EMU honors retirees and employees for milestones of service

Their combined service to EMU spans more than 4½ centuries

EMU honored this year’s retirees and employees who have reached milestone years of service at its annual recognition luncheon on Tuesday, May 13, in the Northlawn Dining Hall. Together, the combined years of service from the five retirees and 28 employees totals 451 years, remarked Amy Springer Hartsell, executive advisor to the president, in a welcome at the ceremony.

The retiring employees honored with tributes at Tuesday’s ceremony were: Bonnie Bowser, circulation & office manager for the Sadie Hartzler Library (34 years of service); Roger Mast, associate professor of physical education (34 years); Jerry Holsopple, professor of visual & communication arts (26 years); Phil Martin, construction management and facility planner (12 years); and Susan Schultz Huxman, president of EMU (nine years). 

Louise Otto Hostetter ’79, member of the EMU Board of Trustees, offered heartfelt words of appreciation to celebrate Huxman’s “remarkable tenure.” “Despite being an often-overused phrase, today truly marks the end of an era, one defined by extraordinary leadership, deep faith, and tireless commitment. Susan has served as president of Eastern Mennonite University for nine years and, in that time, she has led this institution through some of the most challenging headwinds of higher education,” Hostetter said, noting Huxman’s steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of intense financial strain across the industry.

“To Susan, the presidency was never just a job, it was a calling” she added. “She felt every success and every disappointment deeply. And in every decision, every challenge, and every opportunity, she sought to walk humbly, love mercy, and act justly.”

The following employees celebrated milestone years of service to EMU:

Jenni Piper reached 30 years.

Steve Cessna and Doug Graber Neufeld reached 25 years.

Katie Derstine, Steven Johnson, and Kirk Shisler reached 20 years.

Linda Martin Burkholder, Laura Daily, Cheree Hammond, Dolores Hertzler, and Suzy Hostetler reached 15 years.

Carrie Bert, Scott Eyre, Emily North, Adam Posey, Daniel Showalter, Anna Westfall, and Laurie Yoder reached 10 years.

Gail Arthur, Mary Davis, Kyle Dickinson, Stephanie Landis, Luke Litwiller (6 years), Kris Long, Macson McGuigan, Michael Shelley, Casey Steinbrecher, and Stephanie Whitson reached five years.

The luncheon was a highlight of the Spring 2025 Faculty & Staff Conference, which provided a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the close of the academic year together. View the full program of the conference here.

Thanks to Pioneer College Caterers for their services, to the expert planning team of Amy Springer Hartsell and Sara Wittig, and to the many tribute writers who took the time to honor their colleagues.