Left to right: Hongtao Li, Holly Rusher, Lacey Johnson, Jacob Cook, Nang Raw, Benjamin Guerrero, and Patricia Lehman. (Photo by Macson McGuigan)

EMU welcomes new faculty for 2023-24 school year

Eastern Mennonite University welcomes 13 new faculty members for the 2023-24 school year, as announced by Tynisha Willingham, provost, and deans Daniel Ott, School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts; Tara Kishbaugh, School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing; and David Brubaker, School of Social Sciences and Professions.

Tenure

School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts

Ben Guerrero, assistant professor of music. BM, Berklee College of Music; MM, New York University; PhD, Eastman School of Music.

School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing

Shravan Akula, instructor of engineering. BE, JNTU; MS, University of South Alabama; PhD (ABD), University of North Dakota.

Kathryn Howard, instructor of psychology. BA, James Madison University; MA, Wake Forest University; PhD (ABD), University of Illinois Chicago.

Hongtao Li, assistant professor of biology. MD, Tongji Medical College; PhD, Indiana State University.

Non-tenure

School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts

Jacob Cook, visiting assistant professor, seminary grant program director. BA, Friends University; MDiv, Mercer University; PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary. Started in January 2023.

Patricia Lehman, professor of communication. BA, Eastern Mennonite University; MA, Georgetown University; PhD, California Institute of Integral Studies.

School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing

Brandon Cunningham, clinical assistant professor of nursing. BSN, MSN, FNP, James Madison University.

Monica Heck, assistant professor of nursing. BSN, Eastern Mennonite University; MSN, University of Virginia; DNP, Frontier Nursing University. Started in January 2023.

Holly Herr Stravers, clinical assistant professor of nursing. BA, Eastern Mennonite University; MSN, NP, The University of Texas at Austin.

Lacey Johnson, instructor of mathematics. BA, Bridgewater College; MEd in piano performance & MEd in mathematics, James Madison University.

Samantha Johnston, instructor of nursing. MSN, Western Governor’s University. ​Started in January 2023.

School of Social Sciences and Professions

Joe Cole, associate professor of restorative justice. BS, Pennsylvania State University; PhD, Duke University.

Holly Rusher, assistant professor of education. BS, MEd, James Madison University; MEd, EdD, Shenandoah University.

Nang Raw, visiting practitioner-in-residence. BAS, Yezin Institute of Agriculture; MA in public administration, Yangon Institute of Economics; MA in international development policy, Duke University; graduate certificate in international peace and conflict studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.