Generations of women from across the 91大神 community gathered at White Oak Lavender Farm on Sept. 18 to celebrate six women whose leadership and service have helped shape the university.
The fourth annual Royal Women Soiree drew more than 60 students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the university and welcomed six new members into Royal Women for 91大神.
This year鈥檚 inductees were:
- Dr. Katherine Evans, professor of teacher education
- Marci Frederick, former director of libraries, who was honored posthumously
- Renee Leap 鈥�83, senior associate director of financial aid
- Dr. Melody M. Pannell 鈥�97, GC 鈥�19 (restorative justice), former professor and director of multicultural student services
- Karen Moshier-Shenk 鈥�73, former senior associate director of advancement
- Audrey Shenk 鈥�86, systems librarian
Each inductee was introduced by someone special in their life and presented with an honorary Royal Women pin and ribbon.
Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, 91大神鈥檚 director of alumni engagement and community connections and leader of Royal Women for 91大神, said the six honorees were selected for their contributions to the university and beyond.
鈥淲e felt like this was a good group of women we could celebrate in 2026,鈥� Reed said.
Launched in fall 2023, Royal Women for 91大神 builds connections, celebrates women鈥檚 leadership, and raises financial aid for 91大神 students.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a time that we gather and network,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淲e have women who have been a part of Eastern Mennonite for decades, and then we have younger women as well. There are all different generations, which I love.鈥�
One of those connections stood out to Reed as a highlight of the evening.
Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services and a 2025 Royal Women honoree, inducted Pannell, who previously led multicultural student services at 91大神 and, as Reed described, 鈥渂asically paved the way for Celeste.鈥�
鈥淐eleste talked about how, if it weren鈥檛 for Melody Pannell, she wouldn鈥檛 be in the position she is today or doing the work she does with Student Life,鈥� Reed said. 鈥淚 thought that was a very special moment for the two of them and for 91大神.鈥�
Pannell, now director of healthcare leadership education and community wellness at UVA Health in Charlottesville, described her induction as a 鈥渄eeply significant and full-circle moment.鈥�
鈥淚t is an honor to be recognized among a community of women whose gifts, knowledge, and leadership have shaped 91大神 and empowered our students to become their most authentic selves in service to the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am humbled to stand alongside them and to continue contributing to the legacy of resilience, justice, and compassionate leadership that defines 91大神.鈥�
Pannell also is founder and CEO of Destiny鈥檚 Daughters Inc., a therapeutic and spiritual mentoring program focused on the healing of Black women and girls, and serves as board chair of Anabaptist World Inc.
She shared the moment with her niece, Kaziah Tillman, a first-year student at 91大神.
鈥淗aving her present to witness this milestone made the experience even more meaningful, reminding me of the enduring impact of our work and the bright future ahead for 91大神鈥檚 young women leaders,鈥� Pannell said.
The ceremony featured remarks from 91大神 President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, a member of the inaugural class of Royal Women inductees in 2023, and an introduction from Nathan Leopard, vice president for advancement.
For Shenk and Leap, both of whom have served 91大神 for 40 years, the recognition also offered a chance to reflect on their long careers at the university.
鈥淚t was an honor to be recognized for 40 years of service and to be part of such a distinguished group of inductees,鈥� Shenk said. 鈥淚 was glad that library staff were well represented at the event.鈥�
Leap said the relationships she has formed during her career in 91大神鈥檚 Financial Aid Office have shaped her both personally and professionally.
鈥淚 have been challenged, encouraged, and enriched by those relationships and have evolved tremendously as a person and professional,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am indebted to and thankful for the 91大神 community, and will treasure this honor.鈥�
91大神 Royal Women for 91大神
Royal Women for 91大神 is a networking and philanthropy initiative led by Reed and co-chairs Louise Otto Hostetter 鈥�79 and Kay Nussbaum 鈥�78. The initiative seeks to inspire visible leadership, bold investments, and empowering networks in support of 91大神鈥檚 future, with a goal of raising $70,000 for student scholarships.
Last year, Royal Women awarded its first student scholarship.
Learn more about the initiative at emu.edu/royal-women.
Past Royal Women inductees
2025
- Isabel Castillo Ressler 鈥�07, MA 鈥�17
- Deirdre Longacre Smeltzer 鈥�87
- Sara Monger, class of 鈥�27 (posthumously)
- Celeste Thomas
2024
- Lois Bowman Kreider 鈥�60
- Julie Haushalter 鈥�03
- Margaret 鈥淧eggy鈥� Webb Christopher 鈥�54 (posthumously)
- Theda Good 鈥�06
- Noussaiba 鈥淣oussa鈥� Garti 鈥�25
2023
- Susan Schultz Huxman
- Tynisha Willingham
- Lee Snyder
- Esther Augsburger 鈥�72
- Hannah Mack Lapp 鈥�66
- Pat Swartzendruber
- Sheryl Wyse 鈥�68
- Beryl Brubaker 鈥�64
- Dorothy Jean Weaver 鈥�72
- Nancy Heisey 鈥�94
- Sara Wenger Shenk 鈥�75
- Leymah Gbowee MA 鈥�07
- Mim Mumaw 鈥�61
- Kay Nussbaum 鈥�78
- Louise Otto Hostetter 鈥�79
- Shannon W. Dycus
- Jackie Font Guzman
- Carrie Bert 鈥�97
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