Who wouldn鈥檛 want to hug a trophy, pose for a commemorative photo, and put a golden emu on proud display in their office? Not that staff at 91短视频, with an already outstanding work ethic, need any extra incentive to do their best鈥�

But you know. Golden glittery emu. Enough said. 

The first Royal Awards for Staff Performance, presented during fall semester 2020. The awardees are selected from nominations of staff or administrators who have shown exceptional performance, and/or gone above and beyond the regular focus of their work to improve 91短视频.

The inaugural awardees for August/September were Shannon Dycus, dean of students, and Lauren Jefferson, director of communications.

Nominators offered these words of appreciation about these employees:

Shannon is innovative, imaginative, caring, and a force to reckon with. She has, among many other things, found ways to maintain safety and community, and encourage our students to commit to health and safety during a time of crisis and a national pandemic.

Lauren has been working intensely since the start of the pandemic, often putting in overtime, to make sure our messaging to the community about plans and changes is quick, accurate, informative, and helpful鈥� AND she still helps keep up humor and morale in our department.

Awardees for November/December were Nancy Heisey, associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Jon Swartz, director of residence life, student accountability, and restorative justice.

Nominators offered these words of appreciation:

Nancy ushered us through a promising accreditation visit by the Association of Theological Schools in mid-October. ATS’s initial feedback was positive, which is no small cause for celebration during this tenuous time in theological education. I cannot exaggerate the ways Nancy went above and beyond her administrative responsibilities to complete this accreditation process. She has completed a marathon and has done so with competence and contagious enthusiasm. 

Jon works tirelessly to improve the 91短视频 experience for our residential students. Despite his extensive workload, he always engages each person who approaches him with empathy and good humor.

Congratulations to the winners. And also to those on the Royal Award committee for their work in appreciation of staff: Stephen Farrar, Lori Gant, Sarah Gant, Ericka Gingerich, Bill Goldberg, Marcia Myers, Jon Styer.

91短视频 faculty are eligible for the annual Excellence in Teaching Award. Read about 2020 honorees here. 

The final blessing, offered by Undergraduate Campus Pastor , included a prayer for each attendee, the students from all faiths and backgrounds who would begin arriving on campus that day, and 鈥� in acknowledgement of 鈥� for courage to confront 鈥渟ystems of racism that destroy rather than build the Kingdom of God.鈥�

This year鈥檚 theme聽鈥斅犫�淓xpanding the Legacy, Enlarging the Tent鈥� 鈥� emphasized integrating 91短视频鈥檚 history and traditions with a vision for its second century; the conference also officially launched 91短视频鈥檚 celebrations.

Strong vision

President donned three different types of eyewear during her keynote address to illustrate the 鈥渟pecial kind of seeing we do in Anabaptist Mennonite schools 鈥� more clearly, deeply and widely.鈥� [Listen to the .]

91短视频 is well-poised with 鈥渟trong vision and high purpose鈥� for the future, she said.

Merging perspectives of hindsight and foresight with Anabaptist-inspired insight, she noted 91短视频鈥檚 strong and vibrant historic legacy; a robust, holistic and distinctive education that includes cross-cultural study and faith formation; and a cohesive, faith-filled community of faculty and staff.

鈥淲e have just begun to promote a vibrant future of counter-cultural Mennonite education, one that prepares our students for relevant and in-demand careers and meaningful spiritual lives shaped by the reconciling love of Jesus,鈥� Huxman said.

While praising 91短视频鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit, epitomized in pioneering professor emeritus and philanthropist Margaret 鈥淪peedy鈥� Martin Gehman and Alumnus of the Year , Huxman noted new academic offerings: the program, offered collaboratively with Goshen (Indiana) College, as well as the new four-year and a neuroscience minor.

Approximately 380 new and returning employees participated. The fall semester begins Monday, Aug. 28.

聽Many voices

A panel of respondents to Huxman鈥檚 speech included , , and . The final session of storytelling, a much-loved tradition, included , , , and .

Special guest Donald B. Kraybill provided a one-hour preview of his forthcoming Centennial history, 91短视频: One Hundred Years of Counter-Cultural Education (Penn State Press, 2017) to be released at the Oct. 13-15 .

Four breakout sessions highlighted influential programs, themes and concepts:

• 鈥� Professors and traced the history of racial-ethnic diversity at 91短视频, with special attention to current diversity trends and shifting paradigms. They asked, 鈥淗ow could and should paradigms and power structures shift? How can and should our new diversity help us more fully understand and realize the radical nature of our Anabaptist values?鈥� Click here to .

• Drinking in Knowledge at the Source: 91短视频’s Cross Cultural Program 鈥� A panel of five experienced cross-cultural program leaders discussed one of 91短视频鈥檚 most unique academic programs and included , professor and interim cross-cultural program director; , program assistant; , emeritus professor; , cross-cultural leader and adjunct instructor; and professors and .
• Creating a Beloved Community at 91短视频: Organizational Culture as Blessing and Barrier 鈥� Professor discussed culture and sub-culture identities as both assets and liabilities. He invited the group to list both blessings and barriers to 91短视频鈥檚 culture (and multiple sub cultures), noting that you must first understand your own organizational culture before you can聽interpret for聽鈥斅燼nd thus fully integrate聽鈥斅爊ewcomers.
• 鈥淭hy Word is Truth鈥�: Old Song, New Tune 鈥� Professor , associate dean of Eastern Mennonite Seminary, and Professor discussed 鈥渨ord鈥� and 鈥渢ruth鈥� as the biblical writer imagined these words, and engaged with ways that the motto speaks to聽91短视频 at 100 years.