“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!”
Psalm 27:13-14
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Professor of Marketing Keith Quesenberry is presenting a special topic session on AI at the National Annual Conference of the American Association of Advertising in Pittsburgh on March 7. “Taming The AI Storm With Strategies For Advertising Educators. AI Teaching Frameworks, Integrations, Assignments, Topics And Approaches.” was competitively selected for special topic sessions. Along with presenting he is the moderator for the session with professors from the University of Colorado Boulder, Shippensburg University and Texas State University.
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The Office of Faculty Development, with the leadership of Leah Clarke, in her capacity as director of teaching and learning, supported a strong representation of educators at 2025 Lancaster Learns, a one-day conference held on Friday, Feb. 28. Additionally, several Messiah University educators contributed as break-out session presenters during the event. Sarah K. Myers, collection development and analysis librarian, Beth Transue, informational literacy librarian, and Liz Kielley, discovery and metadata librarian, collaborated on “From Cognitive Overload to Practical Engagement in First-Year Seminar”; Timothy Shea, language, literature and writing, presented “You Matter! You Belong! Using Mindfulness Strategies to Build Warm Classroom Communities”; Molly Myers, psychology, criminal justice and sociology, presented “Lights, Camera, Diagnosis: Teaching Psychopathology Through Film”; Oksana Moroz, assistant professor of English, presented “Gen Z Students’ Identities in the Age of AI”; Nicholas Weaver, assistant professor in mathematics and statistics, presented “Specifications Grading: Alternate Grading to Promote Student Growth”; Donielle Bailey Horst, theatre and dance, presented “Unlocking the Unknown Via a Methodology of Play”; Ling Dinse, associate professor of social work, presented “When Students Cheat”; Sheila Rodriguez, associate professor of Spanish, presented “Get on Your Feet: Movement as a Means to Learning”; Joanna Behm and Jim Foster, assistant professors of occupational therapy, collaborated on “Preparing Students for AI-Driven Occupations: Effective Strategies for Classroom AI Integration”; Karen Harrington, residence life educator, presented “Strategies to Engage the Chronically Online”; Valerie Lemmon, professor of psychology; assistant dean, School of Arts, Culture and Society, presented “Providing Feedback with Kindness”; Karen Burket, assistant professor of physical therapy, and Michelle George, associate professor of social work, collaborated on “Intersection and Scaffolding of Interprofessional Education throughout Two Curricula”; Cindi Kerns and Rocky Allinger, instructional designers, presented “Build Your Digital Project Toolbox!” and Dottie Weigel, associate professor of higher education; director, graduate program in higher education, presented “Learning that Lasts: Enhancing Student Learning Through Critical Reflection.”
Additional attendees included faculty members Liz Eveler, assistant professor of education, Rachael Jasitt, collection strategies librarian, Cynthia Lehman, senior lecturer in mathematics, Gladys Robalino, professor of Spanish, Jennifer Thomson, professor of biopsychology, and Janet Vogel, director of the Murray Library.
Please join me in thanking these colleagues for their commitment to excellence in teaching.
Cynthia A. Wells
Associate Dean for Faculty Development
Director of The Ernest L. Boyer Center
Professor of Higher Education
BID FAREWELL
Retirement celebration for Dr. Melinda Burchard
Dr. Burchard’s retirement celebration is scheduled for March 28 from 3 – 5 p.m. at the Jordan Atrium and Oaks Museum.
We warmly invite you to gather with us in honoring Dr. Burchard and the remarkable impact she has created at Messiah University. Her dedication to her students and her unwavering commitment to academic excellence have left an indelible mark on our community. Dr. Burchard’s creative approaches and compassionate mentorship have not only shaped countless lives but also enriched the educational journey for everyone at Messiah. Join us for an afternoon of fun, joy and shared memories as we pay tribute to a truly extraordinary educator and leader.
AROUND CAMPUS
Theatre and Dance Camp registration is now open!
Summer 2025 camp registration open!
Registration is now open for our Messiah University Theatre and Dance Intensives and elementary and middle school Theatre Camps!
The Theatre Intensive and the Dance Intensive for high schoolers are being offered June 22 – 27 with both a resident and commuter option. The elementary and middle school Theatre Camps are being offered June 16 – 20 with the elementary camp in the mornings and the middle school camp in the afternoons. Friday premieres a combined performance for family and friends followed by a cookie reception.
Register by April 1 for an early registration discount. After April 1, Messiah employees get a 10% discount by using “messiahemployee”.
For more information about any of these camps, contact:
Daniel Inouye
Professor of Theatre
dinouye@messiah.edu
717-796-5045
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 close for that to become an endowed scholarship. Now through PI Day (March 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 (March 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
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.
2025 Library Student Research Grant
The 2025 Library Student Research Grant application deadline is Friday, April 4. This competitive grant, sponsored by Friends of Murray Library, provides funds for Messiah students who will be seniors in the 2025-2026 academic year to work on their senior honors projects or senior capstone projects.
This is a fantastic opportunity to experience a taste of graduate school or professional-level research using both Murray Library’s print and digital collections as well as other relevant research materials for their chosen topic located at other institutions or organizations.
Proposals are selected for funding by an interdisciplinary panel of judges chaired by Chad Frey, chair of Friends of Murray Library. The grantee will be awarded $1,000 in the spring for the 2025-2026 academic year. Grant recipients will present an overview of their project and research process at the Friends Annual Dinner in the fall of 2025 or alternative venue as appropriate. Award recipients will be announced Tuesday, April 22.
Applications are being received online. See the Friends website for more information.
2025 PEACE Chapels hosted by the Program in Peace and Conflict Studies
Join us on Tuesday, March 18, for the 2025 PEACE Chapels, hosted by the Program in Peace and Conflict Studies.
We offer two distinct chapel opportunities that feature Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit as he discusses “Hope in a Chaotic and Wounded World.”
Tuesday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Brubaker Auditorium
“A Fierce, Urgent, and Wonderful Hope”
Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel
“For the Healing of the World”
Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit is a Malaysian church planter, pastor and professor who currently serves as the Director of the Department for Theology, Mission, and Justice with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva, Switzerland.
CLASSIFIEDS
Job opportunities
Residence Life has an opening for a full-time residence life educator. Job related questions may be directed to Annastasia Bonczyk at abonczyk@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28943.
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.
Residence Life has an opening for a temporary summer residence director. Job related questions may be directed to Annastasia Bonczyk at abonczyk@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28958.
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.
Facility Maintenance has an opening for a full-time general maintenance mechanic (preventative) 2nd shift. Job related questions may be directed to Amy Stephan at astephan@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28946.
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.
Campus and Building Services has an opening for a part-time 3rd shift worker. Job related questions may be directed to Laura Price at lprice@messiah.edu. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28949.
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
Wanted
Young Writers’ Workshop program assistants needed. Are you an English major who wants to help guide high school writers? Would you be interested in a fun summer position? Why not become a program assistant for the Young Writers’ Workshop? YWW runs from June 22-27. It is a program that helps teen writers connect with other ‘writerly’ teens and have a college experience. You would act as their support system, tutor and general manager of fun. You can find out more about YWW here: https://www.messiah.edu/homepage/965/young_writers_workshop. You can apply for the position here: https://jobs.messiah.edu/postings/28423
If you have any questions, please contact Abby Baia at abaia@messiah.edu.
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!