Michael Kurtz ’77, Oak Ridge, N.C., is senior pastor of a 1,100-member United Methodist congregation. His ministry includes preaching, leading worship, teaching, vision casting, shaping leaders, counseling and pastoral care. Judy Benner ’78 Frei, Whitehall. Pa.,
completed an MA in counseling at Biblical Seminary, Hatfield, Pa. She is a member of the pastoral team at New Covenant Church, Bethlehem, Pa. J. Eric Bishop ’78, is a doctorate-holding
English teacher at Christopher Dock Mennonite School, Lansdale, Pa. He spent his spring semester sabbatical working in lifelong learning initiatives at Dock Woods Community and taught a graduate course in adolescent and young adult literature at EMU’s Lancaster campus.
Myron Blosser
Myron Blosser Receives National Recognition Myron Blosser ’83 rose above about 1,000 other teachers of biotechnology at a mid-June (2008) convention of 20,000 people in San Diego, Calif., to receive the second-place prize of $5,000 for being one of the top biotechnology educators at the high school level in the nation. Blosser teaches biology, advanced placement biology and a biotechnology course at Eastern Mennonite High School in Harrisonburg. He promotes and leads an annual biotechnology symposium for schools in the central Shenandoah Valley. Now in its 15th year, the symposium brought scientists and students together for a day this spring to focus on nuclear genetics. Since its start, 4,500 students from 26 high schools have participated in the symposium. Blosser was chosen by a panel of judges for “his proven leadership and excellence as an educator, his commitment to furthering the teaching of biotechnology by outreach to other educators, and the development of innovative ways to teach biotechnology.” Blosser received his prize at the BIO 2008 International Convention, which drew 20,108 industry leaders from 70 countries and 48 states to its convention June 17-20. Keynote speakers were California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Colin L. Powell (Ret.). The convention showcased how the biotechnology and life sciences industries could make the world a cleaner and healthier place to live through new drug developments, cleaner technologies, and improvements in food supply. Blosser has been the recipient of numerous awards, including EMU Alumnus of the Year in 2005; biology teacher of the year in several different years (1993 from the Virginia Association of Biology Teachers, 1994 from the American Association of University Women, and 1998 from the National Association of Biology Teachers); and member of the 1999 USA Today Teacher First Team, one of 20 teachers nationwide named to this team. Blosser is a member of EMU’s board of trustees. 48 48 || crossr crossroads oads || summer spring 2008 2008
Mark Hartman ’78, is teaching at Central College in Pella, Iowa. This fall, he will become the orchestra director at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Mark continues to perform on violin and occasionally guitar and participated in the 16th annual Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival at EMU this year. Teresa King ’78, Long, Lancaster, Pa.,
has been named vice president of health services at Tel Hai Retirement Community, Honey Brook, Pa. Previously, Teresa was regional director of operations at Manor Care Health Services and, more recently, health care administrator for Lakeside at Willow Valley. Margaret Rollins ’78 Kreider, Not-
tingham, Pa., retired from 45 years of nursing in 2006. Her career included hospital care, education and public school nursing. She is now employed part time in the health center at Lincoln University, Oxford, Pa. Doug Zehr ’78, Leo, Ind., graduated in June with a doctor of ministry from Ashland (Ohio) Theological Seminary. His doctor of ministry project, “Prayer Ministry Teams in a Local Mennonite Church,” was part of the transformational leadership track. Doug is completing his 14th year as lead pastor of North Leo Mennonite Church. He has served churches in Dungannon, Brussels and Elmira, Ontario. He recently enjoyed a three-month sabbatical under the Clergy Renewal Program for Indiana congregations sponsored by Lilly Endowment, Inc. Fred Kniss ’79, Chicago, Ill., has been
the chairperson of the department of sociology of Loyola University since 2005. In 2007, he published a book, Sacred Assemblies and Civic Engagement: How Religion Matters for America’s Newest Immigrants, co-authored with a colleague, Paul Numrich.
1980-89
Roberta Jantzi ’80 Egli, Corvallis, Ore. is pastor of Deep Well, a United Methodist urban church in Salem, Ore., in a half time position. In addition, she serves as
a spiritual director, spiritual formation retreat facilitator and worship resource consultant. The mission of Deep Well is to empower individuals and groups to deepen their relationship with God and each other in worship and spiritual formation that engages faith in action. It is an ecumenical endeavor. Sue Rutt ’80 and her husband, Kevin Glick, moved back to Akron, Pa., after 20 years in Portland, Ore. Sue works in the International Program Department at Mennonite Central Committee and Kevin at Ten Thousand Villages information technology department. John Lowe ’81, Davie, Fla., is an as-
sistant professor at Florida Atlantic University Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Boca Raton, Fla. He is the primary investigator of the Teen Intervention Project-Cherokee and president of the Native American Nursing Scholars Institute. Dennis G. McAdams, MAR ’81, and his wife, Effie, are promoting the Kingdom of God in the village of Hopongo, Rendova Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands. Their ministry verse is: “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing (2 Cor. 2:15).” Dennis requested we publish their website, www.dennisandeffie.com, to enable people to “check in with them.”
Charlottesville, Va. Mary Jo credits her Clinical Pastoral Education experience at EMS for influencing her to become a chaplain. Stanley (Stan) Swartz ’87, Harrisonburg, Va., is featured in the Feb. 15 issue of the Daily News Record for his “Lifelong Love of Theater.” Stan has been the artistic director of theater at Harrisonburg High School for 19 years and continuously involved in productions since he was a sophomore in high school. Regina Lutz ’88 Beidler, Randolph
Center, Vt., worked as a social worker in Boston and in Vermont. She and her husband, Brent, went to Chad under MCC in 1995. Since their return, they have operated their own dairy. Regina also works as the east coast coordinator for Organic Valley’s Farm Ambassador Program. Meg N. Mason-Hahn ’88, Everett, Pa., is a stay-at-home mother of two children, Jonathan, 2 years, and Katy, 18 months old. Jeff Myers ’89, Afton, Va., teaches 8th
grade physical science for Albemarle County.
1990-99
Margaret (Marta) Beidler Castillo ’90 is a pastor at Nueva Vida/Norristown New Life church of Franconia Mennonite Conference.
Douglas Phillips ’82, has served a number of years as director of Camp Brethren Woods, Keezletown, Va.
Jeff Gingerich ’90, Norristown, Pa., is as-
Kenny Boyers ’83, has been named the principal for the recently opened Cub Run Elementary School in Penn Laird, Va. Kenny was selected from a pool of potential candidates for his “clear vision for the identity of Cub Run Elementary,” according to a statement by the Rockingham County School Board.
Deborah Woodring ’90 Gish, Elka Park, N.Y., works for Rifton Equipment, which produces equipment for handicapped children to enable them to move and become more fully integrated in their homes, schools and society.
Susan Shirk ’83, is volunteer coordina-
tor at Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa. She was highly pleased that her group received the Volunteer of the Year Group award in 2007 from the Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Homes for the Aging—now known as Homes for Senior Services—for their “star comforter program” in which persons stay with persons who are dying. J. David (Dave) ’83 and Shelby Landis ’85 Swartley live in Lancaster, Pa. Dave
is executive vice-president of Moravian Manor, Lititiz, Pa. Shelby is a social worker at Lancaster General Hospital Health Campus. Susan (Sue) Blauch ’86, Harrisonburg, Va., has been selected from a pool of about two dozen qualifying American referees to represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Sue will be the only American referee for the women’s games. Mary Jo Bowman ’86, MDiv ’07, Mt.
Solon, Va., is a chaplain resident at the University of Virginia Health System,
sociate professor of sociology at Cabrini College, Radnor, Pa.
Harry Jarrett ’90, MDiv ’06, pastor of Neffsville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pa., was a member of an Atlantic Coast Conference delegation that visited Argentina to renew a three-year-old partnership with 13 churches comprising a mission and outreach program, Vision Evangelica y Misionera de la Zona Oeste (Evangelistic and Missionary Vision of the Western Zone). Rhonda Miller ’90 is an adjunct instruc-
tor, teaching Spanish, at Randolph College, Lynchburg, Va. Rick Augsburger ’91, Capon Bridge, W.
Va., is deputy director of the Headington Institute. Prior to joining Headington, Rick was the director of emergency programs (1996-2005) and deputy director for Church World Service. He is a graduate of Harvard Business School Executive Leadership program in performance measurement and management for nonprofit organizations. Rick has more than 19 years of experience in humanitarian programming. He has traveled extensively, working on relief and development in 50 countries.
Debra Gingerich ’91, Sarasota, Fla., is employed as the web communications and publications manager for Manatee Community College. Her first collection of poetry, Where We Start, has been published by Cascadia Publishing House. She recently received a John Ringling Fund Individual Artist Fellowship and had one of her poems read by Garrison Keillor on his radio program, “The Writer’s Almanac.” Kevin Kurtz Lehman ’91, Middlebury, Vt., is a senior web producer at Country Home Products, manufacturer of the Newton battery-power lawn mower and the DR brand of outdoor power equipment. Kevin and his wife, Tanya Kurtz ’91, have lived in Middlebury seven years. Gaye Spivey ’91, Reidsville, N.C., is employed by Wek Industries as a purchasing/planning coordinator. Barrett (Barry) Freed ’92 is returning to his home community, Lebanon Pa., after 5 1/2 years of service with Eastern Mennonite Missions in Lithuania, where he taught English and engaged in church development.
Brad Schantz ’92 a PhD candidate, is IT project assistant, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Audrey Mumaw ’93 Borkholder,
Centreville, Mich., has served as the director of Burr Oak Township Library for seven years. She is secretary of the local school board, Nottawa Community School, and secretary/treasurer of Burr Oak Chamber of Commerce. Joanne Kaufman ’93 Brigham, Del Norte,
Colo., works as a nationally certified massage therapist. Joanne is active in economic development and sustainable resources in the region. She helped organize the Rio Grande County Oil and Gas Accountability Alliance. Karen Minatelli ’93, Alexandria, Va., is a bilingual attorney and deputy director of the D.C. Employment Justice Center (EJC). Karen works closely with the executive director of EJC with her focus being on the internal aspects of the organization. She recently contributed a commentary on National Public Radio advocating that the D.C. Council enact legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick and safe days for the employees. Jonathan Moyer ’93, Alburtis, Pa., has
been accepted into Hatfield Biblical Seminary in the masters in divinity program. His goal is to become a licensed professional counselor. Kris M. Short ’93, Strasburg, Va., began working as a program manager at Evans Home for Children, Winchester, Va. Previously, she worked in the foster care unit at Harrisonburg-Rockingham Social Services. Marcia Rempel Weaver ’93 MACL '08, Broadway, Va., recently provided leadership to the process for a new identity for
Former dean Joe Martin '59, left, at Harvard's research building dedication. Photo courtesy of Harvard University News Office, by Stephanie Miitchell.
Joe Martin's Journey So Far Joseph Boyd Martin came to Eastern Mennonite College (EMC) in 1958-59 on a year’s leave from the University of Alberta. “My studies (at EMC) focused entirely on ethics, Bible studies, church history and the like,” he recalls. Martin transferred his University of Alberta credits here to obtain a B.Sc. in Bible from EMC. After graduation he returned to Alberta, where he completed his medical degree. Rachel Wenger, an EMC sophomore in 1958-59, left EMC to be Martin's wife. (She finished her degree at the University of Alberta, then taught elementary school in Edmonton.) A year ago, Martin removed his flag from what many would regard as the summit of his hugely successful medical career. He stepped down from being dean of Harvard Medical School after serving for a decade, beginning July 1997. At age 69 he remains, however, the Edward R. and Ann Lefler professor of neurobiology at Harvard. He is also on the board of directors of a couple of major private companies and is chair of the non-profit New England Healthcare Institute. Martin’s trajectory: After Alberta, Martin did a residency in neurology and a fellowship in neuropathology at Case Western Reserve. He received his PhD in anatomy from the University of Rochester in 1971. By 1977, he was chair of the department of neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University. He next moved to Harvard as neurology professor. In 1989, he became dean of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, eventually becoming chancellor of the whole university. In 1997, he returned to Harvard as dean. What does this all have to do with Martin’s ethics studies at EMC? In the Harvard Gazette’s account of Martin’s contributions to that university (at www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2006/10.05/01-martin. html), he is praised for “his insights, his decency, his moral leadership.” Martin was known for fostering “collaboration” across disciplines and among academics and practitioners. He put new emphasis on “the value of teaching,” and he “improved diversity” by placing members of minority groups and women in key positions. He left a legacy of “stronger community ties.” Martin did much more than this, of course, including raising money for and opening in 2003 a $260-million, 520,000-square-foot research building, the largest in Harvard's history. Yet others have raised money for large, impressive structures and seen them built, including tycoons like Donald Trump. It’s in the less tangible, but perhaps more important, area of ethical, collaborative and community-oriented leadership, where EMC may be able to claim an influence on Martin. After all, he did spend a year focusing upon such matters, and that year was here. www.emu.edu | crossroads | 49