{"id":42250,"date":"2019-05-16T11:35:06","date_gmt":"2019-05-16T15:35:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=42250"},"modified":"2019-05-17T07:55:01","modified_gmt":"2019-05-17T11:55:01","slug":"mutual-impact-wonderful-and-wise-deirdre-longacher-smeltzer-was-changed-by-and-changed-emu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2019\/mutual-impact-wonderful-and-wise-deirdre-longacher-smeltzer-was-changed-by-and-changed-emu\/","title":{"rendered":"Mutual impact: \u2018Wonderful and wise\u2019 Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer was changed by \u2013 and changed \u2013 EMU"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the recent LovEMU Day festivities, outgoing vice president and undergraduate academic dean <\/span>Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer<\/b><\/a> chose a t-shirt that said, \u201cEMU changed my life\u201d \u2013 because it\u2019s \u201cdefinitely true,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dean Deirdre Smeltzer speaks at an EMU matriculation ceremony in 2016.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was, after all, while she was an undergraduate student at Eastern Mennonite University that she met her husband, went on cross-cultural to China, and committed herself to following Jesus \u2013 \u201call of which have been tremendously life-changing,\u201d she said. <\/span><\/p>\n

But those were only her first of many years on campus, and during her additional two decades here, which come to a close when she steps down on July 1, she has also had a positive impact on EMU. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 1998, after earning a master\u2019s degree and PhD at the University of Virginia and teaching for four years at the University of St. Thomas, Smeltzer returned to EMU to serve as a faculty member and administrator. She has held her current academic dean\u2019s position since 2013.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDeirdre has been an incredibly capable and effective dean,\u201d said vice president for enrollment <\/span>Jim Smucker<\/b>. \u201cShe has managed a very large portfolio for EMU with integrity and boundless energy. She brought a sharp intellect, a positive outlook on life, deep personal integrity, and a strong commitment to serve the mission of EMU. She has the unique gift of being a strategist as well as an implementer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Smeltzer has overseen the launch of new psychology and counseling bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degree tracks and majors and minors such as engineering, political science, global studies and marketing, plus a new sociology program in collaboration with Goshen College. She introduced a new daily class schedule, supported faculty professional development, co-led a cross-cultural to China \u2013 and much more. <\/span><\/p>\n

She also played a central role in helping to architect a new, soon-to-be-implemented academic structure, said Provost <\/span>Fred Kniss<\/b>. \u201cI am deeply grateful that Deirdre remained in her role longer than she had originally planned in order to facilitate a smooth transition to the new structure,\u201d he said. \u201cDeirdre has been a wonderful and wise colleague, and we will miss her thoughtful presence next year as we begin realizing what she helped to envision.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Dean Deidre Smeltzer with visiting scholar Syafaatun Almirzanah at a welcome reception.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Her six years as dean taught Smeltzer \u201ca lot about relying on God,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was very obvious to me that this role, in particular, was too big for me \u2013 so I had no choice but to lean on God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Prior to assuming the role of dean, she taught approximately two dozen different courses, co-led a summer research experience for undergraduates at the University of Richmond, served on numerous committees, and was the mathematical sciences department chair 2006-12 and the director of cross-cultural programs 2012-13.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s hard to imagine a place where I could have better people to work with,\u201d Smeltzer said. \u201cThey served as role models, supportive friends and creative collaborators.\u201d Her various leadership roles each \u201cdeveloped new skills and built my confidence, sometimes through the experience of learning that I could fail and move on,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smeltzer had an \u201cultra-high sense of responsibility,\u201d said Professor <\/span>Owen Byer<\/b>, with whom Smeltzer co-authored three articles and two mathematics textbooks, <\/span>Journey into Discrete Mathematics<\/span><\/i><\/a> (Mathematical Association of America Press, 2018) and <\/span>Methods for Euclidean Geometry<\/span><\/i> (MAA, 2010). <\/span><\/p>\n

Her work ethic and logical mind, too, made her an effective administrator, he said: \u201cShe has a rare combination of being an excellent strategic thinker but also being organized and good with details. She also highly valued participatory decision-making, rarely making important decisions without seeking input from others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Good wishes to Deirdre are welcome in the comments box below. Each message will be shared with her.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For the recent LovEMU Day festivities, outgoing vice president and undergraduate academic dean Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer chose a t-shirt that said, \u201cEMU changed my life\u201d \u2013 because it\u2019s \u201cdefinitely true,\u201d ... read more about Mutual impact: \u2018Wonderful and wise\u2019 Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer was changed by \u2013 and changed \u2013 EMU<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[266,17562,5730],"tags":[],"feature":[17427,17426,17241],"class_list":["post-42250","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-digest","category-undergraduate-programs","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nMutual impact: \u2018Wonderful and wise\u2019 Deirdre Longacher Smeltzer was changed by \u2013 and changed \u2013 EMU - 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