Patricia Grace King ’89, an author living in Durham, England, who taught in EMU's Language and Literature Department from 2000-03, is the winner of the 2026 Drue Heinz Literature Prize, "one of the world's most prestigious prizes for a collection of short fiction" (University of Pittsburgh Press). Her collection, Those Who Vanish, will be published in September 2026. ... read more about Alumna author wins literature prize from The University of Pittsburgh Press
Nadège Robertson, a Winston Fellowship recipient in EMU's Summer Peacebuilding Institute and the co-creator of Lakou Tanama, is the lead facilitator for faith-inclusive healing spaces that support the mental well-being of recent Haitian entrants living in the United States. The mental health initiative works in partnership with Church World Service. ... read more about SPI student facilitates healing for Haitians in crisis from Wajeeha Malik | The Fetzer Institute
A new play written by screenwriter Liz Beachy Hansen '99 and premiering at the Brethren & Mennonite Heritage Center this weekend tells the story of what it was like to live in the Shenandoah Valley on the eve of the Civil War. The hourlong "Rise Up and Follow" takes place this Saturday and Sunday, as well as next Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21, every 15 minutes from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ... read more about New play from EMU alumna highlights life in the Shenandoah Valley before the Civil War from Lori D’Angelo | Daily News-Record
Luray High School senior Reese Fitton, who will play collegiate volleyball for the Royals next year, was profiled by the Daily News-Record as its Athlete of the Week. "I love [EMU head] coach Casey [Steinbrecher]," she told the newspaper. "I think he’s such a great coach, and I’ve been to some of their recruiting camps. I just loved the way he coached, so it was almost just God’s calling pushing me there. I knew that’s really where [God] wanted me to be to grow my faith, grow as a player and in my education.” ... read more about Incoming volleyball star named Athlete of the Week from Cody Elliott | Daily News-Record
EMU's disc golf team hosted a tournament at Westover Park in Harrisonburg this past weekend. Along with EMU, teams from Liberty, Gallaudet, NC State, UNC, and Appalachian State competed at the tournament. ... read more about EMU disc golf team hosts tournament at Westover Park from Kira Fullington | WHSV-TV3
EMU's Power, Systems & Justice course (CORE 300) hosted a panel on the history of Harrisonburg's Northeast Neighborhood at the Student Union on Thursday evening. EMU History Professor Mark Sawin, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, City Councilwoman Monica Robinson, and Deputy City Manager Amy Snider served on the panel. ... read more about Panel talks history of urban renewal in Northeast Neighborhood from Ryan Hartnett | WHSV-TV3
Elizabeth Miller-Derstine, assistant professor of digital media, has brought a growing filmography and an increasing list of accolades to EMU. The VACA professor's debut film, Once Upon a Wetland, is eligible for Oscar consideration in the Short Documentary category. ... read more about In the News: Professor’s film is eligible for Oscar consideration from Shane Mettlen | Daily News-Record
The EMU Chamber Singers took part in a hymn sing celebrating 500 years of Anabaptism at Hyattsville Mennonite Church (Maryland) on Sept. 27. The event also included a monologue written and performed by Kimberly Schmidt, professor emerita of history at EMU. ... read more about Chamber Singers celebrate 500 years of Anabaptism at Md. hymn sing from Kyla Hanington | Anabaptist World
David Landis ’04 appeared as a guest on an episode of The Holler: A Visit Mountaineer Country Podcast. Known for his work in creating the 40-mile Jesus Trail hiking route through Galilee, Israel, as well as the 550-mile TransVirginia Bike Route in Virginia, the EMU grad is the driving force behind Mountaineer Gravel, a regional project that connects cyclists to the backroads, trails, and small towns that make North Central West Virginia a unique place to explore. ... read more about Cycling alum talks gravel biking on ‘Mountaineer Country’ podcast from Visit Mountaineer Country
Ishtiaq Khan MA '24 (conflict transformation), a refugee resettlement caseworker and restorative justice practitioner for The Refugee Center in Champaign, Illinois, received the Immigrant Leadership Award from the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum on Sept. 20. Through his work, "Khan focuses on helping people from war-affected and conflict zones like Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq, be it organizing children's education, finding jobs or honing in on health," states an article in The News-Gazette. ... read more about CJP alum honored with Immigrant Leadership Award from The News-Gazette