Organized by the Student Government Association, College Conservatives, and Young Democrats, the series was funded by an Inclusive Excellence Grant from 91����Ƶ’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as a Pluralism Project Grant. 91����Ƶ 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’s more important than ever to bring people together.

“91����Ƶ encourages us to work toward peace and justice and resolve conflict, and this feels so woven into our values,” she said. “I think we created something we saw was missing, and we see that missing in the world more broadly. It’s 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.”

‘The elephant on campus’

“Disagree Together” 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.

“That demonstrated to us how much energy and conflict is under the surface here at 91����Ƶ that we often don’t address,” she said. “It feels like the elephant on campus.”

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. “I believe it has positively affected students by helping them become more open-minded and more willing to engage with perspectives different from their own,” she said. “In 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.”

Jacob Dwyer, president of College Conservatives, said he also felt the event was a success and was encouraged by the turnout. “I think it’s important that we engaged in meaningful dialogue,” he said. “Going 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.”

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

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, “Why do we disagree?” 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 “How do we disagree?” and featured a panel discussion on politics and Christianity. “We thought that was important to discuss because 91����Ƶ is an Anabaptist institution, and it’s such a central part of our values,” Longenecker said.

The third session, “Practice disagreeing,” invited students to sit in small groups and ask one another questions about political topics or anything else they were curious to explore. “It was beautiful to look around and see people, who I’ve never seen talk to each other before, sit down and have these deep conversations about their beliefs,” Longenecker said.

She said she believes new relationships have formed as a result of the “Disagree Together” series, especially during the third session. “I hope people walked away feeling like someone new sees them as a person first and is also interested in hearing their beliefs,” she said. “I hope it’s started conversations that will continue.”

As members of the SGA executive board prepare to hand off leadership to their successors, she said they’ve 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. “I see this as a beginning, not the end,” she said.

91����Ƶ senior Arelys Martinez Fabian caught the teaching bug in first grade.

The Winchester, Virginia, native would print out math worksheets for her younger sister to complete. With a classroom of stuffed animals gathered around them, she taught her sister, then a preschooler, basic lessons in addition and subtraction.

“I’ve switched my career choices through the years, but I’ve always gone back to teaching,” said Martinez Fabian, an education and Spanish double major. “When you make a connection with students and they realize, Oh, I can do it, that’s my favorite part of teaching.”

A first-generation college student, Martinez Fabian fully immersed herself in 91����Ƶ’s rich campus life. She served as co-president of the Student Government Association and as orientation leader, worked as product manager for Common Grounds Coffeehouse, and held leadership roles with the Latinx Student Alliance (LSA). She also served as a student representative on the Interim President Search Committee last spring.

It’s difficult for her to imagine herself anywhere other than 91����Ƶ. That wasn’t always the case.

During her senior year at Millbrook High School, she learned she had been accepted to the University of Virginia. It was her lifelong dream school. The decision should’ve been an easy one.

“At the same time,” she said, “I kept seeing signs that I should attend 91����Ƶ.”

High school teachers would unexpectedly mention 91����Ƶ in passing. A coworker at her day care job shared how impactful her own 91����Ƶ education had been. 

When 91����Ƶ accepted her and offered its highest academic award, the four-year, full-tuition Yoder/Webb Scholarship, the choice became clear: she would become a Royal.

Looking back, she’s sure she made the right call.

She believes 91����Ƶ’s nationally accredited teacher education program has prepared her well for the realities of the classroom. As a student teacher at Bluestone Elementary in Harrisonburg, she spent the first week of school last fall observing how teachers set rules and expectations. 

91����Ƶ’s small class sizes have allowed her to form close relationships with professors. She said she has always felt comfortable seeking their guidance and support. 

During recent immigration-related crackdowns across the country, Martinez Fabian, who has relatives from Latin America, said professors regularly checked in with her to make sure she felt safe.

“I knew I could go to them for support,” she said. “I was able to get through some tough times because of them.”

Your support helps students like Arelys pursue a quality college education without financial barriers. Join us for the 10th annual Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day and contribute to the scholarships that empower future 91����Ƶ students. On April 1, let’s show that our generosity knows no bounds…for the record!

91����Ƶ (91����Ƶ) is pleased to announce that senior Meredith Lehman, from Dover, Ohio, has been named a recipient of the prestigious . 

Lehman was one of only 32 students in the US—from a pool of nearly 3,000 applicants—selected to become a Rhodes Scholar for 2025. The program provides scholarships covering all expenses for student-scholars to study at Oxford University.

The award, considered to be the most prized international scholarship for American college graduates, was established in 1903 through the final will and bequest of Cecil John Rhodes. Award criteria includes the highest level of academic excellence, integrity of character, interest in and respect for fellow beings, and a student’s ability to lead. 

Lehman is excited about the opportunities that the Rhodes scholarship will provide, intending to pursue a Master of Philosophy in International Relations while at Oxford. “I hope to someday work as a bridge builder between science and policy, particularly in international spaces,” she says.

A double major in Biology and Political Science with a Chemistry minor, Lehman is an accomplished tutor, recipient of several top academic awards, and has already compiled an impressive research portfolio with several publications under review. Her research on drug delivery systems for anticancer drugs has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

During the summer of 2023, Lehman was part of a six-student undergraduate research team in North Queensland, Australia. Dr. Jim Yoder, Professor of Biology; Director of Biology, Chemistry, & Environmental Science Programs; and trip co-leader describes Lehman as “level headed, dependable, and meticulous in her work in both laboratory and field settings,” calling her research and publication record “extraordinary.”

Dr. Ji Eun Kim, Associate Professor of Political Science, adds: “Any person who meets Meredith will instantly recognize her sharp intellect and outstanding leadership which stems from her deep commitment to working for the common good and serving others.” 

During her time as President of both 91����Ƶ’s Student Government Association and award-winning Young Democrats Club, Lehman has been a persistent and passionate leader in the diversity, equity and inclusion space at 91����Ƶ, including around issues of human rights and climate justice. She was chosen to join the President’s Cabinet in 2022-23 as “the student voice” for the creation of the university strategic plan. 

President Susan Huxman affirms: “From working with advancement to raise money for diversity, equity and inclusion grants, partnering with faculty and designers to create a sustainable fashion design course, to assisting as a legal intern for asylum seekers and elementary students for whom English is a second language, Meredith has been a voice for equity, peace and justice in Harrisonburg, VA; Washington, DC; and her hometown in Ohio.”

91����Ƶ her time at 91����Ƶ, Lehman says, “This amazing opportunity is truly a product of the 91����Ƶ community and all of its incredible people … faculty and staff have empowered me to pursue knowledge and critical thinking and to also exercise empathy and compassion.”

Lehman will become part of a legacy of changemaking alumni, including Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee MA ’07, renowned peace activist, trained social worker and women’s rights advocate who graduated from 91����Ƶ’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). 

A leader among faith-based universities, 91����Ƶ emphasizes academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith. Founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, 91����Ƶ is an educational institution of Mennonite Church USA serving undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Learn more on the 91����Ƶ admissions website or by visiting our Harrisonburg campus.

Read emerging national news coverage on Lehman and the Rhodes scholarship from and .

That’s a gain of more than $5,000 over last year’s totals.

“Every single dollar we raised together goes toward making this special place more affordable for more people,”  said Braydon Hoover ‘11, MA ‘21 (organizational leadership), associate vice president of advancement. “That means scholarships, belongingness initiatives, resources for retaining our exceptional faculty and staff, and much more. I am so proud of this community for showing up and showing out, and helping us “Pay it Forward Together.” THANK YOU for all you did to make Lov91����Ƶ a major success!”

In addition to the fundraising successes of the day, Lov91����Ƶ merged with SGA Day, an initiative of the Student Government Association to bring students together with faculty and staff in meaningful ways outside of the classroom. Because of this partnership, the energy on campus was palpable, as the community understood the importance and impact of such a day of generosity. Check out the social media wall at love.emu.edu to see how this energy manifested online!

Read on to learn about the Lov91����Ƶ Challenges completed throughout the day and view photos:

Lov91����Ƶ Early Challenge: Because we received 100 gifts before Lov91����Ƶ Giving Day even began, a generous alumni couple contributed an additional $10,000. 111 out of 100 gifts needed were given!

Breakfast of Champions Challenge: Looming anxiety of student loan debt? We eat it for breakfast. Because 75 early birds made their gift between 6 and 9 a.m., $15,000 to the UFund was unlocked. 79 out of 75 gifts needed were given!

The ‘Vost with the Most Challenge: Dr. Fred Kniss ‘79 is retiring after 14 years of exemplary service as Provost of 91����Ƶ. To celebrate his tenure and to wish him well in this next chapter, a generous alumni couple matched 125 gifts to The University Fund given between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., up to $10,000. 138 out of 125 gifts needed were given!

SGA Day Pays It Forward Challenge: We’re teaming up with the Student Government Association by combining Lov91����Ƶ with the wildly successful SGA Day. These student leaders are always looking to make the world a better place, and that starts right here on campus. Because we received 300 gifts to ANY focus fund between 2 and 6 p.m., $20,000 was unlocked to support student initiatives like this through The University Fund. 300 of 300 gifts needed were given!

Explore Together Challenge: Of all the memorable experiences graduates of 91����Ƶ carry forward, our renowned intercultural programs are among the most highly regarded and meaningful. It is vital that no student feels barred from this cherished experience for lack of funds. Because we received 100 gifts in support of student scholarships for the intercultural program between 7 and 9 p.m., we unlocked $10,000 in additional support…. allowing more students to “Explore Together.” 102 of 100 gifts needed were given!

Athletics Hustle & Heart Challenge: Because we received 100 gifts to the Athletics Annual Fund between 9 and 11:59 p.m., a generous athletics alum matched all funds raised up to $10,000. 114 of 100 gifts needed were given!

Thanks to the many who donated and shared of their time to tell us how you Lov91����Ƶ!

While there are MANY people working behind the scenes to pull off Lov91����Ƶ, special thanks to the Lov91����Ƶ Day Team: 

Amelia Morrison, annual giving coordinator; Graham Stauffer ‘19, data analytics coordinator; Marci Myers ‘84, event & volunteer coordinator; Monica Pangle ‘10, constituent engagement assistant; Laura Daily, director of advancement services; Lindsay Martin ‘05, CJP advancement director; Deanna Reed, regional advancement director; Braydon Hoover ‘11, MA ‘21 (organizational leadership), associate vice president for Advancement; and Kirk Shisler ‘81, vice president for advancement.Not pictured: Tim Swarzendruber ‘95, senior regional advancement director; Chris Randolph, regional advancement director; Jennifer North Bauman, director of alumni & parent engagement; and Emily Della Ratta, social media manager.