“Communion in Chaos” — Jessamyn Tobin

& Chapel Gathering in the Seminary, Seminary.

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Jessamyn Tobin, ’16 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University where she studied Social Work, Pre-Law and Political Studies.

Artist Statement:

“I believe that we are profoundly connected to one another, to the universe around us, and to our Creator. My artwork has been a way for me to encounter light and unity in times of darkness and celebrate One who makes all things new. In my work, I seek to display that there is Holy Order in what appears to be chaos and give an expression of the Divine Essence that lives in all things, despite the brokenness of our world.”

Summer Cross-culturals – Lithuania and Myanmar

& Cross-Cultural Groups, Student Speakers, University Chapels.

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Hear brief reflections from the summer cross-cultural groups that spent time in Lithuania and Myanmar.

Opening Convocation: “Change, Hope and Promise”- Dr. Lee Snyder, Interim President

& Faculty/Staff Speakers, University Chapels.

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Interim President Dr. Lee Snyder addresses the campus community on Change, Hope and Promise. We will also be sending the Cross-Cultural seminar group to Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Turkey) ANDwelcoming new students to the campus community with the “Shenandoah Welcome” toward the close of the service.

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Dr. Lee Snyder brings a lifetime of service to Mennonite higher education to the interim role. From 1996 until retiring in 2006, Snyder served as the eighth president of Bluffton (Ohio) University.

Previously, she was vice president and academic dean for 12 years at EMU. Snyder, who holds a doctorate in American and Victorian literature from the University of Oregon, came to EMU in 1974. Until 1982, she taught part-time in the humanities and in English, and was an assistant in the dean’s office. She was named academic dean in 1984 and then assumed the responsibilities of vice president as well in 1987.

After retiring from Bluffton University, Snyder returned to EMU to serve as interim provost for the 2008-09 academic year.

Seminary Convocation: “After the boxes are packed” – Dr. Michael King

& Chapel Gathering in the Seminary, Faculty/Staff Speakers, Seminary.

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Fall Convocation 2016 “After the boxes are packed” Lamentations 3:1-26.

Dr. Michael A. King, Eastern Mennonite Seminary Dean

Theme: Clinging to the Lord’s steadfast love and mercies when nothing else seems available and even the assurances that our hope is in God seem insubstantial.

Service of Worship and Blessing – Homily by Celeste Thomas

& Faculty/Staff Speakers, University Chapels.

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Celeste Thomas, Student Advisor for Student Athletes and Multicultural Students, delivers the homily at the Orientation Service of Worship and Blessing.

2016 Matriculation Ceremony: “Dare to Risk Love” – Dr. Fred Kniss

& Faculty/Staff Speakers.

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Dr. Fred Kniss, Provost, delivers the address, “Dare to Risk Love” at the annual Matriculation Ceremony.

*Note: Because of equipment malfunction, the beginning of Dr. Kniss’s speech is cut out of the recording, so there is a jump from the scripture reading to the middle of Dr. Kniss’s address.

Faculty Staff Conference: “Embracing Diversity” – Dr. Christena Cleveland (Session II)

& Faculty/Staff Conference.

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Dr. Christena Cleveland addresses the EMU Faculty and Staff during the annual Faculty/Staff conference on the theme of “Embracing Diversity.” This is the second of two sessions presented by Dr. Cleveland.

2016 Faculty Staff Conference – Purpose Statement:

The 2016 EMU fall conference seeks to cultivate community among faculty and staff by welcoming new employees and providing space to reconnect with colleagues. We seek to energize ourselves for a new academic year through worship, storytelling, plenary and breakout sessions, conversation and fellowship. This year, the conference theme is informed by Goals 3 and 4 of the 2015-2020 EMU Strategic Plan, which are to recruit, develop, and retain diverse, effective faculty and staff. Our hope is that all who attend will acquire a greater understanding of diversity and the importance of embracing diversity in our work. This conference will identify tools to help us support each other and our students in achieving success as we move toward being the distinctive Christian university we aspire to be.

 

Faculty Staff Conference: “Embracing Diversity” – Dr. Christena Cleveland (Session I)

& Faculty/Staff Conference.

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Dr. Christena Cleveland addresses the EMU Faculty and Staff during the annual Faculty/Staff conference on the theme of “Embracing Diversity.” This is the first of two sessions presented by Dr. Cleveland.

2016 Faculty Staff Conference – Purpose Statement:

The 2016 EMU fall conference seeks to cultivate community among faculty and staff by welcoming new employees and providing space to reconnect with colleagues. We seek to energize ourselves for a new academic year through worship, storytelling, plenary and breakout sessions, conversation and fellowship. This year, the conference theme is informed by Goals 3 and 4 of the 2015-2020 EMU Strategic Plan, which are to recruit, develop, and retain diverse, effective faculty and staff. Our hope is that all who attend will acquire a greater understanding of diversity and the importance of embracing diversity in our work. This conference will identify tools to help us support each other and our students in achieving success as we move toward being the distinctive Christian university we aspire to be.

“A Genealogy of Ideas” –Catherine Barnes and Lisa Schirch

& Other Speaking Events.

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Catherine Barnes and Lisa Schirch first met as students at George Mason University’s Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. Their peacebuilding careers have since intersected in higher education and in the field. Part of their work has involved providing leadership and support for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), which in 2005 brought approximately 1,500 people from across the globe together and united civil society actors and their governments in an unprecedented way. In this podcast, Lisa and Catherine discuss their entry into the academic field of peacebuilding and some of their views on the development of civil society-focused peace initiatives. We recorded this conversation in April 2016 at Eastern Mennonite University as part of an e-journal series, A Genealogy of Ideas, written by Jayne Docherty and Mikhala Lantz-Simmons.

2016 Commencement

& 2016 Commencement, Commencement, Faculty/Staff Speakers, Student Speakers.

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EMU celebrates the University’s 98th Annual Commencement. Dr. Loren Swartzendruber offers the Commencement address.  Graduate perspectives are shared by Ruthie Beck, Londen Wheeler, Letitia Bates, and Elizabeth Girvan.