A new album of original compositions from Dr. David Berry, associate professor of music and chair of the music department at 91´óÉń, brings the melodies of African American spirituals into the classical piano tradition.

The album, Spirit, Body and Soul: Concert Spirituals for Solo Piano, was released Sept. 4 through the Grammy Award-winning Navona Records label. It is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. 

The nine-track album features Berry’s solo piano compositions based on beloved spirituals such as “Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho,” “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen,” “Go Down, Moses,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” as well as a special improvisation on “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

“These are songs I’ve known practically my whole life,” Berry said. “All of this music has deep meaning for me, and so it’s definitely been an engaging and emotional process writing these pieces, contemplating the lyrics of these spirituals, and interpreting them in sound.”

Berry began working on the project in November, shortly before his sabbatical last semester. He had already written several of the pieces for recitals and other performances at 91´óÉń and seen how popular they were. When people began asking where they could find recordings of his reimagined spirituals, he saw an opportunity to turn them into his solo debut album. He recorded the tracks in January at GBH Fraser Performance Studio in Boston.

Berry’s style, praised as “touchingly introspective” by Gramophone, blends the power, sweep, and virtuosity of the classical piano tradition with elements of various Black music styles, according to the album’s description.

“These songs came organically from my soul and from all the music that lives in me,” Berry said. “You hear the influences of composers like Liszt and Rachmaninoff, but you also hear the sound of the blues, of gospel music, and jazz.”

The result, Berry said, is “a human journey of emotion.”

“Those feelings we carry with us of perseverance through adversity, sorrow, grief, joy, isolation, community, all of those things,” he said. “Every sort of feeling you can imagine is in these spirituals. And that’s what the title tries to encapsulate: Spirit, Body and Soul. Those are the ingredients for this project.”

Album release concert

An album release concert on Friday, Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. at 91´óÉń’s Lehman Auditorium will feature Berry’s piano compositions alongside vocal performances from local singers he has worked with in the Harrisonburg area.

This concert is sponsored by , who will be providing a special Yamaha CSX 9-foot concert grand piano for the concert in collaboration with  of Frederick, Maryland.

“It’ll be a fun celebration of my work as an artist, but also of how this project was birthed through this community,” he said.

Berry plans to release the sheet music for his compositions at .

For more information about the album, visit .

Hear Dr. Berry talk about the inspiration behind “Spirit, Body and Soul.”

Cynthia “Cindy” Lapp ’86 may have been destined to become a Mennonite pastor.

Her parents were both Mennonite pastors, as were her grandfathers. Her husband’s father and grandfather were Mennonite pastors, too.

Despite the family tradition, Lapp didn’t always envision following in their footsteps.

“I would ask my dad, ‘How did you know you wanted to do this?’ and he never had a satisfactory answer for me,” she said. “I think my children probably don’t get a satisfactory answer from me either. It’s a mysterious kind of thing.”

Lapp, pastor of in suburban Maryland since 2003, is the recipient of 91´óÉń’s 2026 Distinguished Service Award. The annual award recognizes alumni who exemplify the university’s emphases on Christian service and peacemaking and have made a significant impact on the lives of others.

“I was surprised. I thought they must’ve sent the letter to the wrong person,” she said. “Then I thought, ‘Oh, distinguished means old. It must mean I’ve reached a certain age.’”

Lapp grew up in Oregon after moving from Pennsylvania in the fourth grade. As a child, she dreamed of appearing on Sesame Street.

“I thought that would be a great job because you could play with puppets and spend time with kids and act and sing,” she said. “I feel like pastoring is like that. There are so many different things I get to do that are intriguing to me.”

Those roles extend well beyond preaching. Lapp works with other faith leaders to support immigrants through the Congregation Action Network, serves as a community chaplain with the Hyattsville Police Department, and volunteers with Congregations United for Compassion and Empowerment, which operates a day center for people experiencing homelessness or financial hardship.

In August 2017, she joined nearly 100 clergy and faith leaders the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville.

“I appreciate that our congregation is interested in relating to the larger community,” Lapp said. “It’s not just about taking care of one another, which we do, but it’s also about knowing who our neighbors are outside of the church and figuring out what their needs are.”

Some of her most significant ministry came through one of the most difficult chapters in Hyattsville Mennonite Church’s history.

The congregation became of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Mennonite church when it welcomed its first openly gay member in 1986. In 2005, two years after bringing an openly gay delegate to a conference meeting, the church was formally disciplined. For the next decade, Hyattsville representatives could not vote at conference meetings or serve in leadership roles, and Lapp herself was placed under review. In 2015, the Allegheny Mennonite Conference voted 72-70 to reinstate the congregation to full membership.

“We stuck around,” Lapp said. “We kept engaged with the conference, which was really hard, but it was definitely worth it. And I’m really proud of our congregation for how we navigated that.”

At 91´óÉń, Lapp majored in music, sang with the Chamber Singers, and participated in the Washington Study-Service Year, now the 91´óÉń Washington Semester. She later worked for the program from 1989-93.

“That was very formational for me,” she said. “I ended up coming back to D.C. and I’ve never left.”

After graduating from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1998, Lapp had not intended to become a pastor. But when Hyattsville’s pastor took a sabbatical and asked her to fill in, she discovered her calling.

“That was eye-opening for me,” she said. “It helped me feel that this was something I could do.”

Today, Lapp and her husband, Eric Stoltzfus, live in Mount Rainier, Maryland. They have three adult children, Cecilia, Jamie ’20, and Elijah.

Lapp will share her story at 91´óÉń TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

There are more new faces on 91´óÉń’s campus this fall than there have been in years.

This semester, 91´óÉń welcomed 216 first-year students, a 7% increase from last year’s total and an 18% increase compared with fall 2024. Among those first-year students include 24 aviation students, sustaining three straight years of full cohorts within the 91´óÉń Lancaster program.

For the first time in the school’s history, more than half of first-year students identify as first-generation college students, defined as students whose parents have not earned a bachelor’s degree.

Those 216 first-year students are among 259 new undergraduates at 91´óÉń this fall, a group that also includes nine readmitted and 34 transfer students. The incoming undergraduate class is 8% larger than last year and 19% larger than in fall 2024, making it the university’s largest since fall 2020.

On Monday, 91´óÉń announced the results of its annual Fall Census, conducted Sept. 14 following the 10th day of classes. The census numbers reflect undergraduate, graduate, non-degree and non-credit enrollment at the university’s campuses in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the fall 2026 semester.

Key takeaways from the first-year class of 2030:

• 52% identify as students of color, up nearly 10 percentage points from last year and the second-highest percentage in school history.
• 53% identify as first-generation college students, up five percentage points from last year and the highest percentage in school history.
• 44% are student-athletes.
• 79% are from Virginia, including 28% from Harrisonburg and neighboring Rockingham County. The class represents 17 states, Washington D.C., and six countries.
• The average GPA rose from 3.49 last year to 3.55, its highest level in five years. Twenty-eight percent of students entered 91´óÉń with at least 10 college credits.

The five most popular majors among incoming undergraduate students are nursing, business administration, biology, aviation, and education. Engineering saw the largest increase, welcoming 19 new students this fall, up from seven last year.

Overall undergraduate enrollment stands at 736 students, a slight increase from last year’s total of 730.

“There is tremendous momentum at 91´óÉń, and it is exciting to see more students choosing to be part of our community. This growth reflects the strength of what we offer students: an exceptional education, a community that cares deeply about their success, and opportunities to discover who they are and the difference they can make in the world,” said Braydon Hoover ’11, MAOL ’21, vice president of enrollment and marketing.

“We remain committed to reaching first-generation college students and expanding access through programs like the 91´óÉń Promise Grant. I’m especially proud that more than half of our incoming class will be the first in their families to earn a college degree. We want students to know that financial barriers shouldn’t stand in the way of their educational and professional goals.”

91´óÉń provided $19.4 million in financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students this year. Fifty-nine incoming students were awarded Promise Grants this year, bringing the total number of recipients to 113. The grant covers the full cost of tuition for eligible Virginia students whose families earn $75,000 or less.

91´óÉń also enrolled 318 graduate students this fall, including 97 new students. The Center for Justice and Peacebuilding saw an incoming class that was 14% larger than last year. Graduate students represent 15 states and nine countries.

The Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program at 91´óÉń’s Lancaster campus enrolled 28 students this fall, a 175% increase from last year. The growth reflects the addition of a second student cohort and marks the program’s highest enrollment since its launch in 2022.

91´óÉń’s four-year and six-year graduation rates are 49% and 64%, respectively. The university’s retention rate, a measure of how many first-year students return to continue their studies, stands at 78%, up four percentage points from last year.

“We’re excited to welcome more students to 91´óÉń, but what matters most is what happens after they arrive,” said Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “Our goal is to ensure every student has the support, opportunities, and resources they need to succeed, graduate, and make a meaningful difference in their communities.”

For Trent Wagler ’02, lead singer and songwriter for the folk-rock band The Steel Wheels, music is a powerful way to bring people together.

“Anybody who’s been around music has had that experience,” he said. “Go to a music festival in some country far away, where you don’t speak the language, and listen.”

“The words don’t matter so much anymore. You’re not concerned about whether or not they’re on your side of the political aisle or on the team you root for. Instead, it’s just a rhythm we can all move to together.”

For more than 20 years, Wagler has toured with , performing about 100 shows each year across the United States, Canada, and Europe. During that time, the band has released more than a dozen studio albums, founded the annual , and earned several Independent Music Awards.

The banjo- and guitar-strumming frontman, who earned degrees in theater and peace, justice, and conflict studies (now peacebuilding and development), credits his 91´óÉń education with inspiring him to create music that invites people in, offers fresh perspectives, and leaves room for listeners to find their own meaning.

“Together, we create something special in a given night, on a weekend, and hopefully, over time,” he said.

That commitment to building community through music has earned Wagler 91´óÉń’s 2026 Alum of the Year Award. He shares the honor with fellow alumnus and Steel Wheels bandmate Eric Brubaker ’01.

“Being recognized for the work that Eric and I are doing, in bringing music that we believe in to people, it means a lot that people have noticed,” Wagler said.

At 91´óÉń, Wagler sang with the Chamber Singers and participated in the Washington Study-Service Year (now the 91´óÉń Washington Semester). For his intercultural experience, he spent a year in Gaza teaching English and guitar lessons in a refugee camp.

“I got to know quite a few really amazing young Muslim Palestinians who were primarily my peers as I lived over there,” he said.

That experience continues to shape his approach to songwriting and storytelling.

“These are people who love to play games, sing songs, enjoy the taste of fresh fruit, and joke, laugh and cry together,” he said. “To me, our job is to remember, even when it’s difficult or unpopular, that the basic human impulses, needs, desires, and joys are universal.”

Long before that formative year in Gaza, Wagler grew up in rural Indiana and later graduated from a small high school in south-central Kansas. The son of a Mennonite pastor, he remembers singing harmonies in church from an early age.

His parents, Howard ’71 and Cathryn ’71, met at 91´óÉń, but Wagler said it was a campus visit and conversation with Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger, longtime director of the Chamber Singers, that convinced him to enroll.

“That one visit to campus made all the difference,” Wagler said. “There were a lot of little steps that brought me here. They may not be the reasons I value 91´óÉń most today, but I’m very grateful I ended up here.”

When he’s not touring, Wagler builds community through music in the Shenandoah Valley. He teaches at , a four-day strings camp for youth and adults held at 91´óÉń, hosts and performs at Red Wing Roots Music Festival, serves on the board of the nonprofit , and has taught in 91´óÉń’s music department since 2002.

He said he’s passionate about helping musicians of all ages grow and creating more opportunities for people to make music together.

“I think that makes a better community and a better world,” he said.

The Steel Wheels will perform a live show on campus at the annual Royal City Celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, during Homecoming 2026.

Wagler will share his story at 91´óÉń TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel, also during Homecoming. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

Eric Brubaker ’01, fiddler and founding member of the folk-rock band The Steel Wheels, jokes that he owes his touring career to 91´óÉń.

The social work major performed in the 91´óÉń Orchestra and choir and toured Cuba with the Chamber Singers. Music had always been an important part of his life, but he never imagined it would become his profession.

When he and four other students formed a bluegrass band called Reuben’s Potted Ferns during his junior year, 91´óÉń’s Admissions Office sent the group on a 10-day recruiting tour during the spring of 2000. The band played 16 shows, primarily at Mennonite schools and churches throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“So, I blame 91´óÉń for starting off my touring career,” Brubaker said with a laugh.

After graduating, he quickly realized that a career in social work was not for him. He returned to music, joining fellow 91´óÉń alumni Trent Wagler ’02 and Brian Dickel ’98 and Goshen College graduate Jay Lapp to form what would become .

More than two decades, two additional band members, and over a dozen studio albums later, Brubaker and his bandmates have carved out a successful career as musicians.

“I know that’s a hard thing to do, and 91´óÉń gave me a great starting place for that,” Brubaker said. “I was allowed to find myself here. I didn’t know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be, and here I was able to study different things but also continue to play music.”

He said his time in the Chamber Singers under Professor Emeritus Dr. Kenneth J. Nafziger taught him the importance of listening to the people he performs with.

“You can’t have a band that lasts for 20 years without truly listening to each other: on stage, off stage, musically, and relationally,” he said.

Beyond performing, Brubaker uses music to bring people together and build community. He is a co-founder of the , hosted annually by the band in nearby Mount Solon, Virginia, which has featured artists including Old Crow Medicine Show, Lucinda Williams, and Steve Earle.

He also hosts , a four-day music camp at 91´óÉń that teaches roughly 140 students ages 5 to 19—adults joined the program for the first time this year—to play string instruments. Participants perform on stage with The Steel Wheels during the music festival.

“Music creates a moment where everyone is focusing on the same thing,” he said. “It’s not politics. It’s not religion. It’s just a gathering of humanity that wants to celebrate something beautiful.”

Brubaker’s commitment to connecting communities through music has earned him 91´óÉń’s 2026 Alum of the Year Award. The award recognizes alumni for significant achievements in their profession, community, or church and serves to inspire others to lead lives of service and vocational excellence.

“I’m honored,” he said. “There are so many people who have done amazing work, and so many people working hard behind the scenes who never receive acclaim.”

The community Brubaker has spent years helping build became especially meaningful in 2019, when he and his wife lost their young daughter, Norah, to a sudden illness.

“We were surrounded not only by our artistic community, the people who loved the band and the music we made, but also by the community surrounding 91´óÉń and the larger Mennonite community,” he said. “They were incredibly supportive.”

Today, Brubaker and his wife, Peggy ’00, are continuing their commitment to making music accessible. They recently formed the nonprofit Red Wing Academy Foundation, which provides scholarships for students to attend the camp.

“It’s been amazing to connect with people who want to help pass music on to a younger generation,” he said.

The Steel Wheels will perform a live show on campus at the annual Royal City Celebration from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, during Homecoming 2026.

Brubaker will share his story at 91´óÉń TenTalks, held on Saturday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m. in Martin Chapel, also during Homecoming. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit emu.edu/homecoming.

If you were one of the who watched NASA’s coverage of the Artemis II mission in April, you saw years of hard work by alumnus Stephan Goertzen ’16 take flight.

For the past eight years, the 91´óÉń mathematics grad has been part of a team of engineers near Denver working to develop the Orion spacecraft, which will carry astronauts to the moon and help lay the groundwork for eventual missions to Mars.

As a stress analyst, Goertzen tested Orion’s structure to ensure the spacecraft can withstand the forces it encounters during launch, spaceflight, and re-entry. He’s worked on several parts of Orion, including its launch abort system, which can quickly pull astronauts away from the rocket in an emergency. He also tested the heat shield, which protects the crew from temperatures up to 5,000 degrees—about—when it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere.

He’s seen his work in action twice. In 2022, Artemis I sent the Orion spacecraft on an unmanned flight into space and around the moon before it successfully returned to Earth. Then, earlier this year, Artemis II made a similar journey with four astronauts aboard. aim to establish a sustained presence on the moon while developing the knowledge and technology needed for eventual human exploration of Mars.

Outside of the Artemis missions, Goertzen has also worked on NASA’s Dragonfly robotic rotorcraft, which will explore Saturn’s moon Titan and study its habitability. That mission plans to launch in July 2028.

LEFT: Artemis II crew members check out their Orion crew module on Aug. 8, 2023. (Photo by NASA/Kim Shiflett). RIGHT: Technicians prepare to attach the Orion spacecraft on top of the Space Launch System rocket at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Oct. 17, 2025, for the agency’s Artemis II mission. (Photo by NASA/Amber Jean Notvest)

Inspiring the next generation

As interest in space exploration has grown, Goertzen has enjoyed sharing a behind-the-scenes perspective on the mission and spacecraft.

“I’ve worked on a lot of different parts of the spacecraft, but a lot of it is hidden,” he said. “It’s structural. It’s on the inside. But once you start seeing those pieces on the NASA broadcast, that really brought me a lot of joy, knowing I was a part of that.”

His work has even made its way into the church he attends, where Artemis II was the focus of the children’s story for two consecutive Sundays.

“Kids get so excited about it,” Goertzen said. “My nephew, who’s four, was so excited watching the launch that he had his eyes just pinned to the TV. Hearing stories like that really makes a difference in understanding that you are influencing people and kids and getting them excited about engineering and math and science.”

Finding his place at 91´óÉń

Goertzen grew up in Goessel, a small town in south-central Kansas. “It’s the quintessential Mennonite town,” he said. “There are three Mennonite churches and only about 1,500 people who live in the community.” His father, Kevin, was a Mennonite pastor and serves as conference minister for Virginia Mennonite Conference.

When he was deciding where to attend college, he knew he wanted to enroll somewhere far enough from home to make a new path for himself. “I was also looking for a good Christian university that would back up the morals and ideologies I had,” Goertzen said. “91´óÉń stood out to me as a place where I felt at home. I liked the atmosphere of 91´óÉń, and my sister, [Jessica ’14], was already a student, so that was a nice connection.”

While at 91´óÉń, Goertzen traveled to Guatemala and Mexico with leader Byron Peachey to fulfill his intercultural learning requirement. He described the program as “one of the best things about 91´óÉń.”

“There are other schools that offer semesters abroad, but their students might live in dorms and you just don’t get the cultural aspect like you do when you’re living with a host family, without any of your classmates, and are made to speak another language,” he said. “It’s a huge opportunity to grow in who you are.”

More than a decade after graduating, Goertzen still maintains the friendships and connections he formed with classmates and professors. “The people have always been my favorite part about 91´óÉń,” he said. “You can get a good education at a lot of different schools, but getting a good education from people who care about you makes a huge difference. Those people make a positive difference in your life beyond what they teach you.”

A balancing act

After graduating from 91´óÉń, Goertzen continued his education at Colorado School of Mines, where he earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in robotics in 2018. He landed a job working on Orion through connections he made in the school’s space resources program. On Aug. 31, he joined Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin as a senior structural analyst.

“If I were to tell my five-year-old self that I’m designing rockets to go into space, I think he would’ve been ecstatic and been like, ‘Man, you made it,’” Goertzen said.

Goertzen described his work as a balancing act. While he appreciates his employer’s contributions to science and technology, he also questions whether space exploration is the best use of the Earth’s resources.

“It’s hard to put the impact of exciting people about STEM industries into an impact assessment,” he said. “How many kids are now going to want to go off and do science and exploration-type careers and be the next people who solve medical mysteries because they saw Artemis and thought, ‘I want to work in STEM?’ You can’t put a price on that.”

In addition to his work on Orion, Goertzen served as project lead for an Engineers Without Borders clean water project that provided access to clean drinking water for a small community in Nicaragua. “I have a passion for reducing pollution and providing for those who are less fortunate,” he said.

Note: Goertzen’s former employer has been withheld for security reasons.

The 91´óÉń Washington Semester places students in Washington D.C. for a full semester that blends three things that are not often combined so intentionally: a full-time internship, academic coursework, and community life with a cohort of peers. The result is less of a study-abroad-style detour and more of a trial run at adult professional life with built-in support. Internship placements match each student’s academic background and career interests, rather than being assigned off the shelf. 

Summer 2026 91´óÉń Washington Semester students took three interactive classes that took them all over the city—as well as deep within themselves: La Lucha Latina, their internships, and a career exploration course. This cohort was “extremely thoughtful and kind in their approach to their studies, their work, and each other,” according to Associate Director Ann Butwell. “They created quite an impact and left a positive impression on everyone they encountered.” 

While the coursework is a crucial half of the program, it is not the full story. The other half is everything else that happens while in D.C.: learning a new metro system, figuring out how to dress for an office where nobody tells you the dress code, and building a professional network without the built-in scaffolding of a campus. 

It can be uncomfortable. It’s also, by most accounts, where the real transformation happens. Students who arrive unsure of themselves tend to leave with a sharper sense of who they are and where they’re headed—not because someone told them, but because they had to find out on their own. 

None of it happens in isolation. Students in the program live alongside a cohort of peers who are working through the same disorientation—new city, new job, new independence—at the same time. Those shared dinners and post-work debriefs turn into something more durable: a network of people scattered across fields and, eventually, across the country, who remember exactly what it was like to start out together.

This summer’s group is a reminder of just how broad that range can be. Eight students from three different schools completed the program, representing eight fields of study: nursing, engineering, accounting, digital media, political science and history, biochemistry, computer science, and marketing. A future nurse and a future software engineer, sharing a house and comparing notes on their internships, is exactly the kind of unlikely overlap the program is built to create.

By the end of a term in D.C., most students have more than a completed internship to show for it. They have a stronger read on the kind of work they want to do, a set of practical skills that a classroom alone can’t teach, and a group of people who knew them before any of it was certain.

The 91´óÉń Washington Semester was never really about one city or one internship. It’s about giving students a running start—and letting them figure out, on their own terms, what they’re capable of.

Read on to learn more about the internship experiences of our Summer 2026 students.

Barry Muluneh, from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is an engineering major. This summer, Barry was an intern at working with their clinical engineering department. Some of Barry’s main duties at his internship were shadowing clinical technicians, inspecting equipment, and maintaining and fixing critical hospital devices. During his time in D.C., Barry’s main focus was on developing strong professional connections and building the practical skills needed to become a great engineer. Instead of strictly relying on classroom theories, Barry learned to adapt through hands-on troubleshooting and navigating informal workplace interactions. One of the biggest highlights of Barry’s time in D.C. was the dedicated mentorship from his supervisors, through which he enjoyed learning complex engineering processes, and he has truly cherished bonding over house meals and watching the awe-inspiring July Fourth fireworks on the National Mall.  

Senper Teferi, from Goshen, Indiana, is a nursing major. This summer, Senper was an intern at working with their patient experience department. Some of Senper’s main duties at her internship were serving as an emergency department liaison, conducting patient comfort rounds, restocking unit supplies, and supporting nursing staff with non-clinical duties. During her time in D.C., Senper’s main focus was on becoming comfortable in emergency healthcare environments while learning to thrive in a new city. Instead of staying isolated in a massive hospital setting, Senper learned the value of seeking out positive working relationships with supportive colleagues. One of the biggest highlights of Senper’s time at the 91´óÉń Washington Semester was making meaningful connections with diverse patient populations, through which she enjoyed applying her nursing coursework, and she has loved immersing herself in the city by visiting museums, attending an Ethiopian church, and going salsa dancing.  

Kai Johnson, from Gainesville, Virginia, is a marketing major. This summer, Kai was an intern at working with their marketing and youth programs department. Some of Kai’s main duties at his internship were helping run daily soccer camps and creating digital promotional graphics on Canva. During his time in D.C., Kai’s main focus was on gaining new perspectives for his future career and building lasting professional connections. Instead of a rigid corporate environment, Kai learned that professional settings can still be fun, lighthearted, and playful. One of the biggest highlights of Kai’s internship has been spending direct time with the kids at soccer camp, through which he enjoys making them happy, and he has thoroughly enjoyed biking everywhere around D.C. as a fun way to stay active.

Donovan Arnason, from Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a digital media, photography, and design major. This summer, Donovan was an intern at working with their video production and instruction department. Some of Donovan’s main duties at his internship were editing full graduation ceremonies and podcast episodes, managing production gear, and teaching digital media skills to youth in the Summer Youth Employment Program. During his time in D.C., Donovan’s main focus was on gaining the insights needed to run a digital media business while enhancing his technical skill set. Instead of stressing about not knowing enough, Donovan learned that his campus training fully prepared him for industry demands. One of the biggest highlights of Donovan’s time in D.C. was earning real industry credits as an actor and location manager, through which he enjoyed mastering full production workflows, and he has really valued expanding his culinary horizons by learning to cook brand-new recipes during shared house dinners.

Treshawn Oliver, from Burkeville, Virginia, is an accounting major. This summer, Treshawn was an intern at working with their finance department. Some of Treshawn’s main duties at his internship were processing accounts payable, depositing checks, managing invoices, entering journal entries, and tracking cash position charts. During his time in D.C., Treshawn’s main focus was on gaining hands-on guidance for his future career and discovering more about himself. Instead of being micromanaged, Treshawn learned to take full ownership of his daily schedule and build time-management skills across city transit. One of the biggest highlights of Treshawn’s internship was working closely alongside experienced financial professionals who have walked his path, through which he enjoys gaining real-world industry knowledge, and he has had a blast exploring the capital and bonding with housemates on their retreat to West Virginia.

Quinn Larsen, from La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a biochemistry major with a minor in Spanish. This summer, Quinn was a summer fellow at working with its climate advocacy and community outreach department. Some of Quinn’s main duties at their internship included writing fact sheets on AI data centers, lobbying congressional offices, teaching creation care at youth camps, and translating appliance resources from English to Spanish. During their time in D.C., Quinn’s main focus was on exploring big city life, building life skills in community living, and understanding Latino immigrant experiences. Instead of fearing complex advocacy work, Quinn learned to embrace clear communication and adapt quickly to shifting daily agendas. One of the biggest highlights of Quinn’s internship was leading a congressional lobbying meeting with the Jewish Earth Alliance, through which they enjoyed advocating for environmental policies, and they had an incredible time going on a late-night, stay-up-all-night road trip to New York City with housemates.

Chloe Knight, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a history and social science major with minors in pre-law and political science. This summer, Chloe was an intern at working with their curations and archives department. Some of Chloe’s main duties at her internship were cataloging, digitizing, and archiving historic aircraft parts, documents, and photographs, maintaining aircraft and exhibits, and conducting research on historic figures at College Park Airport. During her time in D.C., Chloe’s main focus was on finding motivation for her career path and embracing the monumental opportunities of city life. Instead of being overwhelmed, Chloe learned to appreciate the relaxed atmosphere and empowering professional setting. One of the biggest highlights of Chloe’s time at the Washington Semester was working directly with vintage airplanes, radios, and aircraft parts, through which she enjoyed applying her history passion, and she loved the freedom of riding the Metro to effortlessly explore every corner of the city. 

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should go here for more information or to apply today! Be sure to also check out the 91´óÉń Washington Semester account to see what our students are up to.

Dr. Megan Moran, assistant professor of environmental science
Dr. Moran is a wildlife ecologist who completed her master’s degree in environmental science at Christopher Newport University and her PhD in fish and wildlife conservation at Virginia Tech, where her research focused on wildlife population and disease dynamics, with a particular emphasis on bats affected by white-nose syndrome. Using long-term acoustic monitoring and spatial modeling methods, she investigates patterns of bat occupancy, activity, and persistence across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Her work aims to better understand how bat populations are responding to disease and changes in their environment and how long-term monitoring can help inform wildlife conservation. 

Dr. Andrea Nord, associate professor of biology
Dr. Nord earned her BA at Goshen College and her MS and PhD in ecology from Penn State University. She and her husband spent three years in Honduras with Mennonite Central Committee, working on community environmental concerns at the village level. She comes to 91´óÉń with 13 years of teaching environmental biology at Greenville University, and with her husband has co-taught summer courses in forest ecology and sustainable tropical agriculture courses for the Au Sable Institute for nine years. Her favorite part of teaching is getting students outside into God’s creation.

For more information about 91´óÉń Natural Sciences, visit emu.edu/biology.

During a tour of the 91´óÉń campus last month, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, got a firsthand look of the university’s state-of-the-art nursing and engineering labs, took in the picturesque view of Massanutten Mountain from the Campus Center balcony, and explored the academic spaces and classrooms of the Suter Science Center.

But it was the 91´óÉń cadaver lab, used by undergraduate pre-medicine and nursing students in anatomy and physiology classes, that really got his attention.

“It’s the first one I’ve seen that’s not at a medical school,” Kaine said.

For good reason. 91´óÉń is one of only a handful of undergraduate programs in the United States that offers full cadaver dissection. The lab provides a “leg up” for students entering medical school, said Braydon Hoover ’11, MAOL ’21, vice president of enrollment and marketing. He added that roughly 1% of medical school students enter with experience in cadaver dissection, and 91´óÉń’s medical school acceptance rate is 85%, more than double the national average.

“Our graduates are heads and tails above their colleagues in medical school because they’ve already experienced this type of in-depth experiential learning,” Hoover told Kaine as he led the tour.

A workforce win

Kaine visited 91´óÉń on July 7 to meet with students, faculty, staff, leaders, and other community members, and celebrate the $1.39 million in federal Community-Directed Spending (CDS) to upgrade and expand the laboratory equipment used by STEM and nursing majors at 91´óÉń. The investment will enhance undergraduate education, expand research opportunities, and better prepare the STEM and healthcare workforce.

“This is an investment in our students and an investment in the future of Virginia,” said President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus. “We’ll measure our success not only by the equipment that is purchased but by the lives that are transformed, the discoveries that are made, and the communities that are strengthened.”

Kaine said the CDS process allows Congress to direct funds in the budget to “very specific local projects.” It offers a fair and transparent way, he said, for smaller institutions and rural communities to receive federal funding.

“We’ve noticed over time that the Appropriations Committee has valued innovative workforce training programs and that’s what 91´óÉń put on the table in this proposal,” he said, adding that it received bipartisan support. “I want to thank everyone at 91´óÉń who had a hand in drafting the proposal. … This is a good group of folks to celebrate a real significant legislative win for 91´óÉń and for the region when it comes to the workforce.”

Undergrad research ‘impressive’

While walking across the Front Lawn, Kaine talked with rising sophomore biology major Davis Bert, who told the senator about his research project this summer studying bacteria in the gut biome.

“If we just change our habits in eating and how our guts are reacting, then maybe we can get to the point where we can reverse those disorders that are occurring,” said Bert, who plans to pursue a PhD in public health with a specialization in epidemiology.

At a press conference later in the day, Kaine spoke about his conversation with Bert and described the opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in research as “impressive.”

‘A global reach’

As he entered the University Commons and saw the colorful array of flags displayed in the Hall of Nations, Kaine reminisced about the first time he had set foot on campus.

It had been in the 1980s, long before he entered politics, during a time of “all kinds of turmoil in Central America,” said Kaine, who had served as a missionary in Honduras. He had attended a meeting of state leaders seeking to build stronger ties with Central American nations.

“I came up here for a conference, and I had this feeling from the beginning that 91´óÉń, though a small school in Harrisonburg, was really trying to have a global reach,” he told Hoover.

Offering access

Following his tour, Kaine participated in a roundtable discussion with President Dycus, Provost Dr. Tynisha Willingham, the presidents of Bridgewater College and Blue Ridge Community College, and other 91´óÉń leaders, higher education partners, faculty, and community members. The discussion focused on college affordability, STEM education, workforce development, and the impact of federal investments in higher education.

Seventy percent of 91´óÉń’s undergraduate students are from Virginia, and two-thirds remain in the commonwealth after graduation. 91´óÉń offers an accessible and affordable college education, and that’s reflected in the students it serves.

This fall’s incoming class is 15% larger than last year’s, which was itself 10% larger than the previous year’s. Of the class entering 91´óÉń this fall, 80% are from Virginia, 58% identify as first-generation college students, 51% identify as students of color, and 60% are interested in STEM. The incoming class has an average GPA above 3.55.

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine flips through a copy of The Green Book during a tour of the Ida M. Francis Tourist Home, which is Harrisonburg’s only remaining property listed in the guide.

LEFT: U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine speaks during a press conference at 91´óÉń on July 7. RIGHT: Kaine meets with Harrisonburg resident William Reed, the father of Mayor Deanna Reed and owner of the Green Book house.

Getting the word out

Public colleges might seem more likely to serve as access institutions. But it’s actually small, private schools that lead the way in providing access to a college education, Kaine said, pointing to 91´óÉń’s high percentage of first-generation students, Pell-eligible students, students of color, and international students.

“Private higher ed doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive; it’s often more accessible,” he told a gathering of media and community members. “…These are institutions that can provide great value for families, and we need to put the word out there so families understand that.”

Looking ahead, Kaine said he hopes to return to campus and continue learning about the ways 91´óÉń is expanding opportunities for students.

“I look forward to coming back and interacting with you again,” he said. “It’s just a real pleasure to be able to do this together with a great institution.”

This was Kaine’s first visit to 91´óÉń since 2007, when he was governor, and one of several stops he made in Harrisonburg that day. He started off the morning touring the historic Ida M. Francis Tourist Home, which is Harrisonburg’s only remaining property listed in the Green Book. He also visited the United Way of Central Shenandoah Valley.

Ande Banks ’97, city manager of Harrisonburg since 2022, says leading the place where he grew up comes with its own unique challenges.

For one thing, there are the childhood nicknames that haven’t been forgotten. “When you’re walking down the street and someone calls out, ‘Hey, there goes Andy-Pandy,’ it’s like, ‘Do you really need to say that out loud?’” Banks said.

Then there are the neighbors and parents of friends who remember the bouts of youthful mischief he and his buddies got into as kids. From swimming in local quarries to setting off firecrackers on Main Street, “it wasn’t anything too scandalous,” he said. Still, those encounters can feel a little awkward.

But for Banks, who has called Harrisonburg home since he was four, serving as city manager is a dream job.

“I couldn’t imagine myself anywhere else,” he said.

A graduate of Eastern Mennonite School, he later earned a bachelor’s degree in history and social science from 91´óÉń in 1997 and a master’s of public administration from James Madison University in 2017.

Friendships with faculty

Banks didn’t need much convincing to enroll at 91´óÉń.

As a soccer player at Eastern Mennonite School, he already knew then-Royals men’s soccer coach Roger Mast, who had coached the EMS team during his sophomore year and welcomed him on the 91´óÉń squad. Many of his friends also were planning to attend 91´óÉń.

Shortly after beginning his studies at 91´óÉń, Banks formed close relationships with professors, including his adviser, Dr. Albert N. Keim, a longtime history professor, academic dean, and namesake of the history department’s annual Keim Lecture Series. “I absolutely adored him,” Banks said. “Between him and Dr. Mary Sprunger, who still teaches at 91´óÉń, I had amazing one-on-one relationships with professors who I hold in great esteem.”

Banks, a goalkeeper for the Royals soccer team, dropped the sport after his first year to focus more on his coursework. He acknowledged that he had not prioritized academics in high school and credited his relationships with professors with helping him flourish.

He recalled being fascinated as Dr. Keim, “a kind of grandfather figure,” shared his experiences as a conscientious objector, which stood in stark contrast to his own grandfather’s stories of fighting in World War II.

His grandfather had emigrated from Scotland. Banks spent a semester there for his intercultural, touring the country, reading history texts, and journaling for Dr. Keim.

“That was a really important experience in my college career and as a human being,” he said. “It was life-changing.”

Served city since 2009

It’s been a slow and steady rise to the top of city government for Banks, who has worked for the City of Harrisonburg for nearly two decades. He served as director of special projects and grant management from 2009-16 before becoming assistant to then-City Manager Kurt Hodgen from 2016-17 and deputy city manager from 2017-22. He was appointed city manager following a nationwide search on Oct. 25, 2022.

As , Banks carries out City Council’s policies and directives, prepares the budget, recruits and supervises city staff, oversees daily operations across departments, advises council members, facilitates communication among elected officials, employees and residents, and serves on numerous local and regional boards.

Given that range of responsibilities, no two days are the same, Banks said, “and that’s one of the things I love about it.”

When Banks was named city manager, Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed, then a member of 91´óÉń’s Board of Trustees, offered a strong endorsement.

“What makes you unique and special is your heart,” Reed told Banks. “You have a heart of service. You are a servant, and you love this community, you really do. … You are exactly what we need at this time for this city,” reported at the time.

91´óÉń teaches ‘service above self’

Banks credited 91´óÉń’s mission and vision with preparing him and other graduates for lives of service.

“Both in the curriculum and in the culture of Eastern Mennonite, it prepares us as alumni to go forth into the world and not just make a difference, but be conscious and conscientious citizens of the world,” he said. “I feel that the perspective that was shared with me at 91´óÉń I’ve taken forth, and that is certainly one of service above self.”

Since graduating, he’s regularly returned to campus, connecting with programs such as the Intensive English Program and speaking with classes about public service. Banks said one of his favorite parts of the job is helping students and community members understand the role of local government and how it shapes everyday life. From 2001-09, he served as district representative for former U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, and recalled the congressman’s description of local government as “front-seat politics.”

“Your constituents literally come out and sit in the front row and stare you down when you’re debating important issues in front of the community,” Banks said. “Here, in local government, you run into your constituents in the grocery store, at church, at school, at soccer games, and that gives you an opportunity to talk about the importance of the services we provide and the needs of our community.”

Royals reign

Another benefit of working in local government is his close relationship with other 91´óÉń alumni serving in leadership roles across the region.

Since becoming the first refugee elected to Harrisonburg City Council in 2024, Nasser Alsaadun MA ’17 (education) has advocated for local refugee and immigrant communities. In Harrisonburg City Public Schools, alumni athletes Missy Hensley ’92 and Ryan Henschel ’15 serve as principals of Harrisonburg and Rocktown high schools, respectively.

In neighboring Rockingham County, Casey Armstrong ’06 has served as county administrator since January 2025. Matt Dale MA ’16 (organizational leadership) represents District 3 on the Board of Supervisors, and Kirby Dean ’92 serves as the county’s director of parks and recreation.

Banks said collaboration between the city and county governments is especially strong because of their shared services, including social services, the health department, the emergency communications center, and the court system.

“All of that means greater savings for our taxpayers and greater efficiencies in providing those services to the residents of Harrisonburg and Rockingham,” Banks said. “And that means Casey [Armstrong] and I work much more closely than other colleagues in city-county relationships around the commonwealth.”

Looking toward the future

Banks said it’s an exciting time for Harrisonburg. The city’s metropolitan statistical area, which also includes Rockingham County, is one of only a few in Virginia that has experienced continued growth over the past 20 years, he said.

While Harrisonburg faces challenges common to growing cities, including a need for more affordable housing, he said its two universities, regional medical center, and role as a commercial hub position it well for continued growth and long-term success.

“I think the future is as bright as the past, if anything,” he said.

Banks lives in Harrisonburg with his wife, Jennifer, a JMU alumna, and their two children, Brigid and Al. When he isn’t actively running the city, he stays active, running through the city—often with a baseball cap slipped on.

“I put on a hat and all of a sudden nobody knows who I am,” he said. “They’re like, ‘That couldn’t be Ande, because he’s bald.’ It’s like I turn into a superhero.”

In addition to his degrees from 91´óÉń and JMU, Banks attended the Senior Executive Institute at the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in 2019 and achieved a certificate in local government management from Virginia Tech in 2013. He is a member of the International City/County Management Association, the Virginia Local Government Management Association, and the American Society for Public Administration.

This story appears in the summer 2026 issue of Crossroads magazine.

As Downtown Harrisonburg prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with a free concert and fireworks spectacular Thursday, Cassidy Walker ’25 is helping bring one of the city’s biggest summer events to life.

The Visual and Communication Arts (VACA) graduate has served as development manager for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance () since January, where she builds and strengthens relationships with donors, sponsors, and local businesses to advance the nonprofit’s mission.

She spoke with 91´óÉń News about her love for Downtown Harrisonburg, the lessons she brought from 91´óÉń, and the city’s “biggest fireworks show yet.”

How did you end up working for Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance?

I fell in love with Downtown Harrisonburg, and I couldn’t really leave it. HDR is actually one of the reasons I fell in love with it.

Through the VACA program at 91´óÉń, I also worked with downtown business owners, so I already understood the impact HDR was making. Then someone I knew told me, “You’d be great at this job. You love talking to people, and you’d really excel in this role.”

During my interview, I talked about how much I admired what HDR was doing and how my experiences at 91´óÉń, from admissions to VACA and working with students, had prepared me for this role. Thankfully, I got the job.

What’s been your favorite part of the job?

I love talking to people. Being able to make these amazing connections with business owners, sponsors, and community partners is my favorite part of what I do.

91´óÉń taught me how to build meaningful relationships and have genuine conversations with people. Those skills have carried over directly into this role, and now I get to use them every day.

You mentioned falling in love with Downtown Harrisonburg. What do you love most about it?

Like 91´óÉń, Downtown Harrisonburg is incredibly community-oriented. People just care about one another and want to see each other succeed. That’s something I experienced at 91´óÉń, and when I got to know downtown and the people behind HDR, I saw that same spirit among the business owners and community partners. They really support one another, and that’s something special.

Since starting this job, what’s been your favorite moment so far?

I’ve had a lot of favorite moments, but one really stands out.

One of our sponsors had worked closely with the previous development manager, and I was terrified walking into that first meeting. It was my first sponsorship meeting, and I wasn’t sure how it would go. As we started talking, I realized they also had ties to 91´óÉń. We talked about where I came from, why I wanted to work for HDR, and what this role meant to me.

In that moment, it clicked that I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing. Even though I was nervous, the conversation felt natural and gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.

There’s a big event happening Thursday. What can people expect?

We’re presenting the VA250 Fireworks Celebration, which also serves as the kickoff to this year’s Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series. It’s really two events in one.

We’ll kick off the series with the first of seven free concerts, featuring a local opening act. There will be food vendors, kids’ activities, giveaways, and our biggest fireworks show yet.

It’s designed for everyone: families, friends, kids, and even dogs. Thanks to sponsors like 91´óÉń and Blue Ridge Insurance Services, we’re able to make this event possible and are very grateful for their support.

What are you most excited for people to experience?

The whole idea behind the Levitt AMP Music Series is building community through the shared experience of live music. I get to see that happen in real time while working with our sponsors and artists.

Watching people come together, make connections, and simply enjoy being part of the community is what I’m most excited about. That’s really what these events are all about.

91´óÉń is a sponsor of the VA250 Fireworks Celebration and Levitt AMP Harrisonburg Music Series.

These answers have been edited for clarity and conciseness. 

The art therapy minor replaces a pre-art therapy concentration that was offered from 2019-22. Anna Westfall, associate professor of art and director of the VACA program, and Dr. Michael Horst, dean of Health, Behavioral, and Natural Sciences and director of the undergraduate psychology program, submitted their proposal for the minor last fall. It was approved by the Academic Council in November.

Through psychology courses, students will explore the science of human behavior and the mind, while VACA courses will engage them in the creative process and the conceptual and expressive outlets of art making, according to the proposal. “By providing this minor, prospective students can explore both interests while seeing a clear path of study to a career that is not available at many institutions,” it states. “Furthermore, it will give current students the tools to succeed when applying to graduate programs in art therapy.”

What is art therapy?

Art therapy, as defined by the , is a mental health profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship.

“Especially when people are struggling, facing a challenge, or even a health crisis—their own words or language fails them,” the AATA says. “During these times, an art therapist can help clients express themselves in ways beyond words or language. Art therapists are trained in art and psychological theory and can help clients integrate nonverbal cues and metaphors that are often expressed through the creative process.”

Art therapists work with people of all ages, including children experiencing behavioral challenges or those with autism spectrum disorder, the AATA says. These therapists assist people and caregivers in health crises; victims of violence or other trauma, including military service members and student survivors of mass shootings; older adults with dementia; and anyone who needs help coping with life’s challenges. 

Meeting student interest

Westfall, who helped start the pre-art therapy concentration several years ago, led efforts to develop the minor. She said she heard from so many students interested in art therapy over the years that faculty felt a need to offer it.

One of those students, Rachel Tusing ’25, graduated with dual majors in art and psychology and is currently enrolled in 91´óÉń’s graduate counseling program.

“Art is like a second language for me,” said Tusing, who has been interested in expressive arts and art therapy since high school.

“However, when I began researching art therapy as a career, the path to licensure and practice was not clear,” she said. “Much of that is because art therapy is still a very new modality of therapy, and the foundation for education, licensure and practice is still being laid.”

She said 91´óÉń’s addition of an art therapy minor will help students like herself who are looking to harness the healing power of art in the therapy room.

“This minor declares 91´óÉń’s continuing commitment and support for the arts in all kinds of spaces, especially for those who are in need,” she said. “Art is grounding, tender and empowering, and it belongs in mental health care. I only hope that 91´óÉń will continue to expand and enrich this program. I am extremely proud and grateful for the work that has happened to get here.”

What the minor can do

Horst, former director of 91´óÉń’s graduate counseling program, said students with an art therapy minor, paired with a major in studio art, art education, or psychology, would be well-positioned for graduate study in art therapy or clinical mental health counseling. While 91´óÉń does not currently offer a master’s degree in art therapy, students can pursue the university’s accredited master’s program in clinical mental health counseling, which includes a focus on expressive arts therapy.

A master’s degree in art therapy can lead to Art Therapist Registered (ATR) credentialing. Registered art therapists serve diverse communities in settings such as hospitals, cancer treatment centers, psychiatric facilities, retirement communities, schools, and independent practices.

The art therapy minor offers : for psychology majors (18 VACA credits required), studio art majors (16 psychology credits required), art education majors (nine psychology credits required), and a pre-art therapy concentration for students majoring outside those fields (16 psychology credits and 16 VACA credits required).

Students can declare minors at any time by submitting a minor declaration form to the university registrar. They have until the first week of classes in September to add courses for the fall semester.

For more information about the minor, email Westfall at anna.westfall@emu.edu.

When Nate McGhee ’24, MBA ’26, arrived at 91´óÉń in the fall of 2020, it wasn’t his first time giving college the old college try. The marketing and business administration major, a key contributor to the Royals men’s volleyball team during his four seasons on the squad, had enrolled at Randolph-Macon College a couple years prior. But a string of personal hardships, combined with a lack of preparation and a limited support system, led him to flunk out after his first year.

He said the private liberal arts school, which competes with 91´óÉń in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), might have been a good fit had he applied himself more. But he hadn’t yet developed strong study habits and, as he struggled with self-doubt, he didn’t know how or where to ask for help.

“I was keeping it all to myself, which was probably the worst thing to do,” he said.

When he returned home to Newport News after being dismissed from the school, he felt lost.

“I was stuck,” McGhee said. “I was like, ‘OK, everything you worked for isn’t coming to fruition, so what are you going to do?’”

He took his first full-time job, bussing tables and working the raw bar at a seafood and oyster restaurant near his home, while attending night classes at Thomas Nelson Community College (now known as Virginia Peninsula Community College). Though he continued playing recreational volleyball to stay sharp, the former high school standout had all but given up on competing at the collegiate level.

During a trip to Richmond to cheer on his friends and former coaches at a volleyball tournament in early 2020, opportunity came knocking. Less than 10 minutes after arriving, McGhee felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned around, he saw Danielle Lickey, 91´óÉń’s head men’s volleyball coach at the time.

After hearing how his volleyball career had stalled, Lickey invited him to visit campus. “We could use someone like you,” he recalled her saying.

McGhee toured campus over spring break and quickly fell in love with its picturesque mountain setting and close-knit feel. “This is my second chance,” he remembered thinking. “I have to take it.”

That fall, he transferred to 91´óÉń as a sophomore. Over his (2021-24), he ranks 11th all-time in career kills and earned Third-Team All-CVC honors in 2023. In the summer of 2023, he represented the United States on a team in Italy.

“I thought volleyball was over for me, but that’s how I got back into it,” he said. “If she hadn’t tapped me on the shoulder that one day, I probably wouldn’t be here [at 91´óÉń] right now.”

Nate McGhee ranks 11th all-time in career kills over his four seasons with the 91´óÉń men’s volleyball team (2021-24). He earned Third-Team All-CVC honors in 2023 and represented the United States on a team in Italy that summer.

Learning to lead

Off the volleyball court, McGhee found a firm footing in 91´óÉń’s classrooms and campus community. He earned a spot on the Dean’s List, an honor given to students with a semester GPA of at least 3.75. He grew more comfortable opening up to others on campus and seeking help when needed. He credited his advisor, Dr. Jim Leaman, associate professor of business, with helping keep him on track.

“I probably wouldn’t have graduated without him,” McGhee said. “He became a mentor to me and was with me every step of the way.”

He said his parents’ love and support also helped him persevere when times were tough. 

“For a while, I felt like I was letting them down and failing at life,” he said. “But they told me it’s what you do after failing that makes it a failure. If you stay down and give up, then you’ve failed. But if you get up and learn from your mistakes, then the mistake is history.”

After graduating with a degree in business administration and marketing in spring 2024, McGhee stayed at 91´óÉń as a graduate assistant coach for head men’s volleyball coach Omar Hoyos Aliff while pursuing his MBA, which he completed this past spring.

McGhee plans to use his degrees to build a career in sports marketing. He’s applied for positions with professional athletic organizations such as League One Volleyball.

“That’s really what I have a passion for,” he said. “Eventually, maybe five years down the line, I would love to open my own business sponsoring athletes and getting them more exposure.”

While coaching was never a career path he considered as a player, his experience as a graduate assistant has shown him that he has a knack for it and genuinely enjoys it. “I like seeing player growth,” he said. “I look at volleyball as an art. You can always build on it and learn something new.”

McGhee said that multitasking, time management, and resilience are all skills he learned while at 91´óÉń. “I’ve definitely developed a lot of confidence in my craft,” he said. “I didn’t have a lot of confidence before I came here in anything I did, and at 91´óÉń I’ve learned how to lead with confidence.”

When the Royals men’s volleyball team traveled to Ashland in April for the 2026 ODAC Championship match against Randolph-Macon, it was a full-circle moment for McGhee. The Yellow Jackets ultimately prevailed in the , but the match reminded him of the many times he had faced his former team, including a conference quarterfinal at Randolph-Macon during his senior year when the Royals swept the Yellow Jackets.

“That was unreal,” McGhee said. “Whenever I played games there, I always did poorly because I felt there was something hanging over me. But that game, and this last game we played, really showed me how much I’ve grown.”

Watch Nate talk about the close-knit community and support he found at 91´óÉń.

This story appears in the summer 2026 issue of Crossroads magazine.

For her, that moment came during the traumatic birth of her youngest child two years ago. Perez, a graduate of 91´óÉń at Lancaster’s Leadership and Organizational Management (LOM) program, shared that she failed out of her studies during that experience. But rather than quit, she pushed forward and kept fighting. She came back stronger, enrolling in the next cohort and earning Dean’s List honors throughout her time in the program. The road didn’t become easier, she said, but her resilience grew stronger.

That same resilience, she told the Class of 2026 graduates, lies in every single one of them. Many of them, who are nontraditional adult learners, balanced their coursework with jobs, families, and other responsibilities. “We showed up tired, we showed up overwhelmed and stretched thin, and sometimes we showed up broken,” she said. “Regardless, we still showed up.”

When her mother was hospitalized and passed away in January, Perez said her classmates, who had become a support system, showed up for her. “In one of my hardest seasons,” she said, “it was this community that reminded me I wasn’t alone.”

Graduates recess following the Commencement ceremony.

Angelita Perez (left) was one of three graduates who shared their perspectives at Commencement. Dr. Jamie Mak (right), assistant vice president of academic and program growth for 91´óÉń at Lancaster, opens the ceremony. 

Perez was one of 21 graduates of 91´óÉń at Lancaster’s degree and graduate certificate programs who walked across the stage and were joyfully sent off into the world during the annual Commencement ceremony at Forest Hills Mennonite Church on Friday, May 8. This year, 91´óÉń at Lancaster awarded 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates.

Dr. Jamie Mak, assistant vice president of academic and program growth for 91´óÉń at Lancaster, welcomed the family members, friends, and guests gathered in celebration and commended the courage and commitment shown by the graduates.

“As you leave today, you carry more than just credentials,” she said. “You carry the values that define this community: peacebuilding, social justice, service, and compassion. You are entering a world that needs those values more than ever.”

91´óÉń at Lancaster awarded 21 undergraduate degrees, 13 graduate degrees, and 13 graduate certificates.

Graduates Will Stover (left) and Alejandro Ulloa (right) share their perspectives.

In addition to Perez, graduates Will Stover and Alejandro Ulloa shared their reflections.

Stover, a graduate of the aviation program, highlighted his cohort’s accomplishments—accumulating over 7,000 hours of flight time in their four years together—and shared some of the lessons they learned in the program. He encouraged graduates to “take the first step” when presented with challenges and opportunities, continue supporting one another and “keep ’em flying,” and find the positive in times of adversity. Echoing the mantra of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squadron, he called on graduates to embrace being “glad to be here.”

“There are days that are difficult, when we feel defeated, lost, and unsure of what’s next,” he said. “There are also days that feel easy, motivating, and full of hope. The phrase ‘Glad to be here’ is a reminder that, regardless of the day, resiliency ultimately wins.”

When Ulloa was growing up, he often heard his mother say, “cada cabeza un mundo entero.” That phrase, he said, translates to “each head is a whole world.”

“My mom’s words are a consistent reminder that God created each of us with uniqueness and complexity and finds each of us worthy of love,” said Ulloa, who graduated with an MA in education with a concentration in Trauma and Resilience in Educational Environments (TREE).

After teaching at Lancaster Mennonite High School for 11 years, he said God called him to a different setting about four years ago. That’s when he applied to the program at 91´óÉń at Lancaster to “stay in touch with these faith-infused tenets of education and daily practice.”

“I’m so thankful for this program and its professors, who encouraged us to view our students in their entirety, to approach them with care and empathy first and foremost, and to remember that there’s an entire world in their heads,” he said. Ulloa added that he leaves the program “more committed than ever” to meet his students where they are, get to know them, and support them however he can.

91´óÉń at Lancaster’s Class of 2026 graduates celebrate after walking across the stage.

Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo (left) delivers the Commencement address. Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus (right) offers welcome remarks during the ceremony.

Lancaster Mayor Jaime Arroyo delivered the Commencement address. A first-generation college graduate and avid runner who became the first Latino mayor in the city’s history, he spoke about the process of training for a marathon and connected it to broader lessons in life.

Preparation, he told the graduates, is both a choice and an ongoing process. “Sometimes that means taking a step back and readjusting your training plan,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just a check-in with yourself that brings you back to the basics. It’s about questioning your choices and making sure you’re on the right path.”

“Think deeply about your choices, find a way to quiet the noise, listen to what truly matters, and make sure the commitments you make are for the greater good,” Arroyo added.

In her remarks to the graduates, Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus expressed appreciation for the ways they have shown up for one another and for the 91´óÉń community. “You’ve wrestled with hard questions, you’ve listened across differences, and you’ve continued to pursue rigorous learning in a way that reflects both care and conviction,” she said.

Kirk Shisler ’81, vice president for advancement, welcomed the graduates as new members of the 91´óÉń Alumni Association. “You join some 21,000 fellow alumni who distinguish themselves as people who serve and lead with distinction locally, regionally, nationally, and around the world,” he said.

Dr. Tynisha Willingham, provost and vice president of academic affairs, presented and commissioned the graduates. Dr. Dycus conferred the degrees and offered the closing blessing. Jess King ’96, an 91´óÉń parent and member of the 91´óÉń Board of Trustees, led the opening invocation. Derek Kline, director of the aviation program, and Dr. Mak recognized the graduates.

In addition to King, board members Janet Lind, Gloria Diener ’76, and Jane Hoober Peifer ’74, MDiv ’97, attended the ceremony.