When the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus took the reins as EMU’s interim president last July, she worried that she would lose the authentic relationships she developed with students over the years as the former head of student affairs. While it’s true there’s now a greater distance, both figuratively and literally, between Dycus on the third floor of Campus Center and the hundreds of EMU students who cross the Front Lawn below her, it hasn’t been as far as she feared.

Over the past several months, Dycus said, she’s found ways to engage with students and show up for them. And so when a pair of student clubs asked her last month to participate as a panelist in a Valentine’s Day-related “How to Flirt” session, it was another reminder her approach was working.

“My initial reaction was, ‘Is this something a president should do?’ And then I realized that they wanted someone who could speak honestly and authentically, so it was actually an honor they included me,” said Dycus. “It was a wonderful opportunity for me to be with students again and to talk about things that matter a lot to them.”

Dycus isn’t the typical university president. The first Black woman to lead EMU in the role, even in an interim capacity, she’s brought courage and boldness to the presidential suite. That confidence comes from a deep devotion for the university and its mission, shaped by years of serving its students. She said she’s learned to love engaging with donors and stakeholders, sharing stories of the school’s successes and expressing what excites her, well beyond the corners of campus.

“I’ve actually found that to be one of the things I enjoy most about this role,” she said. “My passion for EMU gets concentrated in conversations I get to have.”

As the calendar flips from Black History Month to Women’s History Month and she approaches the ninth month of her two-year appointment, the ordained minister and educator reflected on her leadership, the mentors who have molded her, and her goals moving forward.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP PHOTO: Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus leads a line dance at the Turner Pavilion in Downtown Harrisonburg during the fourth annual Royals Go Downtown in September 2025. | She greets students outside EMU alumna-owned Magpie Diner at the start of the cross-town culinary crawl. | Dycus chats with Jonathan Swartz, dean of students, at the Harrisonburg Holiday Parade in December 2025.

From conversations with faculty, staff, and students at a series of listening sessions held by the marketing and communications team in mid-February, it’s clear that people on campus feel a spirit of change in the air. A renewed energy courses through the veins of the university, and much of it stems from the new face in the president’s office. Dycus, ever the humble servant leader, brushes off the credit and heaps it on the leaders around her.

“Our Executive Leadership Team (ELT) is an adaptive and cohesive team,” said Dycus. “We identified our gaps in areas like branding or fiscal data and have launched shared responses, which is critical. Our team of four deans, with unique portfolios for teaching and learning, is also incredible. It’s a collaborative effort focused on what’s truly a priority for us as an institution.”

That priority has been righting the ship through the headwinds and choppy waters of higher education. Dycus and the leadership team have worked to stabilize the university and guide it toward long-term sustainability, ensuring it can thrive for generations to come.

“One of my goals this year, and as we keep moving forward, is to truly empower faculty and staff on campus to lead within the scope of their work and feel energized and excited about EMU’s identity and progress,” she said. “I want them to know they have permission to advocate, both on campus and beyond, for the good things they see.”

Lately, there’s been plenty of positive news to go around. The momentum from last year has carried into this one, said Braydon Hoover ’11, MAOL ’21, vice president of enrollment and marketing. Undergraduate applications have jumped 92% compared to last year, and offers of admission have risen 126%.

When Dycus looks back at the many mentors in her life, she can’t overlook her roots in the traditional Black church where she was raised. The granddaughter of a pastor in the Disciples of Christ denomination, she recalled the many Black women in her congregation who offered wisdom, corrected her, and challenged her in ways that were important for her formation.

“I felt loved and cared for by each of them,” she said. “They invested in me and poured into me, with their wisdom, time, and energy, in ways I still feel grateful for. How do I continue that investment with the next generation of young people? There’s a real responsibility and commitment in what they gave me.”

One of the people who impacted her most was her high school guidance counselor. As a sophomore starting at her third high school, Dycus struggled to make new friends and figure out her identity. Her counselor, Marilyn Corbitt, was pivotal in helping her find a place where she belonged and in affirming the gifts she saw in herself.

“I left high school and started college hoping I could be a Marilyn Corbitt for someone else,” said Dycus. She earned a degree in education and planned to become a guidance counselor herself.

Corbitt died in September 2019 at age 80. She was one of the only Black counselors at Dycus’ high school of more than 3,000 students and served as advisor to its Black Student Association.

“She did a wonderful job of teaching us many of the things we weren’t learning in the classroom and challenging us to live them out in real ways, from leading service projects in the community to expressing culture in ways that brought joy,” Dycus said. “She encouraged us to use our voices, even when it was uncomfortable.”

“I still carry her spirit and the impact she had on me,” she continued. “I didn’t get a chance to go back and tell her ‘thank you,’ but I carry the hope that I can be Marilyn for whichever young version of Shannon needs it.”

Students at EMU say Dycus has supported them and helped them grow through her mentorship.

“She always chats and checks up on me and emphasizes my mental health,” said senior Nia Boyd. “She’s like an auntie for me. I always enjoy sharing a laugh with her.”

As co-president of the Student Government Association last year, senior Genesis Figueroa worked closely with Dycus. “She was always there to help us out, especially when it was hard being a woman of color on the executive team,” said Figueroa. “I saw how she not only did her job, but also supported and encouraged students to speak up for themselves.”

For senior and first-generation college student Emily Suarez Nunez, Dycus has helped her recognize the value of quiet presence and support and become more confident speaking up for others.

“I appreciate that, even with her new role and responsibilities, she is still Shannon,” said Suarez Nunez. “Every time I see her, she’s the same kind, genuine, listening ear she’s always been. When I talk with her, the world slows down for a few minutes, and sharing that moment feels like a deep breath that refills and recharges me.”

A set of mosaic prints has adorned her EMU offices. The prints feature portraits of people throughout history who have inspired her in different ways.

Among the portraits are bell hooks, the educator and activist who shaped Dycus’ understanding of what it means to be a teacher; theologian and spiritual leader Howard Thurman, the first Black dean of a predominantly white institution; and two icons of the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

“I come to this role of president not as a traditional academic, but as a leader who seeks boldness and truth, like Martin and Malcolm did,” said Dycus. “I come as an educator who is deeply concerned with the growth of humans, as bell hooks was. And I come as someone who pays attention to the spirit in people and in our community, as Howard Thurman did. Whenever I feel fragmented or unconventional in how I arrived here, they remind me how all the pieces can come together in meaningful ways.”

Learn more about Dr. Dycus at��emu.edu/president.

EMU announced the selection of Dr. Dycus as interim president in April after a unanimous vote by the EMU Board of Trustees in March. The decision followed a national search process that began after Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, EMU’s ninth president and first woman president, announced her retirement in October 2024, effective June 30, 2025. Dr. Dycus, the first Black woman in EMU history named to the position, will serve a minimum term of two years.

Since April, Drs. Dycus and Huxman have been meeting regularly to discuss the intricacies of the presidency, engage with key community stakeholders, and identify priorities for the year ahead in order to ensure a smooth transition between leaders.

“The example Susan set for the many female leaders on campus is astounding, and her leadership has empowered us all,” Dr. Dycus said. “I’ve learned so much from the way she has moved through her role, modeled leadership, and created new space to lead authentically.”

Dr. Dycus’ responsibilities include promoting the passions, positive outcomes, and successes of the university to both internal and external audiences. “One of the critical roles of a university president is to serve as its chief storyteller,” said Dr. Dycus. “To be able to advocate, celebrate, and cheerlead for EMU will be an exciting and essential part of my work as interim president.”

As chief storyteller for EMU since 2017, Dr. Huxman is confident in her successor. “Shannon is absolutely the right person to lead EMU into its next chapter. She has the smarts, the stamina, and the faith connections and storytelling gifts.”

A call to lead

After earning a bachelor of arts in middle and secondary education from Butler University, Dr. Dycus served as a high school teacher in Indianapolis from 2006 to 2008. While she loved the classroom, she sensed a deeper calling that extended beyond teaching toward spiritual leadership. She decided to follow in her family’s footsteps and enroll at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS). In 2010, she became a third-generation graduate of CTS, where she earned a master of divinity and was ordained as a minister in the Disciples of Christ tradition.

Dr. Dycus spent time as a hospital chaplain before serving as an academic advisor (2011-2013) and adjunct faculty member (2012-2017) at Franklin University of Ohio’s Indianapolis campus.

From 2013 to 2019, Dr. Dycus served as co-pastor of First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis. It was at First Mennonite that former EMU board member JB Miller ’70 first witnessed Dycus’ leadership strengths. Miller said she struck him as “wise beyond her years” during his time as a congregant. “She leads with confidence,” he said. “There’s a gentleness to it but also a firmness that people find refreshing. She can make tough decisions and is willing to own those tough decisions.”

During a sabbatical in 2017, Dr. Dycus attended a summer program in spiritual direction at Eastern Mennonite Seminary—her first introduction to EMU and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley. She recalls falling in love with the campus and imagining a future in Harrisonburg with her husband, Gregory, and their two sons, Malachi and Semaj.

She saw an opportunity to bring her vision to life two years later when EMU posted for the position of dean of students. Dr. Dycus applied for and landed the job, which she began in July 2019. She served in that role until 2023 and as vice president of student affairs and dean of students from 2023 to 2024, before being promoted to vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging.

Dr. Dycus has “made it a priority to support EMU students as they arrive on campus and to navigate barriers in their education” since 2019 when she created and led the C.A.R.E. Team, a proactive and coordinated response to supporting student needs and their well-being. Dr. Dycus helped EMU to understand and expand its care and services throughout the pandemic.

In 2020 and 2024, she secured Department of Justice sexual violence prevention grants to fund EMU’s Safer Together office. She has worked with EMU Counseling Services to increase staffing and training for mental health support, and has been a staunch student advocate for peaceful responses to global injustices.

“I’ve seen so many students grow just by knowing her, observing her, and having the chance to connect with her,” said Jonathan Swartz MA ‘14 (conflict transformation), MDiv ‘14, dean of students at EMU. Swartz echoed a favorite saying from his high school basketball coach when reflecting on her leadership approach. “Be quick, but not in a hurry.” He said, “Her steadiness and ability to think quickly and plan well, but not be in a hurry, showed up and shined through during COVID.”

That steady, people-centered leadership is something Dr. Dycus intentionally cultivates. “I’ve been trained to be present with people, to show up and listen, offer empathy, and apply what I’ve learned to shape my leadership,” said Dr. Dycus, who earned a doctor of ministry in public theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2024.

The track ahead

As Dr. Dycus takes the lead on the track ahead, her top priority remains EMU students—specifically ensuring they have a safe, supportive environment and meaningful learning experiences. Her vision also includes maintaining a strong commitment to a values-based education while continuing to create new pathways of access and achievement for students, as outlined in the university’s 2023-2028 strategic plan. Another leadership focus will be inspiring confidence among faculty and staff while reimagining a more streamlined academic structure that supports long-term financial stability.

Dr. Dycus says that evolving EMU will not be easy but that she is hopeful. “The role will be challenging. There will be hurdles. But hope comes from a power greater than those challenges and from people united in purpose,” she said. “We can overcome what lies ahead. What we’re building together is stronger than anything that stands in our way.”

To learn more about Dr. Dycus, visit: emu.edu/president

This article is an abridged version of the feature story that will appear in the summer 2025 issue of Crossroads.

Dr. Dycus has spent 15 years working in learning communities and ministry settings, including the past six years at EMU. She served as dean of students from 2019-2023 and as vice president of student affairs and dean of students from 2023-2024 before being promoted to her current role where she oversees the Student Life, DEI, and Athletics departments—and nurtures a co-curricular vision of social accountability, holistic well-being, and academic success for all students.

Dr. Dycus’ selection as interim president was approved by unanimous vote from the EMU Board of Trustees at a meeting on March 26. The decision followed a national search process that began after Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, EMU’s ninth president and first woman president, announced her retirement in October 2024, effective June 30, 2025. The Interim President Search committee included diverse representation from across the EMU community and was co-chaired by Dr. Jim Leaman ’86, associate professor of business and director of the business and leadership program, and Jane Hoober Peifer ‘75, MDiv ‘98, vice chair of the board.

“Shannon has proven her outstanding ability to set vision, listen well, and execute the best way forward as an EMU administrator, and she is a trusted and gifted spiritual leader,” said Peifer. “Shannon is committed to preparing EMU students to be peacebuilders in the world, and her collaborative and decisive leadership is needed in this climate of ever-changing higher education realities.”

“Despite the headwinds in higher education, EMU has established terrific momentum,” said Manuel (Manny) Nuñez ‘94, chair of the board. “A key piece of our success standing out in the world as peacebuilders is achieving academic excellence while maintaining fidelity to our Anabaptist faith tradition. Shannon brings both spiritual depth and strategic vision to the role of interim president—qualities that will serve EMU well in this season of opportunity.”

“I have always seen my own call to lead communities, in both education and ministerial contexts, toward our growth and becoming in relationship with each other and God,” said Dr. Dycus. “I look forward to leading EMU through this transitional moment and continuing its commitment to a values-based education that inspires achievement and compassion.”

Dr. Dycus has “made it a priority to support EMU students as they arrive on campus and to navigate barriers in their education” since 2019 when she created and led the C.A.R.E. Team, a proactive and coordinated response to addressing students and their well-being. In 2020 and 2024, she was awarded Department of Justice sexual violence prevention grants to fund EMU’s Safer Together office. She has worked with EMU Counseling Services to increase staffing and training for mental health support, and has been a staunch student advocate for peaceful responses to global injustices.

Dr. Dycus serves as a board member for Eastern Mennonite School and On the Road Collaborative. She is a Women in Leadership advisory board member for Mennonite Church USA. Prior to her time at EMU, Dr. Dycus served as an academic adviser and adjunct faculty member at Franklin University of Ohio (Indianapolis campus) and as co-pastor at First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis.

She received her doctor of ministry in public theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a master of divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and her BA degree in middle and secondary education from Butler University.

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, and has a site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; students can study in person or online.

Visit Interim President Search for more information.