You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Professor Kristen Reitz. She was a 2000 HDFS graduate and valued adjunct for the department for 13 years, teaching us until spring of 2024 when she received her cancer diagnosis. Professor Reitz received the 2023 Adjunct Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence from Messiah University for her long-term commitment and devotion to the HDFS department and our students.

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NEXT Steps program hired an assistant director, Jennifer Burns. Jen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast communications from Mansfield University in 1996. While at Mansfield, she played field hockey and earned credits towards a secondary education certification in language arts. Later, Jen returned to school at Temple University where she earned a Master of Education degree in educational leadership in 2013. Jen taught middle and high school English locally for 25 years before making a career change to join Messiah’s NEXT Steps program.

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Todd Goranson, DMA, RN, professor of music, completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Capella University in February. He will continue to use his knowledge and new credentials in his teaching and outreach as an advocate for musicians’ mental and musculoskeletal health as well as in clinical practice.

Goranson also performed as solo alto saxophonist with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, under conductor Stuart Malina, for concerts featuring Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Suite from West Side Story on Feb. 15 and 16 at The Forum Auditorium.

AROUND CAMPUS

Read The Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education at no cost to you! Murray Library has a site license for The Chronicle that allows you to access articles on their website and most newsletters. While on a campus network, your access is automatic. If you create an account on The Chronicle website when on campus, you can simply login with that account information any time you are off campus and prompted to login to read further. If preferred, you can also visit https://libguides.messiah.edu/chronicle while off campus and login with your Messiah username and password when prompted with your CAS login. No Chronicle account is needed with this method, but you will then need to search for the article you wish to read. If you have questions about Chronicle access, please email library@messiah.edu

2025 employee award nominations

Do you work with someone who has gone above and beyond expectations this past year? Nominate them for recognition at this Spring’s Employee Recognition Picnic on Monday, May 12! Please see the attached form or use the links below to submit nominations from now until March 3.

Team Falcon Award: https://messiah.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8jgrKgY3IarQLyK
The Team Falcon Award is given to recognize a group or team that collaborated successfully on a significant project or initiative that advanced departmental or university-wide goals.

Road to Reconciliation Award: https://messiah.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bgvCwRxubTIadsG
The Road to Reconciliation Award is given to employees who have demonstrated a leadership role related to reconciliation beyond the expectations of their positions.

Pride in Performance Award: https://messiah.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6GbTFOONrbL2nT8
The Pride in Performance Award is given to administrative and staff employees who have demonstrated remarkable competence in their role along with a consistent commitment to excellence and to working successfully with others to achieve the goals of the university.

President’s Award: https://messiah.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TxegJcW8DRhIEK
The President’s Award is given to administrative and staff employees who have demonstrated significant commitment, ingenuity, innovation and hard work in addressing a concern or challenge facing the university. This award is tied to a specific achievement or exceptional action.

Young Writers’ and Young Filmmakers’ summer academic camps

This summer, the Young Writers’ and Young Filmmakers’ will hold their academic camps with commuter and resident options.

The Young Filmmakers’ Workshop provides college-level film-making skills for students in rising grades 10-12. Students will leave with an understanding of how to be a writer, director, actor, cinematographer and editor. This camp is being held on June 22 – 27. To learn more about this camp, visit the website at http://www.messiah.edu/filmmakersworkshop

The Young Writers’ Workshop provides college-level writing skills development for students in rising grades 9 – 12. The workshop offers intensive courses in creative writing taught by published faculty and writers, poetry readings and a variety of activities.
This camp will be held on June 22– 27. To learn more about our Young Writers’ Workshop, visit the website at http://www.messiah.edu/writersworkshop.

A 25% discount off the tuition for either workshop is offered to the dependents of Messiah employees. Use the code MessiahChild when registering to receive the discount.

Alumni Awards 2025 – your input is needed!

The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations is seeking nominations for the following awards:

Distinguished Alumnus/a Achievement Award
Recognizes a lifetime of vocational achievement in a manner that embodies the mission of the university.

Young Alumnus/a Achievement Award
Recognizes an alumnus/a who has attended Messiah University within the past 15 years for significant contribution to church, vocation, community and/or Messiah University.

Alumni Christian Service Award
Recognizes outstanding lifelong service or long-term effort in fulfilling the mandates of the Christian gospel to both serve and sacrifice for the needs of humanity.

Alumni Appreciation Award
Recognizes an individual(s) who has/have contributed to the university in an extraordinary manner (long-term professional service; significant volunteer service and/or financial contribution). Note: in this category, the nominee is not required to be an alumnus of Messiah.

Please submit all nominations by March 7 using this online form: https://www.messiah.edu/info/20273/alumni_relations/1726/alumni_awards

Contact Abby Book with any questions at abook@messiah.edu

Thank you for your help in nominating individuals for these prestigious annual awards!

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 spring musical theatre cabaret “Shoeless Joe” on March 1-2 in Poorman Black Box Theater! “Shoeless Joe” is a new cabaret every time, uniquely built for each new cast! This spring’s “Shoeless Joe” is titled This Joint is Jumpin’! Be on the lookout for the “Shoeless Joe” tradition- the crazy socks giveaway during the show.

Shoeless Joe – This Joint is Jumpin’
A New Cabaret every time! Uniquely built for each new cast.
Directed by Susan Hurley

Featuring:
Garty Bowersox
Abby Crispin
Josiah Evans
Kenya Gegner
Tyler Lynch
Ashleigh Pinkstaff
Alden Walker
Bob Feil

March 1 at 8 p.m.
March 2 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.

Create a hole for mini golf

Mini Golf is coming to Murray Library on Friday, March 28. Campus offices, departments, clubs and teams are invited to design and set up a mini golf hole that showcases what you do in a fun and memorable way!
Event Details:
• Sign up for a hole by Friday, March 7
• Submit a sketch or design for a hole by Friday, March 21
• Set up on March 28: 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
• Mini golf, March 28: 5:15 – 8:15 p.m. (You are invited to play. Students, staff and families welcome!)
• Clean up: Friday, March 28 at 9 p.m. or Saturday, March 29 at 9:30 a.m.

Why Participate? This event is a creative way for groups to share their message and promote themselves. Designing a hole is low-key and easy to do.
Sign up to participate! Contact Librarian Sarah Myers at smyers@messiah.edu. We hope you will join us for this creative and fun event.

NEXT Steps scholarship PIE Day for PI DAY

Want to celebrate PI Day in a fun way?
Want to help raise a scholarship for students in our NEXT Steps Program?
A donor started a NEXT Steps fund, and we are really close for that to become an endowed scholarship. Now through PI Day (3/14) each donation increments of $5 counts as ONE VOTE for the participating faculty and staff. The winning faculty or staff member gets a pie in their face on International Down Syndrome Day (3/21). For full details of who wants that pie in the face, and to donate, see here: https://crowdshark.webapps.messiah.edu/nextsteps/donate/427

Thanks from the PIE competitors:
Melinda Burchard, Todd Allen, Amber Brisbane, Doug Curry, Brooke Good, Bonnie Jenkins, Curtis Kurtz, Sean Matthews, Sarah Myers (librarian), Amy Slody, Nicholas Weaver and Tovah Wilson

Music department concert acknowledges two talented students!

The Finals Concert of the Keith Lance Kuhlman Performance Award was held on Sunday, Feb. 23 in the High Foundation Recital Hall. Two students were honored for their performances: Andrew Morgan (student of Dr. William Stowman) was named honorary mention and Daniel Micsion (student of Dr. Damian Savarino) was named winner. The winner receives a prize of $600. A total of nine students performed in the concert and were adjudicated by three outside judges (Dr. Jennifer Sacher Wiley, Jonathan Walker-VanKuren, and Dr. Amanda Heim). All the students gave outstanding performances! Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Homecoming 2025 events – Planning to host?

Hello from the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations,

Are you thinking about hosting an event during Homecoming 2025 (Oct. 3 and 4)? If you have plans or an idea for an event, please contact us by Thursday, May 1.

With over 60+ events taking place last year during Homecoming Weekend, it is important that all events be approved by and planned through the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations by the deadline mentioned above. Please reach out to Emily Lint by email (elint@messiah.edu) or phone (ext. 5252) to inquire about adding your event to the Homecoming schedule.

The full Homecoming Weekend schedule will be made available online early July at www.messiah.edu/homecoming.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let us know. We look forward to sharing this time of celebration with you and our alumni community!

Messiah’s CPH launches Harrisburg historical app

Messiah University’s Center for Public Humanities is pleased to announce the launch of Harrisburg Historical, a free website and mobile app that showcases engaging stories of Pennsylvania’s capital region.

This two-year project marks a collaborative effort between students, faculty, and community partners. Over twenty Messiah University students from a number of majors researched, wrote, and created multimedia content under the leadership of student editors and project leads.

The platform features place-based historical storytelling through interactive maps, historical essays, multimedia content, and tours. The centerpiece tour, “The Chester Way: Harrisburg’s Centuries Long Quest for Civil Rights,” marked a collaboration of Messiah’s Center for Public Humanities and the Digital Harrisburg Initiative with the Commonwealth Monument Project and the Dauphin County Library System.

The project was generously funded by the Council of Independent Colleges Humanities Research for the Public Good Grant, the Center for Public Humanities, and the School of the Arts, Culture, and Society.

Check out the downloadable app for Apple and Android devices.

Technology Support – Please see below for helpful tips and updates!

• Do you have any Messiah barcoded computer equipment sitting around that is no longer being used? If so, please let us know and we will come pick it up!
• Tech Support currently does not encourage the use of “New” Outlook on Windows PCs.  There are some features that have not been worked out by Microsoft, such as access to shared mailboxes, in the new version.  Please continue to use Classic Outlook.  Running into issues with Outlook and unsure which version you are running? Here is a helpful post from Microsoft to find out: What version of Outlook do I have?
• There is a limit to the number of emails that can be sent at one time. If you have a large mailing list (over 200), TechSupport should be notified to make sure your account does not get blocked by Microsoft as sending spam.

Contact us by emailing techsupport@messiah.edu regarding any of this information or if you have any questions in general.

CLASSIFIEDS

Job opportunities

The Office of University Advancement has an opening for a full-time executive assistant to the Vice President for Advancement. Job related questions may be directed to Jon Stuckey at JStuckey@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28877.

The Office of Development has an opening for a full-time regional advancement representative. Job related questions may be directed to John Zeigler at jzeigler@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28806.

Athletics has an opening for a part-time assistant track and field coach. Job related questions may be directed to Dale Fogelsanger at dfogelsa@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28820.

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.

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.

The Department of Safety has an opening for 2nd shift safety officer/dispatcher. Job related questions may be directed to Daniel (Brad) Neuenschwander at dneuenschwander@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28594.

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.

Department of Communication has an opening for an assistant professor of public relations. Job related questions can be directed to David Dixon at ddixon@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28514

The Department of Education has an opening for a full-time faculty in education. Job related questions may be directed to Ashley Thomas at amthomas@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: jobs.messiah.edu/postings/27681

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.

For sale

Bose sound bar. Nice Bose Sound bar for the TV. It has Bluetooth and uses a digital optical cable. Comes with universal remote. It can lay on the shelf or be mounted. $50 Contract Ted: tgingrich@messiah

Wanted

Used Gator (or similar vehicle). I am looking to purchase a used Gator (or similar vehicle). Ideally, it will have a bed and be able to handle a small snowplow. Please email me if you have one or know of one for sale. Lori: lsarago@messiah.edu Thank you!

Summer housing is needed. Two male students are looking for local summer housing as they complete an internship with a Christian firm. The rent of $400 per month/per student will be provided by the company. Contact Angela Hare, AHare@messiah.edu.