EMU Board of Trustees

Manuel Nuñez ’94 (Collegeville, Pennsylvania)

Manuel (Manny) A. Nuñez is the EMU Board of Trustees chair. As the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs at the Villanova School of Business, Manny oversees the MBA and specialty masters programs, as well as enrollment and career strategy services. He also serves as Professor of Practice in the Management & Operations department, and Faculty Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Prior to academia, Manny spent sixteen years in the private sector with Merck & Co. and six years in the public sector with the Inter-American Foundation, a federal agency. He received an MBA from the Villanova School of Business and completed his post-bac at the University of Pennsylvania. Manny and his wife Kristie have two young children and attend Frazer Mennonite Church.

Jake Bell (Harrisonburg, Virginia)  

Jake Bell serves as president and CEO of Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg. As a seasoned executive leader with more than 20 years of experience in faith-based senior living, his expertise is in leading strategic change, preserving organizational missions, and expanding service offerings. Prior to VMRC, Bell served as president and CEO of Christian Horizons, a faith-based senior living organization with eleven locations across four states. He also served as chief operating officer for Lutheran Senior Services and as president and CEO of Catholic Health East Trinity Health. Jake holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in zoology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Oklahoma State University, respectively. He also earned a MS in administration of long-term care and retirement facilities from the University of North Texas.

Gloria Diener ’76 (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Gloria Y. Diener has been an English teacher at Eastern Mennonite School in Harrisonburg, Va., and Country Day School in Escazú, Costa Rica. She holds a BA in English education from EMU, a MA in English from James Madison University and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Eastern Mennonite Seminary.  She and husband V. Eugene Diener ‘68 have two adult children. They are active members of Park View Mennonite Church, where Gloria has served as worship leader, chair of the elders, Sunday School teacher for children and adults, and a mentor. She has been a member of the Faith & Life Commission of the Virginia Mennonite Conference.

James Diller (Poolesville, Maryland)

James Diller is a strategic advisor to investors, corporate and nonprofit boards, senior executives, and entrepreneurs. His 30-year career spans corporate finance, governance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, and workouts; it includes 12 years at a Fortune 500 company where he led corporate financial strategy teams and navigation of the global financial crisis. Diller founded Long View Capital Advisors, LLC in 2020. His professional career began at an international economic development consulting firm where he provided financial guidance and managerial support to agri-business development projects in Africa and Asia. Diller also served with Eastern Mennonite Missions in France, Sweden, and Hong Kong. He grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, attending Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, Diller is a graduate of American University and Hesston College. He is married to Jolene Houser ‘81.

Louise Otto Hostetter ’79 (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Louise Otto Hostetter was employed at Eastern Mennonite School as an intensive individualized instructor until 2012. She is a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, and currently serves on the RMH Foundation board, James Madison University College of Visual and Performing Arts executive advisory council and the Arts Council of the Valley board of directors. Louise has served as president of the EMU Alumni Council and as chairperson of the EMU Centennial steering committee. She and her husband Alden have three adult sons who graduated from EMU, John (married to Nicole Barbano), Jason (married to Brenna Beck) and Andrew. Louise is a member of Community Mennonite Church, and satisfies her curiosity about our world through travel, hiking, books and engaging with the broader Harrisonburg community.

Jess King ’96 (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)  

Jess King ’96 has spent her career as a leader and social entrepreneur in the civic sector. She serves as the founding executive director of the Steinman Institute for Civic Engagement, a Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting local journalism and boosting the community’s relationship with news media. Her prior experience includes serving as the chief of staff for the City of Lancaster; as executive director of ASSETS Lancaster, an organization that helps people achieve better lives through entrepreneurship; and leading economic development in Pittsburgh. King earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Eastern Mennonite University and an MBA from Bard College. She and her husband, Chad, have two daughters.

Mathew Koshy (San Mateo, California)

Mathew Koshy is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School (’74) and holds a PhD in applied mathematics (’83) from Stony Brook University with an emphasis in numerical analysis. He taught mathematics at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the California State University system for five years. Since then, he has worked as a research mathematician, computer scientist and engineer specializing in imaging, statistical signal processing, and semiconductor design and analysis at the University of California San Francisco and at several companies in California’s Bay Area. Koshy and his wife, Rebecca, live in San Mateo, California, and are active members of the Burlingame Presbyterian Church where he has served as a member of the Session and Board of Trustees. The couple has two adult sons, who live in California and Texas.

Beny Krisbianto, MDiv ’15 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)  

Beny Krisbianto is lead pastor of Nations Worship Center in South Philadelphia. He has co-chaired the Indonesian Diaspora Network for the past eight years. He is a member of the Constituency Leadership Council of Mennonite Church USA, on the board of directors for Mosaic Mennonite Conference, and on the board of trustees for Dock Mennonite Academy.

 

Stephen Kriss ’94 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Stephen Kriss is executive minister of Mosaic Mennonite Conference where he’s worked since 2005. He has pastored congregations in Somerset County, Pa., and Staten Island, N.Y. and taught in numerous academic institutions in areas of communication, ethics and practical theology. He attends Philadelphia Praise Center, a multiethnic Mennonite congregation. He holds an MDiv from Drew University and an MA and PhD from Duquesne University in rhetoric and communication. 

Janet Lind (Strasburg, Pennsylvania)   

Janet Lind works in information technology as director of integration services at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has held a number of positions in identity management, team management, project management, and systems analysis. Janet graduated from Goshen College with a bachelor’s degree in music and from Drexel University with a Master of Science in Information Studies. She is a charter member of Community Mennonite Church of Lancaster where she has held several leadership positions including chair of congregational council. Janet currently lives in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, with her family. While she has never been an EMU student, her son Isaac Esh ‘22, husband Calvin Esh MEd ‘05, parents, and numerous extended relatives are EMU graduates.

Gordon Meriwether ’14 (MA), ‘15 (MDiv) (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Gordon Meriwether serves as director of connectional ministries for the United Methodist Church as well as pastor of the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church. Before answering the call to ministry in 2012, he had a varied career in the US Navy, business, academia, and politics. Rev. Meriwether has taught undergraduate courses in leadership and business recovery, project management, and several graduate level business courses. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Fellow at the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership at the University of Virginia. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama and earned an MBA from George Washington University. He earned an MA in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University in 2014 and a Master of Divinity degree in 2015 from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. In 2002, after 9/11, he founded The Uriah Group. The company provided crisis leadership training to government and commercial organizations until 2012, when he closed the company to enter the ministry. Rev. Meriwether is married to the former Dana Smith of Churchville, Virginia. Together they are blessed by four daughters and five grandchildren.

Ral Obioha ’08 (Houston, Texas)

Ral Obioha is an immigration attorney and founder of the Law Office of Ral Obioha, PLLC, a Houston-based law firm. She represents clients seeking U.S. permanent residency and citizenship. She is also executive director of Civil Resource Development and Documentation Center, an NGO her parents founded in 1997, which works to protect and promote human rights, women’s rights, gender equality, and good governance in Nigeria and beyond. She also volunteers with multiple organizations, providing free legal services to low-income families, and is a guest lecturer at Yale University and Columbia University. In 2018, Obioha founded the “Vic & Oby Scholarship Fund,” named after her parents, to help other ambitious young immigrants attend college.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in psychology and history from EMU, Obioha was awarded a merit scholarship to Howard University School of Law. In addition to her Juris Doctorate, she holds a Master of Law degree in international human rights law from American University. In 2021, she was named both a Super Lawyers’ Texas Rising Star and EMU’s Outstanding Young Alum. She and her husband Grant have a daughter.

Jane Hoober Peifer ’74, MDiv ‘97 (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

Jane Hoober Peifer is a spiritual director and retreat leader. She was pastor of Community Mennonite Church, Harrisonburg, Va from 1989-99, and pastor of Blossom Hill Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa from 1999-2013. She also leads virtual day retreats for pastors and conference ministers as a part of Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Lily Grant-funded program to “help pastors thrive.”

Peifer served on the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board, Everence Federal Credit Union Board and the Tabor Community Services Board in Lancaster, Pa. She has held leadership positions in Virginia Mennonite and Atlantic Coast Conferences of Mennonite Church USA. Since 2015, she continues serving as a member of the Steering Committee for Mennonite Spiritual Director Network. 

Jane has authored five children’s books, all published by Menno Media. She lives in Harrisonburg with her husband Daryl and they attend Shalom Mennonite Congregation. She and Daryl have two children and five grandchildren.

James Rosenberger ’68 (State College, Pennsylvania)

Dr. James L. Rosenberger is professor of statistics at Penn State University. An alumnus also of Polytechnic University of New York, and Cornell University, his recent professional activities include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in statistics, research in design of experiments, and genomics, and providing overall leadership, development and oversight of the Penn State Department of Statistics online education programs. Jim and his wife Gloria are the parents of three adult children and are members of University Mennonite Church.

Susan Taylor (Louisville, Kentucky)   

Susan Taylor is a partner in Just Money Advisors, a financial planning and investment management firm that specializes in socially-responsible investment strategies and community development backing. She serves on the Mennonite Education Agency Investment Committee and also serves on the investment committee of Natural Investments, LLC.  Susan serves on the boards of other faith-based organizations. Her church, Jeff Street Baptist Community, is explicitly committed to peacebuilding and nonviolence; it is part of a local coalition of churches working for justice in Louisville and enjoys several Mennonite connections.

Prior to joining Just Money Advisors, Susan was an economist in Corporate Treasury for Bank of America. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has been married 35 years to Andy Loving, who is the founder and her partner at Just Money Advisors. They have two adult children.

Bruce Thomas ’85 (Telford, Pennsylvania)  

Bruce Thomas ’85 is a CPA and shareholder at the accounting firm Detweiler, Hershey & Associates in Souderton, Pennsylvania. He has extensive experience in tax and financial statement compliance, quality control, and business consulting, serving individuals, family-owned businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from EMU. He has held leadership and committee roles on several nonprofit boards, both church-related and community-based. He and his wife, Joy, are members of Blooming Glen Mennonite Church. They have two adult children, Ryan ’17 and Anika ’19.