Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!
Isaiah 30: 18
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dwayne Safer, associate professor of finance, recently served as a guest lecturer at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY) on Jan. 9 and 10 where he worked with undergraduate students on modeling corporate financial statements and current valuation topics.
______
Raeann Hamon, distinguished professor of family science and gerontology, recently had a paper entitled, “The Discipline of Family Science: Reflecting on our Past and Present and Envisioning our Future ” published in Marriage and Family Review journal. The article can be accessed at
https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/AWGYBTYJYYM4FKZ6MANR/full?target=10.1080/01494929.2024.2338353
______
After 39 years of dedicated service to Messiah University as our esteemed director of Financial Aid Greg Gearhart has retired from full-time employment, effective Jan. 7. Greg has agreed to continue serving Messiah University part-time as our financial aid compliance officer. In this remote role, Greg will focus on maintaining university compliance with federal and state financial aid regulations, updating procedures and policies to reflect regulatory changes, contributing to staff training, and preparing required federal, state and third-party reports and surveys. We are grateful for Greg’s ongoing commitment to this critical role as we navigate ongoing regulatory requirements. He will continue to report to me and maintain direct communication with the appropriate university personnel. You can reach him at gearhart@messiah.edu.
Effective Jan. 7, JR Harris is promoted to executive director of student financial services, taking on the strategic leadership and comprehensive management of the new student financial services model that will encompass both Financial Aid and SFS. I am confident that JR will further develop our customer service, cohesion, and compliance as we unify these offices into one dynamic team. JR will collaborate closely with other university departments to ensure a seamless financial aid and billing experience for students and families, promote financial literacy, and contribute to the university’s strategic planning efforts.
As we develop the leadership team of our new combined department and maintain the separation of duties required by law, I am also excited to announce a couple of related promotions:
Mike Strite has agreed to serve as director of financial aid. We are fortunate to have Mike provide strategic direction and operational oversight of financial aid, offering guidance and support to JR and the team.
Steve Gross is being promoted to associate director of student financial services. Steve will provide leadership to the student accounts office, managing accounts receivable billing software, ensuring integration with campus financial systems and providing exceptional service to students and families.
Thank you for joining me in celebrating these significant milestones and supporting our colleagues as they step into their new roles.
John Chopka, vice president for enrollment management
______
It is with gratitude and much appreciation that the Department of Psychology, Criminal Justice and Sociology, and the assistant dean of SACS Valerie Lemmon, recognizes our administrative assistant Bridgette Watkins for her three years of service to us and our students. Bridgette’s work was outstanding, accomplishing administrative tasks conscientiously and to the highest quality. She welcomed current and prospective students with respect, warmth and a smile to the department office, giving them her utmost attention and respect while meeting their needs. Her work over the summer allowed our Psychology Camp to thrive, giving many high schoolers a picture of the best of the field of psychology. She took maternity leave Sept. 5 to have her first baby Ginevra (Ginny) Sage Watkins and that leave turned into her eventual departure. It is with mixed emotions that we recognize her departure, and we wish her all of God’s best in this new part of her journey as a parent along with her husband Bryce who is working for Messiah in the Collaboratory as the program manager. Consequently, we welcome Danielle Redden, our new administrative assistant. Please welcome her and offer your encouragement as she navigates her new job!
John Bechtold, Chair of PCJS
AROUND CAMPUS
Share your unique classroom and club events with our social team!
Faculty – Do you have any unique, hands-on or highly visual classes or events coming up? We’d love to hear about them! Messiah’s social media team encourages you to invite us into your classrooms to capture activities that highlight our distinctive academic opportunities. While we can’t guarantee coverage for every event, we’ll do our best to ensure all departments are represented. Examples of events that are great for showcasing include Physics Day, Collaboratory boat races, and mock disaster drills. If you have any events you’d like us to feature, please send a message to nmfrank@messiah.edu.
January 2025 library newsletter
What’s new at Murray Library? Read our January newsletter containing the latest news on events, staff, and more!
Transact eAccounts
As of Jan. 1, the VTS machines on campus are no longer in service to add funds onto your employee account.
You may add funds to your account using cash or check at the Falcon Exchange, or you may follow the instructions listed below to add funds with a credit/debit card via Transact eAccounts website.
The link is https://messiah-sp.transactcampus.com/eaccounts
1. Login with your Messiah credentials
2. Click add money
3. Choose when you want the deposit to occur
4. Choose account, select deposit type, and insert amount
5. Enter credit card info and check “Save this payment method for future use”
Also, employees can download the app called (Transact eAccounts), for easier access with depositing funds using your mobile phone.
Important note to remember: You can only add your credit/debit card to your account through the website only, not the app.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Falcon Exchange at: falconexchange@messiah.edu
A 500th birthday party!
Celebrate the 500th birthday of the Anabaptist tradition! This radical wing of the Protestant Reformation began with a series of adult baptisms on Jan. 21, 1525, and has grown into a global Christian movement. Join the Sider Institute and the University Honors Program on Tuesday, Jan. 21, from 4:30-5:30 pm in Boyer 131, to mark this historic occasion.
This “birthday party” will feature a brief presentation on Anabaptist origins by Dr. David Weaver-Zercher, as well as a panel of faculty (Dr. Paul Nisly, Dr. Kerry Hasler-Brooks, and Dr. Drew Hart) reflecting on the significance of the anniversary. There will also be cake!
Messiah University Department of Theatre and Dance presents: “Peter Rabbit and Me”
Messiah University’s Department of Theatre and Dance is proud to present a theatre for young audience production of “Peter Rabbit and Me” on Jan. 24-26 in Poorman Black Box Theater! This performance by students in our traveling troupe, The Swinging Bridge Players, will be ideal for early elementary students and their families.
“Peter Rabbit and Me”
Written by Aurand Harris
Directed by Ed Cohn
Jan. 24-25 at 7 p.m.
Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.
Poorman Black Box Theater, Climenhaga Building
“Peter Rabbit and Me” is a delightful dramatization of the beloved story of Peter Rabbit. Beatrix Potter, age 13, is a poor little rich girl secluded in her top-floor nursery. She creates her own excitement by inventing and illustrating stories about her pet animals. Beatrix transforms into Peter, her Governess becomes Peter’s mother, and her stern Victorian father becomes Farmer McGregor. Here is a revealing and charming glimpse of Victorian society in contrast to the antics of the uninhibited animal world. “Peter Rabbit and Me” is filled with humor, adventure, colorful characters and all of the magic of children’s theatre.
Estimated run time: 1 hour
Tickets: $10—Adults; $7—MU Students (w/ID), MU Employees (w/ID), Youth (under 18) and Seniors (60+)
Tickets can be purchased online at messiah.edu/tickets, by phone at 717-691-6036, or at the door as available. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
Passport Service Day
Are you planning to travel? Do you, your spouse, or your children need a passport?
Come by Eisenhower Commons on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for Passport Service Day!
Representatives from the Cumberland County Court House will be on campus outside the Falcon between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. to process NEW passport applications. Passport photo services will also be available.
Applicants need to bring the following documents to apply for a passport:
1. Completed application (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport.html)
2. Original birth certificate and a photocopy of birth certificate
3. Driver’s license and a photocopy of the driver’s license (Copy of both the front and back of the driver’s license on the same side of the page)
4. Non-PA residents also need to bring their Messiah ID and a photocopy of their ID
5. Fees:
– $130 check or money order, written to the U.S. Department of State
– $35 cash or check, written to the Prothonotary’s Office
– If passport photos are needed: $10 cash or check, written to Messiah University
If you have any questions, please contact the Agape Center at agapecenter@messiah.edu.
*Please note that this event is only for NEW applicants.
Tech Support – Did you know?
- Tech Support purchases extended warranties for our Lenovo computers. This is to extend their life and usability for as long as possible as we often repurpose these computers throughout campus after they may have been used by individual employees. If there are any issues with the computer assigned to you, it is important to report it immediately so we can have it repaired without incurring a cost.
• Special characters * : < > ? / \ | and a leading or trailing space should not be used when naming files. While a Mac computer allows some of these characters, Microsoft does not, which creates issues when the files are being synchronized to OneDrive. Please avoid using the above special characters in filenames.
• Personalizing your Messiah laptop with stickers is not recommended, however, if you have done so, please do NOT attempt to remove them when leaving or getting an upgrade. Tech Support will remove them using proper tools and chemicals.
CLASSIFIEDS
Job opportunities
Sports Medicine has an opening for a full-time athletic trainer. Job related questions may be directed to Megan Fowler at fowler@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28604.
Graduate Studies: Physical Therapy has an opening for a full-time administrative assistant, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Job related questions may be directed to Karl Bergmann at kbergmann@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28482.
Graduate Enrollment and Student Services has an opening for a full-time enrollment counselor, Graduate and Professional Studies. Job related questions may be directed to Sarah Wade at swade@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28556.
The Engle Center has an opening for a part-time counselor. Job related questions may be directed to Aubrey Kleinfeld at akleinfe@messiah.edu . For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28531.
The Admissions office has an opening for a part-time data entry processor. Job related questions may be directed to Pamela Shook at pshook@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28527.
Dining Services has an opening for a full-time cook II AM. Job related questions may be related to Mark Wirtz at mwirtz@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28446.
Dining Services has an opening for a full-time culinary assistant. Job related questions may be directed to Mark Wirtz at mwirtz@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28262.
Dining Services has an opening for a part-time cook PM. Job related questions may be related to Mark Wirtz at mwirtz@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27521.
The School of Arts, Culture and Society has an opening for a part-time administrative assistant to the Department of Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies and The Sider Institute. Job related questions may be directed to Shelly Skinner at sskinner@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28458.
Grounds Services has an opening for a full-time groundskeeper/crew leader. Job related questions may be directed to Mark Graybill at mgraybill@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28255.
Cybersecurity Education has an opening for a part-time cybersecurity administrative project coordinator. Job related questions may be directed to Lynn Bigelow at lbigelow@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28212.
The Department of Safety has an opening for a full-time administrative assistant. Job related questions may be directed to Brad Neuenschwander at dneuenschwander@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28607.
The Department of Safety has an opening for 3rd shift safety officer/dispatcher. Job related questions may be directed to Daniel (Brad) Neuenschwander at dneuenschwander@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/26686.
Campus and Building Services has an opening for a full time Campus and Building services worker, 2nd Shift, Monday-Friday 5 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. off Saturday and Sunday OR Sunday-Thursday 5 p.m.- 1:30 a.m. off Friday and Saturday. Job related questions can be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28259.
Campus and Building Services has an opening for a part time Campus and Building service worker, 3rd shift, Monday – Friday – 8 p.m. – midnight. Job related questions can be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27020.
The Department of Education has an opening for a full-time faculty in education. Job related questions may be directed to Beverly Pitcher-Johnson at bjohnson@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27681
The Department of Education has an opening for a part-time adjunct professor of education– EDUC 415 – Evidence-Based Practices in Early Childhood Education. Job related questions may be directed to Beverly Pitcher-Johnson at bjohnson@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28037.
The Department of Mathematics has an opening for a full-time term-tenure track mathematics faculty position. Job related questions may be directed to Amanda Lohss alohss@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28067.
The Department of Computing, Mathematics and Physics has an opening for a part-time adjunct instructor in computer science. Job related questions may be directed to Amanda Lohss at alohss@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28440.
Wanted
House mate wanted. Messiah professor looking for a male house mate to share a house in Grantham. Contact Dale Fogelsanger. dfogelsa@messiah.edu