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 .

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.