Archive for 2026

May 7

Thursday, May 7th, 2026

 

 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”

Hebrews 11:1

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CMP department leadership

Effective May 11, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics Nick Weaver will begin in his role as department chair of Computing, Mathematics and Physics. As dean, I am grateful to the CMP department for their flexibility during a year of interim leadership and to Nick for his interest in and talent for this role at the helm of a department housing a wide variety of academic programs.

Angela Hare, Dean of the School of Science, Engineering and Health

Biology students and faculty members present at the Pennsylvania Academy of Science meeting

Nine members of the Department of Biological Sciences attended the 101st Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science that was held on the weekend of April 17-19 at Misericordia University in Dallas, PA.  Six students presented results from ongoing research studies. Elizabeth Blymire, mentored and accompanied by John Harms, presented a poster describing analysis of metastasis by pancreatic cancer.  Elise Kersten and Hope Adedokun, mentored and accompanied by Jennifer Ness-Myers, presented separate posters that described how development of the central nervous system is altered by limiting oxygen availability, and an analysis of gene expression in developing zebrafish embryos.  Ava Turnow, mentored and accompanied by Isis Rivera-Walsh, presented a poster that described gene editing of immune cells to study gut inflammation. Isabella Heckman, mentored by Michael Shin and Scott Kieffer, presented a poster describing the influence of genes linked to caffeine signaling on the impact that caffeine has on exercise performance.  Marlyne Gonzalez presented a poster on her summer research (Emory University) describing the effect of antibiotics on the microbiome of monarch caterpillars.  Marlyne Gonzalez received the 3rd place Women in Science Spychala Award for her poster presentation.

AROUND CAMPUS

Buildings and Grounds

Operations division’s focus on unreasonable hospitality
This summer, the Division of Operations leadership team embraced the concept of Unreasonable Hospitality a philosophy that challenges each team member to use their creativity and resources to go above and beyond for those we serve. There are many ways that our buildings and grounds team has implemented this theme into our daily work. One of the most important ways is collaboration and building relationships.

Our grounds services team worked closely with our safety and residence life teams to partner for a much safer snow and ice season on campus. Special thanks to Karen Harrington who was instrumental in helping us create a safer university during our winter season. Also, a shoutout to everyone in Campus and Building Services, Facilities and Grounds who played a major role in keeping our students, faculty, staff and visitors safe this winter season.

Our campus and building services team has been working with Americhem to help better service our university in multiple ways. One way has been through the training of CBS staff. That training has helped our team learn how to take care of gym flooring. In the fall our team sealed Hitchcock gym floors with the assistance of Americhem for a $10,000 savings to the university. During spring break, the same team resealed Sawyer Gym for a $6,000 savings to the university. It’s this type of dedication and teamwork that allows our CBS staff to be unreasonably hospitable.

We look forward to our continued role in collaboration and building relationships with you and your team!

Important undergraduate commencement information for employees May 8-9

Schedule and details

Messiah University will be hosting Commencement weekend for the undergraduate Class of 2026 on May 8-9.

Members of the Community of Educators should have already received information from the Provost’s Office regarding their participation in Commencement weekend. Faculty, staff and administrators who are participating in the Commencement ceremony itself have received, or will soon receive, an email memo regarding their role in the ceremony from the Commencement Committee. If you have any questions regarding Commencement, please contact Carla Gross, co-chair of the Undergraduate Commencement Committee, at ext. 6940 or cgross@messiah.edu.

Important employee parking information for the Candlelight Service of Worship and Celebration (Friday, May 8)

  • From 6 a.m. until 10 p.m., the VV (Visitor’s lot) will be closed to employees so families of our graduates have access to parking for Commencement-related activities.
  • For the Candlelight Service, Department of Safety personnel will direct guests to designated parking areas on campus. Guests will walk to Eisenhower Campus Center. There is no shuttle service provided that evening. Note:Messiah employees do not receive reserved parking for this evening. It is also important to note that the Candlelight Service is a ticketed event; see the Commencement web site for details.
  • If you have questions regarding parking for guests with a disability, visit https://www.messiah.edu/ug-commencement/graduate-resources/parking.

 Important employee parking information for Commencement Day (Saturday, May 9).

  • Members of the Community of Educatorsand other employees who are marching in the processional or participating in the Commencement ceremony will receive a reserved parking pass via campus mail from the Provost’s Office (educators) or directly from their supervisor (staff/administrators). Drivers MUST show their parking pass to traffic control personnel upon entering campus to be directed to their designated reserved parking areas.
  • All other employees who will be working the Commencement ceremony will receive parking instructions with their assignment.
  • Due to the significantly increased volume of traffic on campus for Commencement, the Department of Safety strongly encourages all employees to arrive on campus no later than 8:15 a.m.in order to alleviate being delayed in traffic, and to assist in being directed to their reserved parking areas on campus.
  • It is also extremely important to follow all parking directions and instructions from safety personnel while entering and leaving campus, as traffic conditions can change quickly and officers are not able to stop traffic flow to have conversation with individual drivers.
    An important reminder—employees are notpermitted to schedule vendor visits, pick-ups or deliveries on the day of Commencement as it interferes with the increased and altered traffic flow on campus that day.

American history displays at library

The Murray Library is currently featuring two new student exhibits highlighting diverse perspectives on American history. Check out posters from Dr. Sarah Myers’s HIST 248: War, Peace, and Memory, in which students examine how national narratives and public memory are constructed. These projects aim to disrupt familiar myths and draw attention to overlooked individuals and moments in history. A second exhibit, created by students in Dr. Jim LaGrand’s HIST 352H: African-American History since 1865, fills the trophy case near the Office of Academic Accessibility. This display highlights figures and communities such as Harriet Tubman and Susie King Taylor as Civil War spies, Whitesboro, NJ, Louis Armstrong, Robert Johnson, and Henrietta Lacks. These projects will be on display through May 8. Special thanks to Dwayne Magee and Messiah Press for printing the poster exhibit!

CLASSIFIEDS

Job opportunities

Please find current job openings below and check jobs.messiah.edu for additional positions that will be available.

Finance has an opening for the full-time position of accounts payable specialist.  Job-related questions may be directed to Stephanie Sechrist, director of procurement at ssechrist@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please visit: Accounts Payable Specialist

The Department of Business has an opening for the full-time position of administrative assistant to the department of business, IBI & MBI. Job-related questions may be directed to Andy Babyak, assistant dean of business and professor of management at ababyak@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please visit Admin Asst Business

The Department of Athletics has an opening for the part-time position of head men’s and women’s tennis coach.  Job-related questions may be directed to Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, executive director of athletics at sgustinhamrock@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please visit Head Tennis Coach

The Department of Athletics has an opening for the position of head coach, women’s flag football; game day administrator. Job-related questions may be directed to Sarah Gustin-Hamrock, executive director of athletics at sgustinhamrock@messiah.edu  For more information and to apply, please see: Flag Football Head Coach

The Registrar’s Office has an upcoming opening for the full-time position of associate registrar.  Check jobs.messiah.edu for the upcoming posting.  Job-related questions may be directed to Kathee Clark, Registrar at Kclark@messiah.edu

The Community Wellness/Prep Program currently has an opening for the full-time position of assistant director of community wellness. Job-related questions may be directed to Kris-Hansen-Kieffer, executive director of community wellness initiatives and fitness at khansen@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please visit: Assistant Director of Community Wellness

ITS has an opening for the full-time position of programmer/analyst. Job-related questions may be directed to Alan Snook, director of information security and enterprise applications at asnook@messiah.edu For more information and to apply, please visit: Programmer Analyst

Enrollment Management has a current opening for the full-time position of assistant/associate director, admissions. Job-related questions may be directed to Shayna Mark, director of undergraduate admissions at smark@messiah.edu  For more information and to apply, please visit: Assistant or Associate Director, Admissions

Enrollment Management has a current opening for the full-time position of admissions counselor  Job-related questions may be directed to Shayna Mark, director of undergraduate admissions at smark@messiah.edu  For more information and to apply, please visit: Admissions Counselor.

Enrollment Management has an opening for the full-time temporary position of admissions traveling recruiter. Job-related questions may be directed to Megan Means, admissions counselor/coordinator of travel at mmeans@messiah.edu  For more information and to apply, please visit: Admissions Traveling Recruiter

Athletics is now hiring a full-time assistant coach, men’s basketball/admin coordinator and recruiter/game day administrator. Job related questions may be directed to Jacob Fleegle jfleegle@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Assistant Coach, Men’s Basketball/Admin Coordinator & Recruiter/Game Day Administrator link.

Athletics is now hiring a full-time associate head coach, women’s soccer/admin coord and recruiter/assistant director for compliance and internal operations. Job related questions may be directed to Scott Frey sfrey@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Associate Head Coach, Women’s Soccer/Admin Coord & Recruiter/Assistant Director for Compliance & Internal Operations link.

Dining Services has an opening for a full-time dining room supervisor. Job related questions may be directed to Todd Christopher tchristopher@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Dining Room Supervisor link.

The School of Graduate and Professional Studies has an opening for a full-time Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. Job related questions may be directed to Ruth Nutt at rnutt@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies link.

Dining Services has an opening for a full-time cook II-PM. Job related questions may be directed to Shannon Bivens sbivens@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: cook II PM link.

The Department of Safety has an opening for a full-time second shift safety officer. Job related questions may be directed to Maranda Hogue at mhogue@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: 2nd shift safety officer link.

The Department of Safety has an opening for a full-time first shift safety officer. Job related questions may be directed to Maranda Hogue at mhogue@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, visit: 1st shift safety officer link.

Campus and Building Services has openings for the following:

 For more information and to apply, please visit:

Job related questions may be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu

Grounds Services has an opening for a part-time seasonal groundskeeper. Job related questions may be directed to Artie Palese at palese@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: seasonal grounds keeper link.

Job applications are now being accepted for the full-time position of director of dining services. Job related questions may be directed Kathie Shafer at kshafer@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: director of dining services link.

Job applications are now being accepted for the full-time position of manager, natural sciences laboratory program. Job related questions may be directed Anne Reeve at areeve@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: manager, natural sciences laboratory program link.

The Office of Residence Life has an opening for a full-time residence life educator. Job related questions may be directed to Doug Wood at dwood@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: RLE posting link. 

For sale

Doctoral cap for sale. Brand new, never-used doctoral cap (“tam”) for sale. Adjustable 6-sided navy blue velvet doctoral tam with gold silk tassel. $20 or best offer. Contact Philip Tan (ptan@messiah.edu).

Keurig for sale. K-Mini Plus single serve coffee maker for sale. Barely used. Asking $30. If interested, please contact Tracy at tsheaffer@messiah.edu

FREE

Murray Library has four brown chairs available for free. Contact Tracy at tsheaffer@messiah.edu if interested in one, a couple, or all four.

WANTED

Wanted: Car for International student. A few international students (mostly graduating seniors) here at Messiah are looking for cars to purchase. The students have variable budgets, yet they are willing to pay and do not have a strong preference on the make and model of a car. Please contact Amy Nicols Villeda (anicolsvilleda@messiah.edu or x2172) if you or anyone you know is selling a car and would like to help these students. Thank you!

 

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