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 transition committee will help lay the groundwork of Spanberger’s administration, “focused on lowering costs, expanding economic opportunity, increasing business investment in Virginia’s economy, and creating a safer Commonwealth for all Virginia families,” a announced on Nov. 14.

“These Virginians not only bring together deep ties from across every region of our Commonwealth, but the experience, integrity, and know-how required to deliver the pragmatic and principled leadership that Virginians overwhelmingly voted for this November,” Spanberger said in the release. “These leaders are united for one purpose: putting Virginia first. They will help ensure my administration is ready on day one to begin saving Virginians money, protecting Virginia’s jobs and small businesses, and strengthening the security of our Commonwealth.”

Reed has served as mayor of Harrisonburg, Virginia, since 2017, when she was first elected to City Council. She is the first African American woman elected to the council and also the first to be appointed mayor. Last year, she was reelected to a fourth term, from 2025 to 2028. In February, she was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia for 2025 by Women We Admire.

“It’s an honor to work alongside other leaders from across Virginia to help advance the vision Gov.-elect Spanberger has for the Commonwealth,” Reed said. “This is an incredible opportunity for Harrisonburg, and I’m thrilled to share the work we’re doing here.”

Read our story below to learn how she motivates students to become civically engaged.

In addition to her role as mayor, Reed co-founded On the Road Collaborative, an afterschool program that empowers middle and high school students with educational opportunities and hands-on career experiences. 

She was EMU’s commencement speaker in 2020 and has been an active contributor to campus life, participating in convocations and special events such as the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. In 2023, she joined EMU as its regional advancement director.

Watch WHSV-TV3’s coverage of the news !

A meeting of EMU and Harrisonburg city officials on Aug. 7 marked a milestone in representation, bringing together the city’s first refugee council member (Nasser Alsaadun MA ’17 [education]), its first Black woman mayor (Deanna Reed), and EMU’s first Black woman president (Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus). 

The liaison committee meeting was also attended by Deputy City Manager Amy Snider, filling in for City Manager Ande Banks ’97; Melissa Heatwole, director of continuing education and events at EMU; and Amy Springer Hartsell ’92, executive advisor to the president at EMU. The committee aims to identify ways the city and university can partner together to better serve the needs of the community. James Madison University has a similar committee, and Mayor Reed said she felt it was important that both universities had a voice. 

“There’s no Harrisonburg without EMU and there’s no EMU without Harrisonburg,” she said. 

Dr. Dycus, who began her role as EMU’s interim president on July 1, spoke about the importance that EMU places on community. “We want to grow leaders, whether that’s high schoolers coming straight into their undergraduate careers or whether that’s business leaders who want to get new skills,” she said. “We know we are part of making Harrisonburg stronger, our community stronger, and that we are all doing that together in different ways.”

The university celebrated its second-best fundraising year on record in 2024-2025, Dycus shared, and enrollment figures have increased by a significant amount over last year. She also spoke about EMU’s new pickleball and tennis courts. “If you drive down Park Road, it is abuzz,” she said.

Committee members received an update on Royals Go Downtown. Now in its fourth year, the annual event brings together hundreds of students for a walking tour of restaurants and businesses, sampling foods and collecting giveaways, before gathering at a DJ-led dance party. This year’s event will be held on Thursday, Sept. 25.

Much of the discussion centered around the community’s need for interpreter services. Councilman Alsaadun wondered whether EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) might be able to help fill the gap in interpreter training. The program has a reputation among the local immigrant community as “the best in the area,” he said. “From Winchester to Charlottesville, you guys are the best there is.”

The liaison committee will meet next in November. 

Just before wrapping up her speech at the annual Rally in the Valley conference late last month, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed invited the ballroom full of students to pull out their phones and add her cell phone number to their contacts. 

“I’ve always said I would use my platform to provide endless opportunities for those who need me,” said Reed, who serves as director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU. “Some of you are going to need jobs. Text me. Let me know your name and where you’re from. I’ll make sure to get back to you.”

The two-day event, held from March 27-28 at the Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center in Harrisonburg, brought together about 200 undergraduate students, faculty and staff from a dozen accredited social work programs across the state. The annual conference is sponsored by the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium (VSWEC) and provides a place for bachelor of social work (BSW) students to network and connect, share resources and ideas, and learn about graduate school and career opportunities in a professional conference milieu. 

Fifteen students and four faculty members from EMU’s social work program attended the conference. Among them were three students who collaborated with peers from James Madison University and Virginia Union University to plan and organize the event. The theme of Rally in the Valley 2025 was “Learning Beyond the Classroom.”

In addition to her role as mayor, Reed co-founded On the Road Collaborative, an afterschool program that empowers middle and high school students with educational opportunities and hands-on career experiences. The Harrisonburg-based nonprofit has also provided internships to many social work students over the years. “Social work is not just a profession,” Reed said in her speech welcoming students, faculty, and staff to Harrisonburg. “It is a calling to build and strengthen communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.” 

Reed, recently named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Virginia for 2025, was introduced on stage by EMU Social Work juniors Abadit Desta and Ekram Siraj, who served on the conference planning committee. The two students participated in On the Road Collaborative as middle schoolers and credited the program with helping them succeed. 

This year marked the first time that students from Blue Ridge Community College attended Rally in the Valley. Students graduating from a community college with an associate’s degree in human services can easily transfer to a school like EMU and earn their BSW in two years, said Professor Deanna Durham, director of the social work program at EMU. 

A job fair at the conference, featuring representatives from local community service boards, hospitals, the state Department of Corrections, and other employers, gave students an opportunity to learn more about available positions in the workforce. “There are a lot of job openings in mental health right now,” Durham said. “The demand is greater than the supply. What I love is that some corrections programs are leaning into restorative justice, which aligns with the ethics and philosophy of our EMU students.”

Students could also meet with admissions counselors from several schools to explore graduate programs. At a table stocked with brochures and resources, Merry Yirga and Lexi Brown from undergraduate admissions worked to spread the word about EMU’s offerings. “The conflict transformation program has really been a draw for people looking at master’s degrees,” Brown said.

Through what is called an accelerated or advanced study, BSW graduates from EMU can earn their master of social work in just one year if they meet GPA requirements. That’s the result of EMU’s full accreditation with the Council on Social Work Education.

EMU senior Cecilia Rafael Castelan said she was looking forward to attending a pair of workshops, including one focused on budgeting skills for new social workers. Castelan said the conference helps her connect not only with other BSW students from around the state, but also with her own EMU classmates. “Since we’re all busy with our practicums, we haven’t had time this semester to debrief as much as we usually do,” she said. “It’ll be nice to spend time with them.”

First held in 1980 at Massanetta Springs in Harrisonburg, Rally in the Valley was created by faculty from JMU and EMU. Today, the 13 colleges and universities in the Virginia Social Work Education Consortium take turns planning and hosting the statewide conference. Students attended the 2025 conference from: Blue Ridge Community College, EMU, Ferrum College, George Mason University, JMU, Longwood University, Mary Baldwin University, Norfolk State University, Radford University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, and Virginia Union University.

There’s a new morning talk show host in town, and she’s here to celebrate.

As a special Mornings with the Mayor edition of Convocation on Wednesday, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement and community connections at EMU, stepped into the role of host as she interviewed several trailblazing women leaders making their mark on campus. The one-of-a-kind program, held at the Student Union, celebrated Women’s History Month and paid tribute to departing EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman.

Reed steered the show with her trademark candor and panache, holding court over the “live studio audience”—one student could be seen regularly holding up an “Applause” sign—while she posed fascinating questions to EMU students, staff, and alumnae. “It’s the show where we bring you big energy, great conversations, and way too much coffee,” quipped Reed.

The first guests to grace the stage were a pair of EMU students, Arelys Martinez Fabian and Meredith Lehman, and a recent alumna, Ray Ray Taylor MS ’24. Fabian, co-president of Student Government Association, highlighted the increased representation of women in campus leadership roles. Taylor, a lab instructor who was a track and field team, called for erasing negative stereotypes and for supporting women in sports. When asked about which woman in history she would share a meal with, Lehman, a Rhodes Scholar studying at Washington Community Scholars’ Center, answered that she had recently heard about Zheng Yi Sao, a pirate leader active in the South China Sea from 1801 to 1810. “She was one of the most successful pirates in a time where you don’t really hear about female pirates,” Lehman said. “I would ask her where she pulls from to gain confidence and belief in herself”

Another panel discussion featured three powerhouse administrative leaders who are “changing the game in education and beyond”: Carrie Bert, Dr. Shannon Dycus, and Dr. Tynisha Willingham. Asked to provide her younger self advice, Bert, EMU athletic director, said she would’ve told her to pause and breathe to appreciate the moment. Dycus, vice president for Student Affairs, Equity and Belonging, shared some tough conversations she had when starting in her role about fighting hard to be heard. Willingham spoke about unique challenges she’s faced as a woman provost. “I think we often still see that even when women are in leadership roles, they are expected to be nurturing and can’t be as direct,” she said.

Clad in her signature royal blue pantsuit, Huxman, the featured headliner for Reed’s morning show, bounded down the aisle and shined in the spotlight. Huxman is EMU’s ninth president, the first woman to lead in the role, and is retiring this summer after nine years of service. She joked about some unexpected lessons learned over those years. “I started with a closet that had five blue outfits,” she said. “It’s half my closet now, skirts and outfits like this, and even shoes.”

She also spoke about forming closer connections between the university and city, colloquially known as the “town and gown relationship,” during her time at EMU. Early on, she said, she had visited with elected officials, educators and business leaders who told her they had never stepped foot on EMU’s campus. “I tried to work, especially in that first year, to get folks to campus,” she said. “I brought the delegates and our elected representatives up to my office. And, again, they said, ‘Well, I’ve been an elected representative for 12, 15 years, and I’ve never been in the president’s office.’”

At a time when many colleges across the nation are shuttering their DEI programs, EMU is doubling down on its commitment to the initiatives that bolster diversity, equity and inclusion and make all students on campus feel welcome. Huxman spoke about initiatives she’s witnessed over her two terms, including the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration started by Celeste Thomas during her second year as president, the Black Lives Matter mural—the only city in Virginia with a BLM street mural, Reed said—the establishment of the Office of DEI, the start of the Lavender Graduation, and the institutional statement on land acknowledgement. “It is EMU’s time to lean into DEI,” Huxman said. “It’s wrapped into our mission, it’s wrapped into our vision and values, it’s wrapped into the Sermon on the Mount. And this is who we are as a faith-based institution.”

Asked about which woman she would share a meal with, Huxman answered Ida B. Wells, a journalist and co-founder of the NAACP. “Every time I reread her biography, I just think, how did somebody walk the earth of this magnitude?” said Huxman, regaling the crowd with tales of Wells’ accomplishments. “…I always think that, in a very real sense, the graduates from our university at EMU are well-prepared to be peace and justice advocates like Ida B. Wells.”

A special treat honoring the president was free for those attending the event. Baristas at Common Grounds Coffeehouse whipped up mugs of the “Hux Deluxe,” a vanilla latte with a little cinnamon sugar on top. “I love that it’s a latte and it has cinnamon on it,” Huxman said. “Somebody knows I like that.” 

The interviews were interspersed with video segments documenting powerful EMU alumnae who are shaping the world. These included Khadija O. Ali MA ’01, who became the first female state minister of the Somalian government and serves as an ambassador for the country, and Najla El Mangoush MA ’15, who was the first female foreign minister of Libya. Another video showcased the legacy of the late Sadie Hartzler, EMU’s first full-time librarian whose name graces the library today.

Mukarabe, a student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding who fled genocide in Burundi in 1993, read from a poem and led the crowd in a moment of silence for women persecuted around the world. She was joined by her husband Makinto, a student at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, as they performed music to cap off the event. Together, they shared “Amahoro,” a Kirundi cultural expression conveying peace and God’s blessings, through song.

Braydon Hoover, vice president for enrollment, served as sidekick/announcer for “Mornings with the Mayor.”

The list of luminaries, published online by Women We Admire on Feb. 10, features leaders who are “instrumental in shaping the state’s continued growth and success.” Women We Admire is a membership organization comprised of some of the most accomplished women executives and leaders across the U.S. and Canada, its states.  

Read the full list of awardees here (Reed is at No. 49): 

Reed said she was honored and humbled to be selected for the list. 

“It’s truly amazing to be recognized as number 49 of 50 incredible women across the state who are making a difference and leading with passion and purpose,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful for this recognition and for all the amazing people and colleagues who have supported and inspired me along the way.”

The list recognizes Reed for her community service work through Precious Gems Academy, an afterschool mentorship program she cofounded, and her role as program director for , a nonprofit that connects low-income youth with academic support, career enrichment classes and leadership development. 

“Driven by her love for her community and its children, she began attending city council meetings and was struck by the absence of female members at the time,” the Top 50 article states. “Motivated to create change, she decided to run for office…”

A pioneering political leader, Reed was elected to Harrisonburg City Council in 2016 and was appointed mayor the following year. She is the first Black woman elected to the council and also the first to serve as mayor. In November, she was reelected to a fourth term, from 2025 to 2028.

The Harrisonburg native was named in 2018 to Essence magazine’s “.” She has been recognized by the Virginia Library of Congress as part of the “,” and honored with the 2015 Citizen of the Year Award by Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Commonwealth’s Attorney Marsha Garst. She was EMU’s commencement speaker in 2020 and has been an active contributor to campus life, participating in convocations and special events such as EMU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. In 2023, she joined EMU as its regional advancement director.

Reed, who is running for reelection this year, has served as mayor of Harrisonburg, Virginia, since 2017, when she was first elected to City Council. She is the first African American woman elected to the council and also the first to be appointed mayor. At EMU she is director of alumni engagement & community connections.

During the second annual Stroll to the Polls event on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Rockingham County Circuit Courthouse in downtown Harrisonburg, Reed rallied students from EMU and James Madison University, as well as others in the community, to cast their ballots on the first day of early voting in Virginia. The event aims to increase voter turnout, especially among college students, with marches proceeding from the steps of the courthouse to the city and county polling places.

One of those students attending the rally, EMU sophomore Elie Hoover, a social work and music major, said that having a local leader actively involved on campus helps keep her politically engaged. She feels proud to be an EMU student, she added, knowing that the school has representation in city government.

“I want to do my part because she’s doing her part for us,” Hoover said.

At the Stroll to the Polls event, as she walked along Main Street toward City Hall with a group of other students, EMU junior Royale Parker waved a “Virginia Votes Early” sign and enthusiastically encouraged passing drivers to vote.

Parker, a business administration and psychology major, said she once believed there was no use in voting. “I was one of those students who thought my voice didn’t matter and that my vote didn’t count,” she said. 

But interacting with Reed through committees and clubs on campus has shown her that everyone has a voice and a vote, including her. Reed, she said, has introduced students at EMU to political issues they might have otherwise not known about and has also helped them understand the voting process.

“She’s inspired me to become more involved and excited to vote,” Parker said. 

EMU senior Kay Pettus, a music major and president of the Black Student Alliance (BSA), proudly displayed her “I Voted” sticker as she exited City Hall during the first day of early voting. Pettus, who organized the shuttles for BSA members from EMU to downtown Harrisonburg, said that Reed regularly works with BSA and encourages them to participate in civic events. She said that seeing Reed and others speak at the rally was a powerful experience. 

“I like that they were encouraging students and young people to vote,” Pettus said, “because it is important and our voices do count.”

Students who identify with a political party different than Reed’s say they’ve felt her support. Jason Dwyer, a senior political science and history double major who leads the EMU College Republicans club, said the Democratic mayor takes care to engage with everyone on campus. “I don’t know how many other colleges can say they have a mayor on staff and as part of their community,” he said.

Reed said she felt honored and privileged to know her presence and involvement on campus as a mayor has helped students engage in politics.

“It’s gratifying to see the impact of student participation in shaping our community and beyond,” she said. “Students’ voices are not just significant, they’re essential. Their voices matter and have the power to shape the future, and that is incredibly motivating.”

The event started in 2022 as a collaboration between EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, director of alumni engagement & community connections at EMU. It aims to familiarize EMU students with downtown restaurants and businesses in “The Friendly City,” recently named among , and celebrate EMU’s presence in the community.

Watch WHSV-TV’s video coverage of Royals Go Downtown !

Students arrived by the busload at Magpie Diner—owned by EMU alumna Kirsten Moore ’93—where they munched on chocolate chip cookies and received a welcome from President Huxman. “We love the city of Harrisonburg and we want to show you what it has to offer,” Huxman told students. “We want to show you that it’s friendly, it’s welcoming, it’s diverse, and it loves college students.”

From there, they strolled over to Sage Bird Ciderworks to enjoy refreshing sips of frozen lemonade. 

Throughout the route, EMU faculty and staff were there to assist business owners with giveaways and crowd control. At Aristocat Cafe, Luke Litwiller, director of undergraduate admissions, poured iced pumpkin spice chai lattes for students, whose eyes were glued to the 15 cats inside the cafe, all of which are available for adoption. 

Mashita, a restaurant handing out samples of pork and cabbage dumplings, was a popular stop for students. Many of the students interviewed mentioned it as their favorite treat along the route. Spencer Showalter, Mashita’s catering director, said the event helps introduce their offerings to students. “We love working with EMU,” he said. 

At the Frame Factory & Gallery, students could pose for photos with a royal blue picture frame, custom made to match EMU’s primary color. Shop owner Rhoda Miller ’03, MA ’20 (restorative justice), said participating in Royals Go Downtown provides her an opportunity to give back to her alma mater. 

Students at a stop in Court Square, in front of the Rockingham County Circuit Courthouse, energized by coffee from Broad Porch Coffee Company, danced to music played by EMU’s Rockin’ Royal Pep Band and joined in an “E-M-WHO? E-M-YOU!” chant. 

Walking along Main Street, students savored a mango lassi from Taj of India, snacked on “sticky nuggs” (the name for Billy Jack’s Shack’s signature sauced chicken nuggets), and sampled popcorn from Shirley’s Gourmet Popcorn Company. EMU alumna Lisa Roeschley MA ’01 (education), who owns the Shirley’s store with her husband—and former EMU baseball coach—Rob Roeschley, said she enjoys welcoming the students each year. “They’re excited about visiting downtown and that’s so fun to see,” she said.

The waves of Royals stopped by OASIS Fine Art & Craft for EMU-themed lollipops and PULP in Shenandoah Bicycle Company for Japanese vegetable curry before wrapping up their food tour at Turner Pavilion. There, slices of pizza from Benny Sorrentino’s, ice cream from Klines Dairy Bar and treats from Ott Street Eats awaited them, in addition to a DJ-led dance party and greetings from Mayor Reed. 

Thank you to the President’s Office, Advancement, Campus Activities Council, and the many Harrisonburg establishments and EMU donors for making this amazing event happen!

The professor is working alongside James Madison University faculty members Mollie Godfrey and Carole Nash, and with JMU Libraries.

A feature story about the partnership between the two universities and their work was published online this month in Madison Magazine, the official publication of JMU. for the story by Josette Keelor. 

According to Keelor’s story, the Ida Mae Francis Tourist House, at 252 N. Mason St., dates to the early 1900s and “has witnessed at least three distinct eras — as a successful woman-owned boarding house, a Green Book safe place for Black travelers and the lifelong home of siblings Henry and Lois Rouser.” It’s welcomed such guests as prominent inventor and scientist George Washington Carver and members of Duke Ellington’s and Count Basie’s bands.

In the 1950s and early ’60s, the house was listed in several editions of the Green Book, a guide featuring businesses across the nation that welcomed Black travelers during Jim Crow (). The house became known as a safe place to stay when coming to or passing through Harrisonburg, and is the city’s last remaining Green Book-listed property.

“Now, more than 60 years later, JMU and EMU faculty are sifting through rooms of documents, photos and decor that will add depth to the stories that helped define a community,” Keelor writes in her story.

“Sawin has been putting together the story of the house, while Nash, some of her students and Godfrey fill in the gaps through the larger context of the history of the neighborhood and city,” she adds.

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, whose father William Reed recently inherited the house, remarked on the importance of the partnership.

“It has allowed us to preserve this history,” she said in the Madison story. “We couldn’t have done this without the support of both universities.”

More stories about the historic Ida M. Francis House

WHSV (Aug. 7, 2024) — ““
Daily News-Record (Aug. 1, 2024) — ““
WMRA (May 2024) — ““

The world premiere of EMU’s Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid video at the Campus Center last week was glitzy, glamorous and grand. It had all the star power of a Hollywood awards show; actors Dennis Quaid and Billy Porter made video appearances. It had the high-energy feel of a rockin’ club, thanks to bachata lessons from the Latinx Student Alliance and a DJ-led dance party. And, said those who attended the premiere last Thursday, it showed how far EMU has come in its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).

The nationally-syndicated, short-form documentary focuses on EMU and its approach to advancing DEI as a peace and justice university. The Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid crew filmed footage on the Harrisonburg, Virginia, campus in late October. The four-and-a-half-minute episode will be distributed to public television affiliates nationwide during the week of April 29 and will air in all 50 states for an estimated reach of more than 60 million households. 

“It is the first time in university history that EMU will be showcased on such a grand national scale,” said EMU Regional Advancement Director and Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, who served as a host for the event.

Watch the on the Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid website.

In addition to the documentary episode, a 30-second promo for EMU will air during peak time (7-11:45 a.m.) and prime time (6-11:45 p.m.) on news networks between April 4 and April 30. Those networks include CNN, CNN Headline News, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox News, Fox Business Network, TLC, Travel, and Discovery. The promo video will have an estimated reach of more than 85 million households.

Watch the promo commercial.

The night’s other host Braydon Hoover, associate vice president for advancement at EMU, said Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid also will design and generate an email campaign that sends the documentary to its database, which is more than 1 million contacts strong.

About 200 students, faculty, staff and community members packed Martin Greeting Hall inside the Campus Center for the watch party. They snacked on food from Korean restaurant Mashita, noshed from a mac ’n’ cheese bar, sipped mocktails from Merge Coffee Roasters, and indulged in treats from BMC Bakes, Pioneer Catering, and PrePOPsterous Gourmet Popcorn. 

Eventgoers, many of whom were dressed to impress, posed on the blue carpet and snapped pictures at a photo booth. 

Seven lucky raffle winners went home with a one-of-a-kind Herm lion head, each painted in the likeness of a DEI club or organization: Asian/Pacific Islander Student Alliance, Black Student Alliance, International Student Organization, Latinx Student Association, Queer Student Alliance, Disability Students Alliance, and the Office of DEI.

The event began with a performance from the EMU pep band, who stormed the stage playing Celebrate! and loosened up the crowd.

The EMU Gospel Choir, led by Kay Pettus and accompanied by Professor David Berry on piano, performed “Grateful” by Hezekiah Walker and “He Has Marvelous Things” by Pastor LaRue F. Kidd. Members of the gospel choir are: Reah Clymer, Marciella Shallomita, Laurel Evans, Genesis Figueroa, Canyon Penner, Jacob Nissley, Alaiyis Jasper, Philip Krabill and Micah Mast.

Members of the Latinx Student Alliance, Cristal Narciso, Belen Hernandez, Edwin Rios, and Emily Diaz, instructed the crowd in bachata dance lessons.  

EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman shared in her remarks the progress the university has made in its DEI journey. In 2017, 25 percent of first-year students at EMU identified as persons of color. In 2024, that figure has risen to 44 percent of first-year students. Other steps forward include: the hiring of Dr. Jackie Font-Guzmán in 2021 as the inaugural vice president for DEI, making DEI an essential part of onboarding for EMU faculty and staff, and putting inclusivity at the center of EMU’s five-year strategic plan Pathways of Promise. Huxman said the producers of the Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid series were motivated to “find the gems” where DEI has taken root in positive ways and chose EMU as a shining example.

Keynote speakers and EMU alumni Christian Parks ’16, Akiel Baker ’21 and admissions counselor Merry Yirga ’23 shared their experiences of being students of color at EMU, a predominantly white institution, and how they’ve seen the school grow in its commitment to justice and equity over the years. They spoke about the creation of the Office of DEI and the Black Student Alliance and thanked all the people who paved the way for progress at EMU.

Showtime!

Award-winning actor Billy Porter greeted those attending the event with a video message promoting love, grace and compassion. 

Next, it was Quaid’s turn to appear on screen. From a high-rise overlooking the Los Angeles skyline, the movie star introduced the topic of diversity.

“While we’ve made great strides, there’s always room for improvement,” Quaid says in the opening. “Advocates who are steadfast in their mission for inclusion can be found in just about every industry, as we’re about to see.”

The video features shots of students on campus and interviews with President Huxman, Font-Guzmán and alumnus DeVantae Dews ’19.

Before hanging up the microphone, Hoover announced that Font-Guzmán had been named the 2024 Diversity Business Leadership Award by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce.

Crowd Reactions

As she took in the night of celebration, Font-Guzmán said it was time to “go back and continue the hard work” to make EMU “the most inclusive university in the world.”

“We’re not there yet,” she said. “I know that not every single person here feels welcome and a sense of belonging, and every day we move closer to fulfilling our aspirations.”

After watching the video, Amy Knorr, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding’s (CJP) practice director, said it was wonderful to tell EMU’s story to a new audience. “It’s exactly what EMU needs at this point in time to bring us all together and celebrate,” she said. 

Over by the banquet tables, EMU junior Allie Smith eyed the line for the mac ’n’ cheese bar. Smith, who played in the pep band and appeared in the Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid video playing the bongos, said she was “stoked” to see EMU highlighted. “I think we’re well on our way in our DEI journey,” she said. “I think we’re making great strides, and I think this video is one big step toward that.”

Desmoné Logan, a DEI inclusive excellence student leader and a committee member who helped plan the premiere, remarked on the momentous occasion: “This is like the birth of a new baby. It is something we would’ve never imagined two years ago.”

Taking a break from the dance floor, graduate student and gospel choir member Philip Krabill said watching the episode gave him a sense of pride in attending EMU: “Seeing all that we do in that video, I’m thinking, ‘Yeah, I guess we really are making progress, trying to make changes and make a place for everyone to feel welcome.’”

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to the committee whose creativity and vision brought this event to life, including: Jennifer Sodikoff of Contemplate Marketing, Jackie Font-Guzmán, Dawn Neil, Monica Pangle, Tyler Goss, Nicole Litwiller, Deanna Reed, Braydon Hoover, Jen Kulju, Macson McGuigan, Margaux Jacks, Virginia Zelaya, Mike Ramer, Andrea Troyer, Sarah Wittig, Celeste Thomas, Shannon Grinnan, Chris Sharp, Adesola Johnson, Desmoné Logan, Chris Neil, Daniel King, Henry Bowser, Anne Cornelius, Allie Watkins and Kate Landis.

Gratitude also goes out to the generous folks who underwrote the event, including Steve and Tracey Mullet, Brad Driver and Stacy Jennings, and others who wish to remain anonymous.

��ݮ���� will host an in-person “Walking Ceremony” and online Commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020.

The Walking Ceremonies will be Saturday, May 1. [The rain date is Sunday, May 2.] Graduates of 2020 and 2021 are invited to attend one of three smaller ceremonies associated with EMU’s academic schools.

• 9:00 a.m. School of Theology, Humanities and the Performing Arts
• 11:30 a.m. School of Science, Engineering, Art and Nursing
• 2:00 p.m. School of Social Sciences and Professions

An outdoor venue will be used. Graduates may also register four guests. More information will be forthcoming.

Two virtual ceremonies will also be held. The Class of 2021 Commencement will be on Sunday, May 9, at 1 p.m. EST. The Hon. Deanna Reed, mayor of Harrisonburg and a member of EMU’s Board of Trustees, will give the Commencement address.

The weekend will also feature an online commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020. This event will be Saturday, May 8, at 1 p.m. EST. Professor Carolyn Stauffer will give the commencement address.

“With COVID still significantly present in our communities and Virginia guidelines for hosting gatherings still very restrictive, a virtual ceremony and these distanced walking ceremonies will allow us to celebrate our graduates and their accomplishments in the safest way possible,” said Provost Fred Kniss.

The Virginia governor’s related to commencement exercises enabled planning of the in-person events.

For more information, visit .