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.

Diann Bailey (Granby, Connecticut)

The Reverend Diann Bailey serves as associate minister at First Church of Christ (United Church of Christ) in Suffield, Connecticut. Before entering ministry, Diann was a nurse specializing in pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplantation, and a physician liaison. She earned a cooperative Master of Divinity degree from Hartford Seminary and Andover Newton Theological School. Diann is married to Todd, a marvelous cook and a partner in hiking and cycling. Their two sons, Benjamin and Nathaniel, are both graduates of EMU.

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 members of Park View Mennonite Church, where Gloria has been a 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.

Liza Heavener ’07 (Doylestown, Pennsylvania)  

Liza Heavener has wide-ranging experience working nearly ten years in federal politics, grassroots and campaign strategy and with the United States Congress. Liza currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at NEXUS Global. She works to unite young investors and social entrepreneurs to catalyze new leadership to accelerate global solutions. She was also a founding member of an organization dedicated to stopping deforestation in Borneo, Indonesia and assisted in building an orangutan rehabilitation center in the rainforests of Borneo.

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.

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.

Margie Mejia-Caraballo '84 (Rock Island, Illinois)  

Margie Mejia Caraballo is an associate pastor at Templo Alabanza Spanish Mennonite Church and a claims representative at the Social Security Administration. She previously worked for 18 years as a social worker. She resides in Rock Island, Illinois, with her husband Josue and two children. 

Margie serves as a board member of Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and on the Mennonite Central Committee Central States board. Locally, she is a board member for both the Rock Island Civil Rights Commission and the Quad Cities Juvenile Justice Coalition. She was EMU’s Alumna of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the Rock Island High School Hall of Fame for social work contributions in the community in 1995.

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.

 

JB Miller ’70 (Sarasota, Florida)

JB Miller retired in 2014 after a successful 43-year career as a financial services executive. His final position was vice president of investment services at Everence in Goshen, Indiana, where he led the development of the Praxis Mutual Funds and served as the first president of the funds. He serves on the investment committee of Mennonite Education Agency. Now residing in Sarasota, Fla., Miller includes among his retirement activities teaching classes offered by Sarasota Public Schools about the Mennonites and Amish and the Plain community of Pinecraft. Miller holds an MBA from Wake Forest University. JB and his partner, John Daniels, are members of Covenant Mennonite Church.

Cedric Moore ’97 (Midlothian, Virginia)

Cedric Moore Jr. is the CEO and president of Spectrum Transformation Group. He has served as the president of EMU’s Alumni Council and on the Virginia Governor Advisory Board. An alumnus also of Strayer University and Regent University, he attends St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church and is very involved in his community, sponsoring the Central Virginia Autism Society 5K, Shenandoah Autism Society 5K and the Chesterfield FOP. He and his wife Melinda have two children.  

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.

Glenna Ramer ’77 (Graysville, Tennessee)

Glenna Ramer is a family law attorney with more than 30 years of experience. An alumna also of Indiana University School of Law, she received the Harry Weill Zealous Practice of Law Award in 2019. She was also the recipient of the processional award from the local Inns of Court, and served on the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission. She is a member of Rivermont Presbyterian Church, where she chairs the children’s Christian education committee. Her interests include reading, politics, gardening, sewing and hosting family gatherings.

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.

Rajarshi Roy (Takoma Park, Maryland)

Dr. Rajarshi Roy is a professor of physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He has been a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Physics at Carleton College, director of the Institute for Physical Science and Technology at University of Maryland, and chair of the School of Physics at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research specialty is the nonlinear dynamics of optical systems and networks. He is active at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. He and his wife, Katherine, have deep appreciation for Anabaptist values. Their son, Partha, is a 2022 graduate.

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.