Ishtiaq Khan MA '24 (conflict transformation), a refugee resettlement caseworker and restorative justice practitioner for The Refugee Center in Champaign, Illinois, received the Immigrant Leadership Award from the Champaign-Urbana Immigration Forum on Sept. 20. Through his work, "Khan focuses on helping people from war-affected and conflict zones like Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria and Iraq, be it organizing children's education, finding jobs or honing in on health," states an article in The News-Gazette.
In The News
Hot off the presses, it's the Summer 2025 issue of Crossroads magazine! Click for a digital copy of the university magazine, featuring multiple student and alumni stories, a new section on the 2024-25 annual report, and of course, our cover story on the passing of the leadership baton to Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus!
Perry Shank 鈥�99, adjunct faculty member of mathematics and computer science, appeared as a featured guest on the Unpacking Education podcast on Aug. 27. Shank, who also serves as senior director of research and development at CodeVA, spoke on the topic of artificial intelligence in computer science education. Listen to the episode
EMU's Intensive English Program (IEP) continues to help English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves, despite federal funding shortages affecting many similar programs around the country.聽 Hear from IEP students about how the transformative program is positively shaping their lives in from WHSV-TV3.
Madelyn McGuigan 鈥�17, a teacher at Spotswood Elementary School in Harrisonburg, won grand prize in the 28th annual Honored Teacher Essay Contest, thanks to a heartfelt essay written about her by one of her fifth-grade students. Chosen from teachers in three school divisions, McGuigan鈥攚ho graduated from EMU with degrees in Spanish and sociology鈥攔eceived a $1,500 award. In his essay, the student praised his teacher for her 鈥渄edication to daily learning鈥� and incredible patience.
The Daily News-Record spilled some ink on EMU Professor Kirsten Eve Beachy '02 and her new collection of essays, Martyrs and Chickens: Confessions of a Granola Mennonite, in a Thursday, April 24, article. Beachy, reading excerpts from the book at a Writers Read on Tuesday, delivered 鈥渇requent moments of sarcastic and dark humor (that) made the audience at the event laugh,鈥� the reporter wrote. Watch a recording of the event .
There are still spots open for the area鈥檚 first-ever meal-packing project hosted by EMU Y-Serve next week. Sign up to help assemble 100K meals to feed hungry children around the world. Read the Daily News-Record鈥檚 article about this amazing volunteer opportunity and how EMU is partnering with Tacos 4 Life and Feed My Starving Children.
EMU alumnus Levi Geyer 鈥�22 is taking environmental sustainability to a whole new level. The Iowa farmer gathers yellowbud hickory nuts from parks and conservation areas to produce hickory oil, which is then filtered, bottled and sold. A recent article in The Marketplace, the official publication of Mennonite Education Development Associates, highlights his mission to popularize the oil. In the article, Geyer credits EMU鈥檚 environmental science classes with showing him the connection between agriculture and sustainability.
Check out our new TV/streaming ad! Thanks to EMU students for helping to tell our story鈥攕pecifically聽those who served as narrators:聽Garrett Nyce, Naomi Kratzer, Oslyn Mejia Gomez, Nussa Garti, Maria Longenecker, Jacob Sankara, Getachew Tamare, Sara Kennell, Nashay Dixon, Jenna Weaver, Tyler Thompson, and Damon Morgan.
Vice President of Enrollment Braydon Hoover talks about the EMU Promise Grant, which covers the full cost of tuition for eligible students. Learn more about EMU's commitment to making an exceptional education accessible to every student who dreams big and works hard, but may need a little leg up.