{"id":59025,"date":"2025-05-14T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=59025"},"modified":"2025-05-14T12:33:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T16:33:27","slug":"emu-honors-retirees-and-employees-for-milestones-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2025\/emu-honors-retirees-and-employees-for-milestones-of-service\/","title":{"rendered":"EMU honors retirees and employees for milestones of service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Their combined service to EMU spans more than 4\u00bd centuries<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

EMU honored this year\u2019s 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, <\/strong>executive advisor to the president, in a welcome at the ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Bonnie Bowser, Roger Mast, Jerry Holsopple, Phil Martin, and Susan Schultz Huxman<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The retiring employees honored with tributes at Tuesday\u2019s ceremony were: Bonnie Bowser, <\/strong>circulation & office manager for the Sadie Hartzler Library (34 years of service); Roger Mast, <\/strong>associate professor of physical education (34 years); Jerry Holsopple, <\/strong>professor of visual & communication arts (26 years); Phil Martin, <\/strong>construction management and facility planner (12 years); and Susan Schultz Huxman, <\/strong>president of EMU (nine years). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louise Otto Hostetter \u201979, <\/strong>member of the EMU Board of Trustees, offered heartfelt words of appreciation to celebrate Huxman\u2019s \u201cremarkable tenure.\u201d \u201cDespite 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,\u201d Hostetter said, noting Huxman\u2019s steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of intense financial strain across the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo Susan, the presidency was never just a job, it was a calling\u201d she added. \u201cShe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following employees celebrated milestone years of service to EMU:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n
\n
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Jenni Piper<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jenni Piper<\/strong> reached 30 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Steve Cessna and Doug Graber Neufeld<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Steve Cessna<\/strong> and Doug Graber Neufeld<\/strong> reached 25 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Steven Johnson, Katie Derstine, and Kirk Shisler<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Katie Derstine, Steven Johnson, <\/strong>and Kirk Shisler<\/strong> reached 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Laura Daily, Linda Martin Burkholder, and Suzy Hostetler<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Linda Martin Burkholder, Laura Daily, Cheree Hammond, Dolores Hertzler, <\/strong>and Suzy Hostetler <\/strong>reached 15 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Laurie Yoder, Emily North, Anna Westfall, Carrie Bert, and Daniel Showalter<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Carrie Bert, Scott Eyre, Emily North, Adam Posey, Daniel Showalter, Anna Westfall, <\/strong>and Laurie Yoder <\/strong>reached 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Left to right: Macson McGuigan, Mary Davis, Stephanie Landis, Kris Long, Gail Arthur, Luke Litwiller, and Stephanie Whitson<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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

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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Their combined service to EMU spans more than 4\u00bd centuries EMU honored this year\u2019s retirees and employees who have reached milestone years of service at its annual recognition luncheon on ... read more about EMU honors retirees and employees for milestones of service<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":302,"featured_media":59026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5583,5861,17562,5642],"tags":[18460,5919,18461,18458,18459],"feature":[17427,17426,17241,17422],"class_list":["post-59025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community","category-conferences-and-events","category-digest","category-faculty-and-staff","tag-employee-recognition-luncheon","tag-faculty","tag-retirees","tag-staff","tag-years-of-service","feature-emu-home-page-feature","feature-myemu-feature","feature-news-feature","feature-news-landing-page-main-feature"],"yoast_head":"\nEMU honors retirees and employees for milestones of service - 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