we celebrate the ongoing journey of equity and access. Together, we can sustain a university rooted in courage and propelled by hope—where the story of transformation continues to be written.

Support the 1949 Legacy Fund with a one-time gift or recurring monthly gift here. Alternatively, checks may be made payable to EMU ℅ The 1949 Legacy Fund, and sent to the EMU Advancement Office, 1200 Park Road, Harrisonburg, VA 22802. Questions about giving stock, IRAs, etc. may be directed to Kirk Shisler, Vice President for Advancement at kirk.shisler@emu.edu or 540-432-4499.