Three new trustees, Jake Bell, Jess King ’96, and Bruce Thomas ’85, began their terms on July 1, 2025.
Jake Bell serves as president and CEO of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg. As a seasoned executive leader with more than 20 years of experience in faith-based senior living, his expertise is in leading strategic change, preserving organizational missions, and expanding service offerings.
Prior to VMRC, Bell served as president and CEO of Christian Horizons, a faith-based senior living organization with eleven locations across four states. He also served as chief operating officer for Lutheran Senior Services and as president and CEO of Catholic Health East Trinity Health.
Jake holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University, respectively. He also earned an MS in administration of long-term care and retirement facilities from the University of North Texas.
Jess King ’96 has spent her career as a leader and social entrepreneur in the civic sector. She serves as the founding executive director of the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting local journalism and boosting the community’s relationship with news media.
Her prior experience includes serving as the chief of staff for the City of Lancaster; as executive director of ASSETS Lancaster, an organization that helps people achieve better lives through entrepreneurship; and leading economic development in Pittsburgh.
King earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Eastern Mennonite University and an MBA from Bard College. She and her husband, Chad, have two daughters.
Bruce Thomas ’85 is a CPA and shareholder at the accounting firm Detweiler, Hershey & Associates in Souderton, Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience in tax and financial statement compliance, quality control, and business consulting, serving individuals, family-owned businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from EMU. He has held leadership and committee roles on several nonprofit boards, both church-related and community-based.
He and his wife, Joy, are members of Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. They have two adult children, Ryan ’17 and Anika ’19.
A list of all board members is located at the President’s Office webpage.
I am happy to see that Jake Bell has been added to the board. We need good connection between VMRC and EMU.
I just read the bios of all the board members posted on EMU’s President’s Office webpage. What an impressive group–well balanced, too, in terms of gender, backgrounds, professional skills, and other forms of diversity! Good for EMU!!!