2026 retirees

The 2026 retirees honored at the ceremony were: Howard Zehr (30 years of service), professor of conflict studies; Doug Graber Neufeld (26 years), professor of biology; Deanna Durham (23 years), associate professor of social work and sociology; JD McCurdy (23 years), head softball coach; Kevin Seidel (17 years), professor of English; and Chad Gusler (16 years), associate professor of language and literature.

The following employees, who represent an additional 430 years of commitment to EMU, celebrated milestone years of service:

40 years

Renee Leap (left) and Audrey Shenk (right) reached 40 years of service. 

30 years

Howard Zehr (left) and Melody Cash (right) reached 30 years.

25 years

Mark Metzler Sawin (not pictured) reached 25 years.

20 years

Left to right: Beth Brunk, Laura Yoder, Jim Leaman, and Travis Trotter reached 20 years. 

15 years

Left to right: Kathy Evans, Wendy Carr, Braydon Hoover, Ron Shultz, and Melvin Felix Garcia (inset) reached 15 years. 

10 years

Left to right: Tim Seidel, Paul Yoder, Alena Yoder, Ericka Gingerich, and Trina Trotter Nussbaum reached 10 years. 

Five years

Left to right: Lexi Fotis-Brown, Stephanie Mason, Debra Pardini, Courtney Joyner, Justin McIlwee, and Ann Butwell reached five years. Not pictured: Carolyn Kirby, Krista Murray, Gaurav Pathania, Erin Weldon, Mary Ann Zehr, and Nina Zhang also reached five years.

The luncheon was a highlight of the Spring 2026 Faculty & Staff Conference, which provided a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the close of the academic year together. View the full program of the conference .

The year is 1946. The U.S. is one year removed from World War II, Perry Como’s “Prisoner of Love” tops the Billboard charts, and the average price of gasoline is 21 cents per gallon. In Harrisonburg, Virginia, ˛ÝÝ®ÉçÇř—then known as Eastern Mennonite College—hosts its inaugural Faculty Conference (the perennial event would add the “staff” part of its name in 1979) from Aug. 26-29.

Reading aloud from the program of that first conference, Amy Springer Hartsell, executive advisor to the president, shared that the scheduled events included Bible study and devotions, talks on vital school subjects and roundtable discussions, and action on a motion to “send a hearty welcome to newly appointed members of faculty and staff.”

“There are some similarities, I think, that span these nearly 80 years,” she said in her welcome remarks at the Fall 2025 Faculty Staff Conference on Tuesday morning. “Our Faculty Staff Conference purpose statement talks about energizing ourselves for a new academic year through worship, welcoming new employees, reconnecting with colleagues from across the university, and engaging in thought-provoking input, conversation, fun, and fellowship.”

“This is a time to gather, engage, reset, and start anew,” she added, “not only for ourselves, but certainly, and perhaps most importantly, for our students.”

Keep scrolling for photos and snippets from this year’s fall conference!

Faculty and staff members reconnected over get-to-know-you bingo cards. Mary Davis (Admissions) and Trina Trotter Nussbaum (Center for Interfaith Engagement) won EMU-branded merch, while Jessica Hostetler (Enrollment) won a lunch with Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus.

Striking a tone of hope and resilience, EMU Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, who began serving in her role on July 1, delivered the presidential address to those gathered at Martin Chapel and online on Tuesday. “We know that EMU is not ordinary,” she said. “We know this is a learning community that is noble in its accomplishments and exceptional in its ability to infuse compassion.”

“We can overcome the challenges before us because we believe that EMU is worth the investment,” she continued. “I also know that we want to sustain and grow EMU for the importance it has in 2025, in 2035, and in 2075. We want the gift of academic excellence, peace and justice, and active faith for our students and their grandchildren. There’s a legacy here that we see ourselves continuing and even as it evolves, even as it changes, even as it adapts, we see the vision of the future.”

Reflecting the 2025-2026 university theme of environmental sustainability, the theme of this year’s conference was “Sustain Together.” Gloria Rhodes, professor of peacebuilding and conflict studies at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, led a plenary session on social sustainability.

Later on, Jonathan McRay MA ’13 (conflict transformation), sustainability advisor, moderated a panel discussion on environmental sustainability with EMU professors Doug Graber Neufeld (Natural Sciences), Steven Johnson (Visual & Communication Arts), and Jim Leaman (Business & Leadership).

Leaman encouraged everyone to find one new way each month to care for the Earth and all its creatures—and to document it. “It’s amazing how that transforms you over time,” he said. “For me, it has given me hope for what’s possible and given me comfort in knowing that I have a choice, that I have agency, and that I can make a difference.”

Gathering together in the Northlawn Dining Hall for lunch, faculty and staff members piled their plates high at a taco bar and celebrated new employees who have joined the university over the past year. Ryan Good, director of the EMU Washington Semester, gave an overview of the recently rebranded D.C. program and highlighted its student outcomes.

On Wednesday afternoon, following a series of faculty and staff learning sessions held throughout the morning, employees hit the dance floor in the Old Common Grounds space for line dancing lessons led by Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. Participants learned the moves to the “Electric Slide,” “Cha Cha Slide” (pictured above), and “Wobble” dances.

“It’s really about moving together, making mistakes, learning from them, and trying again,” Dycus told those dancing. “There’s no judgment here.”

Members of the Fall 2025 Faculty Staff Conference planning team included the Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, Dr. Tynisha Willingham, Jen Jones, Sara Wittig, and Amy Springer Hartsell.

Thanks to Everence for sponsoring the coffee break, Park View Federal Credit Union for sponsoring morning refreshments, Pioneer College Caterers for providing the lunches, facilities management for setting up room spaces, and everyone else who contributed to helping make the conference a success!

EMU honored this year’s retirees and employees who have reached milestone years of service at its annual recognition luncheon on Tuesday, May 13, in the Northlawn Dining Hall. Together, the combined years of service from the five retirees and 28 employees totals 451 years, remarked Amy Springer Hartsell, executive advisor to the president, in a welcome at the ceremony.

The retiring employees honored with tributes at Tuesday’s ceremony were: Bonnie Bowser, circulation & office manager for the Sadie Hartzler Library (34 years of service); Roger Mast, associate professor of physical education (34 years); Jerry Holsopple, professor of visual & communication arts (26 years); Phil Martin, construction management and facility planner (12 years); and Susan Schultz Huxman, president of EMU (nine years). 

Louise Otto Hostetter ’79, member of the EMU Board of Trustees, offered heartfelt words of appreciation to celebrate Huxman’s “remarkable tenure.” “Despite being an often-overused phrase, today truly marks the end of an era, one defined by extraordinary leadership, deep faith, and tireless commitment. Susan has served as president of ˛ÝÝ®ÉçÇř for nine years and, in that time, she has led this institution through some of the most challenging headwinds of higher education,” Hostetter said, noting Huxman’s steady leadership through the COVID-19 pandemic and periods of intense financial strain across the industry.

“To Susan, the presidency was never just a job, it was a calling” she added. “She felt every success and every disappointment deeply. And in every decision, every challenge, and every opportunity, she sought to walk humbly, love mercy, and act justly.”

The following employees celebrated milestone years of service to EMU:

Jenni Piper reached 30 years.

Steve Cessna and Doug Graber Neufeld reached 25 years.

Katie Derstine, Steven Johnson, and Kirk Shisler reached 20 years.

Linda Martin Burkholder, Laura Daily, Cheree Hammond, Dolores Hertzler, and Suzy Hostetler reached 15 years.

Carrie Bert, Scott Eyre, Emily North, Adam Posey, Daniel Showalter, Anna Westfall, and Laurie Yoder reached 10 years.

Gail Arthur, Mary Davis, Kyle Dickinson, Stephanie Landis, Luke Litwiller (6 years), Kris Long, Macson McGuigan, Michael Shelley, Casey Steinbrecher, and Stephanie Whitson reached five years.

The luncheon was a highlight of the Spring 2025 Faculty & Staff Conference, which provided a time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the close of the academic year together. View the full program of the conference .

Thanks to Pioneer College Caterers for their services, to the expert planning team of Amy Springer Hartsell and Sara Wittig, and to the many tribute writers who took the time to honor their colleagues.