Commencement is fast approaching, bringing a full weekend of events and ceremonies honoring this year’s graduating class. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions to help guide you through the weekend.

When is Commencement and where will it be held?

��ݮ����’s 108th annual Commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026, in Yoder Arena. View the map below.

How long will it last?

The ceremony lasts about two hours.

Will the ceremony be livestreamed?

A live video feed of the Commencement ceremony will be available on .

Where should I park?

Please see the campus map for parking information. The south portion of the University Commons parking lot will be reserved for handicapped and mobility-restricted parking. Guests may notify a parking attendant if assistance is needed in getting from the parking area to the commencement seating.

Where should I sit?

Seating is first come, first served and opens at 11 a.m. on Sunday. A remote viewing location will be available in University Commons Room 177.

How many students will be graduating?

EMU will award 313 degrees at Commencement. The total includes 171 undergraduate degrees, 129 graduate degrees, 10 Eastern Mennonite Seminary degrees, and three doctoral degrees, as of April 23.

Who will deliver the commencement address?

Dr. Angela J. Lederach, an anthropologist and assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University, will deliver the address. Learn more about her below.

Who else is speaking?

Graduating seniors Dylan Hall and Arelys Martinez Fabian, and Yenifer Dottin-Carter from the MA in Counseling program, will offer graduates’ perspectives.

Who are the class officers?

The 2026 undergraduate class officers are:

• Co-presidents: Genesis Figueroa and Arelys Martinez Fabian
• Business manager: Ethan Neufeld
• Secretary: Maria Longenecker

Is the event free? Is there a limit to how many guests can attend?

Commencement is free to attend, with no ticket required and no limit on the number of guests.

What other events can I attend?

Ten graduating seniors will be honored as 2026 Cords of Distinction recipients in a special ceremony on Friday, April 24, at 10:10 a.m. in Martin Chapel. EMU will host its fifth annual Lavender Graduation on Friday, May 1, at 7 p.m. in University Commons Room 177 (Old Common Grounds) to honor LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni. EMU’s 11th annual Donning of the Kente ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 2, at 3 p.m. in the MainStage Theater to recognize graduating students of color and international students. On Sunday, May 3, after Commencement, the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding will host a graduation celebration at 4 p.m. in Martin Chapel. All events are listed online here.

When is Graduate Celebration and Sending?

Graduate Celebration and Sending will take place on Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium. Dr. Tara L. S. Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, is the featured speaker for this year’s event, which is for all graduating students. The event will include performances of music and poetry from students, as well as the presentation of the class gift.

Will the dining halls be open?

Here’s the dining hall schedule for commencement weekend:

Saturday

• Continental breakfast: 8:15-9 a.m. 
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 
• Dinner: 5-6 p.m. 

Sunday

• Continental breakfast: 8:15-9 a.m. 
• Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. 

What are some other places to eat and things to do in Harrisonburg?

Check out  to celebrating graduation weekend in Harrisonburg from the city’s tourism office, packed with recommendations for dining, graduation gifts, and things to do while you’re in town.

When will the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, campus hold its graduation?

EMU at Lancaster will hold its commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo will deliver the address. EMU at Lancaster will award 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates at the ceremony.

Where can I find more information?

Visit or email questions to commencement@emu.edu.

The graduates, Alberto Mederos and Jany Carballo, completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP. They received graduation certificates and stoles emblazoned with the flags of both their home country, Cuba, and the United States, along with hugs from their instructors. Each of the two graduates spoke during the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in EMU’s Roselawn Building.

Mederos thanked his teachers for boosting his confidence, pushing him forward, and never letting him give up.

“Thank you so much for preparing us for life in this new country, the United States of America, where learning English is a vital necessity,” he said.

He shared a few words of advice for fellow students still in the program. “Never give up and keep pushing,” he said. “With resilience, determination, and effort, you can turn your own dreams into reality.”

Carballo credited her IEP instructors with believing in her, supporting her, and helping her regain motivation and self-confidence.

“This program is the best place to start when you are an immigrant learning a new language,” she said. “You made me feel safe, supported, and as part of the family.”

The path wasn’t easy, she said, with ups and downs and moments when she felt like giving up. But with the IEP’s help, she faced her fears and reached her first goal: building a foundation in English.

“I feel confident knocking on any door and looking for new opportunities,” she said. “Thank you for being my stepping stone to the next level of my life.”

In his address to the graduates, their families and friends, and others gathered for the ceremony, IEP Director Jeremy Samsoe reflected on the idiom “going back to square one.”

“It means to go back to the beginning of something,” he said, and oftentimes, the phrase is associated with some kind of failure. “Maybe you failed at a task, failed at a job, and now you must go back to square one.”

“For many of you here, being in a new country and starting a new life can feel a bit like being at square one—that you are completely starting over,” Samsoe said. “I like to remind students that you are not truly starting at square one. You are starting many new things, but you also bring with you many things: your language, your culture, your expertise.”

“For both of you, Jany and Alberto, this is like moving one more square,” he said. “It’s not the end of your education or your language learning, but it is a step forward. It is an accomplishment, one among many, that you will have in your life.”

The ceremony also included remarks from Harrisonburg Councilman Nasser Alsaadun MA ’17 (education).

The Iraqi-born educator, who came to the United States in 2008, became the first refugee councilmember in the city’s history when he was elected in the fall of 2024. He repeated something he’s often said—that IEP is the best program of its kind from Winchester to Charlottesville—and expressed deep gratitude for its impact on refugees and immigrants in the community.

“It does much more than teach English,” he said. “It opens doors, builds confidence, and creates opportunities.”

Alsaadun said he’s personally witnessed incredible journeys through the program. “I have seen students arrive with little or no English and, through hard work and determination, go on to pursue graduate degrees,” he said. “That kind of growth is inspiring. It shows resilience, talent, and a strong commitment to success.”

About the Intensive English Program

EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries. 

For more info about EMU’s Intensive English Program, visit .

One of the goals of a road trip is to reach your destination, but that’s not its only purpose, said Samsoe, director of IEP, speaking at the program’s graduation ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Martin Chapel. Oftentimes, the purpose of a road trip is to see exciting things along the way, meet new people, and learn things that you didn’t know before, he explained. 

“It’s a bit like your experience here,” Samsoe said. “And I would say that your time at IEP isn’t actually the road trip but a part of your road trip—a step toward some of the bigger goals you have in your life. Completing IEP isn’t your destination, but it’s a part of the journey to whatever destination you have planned.”

Thursday’s ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of three graduates who completed Level 6, the highest level of classes offered at IEP, during the summer 2025 term. These graduates, who hail from different countries, languages, and cultures, burst into laughter and fought back tears as they described how meaningful the program has been in their lives. They received graduation certificates and stoles, each emblazoned with both the flag of their home country and the U.S. flag.

The summer 2025 IEP graduates, along with their home countries, are:

• Kensly Cassy, Haiti
• Olga Lara, Mexico
• Kateryna Zharkova, Ukraine

Those attending the ceremony included Tynisha Willingham, EMU’s provost and vice president of academic affairs; Jon Swartz, dean of students; the graduates’ friends and family members; and students enrolled in IEP. The ceremony was followed by a potluck meal held in EMU’s Roselawn Building.

Read on to learn more about each graduate.

Kensly Cassy

Cassy, who has been in the U.S. for two years, joined IEP for Level 6 and described the program as “the best place to start and finish English.”

“It’s fully intensive,” he said. “I tried all the other places (to learn English), but they were all about basics—things I already mastered—so I never fit in anywhere else but here.”

“I learned a lot and we got to know each other,” he added. “Thanks to this program and the help of everyone, I could decide what I’m going to do with my life.”

Cassy is now midway through the semester as a student at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, where he is pursuing a master of arts in conflict transformation. “I’m from Haiti, where we have a lot of conflict,” he said. “When I went (to CJP), I realized it wasn’t only political or social conflict, but that we as human beings have a lot of conflict inside us. … IEP helped me a lot by helping me discover CJP.”

Olga Lara

Lara immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico about 20 years ago, and began her studies at IEP as a part-time student in Level 3 two years ago. She works at COSPU (Coalicion Solidaria Pro-Inmigrantes Unidos), a Harrisonburg nonprofit that empowers immigrant families through help and support, leadership mentoring, cultural and civic education, and advocacy.

She said IEP has helped her feel more confident. “It doesn’t matter how old you are; age is only a number,” the 56-year-old Lara said. “If you feel inside you need to improve your language, you can do that.”

Kateryna Zharkova

Originally from Ukraine, Zharkova started at IEP in Level 4 last fall and hopes to begin pursuing a master of business administration at EMU in January. Following the graduation ceremony, she described feeling “overwhelmed” with emotion.

“Each person at IEP is really important to me,” she said. “They became my family. I have improved my English language and it’s helped a lot with my goals for the future.”

“You have inspired me to keep learning, growing, and discovering new things,” Zharkova said in a speech to her teachers. “Thank you for always making learning exciting and for your patience and for believing in me.”

About the Intensive English Program

EMU’s Intensive English Program (IEP) helps English language learners from all around the world find their voice and build a better life for themselves. In a typical semester, IEP has 60 to 80 students representing 15 to 20 different countries. 

For more information about IEP, visit .

An estimated 3,000 people attended the ceremony to celebrate the graduates.

The Rev. Dr. Lesley Francisco McClendon, senior pastor of C3 Hampton and adjunct instructor at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, delivered the Commencement address. She encouraged graduates to live into the instruction of Micah 6:8, the guiding verse foundational to EMU’s mission: “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” As they leave campus, McClendon urged them to carry that call into a lifelong journey of discovery in the world.

McClendon also serves as a member of the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board and as an instructor at Duke Divinity School. She is the founder of Herstoric Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to empowering leaders of all backgrounds to discover their voice, lead with confidence, and leave a lasting impact. 

“The world doesn’t just need more professionals, it needs more compassionate, just, and humble leaders. And I have no doubt that’s exactly who you are,” she told graduates. “You are ambassadors of hope, agents of change, and bearers of light in a world that desperately needs it.”

Undergraduates Jason Dwyer and Adesola Johnson and MA graduate Getachew Temare presented the graduate perspectives.

For a longer summary of the Commencement address and the graduate perspectives, visit the post below.

EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman presided over the ceremony—her final commencement as university president before retiring later this year.

Cords of Distinction

Ten graduating EMU seniors were honored as Cords of Distinction recipients in a ceremony on Tuesday, April 29, at Martin Chapel. The award recognizes graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions to the university, community, and society over the course of their college careers.

Senior Celebration

Members of the Class of 2025 gathered for  Senior Celebration on Thursday, May 1, at the EMU Discipleship Center. The graduating seniors shared a meal, socialized, played games, snapped a group photo, and received an inspiring message from EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. “Since I announced my retirement earlier this year, I’m really glad to be graduating with the Class of 2025,” she told them. 

Reflecting on the seismic changes and challenges from 2021 to 2025, she praised the graduates for showing “a lot of resolve, a lot of resilience, and a lot of adaptability—those qualities will serve you well wherever you go, through thick and thin.”

Lavender Graduation

EMU hosted its fourth annual Lavender Graduation on Friday, May 2, in the Old Common Grounds space (University Commons 177). The event honors LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni and celebrates their unique experiences, achievements, and contributions to the university.

Nursing Pinning Ceremony

Seventeen new nursing graduates were recognized at a pinning and commissioning ceremony on Saturday, May 3, at Lehman Auditorium. Receiving the nursing pin symbolizes graduates’ completion of their education, their entry into the nursing profession, and their commitment to providing compassionate care.

Donning of the Kente

Tears were shed, laughs were shared, and hugs were held as 38 graduates were honored at EMU’s 10th annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony on Saturday afternoon in the MainStage Theater. The cultural ceremony celebrates graduates who recognize their African and international roots.

Baccalaureate: Graduate Celebration and Sending

Members of the Class of 2025 were honored at the Baccalaureate: Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday evening in Lehman Auditorium. The ceremony included presidential and faculty addresses, senior class salutations, and the presentation of the senior class gift, as well as moments of prayer, music, and poetry from graduates. The service offered graduates an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey as they prepare their hearts and spirit for what lies ahead. 

CJP Celebration of Blessings

The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) at EMU sent 13 graduates off into the world with words of affirmation and reflection at its annual Celebration of Blessings on Sunday, May 4, in Martin Chapel. CJP faculty and staff members provided words of tribute for each graduate, and three graduates shared how their experiences at CJP transformed them.

Carnival Day

Commencement week kicked off on Monday, April 28, with a full afternoon of fun, food, and festivities. Carnival Day, held at the University Commons parking lot, featured inflatable bouncy houses, a petting zoo, a dunk tank, and sweet treats from Smiley’s Ice Cream, compliments of the President’s Office. 

“Today is the first day of finals week, and we wanted to give students an opportunity to relax,” said EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. “And you know what, this gives me a chance to meet with them and talk with them a little bit.”

EMU at Lancaster will hold its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. Stay tuned for a recap of the Lancaster ceremony coming soon!

In the heartfelt ceremony, CJP faculty and staff members Dr. Gloria Rhodes, Amy Knorr, Dr. Joe Cole, and Dr. Catherine Barnes provided words of tribute for each graduate, expressing their feelings of love, pride, and honor. The following CJP Class of 2025 graduates were recognized:

Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation

Réka Bordás-Simon, Nyíregyháza, Hungary

Jess Cochran, Charlottesville, Virginia

Susan Hochstedler, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Dorothy Maru, Eldoret, Kenya

Maybree Spilsbury, Mesa, Arizona

Getachew Temare, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation

Megan Carnice, Quantico, Virginia

Karen Chamblee, Weyers Cave, Virginia

Master of Arts in Restorative Justice

Ann Dye, Blacksburg, Virginia

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice

Sydney Butler, Baltimore

Jim Cole, Lebanon, Ohio

Abigail Stockman, Craftsbury Common, Vermont

Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership

Tyler Carnahan, Broadway, Virginia

Three graduates shared how their time and experiences at CJP transformed them.

Ann Dye ’25 said that being at CJP has been a life-changing experience. She recounted joining a conflict transformation course—her first college class in nearly 30 years—and feeling fear, anxiety, and discomfort. “But all throughout that first semester, I was held in patient kindness by professors who taught in a way I had never experienced before,” she said. “They engaged with curiosity, compassion, and presence, sitting with my own—and maybe a few others’—fear and confusion. They actually demonstrated the peacebuilding skills they were teaching, engaging all of us with dignity, creativity, and adaptability.” 

When she began to explore the field of restorative justice, based on a professor’s recommendation, she said “it felt like finding the half of my life that had been missing.”

Susan Hochstedler ’25 began taking electives at CJP for her seminary degree program. At the time, she said, she was exhausted. She had been leading a church community through the COVID-19 pandemic and also felt weighed down by family issues and the increasing division in society. “I came to CJP because I wasn’t sure what else to do,” she said. “But I stayed because of the knowledge and the passion, the brokenness and the authenticity, and the exquisite beauty of this peacebuilding community.”

When Dorothy Maru ’25 lost her grandmother three months after arriving at EMU, her entire world crumbled and she spent several months trying to make sense of it all. It wasn’t until she took a class with CJP Professor Dr. Paula Ditzel Facci that she began to see that, in the midst of her grief, there was tremendous growth. Her grandmother was “a woman of delusional faith,” Maru said, who believed in things that didn’t make much sense, “but because of how she believed in me, I had no choice but to believe in myself, too.”

“To the Class of 2025, let us go out into the world with a conviction that we are capable of creating a better world,” Maru said. “Let us apply what John Paul Lederach calls The Moral Imagination, to imagine that which doesn’t yet exist, to be delusional enough to believe that it is possible. It’s possible to demand justice, to choose peace, to create space for every voice.”

The ceremony featured a graduate slideshow created by CJP student Hannah Gilman. Katie Mansfield, CJP affiliate faculty member, opened the event with drumming. Maybree Spilsbury ’25 performed “The Swan” on cello, accompanied by Julie Spilsbury on piano. Kory Schaeffer, director of programs at CJP, delivered welcome remarks. CJP students Tabitha Roberts and Josiah Ludwick delivered the student blessings, and CJP affiliate faculty member Dr. Catherine Barnes concluded the celebration with a graduate sending.

The baccalaureate service offers graduates an opportunity to pause and reflect on their journey as they prepare their hearts and spirit for what lies ahead. “It is a moment to look back with pride and to look forward with courage,” said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, in her welcome. The graduates were joined by family members, friends, supporters, and EMU faculty, staff, and administrators to celebrate their achievements.

EMU President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, in her address “You are Salt of the Earth and Light to the World!”, reflected on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and offered three lessons: be other-centered, not me-centered; pay attention to the redemptive love offered all around you, even in brokenness; and step out of your comfort zone and build bridges to solve societal problems.

“My wish for you, Class of 2025, is that you vanquish your fears as you become shakers of salt and beacons of light in your homes, your neighborhoods, your churches, your workplaces, and your communities,” Huxman said.

Huxman, who has served as EMU’s ninth president for the past nine years, is retiring this year. Throughout her two terms, she has worked diligently to help EMU fulfill its Anabaptist mission, inspired by Micah 6:8, to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Chad Gusler, associate professor of language and literature, delivered the faculty address titled “The Sound of Your Love Saying Goodbye.” In his humorous and enlightening message to graduates, the wordsmith reflected on monsters, recounting childhood memories of living near a fantastical, kid-eating monster, and how he later transformed into a tickle monster for his own children. “But here’s the truth: I’m not the only monster in this room,” he said. “You all are monsters, graduating with a BA in monsterhood.”

“You show us, professors, administrators, all the parents out there, who we are,” Gusler said. “Because monsters are mirrors, reflecting the best, and sometimes even the worst, of us. So check your limbs, walk without fear, and embrace your monstrosity.”

Mana Acosta and Meredith Lehman, senior class co-presidents, provided the senior class salutations, reflecting on their experiences as EMU students. Acosta, a Cords of Distinction recipient, spoke about the beauty of transition and of the “gravity to leaving a place” and saying goodbye.

“Some of us are headed into jobs, grad school, or that uncertain place in between,” she said. “But no matter where we land, we carry something from EMU: the quiet belief that we are responsible to the world around us. We’ve learned that justice isn’t only an idea, it’s a habit you practice, and that hope isn’t soft, it’s stubborn. So here we are, standing at the edge of something new. It’s going to be scary, but we’re not doing it alone.”

Lehman, the first EMU student to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, spent the spring semester at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center. She reflected on how living so close to the “upheaval and chaos” in Washington, D.C., taught her an important lesson: “There are people who care, working in quiet persistence” to fight injustice. “There are networks of resistance all around the world, whether you see them or not. This school has prepared us all to be those people.”

“The world needs you desperately,” Lehman told the graduates. “I wait in eager anticipation to see all of my fellow graduates emerge from this institution with vigor, hope, and vision for the world.”

Aja Laun, senior class business manager, and Iris Anderson, senior class secretary, presented the senior class gift to Huxman. The undergraduate Class of 2025 raised money for improvements to the “grasscrete” pathway between the Sadie Hartzler Library and University Commons.

Graduates received an EMU pin representing the wisdom they’ve shared and the investment and commitment they’ve made during their time as students. They were encouraged to wear the pin at Commencement and beyond to celebrate their EMU experience.

Following the service, the graduates, their families, and EMU faculty and staff were invited to a President’s Reception held in the Campus Center Greeting Hall. The event provided an opportunity for graduates and family members to meet with faculty, staff, and administrators, mingle with one another while they remained on campus, and enjoy refreshments.

The ceremony featured piano music from Mikayla Pettus ’25 and adjunct faculty member Harold Bailey, singing from Emma Nord ’25 and Cassidy Williams ’25, and a poetry reading from Alexis Lewis ’25.  Marciella Shallomita ’25 led the prayer of invocation. Professors Dr. Kevin Seidel and Dr. Timothy Seidel, senior class advisors, read scripture passages from Micah 6:6-8 and Matthew 5:1-16. Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, offered the reflection and ritual, and Brian Martin Burkholder, university chaplain, provided the sending blessing.

More than 3,000 people were in attendance to recognize the graduates.

Business leader and philanthropist Jose Koshy, class of ’76, delivered the address on the power of agape love and kindness. He shared three acts of kindness he received at EMC that have guided him in building a career, a business and a family.

When Koshy was an 18-year-old first-year student at EMC, his parents needed to leave Harrisonburg. He could not afford to live in the dorms and, “knowing my situation, God sent Rachel and Robert Stoltzfus into my life.” The couple lived near campus and took him in “with no questions asked.”

“Their home was small, but their hearts were big,” Koshy said. “They gave so much from what little they had. They were rich in spirit and they were generous with it — true agape love.”

Undergraduates Hebron Mekuria and Ariel Morales Bonilla and MA graduate Chidi Ihezuoh offered graduate perspectives.

“Very few things in this world are actually impossible,” Mekuria told the graduates. “Many things can be done. They can be hard, challenging and require lots and lots of work, but they can be done.”

For a longer summary of the Commencement address from Koshy and the graduate perspectives, visit the post below.

President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman presided over the ceremony, and Provost Tynisha Willingham commissioned the graduates. The commencement was Willingham’s first; she started in the role in July 2023.

Cords of Distinction

Ten graduating seniors are 2024 Cords of Distinction recipients. They were honored in a on Friday, May 3, 2024, and wore blue and gold cords signifying their achievement during EMU Commencement.

Lavender Graduation

EMU hosted its third Lavender Graduation on Saturday, May 4, 2024, to honor LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni. The annual event recognizes LGBTQ+ students of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges their achievement and contributions to the university.

Donning of the Kente

EMU held its ninth  on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at MainStage Theater. The annual event recognizes and rewards achievement, honors those who contributed to the graduate’s success, connects graduates to their heritage and international roots, and encourages them to continue striving for excellence. 

Undergraduate Baccalaureate

The undergraduate seniors in the Class of 2024 were honored with a service on Saturday, May 4, 2024, which included a scripture reading, musical selections, an address from Instructor Maria Esther Showalter, senior class salutations and the presentation of the senior class gift. View the ceremony .

CJP Celebration of Blessings

The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) celebrated the 33 graduates from its master’s degree and graduate certificate programs on Sunday, May 5, 2024, with a send-off from faculty and staff and reflections from three 2024 graduates.

EMU at Lancaster will hold its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. The school will recognize 14 aviation graduates and 16 Leadership and Organizational Management (LOM) and Graduate Teacher Education graduates.

Watch for a recap of the Lancaster ceremony coming soon!

Photos by Macson McGuigan/EMU, Cassidy Walker/EMU and Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting

Check out our 2023 Commencement photo galleries of graduation, Lavender Graduation, and the Cords of Distinction and Donning of the Kente ceremonies!

In his Commencement address, Dr. John Lowe ’81 spoke to graduates about the importance of connecting to their purpose. “You each have been given a purpose. During your journey as a student at EMU, your purpose has been challenged, nurtured, come into enlightenment and discovery. Lowe continued in the words of Micah 6:8: “You have committed to ‘do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly’ with your creator, God. Never give up on your purpose. Never stop searching and seeking the truth of your purpose.”

Graduate perspectives were offered by Nardos Haile, Dallas Organek, and Amarea Witt.

Haile, a social work major, BSA executive board member and Cords of Distinction honoree, encouraged the graduating class to “be vulnerable, and be your most authentic self” as well as “to never forget the connections you made here.”

She expressed gratitude to “all the Black women who have served as an inspiration” to her, including Celeste Thomas, Shannon Dycus and Mayor Deanna Reed.

Organek, a business administration and marketing double major, captain of the men’s soccer team and Cords of Distinction honoree, shared that he “quickly learned EMU is a place where you are encouraged to excel both in the classroom and on the field.”

“It was not just the victories and defeats that made my time as a student-athlete at EMU special. It was the sense of community I felt both within the team and across campus,” said Organek.

Witt, who earned a master’s degree in biomedicine, echoed Organek’s comments. “Professors have created an inviting atmosphere both inside and outside the classroom. How often do you get to enjoy s’mores and jump on a trampoline with your classmates in your professor’s backyard or hike a trail to Machu Picchu in Peru?”

Inspired by the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child,” Witt says the “village lasts a lifetime” and that her family village has been expanded by the one built at EMU. “Regardless of what pathways we continue on, our village here will remain,” she said.

President Susan Schultz Huxman presided over the ceremony, and Provost Dr. Fred Kniss commissioned the graduates. The commencement was Kniss’ final one; he will retire at the end of June after serving as provost since 2009.

Cords of Distinction

Ten graduating seniors are 2023 Cords of Distinction recipients. They were honored in a on May 5, 2023, and wore blue and gold cords signifying their achievement during EMU Commencement.

Lavender Graduation

EMU hosted its second Lavender Graduation on May 6, 2023, to honor LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni. The annual event recognizes LGBTQ students of all races and ethnicities and acknowledges their achievement and contributions to the university.

The program honored 15 graduates and alumni and featured an EMU greeting from Jackie Font-Guzmán, vice president of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; undergraduate and graduate speakers, who shared their stories about being a part of the LGBTQ+ community; and a keynote address from Asha Beck ’22. Font-Guzmán and Professor of Education Kathy Evans presented participants with rainbow stoles to wear during EMU Commencement.

Donning of the Kente

EMU held its eighth on May 6, 2023, at Lehman Auditorium. The annual event recognizes and rewards achievement; honors those who contributed to the graduate’s success; connects graduates to their heritage and international roots; and encourages them to continue striving for excellence. 

Each graduate received a stole of kente cloth, a symbol of prestige in many African societies, handwoven for each graduate, or a satin sash with flags from the countries they feel a connection with. Among the many countries represented were Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Liberia, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines.

Each student selected an individual to place the stole or sash around his or her neck. Many seniors wore the stole at Commencement as an important component of their academic regalia.

Hosts of the ceremony were Shannon Dycus, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, and Micah Shristi, director of international student services. Drummers with Drums for Wellness and Community Inclusion performed musical selections during the processional and recessional of graduates. Brian Martin Burkholder, university chaplain, gave the blessing.

Photos by Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting and The Downtown Creative

“Graduation is a celebration of learning,” said CJP Academic Director and Professor Gloria Rhodes to an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends, faculty and guests who gathered to support the group of graduates who “began their study during a time of global uncertainty caused by a pandemic, wore masks, joined classes through Zoom, kept their distance, and contributed to the learning community that is CJP.”

Tarini Nagasaila Suresh (pictured left), an MA in conflict transformation graduate, encouraged her fellow graduates to lean into the messy, confusing and uncomfortable parts of life.

“If we embrace and nurture our turmoil, it can facilitate transformational growth in our lives. If we expect and hope to change the world, we must be the change we hope to see,” said Suresh, who credits CJP with teaching her that she will always be a student of life.

MA in conflict transformation graduate Anne Coyne (pictured right) spoke about the doubts she and others feel about the world and the way those doubts are nourished by fellow classmates. “I have learned that this doubt is not in opposition to hope or purpose, but rather it feeds hope and purpose,” shared Coyne, who says she found a “network of genuine care” at CJP and learned that holding “deep convictions and the worth of every person are intertwined skills.”

The 2023 grads represent four countries—India, Liberia, Mexico and the Republic of Korea—and six U.S. states: California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Graduates will work in the fields of restorative justice, human and victims’ rights, the ministry, environmental justice, peace education, counseling, LGBTQ+ social justice advocacy, and urban studies, among many others.

Keren Kandel (pictured above), who earned an MA in conflict transformation, is also one of the first (along with Grant Miller) to earn a graduate certificate in faith-based peacebuilding. The new certificate for 2022-23 is a partnership between Eastern Mennonite Seminary and the CJP.

Kandel shared her appreciation for the values, principles, models, analysis tools and course content she learned at CJP, but said she holds most closely her “companions and their way of being in the world.” “They have inspired me to continue the ever so daunting, yet incredible work of peace, justice, and transformation.”

Rounding out the celebration was a graduate “sending” by Justice Robert Yazzie, a citizen of and Chief Justice Emeritus of the Navajo Nation; a graduate slideshow; and a ukulele solo of Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher’s “Rainbow Connection” by MA in conflict transformation graduate Elizabeth Eby.

CJP Class of 2023 Graduates

Master of Arts in Conflict Transformation

Erin Campbell – Afton, Virginia

Hyojin Chang – Namyangju, Republic of Korea

Anne Coyne – Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania

Elizabeth Eby – Goshen, Indiana

Keren Kandel – Kouts, Indiana

Tarini Nagasaila Suresh – Chennai, India

Philip Quoqui – Monrovia, Liberia

Graduate Certificate in Conflict Transformation

Tony Fisher – Naples, Florida

Amelia Morrison – Harrisonburg, Virginia

Master of Arts in Restorative Justice

Jill Heine – New Holland, Pennsylvania

Graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice

Jenny Davidson – Lexington, Virginia

Paula Holtzinger – East Berlin, Pennsylvania

Pi Martinez – Santa Barbara, California

Helen Momoh – Harrisonburg, Virginia

Master of Arts in Transformational Leadership

Crisol González García – Cuauhtemoc, Mexico

Haley Smith – Rome, Georgia

“I initially accepted the invitation to speak here because it is such an honor and it felt good for my ego,” he said during the on April 28, 2013. “I was being recognized for all of my great achievements: Should I talk about my work as a member of the Maryland legislature, or what lessons I gleaned from my successful private sector experience? Maybe I should speak about writing a bestselling book and the experience of a national book tour? Surely this was my chance to speak about my thoughts, to share my pearls of wisdom.

“But when I started to write this speech, I struggled,” he added. “Those very thoughts conflicted with what ��ݮ���� stands for, and has taught each of you. Indeed, by extending the invitation, ��ݮ���� was teaching me that what I am trying to do in my life—to serve poor kids and their families, to perform acts of hope and love—is what matters.”

Shriver referenced stories from his father, Sargent Shriver, and his work with the , War on Poverty, , and . Looking back through letters written to him by his father, Shriver identified three key virtues embodied by his father’s life – faith, hope and love.

“Indeed, being good, when no one is looking, being good when the cameras are off and the lights are off, being good to presidents and cardinals was as important as being good to the waitresses or the garbage collectors – goodness, for him [Sargent Shriver] was more important than greatness.”

Mark Shriver is the author of (Henry Holt and Co., 2012), which describes how his father lived out his faith, hope and love in his marriage of 54 years, parenting of five children, and wide-ranging service work.

“My dad would’ve loved today, he would’ve loved the joy that permeates this day and this wonderful university. He would’ve especially loved that each of you, as traditional undergraduates, has completed at least nine semester hours of cross-cultural work. You’ve demonstrated a commitment to , to global awareness and … to the interdependence of cultures and nations.”

Shriver, who is senior vice president for strategic initiatives and senior advisor to the chief executive officer of , modeled humble gratitude to the thousands in the audience. “By asking me to stand in front of all of you—a guy who is not a political potentate or a high-ranking legal scholar, who is not a famous bestselling author—by inviting me to speak—someone who is striving to be a pencil in God’s hand—��ݮ���� has taught me—and I hope all of you—that what is truly important in life is to accept Jesus’ invitation to love and serve each other, to commit to daily acts of hope and love. Maybe even be a good woman, or good man.”

Graduating class

conferred 497 degrees and certificates: 406 undergraduate,

87 earning one of five master’s degrees (not including those from the seminary), three graduate certificates in , and one graduate certificate in non-profit leadership and social entrepreneurship.

The undergraduate class had 104 people who graduated with honors, finishing with cumulative grade point averages between 3.6 and 4.0.

The undergraduate class of 2013 bestowed a monetary gift to develop the area between Northlawn residence hall and Campus Center into a recreational area for future students.

Eastern Mennonite Seminary conferred 24 degrees and certificates: 13 , four , one , five certificates in ministry studies, and one certificate in theological studies.

To listen to the full commencement exercise visit: emu.edu/now/podcast/2013/04/28/2013-commencement/

A full gallery of photos from commencement is posted at .

Front row (L to R): Jennifer Hochstetler, Katherine Nussbaum, Dorine Ndayizigiye, Sarah Roth, Claudette Monroy. Back row (L to R): Jonathan Spicher, Daniel Miller, Jay Michael Harnish, Anastacio Basil Marin, Niclette Kibibi

Ten graduating seniors were honored as this year’s “Cords of Distinction” recipients in an awards ceremony held Saturday, May 1, as part of commencement weekend activities.

The students, nominated by faculty, staff and fellow students, were cited for exemplifying the school’s highest ideals. They wore gold and blue cords as they graduated Sunday afternoon, May 2.

Meaning of the cords

Blue represents the strength of conviction that one person can help to create a better institution or community. Gold represents the love of spirit and yearning towards creating a better university environment or community in which all may take part.

Students embody EMU’s values

The students were selected for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life, for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image, for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area and beyond, for their high academic and social standing and their embodiment of EMU’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

2010 Cords recipients

• Jay Michael Harnish, bachelor of arts degree in biblical studies with minnor in youth ministries, Lancaster, Pa.
• Jennifer K. (Jenny) Hochstetler, BA degree in justice, peace and conflict studies with minor in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), Iowa City, Iowa;
• Niclette I. Kibibi, BA in biochemistry and psychology, Lancaster, Pa.
• A. Basil Marin, bachelor of science degree in business administration with minor in church music, Harrisonburg, Va.
• Daniel N. Miller, BA in liberal arts with minor in history, Corning, N.Y.
• Claudette V. Monroy, BA in economics and justice, peace and conflict studies, Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico
• Dorine K. Ndayizigiye, BS in psychology, Bujumbura, Burundi
• Katherine A. (Kate) Nussbaum, BA in peacebuilding and development with minors in Bible and religion, psychology, history and social science, Mahtomedi, Minn.
• Sarah B. Roth, BA in history with minors in pre-law, political studies, Bible and religion and justice, peace and conflict studies, Harrisonburg, Va.
• Jonathan M. Spicher, BA in biology, Mountville, Pa.

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