Royal Women for EMU

MISSION STATEMENT: Royal Women inspire visible leadership, bold investments, and empowering networks to impact EMU’s future.

Royal Women for EMU is a philanthropy and networking initiative launched in fall of 2023 intended to engage any interested students, alumni and friends of EMU in supporting its future and the impact of its women.

Royal Women provides an opportunity to build and expand connections with women and their allies and focuses on elevating women as philanthropists and leaders in their communities. The initial goal for Royal Women for EMU is to raise $70,000 for student scholarships. $20,000 will be used for immediate impact grants and $50,000 will go into an endowed scholarship fund to create lasting impact for EMU students.

Last year's inductees

1. Susan Schultz Huxman, first female EMU president

2. Tynisha Willingham - Provost's Office, first African American Provost

3. Lee Snyder - First female chief academic leader

4. Esther Augsburger, "first lady" emeriti

5. Hannah Lapp, "first lady" emeriti

6. Pat Swartzendruber, "first lady" emeriti

7. Sheryl Wyse, first female Board chair

8. Beryl Brubaker, first female vice president/ Provost emeriti

9. Dorothy Jean Weaver, first full-time female faculty EMS, emeriti

10. Nancy Heisey, first full-time female faculty in Bible & Religion, emeriti

11. Sara Wenger Shenk, first female vice president & dean of EMS

12. Leymah Gbowee, '07 Graduate of EMU's CJP and '11 Nobel Peace Laureate

13. Mim Mumaw, First EMU female coach

14. Kay Nussbaum

15. Louise Hostetter

16. Shannon Dycus

17. Jackie Font Guzman

18. Carrie Bert, first female athletic director

Upcoming Events

More information coming soon!

Advisory Committee Members

Alumni Representatives

Louise Hostetter ’79 - Harrisonburg, Va.

Kay Nussbaum ’78 - Harrisonburg, Va.

EMU Staff

Deanna Reed - Director of Alumni Engagement and Community Connections and the Mayor of Harrisonburg, Va.

Shea Jones-Mitchell - Advancement Coordinator

Laura Daily - Director of Advancement Operations

Cassie Guerrero - Advancement's Gift Receipting Coordinator

Nicole Litwiller - Advancement's Annual Giving & Donor Communications Specialist

Shannon Dycus - Vice President for Student Affairs, Equity and Belonging

Jennifer North Bauman - Executive Administrative Assistant for Student Life

Carrie Bert ’97 - Director of Athletics

Amy Springer Hartsell ’92 - Executive Advisor to the President

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Royal Women for EMU

Affiliated with the Office of Advancement