Issuu

for the federal government. They have four children Wendy Lou Silvious ’89 Zachmeyer, San Antonio, Texas, is the assistant chief financial officer at Catholic Charities, archdiocese of San Antonio. The archdiocese is involved in approximately 20 programs.

1990-99

W. Kent Hartzler, ’90, Manheim, Pa., has been named president and CEO of Mennonite Mutual Aid, Goshen, Ind. by Mennonite Financial’s board of directors. He succeeds Larry Miller. Hartzler has been with Mennonite Financial for nine years, most recently serving as vicepresident for lending and business development. Previously he was the credit union’s director of marketing. Hartzler and his wife, Stephanie, are the parents of three daughters. They are members of Mountville Mennonite Church. Harry Jarrett ’90, MDiv ’06, Lancaster, Pa., was installed as lead pastor of Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa., Sept. 24. Simultaneously, his wife, Beth Jarrett MDiv ’06, was licensed as associate pastor of the congregation.

Dave Hockman-Wert ’91, Corvallis, Ore., has been employed by the United States Geological Survey for four years. As a biologist/GIS analyst, he works at modeling forest landscapes and tracking fish movement. He is also on the board of First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op and is moderator-elect for the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference. Bob ’91 and Linda Knouse ’91 Hartz and family moved to Tel Hai Camp and Retreat in Honey Brook, Pa., in December. Bob is camp administrator. He had been employed at Camp Men-O-Lan, Quakertown, Pa., as program director for 14 years. Bob and Linda have four children, ages 13, 10, 4, and 2, who are homeschooled. Tracy Smith ’94 and Jennifer Lehman ’93 Smith have moved to Charlottesville, Va., after 10 years in Denver. Tracy is the manager of data services at the University of Virginia. Jennifer is homeschooling their five boys (Levi, Jeremiah, Aaron, Daniel, and Joshua). Kenneth R. Landis ’94, MDiv ’04, Croghan, N.Y., was ordained as pastor of First Mennonite Church of New Bremen, Lowville, N.Y., Oct. 29. Brad Glick ’95 is in his second year as a Woodruff Scholar in a four-year joint law/seminary program at Emory Law School and Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. Stephanie Helmuth ’95 Heinemann has lived and worked in Germany since graduation. She married Jens

Heinemann in December 1998. They have three children. Stephanie works for the Department of General Practice and Family Medicine, Gottingen, as a research assistant. In this capacity, she participates in primary care research on several disease entities for the German Ministry of Education and Research. Sara Norman ’95, Bridgewater, Va., had been working in the office of student affairs at Bridgewater College. She has been promoted to director of residence life and judicial affairs. She also directs the outdoor program. Chan Gingerich ’98 recently received certification as a Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow by the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Chan is one of 67,000 insurance professionals who have earned this certification since its introduction in 1984. He is employed by Mennonite Mutual Aid in Harrisonburg, Va.. Anje Ackerman ’99, ’02 Cassel, Newport News, Va., is employed by Sentara Surgical Oncology Associates as clinical research coordinator, She recently had an article published in Cicada Magazine. Her husband, Philip Cassel ’02, is employed by Ziegler Plumbing, Newport News, Va. Monte Layman ’99, Luray, Va., completed the professional master of banking program from the Executive Banking Institute in Scottsdale, Ariz. Layman is president of Page Valley Bank, which has branches in Luray, Shenandoah and McGaheysville. The banking program, developed by Sheshunoff Management Services and Louisiana State University, focuses on technology, business strategy and customer service. A graduate of EMU and Louisiana State University, Layman has more than three decades experience in the banking industry.

2000-06

Moises Angustia ’01, a volunteer co-pastor and youth leader, has been appointed as director of Mennonite Voluntary Service (MVS), effective Feb. 1, 2007. He will provide guidance for the 63-year-old program and work with local leaders to oversee individual MVS units. Jason Gerlach ’01 MDiv ’06, Harrisonburg, Va., was ordained as youth minister at Community Mennonite Church Jan. 14,. Jason joined its pastoral team in 2004. He and his wife, Wendy Houser ’02, were youth sponsors for two years at Community Mennonite. Wendy worked as a social worker with Harrisonburg Department of Social Services for five years. She is currently enrolled in the school counseling program at EMU.

Suter Sent Hundreds Into Health Careers

Daniel B. Suter, PhD, professor emeritus of biology and developer of EMU’s pre-medical program, died Dec. 24 at age 86. Suter joined the science department at EMU in 1948 and eventually became head of the biology department and pre-med advisor. He retired in 1985. The Science Center, completed in 1967 and now in need of renovation, was named after Suter “in recognition of his leadership in the development of the school’s science/pre-medical program and his influence among students during his teaching years.” During his tenure, EMU students had an acceptance rate of more than 85% into medical, dental and veterinary schools, well above the national average of 40-50%. Suter was ordained a minister in Virginia Mennonite Conference in 1951 and served as pastor of Gospel Hill Mennonite Church and later Weavers Mennonite Church in Rockingham County. He was secretary of Virginia Mennonite Board of Missions and a board member of both Mennonite Broadcasts, Inc. (now Mennonite Media) and VMRC. Suter was a graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School, Eastern Mennonite College, Bridgewater College, Vanderbilt University and the Medical College of Virginia, where he received a PhD in neuroanatomy in 1963. EMU President Loren Swartzendruber noted that Suter was offered a faculty position at the University of Virginia at three times the salary that EMU paid him. Suter chose to work at EMU because “I believed that’s where the Lord wanted me to be.” Suter estimated he had written more than 300 letters of recommendation for admission to medical or dental schools. Almost all of those recommended went on to have significant careers in health care. Crossroads will further explore Suter’s influence on EMU in an issue next year on health care professions.

Cooper Inspires ‘Go-DIVA’ EMU voice teacher Jennifer Anne Cooper helped raise $28,000 to support “women in transition” last fall by starring in an Oct. 14 dinnertheater production of “Go-DIVA” in La Plata. Md. The show, a multimedia event based on Cooper’s earlier adult life as a rising opera star, was a benefit for the Southern Maryland Compassion Center. The center serves mothers and children with such needs as shelter, clothing, and household items. Cooper, who received a standing ovation in that venue, will repeat the show in EMU’s Lehman Auditorium, March 16, with a portion of ticket Jennifer Cooper in costume sales going to the music department student scholarship fund. An April 21 performance is also planned as a fundraiser for the local Boys and Girls Club.