The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him

Nahum 1:7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dwayne Safer, associate professor of finance, recently served as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School (Cambridge, MA) on Oct. 5 where he worked with MBA students on financial modeling and valuation of mergers and acquisitions.

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The Department of Nursing congratulates Dr. Wanda Thuma-McDermond for receiving the Ripple Effect Raindrop Award during the 40th Anniversary of Nursing brunch on Homecoming weekend. This award was presented to Wanda in celebration and recognition of her outstanding contributions to initiating and maintaining the nursing student clinical experience option at Macha Mission Hospital in Macha, Zambia. Wanda has connected hundreds of students’ hearts to the clay dirt hills of Macha, many of whom now serve as missionary nurses, furthering their studies in public and global health, and dedicating their lives to service because of her example. This award is named for the ripple effect: how a single action can create waves, and a series of actions create bigger waves that reach far beyond what we can imagine. A single raindrop brings life, renewal, and possibility to areas of drought. This description perfectly mirrors the work of Dr. Wanda Thuma-McDermond, who embodies the scripture of Deuteronomy 28:12: “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.” Wanda’s vision (a raindrop) has grown into an outstanding opportunity for students and the people of Macha since 2007 (the ripples). Wanda’s dedication, vision, servant leadership, and countless hours of hard work behind the scenes made her dream become the dream of so many others. Congratulations, Wanda!

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The School of Science, Engineering and Health and the Department of Engineering are pleased to welcome Matt Wilkins to the position of director of the Collaboratory for Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research. Matt has a B.S. in mechanical engineering and a minor in business administration from Penn State and has several years of experience as a mechanical designer. Most recently, he served as director of children’s ministry at Daybreak Church in Mechanicsburg; in this role he led short-term missions’ teams with in-country partners in Cuba, Morocco, Senegal, Spain, New York City and Pittsburgh. Matt is uniquely qualified to step into the Collaboratory director role, he knows the mission of Messiah University well, and he is excited to be a champion for the mission of the Department of Engineering and the Collaboratory.

AROUND CAMPUS

2024 Alumni Awards Dinner

Please join us for the 2024 Alumni Awards Dinner on Friday, Nov. 1 from 6-8 p.m. in the Martin Commons. These awards are important not only for the tribute they pay to the lives of each recipient, but also as a symbol of the quality of our alumni as a whole. Please contact Yonette Schneider (yschneid@messiah.edu) to reserve a seat or sponsor a table.

Young Alumnus Achievement Award – Dr. Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins (Class of 2011, health and exercise science)

Distinguished Alumnus Achievement Award – Jeffrey F. Lehman (Class of 1974, chemistry)

Alumni Christian Service Award – Michele E. Struss (Class of 1994, art)

Alumni Appreciation Award – Barry G. Goodling (Class of 1979, business administration)

Trivia Night: America Edition in the Library – Friday, Oct. 11

You are invited! Put your knowledge to the test on Friday, Oct. 11 at Trivia Night! Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and trivia starts at 7 p.m. at Murray Library! Gather your colleagues, form a team and test your knowledge of all things American. We have a wide range of questions that will challenge your understanding of the red, white and blue. We will have four rounds of trivia to test your knowledge in a variety of categories related to American history, civics, presidents, geography and more. All Messiah staff are invited. Teams can include up to six players. Awesome prizes await the top three teams!

Exclusive library tours for employees

All employees are invited to Murray Library for quick 20-minute library tours on Tuesday, Oct. 22 during Fall Break! Discover valuable resources and services available to you and all Messiah employees. Explore various sections of the library, learn about our print and online resources, and get to know our library team.
• Date: Tuesday, Oct. 22
• 3 times to choose from: 10 a.m., noon, 3:30 p.m.
• Location: meet at Murray Library entrance
No need to RSVP, but if you have questions now, please submit them to smyers@messiah.edu. See you there!

403(b) Summary Annual Report

Messiah University is providing the attached Summary Annual Report (SAR), as required by law, to all participants and employees with balances in our Messiah University Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. The attached report provides a summary of the plan for calendar year 2023.

This document is also available at any time by accessing the “Human Resources Benefits Documentation” card on FalconLink.

Employees may request a paper copy of this report by contacting Don Lerew, assistant director of Human Resources, at dlerew@messiah.edu.

New travel agency partner

Attention Messiah University travelers!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you regarding our travel management services. After careful consideration and thorough evaluation, we are pleased to announce the selection of a new travel agency, Collegiate Travel Planners (CTP).

Key benefits of our new travel management supplier include over 31 years of experience in higher education travel, online booking capabilities and a dedicated support team.

If you travel for the university and you would like to learn more, please join us for an upcoming virtual training session where you will learn:

• How to get started with Collegiate Travel Planners and Lightning Online Booking Tool
• How to access and set up your profile
• How to find the right travel options quickly
• Tips for staying on top of your travel while on the road

Choose one of the following virtual training sessions:

• Wednesday, Oct. 9 | 11 a.m. – noon
• Thursday, Oct. 10 | 2 – 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 15 | 1 – 2 p.m.

Click here to request access to the Lightning Online Booking Tool and sign up for a training session (details will be sent after registration).  Sessions will be recorded for your convenience.

With CTP, you will have the option to book your own travel (or arrange travel for someone else) using the Lightning Online Booking Tool, work with an agent on Messiah University’s dedicated travel team or work with a CTP groups agent for groups of 10 or more.

* Your ID must be added to the online booking tool prior to making travel arrangements. Click here to request access.*

For more information – including important links, check out the Preferred Travel Agent website.

Contact Steph Sechrist (ext. 2497) with questions.

Brad Wilcox to speak on “Marriage and the Common Good,” Oct. 15

Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, will speak on “Marriage and the Common Good: How the State of Our Union Depends Upon the State of Our Unions” on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in Parmer Hall. The lecture is free and open to the public and will be followed by a book signing of Dr. Wilcox’s recent book Get Married (HarperCollins, 2024). This event is sponsored by the Messiah University Honors Program, the Department of Human Development and Family Science, and the American Enterprise Institute.

Messiah University Department of Theatre and Dance presents: “Shoeless Joe”

Messiah University’s Department of Theatre and Dance is excited to invite you to join us for our fall musical theatre cabaret “Shoeless Joe” on Oct. 12-13 in Poorman Black Box Theater! “Shoeless Joe” is a new cabaret every time, uniquely built for each new cast! This fall’s “Shoeless Joe” is titled Lost in the O.Z.! Be on the lookout for the “Shoeless Joe” tradition- the crazy socks giveaway during the show.

Shoeless Joe – Lost in the O.Z.
A new cabaret every time! Uniquely built for each new cast.
Directed by Susan Hurley

Featuring:
Josiah Evans
Tyler Lynch
Julia Itson
Kenya Gegner
Hannah Taylor
Abby Crispin
Yanira Perez
Ella Murray

Accompanied by: Bob Feil, Aiden Rizzo and Rob Shemenski
Choreographed by: Sierra Emery

Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.
Oct.13 at 3 p.m.
Poorman Black Box Theater, Climenhaga Building

Estimated run time: 1 hour

Tickets: $5
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.

Friends of Murray Library annual dinner and program

You may know that the Murray Library serves as an important resource to help prepare our community for lives of service, leadership, and reconciliation in church and society. However, you may not know that Friends of Murray Library supports this work each year by hosting an Annual Dinner where we recognize important student research and hear from literacy champions. This year we are featuring library experts and informed practitioners championing literacy in different contexts like higher education, public community libraries, and in K-12 public schools.

You’re invited to join us on Friday, Nov. 8 from 6-8:30 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel for our 22nd Annual Dinner, catered by Two Bridges Catering, and Public Program. We are delighted to welcome a moderated plenary panel of literacy experts who will explore the theme of “Transitions in Literacy” – specifically what it means to be literate today, the future of literacy, and the ways libraries can come together with our communities to develop literacy skills for people of all ages.

Our moderator will be Sarah Fischer, Messiah University associate professor of literacy education. The panelists for the evening include Ryan McCrory, executive director of the Dauphin County Library System; Janet Vogel, director of the Murray Library at Messiah University; and Sarah George, library department coordinator at Mechanicsburg School District and librarian at three of the district’s elementary buildings.

We also hope you will join us in presenting President Kim Phipps with an honorary lifetime membership. As you may know, President Phipps has been a champion of Murray Library over her 27 years at Messiah and will be retiring following the end of the 2024-2025 academic year. In addition to recognizing President Phipps, our library student research grant awardee, Michael Azar, will present his research. Michael will graduate in 2025 with a B.S. in biology (biomedical concentration) and B.A. in music (keyboard composition).

Pricing: $30 Friends members / $45 Guests
Students: $15 for dinner + presentation (arrive 6 p.m.)
OR no charge to attend the program only (arrive 7:15 p.m.)

*Reservation deadline is Friday, Oct. 25.

Register online: https://www.messiah.edu/info/24001/events

Tech Support – Did you know?

• We have a new password change/reset web page. By going to https://pw.messiah.edu and entering your username, you can easily change your password when required every 365 days or anytime you feel your password may have been compromised. If you cannot remember your password, click forgot your current password? link just below the current password field to have a PIN code sent to a registered personal email or cell phone number for verification then reset your password from the same page!
  • We also have a new personal information page (https://pinfo.messiah.edu) where you can view and update this information. Keeping this information up to date is not only helpful for resetting your password, but it can also be used by ITS Tech Support to verify your identity if necessary.
  • Do you need any help with your computer or software and don’t know where to go for support or even general tech questions? Contact us by emailing techsupport@messiah.edu. This will ensure your question/issue receives attention and will be assigned to an available technician or routed to the appropriate place.

CLASSIFIEDS

Job opportunities

Admissions has an opening for a full-time admissions counselor. Job related questions may be directed to Shayna Mark at smark@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28158.

The Department of Safety has an opening for a part-time administrative assistant. Job related questions may be directed to Brad Neuenschwander at dneuenschwander@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27989.

The Graduate Counseling Program has an opening for a full-time administrative assistant. Job related questions may be directed to Leah Clarke at lclarke@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27462.

Student Financial Services has an opening for the full-time position of financial aid counselor. Job-related questions may be directed to JR Harris at jrharris@messiah.eduFor more information and to apply, please see: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27762

The Oakes Museum of Natural History has an opening for a part-time museum teaching docent. Job related questions may be directed to Helena Cicero at hcicero@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27929.

The Department of Safety has an opening for 3rd shift safety officer/dispatcher and a 3rd shift safety officer. 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 and https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27658

Dining Services has an opening for a full-time catering supervisor, a full-time cook and a part time cook. Job related questions may be directed to Mark Wirtz at mwirtz@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please see: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27727.

Dining Services has an opening for a full-time cold food prep cook (pantry lead II). 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/27974.

Campus and Building Services has a variety of full and part-time campus and building services worker openings. Job related questions can be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu.

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.

For sale

BE KIND sweatshirt. $45 if I purchase the sweatshirt, $35 if you purchase the sweatshirt. Email me for any questions. Or to see a picture of the front of the sweatshirt.
This is the back of the sweatshirt, the front says BE KIND in 4″x2″. Contact Stacy: sportko@messiah.

Master’s gown. Master’s level academic gown, sized for 6’3” to 6″5″. Very good condition and clean. Asking $25 or best offer. Please contact me at sfunck@messiah.edu.

Bike rack. Allen 103A bike rack can hold three bicycles on the back of your car. Barely used; we no longer have bikes. Asking $35 or best offer. Please contact Bob Feil at rfeil@messiah.edu.

Estate auction

Estate auction. Vintage tractors and antique farm/garden implement auction Oct. 26 in East Berlin. In person and online. Descriptions and photos at www.larryswartzauctioneer.com/auctions/ . For more information contact Dale Fogelsanger: 717-623-0735

Needed

We need a 15-passenger van driver for a trip to Dulles Airport on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2:30 a.m. This year, the Into the City program is in Denver. Our flight leaves early on Saturday morning. We are offering a $100 stipend. If you would be able to help us, please contact Dwayne Keiffer at dkeiffer@messiah.edu.