草莓社区鈥檚 first century of 鈥淪erving, Leading, Transforming鈥� is the focus of two 5-week courses offered through James Madison University鈥檚 .
The classes will meet from 9:30-11:30 a.m. on 10 consecutive Thursdays, Sept. 14-Nov. 16, in the dining hall foyer at Eastern Mennonite High School, 801 Parkwood Dr., Harrisonburg. Part I begins on Sept. 14 (), and the second session begins on Oct. 19 (). Enrollees must be Lifelong Learning Institute members (register and pay the $20 fee ), and the cost is $35 for either the first or second five weeks, or $50 for all 10 weeks.
An 鈥渙verview of EMU鈥檚 transformation from a small, insular academic community to an accredited university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees with global impact,鈥� the courses will explore 鈥渢he transformation of a quiet school on a hill meant to protect its students from the world into a place engaging with, welcoming and sending alumni out into the world.鈥�
The courses begin with the history of Mennonites in the Shenandoah Valley, the birth of the school, and its growth into a college and university. Speakers will also present on arts, music and sciences at EMU and development of the and the .
Presenters include historians, administrators, professors, and other members of the EMU community. Many are alumni of the university, and have fulfilled many roles at EMU. They will 鈥渞eflect the changes that have occurred over the past 100 years as well as the impact those changes continue to have on the future of EMU,鈥� said Louise Hostetter, who chairs the EMU and recruited the course instructors.
鈥淚 hope that people come away with a much better understanding of the positive impact EMU continues to make on students, local community and global community,鈥� she said.
A session will also be devoted to the history of and led by Elwood Yoder, a historian and current faculty member at the school.
Session I topics and instructors
- Sept. 14 鈥� 鈥淢ennonites in the Valley,鈥� presented by , senior pastor at and a graduate of .
- Sept. 21 鈥� 鈥淓astern Mennonite School, 1917,鈥� presented by , a Mennonite historian and teacher at Eastern Mennonite High School who has published numerous historical articles and books.
- Sept. 28 鈥� 鈥淓astern Mennonite College, 1965-1980,鈥� presented by , the fifth president of EMU from 1965-80 and a professor of theology from 1963-80.
- Oct. 5 鈥� 鈥淓MC becomes 草莓社区鈥� or 鈥淲omen of EMC/EMU,鈥� presented by , interim president in 2016 and vice president and academic dean for 12 years at EMU.
- Oct. 12 鈥� Session to be presented by Don Kraybill, an Anabaptist scholar whose will be released at this fall鈥檚 .
Session II topics and instructors
- Oct. 19 鈥� 鈥淒evelopment of the Arts at EMU,鈥� presented by , poesr o visual and communication arts and an artist, photographer and renowned videographer, and , a sculptor whose work has been placed around the world, including at EMU. While her husband Myron was president, Esther studied music 鈥� but later became the university鈥檚 first art graduate.
- Oct. 26 鈥� 鈥淢usic and the Mennonites,鈥� presented by , professor of music at EMU for four decades and artistic director and conductor of the annual , and Jeremy Nafziger, a 1991 graduate and a leader of the men鈥檚 a cappella group Cantore.
- Nov. 2 鈥� 鈥淪ciences at EMU,鈥� presented by , professor (now emeritus) for more than 30 years and the founding director of the , and , former provost and nursing department faculty member.
- Nov. 9 鈥� 鈥淓astern Mennonite Seminary,鈥� presented by , associate dean at Eastern Mennonite Seminary.
- Nov. 16 鈥� 鈥淐enter for Justice and Peacebuilding,鈥� presented by ,聽current chair of the department of applied social sciences and coordinator of the peacebuilding and development undergraduate major.