Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at EMU
Let’s Belong Together!
At the heart of EMU’s mission––as an academic institution rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition–– lies our commitment to peace, justice, and the transformational power of community.
The DEI team at EMU is driven by the vision to co-create a community of learners where everyone feels connected, accepted, valued, and respected. At EMU, we know that removing barriers and opening new pathways and achievements for ALL requires the constructive disruption of current norms, policies, and power structures, which must go hand in hand with building relationships across differences. In this journey, we take time to vibe together by celebrating milestones and successes. Through our threefold approach––Disrupting, Connecting, and Vibing––we are forging a path toward a more inclusive and equitable campus experience.
- We strive to extend the richness of the EMU experience to students, faculty, and staff who may have felt marginalized in the past.
- Our aspiration is to share power, stories, challenges, wisdom, and dreams with authenticity, forging a campus community where we embrace our common humanity and build meaningful relationships with each other.
- Our commitment leads us to address historical barriers that underrepresented and marginalized groups have faced at EMU. This requires us to confront the root causes of discrimination, racial injustice, gender inequities, sexual orientation marginalization, structural racism, and various other forms of oppression.
- We aspire to amplify the sustainability narrative by incorporating racial equity and social justice as essential components for advancing environmental and climate justice.
Come join our EMU community, a place where you belong, you matter, and you are seen!
Jacqueline N. Font-Guzmán, MHA, JD, PhD
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Support DEI: Let's Transform Lives Together
Your generosity to the DEI fund will support our students to have the opportunity to thrive in a community of learners where they feel connected, accepted, valued and respected. Join us on our transformative journey where every donation, big or small, becomes a catalyst for positive impact in shaping our future of belonging.
What We Do
Jackie Font-Guzmán | Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Jackie strives to be a change agent and sees her role as co-creating spaces for relationships to flourish while constructively disrupting systems to advance equity and justice for everyone. She received her MHA from St. Louis University, her JD from Interamericana University in Puerto Rico and her PhD in Conflict Analysis from Nova Southeastern University.
Dawn Neil | DEI Coordinator
Dawn Neil serves as the coordinator for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and
works directly with Jackie Font-Guzmán to further change at EMU.
Dawn strives to continue to learn and grow and be an advocate for change. She sees
her role as supporting and strengthening advocacy for change. She is a first-generation
graduate. She received her BS in Communication at Bridgewater College and her MA in
Organizational Leadership at Eastern Mennonite University.
Andrea Troyer | DEI Sustainability Coordinator
Andrea strives to advocate for environmental and climate justice. She is eager to interact with students about sustainability and support efforts on campus related to Climate Action. Her hopes are to amplify efforts where DEI and sustainability practices intersect and how they relate to the mission of EMU. She is a Harrisonburg native and 2022 graduate from EMU who completed her BS in Environmental Sustainability.
Program News