ACE Fest Keynote Address
Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 10:15-11:15 a.m.
Location: Lehman Auditorium
More info:

Dr. Deborah Lawrence, chief scientist and director of forest and land at Calyx Global, will open the 2026 Academic and Creative Excellence (ACE) Festival as keynote speaker at 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, in Lehman Auditorium.

At Calyx Global, a Colorado-based carbon credit ratings agency, Lawrence ensures the scientific integrity of its greenhouse gas ratings. She spent 25 years as an environmental sciences professor at the University of Virginia, where she conducted global forest and climate research.

She also served as a science advisor to the U.S. Department of State and established SilvaCarbon, a U.S. federal program for forest carbon measurement and monitoring, according to a staff listing on . 

Lawrence holds a BA in anthropology from Harvard University and a PhD in botany from Duke University. 

Her keynote address will reflect on “our connections to nature and how they have changed over the course of my life,” Lawrence said, “informing my scholarship, my work, and my daily life.”

Jennifer Ulrich, chair of the Intellectual Life Committee, said Lawrence’s teaching experience, research, and international background were key factors in selecting her as keynote speaker. 

She said Lawrence readily embraced both the university’s annual theme of environmental sustainability and its Common Read, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, as she developed her address.

“I am grateful for her willingness to speak with us and look forward to her keynote address,” Ulrich said.

91����Ƶ ACE Festival

91����Ƶ’s Academic and Creative Excellence Festival provides an opportunity for students to learn from their peers and to showcase their own research, creative projects, and papers. It’s also an opportunity to continue conversations sparked by 91����Ƶ’s Common Read for the year.

In addition to poster and oral presentations held throughout the day on Thursday, April 15, ACE Fest events include a music department student recital at noon in Lehman Auditorium, an art exhibition opening for senior capstone projects at 4:45 p.m. in the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery, and a wind ensemble concert at 7 p.m. in Lehman Auditorium.

The 17th 91����Ƶ Authors’ Reception and Award Presentation will be held from 3:45-5 p.m. in Old Common Grounds (University Commons 177) on Thursday. The annual event, hosted by the Office of the Provost, recognizes and celebrates winners of the university’s Excellence in Teaching Awards and recipients of student writing awards, as well as 91����Ƶ faculty, staff, and students who have published scholarly work since Jan. 1, 2025. The awards presentation part of the program will begin at 4:30 p.m.

An 91����Ƶ Career Fair, hosted by the Alumni Engagement Office, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday at the Hall of Nations. It will provide an opportunity for students to interact directly with employers, connect with alumni professionals, explore career options, and potentially secure internships or employment. 

The ACE Festival is hosted by the Provost’s Office and made possible by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Center for Interfaith Engagement, and the Daniel B. Suter Endowment, which supports 91����Ƶ’s commitment to fostering curiosity, discovery, and scientific learning. 

For more information about the festival and a schedule of events, visit .

According to a , Rogers played a pivotal role in launching a comprehensive redesign that modernized the program’s structure, expanded its reach, and strengthened its position as a leading doctoral pathway for physician associates. “I’m honored by the trust placed in me and deeply grateful to the leaders, mentors, and colleagues who paved the way for my growth,” he said.

He holds a DMSc from the University of Lynchburg, a master of physician assistant studies from James Madison University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology and environmental sustainability from 91����Ƶ.

Rogers said 91����Ƶ prepared him by grounding his education in service, perspective, and purpose. “My intercultural experience in Bolivia with Dr. Doug Graber Neufeld expanded my understanding of global health and challenged me to think beyond my own context,” he said. “At the same time, Dr. Carolyn Stauffer‘s Sociology of Health course helped me see how social, cultural, and systemic factors shape patient outcomes. Together, those experiences shaped not only my career path, but how I lead and serve today.”

Dr. Tara Kishbaugh, dean of faculty and student success, taught Rogers in general chemistry when he was a student at 91����Ƶ. She said he showed a strong sense of civic engagement and confidence in his coursework, along with exceptional leadership and a commitment to service.

“I am thrilled to see him take on this leadership role in an educational setting and look forward to seeing how he inspires others to reach their academic potential while giving back to their communities,” she said. 

Clockwise from top left: Blake Rogers ’14 helps Clover Hill EMTs check inventory in one of their ambulances at the station in 2014. | Rogers speaks during a 2015 workshop for the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District. | Then a physician assistant student at JMU, Rogers receives the 2018 PA Student of the Year Award. | Rogers ’14 and Matt Tieszen ’10, MA ’15 (biomedicine), return from an elective clinical rotation at Shirati KTM Hospital in Tanzania in 2018.

This isn’t the first time Rogers has been featured in 91����Ƶ News. 

While a double major at 91����Ƶ, he volunteered with the Clover Hill Volunteer Fire Co. and interned at the Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, where he was hired after graduation. As a grad student at JMU, he received the 2018 Physician Assistant Student of the Year award and completed a clinical rotation at a hospital in Tanzania. 

Rogers spent his 91����Ƶ intercultural experience studying biology and Spanish in Bolivia and the Galápagos Islands. A medical mission team experience in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, confirmed his desire to enter the medical field. 

At the University of Lynchburg, Rogers said his favorite course to instruct is Ethics and Regulation of AI, where he guides students through modern dilemmas in health care. “I remain deeply influenced by 91����Ƶ’s emphasis on service, community, and global perspective as we prepare clinicians to lead and serve in a rapidly evolving health care landscape,” he said.

Scroll down to the end for an embedded video of the convocation.

Plus, watch the video below

The professor and photographer, whose colorful images of the seasonal ponds—and the aquatic life that inhabit them—have earned him 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year honors and graced the cover of Nature Conservancy Magazine, has been named an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP).��

was one of 16 accomplished photographers and filmmakers selected to join the iLCP’s associate fellow program for 2025, the nonprofit recently announced in a release.��“Each of them brings exceptional skill in visual storytelling, a deep engagement with conservation initiatives and a strong dedication to advancing environmental awareness through their work,” the .��

Established in 2005, iLCP supports environmental and cultural conservation through ethical photography and filmmaking. Its fellows are a group of professional wildlife, nature, and cultural visual storytellers who, “in addition to displaying remarkable photographic and filmmaking skills, have each demonstrated a deep commitment to conservation efforts around the globe,” according to its . These 120+ fellows, based in 26 countries and working in 190 countries, “shine a light on issues ranging from endangered flora and fauna to climate change to ocean health.”

For Johnson, conservation photography allows him to share the same sense of wonder he feels when encountering other creatures in the natural world. “Millions of animal and plant species coexist on Earth, but very few of these species enter our consciousness; that invisibility is a big problem when it comes to conservation,” he said. “Even in the midst of an extinction crisis, most of our news and political discourse is very human-centered. Using visual communication to advocate for the natural world is a way to challenge that narrative and look for ways to share the planet with the ‘more-than-human’ world.”

The 91����Ƶ professor had been an affiliate for iLCP for a number of years where he served as a technical consultant and also connected 91����Ƶ students to its photographers and staff. As a fellow, he will attend the organization’s signature event, , in mid-November, which brings together conservation photographers, filmmakers, scientists, advocates, and communicators from around the globe as they share powerful stories and solutions for a sustainable future.

“It’s definitely affirming to be a part of a fellowship of passionate and committed peers in the conservation photography world,” Johnson said.

Michael Horst, dean of Behavioral, Health and Natural Sciences at 91����Ƶ, said Johnson’s work brings viewers face to face with the miraculous elements of the natural world that might otherwise be overlooked, creating an emotional connection that heightens the importance of protecting and conserving it.

“At 91����Ƶ, we know the importance of deeply cultivating sustainable practices,” Horst said. “For those who need encouragement, Steve’s work can make a big difference.”

91����Ƶ the professor

Johnson came to 91����Ƶ in 2005 and started one of the few full-semester conservation photography courses offered to undergraduates in the U.S.

He holds an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and serves on the advisory board of the Virginia Wildlife Committee and Girls Who Click. At 91����Ƶ’s VACA department, he teaches digital media classes and a specialized course on conservation photography. When he’s not in his office, he can often be found crouched next to a vernal pool or kayaking the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

His images of the natural world have appeared in Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Wildlife Magazine, Nature Conservancy Magazine, Ranger Rick, Virginia Wildlife, bioGraphic, Orion, National Science Teaching Association Press books, and numerous conservation publications and journals. His long-term project exploring vernal pools was highlighted by the Southern Environmental Law Center in “The wonder of wetlands and 5 Southerners working to protect them” ().

Johnson said one of his favorite things about teaching is that 91����Ƶ and VACA allow for so much innovative, interdisciplinary practice. For example, in his conservation photography class, he teaches a mix of photography, digital media, and science students. 

“In some places, the sciences and arts barely mix,” he said. “Here, I can talk to science students about making compelling images and teach visual arts students about vernal pools.”

Johnson will teach the class in conservation photography again during the fall 2026 semester.

View more of his photography at .

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, 91����Ƶ—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 91����Ƶ-branded merch, while Jessica Hostetler (Enrollment) won a lunch with Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus.

Striking a tone of hope and resilience, 91����Ƶ 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 91����Ƶ 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 91����Ƶ is worth the investment,” she continued. “I also know that we want to sustain and grow 91����Ƶ 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 91����Ƶ’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 91����Ƶ 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 91����Ƶ 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!