Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who will be the university’s ninth president, addresses the campus community during a chapel service in April. (Photo by Andrew Strack)
Susan Schultz Huxman, PhD, has been appointed as Eastern Mennonite University’s ninth president by unanimous vote from both the university’s Board of Trustees and the Board of Mennonite Education Agency.
Huxman is currently president of Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She will officially assume office on Jan. 1, 2017.
Her selection follows a 10-month process conducted by a Presidential Search Committee of representatives from the EMU Board, faculty, staff, students and alumni, MEA Board and Mennonite Church USA.
“We are delighted that Dr. Huxman has accepted this call,” said Evon L. Bergey, chair of the Presidential Search Committee and an EMU board member. “She was a top choice for many reasons. Her deeply rooted Anabaptist faith, commitment to Mennonite higher education, innovative spirit, administrative experience and scholarly abilities will be great gifts to our students and the campus community.”
“As an academic and passionate ambassador of Mennonite education, I see EMU as a real gift to the church and our world today as it prepares students ‘to serve and lead in a global context,’” said Huxman. “I enjoyed the visits in both Virginia and Pennsylvania with many engaged constituencies. I sensed much confidence and excitement around EMU’s people and purpose. Jesse and I look forward to joining this faith-inspired community.”
From left: Kay Nussbaum ’78, chair of the EMU Board of Trustees, and Evon Bergey ’81, board member and chair of the Presidential Search Committee, with Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who will be EMU’s new president, and Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency. (Photo by Andrew Strack)
Huxman has served for more than 25 years in higher education in a variety of academic and administrative roles. Prior to her appointment at Conrad Grebel, she was director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita (Kansas) State University.
She earned her MA and PhD in communication studies from the University of Kansas. Her involvements in Mennonite education include serving on the board of MEA from 2001 to 2007, and on the board of Western District Conference of Mennonite Church USA. She graduated from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.
Huxman will succeed Loren E. Swartzendruber, DMin, who has served as university president since 2003. His term ends June 30, 2016. Lee Snyder, PhD – former academic dean and professor at EMU as well as former president of Bluffton (Ohio) University – will serve six months as interim president.
