The conference, “Thriving in Ministry: Family Systems Theory as a Resource for Faith Communities,” was hosted by the seminary in partnership with The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and supported by the Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Joe Carolin Memorial Fund.

Throughout the conference, participants explored family systems theory as a resource for understanding and strengthening relationships and congregational life. Ordained and lay leaders, along with others interested in family systems thinking, considered how Bowen theory and differentiation of self, along with their faith traditions, could guide reflection and cultivate thriving in ministry.

Keynote speakers Rev. Dr. Robert Creech and Dr. Dan Papero presented from their expertise in the fields of practical theology and psychotherapy, respectively. Over the two days of the conference, Dr. Creech shared keynote addresses about the intersection of language between systems thinking and Christian theology, as well as how the practice of differentiation of self enhances pastoral care. Dr. Papero spoke about the most recent neuroscientific research regarding the impact of stress on brain functioning. Both contributed to panel discussions with other presenters.  

Conference keynote speaker Dr. Dan Papero (left) has been a faculty member of The Bowen Center since 1982. He has written numerous articles and book chapters on various aspects of family systems theory and family psychotherapy. The Rev. Dr. Robert Creech (right), a former pastor and faculty member of Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, is the author of “Family Systems and Congregational Life” (2019) and co-author of “The Leader’s Journey” (2020), both with Baker Academic.  

Workshops and presentations included discussions on preaching, biblical studies, parenting, and tools to help participants thrive in ministry and daily life.

Among the goals of the Thriving in Ministry conference were to help participants:

• grow in their capacity to differentiate self through an increased understanding of the science of human relationships in families and congregations
• apply family systems theory to the work of faith leaders in pastoral care, preaching, youth work, religious education, and other ministry settings
• explore practical applications, including family diagrams, triangles, and other ways of shifting from an individual to a systems perspective

Other guest presenters included Chaplain Penny Driediger, the Rev. Melanie Lewis, Pastor Lana Miller, Janis Norton, the Rev. Dr. Emlyn A. Ott, the Rev. William Pyle, and the Rev. Chet Yoder. Faculty presenters included Dr. Kenton T. Derstine, Kathleen Cotter Cauley, the Rev. Randall Frost, Dr. Barbara Laymon, the Rev. Jennifer Long, and Amie Post.

For more information about the conference, visit .

A scholar-practitioner, Dr. Lederach has engaged in more than a decade of participatory research with grassroots peacebuilders in Colombia as they work to transform violent conflict, deepen possibilities for environmental justice, and cultivate a more just and livable world.

Her research focuses on community-based responses to the interlocking dynamics of political and environmental violence.

She is the author of the award-winning Feel the Grass Grow: Ecologies of Slow Peace in Colombia (Stanford University Press, 2023). Alongside her father, John Paul Lederach, she also co-authored When Blood and Bones Cry Out: Journeys Through the Soundscape of Healing and Reconciliation (Oxford University Press, 2010).

With a dual PhD in cultural anthropology and peace studies from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Lederach has accompanied peacebuilding, environmental, and restorative justice initiatives in Sierra Leone, the Philippines, Colombia, Bolivia, and the United States.

“I feel incredibly honored and, quite frankly, humbled to be chosen to speak at EMU’s Commencement,” Dr. Lederach said. “The faculty, students, and alumni at EMU have deeply shaped my understanding of justice and peace and inspired me to imagine and work toward more peaceful and dignified futures for collective life on this planet. They form a vital part of the transnational community that has taught me what solidarity means in practice and inspires my everyday work of building peace amid ongoing violence.”

“By combining interdisciplinary scholarship with ethical inquiry, EMU has helped nurture a distinctive community that spans the globe,” she added. “I am indebted to this community for my own formation, learning, and sense of grounded hope, and I am honored to be part of this significant milestone for the graduating class.”

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus said Dr. Lederach brings a rare depth of scholarship that bridges lived experience and critical inquiry. Her work explores how “slow peace” emerges through grassroots communities that reshape and sustain peace over time, while also carrying forward and reimagining a generational legacy in restorative justice and conflict transformation.

“In her work, she reminds us that peace is not only studied but practiced, offering our graduates a compelling vision of leadership that is thoughtful, courageous, and rooted in the daily work of building a more just and hopeful world,” Dr. Dycus said.

About ��ݮ����

Rooted in the values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs and practices, ��ݮ���� offers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees that prepare students to serve and lead in a global context. A leader among faith-based universities, EMU was founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has a site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and offers programs in person and online.

To livestream Dr. Lederach’s Commencement address, visit EMU’s .

ACE Fest Keynote Address
Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Location: Lehman Auditorium
More info:

Dr. Deborah Lawrence, chief scientist and director of forest and land at Calyx Global, will open the 2026 Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival as keynote speaker at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, in Lehman Auditorium.

At Calyx Global, a Colorado-based carbon credit ratings agency, Lawrence ensures the scientific integrity of its greenhouse gas ratings. She spent 25 years as an environmental sciences professor at the University of Virginia, where she conducted global forest and climate research.

She also served as a science advisor to the U.S. Department of State and established SilvaCarbon, a U.S. federal program for forest carbon measurement and monitoring, according to a staff listing on . 

Lawrence holds a BA in anthropology from Harvard University and a PhD in botany from Duke University. 

Her keynote address will reflect on “our connections to nature and how they have changed over the course of my life,” Lawrence said, “informing my scholarship, my work, and my daily life.”

Jennifer Ulrich, chair of the Intellectual Life Committee, said Lawrence’s teaching experience, research, and international background were key factors in selecting her as keynote speaker. 

She said Lawrence readily embraced both the university’s annual theme of environmental sustainability and its Common Read, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, as she developed her address.

“I am grateful for her willingness to speak with us and look forward to her keynote address,” Ulrich said.

About ACE Festival

EMU’s Academic and Creative Excellence Festival provides an opportunity for students to learn from their peers and to showcase their own research, creative projects, and papers. It’s also an opportunity to continue conversations sparked by EMU’s Common Read for the year.

In addition to poster and oral presentations held throughout the day on Thursday, April 15, ACE Fest events include a music department student recital at noon in Lehman Auditorium, an art exhibition opening for senior capstone projects at 4:45 p.m. in the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery, and a wind ensemble concert at 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium.

The 17th EMU Authors’ Reception and Award Presentation will be held from 3:45-5 p.m. in Old Common Grounds (University Commons 177) on Thursday. The annual event, hosted by the Office of the Provost, recognizes and celebrates winners of the university’s Excellence in Teaching Awards and recipients of student writing awards, as well as EMU faculty, staff, and students who have published scholarly work since Jan. 1, 2025. The awards presentation part of the program will begin at 4:30 p.m.

An EMU Career Fair, hosted by the Alumni Engagement Office, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday at the Hall of Nations. It will provide an opportunity for students to interact directly with employers, connect with alumni professionals, explore career options, and potentially secure internships or employment. 

The ACE Festival is hosted by the Provost’s Office and made possible by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Center for Interfaith Engagement, and the Daniel B. Suter Endowment, which supports EMU’s commitment to fostering curiosity, discovery, and scientific learning. 

For more information about the festival and a schedule of events, visit .

“These people are my friends and they’re my colleagues and they’re my inspiration,” Flowe told a roomful of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Harrisonburg residents during a dedication ceremony of the mural on March 27. “I may not know them on a personal level, but every time I see them on the wall of this building, I know that people recognize the work they’ve done.”

That feeling extends beyond just the students at EMU. Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, said that seeing the mural fills her with joy. “Every time I see it, it makes me happy,” she told the crowd gathered for the ceremony at Suter Science Center 106.

The Inclusivity in Science Mural, completed in summer 2022, celebrates the scholarship and contributions of seven scientists whose identities as women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and/or queer individuals have historically been underrepresented in scientific spaces. The mural’s stylized portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, eco-philosopher Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, and ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine.

“[The mural] names the contributions that have too often gone unrecognized,” said Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus in her remarks at the dedication ceremony. “And perhaps most importantly, it offers reflection and invitation to those who walk these halls every day, especially to students who may be asking quietly or aloud, ‘Is there a place for me in this field?’” 

“Together, these figures and all of those represented remind us that excellence in science has never been limited to a single identity, even if recognition has been,” Dycus added. “And we’re affirming something today about EMU itself: that we are a place that’s willing to name gaps and then do the work to address them, and that we believe representation is not symbolic alone—it is formative.”

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus presents her remarks at a dedication ceremony for the Inclusivity in Science Mural.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) pose next to their portraits on the mural.

Work on the mural began in spring 2022 and was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy ’76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ’79. Learn more about the process behind the project in our article from last month. Veronica Horst ’23, Asha Landes Beck ’22, Grace Harder ’23, Molly Piwonka ’23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, and Jake Myers ’22 are listed as co-leaders for various stages of the project

A dedication ceremony on March 27 honored the scientists represented on the mural, the artists who brought it to life, and “every person in the arts and sciences who has had to push a little harder against systems that were not built with them in mind,” said event organizer Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

“This mural is both a celebration and a call to continue the work of building a truly inclusive community,” she said. “When more people belong in science, science belongs to all of us.”

The ceremony included appearances by two special guests whose portraits are on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd, who participated earlier that day in the second annual Mornings with the Mayor Convocation, gave a talk and contributed to a panel conversation. Levine, the former U.S. assistant secretary for health, chatted with EMU News and also attended the event. Both Sinopoulos-Lloyd and Levine signed their names on their portraits as part of the dedication.

Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd gives a talk during the mural dedication ceremony at the Suter Science Center on March 27.

Dr. Rachel Levine (left) and Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd (right) sign their portraits on the mural.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an Indigiqueer wildlife tracker, writer, and guide whose work bridges Indigenous ecological knowledge, field-based science, multispecies studies, and poetic inquiry. 

In their talk, they recited poetry, shared photos of wildlife tracks—including a rattlesnake, puma, and toad—recounted their experiences following an elk herd, and discussed how their work connects science, art, and sustainability. They also spoke about the importance of representation. 

“This mural we’re honoring today is not just artwork,” Sinopoulos-Lloyd said. “It’s also a constellation. It represents scientists whose work has expanded what is possible, not only through curiosity, but through devotion, imagination, and care.”

Third-year biochemistry major Dante Flowe shares their connection to the mural during the dedication ceremony at Suter Science Center 106 on March 27.

Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, who helped design and paint the mural, speaks during a panel conversation (left). Veronica Horst ’23 reflects on the mural (right) while Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd looks on.

A panel conversation following the talk included several alumni who helped bring the mural from concept to creation. Landes Beck, Horst, Piwonka, and Rhodes-Lehman spoke about their roles in the project, the intertwined relationship of art and science, the importance of representation, and their reflections on what the mural means to them. Kishbaugh and Sinopoulos-Lloyd also joined the panel, along with Flowe, who served as a voice for current students. Senior Madelynn Hamm moderated the discussion.

Horst said they hope the mural continues to honor those who haven’t been recognized for their contributions. “One of the names on the mural that people are probably most familiar with is Katherine Johnson’s, because of her story being told through the book and film Hidden Figures,” Horst said. “I think that made us realize how much we don’t know about how women of color and people from minority identities were involved in a lot of influential work. We don’t get to hear about it because it was overshadowed.”

The program included a message from Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley, on the role that public art plays in shaping a healthy, thriving, and inclusive community. It also included remarks from Mavalvala, who is depicted on the mural but was unable to attend the ceremony. 

“I am honored to be included with so many wonderful luminaries,” Neil said, reading a statement from the astrophysicist. “Inclusivity in the sciences is critical, and I’m proud that EMU continues to strive toward this goal. Ensuring that people feel a sense of belonging strengthens our educational communities and strengthens science itself.”

Watch a video recording of the ceremony below!

ADM (ret.) Rachel Levine, a pediatrician who served as the U.S. assistant secretary for health from 2021-25, visited campus for a dedication ceremony of the Inclusivity in Science Mural at EMU’s Suter Science Center on Friday, March 27.

The mural, completed in summer 2022, features seven professionals in STEM-related fields whose identities as women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ individuals have historically been underrepresented in the sciences. 

Dr. Levine, whose career as a pediatrician spans more than 40 years and whose portrait graces the mural, became the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March 2021. As part of her position, she served as a four-star admiral leading the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She was the first openly transgender four-star officer and the first woman to serve as a four-star admiral in the Commissioned Corps. She was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year in 2022.

“The job was as interesting, challenging, busy, and rewarding as you might expect,” Dr. Levine said in a conversation before the dedication ceremony. “It was an amazing experience, very difficult and challenging, but worth it.”

The public health expert sat down with EMU News to talk about the mural, DEI, and the importance of vaccines.

It’s an honor to have you here with us. How did you hear about this event?

[Adrian Shanker, former deputy assistant secretary for health policy and now a consultant] came across the news story about Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd coming here, which mentioned that the mural featured my portrait. I thought that was great and asked Adrian to reach out, and then I was invited to today’s event to meet everyone, meet the artists, meet Pınar, and say hello. I live near Hershey, Pennsylvania, so it’s not that far, and I thought I’d just jump in the car and come.

Have you had a chance to look at the mural?

I just saw it. It’s remarkable. The artists did an absolutely fantastic job.

How do you feel about the mission of the mural?

The terms diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t accepted terms now. They’re even somewhat radioactive. But I still believe in that mission. I’ve had many experiences in hospitals, government, and other organizations, and I believe that diversity improves any organization, whether it’s a school, the government, a hospital or medical center, or a business. I truly believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can call them by different names, but I think they’re critically important. I thought it was wonderful that they were able to emphasize that here at the science center and in STEM fields from various perspectives. Being included in that was a real honor.

Anything else you would like to share?

As a pediatrician, I know from more than 40 years of clinical experience that vaccinations are one of the great victories of public health in the 20th and 21st centuries. I can’t tell you how many children and teenagers, who are now adults, have had their lives saved and prevented from illnesses because of immunizations that I administered or ordered. The questioning about the effectiveness and safety of vaccines is harming our nation and our children. We are now seeing vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as measles and others, that could have been prevented. In 2000, there were no cases of measles in the United States. Now look at what we’re seeing, because of the misinformation and overt disinformation about vaccines.

Dr. Rachel Levine introduces herself at Friday’s mural dedication ceremony in Suter Science Center 106. Seated to her right are EMU Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and artist and scientist Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd.

Dr. Rachel Levine signs her portrait (left) on the Inclusivity in Science Mural. The pediatrician and public health expert talks with EMU News (right) before the ceremony.

This was the second time that Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU, has hosted the event. Named among the and a member of the , she conceived the idea last year to celebrate March as Women’s History Month and highlight the trailblazing women leaders guiding the campus forward.

This year’s event celebrated Women’s History Month and explored the “queer-affirming, gender-expansive world of nature around us,” Reed said. It featured a conversation and Q&A with Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, a visionary artist, wildlife tracker, and Indigenous eco-philosopher whose work “lives at the intersection of sustainability, science, and deep connections to the natural world.”

Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) shared their personal journey, moving from Turkey to the Bay Area of California at age eight. As a neurodivergent child, they spent a year of near silence carefully observing squirrels, pigeons, and other urban wildlife, noticing how these animals adapted to a city not designed for them. “That began and initiated my journey in wildlife observation, wildlife tracking, and pattern recognition as a tracker,” Sinopoulos-Lloyd said.

“I noticed they didn’t speak much and were highly observant,” they said. “I could relate to them and feel unmasked with them so easily.”

The wildlife tracker also spoke about community care. While trailing deer in the Scablands of eastern Washington about three years ago, Sinopoulos-Lloyd came across the leg bone of a beaver at the site of an ancient lake. On closer inspection, they saw that the bone had been broken but had healed. “That meant this being had survived,” they said.

“The reason I was so amazed was that this was a major fracture,” Sinopoulos-Lloyd said. “I don’t know how it happened, but it’s a sign of care. They must have been cared for and fed to recover and heal. As someone who’s disabled and chronically ill, seeing that sign of community care in the natural world touched me in such a profound way.”

Pınar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd (left) shares their experiences with Mayor Deanna Reed. Mukarabe (right), a conflict transformation student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, performs djembe to close out Friday’s show.

Mornings with the Mayor also included a viewing of the trailer for Bloom, a documentary by filmmaker and Visual and Communication Arts professor Elizabeth Miller-Derstine. The follows four birth workers making reproductive care safer and more accessible in their community. A screening of the film will be held at 8 p.m. on Monday, April 13, in Suter Science Center 106.

The event concluded with a djembe musical performance by Mukarabe, a conflict transformation student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She shared her life story, from escaping the genocide in Burundi and coming to the United States to enrolling at EMU. “Now I’m here for my third master’s degree,” she told the crowd. “Not just for the paper. I’m studying conflict transformation because where I come from, it is needed.”

Those attending Mornings with the Mayor were treated to a complimentary drink, the Sunrise Refresher (a dragonfruit, mango, and raspberry lemonade), crafted by the talented baristas at Common Grounds Coffeehouse.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven professionals featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside Suter Science Center, spent the full day on campus. They joined students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion, then gave a talk and signed their portrait during the mural’s dedication ceremony later that afternoon.

The summit will be held at EMU’s Suter Science Center (1194 Park Road, Harrisonburg, Virginia) with events starting at 9 a.m. It aims to bring together students, educators, and community members to explore undergraduate research, innovative initiatives, and real-world solutions.

Students will attend from Sustainable Shenandoah Valley’s five member institutions: Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, EMU, James Madison University, and Mary Baldwin University.

“By celebrating the impactful work already happening across the region, this event seeks to inspire new ideas, partnerships, and pathways toward a more just and sustainable future,” the summit’s website says.

A schedule on the website lists presentations by local students and officials, posters and networking opportunities, and a keynote speech by John C. Jones.

Jones is an assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences and Sustainability at Virginia Commonwealth University. His main research interests surround the intersection of urban food system development, urban food insecurity, local governance, and the challenges facing America’s cities. In recent years, he has begun to research interventions to mitigate college student food insecurity. 

EMU students Ciela Acosta, Kate Stutzman, Jenna Oostland, and Tara Cahill are among those who will deliver presentations at the summit.

Acosta will present on examples of campus organizing and advocacy that have taken place on EMU’s campus, including bell ringing for Palestine and direct action for sustainability, according to the summit’s website. Her presentation will include an empowerment discussion for students to be able to notice where inequity is present on their own campuses and be able to effectively and peacefully call for change.

Stutzman, Oostland, and Cahill will lead a comprehensive analysis of EMU’s carbon emissions for the 2024-25 academic year in accordance to the university’s climate goals. Emissions from a number of sources are considered including, but not limited to, food production and waste, purchased electricity, natural gas, fertilizer and pesticide use, student and faculty travel, and EMU’s solar grid.

Register for the summit .

For more information, visit the event’s website .

On Monday, March 23, Anabaptist and Jewish scholars and religious leaders gathered in the Strite Conference Room of EMU’s Campus Center for a consultation on Judaism, the Bible, and Anabaptism. The invite-only event was planned by Peter Dula, professor of religion and culture at EMU, and Trina Trotter Nussbaum, director of the Center for Interfaith Engagement (CIE), and included all-day discussions centering around the work of Matthew Thiessen and Daniel Weiss.

According to Dula, Thiessen, a Mennonite New Testament professor at McMaster University, is “one of the most influential voices in the ‘Paul within Judaism’ school of New Testament studies.” The discussion of Thiessen’s work at the consultation centered around four articles of his.

Weiss, according to Dula, is a Jewish professor of Jewish studies and the philosophy of religion at the University of Cambridge, “whose work at the intersection of early rabbinic literature and early Christian literature has significant resonances with traditional Anabaptist understandings of violence and the state and critiques of Constantinianism.” Weiss also had four articles discussed.

The morning began with a presentation by Thiessen titled, “What Mennonites Need to Know About Judaism,” which introduced the work of Weiss. Weiss then responded, and there was time for some questions from the audience. Following a break, a panel engaged with some of Weiss’s research, including articles on Christians and Levites, and the possibility that early Christians did not baptize their children, instead letting them be born into salvation.

After a lunch break, Weiss took a turn introducing Thiessen’s work in a section called, “Reading the New Testament within Judaism.” Thiessen then responded. A panel then engaged in Thiessen’s work, including reflections on how to read Paul with an awareness of Judaism, and whether Jesus meant to start a new religion.

Dula was the guiding force in bringing the two scholars together to have the event. “You’ve got a Jewish scholar writing really perceptively about Anabaptist themes, and you have this Mennonite scholar writing really perceptively about Judaism,” Dula said. “So, I thought we should get them together.”

Nussbaum reflected on the efficacy of the dialogue, and how it was in large part also due to the highlighted speakers. “It worked because the two scholars we were highlighting shared the spotlight so well,” she said. “How many times did we hear, ‘and now I want to open it up to you all?’”

Miranda Beidler, an EMU senior who helped coordinate the event in her role as a student chaplain with the CIE, praised the event and guests for creating “inherent dialogue.” She said, “[The speakers] were so willing and open to talk about their beliefs, their theology, in ways that were open and curious about the others’ theology and beliefs, but without imposing their beliefs on somebody else.”

Sara Kennel, another senior student chaplain at EMU, was struck by the openness and intellectualism of the event participants, saying, “It felt like a gathering of a lot of people that care about understanding differences, but also are deeply intellectual. … I don’t think that I’ve encountered that many spaces at EMU that are that level of scholarship.”

Nussbaum was struck by the impact of cross-religious dialogue, saying, “It’s something pretty amazing that we can see ourselves in another faith. … It was a spiritual love-fest.” Beidler, similarly, connected the event to CIE’s—and EMU’s—goals of interfaith work, saying, “It’s us putting into action when we say we care about learning from other people and from other cultures.”

The Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship (ICPF) Conference returned to EMU on March 13-15 for another year of examining issues of peace and justice. The student-led conference invites students and faculty from historic peace colleges across the U.S., including Mennonite, Brethren, and Quaker colleges, to connect, learn, and grow in solidarity together.

It was the second consecutive year EMU has hosted the once-annual conference. The university previously hosted the ICPF in 2020 before it was indefinitely put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The purpose of the conference was to create a space where students from different campuses could come together, connect, and share the work they’re doing in their own communities, said Shawna Hurst, a sophomore elementary education major at EMU and member of the ICPF 2026 Planning Committee.

“I wanted people to leave feeling energized, supported, and equipped with new relationships and resources to continue work moving forward,” Hurst said.

“I think the conference was a success because I saw a real shift in people over the course of the weekend,” she added. “Many attendees arrived feeling defeated and discouraged by the state of the world, and while those feelings didn’t completely disappear, people left feeling less alone. There was a stronger sense of community, and many felt encouraged and re-energized by both the connections they made and the messages shared by our keynote speakers.”

This year’s conference centered around the theme, “Solidarity, Community, and Resistance in This Political Moment,” with a focus on practical campus organizing. “In a time of extreme political division, rising fascism, and anti-intellectualism, what does campus organizing look like?” reads a description of the theme. “How can we leverage our unique heritages and cultures to better serve the broader culture and nation?”

Hurst said it was challenging to narrow down a theme because “it felt like there was so much we wanted to talk about and focus on.”

“Despite everything going on, our main goal was to bring the community, and specifically college students, together to learn ways to practice resistance and show solidarity on college campuses,” she said.

Emily Welty (left) and Nadia Dames (right) delivered keynote addresses during the conference.

The conference featured keynotes by Emily Welty and Nadia Dames.

Welty, an author and theatre-maker living in the Rockaway Beach neighborhood of Queens, New York, teaches and directs the peace and justice studies program at Pace University. She is also part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons team that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Her keynote was titled, “All We Have is Each Other.”

Dames is a local business owner and community advocate in Harrisonburg who believes in the power of community, togetherness, and collective action. She delivered a keynote titled, “From Home in Harrisonburg to Roots in Palestine: Finding Your Why in the Work of Resistance.”

Participants share a meal (top photo) and engage in a drum circle (above right) at ICPF 2026. Alicia Maldonado-Zahra leads a workshop (above left).

Workshops were held throughout the day on March 14 in various locations around the EMU Seminary Building. Topics ranged from the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people in North America to the colonization of Puerto Rico as rooted in Indigenous genocide. Other sessions offered information on careers in peacebuilding and explored how Anabaptist understandings of peace have evolved over the past several generations.

The conference also included a prayer vigil in response to the war in Iran and genocide in Gaza, an Amahoro Drumming for Peace circle led by Seminary student Makinto, and a potluck with Harrisonburg-area organizations.

“One of my favorite highlights was the Saturday lunch potluck,” Hurst said. “It was such a meaningful moment to see community members continually show up, bringing crockpots full of food to share. It created a tangible sense of care and connection that felt really special.”

Hurst said that one moment that stuck with her happened on Saturday evening when an attendee told her this was their first experience with Mennonites. “They shared how meaningful it was to see people who care about both Jesus and justice at the same time,” she said. “Hearing that was incredibly encouraging.”

The ICPF 2026 Planning Committee included students from EMU, Goshen College, and Bluffton University: Ben Koop, Ciela Acosta, Ellie Shemenski, Logan Daugherty, Mackenzie Miller, Monica Ehrenfels, Micah Wenger, Shawna Hurst, and Dr. Timothy Seidel.

Thanks to everyone who supported and volunteered to assist with the conference, including Eastern Mennonite Seminary, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, the Orie O. Miller Center at EMU, Mennonite Mission Network, and the Mennonite Church USA’s Church Peace Tax Fund for significant monetary support.

Nearly four years after its final brushstroke was applied, the Inclusivity in Science Mural inside the Suter Science Center will get its long-awaited dedication ceremony on Friday, March 27.

The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in SSC 106 with a 30-minute talk led by Pinar Ateş Sinopoulos-Lloyd, one of the seven people featured on the mural. Sinopoulos-Lloyd (they/them) is an Indigenous eco-philosopher, artist, and wildlife tracker, and will speak about the way their work connects science and art with sustainability.

Following the talk, Nicole Litwiller ’19, MACT ’20 will host a panel conversation with Sinopoulos-Lloyd, mural artist and alumna Veronica Horst ’23, a current EMU science student, and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success. The program will also include reflections from Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus and Jenny Burden, executive director of the Arts Council of the Valley.

A formal dedication of the mural will proceed shortly after 5 p.m., with Sinopoulos-Lloyd signing their portrait. The event is open to the public and will include light refreshments.

About the mural

During the spring of 2022, students involved in EMU’s Art Club and the Earthkeepers group wanted to make the Suter Science Center more welcoming and reflective of who contributes to the sciences, said Dawn Neil, coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

“They noticed two things: the space felt visually sterile, and the sciences have historically centered white male voices while overlooking women, scientists of color, and queer scientists,” she said. “They wanted to highlight those hidden figures.”

Work on the mural, funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant made possible by the generous support of Jose Koshy ’76 and Jean Koshy-Hertzler ’79, began that semester. EMU students Veronica Horst ’23, Asha Beck ’22, Grace Harder ’23, Molly Piwonka ’23, Afton Rhodes-Lehman ’24, and Jake Myers ’22 served as co-leaders at various stages of the project.

“STEM is a field in which, historically, gaining recognition and representation has been challenging for non-white, non-male, and non-heteronormative cisgender individuals,” reads an artist statement for the project. “This mural is intended to be a joyful statement of representation, emphasizing that we have, are, and will continue to make a significant impact on the world.”

“We want to recognize and celebrate these individuals and their contributions to the academic world,” the statement continues. “Our hope is that women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), and LGBTQIA+ individuals at EMU will experience a positive impact through increased awareness of successful individuals like themselves in STEM.”

The project leaders distributed a campus-wide survey to students, faculty, and staff asking whom they would like to see depicted on the mural and then took a vote to determine who those seven figures would be.

The mural features seven professionals who have made and/or are making an impact in STEM-related fields and are queer and/or BIPOC women. In addition to Sinopoulos-Lloyd, the portraits depict chemist Asima Chatterjee, mathematician Gladys West, mathematician Katherine Johnson, arachnologist Lauren Esposito, astrophysicist Nergis Mavalvala, and admiral Rachel Levine.

For bios of each of these professionals, scroll to the bottom of this article.

Students from the Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) department designed and painted the mural. Although the project was completed during the summer of 2022, this is the first time it’s officially been dedicated, said Neil.

With sustainability serving as the university theme for the 2025-26 academic year, it seemed like the perfect time and Sinopoulos-Lloyd the ideal guest to help make it happen.

“Their work challenges the idea of what science is,” said Neil. “They’re exploring how the environment connects with things visually, artistically, and also scientifically. It’s a different side of science, one rooted in global and community contexts rather than a strictly data-driven one.”

“They would fit in perfectly as a student here,” she added. “What’s exciting is that their values really align with ours.”

About the speaker

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is an artist and scientist known for their powerful work at the intersection of sustainability, science, and art. They are the co-founder of Queer Nature, an interdisciplinary project focused on ecology, identity, and decolonization. Their work has been featured in The Guardian and The New York Times and archived by the Library of Congress. They lecture nationally at institutions including Stanford University, Colorado College, and the Guggenheim Museum.

In 2020, they were honored with the Audubon National Society’s National Environmental Champion award, as well as the R.I.S.E. Indigenous 2020 Art & Poetry Fellowship.

For more information, visit their website at . 

Sinopoulos-Lloyd will participate in several events throughout the day on Friday, March 27. In addition to the mural dedication, they will serve as a panelist at the second annual Mornings with the Mayor, a special edition of Convocation hosted by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections, at 10:15 a.m. in the University Commons Student Union. 

They will also meet with students, faculty, and staff for a lunchtime discussion in the West Dining Room of Northlawn Dining Hall at noon.

Sinopoulos-Lloyd is one of seven people featured on the Inclusivity in Science Mural, located on the second floor of the Suter Science Center south of SSC 106 (Swartzendruber Hall). Biographies of each of the people featured on the mural are included below.

EMU hosted its ninth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Monday, Jan. 19, featuring a series of events honoring the life and legacy of the late civil rights leader.

The theme of this year’s celebration was “Beyond the Dream: Social Justice and Ecological Consciousness,” and it focused on the message of Dr. King’s 1967 Christmas sermon, in which he preached about all life on Earth being interconnected. “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly,” he said.

Monday’s events began at 9:45 a.m. with a unity march inside the University Commons. About two dozen students, faculty, and staff members held signs calling for peace and justice as they completed three laps around the indoor track. Each year, the unity march pays tribute to the many nonviolent marches led by Dr. King and others during the civil rights movement. 

The group of marchers proceeded to Lehman Auditorium, where members of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) and other students shared quotes from Dr. King and reflected on his legacy during Speak Out. One quote that resonated deeply was: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Celeste Thomas, director of Multicultural Student Services at EMU and chair of the committee planning the MLK Jr. celebration, said Dr. King imagined a world with community instead of chaos, love instead of hate, and no one going hungry. He imagined a world where families are not separated, where there are no food deserts and everyone has clean water, and where countries don’t bully one another for resources, she added. “Beloved community is sustainability for all mankind,” she said.

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU, spoke about the theme of the day. “Going beyond the dream means understanding justice is not passive,” she said. “It requires participation, it requires responsibility, and that’s where you come in, EMU students. You’re not on the sidelines of this work. You are already shaping the future of communities like Harrisonburg through the choices you make, the careers you pursue, the voices you raise, and the values you carry forward. Don’t just remember him, carry his dream forward.”

Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus spoke about Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old who was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, nine months before Rosa Parks did the same. Dycus, who noted that Colvin passed away on Jan. 13, 2026, said the young activist had inspired her for many years. “Both King and Colvin teach us what justice and power look like in necessary ways,” Dycus said. “We gather not out of tradition, not because the calendar tells us to, but because we are committed to taking seriously the work of building equitable, compassionate, and just communities. This is who we are, not just what we do.”

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, an associate professor of philosophy at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Climate and Community Institute, served as the featured speaker for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Convocation. He is the author of Elite Capture and Reconsidering Reparations, a contributor to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, and a past recipient of a Marguerite Casey Freedom Scholar fellowship. His presentation was titled “Becoming Firefighters: Climate Justice and the Fight for a Free World.”

He examined recent actions taken by the federal administration to seize oil assets in Venezuela and spoke about the political and economic power of fossil fuel companies. “The control those people and their allies have over our entire lives depends on the political power they wield and defend with the money they get destroying our air and water,” he said. 

Following the convocation, a ceremony on Thomas Plaza rededicated the EMU Peace Pole with a vision for peace, justice, and shalom on Earth, including all living things (represented by a new plaque featuring animal prints). The Peace Pole was recently resealed and painted and has newly installed “May Peace Prevail on Earth” plaques. 

Throughout the day, the conference room inside the Student Life Suite transformed into an aromatherapy space, filled with the scents of soap and essential oils. Simone McKelvey, owner of the Simone & Tuesday skincare brand, led two interactive demonstrations, teaching students, faculty, and staff how to create their own soap from scratch using natural ingredients. “Your skin is your largest organ,” she said, “and a lot of the time, we don’t pay attention to what we put on it.”

Participants worked in pairs at eight slow cookers, melting coconut, sunflower, and castor oils, adding lye to distilled water, and mixing the concoction with a stick blender and essential oils to create bars of soap. “When you go to the store and visit the soap aisle, some of them are soap, but some of them aren’t,” McKelvey said. “Some are detergents made with synthetic chemicals. True soap is what you’re making today.”

The sound of knives chopping onions, horseradish, garlic, hot peppers, ginger, and other vegetables reverberated through the Old Common Grounds space on Monday as participants in two interactive workshops sliced and diced fresh, locally sourced, organic ingredients to create their own jars of fire cider. The apple cider vinegar-based tonic supports immunity and digestion and is packed with  antioxidants, antibacterials, and antimicrobials, making it an ideal remedy for the colder months. In about four weeks, the jars can be strained and used to enhance everything from seltzer water and salad dressing to collard greens, pickles, and hot toddies.

The demonstrations were led by the sister-owners of Kinfolk Farm, a Black women-led farm in rural West Virginia dedicated to nourishing the brilliance, creativity, and legacy of Black and Indigenous people of the Global Majority.

Scroll through a photo album of the day below!

Thanks to Multicultural Student Services, Student Life, and the office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for planning the series of meaningful and educational events to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This year’s lineup of events includes a convocation with author and philosophy professor Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò, two workshops teaching participants how to create their own handmade soap, and two sessions demonstrating the use and benefits of a spicy, vinegar-based tonic known as “fire cider.” All events are open to the public.

The celebration is themed “Beyond the Dream: Social Justice and Ecological Consciousness” and centers around the words of Dr. King’s “A Christmas Sermon on Peace” speech from 1967:

It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated. We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied into a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects on directly, affects all indirectly.

The chosen theme closely aligns with the university theme of sustainability for the 2025-26 academic year. “That was intentional,” said Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services at EMU and chair of the committee planning the celebration. “This is a good time in our country to remember that not everyone is equally privileged and that we should really pay attention to Dr. King’s quote. We are all interconnected, and it’s a great time to practice self-care and self-awareness, recognizing that everyone’s journey is different.”

Monday’s events start at 9:45 a.m. in University Commons with a Unity March around the indoor track. The march will proceed to Lehman Auditorium, where an open forum-style Speak Out event will be held at 10 a.m.

Convocation

Convocation at 10:15 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium will be led by , an associate professor of philosophy at Georgetown University and a fellow at the Climate and Community Institute. Táíwò is the author of Elite Capture and Reconsidering Reparations, a contributor to Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book, and a past recipient of a Marguerite Casey Freedom Scholar fellowship. His presentation will be livestreamed on and uploaded to the EMU .

“A lot of his work is around social justice reparations and how it connects to sustainability, which we’ll hear in his speech,” Thomas said. “He really fits what we want to do and the message we want to convey.”

Following his convocation, a soul food lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Northlawn Cafeteria. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Táíwò will lead a Q&A session at the MainStage Theater (University Commons 170). 

Soapmaking

In the afternoon, two “Skin Sabbath” soapmaking sessions led by Simone McKelvey of Simone & Tuesday will be held in University Commons 211/212. The first session will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the second session will be from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Limited space is available for participation and advance is required. Seats will be available for unregistered participants who can watch the demonstrations.

Simone & Tuesday is a natural skincare solutions company founded on the belief that healthier skin should be natural, affordable, and for everyone. Through her soapmaking sessions, McKelvey teaches small groups how to make their own all-natural, personal care products.

“We held an event called ‘Hairitage’ last February with BSA during Black History Month, where students made their own hair products, and it was packed,” Thomas said. “That helped me realize that this generation of students responds well to hands-on activities. They enjoy the opportunity to take something home with them when they leave.”

Fire cider

A pair of fire cider workshops led by Kinfolk Farm will be held at the Old Common Grounds space (University Commons 177) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. Limited space is also available for participation in this event and so advance is required. Seats will be available for unregistered participants who can watch the demonstrations.

The Black woman-led farm in rural West Virginia is dedicated to nourishing the brilliance, creativity, and legacy of Black, indigenous people of the Global Majority. At Kinfolk Farm, food sovereignty, land liberation, and healing justice are daily practices woven into the way they plant, harvest, cook, and gather in community.

Participants in these two interactive sessions will learn the history of fire cider along with its traditional wellness practices. They’ll also be invited to try a sample! The spicy, tangy folk remedy is often used to support the immune system and is typically made by infusing apple cider vinegar with ingredients such as horseradish, ginger, garlic, onion, hot peppers, and honey. 

Climate simulation

A world climate simulation facilitated by Levi Clymer ’25, EMU event operations coordinator, will be held from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the University Commons Student Union. Participants in this interactive exercise will act out the roles of international delegates at a United Nations summit and negotiate a global agreement to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. is also needed to participate in this event.

In case of changes to events due to inclement weather, visit for updates.

Scroll down to the end for an embedded video of the convocation.

Plus, watch the video below

“I get out of the car and these two girls are running by and, all of a sudden, one of them says, ‘Hi, Dottie,’” said Weber. That student turned out to be Maria Longenecker, a senior biology major who had Weber as an eighth grade teacher.

“Maria was one of the students I wanted to see,” Weber said. “And here she was, the first person I meet on campus. It’s unbelievable.”

Her husband Tim chimed in: “You have to understand, we could be at the top of Mount Everest and she’d know somebody. We could go anywhere and inevitably someone will say, ‘There’s Dottie!’”

Weber recalled last being on campus in 2005 to cater the wedding reception of alumna and former faculty member Catherine R. Mumaw. She was one of nearly 70 members of the Class of 1975 making a special trip back to EMU this weekend for their milestone 50th reunion during Homecoming 2025. 

As she and a group of classmates sat at a table in the Seminary Building on Friday leafing through a Shenandoah yearbook from 1975, they marveled at old photos and reminisced, sharing stories and memories from their time at EMU. 

“It’s amazing who I can remember from these photos,” someone says. 

Another alumna asks, “Does anyone remember taking classes in the old chicken house? Is this the building where it used to be?”

One of those classmates, Julia Shultz King ’75, traveled all the way from Melbourne, Australia, to attend the homecoming festivities. After graduating with a nursing degree, she worked for the Medical College of Virginia and eventually the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, before serving as a missionary with Youth With A Mission. She has lived the past 13 years in Australia. 

She shared a story about putting out a fire in the Northlawn dormitory, after someone had left a candle near the window and a curtain had caught alight. This was the first reunion she could remember attending. She had missed the 50th reunion for her high school in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, because Australia had been in lockdown in 2021, and so “it made me extra want to be here,” she said. 

“I’m happy to be well enough that I could travel alone to get here,” King said.

Her friend, Weber, said something similar: “Who knows, at this age, you might not be able to come back in another five years.”

This group of alumni, said Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, who serves as director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU, was the only graduating class to ever create a two-volume yearbook. The Class of 1975 welcomed Alex Haley, author of Roots, to campus as part of a lecture music series. And the cross country team made EMU history, becoming the National Christian College Athletic Association cross country champion that year. 

“There was also a unique tradition that happened during y’all’s time here,” she said. “Newly engaged students were thrown in the fishing pond. A lot of people got engaged that year, from what I’ve learned.”

Homecoming weekend is all about celebrating and reconnecting with one another, with this campus, and with the values that make EMU such a special place, Reed said during the on Saturday morning. “Whether you’re an alum returning after many years or a student just beginning your journey, this is a time to remember that EMU is family,” she said. “And there’s always a place for you here.”

Keep reading for highlights and photos from the weekend’s events!

Seated on a couch in the Student Union, Doris Horst Toll ’79 and her husband Marvin took the morning on Saturday to relax and unwind as they sipped on a hot cocoa from Common Grounds and flipped through the latest issue of The Weather Vane student newspaper. The couple from Michigan had returned for Homecoming to connect with old friends and had attended the at Lehman Auditorium the night before. “It brought back a lot of good memories of being in that chapel as a student,” she said.

Hall of Honor

MainStage Theater was packed to the gills on Saturday for a ceremony celebrating this year’s four Hall of Honor inductees: 

• Athletics events coordinator Phil Guengerich ’70 was introduced by EMU Athletic Director Carrie S Bert ’97.
• Volleyball middle blocker Justin Reesor ’10 was introduced by former teammate Ben Yoder ’08. 
• Soccer forward Mitchell Leap ’12 was introduced by former coach Roger Mast ’85.
• Basketball center David Falk ’15 was introduced by former coach Kirby Dean.

An alumna attending the ceremony, Debbie Swartley ’08, of Penn Laird, Virginia, ran cross country and track while at EMU, and said she typically comes to Homecoming every year. “It’s just so much fun to be back on campus,” she said. “We typically walk around to see the changes for people who haven’t been here in awhile, and the kids love it.”

Gatherings and reunions

The weekend featured several gatherings, including:

• one celebrating the 50th anniversary of EMU’s social work program and the tenure of Professor Deanna Durham, 
• a gathering of alumni shaped by their experiences in the Middle East during 50 years of faculty-led interculturals to the region, 
• and a 50th anniversary get-together for alumni of the recently rebranded EMU Washington Semester program.

An alumnus of the D.C. program, Avery Trinh ’22, was attending the lattermost gathering with his mother, Rebecca Dietz ’79. Both of them were in the program while it was called different names (Trinh was in WCSC in Fall 2021, while Dietz was in WSSY from 1977-78) and under different program directors (Trinh was led by Ryan Good, while his mom was taught by Ryan’s father, Nelson Good). In fact, Trinh said, his mom used to babysit Ryan Good. 

It was his first homecoming since graduating from EMU, Trinh said, and the D.C. reunion offered a way for both him and his mom to get involved. 

“There’s always a lot of chatter about how EMU is changing,” he said. “The reason I really enjoyed my time here is the professors who taught me. They were in it to help students grow. So, as long as people like them stick around, I think EMU is in good hands.”

It had been a little more than a decade since Chris Fretz ’05 had been back to Harrisonburg. But for the economic development grad, who now works as a web developer for a marketing agency in Lancaster, the 20th reunion was enough of a draw to bring him back to campus. His wife, Lindsey Frye ’04, was a student and staff member for the D.C. program and so they also attended the 50th anniversary gathering. 

Some of the biggest changes he’s noticed since he’s been gone include Common Grounds’ move upstairs and the renovation of the old gym into the MainStage Theater, though other changes less visible have been just as significant. 

“It’s been encouraging to see the growing diversity of EMU and to see that the administration is really looking to meet students where they’re at,” Fretz said. 

Meet-and-greet with Interim President Dycus

At a meet-and-greet with EMU’s interim president inside the Campus Center, the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus answered questions from first-generation student and senior nursing major Emily Suarez Nunez. Dycus spoke about her path to EMU and to the leadership position she’s held since July 1, as well as what excites her most. 

She called on alumni to loudly and proudly share the stories of EMU’s successes and talk to others about how EMU has impacted their lives, their children’s lives, and the ways their families have been nurtured by the university.

“We’re not proud enough about who EMU is, but we have an amazing community here, a meaningful mission, and it shows up across the world,” said Dycus, who is the first Black woman to serve in the role. “And I am most excited about being able to be the person who gets to advocate for that everywhere I go.”

TenTalks

At the annual hosted at Martin Chapel on Saturday afternoon, EMU’s three 2025 alumni award winners each had 10 minutes to impact, influence, and inspire the audience. This marked the first time that alumni award winners presented at the event.

The speakers were: 

• Jessica “Jess” King ’96, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, has led equity-driven public sector organizations for more than 20 years. She spoke on the theme of fear and the role it’s played in her career and in her life.
• Outstanding Alum of the Year Brittany Caine-Conley MDiv ’14, one of the lead organizers for Congregate Charlottesville, shared her experiences making connections with local justice groups leading up to the white supremacist rally in 2017 and spoke on the importance of solidarity.
• Alum of the Year Fabrice Guerrier MA ’15 (conflict transformation), founder and CEO of the first collaborative worldbuilding production house for science fiction and fantasy storytelling, spoke about the power of imagination. He invited audience members to close their eyes and picture building a city on a new planet in the year 2035.

Royal City Celebration

Outside on the Front Lawn, the Royal City Celebration had everyone grooving to live music from the Richmond-based Premiere Band and savoring bites from food trucks offering barbecue, tacos, and ice cream. The crisp fall temperature and clear skies could not have been more perfect for the occasion.

The event also featured EMU’s second annual crowning of a homecoming court, which included:

• Seniors Jamaury Starks and Royale Parker
• Juniors Christopher Varone and Janaria Kenreich
• Sophomores Bennett de Tenley and Shawna Hurst
• First-years Johnathan Badowski and Logan Turchetta