17 C L A S S N OTE S
Pages of weddings, babies and new jobs
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27 F IRST FEMALE A.D. HIRED
The Art of Listening
Historic hire in athletics
Do you hear what I hear?
MESSIAH UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE VOLUME 1 2021
MATTHEW TENNISON
INSIDE LOOK
During a socially distanced event, the Kim S. Phipps Admissions and Welcome Center officially opened Dec. 4, 2020. The new building, centrally located on campus, houses Admissions, Financial Aid/Student Financial Services, the Registrar’s Office and Alumni and Parent Relations.
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MESSIAH UNIVERSIT Y A LU M N I M AG A Z I N E
THE
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Office of Marketing and Communications One University Avenue, Suite 3020 Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717.691.6027 | www.messiah.edu PRESIDENT
Kim S. Phipps V I C E P R E S I D E N T F O R A DVA N C E M E N T
Barry Goodling ’79 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF M A R K E T I N G & C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Carla E. Gross EDITOR
Anna Seip C R E AT I V E D I R E C T O R
Nancy Soulliard GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Deb Hartranft Matt Logan M.A. ’17 DIRECTOR OF A L U M N I & PA R E N T R E L AT I O N S
Jay McClymont ’92 GUEST EDITOR
Molly McKim ’23
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The Bridge (ISSN-0279-3938) is published three times a year by the Messiah University Office of Marketing and Communications for alumni and friends of the University, free of charge. Please contact us at aseip@messiah. edu or 717-691-6027. Items for the alumni news section should be identified by class year and sent to the Messiah University Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, One University Avenue Suite 3023, Mechanicsburg PA 17055. You may email them to alumni@messiah.edu or fax them to 717-796-5371.
F E AT U R E S
As its name suggests, The Bridge connects alumni, parents and donors with Messiah University. It also serves to build the University’s image with these audiences. It does this by publishing accurate news about the University and about alumni and by offering interesting feature articles that are issue- or University-related for readers’ continued education. Messiah University accepts news submissions from alumni and the broader community but reserves the right to edit or decline to print materials at its discretion. Messiah University is a Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences. The University is committed to an embracing evangelical spirit rooted in the Anabaptist, Pietist and Wesleyan traditions of the Christian Church. Our mission is to educate men and women toward maturity of intellect, character and Christian faith in preparation for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society.
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How to hear in today’s noisy world
Looking for your wedding, birth or job announcement? We’ve been compiling them for months.
THE ART OF LISTENING
Messiah University does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, disability and national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other Universityadministered programs. © 2021 Messiah University
COVE R:
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10 An ear and a bird convey the complexity of listening. SARA TYSON ILLUSTRATION
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CLASS NOTES
F R O M T H E E D I TO R
Editor’s note: In 12 years as editor of The Bridge, I’ve supervised lots of work-studies. Of course, only one student—Molly McKim ’23—has worked for me during a pandemic. For the past year, we’ve seen each other only via Zoom. But, there she is, showing up for work remotely, creating great content and meeting deadlines like a pro. The least I could do was wave my magic wand and make her guest editor for this issue of the magazine. Here’s Molly. —Anna Seip THE THEME OF THIS ISSUE OF THE BRIDGE IS LISTENING—IN ALL ITS FORMS. LISTENING WELL IS SOMETHING I STRUGGLE WITH DAILY YET VALUE GREATLY. MY ACADEMIC MIND IS ALWAYS OFF THINKING ABOUT ASSIGNMENTS, PROJECTS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND CLASS SCHEDULE, AND I OFTEN FORGET TO SLOW DOWN, RELAX AND LISTEN. LISTENING WITH INTENTIONALITY TO OTHERS, MYSELF, NOTHING, EVERYTHING CAN BE OVERWHELMING.
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ONLINE EXTRAS
4 FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSIAH.EDU/THE_BRIDGE
5 OUR CAMPUS 5
Heard Around Campus
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Faces and Places
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Brain Waves
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Campus News
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OUR ALUMNI
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Alumni Profiles
Connect with our Alumni and Parent Relations Office at messiah.edu/getinvolved Listen to Pulse Radio at messiah.edu/pulseradio Watch a video about our new athletic director at messiah.edu/athleticdirector
One of my favorite aspects of being a journalist is having the excuse to sit down with a person, listen, learn and share their story in a meaningful way. In our feature, “The Art of Listening” on p. 10, we interview Messiah students, faculty and alumni about all forms of listening—from conducting a singing group to interpreting sign language. I want to keep trying to learn by listening, from asking questions as simple as “How is your day?” to as complex as “Why do you believe that?” and take the time to value their experiences. As I reflect upon this issue of The Bridge, I remember the meaningful conversations I had with my interviewees, whether in person or online, and acknowledge my ability to grow as an active listener. I hope you enjoy this issue of the magazine.
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From the Archives M O L LY M C K I M ’ 2 3 , GUEST ED ITOR
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Listen and model gracious communication, especially as you engage perspectives other than your own
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and educate our students to engage all media with a critical lens and purposefully seek out factual information while respecting different opinions and perspectives. Messiah University educators teach vital skills of critical analysis, listening and discernment through classroom and experiential learning. Developing devoted Christ followers who are thoughtful intellectuals and empathetic listeners is a desired outcome of a Messiah University education, and I am proud of students and alumni who model gracious communication as they engage divergent perspectives by dialoguing with civility.
“With so many ‘voices’ vying for our attention, our lives seem increasingly noisy and chaotic. Sometimes, our response is to narrow our focus to a few select people and accounts, only to isolate into a space where our perspectives and opinions are echoed back to us by people who think just like we do.” — Kim S. Phipps, President
McHugh goes on to say in his book, “We learn how to listen because we want to learn how to love.” Indeed, we cannot fully love our neighbors if we don’t willingly and wholeheartedly listen and engage in relationships with each other. I am convinced that seeking to be more committed and focused listeners will help to make us better friends, partners, parents, employees and community leaders. Without a doubt, people will be compelled to know us when they feel heard and appreciated in our presence. What a gift to give to a hurting world!
K I M S. PH I PPS, PRESIDENT
PHOTO: RYAN SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY
Last February, prior to COVID, I was enjoying lunch at a restaurant when I observed a young mother with two preschool-aged children at a nearby table. The kids were talking, laughing and trying to get their mother’s attention, but she focused mostly on her phone, texting and scrolling throughout the meal. Of course, I had no idea what she might have been dealing with that day but observing her made me sad; she was missing the opportunity to engage with her children, to find out what was making them laugh. I am certain that we are all guilty of this type of inattention. We break eye contact with a friend to glance at our phone. We scroll our electronic devices instead of engaging in interpersonal conversation. We fill unscheduled, unscripted moments with the constant checking of our social media platforms. We miss opportunities to experience life-giving human connection by spreading our attention thinly and only half-heartedly listening to our in-person companions. Is purposeful listening becoming a lost art? In this issue of The Bridge, you will read about various elements and challenges related to listening. With so many “voices” vying for our attention, our lives seem increasingly noisy and chaotic. Sometimes, our response is to narrow our focus to a few select people and accounts, only to isolate into a space where our perspectives and opinions are echoed back to us by people who think just like we do. I appreciate the way author Adam S. McHugh talks about the perils of the vastness of the internet. In his book “The Listening Life,” he writes, “The great hope of the internet has been that dialogue will prevail, that people with different theologies, world views and politics will log in to learn, grow and communicate with those who disagree with them. Yet it would seem that social media has helped people connect with like-minded people, and the unfortunate consequence has been the intensifying and radicalizing of beliefs and the deeper entrenchment of people’s beliefs. We settle into our own little truth corners.” Too easily, we develop a personal echo chamber of carefully curated sources that reinforce our personal opinions, often at the expense of other valid perspectives. It is more critical than ever that we personally demonstrate
OUR
HEARD AROUND CAMPUS
WHAT PODCASTS ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
HIDDEN BRAIN
“ I have a psychology minor, so learning about the brain is super cool to me.” — Catherine Arke ’21
THE PORCH
“ This podcast speaks so much truth and is so relatable to me as a Christian young adult.” — Emmy Ward ’21
CODE SWITCH “ It provides insightful and timely discussions on the topics of race and ethnicity, an area we all, as individuals and collectively as a nation, have much to learn about as we work toward inclusive excellence.”
— Josiah Hatfield, residence director of Bittner Hall
SERIAL
“ It’s about criminal cases where people may have been wrongfully convicted.” — Caleb Jones ’20
THE SLEEPING AT LAST PODCAST
“ It’s too real and so helpful in understanding yourself and understanding others.” — Sarah Wylie ’20
JESUS AND JOLLOF “ The hosts are women who discuss being Nigerian in America. Jollof is a traditional West African rice, so the title is based on the only two things they need in life: Jesus and jollof.” — Ukamushu Ann Undieh ’21
THE NEXT RIGHT THING
“ This is for second guessers who need to make decisions. It’s soothing and offers great advice.” — Tikvah Schwartz ’21
THE HISTORY CHICKS “ Two women choose a female in history and create a biography about them. The two hosts have great chemistry and their opening line is my favorite: ‘Any resemblance to a boring old history lesson is purely coincidental.’” — Grace Beattie ’20
STARTALK RADIO
“ Their comedic and insightful discussions on space, science and pop culture are a trip to listen to.” — Nate Castellitto ’23
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FAC E S A N D P L AC E S
“ These women were incredible and taught me so much. Many of them have been through a lot, so to just walk alongside them and listen to their stories was eye-opening for me.”
ABIGAIL ZOEBISCH ’20
— Haley Maraday, MOT ’21
Carrie Gorman, assistant professor of occupational therapy, and her students provided a health and wellness program at the YWCA as part of their field work.
MOT students provide help to YWCA shelter in pandemic FIELD WORK AT YWCA YIELDS COMPASSION Last fall, Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) students offered health and wellness services as part of their required fieldwork to the YWCA Greater Harrisburg, which provides emergency shelter and many forms of housing for women in need. “They’re learning about what an occupational therapist does from a practical standpoint,” explained Carrie Gorman, assistant professor of occupational therapy at Messiah University. The students, accompanied by Gorman, assessed the needs of the women living in the facility and then developed programs such as healthy
eating, exercise and mindfulness. “Working at the YWCA was the first time I truly got to put my own group interventions into practice, and it was awesome and encouraging to hear how the women we worked with loved what we had to offer,” said Haley Maraday, MOT ’21. “We did a variety of things from planting to self-care to a dance class.”
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The group remained very cognizant of the sustainability of the services they offered. They didn’t want to rush in, help for a moment and then leave. The goal was to provide lasting, meaningful programming. “We leave all of our supplies, resources and training materials, empowering those that work there and the women who live there,” said Gorman. Practicality is also key. For example, how does one plant a garden while living in temporary housing? “One week, we planted herbs to emphasize the importance of leisure activities while tying it into healthy eating,” said Jayme Kerrigan, MOT ’21. “We gave the leftover bag of soil to one of the women, and she was so grateful. She said that she has been wanting to plant in her room but didn’t have the resources for it.” Following COVID-19 mask, temperature checks and social-distancing protocols for the
YWCA, the group quickly found out how important their visits were to the women living there. Messiah’s group was the first one to visit the facility in six months. “One difficulty we ran into was having to make sure each activity that we planned was going to be safe and follow COVID guidelines. For example, each week we wanted to provide snacks and water to the women but had to make sure that they ate them when they got back to the room and not while with us,”
said Kerrigan. “We also had to determine how to keep our healthy eating week engaging, but safe for the women who attended that week. Overall, we still had a successful program despite the challenges that we faced.” The students say working with the homeless population gave them a new appreciation for how important OT skills are in this community. “These women were incredible and taught me so much,” said Maraday. “Many of them have been through a lot, so to just walk alongside them and listen to their stories was eye-opening for me.” They also learned that women from all walks of life, all socioeconomic backgrounds and all levels of education become homeless for a variety of reasons. “The biggest thing I learned from this experience was that you never know what someone is going through or how they got to the point of being at the YWCA. We met amazing women, and many of them came from a background of education and good jobs, which isn’t what many people would think,” said Kerrigan. “It was important for us to understand this to form connections with these women that meant a lot to me and the other students in my group.” Many occupational therapy programs don’t offer this type of fieldwork — a specific opportunity to give back to the community — and Gorman says this is what drew her to working at Messiah. “This class aligns well with Messiah’s mission and vision. It’s the epitome of what Messiah and MOT are about: outwardfacing, service-oriented and long-term impact.”
8-week health and wellness program Leisure participation Nutrition education Finances and budgeting Conflict resolution Stress management Self-care and sleep Exercise
— Anna Seip
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KAREN GARLINGER
B R A I N WAV E S
HDFS major Anna Weikel ‘23 says she found talking on the phone with her elder mentor turned out to be a convenient way to get to know each other.
Respect and call your elders GERONTOLOGY CLASS BRIDGES GENERATIONS How do you develop a relationship and collect the oral history of an older generation during a quarantine? During the fall semester in even-numbered years, students enrolled in the Psychology of Aging (GERO 231) course spend time with and interview an elder mentor for a cross-generational program. Of course, that’s how things worked before the pandemic. For fall 2020, COVID-19 protocols dictated that the students conduct the interviews and conversations with the older population via phone this year. Typically, students pair with a grandparent or any older adult they choose for this
program. This year, however, Distinguished Professor of Family Science and Gerontology Raeann Hamon collaborated with a resident services coordinator of low-income housing for older adults in Harrisburg for the program. The residents chose which students they wanted to work with, based on bios the students had submitted. “One of the big advantages of doing it this way is you get a much more diverse group of elder mentors,” said Hamon. CALL UP AND JUST SAY HI
Before meeting their mentor, the class spent time rehearsing how to get comfortable just simply talking on the phone, a form of communication Gen Z doesn’t typically embrace. “Students do not want to talk on the phone. There’s a lot of anxiety around the phones,” said Hamon. “But, for a lot of
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the older adults, they might have email, but they typically use a phone.” In time, talking by phone proved to be a quick, flexible option for all. “We didn’t have to plan out certain times we were going to meet. I just had to pick up the phone and call my mentor,” said human development and family science (HDFS) major Anna Weikel ’23, who took the class. “The last couple of weeks, we were able to meet screen-toscreen over a Zoom chat. This was a wonderful opportunity
that made up for the distance during our time of getting to know one another.” LISTEN AND AFFIRM
The class allows students to learn the value of intergenerational relationships and to integrate classroom learning with real-life situations and people. “The direct interaction with older adults teaches students much more than I can teach them,” said Hamon. In addition to their coursework, the students keep a journal of their experience.
“A lot of these folks hinted at some very difficult things they had been through. It’s all about listening and affirming people.” — Raeann Hamon, distinguished professor of family science and gerontology
“It became a lot more than me writing a memoir about her life. She asked about my life, too.” — Sara Jackson ’23, HDFS major
more than she was comfortable with,” said Jackson. “I had no clue who I’d find on the other end of the phone. We ended up having a lot of conversations about faith. It became a lot more than me writing a memoir about her life. She asked about my life, too.” After the memoir project, some students keep in touch with their elder mentors. “The last couple of calls with my mentor were the most meaningful. They finished telling their life story, and we got to talk to each other about other things. We found many
similarities, cracked jokes and got to know each other on a more personal level,” said Weikel. Hamon says the students felt privileged to facilitate this life review process for an older adult. “It means something for someone to listen to your story,” she said. “A lot of these folks hinted at some very difficult things they had been through. It’s all about listening and affirming people.” “IT’S ONLY TEMPORARY”
“It is such a simple phrase, but hard to live by,” said Weikel. “I have found that I get caught up in the minor details, worrying about the trivial things of this life. My elder mentor repeated this phrase multiple times throughout every call that we had. She showed me that trials pass and that we must roll with the punches.” While COVID-19 changed the structure of this class, and life as we know it, “it’s only temporary” serves as some good life advice for us all. — Anna Seip
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COURTESY OF SARA JACKSON ’23
The semester culminates with a 10-page memoir all about their elder mentor. “All the conversation and writing put into a finished product that I believed would make my elder mentor proud meant so much to me,” said Weikel. “The little but meaningful life lessons that my mentor gave me were the most rewarding aspect.” Paired with a 75-year-old female for this project, HDFS major Sara Jackson ’23 says she felt honored to listen to her elder mentor’s story. “We talked about reminiscence therapy, and, for that to work, you have to have a good listener. Chronologically, we worked through her life. I never pressed her to share
ILLUSTRATIONS BY SARA TYSON
F E AT U R E S T O R Y
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ART Listening The
of
WHEN IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO TALK LESS By Anna Seip
In a noisy world among a yearlong pandemic, political divisiveness, social media and a 24hour news cycle, listening continues to be a lost art. But, it’s crucial to so many situations. How does a nurse listen to a patient who’s saying one thing while the symptoms “speak” otherwise? What does a therapist say to a person in crisis? How does a conductor hear individual voices in a large choir? What about a deaf student attending a college lecture? How do we make sure everyone is heard?
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ART OF LISTENING
THE ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS
“A lot of people underestimate the power of listening,” said mental health counselor Shawnessa Devonish, M.A. ’19. “Sometimes, the best help is to just be there for someone non-judgmentally. Listen to hear and not to respond. I had to learn that in grad school and in my personal life.” A graduate of Messiah’s master’s in counseling program, Devonish works primarily with adults who have experienced a range of trauma, attachment issues, depression, anxiety and family relationship challenges. When meeting with a client, she makes a point to put down her notebook and pen to show she’s fully focused on listening to whatever the person wants to talk about. “Listening is the best gift a person can give someone. They’re not being judged or interrupted. They’re free to be themselves. They’re the only one who matters in the world in that hour,” she said. “They come in for one thing, but we end up working on other deep-rooted issues.”
articulate it more,” he said. Although Devonish prefers to see clients face to face, she says because of COVID-19 she offers telehealth appointments. She has found the pandemic expanded her practice, with remote sessions offering tremendous accessibility. “I love that I connect with more people who would otherwise have transportation challenges and childcare challenges and other
barriers that prevent accessibility to in-person therapy sessions.” she said. “More people are showing up.” In a busy world, it’s easy to get wrapped up in what we’re going to say next, what we’re going to do next. A counselor can help a person stop for a moment and figure out the next best steps. “There’s a lot of noise in our lives,” said Kuniak. “Part of listening [as a counselor] is really attending to what is going on.”
FUN FACT Steve Kuniak, Messiah’s assistant professor in graduate programming in the counseling department, also serves as the president of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association.
Steve Kuniak, assistant professor in the graduate program in counseling at Messiah — who was one of Devonish’s professors — agrees. “I’m hearing what the person is saying and trying to see what’s going on between the lines,” he said. “I’ve had people say traumatic things and chuckle. I have to assess that. Why are they telling me one thing and their body is saying another thing?” To disarm a client and to build trust, Kuniak says he makes good eye contact, smiles often, uses congruent facial expressions and, most of all, pays attention. He also asks a lot of questions, prompting clients to provide more detail after they make a statement. “It gets them to think, and they have to
“ Listening is the best gift a person can give someone. They’re not being judged or interrupted. They’re free to be themselves. They’re the only one who matters in the world in that hour.” — Shawnessa Devonish, M.A. ’19 , mental health counselor
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A TRAINED EAR
EXPECT PROBLEMS
If you have a problem, consider pouring your heart out to a musical conductor. After all, they are trained to listen to entire rooms of singers and musicians, making sure everyone performs at their best. In fact, a conductor can impart many life lessons that come in handy outside the rehearsal hall.
When Meade works with an orchestra or a group of singers, what is she listening for, exactly, in her role as conductor? Anything that sounds not quite right. And there’s always something not quite right. “A lot of things are off very often,” said Meade. “And you start to narrow down. Filter out layers, clear out the texture, isolate options. That’s all part of the learning process for me and the ensemble. And it’s a fun and creative challenge.”
LISTEN CLOSELY
“Listening is something we take really seriously,” said Joy Meade, director of choral activities at Messiah University. “We’re trained to listen in layers — to listen for different things in different moments — and that informs how we teach.” Musicians are trained to listen in a variety of ways. The Suzuki method, the philosophy of learning by ear, encourages children simply to listen to a piece of music — as if immersed in a foreign language — before any attempt to play it. “How you learn music is interesting, because we often learn first by hearing,” said Meade. “These are great habits for your brain and memory, particularly when you’re invested and fine-tune your listening.”
COLLABORATION
According to Psychology Today, singing in a group reduces symptoms of anxiety, loneliness and depression, essentially making people happier.
FUN FACT Synesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sense (such as hearing) leads an involuntary second sense (such as seeing). In other words, when one sense is activated, another unrelated sense is activated simultaneously. The Pixar film “Soul” evokes synesthesia through its animation of musical notes as its main character, Joe, plays the piano.
During the pandemic, however, singing in groups was put on hold, giving rise to many virtual choirs. Whether singing in person or virtually, working together is key. Singers learn from each other just by listening. “It brings singers so much joy to hear others around them singing and fitting in their voices to make a whole,” she said. “Listening becomes a team sport, and they collaborate that way. They create a product that’s more beautiful and higher caliber than they could by themselves.” Listening as a team sport sounds like something from which we could all benefit. “If you think about how noisy the world is right now,” said Meade, “listening is a great habit.”
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ART OF LISTENING
QUESTION: WHO’S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A HEALTHCARE TEAM? ANSWER: THE PATIENT
“We don’t toss care at them,” explained Sarah Jones, associate professor of nursing at Messiah University. “We listen to them and want them to feel they are a part of things. It’s called patient-centered care.” Since listening is such an important part of the nurse’s role, the types of questions a nurse asks a patient — and the way in which those questions are asked — can make all the difference. Because what a patient doesn’t say can be critical. As a human race, there are some things we won’t just say around certain people, for fear of being judged or condemned.
everyone is made in the image of God. And so every person has value. We don’t have a place to judge our patients. We also don’t have a place to absolve them. That’s not our role as professional nurses,” she said. Nurses need their patients to trust them, and that starts with building rapport. Be respectful. Ask open-ended questions — the kind that require more than a “yes” or “no” — to get the patient to elaborate. “Then there’s what we call therapeutic communication, restating to the person. For example, ‘What I hear you saying is, you don’t want to stay longer than two days this time in the
“ Something I teach my students when we pray before we go into the patients’ rooms is, ‘Lord, help us to hear. And to be open to what You’re leading us to do or say.’ ” — Sarah Jones, associate professor of nursing
“If a patient senses that a nurse is not going to be respectful of their life, their lifestyle or their choices, that patient is going to clam up. They might be in a situation that is unhealthy and they want to share but they’re not sure if they’re going to be judged,” said Jones. But God sees every patient as worth dying for. They are immensely valuable. “At Messiah, we teach students in their very first nursing course to understand that
hospital.’ Or we ask them to clarify. ‘Can you tell me more about that?’” said Jones. “ Facing the patient is also key. “Look at where your feet are pointing. Where your feet are pointing is probably where your focus is,” said Jones. “If your feet are pointing toward the door but you turn your head back to say, ‘Hey, do you need anything else?’ your thoughts are probably already out the door.”
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A NURSE TO THE NURSES
As an educator, Jones says she can’t always know when her nursing students are listening or understanding a concept she’s teaching. Besides lectures, she uses case studies, quizzes and videos to help her students learn. “I think any educator will tell you, we walk by faith and not by sight because we can misinterpret students’ messages to us,” she said. “I can recognize if a student is with me if they’re nodding, and I always look for the brows furrowed. So I say, ‘What do you all think about that?’ or ‘Somebody from this row has to ask a question, because if you have it, somebody else probably has it.’ So that way I can gauge what’s being understood.” As the students listen to her, she also trains them to listen to their patients. But pray first. “Something I teach my students when we pray before we go into the patients’ rooms is, ‘Lord, help us to hear. And to be open to what You’re leading us to do or say.’ It might be, ‘Pray with the patient.’ It might be, ‘Fix the blanket.’” SUSPEND YOUR AGENDA
“We’ve all been in those conversations where I’m letting you speak and the only thing I’m interested in is when you stop talking so that I can say my next thing,” she said. “That’s not listening to the best of my ability.” Jones says it’s important to suspend your agenda when listening — whether it involves patients, students or anyone with whom you’re interacting interpersonally. Stay relaxed and in the moment. Listen. And then just wait. “You can listen to the patient and incline your ear to what God is saying,” she said.
BEING HEARD
Sometimes, listening involves little or no sound at all. How do you listen if you’re deaf and/or hard of hearing (DHOH)? Joy Ellis ’03, M.A. ’16, an adjunct instructor at Messiah, says when her son James was born seven years ago, he received the standard newborn hearing test, which indicated he was deaf. “If your child is born in a hospital, you get a screening before you even go home from the hospital,” she said. “We had no history of hearing loss in our family. This was something that launched us on a whole new journey that was completely unexpected.” When James was 13 months old, he underwent surgery to get cochlear implants (CI). Unlike a hearing aid that amplifies sound, the CI bypasses the ear and stimulates the auditory nerve. Signals from the implant travel via the auditory nerve to the brain.
“Cochlear implants are controversial,” said Ellis, “but it’s a really incredible process. It puts the recipient at a more typical threshold of hearing. Access to sound makes a big difference in how our education pans out.” AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL
How does Messiah facilitate learning for a student with hearing loss? Amy Slody, director of academic success, says all students are a bit different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all option. “The type of accommodation is dependent on the significance of the hearing loss or the specific needs of the student,” said Slody. “For example, some students simply need to read lips to understand the conversation. They are given preferential seating and the instructor wears a clear mask or face shield.” Students with more significant hearing loss may qualify for accommodation to use captioning for video sessions or a transcription service for in-person lectures. Zoom offers a free captioning feature, which is one benefit of remote learning during the pandemic. “This captioning has been a blessing. It FUN FACT Sign Language Club is one of Messiah’s 70+ clubs. They’ve been meeting via Zoom throughout this past year. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO GET INVOLVED, EMAIL SIGNLANGUAGECLUB@MESSIAH.EDU.
allows students, who once felt out of the discussion, the opportunity to better understand material, process it and join the conversation,” said Slody. “This would allow any student to look at a transcript and clear up confusing concepts. Sometimes, accommodations that seem to impact only one person can have a positive effect on everyone.” LEADING THE WAY
For Ellis, she says James, who is also nonverbal, has no problem being heard among his three siblings. “He’ll take you by the hand and lead you to what he wants,” she said. “He does a really good job expressing himself without words. M E S S I A H U N I V E R S I T Y • T H E B R I D G E • VO L U M E 1 2 0 2 1 | 1 5
His siblings do a great job of engaging with him, figuring out ‘Where is he trying to take me? What does he want?’ They’re incredibly compassionate with him.” Ellis says, when trying to communicate with a DHOH person, it’s important to look up and enunciate. She also says COVID is providing a new opportunity in perspective for the hearing community. That annoyance of trying to communicate while wearing a mask — that muffled sound — is what a DHOH person lives with. A SIGN OF COMPASSION
Deaf culture, as any culture, is nuanced and complex. For example, what’s the proper way to refer to a person who is deaf? The answer is not simple. Ellis says the terms deaf and DHOH are preferable, with a caveat. “Some people are opposed to ‘deaf’ or ‘hard of hearing,’” she said. “Some prefer Deaf with capital D as a culture, as a point of pride. As
in, if you’re deaf, you own it. Just don’t say ‘hearing impaired.’” Also, learn their language. While most students are required to take a foreign language in high school and college, American Sign Language (ASL) is usually not one of the course offerings. “I wish sign language was offered more readily as a language. Most places, it is just a club,” said Ellis. “Everybody thinks it’s an easy language, but it’s incredibly complex.” Also, several sign language “dialects” exist outside of ASL. “For example, there are multiple signs for pizza,” she laughed. In other words, it’s important for all of us to listen to the DHOH community. Fortunately, for us, there are many ways to listen. In today’s busy world, we can choose how, when and where to devote our focus, so we can listen and be heard. B
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATIONS:
For this feature and the cover of this issue of The Bridge, we reached out to illustrator Sara Tyson. The birds she draws throughout symbolize the well-known phrase “a little birdie told me,” which we thought worked well for a story about listening. To see more of Tyson’s work, please visit www.saratyson.com.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MESSIAH’S MAJORS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE? PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING: MASTER OF MUSIC IN CONDUCTING MESSIAH.EDU/CONDUCTING NURSING (BSN): MESSIAH.EDU/NURSING NURSING (DNP, MSN, RN-MSN): MESSIAH.EDU/GRADNURSING PRE-AUDIOLOGY: MESSIAH.EDU/ UNDERGRADUATE/PRE-AUDIOLOGY
TUNE IN TO PULSE RADIO Messiah’s student-run radio, known as Pulse Radio or WVMM, can broadcast from anywhere on campus, evidenced by its many locations throughout its years of broadcasting. After starting in the library, the station spent some years in the basement of the Engle Center, in the basement of Miller Residence and across the street from Rafiki House, before the construction of Larsen Student Union, which is now its current location. The station has expanded its listenership from the Messiah community to roughly 3,000 online listeners, broadening its signal to reach communities from Dillsburg to Harrisburg to Carlisle. Professor of Communication and Faculty Director of The Pulse Ed Arke says radio is one way Messiah can connect to and serve the community. “Helping our neighbors understand our student body a little more and providing cultural programming is an important aspect of connecting the university with the surrounding community,” said Arke. Weekday mornings, the radio typically plays classical music, and the afternoons spotlight student podcasts, indie artists and live student DJs. Sorting through music submissions and adding the best five or so albums to the playlist each week is one of the responsibilities of the station’s music director, Ravi Ahuja ’22. “I absolutely love getting sent all kinds of artists and listening to every kind of new music being made. It builds my own music collection just as much as the radio’s,” said Ahuja. Students can easily start their own podcast and even use the recording studio’s equipment. In the student podcast “Meet Me at
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PHOTO COURTESY OF RAVI AHUJA ’22
CAMPUS RADIO STATION SERVES COMMUNITY
Ravi Ahuja ’22 works as Pulse Radio’s music director. the Well,” Rosemary Jones ’22, an English and communication major, chats with students and staff around campus about life decisions, faith and social issues. “Ultimately, the question we are trying to address is how can we, as Christians, be chasing after the Lord’s heart in all we say, do and think?” The station’s radio manager Nolan Hogenboom ’22, a broadcast major, says the station’s philosophy is simple. “We’re a student-run station with student-made programming,” he said. “Tune in to hear your friends — or yourself — on the air. Pulse Radio helps to keep Messiah connected to the community as a whole.” — Molly McKim ’23 TO LISTEN TO THE STATION, VISIT, PULSE.MESSIAH.EDU/PULSERADIO
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S S A L C S E T O N A year’s worth of alumni news As the pandemic hit last March, we shelved the spring and summer issues of the magazine. So, as the class notes—births, weddings, new jobs, new degrees—rolled in, our team just kept adding them to one ever-growing document. We’d planned to include all of that alumni news in December’s President’s Report issue of The Bridge, but we, quite simply, ran out of space. So, if you’ve been waiting to see your class note, here it is. Finally.
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1970s Leonard Smith ’73 lives in Goshen, Ind., and is semi-retired from pastoring for the Church of the Brethren. He still provides pulpit supply for the denomination and teaches parttime at Goshen College.
Above: Fred Haney ’82 works as a district chief for the fire department. Right: Dr. Lore Wootton ’89 was named physician of the year.
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Sandy (Besancon) Acornley ’78 works as the director of senior center services and the health and wellness coordinator of the Area Agency on Aging in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Carol (Snodgrass) Blessing was honored with the title of professor emeritus at Point Loma Nazarene University in May 2020.
1980s Dianne (Kline) Hackenberg ’80 retired in June 2019. Fred Haney ’82 works as the district chief for Dayton Fire Department in Dayton, Ohio.
Craig Lauterbach ’82 works as CEO/president of LifeWord Publishing. Deborah Gamez ’86 and Steven Dendrinos ’86 married March 14, 2020. Steven works as an adjunct professor at Dallas College. Bobbi (Werner) Drais ’87 works as the president and principal consultant for Drais Regulatory Consulting. Kevin Cassel ’88 works as a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Dr. Marjorie Kessler ’88 works as the Doctor of Audiology at Lancaster Ear, Nose, and Throat LLC. Christina (Mellor) Langevin ’88 works as an analytics analyst at Horizon Blue Cross Shield of New Jersey. Tim Grove ’89 published his third children’s book, “Star Spangled: The Story of a Flag, a Battle and the American Anthem,” this year. Dr. Lore Wootton ’89 was named the 2020 Idaho Family Physician of the year. She is the first female to win this honor in its 40-year history.
1990s Lynette (Mellinger) Nisly ’90 works as an Outpatient Therapist for COBYS Family Services in Leola, Pa. and completed her LCSW.
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Norm Cole Jr. ’92 works as a Family Teaching Partner for Boys Town in Nebraska. Mark Tegeder ’92 works as a Computer Systems Analyst for Lockheed Martin.
Jim Boyer ’97 published his second book, “Beneath the Lights” in 2019. Kimathi Choma ’97 works as the assistant dean in the college of arts and sciences at Kansas State University. Gina Dalfonzo ’97 released “Dorothy and Jack: The Transforming Friendship of Dorothy L. Sayers and C.S. Lewis” and “The Gospel in Dickens: Selections from His Works” in 2020.
Above: Kimathi Choma ’97, pictured with his wife Tosha Sampson-Choma ’97, works as an assistant dean at Kansas State. Left: Gina Dalfonzo ’97 published two books.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GINA DALFONZO ’97
Heather (Thurman) Creekmore ’95 published her second book, “The Burden of Better: How a Comparison-Free Life Leads to Joy, Peace, and Rest” with Leafwood Press in September 2020.
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2000s Stuart Heisey ’00 was promoted to principal at Entech Engineering in March 2020. Monica Stevens Smyth ’06 recently earned a master’s from Drexel University. She also works as an assistant curator for the costume collection there.
Heather (Smeenk) Vogler ’01 works as the affiliate manager, editor and copywriter of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine in Basset, Va.
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Steven Carey ’03 works as a content area supervisor at Monroe Township Board of Education in Williamstown, N.J.
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Timothy Hillner ’03 is a founding partner and works as the chief technology officer at Fairwinds Technologies. Victoria (Bol) Romanoski ’04 works as the K-12 science coordinator for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Annapolis, Md.
Kimberly Johnson ’05 received the Bailer Award from McDaniel College. The award is given to someone who has made a significant contribution to the field of education. Joanne (Garde) Mendoza ’05 works as a pediatric hospitalist at the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital. She and her husband Michael announce the birth of Nicholas, Dec. 18, 2018. Ilecia Buckner ’06 and Leon Voughs married Aug. 26, 2018. She works as the school board director of Susquehanna Township School District and vice president of Susquehanna Township School School Board. Kelly ’06 and John Chase ’06 announce the adoption of Lydia, Nov. 12, 2019. Joel Foster ’06 and his wife Dawn announce the birth of Elliott, July 10, 2018.
Kristian (Yost) Orr ’06 works as the children’s ministry director at Clear Lake Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas. Aimee (Mixner) Reagan ’06 and her husband Stephen announce the birth of Lucas, Dec. 27, 2019. Monica Stevens Smyth ’06 works as an assistant curator at The Robert and Penny Fox Historic Costume Collection at Drexel University and earned her second Master of Science degree in communication, culture and media from Drexel University.
Jamie (Youngs) ’07 and Chad Watkins ’07 announce the birth of Adalyn, Nov. 16, 2019.
Lucy Barnhouse ’08 works as an assistant professor of history at Arkansas State University.
Jenna (Hunsberger) Weigner ’07 and Jason Weigner ’07 announce the birth of Ruben, July 23, 2019.
Audrey (Martin) Farris ’09 and husband Ryan announce the birth of Cora, Oct. 28, 2019.
Anna Wendel ’07 works as an assistant professor at Rivier University and completed her Ph.D. in nursing at the University of Nevada.
Sarah (Huber) Goetz ’09 and husband Andrew announce the birth of William, Oct. 12, 2020.
Elisha Talley ’06 and Justin Deni married Aug. 17, 2018, in Lancaster, Pa. She works as a music teacher in Penn Delco School District in Aston, Pa. Andrew Orr ’07 earned a master’s of business management from Azusa Pacific University.
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2010s Samuel (Alfaro) Pirondi ’10 works as the co-founder of Ruka Education in Brazil and married Milena Pirondi Jan. 8, 2016. Kevin McIntyre ’10 and Kristin Young ’10 married May 29, 2010. He works at Delaware County Christian School as assistant head of the lower school and director of summer programs. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson University with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2014. They announce the birth of Titus John, Dec. 9, 2018. Sarah (Fleischman) Fallin ’13 and husband Brandon announce the birth of Emmelia Elizabeth, Dec. 20, 2020. Brynne Hall ’12 works as the volunteer support coordinator for the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.
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Mary Powell ’12 and Jared Higgins married Sept. 11, 2020. Kellsie (Ebbeling) Whitner ’12 and Michael Whitner ’12 announce the birth of Colton, Aug. 8, 2020. Laura (Deeney) Wismer ’12 and Andrew Wismer ’12 announce the birth of Lucas, May 26, 2020. She works as a curriculum developer for Accelerated Learning LLC in Houston, Texas. Rebecca (Albus) Dudek ’13 was named a Helena Miracle Network’s “20 under 40” based upon her work with the Children’s Miracle Network and Shodair Children’s Hospital. Olivia Weidemann ’13 received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from Pennsylvania State University. Taryn (Tenaglia) Showalter ’14 works as an art teacher in the ELCO School District in Myerstown, Pa.
Abigail (Wade) Schmuck ’14 and Robert Schmuck ’15 announce the birth of Joanna, Oct. 6, 2020. Rev. Jayme Babczak ’16 was authorized as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ Sept. 6, 2020. She works as an associate pastor at First Parish Church in Yarmouth, Maine. Matthew Bressler ’16 received the Graduate Instrumentation Research Award from Drexel University. The award is given to graduate students who facilitate greater involvement in physics. Abigail Daley ’16 works as the assistant programme director for UNU-MERIT in Maastricht in the Netherlands. Peyton Lagasse ’16 works as a high school counselor at Baltimore City Public Schools.
Kay Smeal ’19 published her first book, “I Found Jesus through Anxiety and Depression,” through New Degree Press Publishing.
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Amanda (Arnold) Charnigo ’19 works as a brief treatment/mobile therapist at Laurel Life in York, Pa.
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Lydia Ernvik ’18 works as a family social worker for Mariestad Municipality Social Services in Mariestad, Sweden.
Bryan Ji Yang Leong ’16, pictured with his wife Shen Wen Tan in Malaysia, works at Deloitte Consulting.
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Bryan Ji Yang Leong ’16 and Shen Wen Tan married Jan. 7, 2018, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He works as a human capital senior consultant at Deloitte Consulting.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARCUS WASHINGTON ’05, M.A. ’15
ALUMNI PROFILES
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Alum mentors college students via residence life leadership MARCUS WASHINGTON ’05, M.A. ’15 FINDS CAREER CALLING AT CATAWBA COLLEGE Through his resident assistant (R.A.) experience at Messiah University, Marcus Washington ’05, M.A. ’15 found a career— and a home—in higher education. Now in his third year as the director of housing and residence life at Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina, he mentors students, watching them grow during their college experience. “There is something special about living on a college campus. I want to provide students with a place that they can call home. I feel a responsibility to all of my students and their families to look after and take care of them,” said Washington. “When a parent drops their child off, I always tell them I will look after them.” After graduating as a human
development and family sciences major, he worked in Messiah’s admissions office, while also pursuing a master’s in higher education. Soon, he advanced to the position of assistant director of residence life at DeSales University. The promotion to Catawba, however, allowed him to transform the college’s residence life department and make it his own. He purchased software to eliminate paper forms and streamlined the housing process. He also supervises a team of R.A.s, teaching them from experience. “R.A.s come in as sophomores and then they grow so much— it’s like night and day—by the time they’re seniors,” said Washington, “because they have
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Marcus Washington ’05, ’15 works at Catawba College in residence life. He completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Messiah.
experience. Experience breeds confidence. And it’s through experience you become a leader.” Among his many mentors, he counts Professor of Human
Development and Family Science Boyd-Soisson and Distinguished Professor of Family Science and Gerontology Raeann Hamon (above, in photo)
— Molly McKim ’23
TYLER HALLMAN ’21, DR. BOB SNYDER ’72
INTERNSHIP TURNS INTO BOOK PROJECT STUDENT, ALUM COWRITE ‘COME WALK WITH ME’ Sometimes, networking becomes more than a simple connection between two people. Sometimes, it leads to an internship, a job or even writing a book together. Through a summer internship at IHS Global that began in 2018, public relations major Tyler Hallman ’21 worked with the nonprofit’s founder
Dr. Bob Snyder ’72. In working together at IHS Global, which equips Christian health care workers to care for patients’ spiritual as well as physical needs, Hallman gained more responsibility that included writing appeal letters and creating fundraising strategies. As the summer ended, Snyder asked Hallman to co-write a book. They spent the next summer brainstorming, planning, writing and developing a deep friendship. In the early processes of writing, they experienced difficulty finding the right focus until the two stumbled “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand. The book’s unique writing style helped guide them in the right direction. With Snyder’s voice
and story and Hallman’s writing, “Come Walk With Me” was born. The book details Snyder’s journey with Jesus and the lessons he learned along the way. It’s designed to inspire readers to pause, pray and reflect on their own faith journeys. Hallman’s responsibility was to bring Snyder’s experiences together in a compelling narrative. “Come Walk With Me” was published in September 2020. Apart from the book, Hallman says his work with IHS helped him experience new perspectives and areas of expertise. “I have sought to listen to and learn from people with Christ-like character and exceptional competence,” he said. — Molly McKim ’23
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TYLER HALLMAN ’21
as playing integral roles in his Messiah experience. “Marcus has always had such a positive attitude and exceptional interpersonal skills. As a matter of fact, when I think of someone who is an excellent communicator, I think of Marcus,” said Boyd-Soisson. “He has this beautiful gift of making everyone feel important, listened to and cared about.” Hamon says his determination made him stand out in his major. “I am very pleased that he is now using his background in human development and family science to help college students feel at home in their residence halls.” As a first-generation college student, Washington says he has a passion for helping those who are the first in their family to pursue higher education. “I had no idea how the whole college experience worked when I came to Messiah,” he said. “I love to assist those students. I want to pay it forward. That’s the best way I can pay back my mentors.” A part of his mentorship with students is looking to challenge and encourage them. One of the ways he does this is introducing an inclusive mindset. He looks to challenge students by helping them recognize different and all perspectives. Washington said, “I don’t want anyone to be forgotten. In order for us to move forward and grow as people we need to hear all voices. When a decision is being made, I have to think about whose voice is not being heard.” “I am willing to smile, laugh and cry with my students,” he said. “I feel a great responsibility to help guide them through their four years. College was one of the best experiences of my life and I want to make sure that my students have a great experience as well.”
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Morris Taylor ’20 heads to Penn State medical school BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING MAJOR HOPES TO GIVE BACK TO GHANA AFTER GRADUATION program in family medicine. “This provided me with scholarships, saved a year of school and granted me conditional acceptance into the residency program upon graduation,” he said. “I couldn’t be more grateful God ultimately led me here.” Several things sparked his interest in medicine along the way: his work in the classroom and the Collaboratory; the shortage of primary care physicians (PCPs) in western New York where he lived; and his reflections on the healthcare realities for people in Ghana, where he spent a significant portion of his childhood. All of those thoughts and actions converged at the right time during his junior year at Messiah, so that’s when he decided to take the necessary classes in prepartion for that next step to medical school. “There PCP shortage is staggering, leading to negative implications in acute and chronic
“ Knowing my own heritage and seeing myself and my story in the lives of the underserved has placed a burden on my heart to make a difference among such populations.” — Morris Taylor ’20
health outcomes,” he said. “Also, in Ghana, where I was born and have spent the past several summers traveling with high school students to work in local orphanages, I noticed the absence of primary care at all.” As a student at Messiah, he worked on the Diagnostics for Viral Diseases research project through the Collaboratory.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORRIS TAYLOR ’20 AND LORI ZIMMERMAN ’17, MBA ’20
In his first year of medical school at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, biomedical engineering major Morris Taylor ’20 knew his way around. He’d been here before. He spent a week on the campus through the Primary Care Scholars Program, thanks to his alma mater, in 2019. “[Coordinator of Pre-health Professions Advising] Martha Smith actually connected me initially to the program when I began expressing an interest in attending medical school and working in primary care,” said Taylor. “I got to be really immersed in what Penn State Hershey had to offer and was really impressed. They have an affiliate hospital on site, which provides tremendous opportunities that don’t exist everywhere.” Not only did he get accepted into the medical school, he was invited to join their accelerated
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Through the project, students designed a point-of-care HIV diagnostic device for the Macha Mission Hospital in Zambia. “I was immersed in the Macha community and witnessed their health needs within the impoverished clinical and economic context,” he said. “Knowing my own heritage and seeing myself and my story in the lives of the underserved has placed a burden on my heart to make a difference among such populations.” His academic advisor Emily Farrar said she is thankful to Messiah for helping her cross paths with Taylor in such a meaningful way. “Morris is truly representative of the best of Messiah,” she said. Taylor says his goal is to work in global healthcare, influencing medical device design for underserved and rural populations. “I am not sure what that will look like after six more years of training,” he said, “but I anticipate that some of my work will lead me to Ghana.” — Molly McKim ’23
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CAMPUS NEWS
MESSIAH HIRES 1ST FEMALE A.D. Imagine getting hired in the midst of a pandemic via Zoom—and making history. Last summer, Messiah University hired its first female athletic director, Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, who will oversee 22 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic programs. She says she’s especially excited to work in a Christian environment. “I feel honored to be given this opportunity, and I believe that God placed me here and now for a reason,” said GustinHamrock. “I am very cognizant of the fact that strong female leaders before me paved the way, specifically in the world of collegiate athletics, and for that I am grateful. I don’t feel like a trailblazer … but I do want young women to know that there is no vocation that they cannot or should not pursue if they feel like God is leading them there.” She brings 20+ years of college athletics experience to Messiah. A former women’s volleyball player and coach, she mostly recently worked as the associate athletic director at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. From her first day on July 1, there was plenty to do in the midst of COVID-19. In order for student-athletes to participate in practices and scrimmages during winter sports, they were tested for the virus three times a week, a difficult task logistically and administratively.
“I want to thank the Engle Center and our athletic training staff for assisting us with the winter team testing. Part of what made winter so difficult was that it was our first experience with testing and we were using a test that required an RN to administer. We transitioned to a different test that our athletic training staff could administer at the tail end of winter. We are in a good place, but it is still pretty stressful to manage. But it is all worth it to see our teams competing and gaining just a little bit of normalcy,” she said. Despite a fall 2020 semester like no other for Messiah athletes, they powered through. GustinHamrock notes that, out of the 421 athletes enrolled last fall, they amassed a cumulative grade point average of 3.56 as a department. “I’m proud to represent such a high GPA,” she said. Spring sports progressed well as with an abbreviated but official season. Wrestling wrapped up their season with a trip to the National Wrestling Coaches Association championships. Women’s basketball won their 5th consecutive MAC Championship. “Those were exciting events for me to be a part of in my first year,” said Gustin-Hamrock. “I know our student-athletes are excited to be competing, and our staff is very happy to be working games again. I’m happy to be part of a community that supports each other the way we do.” — Anna Seip
KAREN GARLINGER
WINTER, SPRING SPORTS MOVE FORWARD IN PANDEMIC
Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, Messiah's new athletic director, started amidst the pandemic July 1, 2020.
“I feel honored to be given the opportunity, and I believe that God placed me here and now for a reason.” — Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, athletic director
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Zoom in on live storytelling HUMAN LIBRARY BUILDS CONNECTIONS The Office of Diversity Affairs and Murray Library hosted its third annual Human Library Project via Zoom March 24. This storytelling platform allows volunteers to be “open books,” sharing personal stories with attendees. The concept is designed to build a positive framework to challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue. Here are a few of the “books” from this year’s event: Gloria Igihozo ’19, a lecturer in healthcare management and global health delivery at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, spoke about how the Rwandan genocide shaped her life. Her story begins: You wake up on a sunny morning to find death knocking on your door. You have less than a day to flee to safety with a baby, two toddlers and the little you have left. Learn about the journey of a single mother in a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo and her struggle to regain independence.
h Sara s Myer
“Being a featured book was an opportunity to share my story with a wider audience that I might not have ever gotten to interact with,” said Igihozo. “Doing the event via zoom was harder, because you can’t tell what everyone’s reactions are. This might be a blessing in disguise as I don’t have to worry about what people will think or how their reactions might impact my ability to share pieces of the story I often hesitate to share. But, I like that Zoom can connect people and nations apart. Without zoom, it wouldn’t have been possible for me to join the human library event as a book.” Igihozo says the event is a platform to learn about each other. “It allows us to see the humanity in all of us, which is a crucial tie that binds us all together and makes us realize that we are more similar than we are different and that even our differences shouldn’t threaten us,” she said. Sarah Myers, who works as a librarian at Messiah, detailed her experience working at George Washington’s Mount Vernon for her first job after college: At the newly established presidential library for George Washington, I
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had national treasures at my fingertips. I learned a lot about “George” and even more about myself. “Very rarely do we pause to just listen. Others have so much in their lives that make them who they are today, and the Human Library allows the readers to get a small glimpse into that life,” said Myers of the experience. “With my love of history, talking about my time at Mount Vernon makes me light up with joy. What an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime chance it was to be hands-on with the first president’s books and letters.” Marcelle Giovannetti, assistant professor of counseling, discussed being a part of the sandwich generation, caring for elderly parents and her own children: This book explores the struggle to care well for loved ones and dependents, while maintaining a holistic, healthy life balance and emphasizes the need for a community of support.
“The Human Library provides an avenue for individuals at Messiah to be seen and heard,” Giovannetti. “For me, experiencing people who don’t know me at all, who willingly took the time out of their busy lives to hear my story is powerful and humbling.” She says, to create a community of belonging, simply showing up to listen deeply to someone else’s story is unbelievably validating. “When we listen to a person’s uninterrupted narrative, we have the opportunity to become consumers and witnesses of their truth. This makes us better advocates for things that we might not always be aware of due to privileged identities we hold.” Technical Services Coordinator Liz Kielley, co-chaired the event, says connections made at the event last long after the storytelling. “Some readers and books get together later and continue the conversation,” said Kielley. — Anna Seip
“It allows us to see the humanity in all of us, which is a crucial tie that binds us all together...” — Gloria Igihozo ’19
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: MARTI AIKEN HWANG, SARAH MYERS, MARCELLE GIOVANNETTI
CAMPUS NEWS
NURSING DEPARTMENT RECEIVES FRONTLINE GRANT
Highmark Blue Shield is proudly showing its support for the future generations of frontline professionals through a Frontline Worker Grant to support current nursing students at Messiah University. The $5,000 grant to the Department of Nursing will help assist the department-sponsored wellness centers through technological upgrades such as new computer devices, a Wi-Fiaccessible printer and copier, and basic first-aid supplies. The wellness centers are community health centers located in HUDsubsidized housing sites, offering care for vulnerable populations
and education experiences as clinical sites for students. Emphasizing health promotion, disease/injury prevention, risk reduction and chronic illness monitoring, the centers also prioritize social determinants of health as part of its educational offerings. With the new devices, Messiah students and staff will help residents apply for rent rebates. Housing stability is just one of many social determinants of health that can impact up to 80% of a person’s health outcomes. “We are so blessed to receive this generous grant from Highmark that will enable us to upgrade the
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM FENSTERMACHER
$5K FROM HIGHMARK GOES TOWARD WELLNESS CENTER UPGRADES
technology and purchase some basic first aid supplies to use in the Wellness Centers. Within these centers, which are located in HUD-subsidized housing sites, nursing students provide care
and deliver health education to the residents as part of their nursing clinical education,” said Kimberly Fenstermacher, assistant dean of nursing. — Staff report
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CAMPUS NEWS
IN MEMORIAM
ROBERT P. BARRETT 1938-2020
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education
Earn your
Master of Science in
Athletic Training Are you interesting in pursuing a career as an athletic trainer? Whether you are just starting your educational journey or have already earned a bachelor’s degree, Messiah University’s Master of Science in athletic training (MSAT) program offers degree paths that will prepare you to sit for the Board of Certification and to practice in the field of athletic training. Messiah has an accelerated degree path where students can earn a B.S. in applied health science and an MSAT in 5 years, and a degree path for those who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 5-year accelerated degree path (B.S. and MSAT) • MSAT degree path for those who already have a bachelor’s degree • Faculty who are experienced Christian educators • Clinical experience with Messiah athletic teams and performing artists • Networking and partnership opportunities with the local AT community
Experience the academic distinction of a nationally ranked Christian university. your career
APPLY TODAY 717-796-5061 messiah.edu/AT
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Longtime and beloved Messiah educator Bob Barrett passed away in October 2020 as a result of COVID-19. While we grieve the loss of a man who brought joy to all those who knew him, he is at peace with his Creator. He lived his life as a reflection of the message of the Gospel in all of his endeavors. He came to Messiah in 1966 and taught physics and computer science until 2008 when he transitioned to adjunct status. He was not only an educator, but also an encourager and spiritual mentor to his students and colleagues. Perhaps his greatest passion outside of his faith and family was kayaking, particularly along the Yellow Breeches. He will fondly be remembered for his pickup truck fitted with racks and racks of kayaks. His love of God’s creation was one of his deepest passions. We are sincerely grateful for his lasting impact on Messiah University. He remains part of an enduring legacy of educators who have profoundly blessed countless students with both academic rigor in the classroom and meaningful spiritual guidance in the Christian faith.
IN MEMORIAM
RON M. KATZMAN 1932-2021 Esteemed community leader and former Messiah Board of Trustee member, Ron Katzman, passed away in January 2021. Katzman was a prominent lawyer in Harrisburg when first introduced to Messiah by the Sawatskys. His wife Marjorie became a trusted friend of President Kim Phipps. After Marjorie passed away, Katzman came to be an active and faithful advocate
for Messiah, including serving 14 years as a Trustee and also through his efforts on the Board Committee on Advancement and on the Steering Committee for the formation of the Messiah Center for Public Humanities. He was an accomplished lawyer, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School. He was a co-founder of the prominent law firm Goldberg, Katzman, P.C. He was active in many leadership positions, including state and local legal entities as well as Chairman of the Board of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, President of the Board of Bethesda Mission and President of the Church Council of Trinity Lutheran Church — all
SAMANTHA ZENKER ’21 Criminal justice major
in addition to his service on the Board of Trustees at Messiah. He was also a long-serving Trustee of the Lawrence L. and Julia Z. Hoverter Charitable Foundation and helped facilitate significant support from the foundation to Messiah. Above all, he was very proud of his family, including daughter, Deborah Katzman (Gaspar J.D. Ximenes), sons James (Sandra) and Ronald Jr. (Lara), and his nine grandchildren. He was also an avid sports fan, attending most home and many away Messiah men’s soccer matches. Soon after Marjorie died, he established the Ronald and Marjorie Katzman Scholarship Fund at Messiah University, which
BE GENEROUS BE SAVVY BEQUEST
is one of the designations the family has suggested for memorial tributes. We are profoundly grateful for the many ways that he had an impact on the Messiah community through his wise counsel, selfless generosity and strong advocacy. He was a remarkable human being, and he will be missed. President Kim Phipps said of him, “Ron epitomized the term servant leader. A man of mature Christian faith, he cared deeply about the well-being of others and dedicated his time, expertise and resources to benefit Messiah University students. I will deeply miss his friendship and his unwavering support for the continued flourishing of our university.”
AT MESSIAH UNIVERSITY
A bequest, a gift made to the University through your will, is a tangible and meaningful way to help you ensure that your legacy and the work of Messiah University and its students live on. By making a bequest gift to Messiah University, you will: • Create a meaningful, personal legacy • Ensure a Christ-centered education for future generations • Receive charitable deductions on your estate
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY TEAM 717-796-5051 • heritagesociety@messiah.edu
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
Hoffman time capsule yields treasures from past
KAREN GARLINGER
In the process of deconstructing the Hoffman building in February, workers discovered a time capsule, left there by previous students and faculty. The box included late 1940s newspapers from Harrisburg’s The Evening News and The Patriot, a 1948 Clarion yearbook and a couple Messiah Bible College bulletins. “It was a wonderful surprise when I received a call that a time capsule had been located behind the Hoffman date stone,” said Kathie Shafer, Vice President of Operations. “Time capsules are a wonderful way to preserve history from a point of time. As the University’s campus physically changes, it is important to remember places that have impacted the students.” In addition to the time capsule, the building yielded windows and furniture to serve the greater Harrisburg community. STEWARDS OF GOD’S RESOURCES
Before the building demolition, a team from Messiah worked with 20 volunteers from the Meeting House to help remove the building’s windows to be repurposed in the community. Also, the building’s furniture including desks, chairs, bookshelves, lamps and other office supplies were either sold at low cost or donated to Habitat for Humanity. “In so many ways, this project epitomizes sustainability. Valuable resources like windows aren’t being wasted, and they are going to help a community organization provide quality services The Hoffman time capsule yielded papers from the 1940s.
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such as affordable housing to the Harrisburg area,” said Director of Sustainability Brandon Hoover. THE HOFFMAN LEGACY
Originally, a women’s residence hall, Hoffman opened in 1949 to commemorate the two sisters who are said to be “as much a part of the campus as the buildings and trees themselves,” as Morris Sider writes in his book, “Messiah College: A History.” The younger sister, Mary, worked as the curator for the Archives of Messiah College and the Brethren in Christ and taught in local schools before coming to Messiah. Clara, the elder sister worked as the University’s first librarian and was said to possess a forceful personality and a keen sense of where trouble may be brewing, yet a warm heart. “This time capsule is a window into what the Messiah community of the 1940s valued and how they hoped to be remembered,” said Director of Archives DevinManzullo-Thomas. “The school has changed a lot in the 70+ years since Hoffman Hall was built and dedicated, and the materials preserved in this capsule give us a glimpse of our shared past even as we look forward to our future.” —Molly McKim ’23
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