FACULTY & STAFF
This list is a small sampling of faculty and staff activities during spring semester 2020.
Brian Martin Burkholder, campus pastor, led a team of eight students to North Carolina on a Y-Serve spring break trip to help rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Florence in 2018.
Shannon Dycus, dean of students, preached at the Hope for the Future gathering in Dallas, Texas, in January. The annual gathering was created in 2011 to provide a space for Africans, African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans to freely discuss their experiences in the church.
Marti Eads, professor of English, launched a bibliotherapy program linking students with residents at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community for an hour of reading and conversation each week.
Kathy Evans, professor of education, published a policy brief titled “The Starts and Stumbles of Restorative Justice in Education: Where Do We Go from Here?” through The National Education Policy Center.
Ryan Good, co-director, Washington Community Scholars’ Center, co-authored a paper published in the Journal of Education Policy about private fundraising organizations tied to public schools in Philadelphia. Their study was reported on by WHYY, the Philadelphia-area PBS and NPR member station.
Barry Hart, professor of trauma, identity and conflict studies, Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, gave a keynote address on restorative justice in the context of a post-war society at a seminar organized by the Initiatives of Change Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka in February.
Herm, university mascot, announced his retirement this spring. EMU is in search for the next blue lion mascot.
Katie Mansfield, STAR lead trainer, started a virtual dance community called Dancing Resilience to build community online while social distancing in response to COVID-19.
Daniel Showalter, professor of mathematics, was a lead contributor to the most recent edition of “Why Rural Matters,” a biennial report that analyzes the data behind academic performance, poverty, racial diversity, and other aspects of education in America’s rural schools. Honorees of the first annual Excellence in Teaching Awards are: in the Senior Faculty category, Daniel Showalter, associate professor of mathematics; in the Junior Faculty category, Johonna Turner, assistant professor at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding; and in the Contingent Faculty category, Bonnie Yoder, adjunct, education. The selection process began with nominations from the campus community, reviewed by a committee appointed by Faculty Senate.
Paul Yoder, professor of education, with a colleague from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, presented his published survey findings from nearly 400 teachers from Mennonite Council Schools at the 2020 Mennonite Educators Conference.
Zach Yoder Zach Yoder, earned a PhD. in Strategic Leadership with a concentration in Postsecondary Analysis and Leadership from James Madison University. His dissertation title is The Influence of Remaining Unmet Financial Need on the Persistence Behaviors of Students Enrolled at a Small, Private, Liberal Arts Institution of Higher Education.
1950-59
Henry Weaver ‘50, Goshen, Ind., is retired from a career teaching education at Goshen College and the University of California.
Marvin Groff ‘55, Canton, Pa., is retired from a career in education. He is a member of North Street Community Church.
Ruth Rudy ‘55, Manheim, Pa., is a retired elementary school teacher who taught for 32 years in six states and Canada.
Myrtle Shenk ‘55, Lititz, Pa., retired as CEO for the faith-based project “Sharing Programs.” She worked as an administrative assistant for New Danville Mennonite School and East Petersburg Mennonite Church. She and her husband, John, now reside in independent living at Landis Homes. She spends her time caring for John, knitting prayer shawls for the Landis Home chaplains to distribute to hospital patients, quilting for the Landis Homes benefit sale, and cooking.
Ruth Simpson ‘55, Royersford, Pa., is retired from her career as a registered nurse and her work in massage and reflexology.
Lorna Sirtoli ‘55, Cortland, N.Y., is a professional cake artist.
Laura Weaver ‘55, Evansville, Ind., is retired from teaching English at the University of Evansville.
1960-69
James Good ‘60, Harrisonburg, Va., is a teacher of adult education in Virginia.
Daniel Hochstetler ‘60, Goshen, Ind., is a retired middle school teacher. He was a teacher at two Hutterite colony schools in Montana from 1963-65 and also spent time as a research field worker. He co-founded the Jacob Hochstetler Family Association, Inc. in 1988, and has served as editor of their quarterly newsletter for 25 years. He was a charter member of Michigan Antabaptist Historians in 1992 and editor of their newsletter for nine years.
Esther Kraybill ‘60, Lebanon, Pa., is retired from a career in education.
Samuel Lapp ‘60, Lansdale, Pa., is an industrial arts teacher and supervisor for Wissahickon School District. He served with Mennonite Central Committee in Jamaica and Egypt from 1979-81 and 1997-98, and was a camp administrator for Camp Men-O-Lan until 2006.
Robert Martin ‘60, Wrightsville, Pa., now retired, is a member of East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church.
Edwin Miller ‘60, Kalona, Iowa, taught elementary school for 26 years, and has now been retired for 12 years. He has volunteered with Jubilee Partners, Camp Deer Park, and the International Guest House.
Emma Myers ‘60, Philadelphia, Miss., is retired from a career in elementary school education. She was a pastor’s wife and helped to start two churches. She’s been involved since the beginning with the local Friends of the Library organization.
Richard Weaver ‘60, Lititz, Pa., is a retired doctor, surgeon and pastor. He served several terms as a missionary surgeon in Tanzania. In 1999, he was ordained in the New Holland Mennonite Church, and in 2003, he became a certified spiritual director for Oasis Ministries.
Jean E. Snyder ‘63, Pittsburgh, Pa., was named the inaugural Historian in Residence by the Harry T. Burleigh Society of New York City, in recognition of her biography Harry T. Burleigh: From the Spiritual to the Harlem Renaissance (University of Illinois Press, 2016). Jean collected archives on Burleigh — an African American baritone, art song composer, music editor and arranger — for over 30 years while conducting research for the biography.
Elva Buckwalter Beach ‘65, Vilseck, Germany, is the treasury secretary for High Point Baptist Church.
Daniel Bowman ‘65, SEM ‘81, Harrisonburg, Va., is a retired rehabilitation counselor. His community involvements include active lay leadership and Sunday school teaching at church. He is an active member in the Richmond chapter of the Piano Technicians Guild.
Lois Frantz ‘65, Thompson, Pa., helped found the Faith Mountain Christian Academy in 1995. She served at the academy as a teacher and principal until 2015, and now volunteers there.
Lois Good ‘65, Lititz, Pa., retired from the Lancaster County Office of Aging and now volunteers at Landis Homes.
Ernest Hess ‘65 SEM ‘99, Lancaster, Pa., retired as a pastor and bishop in 2006 and as a guidance counselor in 2008. He currently volunteers through his congregation and is a substitute teacher in public schools and at Lancaster Mennonite School. Ernest also enjoys walking and hiking, having completed the Appalachian Trail and the Camino de Santiago in Spain with his wife, Lois.
Robert Koch ‘65, Woodland Park, Colo., is a retired teacher and professor.
Grace Leichty ‘65, West Liberty, Ohio, is a retired business education teacher. Her community involvements include serving as Recourse Commission Chair, church council member, Stewardship Commission Chair, and on boards for Green Hills Community and Adriel School.
Susanna Moshier ‘65, Castorland, N.Y., is a retired medical records director from United Helpers Cedars Nursing Home.
Paul Nisly ‘65, Grantham, Pa., is a professor emeritus of English. He taught at Messiah College full-time for 36 years and part-time for 12 more. He has also served the church as an ordained minister beginning in 1975 and was later ordained as a bishop. He also chaired the Lancaster Mennonite Conference ministerial credentialing commission.
Jim Ranck ‘65, Harrisonburg, Va., is retired from real estate. He helped to found and incorporate Sea Island Habitat for Humanity in 1978. From 1990-97, he served and volunteered as executive director. This project has built over 350 houses.
Samuel G. Showalter ‘65, Rockingham, Va., is partially retired from his general medical practice. He earned his doctor of medicine from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in 1969, and completed his rotating internship at the Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Ohio in 1970.
Joseph Gascho ‘68, Hummelstown, Pa., was the featured photographer in an exhibit at POSITIVE EXPOSURE 109 in New York City.
1970-79
Evelyn Baer ‘70, Kingston, Idaho, has been a bookkeeper for her family business, Silver Valley Doors, LLC, since 1992. She homeschooled her five children over a 27-year period and taught kindergarten for three grandchildren.
Nelson Baer ‘70, Newport News, Va., now retired, is a member of Warwick River Mennonite Church.
Thomas Beachy ‘70, Caseville, Mich., is the senior pastor at Pigeon River Mennonite Church. He is on the board of a local environmental organization, enjoys local and world birding experiences, and has been able to travel through his involvement with missions.
Bob Bishop ‘70, Doylestown, Pa., is a retired excavating contractor.
Barb Borntrager ‘70, Rockingham, Va., is a retired teacher from Rockingham County Schools. She has been a chaplain at Pilgrim’s Pride in Timberville since 2001. She is a Sunday school teacher for adults and involved in women’s bible studies.
Robert Brenneman ‘70, Goshen, Ind., now retired, volunteers as a ministerial assistant at Greencroft retirement community.
James Duncan ‘70 SEM ‘76, Ashville, N.C., is retired. He was an adult social worker in Harrisonburg from 1970-73, a missionary in Italy from 1973-78, and a Choice Books sales and service representative from 1980-2008. He helped with church planting to start his congregation in 1979 and has been a member ever since.
Lois Greene ‘70, Lancaster, Pa., now retired, is involved in AARP Tax Ministry and Silent Samaritan.
Marian Hackney ‘70, Raphine, Va., is a retired teacher of students with visual impairments.
Lois Hochstetler ‘70, Bloomington, Ill., is a retired clinical social worker. Her community involvements include church, Mennonite Disaster Service, neighborhood helper and election judge.
Charlotte Hoover ‘70, Lebanon, Pa., is a farm wife and homemaker. She previously worked as a secretary. She and her husband are involved in church and teaching marriage classes. She volunteers with Jubilee Ministries and loves being a grandparent.
Elton Horst ‘70 SEM ‘73, Hagerstown, Md., now retired, volunteers at his local YMCA.
Brenda King ‘70, Sugarcreek, Ohio, is retired after 30 years of teaching.
Henry Miller ‘70, Constantine, Mich., is a partner with his son Ricardo in Villa Miller Farms.
Richard Miller ‘70, Manheim, Pa., is a retired medical doctor of family medicine at the University of Virginia. He volunteers with local church activities and MCC.
Myrna Moyer ‘70, Telford, Pa., now retired, is a member of Ridgeland Community Church.
Virginia Musser ‘70, Lititz, Pa., now retired, volunteers at the Lititz Public Library, Lancaster General Health, and Luther Acres Retirement Community.
Allen Peachey ‘70, Goshen, Ind., is a retired Spanish and ELL teacher from Bethany Christian High School and Goshen High School. His community involvements include volunteering at The Window’s Food Pantry, MCC thrift store, Ten Thousand Villages, and College Church Jubilee Assistance Ministry; serving as a clinic interpreter and Stephen Ministry leader; and participating in the Goshen Community Chorale and College Church choir.
Beth Steria ‘70, Lowville, N.Y., is a pharmacy technician for Kinney Drugs. She is treasurer for the NYS Correctional and Youth Services Association, secretary for New York Mennonite Conference, on the board of directors for Agape Shoppe fair trade store, and a council member for Lowville Mennonite Church. She has also traveled widely.
Marlise Horst ‘73, Montreal, Canada, is an invited Scholar in Residence at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden this spring. Last year, she published a book for teachers of English, titled Focus on Vocabulary Learning (Oxford University Press, 2019). Marlise was an associate professor of applied linguistics at Concordia University in Montreal until her retirement in 2016.
Robert Fisher ‘75, Bremem, Ohio, has retired from his careers as a pastor at Turkey Run Mennonite and as a USPS rural mail carrier.
Beverly Hendricks ‘75, Telford, Pa., is an administrative assistant for BHHS Fox & Roach Realtors. She also does counseling and enjoys traveling.
Clair Hochstetler ‘75 SEM ‘85, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a hospice chaplain and president of the Board of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship.
Lanny Millette ‘75, Leola, Pa., is the ministry director for The Potter’s House: Addiction Recovery and Discipleship Ministry.
Miriam Herr Nafziger ‘75, Lancaster, Pa., is a registered nurse on the acute care surgical unit at UPMC Lititz. She’s been an oncology certified nurse since 1994. Miriam and her
husband Rodney D. Nafziger ‘74 attend the Landisville Mennonite Church.
Jane Peifer ‘75 SEM ‘98, Harrisonburg, Va., is a spiritual director and retreat leader.
Janet Schlabach ‘75, Goshen, Ind., is a retired health and physical education teacher.
Betty Shenk ‘75, Harrisonburg, Va., is a retired elementary school counselor for Rockingham County Public Schools. Her community involvements include volunteering at Gift & Thrift, Bridge of Hope, Bridges Community Gatherings, and Kids Club. She has taken trips with EMU’s Alumni & Friends Cross-Cultural Tours to Israel and Palestine, and Turkey and Greece. She has also taken a trip to China with Myrrl Byler and Mennonite Partners in China.
Keaton Shenk ‘75, Harrisonburg, Va., is a retired elementary and middle school teacher for Harrisonburg Public Schools, Page County Public School and MCC-Bolivia. His community involvement includes volunteering at Gift & Thrift, Bridge of Hope, Patchwork Pantry, and an ecumenical centering prayer group.
Bonnie Barnhart Shoemaker ‘75, Harrisonburg, Va., is retired from teaching first grade. She is a volunteer at Brethren/ Mennonite Heritage Center and helps take care of her grandchildren.
Dennis Trissel ‘75, Rockingham, Va., works in agricultural sales for Trissel Equipment Sales LLC. He is an EMT for Harrisonburg Rescue Squad.
Gloria Shenk Worme ‘75, MA (education) ‘12, Mount Joy, Pa., is a volunteer usher at Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. She earned her graduate degree and ESL certification at EMU Lancaster.
Phil Helmuth ‘76, Harrisonburg, Va., is a volunteer development coordinator with Mennonite Disaster Services and helped to coordinate production of homemade masks for first responders in Harrisonburg in response to the COVID-19 outbreak this spring.
Daniel Baynard Grimes ‘78, Goshen, Ind., was promoted to vice president for advancement and enrollment at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart in July 2019. For the previous four years, he served as the director of enrollment and financial aid. In this new expanded role Grimes will oversee admission, financial aid, and development and fundraising activities.
1980- 89
Mike Beckler ‘80, Rockingham, Va., is an attorney.
Shirley Garber ‘80, Lancaster, Pa., is the supervisor of employee relations at Cherry Crest Adventure Farms. She retired after 22 years in education at Lancaster Mennonite Schools.
Loretta Gehman ‘80, Holtwood, Pa., is a social worker at UPMC Hospital.
Sue Glick ‘80, Akron, Pa., is a retired executive assistant for international programs for MCC. She is on her church’s leadership team and is a worship leader.
Sandra Greenwood ‘80, Philadelphia, Pa., is a licensed agent for health insurance sales and service.
Marcy High ‘80, Lancaster, Pa., retired in 2019 from teaching at Locust Grove Mennonite School. She also worked for seven years at Kraybill Mennonite School and nine years at Mellinger’s Parent & Preschool Center. She is currently working as a substitute teacher for Conestoga Valley Schools and Lancaster Mennonite Schools. Marcy served for 10 years at the Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society. She has also been involved in the Neffsville Mennonite Women’s Ministry, Neffsville Choir, and in mentorship at Messiah College.
Joseph D. Irish ‘80, Cobleskill, N.Y., retired after serving 30 years at the Schoharie County Mental Health Clinic as a psychotherapist, and now operates a private practice. He earned a Master’s in social welfare from the State University of New York at Albany. Joseph and his wife Vickie have two adult children in doctoral studies, one in physics and one in social welfare.
Joy Maust ‘80, West Jefferson, Ohio, is a retired seventh-grade social studies teacher in London City Schools.
Lynn Miller ‘80 SEM ‘89, Woodburn, Ore., is retired from pastoring for 35 years. He has done three Mennonite Mission Network SOOP experiences in California, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.
Lucinda Oberholzer ‘80, Hagerstown, Md., is a registered dental hygienist and clinical instructor at Hagerstown Community College. She volunteers and is a board member for World Treasures Thrift Shop.
Diane Rowland ‘80, Verona, Va., works as a lobby cleaner for McDonald’s.
Darrell Zook ‘80, Harrisonburg, Va., is a high school science teacher and coaches cross country and track at Broadway High School. He also serves as a church elder.
Tim Martin Johnson ‘82, Philadelphia, Pa., was named controller of Justice at Work, which provides free legal services to low-income workers, including migrant farm workers and other seasonal workers. Johnson also serves as the treasurer of the board of Redemption Housing, a nonprofit which provides housing for citizens returning from incarceration.
Dave Yutzy ‘82 and Jewel Risser Yutzy ‘82, Timberville, Va.,were recipients of the Farm Family Stewardship Award 2020 from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. The farm is run by the Yutzy family, many of whom are EMU graduates.
David Scott Driver ‘85, Cheverly, Md., was named the sports editor of the Daily News- Record in Harrisonburg in November 2019. He reported on the Washington Nationals for the Washington Times during the 2018-19 season, and was fortunate to cover Game 7 of the World Series in Houston in October. He is married to Liz Chase Driver ‘86.
Pearl Hartman ‘85, Rockingham, Va., is a pastor at Big Spring Mennonite Church and is a Virginia Mennonite Conference Faith & Life Commission chaplain supervisor.
Kathy Hertlzer ‘85, Lancaster, Pa., is the administrative assistant for college grants at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster.
Sharon Peachey ‘85, Shenandoah, Va., is a teacher for Greene County Public Schools.
Amy Rosenberger ‘85, Philadelphia, Pa., has been named as a Super Lawyer for Pennsylvania. She was among 16 attorneys at the firm Willig, Williams & Davidson to be recognized for their expertise in the practice areas of labor and employment, workers’ compensation, and employee benefits. The Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list is compiled through peer review and independent research.
Sarah Sauder ‘85, Leola, Pa., is a project designer for DOVE International and a board member for REAL Life Community Services.
Daniel Ziegler ‘85, Paynesville, Minn., is the executive director for Koronis Ministries, a retreat center for the United Methodist Churches of Minnesota. He has more than 25 years of experience in Christian camping, served eight years as president of Rosedale Bible College, and did five years of mission and relief work in Haiti.
Rita M. Smith ‘86, Blountstown, Fla., was recently promoted as the statewide public health director of nursing at the Florida Department of Health. In March, she was activated to the Florida Emergency Operations Command for the COVID-19 pandemic. Rita is pursuing her MPH from Florida State University. She earned her DNP from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2012, MSN from Florida State in 1991, and Family APRN from Florida State in 1990.
1990-99
Paul Groff ‘90, Harrisonburg, Va., is press manager for McClung Companies. He is also a baseball coach, Sunday school teacher and song leader.
Denise Hart ‘90, Kentwood, Mich., is a paralegal for Meijer, Inc. Denise has been a board member and secretary for Urban Family Ministries since 2009 in Grand Rapids.
Eric Hostetler ‘90, Goshen, Ind., works for Kountry Wood Products.
Lavonn Hostetler ‘90, Goshen, Ind., is the controller for Talon Products.
Jacalyn Lee ‘90, Luray, Va., is the housing services coordinator at Choices Council on Domestic Violence for Page County. Her community involvements include the Page County Community Choir, church worship committee, Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale and Luray Triathlon volunteer.
Pauline M. Martin ‘90, San Salvador, El Salvador, directs the master’s program in education policy and evaluation at Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas. She coordinates a research program on education in risk situations, focusing on how gang presence affects classroom dynamics, school functioning, and family and community integration.
Roxie Ramseyer ‘90, Dalton, Ohio, is involved with Growing Families International, which provides parenting resources based on biblical values. She is also on the board of trustees for Camp Luz, and helps with Sunday school at her church.
Tim Shultz ‘90, Newfane, N.Y., is a pastor for First Baptist Church of Newfane.
Brian L. Stauffer ‘91, Golden, Colo., is a professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Colorado and the cardiology division chief at the Denver Health & Hospital Authority. He gave a Suter Science Seminar
on cardiology during the spring 2020 semester. He is also a co-director of several multidisciplinary research groups studying heart failure and atherosclerosis, and has co- authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications.
Tom Brenneman ‘92, Harrisonburg, Va., was named the new executive director of Project GROWS in January 2020. Project GROWS is a non-profit, educational farm for youth located in the Central Shenandoah Valley. Previously, Brenneman built and ran the Farm at Willow Run, a farm-to-table program for the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and has worked with EMU’s Sustainable Food Initiative.
Kirsten Moore ‘93, Harrisonburg, Va., opened Magpie and Friends market, partnering with farmers, chefs and bakers who usually supply to restaurants to supply customers in a no-touch, drive-through format during the covid-19 pandemic. She will open Magpie Diner and Bakery in the coming months.
Jeff Shank ‘94, Harrisionburg, Va., is the vice president of operations at LD&B Insurance and Financial Services.
Kristina Blakely ‘95 MA (counseling) ‘17, Harrisonburg, Va., is program supervisor for People Places Inc.
Angela Breneman ‘95, Rockingham, Va., is a registered nurse in heart and vascular at Sentara RMH.
J.J. Egli ‘95, Wolcottville, Ind., is the owner of Topeka Do It Best Hardware.
Stacey Egli ‘95, Wolcottville, Ind., is a special education teacher for Westview School Corporation.
Matt Hamsher ‘95, SEM ‘99, Kidron, Ohio, is the executive director at Evana Network. He is also a board member for Spring Haven Counseling Center.
Joy Kraybill ‘95, Washington D.C., is the deputy director for Exchange Eligibility and Enrollment for the Federal Government of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Charles Robert Maines ‘95, Leola, Pa., has joined Kairos Health Systems as the senior director of contracting and network development. His 24-year career in senior living services has included leadership roles in advocacy; census development; stewardship; and financial, operational, and quality outcome management.
Julette Leaman Rush ‘95, Harrisonburg, Va., is an English learner teacher at Harrisonburg City Public Schools. She is married to alumnus David Rush ‘99.
Andy Saltzman ‘95, East Peoria, Ill., is the vice president for the financial firm Ginoli & Co. Ltd.
Allen Umble ‘95, Christiana, Pa., retired from serving Virginia Mennonite Missions in Albania in 2016. Since then he has made extended visits back to the country. Currently he is employed part-time as a caregiver.
Anita Wansley ‘95, Meridian, Miss., was named the new principal at Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from Mississippi State University.
Kendall Ruth ‘96, Lititz, Pa., has been promoted to director within the Acuity Advisors and CPAs Agri-business Services Group. He is a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of experience and is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Institutes of Certified Public Accountants.
Phil Zapanta ‘96, Lorton, Va., is in his 18th year of service in the US Army Reserves Medical Corps. Last fall, he returned from a four-month combat deployment to Iraq, and he was recently promoted to the rank of colonel. In his civilian job, Phil is the otolaryngology residency program director and associate professor of surgery at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Phil is married to Anne Charbeneau Zapanta ’97.
Gwen Snavely Angel ‘98, Seattle, Washington, was featured in a photoessay in the May issue of Rolling Stone magazine with other healthcare professionals on the front lines. She is an assistant nurse manager in emergency services at Harborview Medical Center.
Grant Rosenberger ‘99, State College, Pa., has owned an ACE Hardware store for 10 years. His wife, Laura Dell’Olio ‘99, is a therapist in State College.
Lisa White Cameron ‘99, West Chester, Pa., is the new executive director of Bridge of Hope in Chester County. Previously, she served as the director of empowerment services at the YWCA Lancaster, where she is still involved as a consultant for a pilot program that focuses on trauma and girls and women of color. Cameron is a licensed professional counselor and certified trauma practitioner.
2000 – 09
Kelly Gingerich ‘00, Rockingham, Va., is a substitute teacher for Rockingham County Schools.
Krystal Glick ‘00, Harrisburg, Pa., is a homeschool teacher.
Quincy Longacre ‘00, Quakertown, Pa., is the director of marketing and distribution for Buckeye Energy Services, LLC. He is a board member for Swamp Mennonite Church and involved with the Spruce Lake Wilderness Retreat, Free Fall Action Sports, and Better Home Heat Council of the Lehigh Valley.
Kevin Nafziger ‘00, Harrisonburg, Va., is a credit manager with Park View Federal Credit Union.
Sara Nafziger ‘00, Harrisonburg, Va., is a nurse educator at Sentara Medical Center and Shenandoah Women’s Healthcare. She is the owner of Experienced Expectations Childbirth Education.
Julia Richer ‘00 MAEDU ‘18, Archbold, Ohio, is a Spanish teacher for Pettisville Local Schools. She is a part of the Zion Community Choir.
Sandie Russell-Vickers ‘00, Lakeland, Fla., is retired and involved in Women’s Choice.
Mike Gale ‘01, Stuarts Draft, Virginia, has been named athletic director at Rockbridge County High School. He was previously the boys varsity basketball coach at Stuarts Draft High School, accumulating 182 wins in 14 seasons.
Erik Kratz ‘02, Telford, Pa., was among four United States athletes named to the All-World Team by the World Baseball Softball Confederation following the completion of the Premier12 tournament in November 2019. He also represented the United States in Olympic qualifying tournaments.
Martha Kratzer Coleman ‘02, Apple Creek, Ohio, is an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner at Inpatient Hospice and Palliative Care at Aultman Hospital in Canton. She and her husband Chip Coleman ‘01 have four children.
Kendra Forry ‘04, Rockingham, Va., teaches in the J. Frank Hillyard Middle School STEM Academy, which was recognized as a “Program that Works” by the Virginia Math and Science Coalition.
Renee Holsopple Glick ‘04, Brooklyn, N.Y., is the director of retail and a senior associate at A+I, where she has worked on projects for brands like Vince, Worth New York and W by Worth, Ketra, and Under Armour. She also worked as a store designer for Kate Spade Saturday, Bobbi Brown, and her own firm: Amalgam design. In 2016, Renee was named one of retail’s “40 under 40” by the magazine design:retail.
Mary Beth Price ‘04, Strasburg, Va., is the interim city manager of Winchester. Price began as town clerk and director of finance in Strasburg, and moved on to several positions in Shenandoah County including county administrator. She retired from the administrator position last year to spend more time with her husband Tommy and their five grandchildren.
Heather Joy Bauman Yoder ‘04, Linville, Va., graduated from St. Catherine University in December 2019 with a degree in occupational therapy.
Kendra Beeman ‘05, Harrisburg, Pa., is the varsity head girls’ soccer coach at Halifax High School.
Heather Margaret Cribb ‘05, Harrisonburg, Va., is an English language learner teacher
in the Staunton City Schools and at the Shenandoah Valley Juvenile Center. She completed the EducateVA Career Switcher program to change careers and earn her teaching license.
Amanda Stauffer Nace ‘05 MA ‘14, Lititz, Pa., teaches German at Ephrata High School and was recognized this year by the German American Partnership Program for dedication to international understanding. Nace’s
school and program were also honored as a National Center of Excellence by the American Association for Teachers of German in 2019. She earned an MA in Gifted Education from Millersville University in 2017.
Dana Shannon ‘05, Leola, Pa., now retired, has been the life enrichment director at Evergreen Estates Retirement Community in Lancaster, Pa., since July 2019.
Katrina Swartz ‘05, Harrisonburg, Va., is a mental health case manager for the Harrisonburg/ Rockingham Community Services Board.
Ben Yutzy ‘06, MA ‘17 (organizational leadership), Timberville, Va., and his
family were recipients of the Farm Family Stewardship Award 2020 from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. They run Windcrest Holsteins with other family members, many of whom are EMU graduates.
Kevin M. Ressler ‘07, Lancaster, Pa., is the new president and CEO of United Way of Lancaster County. Previously, he served as the executive director of Meals on Wheels of Lancaster. Kevin is a co-founder of the Doplic Project, Lancaster Action Now Coalition, and Black Lives Matter 717. He ran for mayor of Lancaster City in 2017.
Jason Horst ‘09, Rittman, Ohio, is an energy analyst at Community Energy Advisors. He holds a master’s degree in microelectronics- photonics from the University of Arkansas and an MBA in accounting from Liberty University.
2010 –
Kate Bergey ‘10, Harrisonburg, Va., is a career and academic advisor at JMU and is a board member at Park View Federal Credit Union.
Kara Fisher ‘10, Midlothian, Va., is a family nurse practitioner for Dispatch Health.
Dirk Holsopple ‘10, Arlington, Va., is a principal software engineer for Cvent.
Laura Lynn Cash Jordan ‘10, Staunton, Va., is the operations manager for Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start program in the Augusta County Schools. Laura earned her master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2012. She and husband Todd Jordan welcomed daughter Alison Mae in 2015.
Monica Pangle ‘10, Bridgewater, Va., is the owner of Another Chance Events and is on the board of Turner Ashby High School Athletics Boosters.
Marsha Stanley ‘10, Lancaster, Pa., is a homemaker and a member at East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church.
Aaron Yutzy ‘10 and Andrea Bowman Yutzy ‘10, Timberville, Va., were recipients of the Farm Family Stewardship Award 2020 from the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. They run Windcrest Holsteins with other family members, many of whom are EMU graduates.
Ethan Zook ‘10, Broadway, Va., is a paramedic at Page County Fire-EMS.
Shawna Cunningham ‘11, Houston, Texas, is the executive administrative assistant at Twin Eagle, a wholesale marketer of energy commodities including natural gas, coal, power, and environmental products and services. She also serves on the Texas International Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board which operates in Latin America.
Michael Spory ‘11, Washington D.C., moved to a new position with VMDO Architects, which designs innovative K-12 and higher education buildings, with a specialty in net- zero and high-performance design.
R.J. Sims ‘14, Fort Washington, Md., works in international relations at the Pentagon. Previously, he played basketball professionally in Lithuania, France, and the United States, and then served as an assistant coach to the EMU men’s basketball team.
Kara Stutzman ‘14, Charlottesville, Va., is a co-owner of Amore Events Co., a wedding and events planning company.
Melissa Cox ‘15, Akron, Pa., is an office nurse at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health.
Christina Hardman ‘15, Pittsford, Vt., is a psychosocial manager at Bayada Hospice. She is involved in church activities and volunteers at Rutland Regional Medical Center with pet therapy, the Alzheimer’s Association and Caring Canines.
Jacob Landis ‘15, Sterling, Ill., is an organic farmer and interim pastor.
Nic Sulc ‘15, Prince George, Va., is a flight attendant for United Airlines.
Phil Yoder ‘15, SEM ‘18, Wardensville, W.Va., is pastor of Crest Hill Community Church.
Hannah Chappell-Dick ‘16, Gainesville, Fla., is working on her MBA at the University of Florida and will graduate in May 2021. She is also a graduate assistant coach for the Gators track team.
Katherine Graber ‘16, Richardson, Texas, is a special education preschool teacher.
Jolee Paden ‘17, Washington D.C., works for Fellowship for Christian Athletes’ as a college director with students and coaches at George Washington, American, Georgetown, Howard, Gallaudet, Catholic, Trinity, and the University of the District of Columbia. She will transition this summer to the director of operations in Southeast Asia, working with coaches in eight countries. She hopes to move to Malaysia by the end of the year.
Jonatan Moser ‘18, Alamosa, Colo., works with the San Luis Valley Immigrant Resource Center through Mennonite Voluntary Service. He teaches English and citizenship to adults and tutors elementary and middle school students.
James Ramsey ‘18, Harrisonburg, Va., is the operations manager at Artisan Packaging, formerly Graham Packaging. James first started out as an entry-level technician 12 years ago, and worked his way through every production position en route to management.
April Herring Hicks ‘19, Stanley, Va., is the director of operations at the Community Health Interpreting Testing and Training Service at James Madison University. Hicks oversees 85 medical interpreters who speak 13 different languages. Last year, they provided over 25,000 hours of interpreting services in medical settings, social services, public schools, and other businesses around Rockingham and Augusta counties.
Cristy Mwanika ‘19, Harrisonburg, Va., was recently promoted to enterprise application support analyst at Mary Baldwin University. After serving in the Navy and while enrolled at EMU, Mwanika began working at Mary Baldwin as the assistant to the vice president of business and finance.
GRADUATE
John L. Verburg SEM ‘79, Springs, Pa., accepted a pastoral position at Springs Mennonite Church. John has 33 years of experience in pastoral ministry, and has done mission work in Guatemala and Alabama. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Kentucky, and has taught sociology at several colleges.
Dawn Lehman MA ‘02 (conflict transformation), Pittsburgh, Pa., provides training, facilitation, and coaching services through the organization Collective Change Partners (www.collectivechangepartners. com), which she launched in 2019. Dawn has volunteered as a victim-offender dialogue facilitator through Pennsylvania’s Office of the Victim Advocate since 2003, and as a mediator with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission since 2011.
Nelson Okanya SEM ‘02, Lancaster, Pa., has been named a board member of Landis Communities. He is the global missions president of the Center For Serving Leadership, Claysville, Pa. Before that, he served as the president of Eastern Mennonite Missions for seven years and as pastor of Capital Christian Fellowship for nearly six years. He is a doctor of intercultural studies candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary.
Katharine Dow MA ‘04 (conflict transformation), New York, N.Y., is the Institutional Relations Manager at Footsteps, a nonprofit that provides support, educational and career guidance, and access to resources to those leaving ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. She holds an MFA in Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.
Austin Onuoha MA ’04 (conflict transfor- mation), Abuja, Nigeria, is earning a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution at Nova South- eastern University in Florida. He is director of the Nigeria-based Africa Centre for Corporate Responsibility. An expert on the oil industry, he is a member of the UN Experts Group on Human Rights and business and serves on the regional and national board of the West Afri- can Network for Peacebuilding. He has taught at the West African Peacebuilding Institute in Ghana and the National Peace Academy in Nigeria. Among his accomplishments, he led the 28-person team that conducted the first evaluation of Chevron Nigeria’s Global Memorandum of Understanding.
Heike Peckruhn MA ‘04 (counseling), Buffalo, N.Y., is an assistant professor of religious studies at Daemen College. She teaches and researches at the intersections of disability, gender, sexuality, race, and colonialism. She earned a PhD in religious and theological studies from the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology. Her bachelor of theology degree is from Bienenberg Theological Seminary.
Shyamika Jayasundara-Smits MA ’04 (conflict transformation) is an assistant professor in conflict and peace studies at the International Institute for Social Studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She contributed a reflection as part of a guest writer series in honor of CJP’s 25th anniversary.
Sumanto Al Qurtuby MA ‘07 (conflict transformation), Dhahran, Saudi
Arabia, is an associate professor of cultural anthropology at King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. He is also director of the Nusantara Institute on Culture and Religion. A native of Indonesia, Sumanto obtained his PhD from Boston University, specializing in anthropology of Islam and Muslim societies, and holds degrees in Islamic studies, sociology of religion, and conflict/peace studies.
Sanjay Pulipaka MA ‘07 is a senior fellow at the Nehru Memorial Museum Library in New Delhi, India. He contributed a reflection as part of a guest writer series in honor of CJP’s 25th anniversary.
Muhammad Asadullah MA ‘11 (conflict transformation), Regina, Canada, is an assistant professor at the University of Regina’s Department of Justice Studies. Previously, he taught at Simon Fraser University, the University of the Fraser Valley, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He completed his doctorate and a master’s in criminology at Simon Fraser University in Canada.
April Hepler MA ’12 (counseling), Rockingham, Va., has helped to set up a COVID-19 hotline, similar to one that recently launched in New York City. The Shenandoah Valley Emotional Support Line is staffed by volunteer mental health professionals. In less than two weeks, she and fellow organizers developed a plan, recruited volunteers, secured a phone number and Facebook page, and launched the line. April is executive director of Adagio House, which also employs Casey Hurren MA ‘18 (counseling), Rebecca Peifer ’00, MA ’18 (counseling), and current graduate student Melissa Fisher.
Chad Killian MA ‘13 (education), Atlanta, Ga., received his PhD in kinesiology from the University of Illinois in December 2019. He is an assistant professor at Georgia State University in the kinesiology and health department.
Joshua Yorks MDiv ‘13, Troy, Pa., is the new pastor at Holy Trinity Church. After graduation, he pastored at Bedford UMC and Mehoopany UMC. For three years, he has been on the front page of the Wyoming County Examiner for carrying a cross, dressed as Jesus, through Tunkhannock on Good Friday. In February 2019, he traveled to Israel with 24 other pastors to renew his baptism in the Jordan River. In Troy, he’s involved in the Cub Scouts, with his oldest son, as well as the Masons and the Trinity Council of Churches.
Gwendolyn Myers GC ‘14, Monrovia, Liberia, earned an MA in international politics and human rights from City, University of London. She is the founder and executive director of Messengers of Peace-Liberia, Inc., which does reconciliation and dialogue work and promotes youth volunteerism.
Jodie Geddes MA ‘16 (conflict transformation), Oakland, Calif., was the keynote speaker at the Girls Inc. Celebration of International Women’s Day in Madison, Wis. Jodie is the healing circles manager at Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth where she supports the design and implementation of over 10 weekly restorative justice circles.
Christine Kindler MA ‘17 (conflict transformation), Lexington, Ky., is a doctoral student in the clinical psychology program at Howard University and a Berlin Fellow with Humanity in Action, which recognizes commitment to social justice and human rights.
Wayne Marriott MA ‘18 (conflict transformation), Christchurch, New Zealand, is the Resolution Institute Michael Klug Awardee for 2019. Wayne was honored for his peacebuilding work and support to the community after the Christchurch mosque shootings in March 2019. He provides private conflict coaching, mediation, and other reconciliation services from his practice, Fleetwood Peacebuilders.
Talibah Aquil MA ‘19 (conflict transformation), Bronx, N.Y., is the program coordinator for the Furious Flower Poetry Center at James Madison University, the nation’s first academic center for Black poetry.
Felix Kioko ‘18, MA ‘19 (conflict transformation), Baltimore, Md., works in youth development with the International Rescue Committee. His wife Roxann Allen Kioko ‘04, MA ‘07 (conflict transformation) concluded her time as a professor in the business and leadership department and at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding this spring but plans to continue as an adjunct.
MARRIAGES
Hilary Short ‘14 to Austin Groff, Stryker, Ohio, Oct. 20, 2019.
Jon Bishop ‘17 to Jess Rheinheimer ‘16, Maytown, Pa., Nov. 3, 2019.
Derek Harnish ‘17 to Lydia Tissue ‘17, Mount Joy, Pa., Oct. 20, 2018.
Jaclyn Kratz ‘16 to Seth Detweiler, Souderton, Pa., Oct. 19, 2019.
Travis Smith ‘05 to Danielle Smith, Florham Park, N.J., Sept. 30, 2017.
BIRTHS & ADOPTIONS
Matt and Jackie Shock-Stewart MA (conflict transformation) ‘08, Beaver, Pa., Hazel Barbara, Oct. 20, 2019.
Jeremy ‘02 and Laura Schwartz Shue ‘02, Goshen, Ind., Benjamin J. Arthur, Sept. 4, 2019.
Crystal Campbell ‘95, Mt. Crawford, Va., Alysse Renee, Aug. 14, 2019.
Nathan ‘15 SEM ‘19 and Hannah Swartz Scarborough ‘14, Waynesboro, Va., Joy Adele, Nov. 15, 2019.
Ben ‘12 and Hannah Beachy Bailey ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., Myra June, Dec. 16, 2019.
Zachary ‘07 and Lauren Michel Hawke ‘08, Princess Anne, Md., Camden Michel, April 26, 2019.
Jessica Hostetler ‘08 and Justin Roth ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., Tobin Lynn, Dec. 15, 2019.
Aaron ‘09 and Maria Yoder Billings ‘10, Rockingham, Va., Patrick Lee, May 23, 2019.
Hampton and Audrey Berkshire Jackson ‘04, Midlothian, Va., Sarah, May 15, 2019.
Brad and Brenna Steury Graber ’07, Goshen, Ind., Margot Marie, May 23, 2019.
Justin and Sarah Beck Weirich ‘11, Auburn, Ind., Violet Marie, Aug. 23, 2019.
Michael ‘09 and Rachael Clemmer Charles ‘09, Lancaster, Pa., Louisa Sue, April 30, 2019.
Joel ‘06 and Stephanie Miller Lehman ‘06, Philadelphia, Pa., Eleanor Taylor, Nov. 18, 2019.
David ‘05 and Crystal Musser Rohrer ‘04, Harrisonburg, Va., Leah Juniper, Jan. 21, 2020.
Phil ‘10 and Pratiksha Pathak Tyson ‘10 MSN ‘17, Rockingham, Va., Evan Daniel, Oct. 26, 2019.
Marissa and Dustin Galyon ‘06, Sterling, Kan., Savannah Grace, Nov. 1, 2019.
Michael ‘12, MA (counseling) ‘14 (program director, MA in Counseling) and Simone Sommers Horst ‘12 (special collections librarian), Harrisonburg, Va., Hugo Arthur, March 17, 2020.
Michael ‘05 and Lindsay Kisamore Horst ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., Joshua Gabriel, April 19, 2019.
Ted and Amy Sauder Lehman ‘00, Davidsonville, Md., Raleigh Franklin Rhodes, Mar. 24, 2020.
Travis ‘05 and Danielle Smith, Annandale, N.J., Samantha Jade, July 18, 2019.
DEATHS
Nate Yoder, professor emeritus, Harrisonburg, Va., died April 3, 2020, at 64. Nate held degrees from University of Kentucky and Notre Dame and was an accomplished scholar. He served at EMU for more than 20 years as both a professor of church history and university archivist, and also pastored at local churches. He was married to Mim Miller Yoder ‘08.
Byard “Doc” Deputy, Harrisonburg, Va., died Nov. 19, 2019, at 90. He practiced dentistry in Dayton and at the University of Virginia, where he became a professor emeritus. He was a staunch supporter of EMU athletics and the university. He was married to Betty Kurtz Deputy ‘48.
John Horst ‘43, Kinzers, Pa., died Nov. 20, 2019, at 96. John taught science at Ephrata High School, then biology and science education at Millersville University, where he became professor emeritus. He loved to travel and meet people of many cultures. He and his wife spent six months on a sabbatical, visiting universities all around the world.
Janet Weaver Yoder ‘46, Goshen, Ind., died Jan. 2, 2020, at 93. She worked with her husband in various ventures. Janet loved local and church history, hearing and telling stories, and following weather.
Paul Yoder ‘50, SEM ‘92, Harrisonburg, Va., died Oct. 16, 2019, at 91. He was married to Daisy Byler Yoder ‘52. He earned an MD degree in 1955 and MPH degree in 1972. They served under the Eastern Board of Missions
& Charities in Ethiopia for 21 years. He later served as bishop of the Harrisonburg District of Virginia Mennonite Conference; bishop/ overseer for the Potomac District from 1983-99; and as a Mileposts compiler for EMU.
Grace Derstine Brunner ‘51, Hesston, Kan., died Dec. 11, 2019, at 89. She was a member of the Hesston Mennonite Church. Grace and her husband, Paul, ministered for many churches over the years.
Roy Kreider ‘51, Broadway, Va., died Oct. 29, 2019, at 94. He was married to the late Florence Cressman Kreider ‘52, who died on Nov. 11, 2016, at 87. They were commissioned to Israel, where they lived with their family for 32 years. Among other involvements, Roy managed two Christian bookstores, coordinated Bible Lands Seminars, co-pastored a congregation in Jaffa, and authored and co-edited several books. In 1985, they returned to the Valley, where they served Cornerstone Churches in the development of counseling ministries.
John “J.R.” Burkholder ‘53, Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 20, 2019, at 91. He was married to Susan Herr Burkholder ‘53. After earning a PhD at Harvard, J.R. taught for 22 years at Goshen College, followed by teaching at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, the Latin American Biblical Seminary in Costa Rica, and the University of South Africa. An influential ethicist, he also taught peace and conflict studies, church history, and theology. He and Sue were involved with many peace and justice initiatives.
Janet H Kreider ‘53, Lititz, Pa., died Jan. 28, 2020, at 91. For over 37 years Janet worked for Eastern Mennonite Missions, retiring as editor of Missionary Messenger. At East Petersburg Mennonite Church, she served as a librarian, Sunday school teacher, and song leader. Janet’s passions were writing poetry, playing and listening to music.
Luke L. Horst ‘54, Lititz, Pa., died Jan. 29, 2020, at 97. Luke served for 26 years as a pastor at Fairview Mennonite Church. In 1969 he was ordained as a bishop in the Bowmansville- Reading District. He was a 30-year board member of The Sword and Trumpet. He was married to the late Ruth King Horst ‘45.
Elmer Miller ‘54, SEM ‘56, Philadelphia, Pa., died Dec 6, 2019, at 88. From 1958-63, he and his wife, Anna Lois Longenecker, worked with indigenous people to translate the Bible.
Ezra Peachey ‘54, SEM ‘56, Belleville, Pa., died July 19, 2019, at 93. Ezra and his wife served as missionaries for 45 years around Red Lake, Ontario, Canada.
George Hostetler ‘55, Rocky Ford, Colo., died July 23, 2019, at 91. George practiced medicine in Kansas and Colorado. After retiring at age 69, he taught science and math at Holly Grove Christian School. He was an elder at Rocky Ford Mennonite Church.
Grace Martin ‘55, Orville, Ohio, died March 15, 2020, at 91. She was a music teacher and spent 22 years with the Cleveland Orchestra Choir. She enjoyed volunteering for many charities, including many years with the Aultman Orrville (Dunlap Memorial) Hospital Auxiliary.
Luke Hurst ‘56, Harrisonburg, Va., died Nov. 29, 2019, at 86. He was married to the late Pearl Mast Hurst ‘60. Luke practiced dentistry in Penn Laird for 36 years. He also founded Hurst Bros. Painters and did short- term medical mission work in the Dominican Republic and with indigenous tribes in the Peruvian Amazon basin. All his children, as well as seven of his grandchildren, are EMU alumni.
John Miller ‘57, Lancaster, Pa., died Dec. 26, 2019, at 88. He did church planting and development work in Mexico and was a missiology professor at Oral Roberts University. John also taught at Meserete Kristos College near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was married to Doris Ehst Miller who attended EMC from 1965-67.
Elizabeth Nolt Kratz ‘59, Souderton, Pa., died Feb. 15, 2020, at 82. She was married to Vernon Kratz ‘57. Elizabeth taught home economics at Lancaster Mennonite School, and served under Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions with Vernon in Ethiopia and Somalia. .
Miller Stayrook ‘60, Hesston, Kan., died Jan. 21, 2020, at 90. He was a teacher, missionary, social worker, professor, Sunday school teacher, and youth choir director in the U.S. and internationally. He assisted in establishing the Edison Center.
Melvin Glick ‘61, Wakarusa, Ind., died Aug. 26. 2019, at 79. Melvin was an Indiana University professor of biochemistry at IU Hospitals for 32 years. Melvin loved traveling with his wife, going to auctions, being outside, landscaping with rocks, watching sunsets and, most of all, spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Hilda Stolktzfus Kurtz ‘61, Goshen, Ind., died Oct. 26, 2019, at 83. Her childhood on the farm instilled a life-long love of gardening and animals. She worked in Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, and Kenya before settling in Elkhart, where she was an active member of Belmont Mennonite Church.
Anna Showalter ‘61, Harrisonburg, Va., died Dec. 11, 2019, at 92. She was a registered dietitian and employed by EMU and VMRC. She was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church.
Dorothy Jantzi Albrecht ‘62, Vassar, Mich., died Oct. 27, 2019, at 75. She worked in the family auction business and taught Sunday and Bible school at Pineview Mennonite Church. Dorothy was inducted into the Ladies Auxiliary Hall of Fame of both the Michigan State and National Auctioneers Associations. She was a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow.
Virginia Glass Schlabach ‘62, South Royalton, Vt., died Nov. 11, 2019, at 79. She served many years on the EMU board of trustees. She was an English teacher in Pennsylvania, an editor, and a writer. She and her husband Abner spent three years in voluntary service in England. Virginia was active in Delectable Mountain Quilters, and a member of Taftsville Chapel.
Virginia Ann Shenk ‘62, Harrisonburg, Va., died Dec. 17, 2019, at 81. Virginia worked in libraries at Atlantic Christian College in North Carolina, Bridgewater College, and Mary Baldwin College. She often rode her horse through Park View and the country roads west of Harrisonburg. She volunteered with an animal shelter, a horse therapy program for disabled children, and Meals on Wheels.
Frances Murphy ‘64, Newport News, Va., died March 23, 2020, at 78. Frances was a mother and homemaker, and the neighborhood nurse adviser. She was always involved in church outreach, and is famous in certain circles for her homemade bread, apple cake, taco salad, cinnamon rolls and any kind of cookie.
Arthur Nwankwo ‘66, Enugu, Nigeria, died Feb. 1, 2020, at 78. He was one of Nigeria’s foremost authors, publishers, historians and political commentators. Arthur was convicted of sedition in 1982 and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour for “seditious” writings. This case is now a locus classicus in Nigeria’s legal and judicial system.
William “Bill” Richard Fisher ‘81, Waynesboro, Va., died April 16, 2020, at 73. After attending Candler School of Theology at Emory University, he pastored 13 appointments with the United Methodist Church in his 40-year career, serving across Virginia and Georgia.
Richard Showalter ‘68, Irwin, Ohio, died Dec. 15, 2019, at 74. Richard taught at EMU and Rosedale Bible College. He helped found a number of Mennonite churches; served overseas in Kenya, Turkey, and North Cyprus; and was the president of Rosedale Bible College and then Eastern Mennonite Missions.
H. James Dobbs III ‘69, Newark, Del., died Dec. 30, 2019, at 73. Jim taught middle school history before becoming an entrepreneur in the machine tool industry, from which he retired.
Miriam “Mim” Showalter Wenger ‘71, Waynesboro, Va., died March 3, 2020, at 71. She was married to David Wenger ‘71. Mim worked in nursing until she retired in 2014 from Augusta Health in Fishersville. Mim and Dave raised 30 acres of grapes on their family farm. She served on many committees and enjoyed leading hymns, playing church league softball, being with her family, and studying theology and Mennonite Church history.
Julianna Bontrager Bender ‘72, Goshen, Ind., died Feb. 13, 2020, at 71. She and her husband Philip did missions work in Ghana, China, and at EMU. Her justice work included reintegrating sex offenders into society and advocating for prison inmates. Julie will be remembered for her warm and vibrant spirit, her delight in homemaking, her strong faith, and her heart for those on the margins of society.
Paul Leaman ‘72, Reinholds, Pa., died Nov. 22, 2019, at 87. A self-employed carpenter, Mennonite pastor and long-term care administrator, Paul was CEO of the Mennonite Home, Lancaster from 1976-97. Paul served at the Oakwood Mennonite Church in Maryland and also Poarch Community Church in Alabama, and was later a member of the Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola.
Timothy Brenneman ‘73, Harrisonburg, Va., died Feb. 25, 2020, at 68. He taught chemistry and physics at Eastern Mennonite High School, as well as three years teaching with Mennonite Central Committee in Tanzania. He was a member of Harrisonburg Mennonite Church.
Steven Hostetler ‘73, Muscatine, Iowa, died Feb. 9, 2020, at 71. He was a school psychologist for the Mississippi Bend AEA in Iowa, served Mennonite Central Committee in Mexico, and was a longtime member of First Mennonite Church of Iowa City.
Clarence “Chuck” Davis ‘77, SEM ‘80, Winchester, Va., died Jan. 1, 2020, at 71. Chuck was a barber in Marlinton for 16 years prior to earning his seminary degree. He was a pastor with the Pocahontas Congregation of the Church of the Brethren in West Virginia and with Calvary Church of the Brethren in Winchester.
Stephen Leaman ‘79, Harrisonburg, Va., died April 5, 2020, at 62. He was a teacher, coach and principal before becoming director of advancement for Virginia Mennonite Missions.
Anne Rochelle Sensenig ‘82, died April 26, 2020, at age 59. She was a paralegal in New Mexico in immigration law and as a librarian, and then in Lancaster with an employment law firm. She was active with different choruses and “conjuntos.” She and husband Daniel were involved with Community Mennonite Church as well as environmental concerns.
Mark Landis SEM ‘85, Harrisonburg, Va., died Dec. 12, 2019, at 84. Mark was an electrician by trade but his passion was serving the Lord. He established Efficiency Electric Inc. with his wife, Elizabeth, while also pastoring at Hickory Mennonite Church. He later pastored at Asheville Mennonite Church and Grace Mennonite Fellowship.
Ida Poole SEM ‘86, Sarasota, Fla., died Jan. 1, 2020, at 100. She and her husband, Arnold, served four churches spanning 40 years and continued in retirement to preach and teach in the Sarasota area.
Jeanette Mummau Nyakyema ‘96, Mwanza, Tanzania, died March 3, 2020, at 78. She held various accounting positions in Pennsylvania before serving as a missionary to Tanzania with Eastern Mennonite Missions from 1980-2019. There, she assisted with malaria research, planted Mennonite churches, helped with her husband’s pastoral ministry, and worked with children.
Jonathan Hofstetter ‘99, SEM ‘02, Lancaster, Pa., died Feb. 24, 2020, at 43. He was married to Danielle Miller Hofstetter ‘99. He was an accomplished attorney and a partner with Blakinger Thomas, P.C. Jonathan was an active member of Mellinger Mennonite Church and served as the chair of Everence Financial Credit Union board of directors.
Roger Foster MA (conflict transformation) ‘12, SEM ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., died Jan. 23, 2020, at 70. At EMU, Roger worked with graduates in Myanmar, taught the Program Evaluation course taken by both undergraduate and graduate students, and helped establish the Inside Out Playback Theater group.
CORRECTIONS (from the fall/winter 2019 issue)
Ariel Barbosa ’20 was incorrectly referred to as a pre-med student in our “Lead Together” feature materials. She is majoring in Bible and sociology.
Tobin Miller Shearer was correctly identified as a professor at the University of Montana in Missoula, but incorrectly listed as living 100 miles away in Helena, which as he pointed out in a gracious email, would be a long commute.
Degree Key
CLASS OF – attended as part of the class of a given graduation year
GC – graduate certificate
MA – master of arts
MS – master of science
MDiv – master of divinity
Entries about alumni with both their under- graduate and graduate degrees from EMU are listed in the undergraduate section.
Have an update? Visit emu.edu/alumni/update.
Editorial Policy
Milepost entries are printed on the basis of submissions from alumni or on the basis of publicly available information. We do not verify the accuracy of information that alumni provide, nor do we make judgment calls on the information that they wish to be published, beyond editing for clarity, conciseness and consistency of style. The information provided to us does not necessarily reflect the official policies of EMU or of its parent church, Mennonite Church USA.
