Hall of Honor: Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ’16

This is the third of four profiles about the 2026 inductees of the EMU Athletic Hall of Honor. For more information about the Hall of Honor and a full list of inductees, visit emuroyals.com/honors/hall-of-honor.

Jess Rheinheimer Bishop ’16 chose EMU because of its people. The Manheim, Pennsylvania, native appreciated head women’s basketball coach Kevin Griffin’s persistence in recruiting her, but it was EMU’s diverse community that ultimately set it apart.

“I wanted something a little different,” she said. “I appreciated all the different backgrounds and the people I knew I was going to be playing with.”

A nursing major, Bishop became one of the most decorated women’s basketball players in program history. She helped lead the Royals to an 84-26 record and two ODAC Tournament championship game appearances during her four-year career.

After earning All-ODAC Second Team honors as a sophomore, Bishop exploded onto the national stage in 2014-15. She was named ODAC Player of the Year, VaSID State Player of the Year, a D3hoops.com First Team All-American, and the recipient of the Jostens Trophy, awarded annually to the top NCAA Division III basketball player for excellence in athletics, academics, and community service. She also earned Co-EMU Female Athlete of the Year honors.

As a senior, Bishop repeated as ODAC Player of the Year, was named D3hoops.com South Region Player of the Year, and earned another D3hoops.com All-American selection. She also received the Co-EMU Female Athlete of the Year and Co-EMU Female President’s Award. She finished her career with 1,567 points, the third-most in program history.

Today, Bishop has spent a decade as an oncology nurse at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. She credits Coach Griffin with teaching her that effective leadership requires more than setting an example.

“Not just leading by example, but offering encouraging words … and being a mentor.”

She and her husband, Jonny ’17, have two children, Turner and Aven.

Bishop will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.