Commencement address

Dr. Angela J. Lederach, assistant professor of peace and justice studies at Chapman University, delivered the Commencement address in Yoder Arena.

The author and anthropologist, whose father, John Paul Lederach, co-founded the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, spoke about the lessons she鈥檚 learned from peacebuilders and CJP alumni around the world.

Undergraduates Dylan Hall and Arelys Martinez Fabian, along with MA in Counseling graduate Yenifer Dottin-Carter 鈥�23, presented the graduate perspectives.

This was Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus鈥� first Commencement as interim president.

Celebration of Blessings

The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding sent 17 graduates into the world with words of tribute during its annual Celebration of Blessings on Sunday afternoon, following Commencement. This year marks the 30th anniversary celebration of the CJP. 

Graduates LaToya Fernandez, Jamila Gaskins, Hannah Gilman, and Jacob Sankara offered their perspectives.  

Graduate Celebration and Sending

91短视频 honored members of the Class of 2026 at its Graduate Celebration and Sending service on Saturday evening in Lehman Auditorium.

The event featured a faculty address by Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, senior class salutations from co-presidents Genesis Figueroa and Arelys Martinez Fabian, and the presentation of the senior class gift, along with prayer, music, and poetry from graduates.

Donning of the Kente

Family, friends, faculty, and other supporters gathered in the MainStage Theater on Saturday to honor the perseverance, compassion, and determination of this year鈥檚 graduates at 91短视频鈥檚 11th annual Donning of the Kente Ceremony.

The event recognized 49 graduates celebrating their African and international heritage.

Nurse Pinning

Sixteen 91短视频 nursing graduates marked a major milestone Saturday morning during a pinning and commissioning ceremony in Lehman Auditorium.

Dr. David Rosie, an emergency medicine physician at Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg, delivered the keynote address.

Lavender Graduation

91短视频 recognized 11 graduates at its fifth annual Lavender Graduation on Friday evening in the Old Common Grounds space. The ceremony honors LGBTQ+ graduates and alumni while celebrating their unique experiences, achievements, and contributions to the university.

Sarah Peak and Jamila Gaskins delivered the keynote addresses.

91短视频 at Lancaster will award 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates at its Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at Forest Hills Mennonite Church in Leola, Pennsylvania. Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo will deliver the address.

Stay tuned for a recap of the Lancaster ceremony.

Organized by the Student Government Association, College Conservatives, and Young Democrats, the series was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant from 91短视频鈥檚 Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as a Pluralism Project Grant. 91短视频 50 students attended each session, held at the University Commons Student Union on the evenings of March 12, March 19, and March 26.

Senior biology major Maria Longenecker, who helped organize the series as SGA co-president, said she hopes it can serve as an example for others to follow. At a time of heightened political division, she said, it鈥檚 more important than ever to bring people together.

鈥�91短视频 encourages us to work toward peace and justice and resolve conflict, and this feels so woven into our values,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think we created something we saw was missing, and we see that missing in the world more broadly. It鈥檚 so tempting to disengage, but I hope this can serve as an example for how to lean in and continue to care for one another.鈥�

鈥楾he elephant on campus鈥�

鈥淒isagree Together鈥� formed in response to tensions that student leaders felt on campus last fall. After a campus vigil for Charlie Kirk sparked arguments in the Royal Radar group chat, Longenecker said it became clear that students needed a space to discuss political issues.

鈥淭hat demonstrated to us how much energy and conflict is under the surface here at 91短视频 that we often don鈥檛 address,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels like the elephant on campus.鈥�

SGA leaders heard from students across the political spectrum who said they felt ostracized and misunderstood because of their beliefs, with no clear place for them on campus. Longenecker and fellow co-president Leah Frankenfield believed it was important to pull in many perspectives to dream up a way forward. They met with the College Conservatives and Young Democrats to develop a space where students of all political persuasions could feel comfortable.

Dibora Mekonnen, co-president of Young Democrats, said the series created a meaningful space for students to engage in difficult and sometimes uncomfortable conversations in a respectful way. 鈥淚 believe it has positively affected students by helping them become more open-minded and more willing to engage with perspectives different from their own,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n shaping the campus, the series has contributed to a culture of dialogue, understanding, and community-building by showing that disagreement does not have to lead to division, but can instead become an opportunity for learning and growth.鈥�

Jacob Dwyer, president of College Conservatives, said he also felt the event was a success and was encouraged by the turnout. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that we engaged in meaningful dialogue,鈥� he said. 鈥淕oing into it, I knew we might not agree on everything, but because we were able to have open conversations, we gained a better understanding of why we each think about certain issues the way we do.鈥�

Longenecker said she was surprised by how willing people were to be honest with one another. 鈥淚 thought it would be harder to get people to have conversations about the things they disagreed on,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut once people got in a room, sat down, and started asking questions, it was beautiful to see that engagement happen.鈥�

The Why and the How

The series unfolded over three sessions, each focusing on a different aspect of disagreement.

The first session centered on the question, 鈥淲hy do we disagree?鈥� Students mapped their identities to better understand how their experiences shape their beliefs and examined how those views are formed. Kory Schaeffer, director of programs for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, facilitated the discussion and offered guidance on creating a respectful environment for disagreement.

The second session was titled 鈥淗ow do we disagree?鈥� and featured a panel discussion on politics and Christianity. 鈥淲e thought that was important to discuss because 91短视频 is an Anabaptist institution, and it鈥檚 such a central part of our values,鈥� Longenecker said.

The third session, 鈥淧ractice disagreeing,鈥� invited students to sit in small groups and ask one another questions about political topics or anything else they were curious to explore. 鈥淚t was beautiful to look around and see people, who I鈥檝e never seen talk to each other before, sit down and have these deep conversations about their beliefs,鈥� Longenecker said.

She said she believes new relationships have formed as a result of the 鈥淒isagree Together鈥� series, especially during the third session. 鈥淚 hope people walked away feeling like someone new sees them as a person first and is also interested in hearing their beliefs,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope it鈥檚 started conversations that will continue.鈥�

As members of the SGA executive board prepare to hand off leadership to their successors, she said they鈥檝e developed a plan outlining how future boards can respond and create similar spaces for students to engage in difficult conversations if another contentious event arises on campus. 鈥淚 see this as a beginning, not the end,鈥� she said.

More than a series of classes, SPI is a place to learn in community. Participants live on campus, share meals, attend lectures, and build connections that last long after the program ends.

This year’s sessions will be held May 18-26, May 28-June 5, and June 8-12.

The application deadline for U.S. participants is May 8. Learn more and apply at .

Born and raised in the Mennonite church, Rhodes grew up believing she was called to be a peacemaker. But that early understanding of peace, she admits, made her avoid conflict rather than engage in it.

Then, two students, burly Russian men seated near the back of the classroom, began arguing. 

Within moments, the tension shifted. Chairs scraped. Voices sharpened. The exchange turned physical. And Rhodes realized something that would change the course of her life.

鈥淚 could talk about peace, but I didn鈥檛 actually know how to respond when presented with conflict,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen I returned to the United States, I knew I needed to learn how to handle conflict.鈥�

She scuttled her previous plans to pursue a graduate degree in English and instead studied conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University, earning both a master鈥檚 degree and a PhD. While at graduate school, she was hired by Professor Emeritus Dr. Vernon Jantzi ’64 to help coordinate the newly launched Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) at 91短视频.聽

For 34 years, Rhodes has taught at 91短视频, primarily in its world-renowned Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). Today, she serves as academic director of CJP and professor of peacebuilding and conflict studies. She also teaches courses in conflict transformation and peacebuilding for the undergraduate program and the master of nursing program.聽

Rhodes has led semester and summer intercultural programs in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, South Korea, and the Navajo Nation. She has served as department chair of 91短视频鈥檚 Applied Social Science Department, administrative director of SPI, and as a program assistant for the National Conference on Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution.

With SPI turning 30 this year, we sat down with the long-tenured professor to talk about the values-based education offered at CJP and how students are bringing more peace and justice to the world.

The following responses are from an interview that Rhodes conducted with photographer and videographer Macson McGuigan 鈥�17. A video from their interview will publish later this spring. These responses were edited for conciseness.

What鈥檚 unique about CJP?

Many other programs teach basic communication or mediation skills, but what we add at 91短视频 goes deeper. Our focus is on who you are and what you bring. Beyond the technical skills of conflict transformation, students engage in deep reflection and introspection around questions of:

• Who am I?
• What are my values and identities?
• What do I uniquely contribute to this work?
• And where do I fit in creating a more just and peaceful world?

We challenge students to connect their personal growth with leadership. They consider how to bring these skills and values into the places where they already work and lead. That combination of skill and self-assessment is the value we offer.

What can CJP grads do with their degrees?

There are generally three directions our students take. 91短视频 a third go into direct practice, often working with nonprofit or non-governmental organizations anywhere in the world. These roles can include mediation centers, community outreach, or other supporting positions where they apply skills like facilitating discussions and bringing together diverse groups to meet community needs.

Another third pursue further education. Many go on to doctoral programs to study conflict more deeply, contribute to policy, or prepare to teach in this relatively new field. 

The final third continue in their current careers in positions ranging from ministry, health care, business, and government. They鈥檙e drawn to CJP because they want to improve how people work together, make decisions, and solve complex problems.

Why should people study at CJP?

We are truly about creating a learning community together. This isn鈥檛 a place where you come to be filled up with knowledge. You come because you want to explore your part in making the world more peaceful, and together, we figure out how to bring more peace and justice to the world.聽

We can鈥檛 do it alone, and no single set of skills fits every situation. That鈥檚 why our approach is based on mutuality and learning, where everyone鈥檚 experiences and knowledge matter. Students contribute what they know, and at the same time, gain practical skills they can use in their own contexts.

Our focus is on practice, not just theory or research. We care about what people can do to make the world more peaceful and just. CJP is a place to learn, share, and build that future together.

What kinds of hands-on experience is offered at CJP?

Our curriculum is intentionally designed to include hands-on practice in the community. For example, in the facilitation course, our graduate students are contracted by local groups and organizations to help facilitate meetings or support decision-making processes. While students are learning and practicing new skills, the organizations also benefit from their work.

At the end of the master鈥檚 program, students can choose a traditional thesis, but most complete a practicum. These opportunities are diverse, ranging from restorative justice and trauma healing to mediation, facilitation, and training. Alumni often connect current students with new practice opportunities, ensuring a rich network of real-world engagement.

What is the Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI)?

Part of how we support our students is by offering courses in the summer, not as traditional summer school, but as a training institute. These courses and trainings, held in May and June, allow anyone to explore topics related to conflict, restorative justice, and other areas of practice. Courses generally last five to seven days, and multiple courses run simultaneously over the two-month period. 

SPI is intentionally designed as a learning community. Students live in dorms, attend classes and lectures, and learn from one another, all while experiencing what it means to live together in a diverse community. It鈥檚 both a retreat and a training space. As one alum described, SPI is like a well where people can take a drink of water. It鈥檚 not going to feed them forever, but it鈥檚 nourishment they can take back into their work and communities.

A new book published in July and co-edited by 91短视频 professors Ji Eun Kim (political science) and Timothy Seidel (peacebuilding, development, and global studies) aims to provide a broader, more inclusive understanding of peace and conflict by intentionally integrating voices and perspectives from the Global South/majority world.

The Sage Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies (Sage Publishing), which was also co-edited with three professors from the U.S., Canada, and Ecuador, features contributions from more than 40 authors around the world who are working on these issues in their contexts, including current and former 91短视频 faculty members: Center for Justice and Peacebuilding Professor Paula Ditzel Facci (she wrote a chapter on 鈥淒ecolonial Possibilities in Arts and Peacebuilding鈥�) and CJP alumni and former professors Florina Xavier MA 鈥�04 and Ashok Xavier MA 鈥�04 (they wrote a case-study chapter on 鈥淧reschool Intervention in Sri Lanka鈥�). 

鈥淚n seeking contributors, we reached out to scholars and practitioners from around the world as widely as possible,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淕iven 91短视频鈥檚 longstanding commitment to peace and justice, it鈥檚 perhaps not so surprising that several of the experts who joined the project have, or once had, ties with 91短视频.鈥�

The 592-page handbook explores the evolution of the field of peace and conflict studies and offers a critical overview of theoretical approaches. 鈥淎dditionally, it examines how cultural and disciplinary assumptions shape peacebuilding and conflict transformation, and it critiques traditional global narratives on issues like governance, climate change, and human rights,鈥� according to a description from the publisher. 鈥淔inally, the handbook presents real-world case studies that integrate themes of decoloniality, race, gender, and power inequalities across diverse global contexts.鈥� Some of those case studies examine peace and conflict in regions including Ukraine, Palestine, Libya, and Afghanistan. 

鈥淲e dig into political economy and histories of colonialism and the sorts of things that don鈥檛 always get as much attention in peace and conflict studies,鈥� Seidel said. 鈥淥ne of the goals of this handbook was to not only expand the scope of what we study, but also to expand the range of voices included in that study鈥攕omething of critical importance in a historical moment defined by rising authoritarianism close to home and genocide in Gaza.鈥�

The book is structured in the following five sections:

• History, Knowledge, and Power in Peace and Conflict Studies;
• Theory and Analysis in Peace and Conflict Studies;
• Practices and Approaches in Peace and Conflict Studies; 
• Global Issues, Institutions, and Change in Peace and Conflict Studies; and 
• Case Studies in Peace and Conflict Studies.

Seidel said the process in completing the book took about two years from start to finish. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an interesting and impactful book,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd you can see 91短视频鈥檚 fingerprints all over it.鈥�

The Sage Handbook of Peace and Conflict Studies is available to through 91短视频鈥檚 Sadie Hartzler Library. An online webinar on the book, sponsored by the Peace Studies Section of the International Studies Association, will be held on Friday, Oct. 24, at 8:30 a.m.

91短视频 the professors

Kim is an associate professor of political science at 91短视频, where she teaches courses on human rights, political reconciliation, genocide and mass atrocity prevention, and East Asian security. Her research lies at the intersection of International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Peace Studies, and her areas of specialization include transitional justice processes after large-scale political violence and international institutions and norms. She holds a PhD in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Seidel is associate professor of peacebuilding, development, and global studies at 91短视频. His writing has appeared in various journals including Postcolonial Studies, International Politics, Journal of Peacebuilding and Development, and Third World Quarterly. He is co-editor of Resisting Domination in Palestine: Mechanisms and Techniques of Control, Coloniality and Settler Colonialism (2024) and Political Economy of Palestine: Critical, Interdisciplinary, and Decolonial Perspectives (2021).

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 91短视频鈥檚 mission: 鈥淲hat does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?鈥� 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. 

鈥淭he world doesn鈥檛 just need more professionals, it needs more compassionate, just, and humble leaders. And I have no doubt that鈥檚 exactly who you are,鈥� she told graduates. 鈥淵ou are ambassadors of hope, agents of change, and bearers of light in a world that desperately needs it.鈥�

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.

91短视频 President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman presided over the ceremony鈥攈er final commencement as university president before retiring later this year.

Cords of Distinction

Ten graduating 91短视频 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 91短视频 Discipleship Center. The graduating seniors shared a meal, socialized, played games, snapped a group photo, and received an inspiring message from 91短视频 President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. 鈥淪ince I announced my retirement earlier this year, I鈥檓 really glad to be graduating with the Class of 2025,鈥� she told them. 

Reflecting on the seismic changes and challenges from 2021 to 2025, she praised the graduates for showing 鈥渁 lot of resolve, a lot of resilience, and a lot of adaptability鈥攖hose qualities will serve you well wherever you go, through thick and thin.鈥�

Lavender Graduation

91短视频 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鈥� 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 91短视频鈥檚 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 91短视频 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鈥檚 Ice Cream, compliments of the President鈥檚 Office. 

鈥淭oday is the first day of finals week, and we wanted to give students an opportunity to relax,鈥� said 91短视频 President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman. 鈥淎nd you know what, this gives me a chance to meet with them and talk with them a little bit.鈥�

91短视频 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!

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

Business leader and philanthropist聽Jose Koshy, class of 鈥�76, delivered the address on the power of agape love and kindness.聽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, 鈥渒nowing my situation, God sent Rachel and Robert Stoltzfus into my life.鈥� The couple lived near campus and took him in 鈥渨ith no questions asked.鈥�

鈥淭heir home was small, but their hearts were big,鈥� Koshy said. 鈥淭hey gave so much from what little they had. They were rich in spirit and they were generous with it 鈥� true agape love.鈥�

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

鈥淰ery few things in this world are actually impossible,鈥� Mekuria told the graduates. 鈥淢any things can be done. They can be hard, challenging and require lots and lots of work, but they can be done.鈥�

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鈥檚 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 91短视频 Commencement.

Lavender Graduation

91短视频 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

91短视频 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鈥檚 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.

91短视频 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/91短视频, Cassidy Walker/91短视频 and Jon Styer/At Ease Design & Consulting

Samuel and Helen Weaver lived to serve others. They gave generously of their time to the churches they attended and the communities they were a part of in St. Clairsville, Ohio, and later Harrisonburg, Virginia. Helen, known to many as an excellent cook, arrived early to church gatherings to prepare meals. Afterward, she and her husband Samuel stayed late to stack chairs and wash dishes.

For more than a decade, the couple volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages, a nonprofit fair-trade shop in Harrisonburg. While Helen worked inside the store, Samuel lent his accounting skills to the business. 

鈥淪ervice was always a big part of their lives, recalls their son, Matt Weaver, “and often, that service wasn鈥檛 anything glamorous or anything they mentioned to other people. It was them doing the most trivial jobs that other people didn鈥檛 want to do. But, they did it because that鈥檚 the kind of people they were.鈥�

Helen and Samuel died in July 2012 and February 2023, respectively, but their legacy of service and generosity lives on. A $1.54 million bequest to establish the Samuel H. and Helen W. Weaver Family Peacebuilding Endowment will go a long way in supporting the vision and mission of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. It ranks among the top five largest endowment gifts to 91短视频 in its 106-year history.

Although they did not attend 91短视频, Samuel and Helen were staunch supporters of its students and programs. They were members of Park View Mennonite Church and had close friends in the 91短视频 community, such as Wendy Lederach and Don and Margaret Foth. Don, an administrator emeritus at 91短视频, volunteered at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP) in his retirement. He died on March 27.

Because of those connections, said CJP Advancement Director Lindsay Martin, Samuel and Helen were aware of CJP from its very beginning. The Foths would have shared many stories of CJP students, especially those coming from other parts of the world, with Samuel and Helen, she said.

“I think Sam connected with those stories and CJP’s global emphasis, particularly because of his own experiences working in other countries,” Martin said. “He saw CJP as an example of a global community, one with people working toward the greater good of all鈥攁nd I think that matched his worldview closely.” 

After Helen鈥檚 death at age 82, Samuel continued to support 91短视频 and its justice and peacebuilding efforts. In 2019, he established a $50,000 endowed scholarship fund that provides need-based financial support to students in the graduate program at CJP. Samuel died at age 92 following a battle with cancer, but not before finalizing the endowment funding plan with his two sons, Mike and Matt, and ensuring CJP was included in his estate plans.

Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement at 91短视频, said the endowment will fund academic programs, training initiatives, faculty and other creative endeavors at CJP.

鈥淭he Weavers鈥� gift is so incredibly timely as it will sustain CJP faculty and program investments, including a full-time faculty position in restorative justice and a new program director role, for which a search is now underway,” shared Shisler.

David Brubaker, dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professions (which includes CJP), said the endowment will support existing academic and training programs as well as help to fund “new creative initiatives needed in an increasingly polarized and traumatized world.”

91短视频 President Susan Schultz Huxman said the gift will have a profoundly beneficial impact on CJP, especially as it continues to adapt to the changing landscape of justice and peacebuilding needs across the globe.

鈥淪amuel and Helen Weaver鈥檚 encounter with CJP students and program leaders ignited their vision for the transformative power of justice and peacebuilding on a global scale,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e are truly grateful and heartened by their generosity.鈥�

Early life and career

Samuel Horton Weaver was born in May 1930 in Champaign, Illinois. He received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history from Cambridge University, a master鈥檚 degree in history from Columbia University, a doctorate in American history from American University in Washington, D.C., and a master鈥檚 degree in business administration from Ohio University. Much of his early career was spent working for the U.S. government, including for the Library of Congress in D.C. He started working for the U.S. Foreign Service in 1955 and was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador from 1958 to 1960 and in Brazil from 1961 to 1963. He then worked in the Latin American section of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the U.S. State Department.

Born Helen Esther Wiens in Inman, Kansas, in May 1930, she was raised in a Mennonite family. She worked for Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pennsylvania, and for the National Service Board for Religious Objectors in D.C.

Samuel and Helen met in D.C. and married in March 1967. They moved to St. Clairsville, a city about 70 miles west of Pittsburgh where Samuel taught at Ohio University鈥檚 Eastern Campus and Helen worked at the Belmont County Health Department. In their retirement the couple moved to Harrisonburg, partly due to its proximity to D.C. and because of some close friends who lived there. From his time spent around the 91短视频 community, Samuel developed an appreciation and respect for Mennonites. Matt Weaver said his father shared many of the same core values as Mennonites and believed in the mission of CJP.

鈥淗e liked the idea of giving to an organization that does some good,鈥� said Matt Weaver.

Samuel and Helen were members of the , a group of more than 630 alumni and donors who include 91短视频 in their estate plans. In April 2022, Samuel and his sons finalized their endowment funding plan with 91短视频 Advancement. Shisler said the Weaver family was impressed by the impact of their scholarship fund established a few years prior. 

鈥淭hey were instilled with a level of confidence that an estate commitment of this magnitude would be well-managed and have a sustained impact,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 truly a remarkable and beautiful legacy.”

Learn more about the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and give to the program at . 

That someone turned out to be Dr. Gaurav J. Pathania, assistant professor of sociology and peacebuilding at 91短视频, an anti-caste activist and lifelong . Pathania, who worked to help Seattle become the first U.S. city to ban caste-based discrimination , makes his acting debut when Origin releases in theaters on Jan. 19. 

The drama, written and directed by DuVernay and starring Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, follows journalist Isabel Wilkerson on her journey in writing her 2020 New York Times bestseller Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. As Wilkerson, portrayed by Aunjanue-Ellis (King Richard), endures personal losses and dives into her writing, she travels abroad and digs deep into historical examples of caste systems. 

From a in The New York Times: 鈥淥ne is set in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, another in Depression-era Mississippi and a third in India over different time periods. This last interlude focuses on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar (Gaurav J. Pathania), who helped draft India鈥檚 Constitution and championed the rights of Dalits, people once deemed 鈥榰ntouchables.鈥欌��

Ambedkar 鈥渋s the most important figure in politics in India,鈥� Pathania said during an interview in his Roselawn office last month. A Shepard Fairey-inspired blue-and-red print of Ambedkar, akin to the Obama 鈥淗ope鈥� poster, hung on the wall behind his desk. 鈥淗e鈥檚 like the MLK of India, so no political party can do their politics without putting his face on their banners. If you ever go to India, there are thousands of statues of him.鈥�

Ambedkar was born a Dalit, the lowest stratum of India鈥檚 caste system, but was able to earn degrees from the University of Mumbai, Columbia University and the London School of Economics 鈥� something unheard of for someone in his caste. He would serve as India鈥檚 first law minister after its independence from Britain in 1947 as well as chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee. He is widely regarded as one of the most educated and revered Indians throughout history.

鈥淓very day of his life was spent bringing some social change and structural change,鈥� Pathania said.

The 91短视频 professor graces the silver screen in Ambedkar鈥檚 trademark three-piece suit and tie, his hair slicked back and his eyes behind a pair of thick-rimmed round glasses. If he appears stouter on the screen, it鈥檚 because he donned a fat suit for the role. Researchers for the movie spent two years learning all they could about the historic figure. That included studying which books he carried and what types of pens he used.

鈥淭here are movies made about Ambedkar in India, in other languages, but this is the first Hollywood movie that offers an introductory portrayal of Ambedkar,鈥� said Pathania, who is originally from India. 

Before the cameras started rolling, DuVernay offered some tips to the acting newbie. Pathania recalled: 鈥淪he told me, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e studied this man for your whole life. So, just think about him when you鈥檙e on set. You don鈥檛 need any training; you have him in your heart.鈥欌��

Although his role in Origin has no speaking parts and totals a handful of minutes, the experience offered him a glimpse into the world of filmmaking. 

Pathania traveled to Savannah, Georgia, on three separate occasions to film his parts. One of his scenes, set in 1920s-era India, captures him stepping off the boat onto a pier, surrounded by members of the Dalit caste played by local extras. 

鈥淭he river was about 50 feet deep, so we had lifeguards standing around, and so I learned about all those things,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ameras were in every direction; there was even someone standing in the water holding a camera.

鈥淥ne simple scene might take almost eight hours, the whole day. When it appears on the screen, it appears for a few seconds, but it took all day to film.鈥� 

Before arriving at 91短视频, Pathania taught at Georgetown University, Catholic University of America and George Washington University. He is an anti-caste poet, writer and community builder, and mentors emerging scholars through the Ambedkar International Center Authors鈥� Lab.   

To land the role, Pathania answered an open casting call submitted to the online Ambedkarite community in October 2022. He said he went through a lengthy audition process and was selected from a couple-dozen others. 

鈥淚 asked Ava, 鈥楬ow did you choose me?鈥欌�� said Pathania. 鈥淎nd, she said, 鈥榃e weren鈥檛 just looking for the facial resemblance, but also looking for the scholarly resemblance, because you are a professor and you are an Ambedkarite who has been teaching for a long time and your scholarship is around caste.鈥欌��

Pathania has watched the movie several times and said DuVernay has been receptive to the changes he鈥檚 suggested. He described Origin as 鈥渢he most global kind of movie.鈥�

鈥淚f you see the cast, there is an English-speaking cast, a German-speaking cast, Hindi, and then now, with the addition of the song by Stan Walker, a member of the New Zealand Maori tribe, I see it as a movie that actually reaches out to the entire world,鈥� he said. 

Origin has a runtime of two hours and 15 minutes. It is rated PG-13 for thematic material involving racism, violence, some disturbing images, language and smoking.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard world for pastors to navigate right now,鈥� said Joyner, director of the Thriving in Ministry grant at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. 鈥淲e wanted to address that and equip them with tools to better be able to minister in their local context.鈥�

Shalom Academy 2024, held at the seminary from Monday, Jan. 8, to Wednesday, Jan. 10, is themed 鈥淧ursuing Community in a Divisive World.鈥� It offers a place to learn and reflect on the practices that move congregations past divisiveness and toward peace both within their walls and in their larger communities. The deadline for standard registration pricing is Saturday, Dec. 9.

Learn more
and register.

New Name

This is the first time that Shalom Academy, formerly known as the School for Leadership Training (SLT), will be using its new name. For 54 years, SLT has equipped pastors with tools needed for deepening the effectiveness of their ministries.

“As we build on the solid foundation of SLT, we recognize the need to more overtly emphasize justice, peacebuilding and conflict transformation from a faith-based lens,” Joyner said.

She said the name change projects this focus while also distinguishing the conference as one of the programs under the umbrella of EMS’s new Shalom Collaboratory.

“Shalom Academy is a place for both education and connection,” Joyner said. This year, Shalom Academy will feature keynote speakers and workshops that give fresh perspectives on justice-inspired shalom, small-group spaces to connect around shared interests and excursions that provide relaxation and recreation with friends. 

Keynote speakers

Rev. Melissa Florer-Bixler, an author and the pastor of Raleigh Mennonite Church in North Carolina, is the chair of L鈥橝rche North Carolina, an organization that provides housing, support and care for adults with intellectual disabilities. Her address on Monday evening is titled, 鈥淢inistry During the Election Cycle: Politics Without Despair,鈥� and will discuss how church leaders can faithfully and hopefully lead congregations in the months ahead. 

The other keynote speaker is Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojourners, a Christian media and advocacy organization that works toward social and racial justice. His address on Tuesday is titled 鈥淲here Do We Go From Here: Toxic Polarization or the Beloved Community?鈥� and will focus on the tools for overcoming polarization in our society, our politics and our churches.

Excursions

A new addition to the activity schedule this year is excursions. The excursions provide a space for participants to get to know each other outside of conference events, Joyner said.

鈥淲e wanted to incorporate an afternoon where people can relax, connect with each other, have fun and build relationships in a playful way,鈥� she said.

The excursions for Shalom Academy 2024 are:

• Ice skating at Generations Park;
• a tour of the Frontier Culture Museum;
• a tour of Shenandoah Caverns;
• a tour of the Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center; and
• a performance of the play Bonhoeffer: Cell 92 at 91短视频鈥檚 MainStage Theater.

The play depicts the life of German dissident and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was imprisoned and murdered for his opposition to Hitler and the Nazi regime in World War II.

鈥淭his play aligns so well with our conference theme because Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived in a deeply polarized society in which he stood up for faith and justice,鈥� Joyner said. 

Workshops

A schedule for Shalom Academy 2024 includes conversation circles, teaching sessions, worship services and workshops. 

The workshops, held Tuesday and Wednesday, are:

• 鈥淟eading Difficult Conversations鈥� with Rev. Dr. Sarah Ann Bixler;
• 鈥淢oral Discernment within Community鈥� with Rev. Dr. Jacob Alan Cook;
• 鈥淯nderstanding Polarization: The Good, the Bad and the Useful鈥� with Rev. Melissa Florer-Bixler;
• 鈥淧reaching in a Divided Church鈥� with Rev. Jim Joyner; and
• 鈥淏uilding Bridges with First Responders鈥� with Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner.

Registration is available for both in-person and virtual participation. Online registration offers virtual access to the keynote addresses, teaching sessions and the Wednesday panel discussion. For more information about The Shalom Collaboratory at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, visit .

He will lead the development of programming funded by a ., grant of $998,606. The award is part of Lilly鈥檚 Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, designed to help theological schools across the United States and Canada respond to the most pressing challenges they face in preparing pastoral leaders for today and the future.

The new pastoral leadership program will integrate personal spiritual formation, biblical and theological frameworks and conflict transformation skills. Training will become available in a variety of formats: online digital content, regional on-site trainings, workshops, and new seminary courses and programs. Work is already underway to develop training events for faith community leaders in trauma response and restorative justice for congregations.聽

The grant builds on momentum from the graduate certificate in faith-based peacebuilding, a new seminary program offered in cooperation with the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding.

Cook joins 91短视频 after working on a Lilly-funded 鈥淭hriving Congregations鈥� grant at Wake Forest that similarly focused on equipping ministry and lay leaders. 

鈥淒r. Jake Cook brings academic theological training in peace and ethics and an ecumenical background and experience resourcing congregations,,鈥� said The Rev. Dr. Sarah Bixler, associate dean of the seminary. 鈥淭hese experiences will serve him well in implementing EMS’s vision to support ministry leaders and faith communities to understand conflict and develop wise responses.鈥�

Bixler also pointed out that Cook鈥檚 expertise in leading integrated programs will strengthen initial development and implementation. 鈥�Our program is situated at a unique intersection that brings together distinctive strengths of 91短视频 and EMS: exploring theory and embodying skills in peacebuilding and conflict transformation, undergirded by biblical and theological reflection, and sustained by spiritual formation practices,鈥� she said. 鈥淒r. Cook has expertise in these areas, and he understands the challenges and opportunities congregational leaders are facing. He will be a dynamic and effective leader to develop these program resources.鈥� 

Cook holds a PhD from Fuller Seminary in Christian ethics; a Master of Divinity degree from McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University; and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in religion and philosophy from Friends University.

Prior to his appointment at Wake Forest, Cook taught for two years at Friends University and also served in administrative roles at both that university and Fuller Theological Seminary.

Cook has published widely on peacemaking and non-violence, and issues of justice and sustainability. In 2021, he published his first book, Worldview Theory, Whiteness, and the Future of Evangelical Faith (Lexington Books/Fortress Academic).

An award-winning scholar, teacher, and preacher, he has presented at the International Conference on Religion and Film, the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion, the American Academy of Religion, and the Southwest Commission on Religious Studies, and the Conference on Spirituality, Emergent Creativity and Reconciliation, among other engagements. Cook has also developed and taught courses and workshops in the church setting.

The Pathways Initiative is part of Lilly Endowment鈥檚 wider efforts to strengthen theological schools and other religious institutions and networks that prepare pastoral leaders to ensure that a diverse array of Christian congregations are guided by a steady stream of wise, faithful and well-prepared leaders.

91短视频 is one of 105 theological schools receiving these grants. Together the schools represent the broad diversity of Christianity in the U.S. and Canada, with affiliations to evangelical, mainline Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Black church, Latino, Asian-American and historic peace church traditions (e.g., Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Quakers).

The board of directors includes several educators, as well as representatives from the medical and law fields.

Mansour is also associate professor at Nazareth Evangelical College in Israel. She earned her PhD in peace studies and theology from the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies. In 2020, she published (Langham Monographs).

For 13 years, Mansour was a public prosecutor and deputy head of the public prosecution office in Nazareth. She was the first Palestinian Arab to hold such a position in Israel.

The following new faculty were welcomed to 91短视频, as announced by , provost, and deans David Brubaker, School of Social Sciences and Professions: Daniel Ott, School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts; and Tara Kishbaugh, School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing.

Tenure

The following were part of a cohort hire anticipating a cohort hire focused on recruiting scholars who work collaboratively across different disciplines with research agendas and pedagogical commitments that address social justice, racial equity, peacebuilding, restorative justice, non-Western thought, and other areas of study advancing equity and inclusion.

School of Theology, Humanities and Performing Arts

Daniel Ott, Dean and Professor of Theology and Religious Studies. B.M., West Virginia University; M.Div., Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University.

Timothy Reardon, Assistant Professor of New Testament. B.A., Houghton College; M.Div., Asbury Theological Seminary; Th.M., Princeton Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Fuller Theological Seminary.

School of Social Sciences and Professions

Gaurav J. Pathania, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Peacebuilding. M.A., Kurukshetra University; M.A., Jawaharlal Nehru University; M.Phil., Jawaharlal Nehru University; Ph.D., Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Paula Facci, Assistant Professor of Peacebuilding. B.A., S茫o Paulo State University; M.A., University of Innsbruck; Ph.D., University Jaume I.

Non-tenure

Lindy Backues, Associate Professor of Business and Leadership. B.Ed.S., University of Missouri; M.Div., Asbury Theological Seminary; M.Sc., Eastern University; Ph.D., Leeds University.

Johanna Burkholder, Instructor of Accounting. B.A., Easterm Mennonite University; M.P. Acc., Eastern Washington University.

Debbi DiGennaro, Instructor of Social Work. B.A., 91短视频; M.S.W., Ohio State University.

Hannah Ferguson, Assistant Professor of the Practice of Nursing. B.S., 91短视频; M.S.N., University of Virginia.

Bonnie Fisher, Instructor of Psychology. B.S., 91短视频; M.Ed., James Madison University.

Kim Hall, Instructor of Psychology. B.A., State University of New York College at Geneseo; M.A., Ed.S., James Madison University.

Christopher Harris, Instructor of Speech. B.A., Bridgewater College; M.A., Spring Arbor University; M.A., George Washington University.

Heike Peckruhn, Associate Professor of Religious Studies. B.Th. Bienenberg Theological Seminary; M.A. 91短视频; Ph.D., University of Denver/ Iliff School of Theology.

Calvin 鈥淐al鈥� Redekop passed away on July 20, 2022 at the age of 96 in Harrisonburg. A graduate of Goshen College, he went on to develop many associations with the Mennonite institutions, including serving as vice president of Tabor College, and professor at Goshen and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Redekop was also the co-founder of the PAX service program, the predecessor to the Peace Corps. Upon retiring to the Harrisonburg area, he and his wife Freda were faithful friends to 91短视频 and strong partners in the university鈥檚 educational mission. 

A will be 2 p.m., Sept. 25 at Park View Mennonite Church.

Redekop served the 91短视频 Business and Leadership program as an adjunct faculty member, during which time he became a trusted colleague and mentor to many faculty and staff. He was also the founding chair of the Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society, an organization of elders based at 91短视频.

The couple began several endowed scholarships for 91短视频 undergraduate students, including helping to establish the Hubert R. Pellman Endowed Chair, which supports the Language and Literature program. More recently, Redekop helped facilitate the donation of two Hustler mowers and and an all-purpose vehicle to Facilities Management through his ties with Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas.

Redekop helped inspire and fund many of the solar arrays at 91短视频, at VMRC, and other major organizations around the valley. He was also involved with supporting and connecting VMRC鈥檚 Willow Run Farm with 91短视频鈥檚 Sustainable Food Initiative to grow and harvest vegetables.  

Two 2020 tributes in magazine (jointly bylined to Wally Kroeker, Burton Buller, and Tom Brenneman) and in the (by Russ Eanes) describe more of Redekop鈥檚 works, vision and philosophy.

The full obituary is and below. 

Calvin Wall (Waldo) Redekop peacefully passed away on July 20, 2022 at the age of 96, after a long, eventful, and purposeful life. He was born on Sept. 19, 1925 in a two-room cabin on the prairie, in Volt, Montana, to Jacob and Katherine Redekop. His siblings were Rosa, Ella, Jacob, and Bertha. He spent his early years on the farm in Montana; the Depression and Dust Bowl brought about the family’s relocation to Dalles, Oregon in 1937. His book Enchantment and Despair: Montana Childhood Stories, 1925-1937, fondly records those years. The family spent three years in Dalles, then in the fall of 1940 moved to Mt. Lake, Minn., where Calvin attended high school. Calvin attended Goshen College from 1946-1949, graduating with a degree in social science.

In July 1949 Calvin joined the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). He spent the first six months of voluntary service doing peace witness and education in Alberta, Canada, and Akron PA. Then in January 1950 he sailed for Europe and served as PAX Program Organizer and Mennonite Voluntary Service Director until December 1952. In 1953 Cal returned to America and spent one semester at Goshen College Seminary, and then 1-1/2 years studying for the MA in sociology and anthropology at the University of Minnesota. He then taught social science courses at Hesston College (1955-62), with time spent from 1955-58 at the University of Chicago pursuing a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology (completed in 1959). While in Europe, Cal had met Freda Pellman, who was working for Menno Travel Service in Amsterdam, and they were married in 1955. Freda was a faithful companion and mentor to Calvin.

In 1962 the growing family moved to Richmond Indiana, where Calvin taught sociology of religion at Earlham School of Religion and Earlham College. In 1967 the family moved to Goshen, Indiana, where Calvin taught at Goshen College as Professor of Sociology, as well as the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart. During 1971-72 the family lived in Paraguay while Calvin pursued research on indigenous-Mennonite relations in the Chaco. This was a formative experience for the family, and eventually resulted in the publication of Strangers Become Neighbors: Indigenous and Mennonite Relations in the Paraguayan Chaco (1980).

In 1976 the family moved to Hillsboro, Kansas, where Cal served as vice president and dean of Tabor College, before heading to Canada where Calvin spent the final ten years of his academic career at Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario, from which he retired in 1989. 

Starting in the 1970s, Cal and Freda led a number of travel tours, many with an Anabaptist focus, in Europe, Central and South America, and Jamaica, and throughout their marriage they traveled widely. In 1989 Cal and Freda moved to Harrisonburg, Virginia, where they spent many fine years together before Freda passed away in 2011. There he was involved in numerous activities and organizations, which included serving as a founding member of the Brethen-Mennonite Heritage Center; a founding member of Anabaptist Center for Religion and Society; an early and active supporter of Willow Run farm; and an active member of Park View Mennonite Church. He also taught courses as an adjunct in the 91短视频 Business Department.

During his academic career Calvin was an invited lecturer at numerous Mennonite colleges, and he published many books and articles on Anabaptist/Mennonite topics, including The Old Colony Mennonites (1969); Mennonite Society (1989); Mennonite Entrepreneurs (1995), Creation and the Environment: An Anabaptist Perspective on a Sustainable World (2000); Power, Authority, and the Anabaptist Tradition (2001), and most recently Service: The Path to Justice (2022, with Terry Beitzel). 

Calvin was a popular college teacher and his sons remember the many times Cal and Freda invited students into the home for discussion, socializing and laughter. Over the course of his career he forged many friendships in the Mennonite world and beyond, continuing to make new friends and colleagues as his own generation left the stage.

Calvin was involved in numerous ventures and organizations over the course of his life, both public and private, business and civic, Mennonite and non-Mennonite. His first major business venture was to join a nascent startup, Excel Industries, Inc., a turf equipment company with which he and Freda remained affiliated for the rest of their lives. He was a founding member of Sunflower Energy Works, one of the first solar energy companies in Kansas. Cal was an active board member of EnerSource, a Canadian solar energy company; Secure Futures, a Virginia Solar company; Wood Composites Inc., a recycled decking company; and Real Associates, Inc., a small real estate company.

He also served on many community boards and associations in the Mennonite world. Among other involvements, Cal was instrumental in the formation of the “second MEDA” (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), and served as founding editor of The Marketplace, the official publication of MEDA. Towards the end of his life he and his family created the JustPax Fund and Redekop Family Endowment, charitable organizations devoted to economic, gender, and environmental justice.

Calvin is survived by sons Bill (Diana), Ben (Fran), Fred (Ria), and granddaughter Katarina. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Rosa, granddaughter Sallie, and loving wife and life-companion Freda. Calvin is also survived by brother Jacob and sisters Ella and Bertha, and many friends and extended family members including the Pellman clan.