EASTERN | Spring 2024

SPRING 2024

ignite

Ignited in “My prayer is that this unquenchable fire of the Holy Spirit will point us to Jesus and stir our souls to the work and values of God’s kingdom.”

to Action.

Dear Alumni and Friends, I am always inspired when I read the story of Pentecost in Acts chapter two. Following Jesus’ ascension, the early Christians gathered together in a home to worship. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit swept through the room like a rushing wind and came to rest on each one of them. Immediately, they began to speak in different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

The imagery scripture uses to describe this empowerment of the Spirit is that of fire – a burning, energized flame. Illuminated by the Spirit’s stirring, the early Christians went out into the world, sharing the good news of God’s redemptive power wherever they went.

What an amazing gift, that this same Spirit continues to be available to each of us today. God ignites our souls through the Spirit’s energy, inspiration, and creativity to spread this grace and goodness throughout the earth.

My prayer is that this unquenchable fire of the Holy Spirit will point us to Jesus and stir our souls to the work and values of God’s kingdom, stoking and igniting our convictions to divinely-empowered reconciliation, restoration, and transformation.

As you read these stories, may you be inspired to join in on the work that God is already doing in our Eastern family. The Spirit is continually filling our community members with ideas, strength, and passion that are igniting innovative change in the world around us.

Thank you for your prayers and support for Eastern University and thank you for joining us on this journey.

Better together,

Ronald A. Matthews, President

C O N T E N T S

O4 COMMUNITY Eastern creates space for creativity, fellowship, and discovery through the new Templeton Hall expansion. The Student Government Association answers Scripture’s call to provide for others through the creation of food and hygiene pantries across campus.

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COMMUNITY 10

F E AT U R E 16

SPOTLIGHT 20

PA L M E R 22

AT H L E T I C S 24

ALUMNI

VOICES ON

20 PALMER Palmer Theological Seminary and College’s commitment to forging a relationship between the Academy and the Church serves as a robust and versatile instrument of Christ’s inbreaking, bringing the two worlds together driven by passion for two things: Practice and Scholarship.

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Ignite

16 SPOTLIGHT Maame (Yankah) Boateng ’13, Esq advocates for an equitable world through her work as an attorney and economic development practitioner. Maxwell Bushong ’26 juggles responsibilities as a full-time student, athlete, and entrepreneur to pave the path for a successful career.

10 FEATURE: IGNITE Creating change is not passive – it requires a catalyst backed by energy, momentum, commitment, and drive. In this edition of EASTERN Magazine, we’ve asked several members of our community to share about how the sparks of their passion have ignited their desire to make change in the world around them. publisher / KELLY GODDARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / ALLY (HOLMES) ROSARIO ’14, MEd ’21 Editor / ERIN AHLEFELD Creative Director & Lead Designer / DANIEL PEIRCE, MTS ’23 Photographer / ELYSE GARNER ’13, MAT ’24 Designer / ALAINA MOSSO WRITER / HOLLY SCOFFONE ADDITIONAL PHOTO, ART, & ILLUSTRATION CREDITS /

22 ATHLETICS Men’s Basketball claims the first conference championship in Eastern Men’s Basketball history. Women’s Volleyball wins third-straight MAC Commonwealth Championship. Football wins two MAC games in the first year of varsity competition.

RLSP ARCHITECTS (5) ALISA WISMER (32) Please send comments or article suggestions to: media@eastern.edu Alumni news should be sent to: alumni@eastern.edu Palmer Seminary alumni news should be sent to: palmeralum@eastern.edu PUBLISHED BY Marketing and Communications at Eastern University ONLINE AT eastern.edu/MAGAZINE

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For Discovery & Creativity

By Luisa Wilsman

oy and gratitude define moments

The addition of new spaces for hosting inspirational speakers, thoughtful

like these in the history of our

campus events, and community performances will contribute to the

university. From our beginning, the

culture, embody values of Eastern, and serve the pedagogical mission

arts and humanities have offered a path for students to express, explore,

of the Templeton Honors College by fostering fellowship and creating spaces for thought-provoking conversations.

and understand the world around them in creative,

"This building will realize a dream the Honors College has had since its

inventive, and thoughtful ways. However, securing the

founding of a hospitable home for current and future Honors College

space, resources, and support needed to further this exploration can be challenging.

For these reasons and more, we are elated to embark on the renovation and expansion of Templeton Hall (formerly Workman Hall), named in honor of the generous support of the late Drs. John and Josephine Templeton. The new building will become the home of the Templeton Honors College while also creating much-needed space for collaborative learning experiences for all Eastern students, and particularly those in the Fine and Performing Arts, with the addition of a lecture and recital space,

students," says Dr. Brian Williams, Dean of the Templeton Honors College and the College of Arts & Humanities. “The new space will also benefit the entire campus and local community by providing a showcase venue for the humanities and the visual and performing arts.”

As our community grows, we are seeking opportunities to expand not just our physical campus, but our academic and spiritual development offerings as well. Templeton Hall will be a space where our students can find inspiration, connection, and expression to fortify the rich, holistic, and Christ-centered experience they receive here at Eastern.

reception hall, and art gallery.

"This building will realize a dream of a founding home for Honors College students," says Dr. Brian Williams. "It will serve as a showcase venue for the humanities and the arts, benefiting the entire community."

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C O M M U N I T Y

Meet the Templetons THE TEMPLETON HONORS COLLEGE, and Templeton Hall honor the visionary and generous support of Drs. Jack and Josephine (Pina) Templeton, a former pediatric surgeon and pediatric anesthesiologist respectively at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

In 1999, President David Black, History Professor Dr. Allen Guelzo, and the Templetons founded The Templeton Honors College, named in honor of Jack’s father, Sir John Templeton.

The $11 million project is part of a larger

We look forward to the long-term effect

$30 million comprehensive campaign

this will have on the Eastern experience.

initiative to continue enhancing the

The renovation will bring more speakers,

University. In addition, Eastern has

performances, and visual arts to campus,

received support in the form of grants

while also creating performance spaces for

from The Presser Foundation and National

our students to showcase their artistic gifts,

Endowment for the Humanities for its

thus promising to light a path for

commitment to enhancing our music, arts,

students for generations to come.

and humanities programs.

“This plan will impact more than just the Templeton Honors College and Fine and Performing Arts students,” shares Steve Clemens, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this dream come to fruition in Templeton's 25th anniversary year, and the overall university’s 100th year, in 2025,” adds Dr. Williams.

Along with many of the enduring features of the Honors College, the Templetons passed on a deep commitment to hospitality, born from Pina’s days growing up as an Italian immigrant. They would regularly host students in their home for tea and conversation, using a tablecloth into which Pina hand-stitched the name of every new Templeton student.

They understood the importance of providing a place where professors could extend that hospitality on a daily basis to the students of the Honors College and

“It will ignite a transformative, lasting

the wider university, and they would be

impact on Eastern University’s entire

delighted to see that vision coming to

student body and community.”

fruition in the new Templeton Hall.

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UKRAINIAN ART BRINGS NEW PERSPECTIVE TO CAMPUS THE ARTS ARE AN INTEGRAL part of

East Meets West: Women Icon Makers of

Eastern’s identity, bringing our community

Western Ukraine exhibit to our campus.

together to laugh, cry, and gain a greater

We were incredibly grateful to present this

understanding of ourselves and the world

opportunity for thoughtful observation

God created.

to Eastern and surrounding community

In the fall of 2023, my colleague, Rev. Jane

The paintings captured our attention,

the contemplative spiritual practices of Visio

refocused our gaze, and facilitated the

and Lectio Divina using Henry Osswa Tanner's

possibility of seeing and contemplating God,

breathtaking masterpiece, The Annunciation,

the human experience, and our Christian story

and The Magnificat from Luke 1: 46-55. The

in a new light.

we took them on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see Tanner's painting and other sacred art in person.

I am thrilled for the new, permanent space that Templeton Hall will afford for exhibits like East Meets West. Making inspiring, perspectiveshifting art accessible for our students and

It was there that I discovered the religious

the Eastern community demonstrates our

artwork owned and curated by John Kohan.

commitment to the educational, cultural,

After reaching out to Kohan and discussing how his work relates to our history and mission here at Eastern, he offered to bring his

EAST MEETS WEST

throughout the 2023 Advent season.

Filkin, and I led the Campolo Fellows through

students responded so enthusiastically that

By Robert Gauthier

moral, and religious development of our community for generations to come.

ARTWORK CREDITS: (TOP PHOTO FROM LEFT): IVANKA DEMCHUK, ULYANA TOMKEVYCH, AND KATERYNA KUZIV ARTWORK CREDITS: (TOP TO BOTTOM): LYUBA YATSKIV & NATALYA RUSETSKA

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By erin ahlefeld JAMES 2: 15-16 SAYS: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”

Throughout Scripture, we are called to care for others in a way that we would want to be cared for ourselves. In response to this mandate, the Student Government Association (SGA) lives out the Christian mission to provide for others through the creation and upkeep of food and hygiene pantries across campus. We recently discussed the pantry, the grants it has received, and the future plans with SGA President Tomi Alarpe ’24.

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Eastern Food & Hygiene Pantry Expands To Fight Food Insecurity

Q&A

With Tomi Alarpe ’24

Double major in Psychology & Sociology; student government association President

Can you tell us about how the pantry came to be?

The pantry was started in 2021 by my predecessor

What are outside grants used for? Is there anywhere else that funding comes from?

Xeyah Martin ’22. He designed the pantries to address

The money from outside grants is primarily used for

food insecurities that students faced. Currently,

the upkeep of supplying pantries, and for expansion

there are four pantries on campus: in Doane, Kea-

into additional residence halls. Grants assist us in

Guffin, Walton, and Gough. With the recent grant we

our goal of addressing food insecurities on campus

received, we plan to expand to more residence halls

and allow us to serve more students who experience

such as Eagle and Sparrowk!

food insecurity or might not be able to afford hygiene products on a regular basis. Other than grants, the

What kind of food and hygiene items are in the pantry?

In our current pantries, students can find nonperishable foods, snacks, microwaveable foods, and

funding from the pantries primarily comes from SGA, along with faculty donations and partnership with a local church.

more. Concerning hygiene, students can find items

How has access to the pantry impacted students?

like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and

We’ve received great feedback from students ever

more. With the addition of the grant, we will look to

since the inception of the pantries. Students can now

add even more of a variety of items.

have access to food and hygiene items for free instead of going out to buy them themselves or using a meal

What is the process for students who need

swipe elsewhere. We aim to continue doing everything

something from the pantry?

we can to address food insecurities across campus

Students are able to access the pantries on their own and grab what they need. We recommend to

and give students access to products they need.

students that they should always only grab what

What future plans do you envision for the pantry?

they need, so we can serve as many students as

We have plans to expand the pantry to more residence

possible. If students are in need of items that may not

halls, as well as ensure they host a variety of products

currently be provided in the pantries, they are asked

for both on-campus students and commuters as well.

to email the Student Government Association to let

We don’t want any student to ever go hungry or go

us know of the items that they feel would benefit the

without basic needs like soap, toothpaste, or other

Eastern community.

hygiene products. With the aid of the grant and funding from SGA, we plan to continue the Christian

Who restocks the pantry and how often?

The Student Government Association members are responsible for restocking the pantry. Members check the pantries daily and abide by a restocking

mission of making sure everyone’s basic needs are met.

If you have any questions about the SGA Food Pantry, please contact sga@eastern.edu.

schedule. The schedule is about twice a month during the academic year, but closer to breaks, we will restock for the break and the following week after the break. With the addition of the grant, we will look to supplement the pantry more adequately throughout the summer months as well.

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Voices on

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By erin ahlefeld CREATING CHANGE is not passive — it requires a catalyst backed by energy, momentum, commitment, and drive. Likewise, meaningful change in our world doesn’t occur by chance: it is a result of thoughts, passions, and actions ignited into flame.

It is with this Spirit-inspired ignition that we love, serve, and impact. It is with this energizing flame that we lean into creativity and innovation to light up the darkest parts of our communities, offering inspiration and hope. It is with this powerful catalyst that Eastern University inspires renewed commitment to our mission, vision, and values that radiates the good news of the Gospel throughout the world.

In this edition of EASTERN Magazine, we’ve asked several key members of our community to share about how the sparks of their passion have ignited their hearts and fueled their desire to make change in the world around them.

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By Dr. Maria Fichera, Professor and chair of biology THERE IS NOTHING I have experienced in life that reveals the existence of God as our Creator in the way that biology does.

My fascination with biology was sparked one sunny day in high school while watching little green sprouts grow from the beans I had germinated in Mrs. Nugent’s class. From that moment forward, my fascination became ignited by every aspect of the field. With each experiment conducted and dataset analyzed, I thought to myself: How could this possibly be an accident? From there, my interest in biology became rooted in faith, and grew into something greater than myself.

Understanding how proteins are made within a cell and sorted to their proper designations is a miracle alone. These small but significant facts are proof of a supremely intelligent and powerful Creator who hand-crafted the world we live in and molded each and every one of us in his image.

One thing my dad always told me was to “find the joy in the job.”

Embracing this concept was the fuel that stoked the fire within me. Teaching with enthusiasm, in hopes of inspiring my students to behold these wonders, comes naturally through the passion and happiness I have found in the field. Empowering students to design and carry out their own experiments, troubleshoot, and evaluate data teaches them that they have the knowledge and skills needed to ask questions and get answers. This group work encourages fellowship and human connection surrounding two shared passions: biology and faith.

Each and every time I reflect on my calling to research and teach the

The Wonders

of Biology Unearthing God's Miracles in Ourselves and the World

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wonders of biology, I think back to the profound way in which God revealed himself to me in the bean garden that started it all. The sprouts that grew before my eyes planted their roots deep within my heart and soul, urging me to spread this miracle I have witnessed to others, and inspiring students to see the way God is communicating with us deep within each and every cell of our beings.

Sharing God’s majesty with my students and watching them unearth truths about the world we live in – this is what ignites the passion within me.

Capturing the

human experience

Discovering the Richness of our Existence through Creative Writing

B y D r . I h e o m a N wa c h u k w o , A s s i s ta n t P r o f e s s o r o f C r e at i v e W r i t i n g HUMAN BEINGS are very interesting. The way we love. The way we eat. The way we fight. Our habits. Our speech. The way we bob down the street. The way we wade through the world. The way we reach toward light. Like plants. I find life fascinating, and life is nothing without people in it.

This obsession with the richness of our existence fuels my research and writing. The insistence on bearing witness to the human experience as a writer is a heroic responsibility, though I’m no hero.

I’ve loved and been inspired by poetry and fiction from a young age, and when I began writing poems as a teen, I gravitated toward narrative poetry. One day I thought, “No one really cares about poets. No one talks about them. I should write stories.” But I was scared to write fiction. I respected the art of fiction so much I didn’t even dare.

Then one day in 2000, I decided to write a piece and submit it for a BBC writing competition. Expectedly, I didn’t win, but I managed to conquer my timidity, and that was enough to open up the creative lane I walk in today. That first story is the shoulder on which subsequent stories have stood on.

Through this creative outlet, my passion for teaching is fueled by the potential to change a student’s life or improve their understanding of themselves and their absorption of the world.

When students see your emotional honesty and your willingness to be vulnerable in the classroom, they know they can truly follow in your footsteps and open their hearts to the beauty of life surrounding them.

Creative writing enriches the human experience by capturing our momentary lapses and spurts in social growth. It bears the power to emphasize our great need for empathy and kindness, and inspires our willingness and fortitude to forge strong communities connected by one thing: our ability to feel. This is what ignites my passion.

dr. Nwachukwu has been named the 2023 winner of the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction for his collection, “Japa & Other Stories.” This award recognizes talented writers of short stories.

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Data and

Discovery

When Spirituality, Psychology, and Data Science Collide

By Dr. Greg Longo, a s s o c i at e p r o f e s s o r o f d ata s c i e n c e a n d c h a i r o f m at h e m at i c a l s c i e n c e s ON A SURFACE LEVEL, Data Science may seem to be a strictly statistical and fact-driven field - and indeed, it is! Yet, it also requires an incredible amount of creativity, critical thinking, and ethical considerations to truly excel.

My journey to data science, like many in the field, is somewhat convoluted and began with an intense interest in observing how people actually experience their faith. I have always been fascinated with how to quantify abstract concepts like religiousness and spirituality. These interests led me to the psychology of spirituality and religion, and particularly, how these constructs can be quantified.

Given my background as a social scientist, my interest in the field was never anchored to code or technical skill. Instead, my passion for my work is ignited by the implications of it on the world that God created. It is just as important to me that graduates know when not to optimize algorithms or utilize technology as a solution, as it is for them to understand the math and science behind how to do so. The ability to balance technical skills with a liberal arts perspective enables a deeper understanding of the field of data science.

What continues to fuel my passion as a professor is the the transformative effect our programs have on our graduates. Their feedback on the value their skills hold, and how those skills impact their lives and careers is incredibly rewarding.

Although discovering the intersection between psychology, religion, and data science began due to a personal fascination with it, it quickly grew into a career path of helping students gain the wisdom and knowledge to critically contemplate the difficult, society-altering questions that continually arise in life.

Eastern’s emphasis on ethics in data science is truly a distinguishing part of our curricula and equips students with more than just technical skills, but also the ability to think outside of the spreadsheets and databases and look to the world around them for inspiration.

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The Marriage of

education and therapy Igniting Change through Therapy and Teaching

B y D r . K r i s t e n P o p pa , P h d ’ 1 4 a s s o c i at e p r o f e s s o r a n d c h a i r o f m a r r i a g e a n d fa m i ly t h e r a p y WHEN I WAS PREPARING for college, I found myself standing at

It wasn’t until later in life that I ended up at the exact same crossroads I

the intersection of two roads: education and therapy. Both of these

had started in, staring both therapy and education in the face. This time, I

pathways equally allowed me to live out my dreams of helping others

realized that I could choose both.

on a personal level. I felt like I was being pulled in both directions, and my only option was to look to God for guidance. I ended up choosing elementary education.

Teaching graduate students resonates with me far more than elementary education did in my first few months of college. Between my clinical practice and teaching at Eastern, I not only use my knowledge and

After a few classes, I realized that I was not as invested in the coursework

passion to impact the lives of my clients, but I can also use that

as other students seemed. I was feeling called in a different direction, so

experience to help my students impact others, too.

I pivoted and decided to pursue a therapy career instead. This led me to take a course in Marriage & Family Counseling. Every aspect of this class fascinated me, and I finally felt certain that I had figured out how I would make a difference in this world.

It has been such a gift to be able to use what I have learned in my work with clients and bring the concepts that I teach to life in the classroom.

My goal is to offer students an education that explores who they are and what truly fulfills them in life, while preparing them to pursue it. Students

Every time I was present with someone in therapy who was willing to

of all backgrounds are constantly in dialogue with each other, exchanging

share the hardest parts of their life with me, I saw how helping them

ideas, integrating faith and practice, and pushing each other to think

navigate their experiences led to something bigger and ignited positive

outside of the box and wrestle with their beliefs.

change in the world.

This is the kind of education that creates therapists, educators, pastors, and more who are inspired and prepared to ignite positive change in their communities, and the world.

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S P O T L I G H T

CHAMPIONING CHANGE: An Alumna's Advocacy for an Equitable World b y A L LY ( H O L M E S ) R O S A R I O ’ 1 4 , M E d ’ 2 1

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ELEVATING THE VOICES OF THE MARGINALIZED “I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED that God orchestrates

During her time at Eastern, Maame served as a Youth

and ordains my steps,” Maame (Yankah) Boateng '13,

Ambassador for Plan International USA, advocated for

Esq shares. From her childhood in Ghana to the legal

the marginalized Kayayo women in Ghana, and spoke

advocacy she currently engages in as an attorney, it’s

at the USAID Youth Policy Launch where she advocated

clear that God has directed her path and used her

for the role of youth in policy and development changes.

experiences to shape her legacy.

Additionally, she lobbied for the Water for the World

Growing up in Ghana, Maame quickly developed a passion for pursuing an equitable world. Her Christian

eventually passed in 2014.

upbringing emphasized the importance of a life founded

After graduating, Maame moved back to Ghana and

on God’s love – and extending that love to all of his

continued to champion many other organizations

creation. These values began to shape her heartbeat for

with the same goal: representing and advocating for

economic development.

marginalized groups, specifically women and children.

When Maame was fifteen, she spent her summer at Buduburam camp, a refugee campsite in the central region of Ghana for those who had fled the Liberian war.

It was here that her desire to advocate for others was nurtured and inspired by the example of a teacher who caught her attention.

“This teacher believed and taught the children that true and lasting change would never come solely through governmental change,” Maame remembers. “She believed that our society was responsible for realizing a more desirable and equitable world for one another.”

This realization ignited the conviction in Maame’s heart to help underprivileged and underserved communities realize it for themselves. This passion eventually brought her to Eastern University.

"She believed that our society was responsible for realizing a more desirable and equitable world for one another."

Act to be introduced to the US Congress, which was

“I was searching for an institution that would not only mold my social consciousness, but my actions as well,” Maame reflects. “The integration of Eastern’s mission of Faith, Reason, and Justice with my experiences at Eastern not only instilled in me high ethical and moral standards, but it also taught me how to apply these values to my daily interactions as an economic development practitioner.”

The culmination of her conviction led her back to the states in pursuit of her law degree from Penn State Dickinson Law. Maame was passionate about exploring how the law relates to economic development and the protection of marginalized groups.

Now serving in the Delaware legal system as an associate attorney, Maame intends to contribute to the legal community through offering her perspective as a black woman of African descent, advocating for inclusion, and elevating the voices of the marginalized.

“The values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are even more critical to me now as an attorney,” Maame shares.

“They form the backbone of my work and service to everyone around me.”

Maame is grateful not only for the education she received at Eastern University, but for the relationships she forged, specifically with Nancy Hartsock ’06, Theresa Noye, Lindy Backues ’93, Rebecca Gidjunis ’01, Laura Hartley, Landi Turner, Jonathan Yonan, and Frann Mawusi, among others. “Their willingness to listen, understand my needs, and alleviate my social and emotional burdens as an international student inspired me to be that same safe space for others. Eastern University will forever hold a place in my heart.”

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By Nicole Markert ’20

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Sophomore Maxwell Bushong ’26 is sparking innovation as a business major, volleyball athlete, and full-time executive.

By autumn croy ’25

MAXWELL BUSHONG ’26, juggles

As a current sophomore in the College of

responsibilities with the agility of an athlete -

Business & Leadership at Eastern, Max credits

quite literally, as the libero for Eastern’s

his drive for business to his father’s successes.

Men’s Volleyball team. But his game doesn’t

“I grew up in an entrepreneurial household,”

end there. He is a full-time student here at

he describes. “My dad has worked hard to

Eastern and full-time Director of Technology

build his own successful real estate business

and Warehouse Operations at Keystone

from the ground up, and watching him work

Novelties Distributors, a fireworks retailer

hard for something that he takes pride in has

in Lancaster, PA. Although his schedule is

been my inspiration and motivation to work

packed with responsibilities, he knows that

tirelessly to have my own business someday.”

every obstacle will burst into an opportunity

Watching from a young age, Max’s passions

for growth.

were ignited through his father’s hardwork

Starting at Keystone Novelties Distributors in an entry level position as a teenager, Max was able to quickly climb the ladder in the company, leading him to an executive position

and dedication to creating a bright future for his family. “I am making sacrifices now, so I can pave the path for a successful future for myself and my own family one day.”

by his freshman year of college. He holds

Max describes Eastern as a community that

a pivotal role in the company, overseeing

encourages him to achieve what he has set out

point-of-sale devices, managing warehouse

to do and supports his goals, offering him the

operations, and working directly with the

schedule flexibility and opportunities he needs

president to ensure goals are being met and

to thrive on his journey to entrepreneurship.

high-level problems are being solved.

“One of the main reasons why I chose

“To play a large role in the success achieved

Eastern is because I knew I would not just

throughout an operation of 450 locations

be a number in a big lecture hall,” Maxwell

across 10 different states up and down

states. “My professors show genuine care

the East Coast is truly the most rewarding

and support towards me and my future. I

experience that I could have asked for at this

have the unique ability to be able to take

stage in my life,” says Max. “But balancing a

what I have learned in the classroom and

full-time position while also being a full-time

combine that with real-world application.”

student is no easy feat. I arrange my class schedule so that I can make the hour drive into the office multiple days a week, take business calls between classes, pull late nights of both studies and work, and plan my days around crucial meetings I have to attend.”

Max’s drive for success, innovation, and passion for entrepreneurship mirrors the exact mission of Eastern’s College of Business & Leadership. He acts as a transformational change-agent in both business and on campus

“

I am making sacrifices now, so I can pave the path for a successful future.”

day in and day out, living out Eastern’s values in every aspect of his life.

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P A L M E R

The Spirit-Filled Fusion of Church and Academy B y D a n i e l G a r r i s o n E d wa r d s ' 1 1 , m d i v ' 1 8

Rev. Dr. Adelekan also serves as the Pastor

A threefold cord is not easily broken.”

of Rise Community Church in Dayton,

One might say, an alloy of metals is not

OH. He is not alone; many of Palmer’s

easily shattered.

faculty serve in both the classroom and the local church. This described fusion of THE FUSION OF CHURCH and Academy

Church and Academy, theory and praxis,

parallels the process of making an alloy by

is a natural outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s

melding two metals together in extreme

igniting within the faculty themselves,

heat, with the goal of creating a stronger,

creating a formative space for both

more robust substance. When intertwined,

rigorous academics and compassionate

the Church and Academy create an

pastoral care.

indestructible bind that brings the two worlds together driven by passion for two things: Practice and Scholarship.

At Palmer Theological Seminary and College, our mission to bring the Whole Gospel for the Whole World through Whole Persons begins in our classrooms, as we forge the Academy and the Church into a robust and versatile instrument of Christ’s inbreaking.

Integrated Missions: Church & Academy

Living Theory: The Faculty's Dual Roles Rev. Dr. Allan Copenhaver joined Palmer in 2014 as a recruiter for the seminary’s West Virginia program. Now the Program Director and teaching in the MDiv and DMin programs, he serves as Pastor of The Baptist Temple in Fairmount, WV. He sees no need for tension between the academic and pastoral.

“Teaching is about transformation. Pastoral ministry, at its core, is about transformation.

Palmer’s commitment to forging both sides of the ecclesiastical coin begins with our faculty who embrace theory and praxis. It ignites the fire behind our initiatives like the annual Palmer Consultation: Conversations on Church and Community. This spring, the topic was “Repairing the Breach, Restoring the Streets: The Academy and the Church Working Together.” The fire is spread through the seminary’s Lilly Endowmentfunded programs – CARES and the new Flourishing Leaders Project – which seek to support, care for, and equip alumni and church leaders as they put their theological education into practice.

“The Church and the Academy must have synergistic accountability,” says Rev. Dr. Adelekan. “Both need to be concerned with the life of the Spirit and seek the face

Often, the Church and the Academy are

They have the same goal.” Likewise, Rev.

seen as two elements that tarnish, dilute,

Dr. Watson, who taught high school French

or even corrupt the other. According to

prior to seminary, says she could never get

Rev. Dr. Adetokunbo Adelekan, Associate

away from teaching, and has always had the

In the furnace of Palmer, in the hearts

Professor of Theology and Ethics, to treat

heart of a pastor. She currently serves as an

of our very own faculty, we are continuing

them as such is a grave mistake. “The

Associate Pastor at Narberth Presbyterian

to forge an ecclesiastical coin not so

Church and the Academy are two sides

Church, Narberth, PA. “I am committed to

easily fractured.

of the same ecclesiastical coin.”

keeping these two things together…

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of God. A fractured relationship is not the model.”

“The Church and the Academy must have synergistic accountability...both need to be concerned with the life of the Spirit and seek the face of God. A fractured relationship is not the model.”

Rev. Dr. Adetokunbo Adelekan, Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics

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A T H L E T I C S

Highlights

fall

By dan mouw

Men’s Basketball Claims 1st Conference Championship As the final seconds ticked off the clock, fans

hosts. Those fans had a lot to cheer about early

“I am very proud of our team and coaching

could hardly believe what they were witnessing.

in the game as Widener built a 15-point lead in

staff,” says Head Coach Dan Pruessner of the

When the top-seeded Widener University Pride

the first nine minutes.

team’s run. “To win road games against two

scored a late basket to cut the Eastern lead to 29 points, Eastern’s starters hardly noticed.

They exchanged celebratory hugs and highfives with their teammates on the bench. The Eagles outscored the 13th-ranked Pride 50-23 in the final 20 minutes to earn a 98-69 win and claim the first Conference Championship in Eastern Men’s Basketball history.

The domination in the second half came after an incredible recovery in the opening frame.

With Eastern on Spring Break, most of the crowd in the gym was there to root for the

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Junior guard Davin Hernandez ’25 came off the bench to ignite a rally, and the Eagles took a 48-46 lead to the locker-room. Widener scored six of the first seven points in the second half, but the Eastern defense held the hosts to only 17 points the remainder of the game. Hernandez scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting, and

very different NCAA Tournament teams in a four-day stretch is an enormous challenge. Our guys worked hard to prepare and responded to in-game adjustments. Widener crushed us twice in the regular season, so it’s a huge credit to our guys that they were able to recover after their fast start.”

Zubair Lee ’26 scored 25 points and grabbed 12

The next weekend, the Eagles (21-8) won their

rebounds to claim Tournament MVP Honors.

first game in the NCAA Tournament to achieve

Eastern’s first Championship run came after the program had made the postseason in each of the previous seven seasons.

another program milestone. Jaron Fairweather ’23 and Zubair Lee each earned ALL-Conference and NABC All-Region Honors.

BEYOND BASKETBALLL For other honorable mentions, the Women’s Volleyball put together an amazing 28-4 season and had four players named AVCA Honorable Mention All-America. The Eagles won a thirdstraight MAC Commonwealth Championship and beat the Tufts

By dan mouw

University Jumbos in an incredible five-set battle in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

Eastern Football won two MAC games in the program’s first year of varsity competition. With the Pep Band, Drum Line, Cheer, and Dance squads igniting the energy, the Eagles beat Alvernia, 3023, in the rain during the program’s first home game at Franklin

W o m e n ’ s V o l l e y b a l l w i n s M A C C o m m o n w e a lt h C h a m p i o n s h i p.

Field. Five weeks later, the Eagles beat Albright 21-9 to win our homecoming game. Beyond the two exciting wins, the Eagles scored in every game this season. In 2024, Eastern Football will play its home games at its newly completed facilities at O’Hara Field on the campus of Valley Forge Military Academy.

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A L U M N I

2024

Lamplight Society Inductees Jared ’07 and Chloe bass ’06

Blazing the International Trail for Social Justice B y H o l ly s c o f f o n e THIS YEAR’S LAMPLIGHT SOCIETY AWARD WINNERS, Jared ’07

Chloe is a Senior Technical Advisor for Women’s Economic Empowerment

and Chloe Bass ’06, have shaped their careers for helping others around

at World Vision, an organization that works in around 100 countries in

Eastern University’s missional values of Faith, Reason, and Justice. They

Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, addressing

are active in their community, integral leaders in their church, parents to

the root causes of poverty and injustice. “My semester abroad in Israel,

two sons, Josiah and Caleb, and are passionate about the love they share

Egypt, and Jordan sparked my passion for international development and

for Eastern and each other — they even got engaged on campus!

opened my eyes to women’s circumstances globally, beyond the walls of

The Lamplight Society honors those who have left a legacy of light on the

Eastern, and my own community.”

Eastern University community. The award honors individuals who are part

Chloe’s efforts have transformed communities by empowering

of our alumni, faculty, staff, or administration for the contributions they

women around the world through greater access to resources and

made during their time at Eastern.

opportunities that will help them bring income, safety, and security to

Jared is guided by his commitment to public service, leading the education team at the Center for American Progress. “Since leaving

their households. “It is rewarding to play a small part in helping make people’s lives a little better.”

Eastern, I’ve had the opportunity to exercise Faith, Reason, and Justice in

Jared and Chloe’s work yields profound progress toward a more just world

City Hall, state government, and the halls of the United States Congress,”

for everyone and demonstrates Eastern’s values and mission on a global

he shares. Jared also currently serves on Eastern’s Board of Trustees.

scale. Both honorees cite Eastern’s values and emphasis on loving God with

He believes that government can be a force for good, if it is stewarded well, and he works each and every day to influence social change and policies in these institutions. “I am so excited that I get to influence social change and produce policies that help make a difference in people’s lives.”

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your heart and mind as a launchpad for the success they have had in their careers, the impact they have been able to make on the world, and the values they cherish in their lives on a personal level.

Lighting the Path to Hope and Reform How hope can help break down barriers

By Sydney tilley IN 2008, DAVID GARLOCK ’17 found himself in a hopeless situation.

From that point on, David has been an amazing example of how the past

He had served over 8 years of a 25 year sentence in prison, alongside his

does not define the future.

brother, for taking the life of their abuser after many years of abuse.

This year, David has been named Eastern’s Distinguished Young Alumnus

A client of the Equal Justice Initiative, David found himself in

of the Year. David Garlock is a successful returning citizen, reentry

conversation with Bryan Stevenson ’81, PhD ’99 (HD). Bryan gave David

professional, and criminal justice reform advocate. He has made an

hope for his future and encouraged him to apply to Eastern University to

impact working on campaigns to abolish death by incarceration,

start fresh. David was inspired to consider how his passion for educating

create geriatric parole programs, and reinstitute Pell Grant funding for

the next generation on rehabilitation could lead to advocacy for an

incarcerated students. He serves as a board member for the National

effective and equitable justice system. In 2014, David’s parole was moved

Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws, the Pennsylvania Association

from Alabama to Pennsylvania, and his journey at Eastern began.

for Rational Sex Offense Laws, the Pennsylvania Reentry Council, and the

In his second week of classes, David shared his testimony with The

Eastern University Prison Education Program.

Waltonian – a risk, but one he was willing to take. David was surprised

A few years after graduating, David was speaking at another university

at the reactions he received – he didn’t find himself treated as a “token”

when one of the men in the back of the class spoke up and recalled when

student, or find himself shunned, but rather, David experienced love and

he heard David speak at the Lancaster Youth Intervention Center as an

knew that he was seen for who he was and the potential he had. While on

Eastern student. This conversation revealed the flame for reform that had

campus, David studied Urban Studies with a focus in criminal justice and

been ignited in that young man’s life, carrying forward David’s legacy,

social welfare, and continued cementing his legacy by devoting himself

and even Bryan before him, of lighting the way forward for those who are

to Eastern’s Prison Ministry: playing basketball with and mentoring

marginalized and in need of hope.

incarcerated youth at the Lancaster Youth Intervention Center.

2024 Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year David garlock ’17

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A L U M N I

Securing Forever Homes Alumna of the Year ignites change for hundreds of families by asking life's difficult questions B y E ly s e G a r n e r ’ 1 3 , M AT ’ 2 4 SOMETIMES THE ‘WHY’ QUESTIONS are the hardest to answer. They

Over the years, her dedication and perseverance has led to speaking

stretch us far beyond what our minds can comprehend, forcing us to shift

invitations from the White House and European Parliament as well as

our perspective and dig deeper. And sometimes, just having the courage

numerous features in prominent nationwide media outlets. By partnering

to ask those questions can be the catalyst to something world-changing.

with powerful organizations and spreading her passion for child welfare,

For the 2024 Alumna of the Year, Anthea “Thea” Sholander Ramirez ’06, asking ‘why?’ has led to the establishment of forever homes for

Thea has contributed to significant policy reform in the United States, making a difference that impacts thousands of children and families.

hundreds of orphans in the United States. Understanding why so many

Drawn to what she describes as Eastern’s “just go do it” attitude, Thea

children languish in foster care despite goals for adoption was the

was immediately inspired by her classmates and professors “to be a

spark needed to ignite Thea’s passionate advocacy for children without

solution to the world's hurt, to be peace to the word's raging wars, to be

permanent homes. “It always amazes me how powerful a question can be

an agent of change to the places and spaces that need the warm light

to ignite meaningful change,” Thea muses. “Now I see it was the simple

of an eternal, loving God.” Using her degree in social work, Thea laid

willingness to ask a question that got us to where we are today.”

the groundwork for a now thriving career that combines her education,

As the founder and CEO of Adoption-Share, Thea works hard to bring

relentless passion and marathon spirit.

reform, transparency, and efficiency to the foster and adoption process

Thea and her husband, fellow alumnus Lucas Ramirez ’05, now live in

through compassion-driven technology. Through the establishment of a

Brunswick, Georgia with their three children, who inspire her everyday to

new program called Family-Match, Thea has furthered the impact of her

continue doing the work she is doing for other children around the world.

nonprofit by simplifying the work for agencies via a pairing technology

“It is an incredible honor to be named Eastern's Alumna of the Year,” she

that makes it easier to provide successful, expedited placement for

says. “Considering the breadth of incredible alumni and their service and

children in stable homes.

impact in the world, it is a privilege to be included in the ranks of fellow world-changers!”

2024

Alumna of the Year anthea sholander ramirez ’06

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2024

Alumna Waymaker in Service and Ministry Dr. Bridgette Rice, MDiv ’17

Caring for the Whole Person in Health Care Palmer Waymaker brings theology beyond the walls of the Church B y D a n i e l G a r r i s o n E d wa r d s ' 1 1 , M d i v ' 1 8 WHEN WE HEAR Palmer’s mission “The Whole Gospel for the Whole

She notes that her theological education enriches her research, informs

World through Whole Persons,” do we assume certain boundaries on that

how she understands it in the context of larger systemic injustices, and

wholeness? Do we expect that a seminary education only equips those

helps her be mindful that participants are whole persons who have

who are called to full-time professional ministry?

experienced trauma that informs their behavior.

Dr. Bridgette Rice, MDiv ’17 entered Palmer Theological Seminary in

Dr. Rice describes how Palmer taught her to integrate her professional

2012, well into her career as a nursing educator with a PhD. “I wanted

academic life and her religious life, two spheres that she once thought

to deconstruct my faith in a healthy way, using a systematic theological

should be kept separate. “Palmer equips you to bring the fullness of who

approach, to fully understand why I believe what I believe about God.”

you are wherever you are, and respectfully.” The attention Dr. Rice gives

She considered seminary to be the right place to learn in a way that

to whole persons is nothing short of the outpouring of the soul work she

would prepare her for seasons of adversity and enrolled in Palmer’s

underwent in seminary. She reflects that it is not uncommon that students

MDiv program.

and other faculty comment on how peaceful her office feels. She says

During her first week of class, she became keenly aware of how distinct the environment was from the secular academic settings in which she

that is no accident, it is answered prayer. She asked God to bring that experience of peace into that space, and he answered.

typically found herself. Professors started class with prayer and opened

Dr. Bridgette Rice, Palmer’s 2024 Alumna Waymaker in Service and

the floor for students to share what was on their minds and hearts. While

Ministry, exemplifies that theological education can reach beyond the

her nursing background emphasized self-care and wellness, the MDiv

pulpit and Church walls. The Whole Gospel for the Whole World through

program put God as the focus.

Whole Persons is being lived out in nursing classrooms and in research

Dr. Rice is now the Associate for Research and Innovation at

right here in the greater Philadelphia area.

Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Richard and Marianne Kreider Endowed Professor in Nursing for Vulnerable Populations.

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A L U M N I

Alumni Corner Eastern and Palmer Alumni Class Notes 1970 S

1980 S

Charles ’71 and Christine Schwarz ’70 are

Rocky Brown, MAR ’83 is celebrating his 40

happily living in Penney Farms Retirement

year anniversary of graduation from Eastern

Community in northern Florida.

Baptist Theological Seminary. Rocky is the

Darlene Spartas ’76 is loving retirement.

She bought a home on the shore and is living the dream!

Pastor of Youth and Community at Bethany Baptist Church in Chester, PA, an ICPC Master Police Chaplain, and the Director of Anger Management Services for the Chester

1991, she served as Pastor of Thornbury African Methodist Episcopal Church and then St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church. She then worked as Christian Education Director at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church from 1997-1998, and Associate Pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church. In 2001, Joan retired from full time ministry and served as supply pastor in retired status at Kedron United Methodist Church in Morton PA until 2004.

Jacqueline (Sanders) Tilford ’78 and Tony

Community Charter School. Rocky is also a

Tilford, MDiv ’85 are celebrating their marriage

published author including 800 Sayings By Old

Chuck Fox, MDiv ’83 is celebrating his

in April 2023. Tony is a retired ABC pastor,

Folks, Who Raised Us and A Trilogy of Spiritually

retirement, April 2024, as Pastor of the First

currently serves with the Hope and Help

Filled Motivational Messages.

Baptist Church of Pittsburgh after 40 years of

Network, and recently co-authored Becoming a Healthy Griever for Life. Jacqueline is Pastor of Haverford United Methodist Church.

Joan Charles, MDiv ’83 is married to Raymond E. Charles, and has two daughters - Tracy and Danielle. After graduating from seminary, Joan was assigned as a Supply Pastor at Thornbury A.M.E. Church, in Cheyney, PA. Between 1984-

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ministry! His four decades of ministry took him from the city of Philadelphia, to the suburbs of Cincinnati, to Thailand where he served as a missionary, alongside his wife, Ruth Fox ’78, MAR ’84, for 18 years.

Cassi Ney-Harkness ’83 retired from teaching

daughters (one currently attending Eastern) and

high school English after 35 years. She did

they live in Ijamsville, MD.

not listen to Dr. Betsy Morgan who cautioned against a teaching career. Now she plans to follow her beloved professor’s sage advice and “Just write.” Her volleyball knee pads have been traded in for a pickleball paddle.

Carlton Brice ’84 is retiring and returning to America, God willing.

serves as Pastor of Lower Merion Baptist

HAVE YOU FOLLOWED US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM?

Church, Bryn Mawr, PA.

Follow @easternualumni on Instagram

Angel Pagan ’99, MTS ’05 is celebrating marriage to Amanda in February 2024. Angel

Rev. Alan Rudnick ’99, MDiv ’06 successfully defended his Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) dissertation, NuBaptist: An American Baptist

Dan McDowell, MDiv ’87 currently serves on

Vision of Spirituality, Ecclesiology, and

regional staff for the ABCOPAD region. He has

Missiology for the Twenty-First Century in May

three grown children and four grandchildren

2023 and graduated from La Salle University

with another on the way!

with distinction. Alan and his wife Christine (Capuano) Rudnick ’02 live in the Syracuse, NY

1990 S

area with their three children.

Hans Giller ’90 has been married to his wife, Beth, for 25 years and together, they have

2000 S

two daughters. Beth is the Senior Pastor at

Angeline Washington-Clark ’02, MDiv ’18 is

St. Mark Lutheran Church in Toledo. Hans

celebrating finishing a fourth unit of Clinical

works in the juvenile court with youth who

Pastoral Education in April 2023.

are arrested for domestic violence toward a parent, grandparent, sibling, or peers. He works to address the issues of abuse and violence in families, as well as dating violence. Hans

and @EasternUniversityAlumni on Facebook for the latest updates on events, giveaways, and to stay connected to the #EUnited community!

ALUMNI AWA R D S Do you know an Eastern alum who is making a difference in their community and deserves some recognition? We're looking for nominations for Alumnus/a of the Year, Distinguished Young Alumnus/a of the Year, and a staff or

Elizabeth Dyson ’06 was pleased to serve

faculty member for our Lamplight

on the new mayor's transition subcommittee

Society Inductee! Learn more about

on education.

the awards, read about current award

and Beth are very involved in the Northwest

Congratulations to Luminitza Nichols, ESCM

Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church, with Hans

’06, MDiv ’15 on successfully defending her

serving on two boards. In August of 2022, Hans

Doctor of Ministry thesis-project on Church

was nominated and elected to the Evangelical

Relocation at Gordon-Conwell Theological

Lutheran Church of America’s Churchwide

Seminary, January 2024.

Council, where he serves on multiple

winners, and make a nomination at eastern.edu/alumniawards.

NEWS & N OT E S

committees. He has also served as a youth

Sarah Harper ’07 was married in October of

leader at his church and in youth ministry for

2014 and was blessed by the arrival of her

33 years. Hans performs standup at local clubs

daughter Claire in September 2016. In January

Update us on important happenings

and is an avid kayaker, having provided kayak

of 2021, Sarah gave birth to her son, James.

in your life by filling out our update

support for two Ironman Triathlons. Last year,

In October of 2021, Sarah’s husband, Allen,

form! This form ensures you receive

Hans hiked over 100 miles on the North Country

passed away.

the latest Eastern information and

Scenic Trail.

Angela Roskwitalski, MS ’07 is a children’s

Starting January 2024, Rajendra Pillai, MBA

book author, releasing her debut children’s book

’98 is the Vice President and Chief of Staff of

series, which is an ode to love, hope, and the

Exponential. He and his wife Erika ’98 have four

cherished dreams she holds for her

creates space to share with the #EUnited community what's new in your life. Fill out the form today at eastern.edu/alumninewsandnotes.

29

A L U M N I grandchild. Angela’s inspiration to write these

light up the world one candle at a time, with

heartwarming stories came when she learned

the word of God placed on each candle. She

she would become a grandmother for the first

loves creating custom orders and feels blessed

time. Angela’s motivation to write her books

to be able to utilize her God-given creativity to

1950s

is an open-hearted declaration of love and

make others feel inspired and special. Whitney

Joseph Faith, ABTHB ’52 / November 20, 2023

an unwavering dream to one day be reunited

is thankful for the degree she earned at Eastern

Gary Vaughn ’58, MAR ’72 / July 19, 2023

with her grandchild. Her stories are love letters

University, which continues to serve her well,

from a grandmother to her grandchild and

both professionally and as an entrepreneur.

a reflection of the dreams and experiences she envisions for their future. Angela’s debut book, HELLO GRACIE is set to be released late December and it will be available on her website and on Amazon.

Bailey Fabiano ’08 was married on September 16, 2023.

EASTERN UNIVERSITY A N D PA L M E R S E M I N A R Y IN MEMORY BY CLASS YEAR:

1960s Frank Girwood ’63, ’66, MDiv ’74 / August 5, 2023

Ryan Seckman ’11 and Eva Strawser ’11 were

Ronald Dyson ’66 / October 2020

married November of 2022 and reside and work

Arden Hennessey ’68 / February 16, 2024

in Pennsylvania.

1970s

Marilynn Abraham, MDiv ’13 is currently

Helen Belanger, MAR ’72 / September 2023

serving as a hospital chaplain at Nemours

Edith Hartos-Kirchner ’72 / August 29, 2023

Children’s Hospital and as an Associate Pastor at Lower Marion Baptist Church, in Bryn Mawr, PA.

1980s Karen Gallagher, MDiv ’83 / September 2023

2010 S Whitney Saint-Fleur ’11 is a happy wife and proud mom of three boys, currently residing in a

Dorette Ligons-Ham, MDiv ’13 is celebrating

Michael Riley ’81, MDiv ’83 / August 29, 2023

earning her Doctor of Ministry degree in

Gregory Morton ’84 / April 25, 2024

2022 from United Lutheran Seminary, in Philadelphia, PA.

Kenna Morton ’00 / November 12, 2023

suburb of Philadelphia. She works in contracting

Yvonne Walker ’14 feels fortunate to have had

during the day, and in her free time, runs her

the experience of attending Eastern and coming

non-toxic, faith-based candle business called

back to further her professional life working

Wicks By Whit™, LLC. Whitney’s mission is to

with small children

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2000s

Congratulations to Rev. Alexis Washington

Jonathan Peri, Ph.D. ’17, J.D., President

she had a poem titled Icarus Lost published in

’14, who was honored by the State of Black

of Manor College, was selected as one of

the September issue of Beyond Words.

Learning by receiving a Black Excellence in

Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired

Education Award. While Rev. Alexis was an

CEOs for 2023 and will be recognized in the

undergraduate student at Eastern University,

PBJ December issue.

she received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

She also returned to Eastern University for her graduate studies in receiving her certification in K-12 School Counseling through the College of Education. Currently, she is bi-vocational, serving as the pastor of the historic Campbell AME Church of Media, PA and the K-12 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Climate Counselor with Methacton School District.

Mackenzie Bancroft ’13 and Jake Bancroft ’15 are excited to have become a family of four!

They welcomed Lucy into the family in August 2023. James (born March 2020) loves being a big brother!

Katie Yandrick ’16 and her husband bought their first home in Cleveland and are expecting their first baby early this coming year!

Randall McCaskill, MDiv ’17 received a new call to serve as Pastor of Second Baptist Church, Media, PA. in March, 2024.

James Williams, MDiv ’19 is celebrating marriage to Michele Renee in March 2023. James is Pastor at First Baptist Church, Philadelphia.

Katarina Clinton ’18 is married with a daughter named Hope. Life can also be confusing as she is working a job that isn’t what she wants but is what her family needs to make ends meet.

Life can also bring exciting new adventures: Katarina’s family is in the process of starting a church on top of full-time jobs and family life, and asks for prayer during this time.

Congratulations to Greg Impink, MDiv ’18 and his wife, Rachelle, on welcoming their first daughter, Brynn, in October 2023. Greg is Pastor of Wayne Church, A United Methodist Community in Wayne, PA. Jonathan Landis, MDiv ’18 is celebrating his licensure to ordination at James Street Mennonite Church, Lancaster, PA. Jonathan

2020 S Laurel Kearney ’20 recently had a job change and now works full time with the Durham Bulls in their Retail Department!

As a result of completing her PhD program in Organizational Leadership at Eastern in 2022, Denise Bell, PhD ’22 has been invited to serve as The Donald and Lilian Nunnelly Chair of Pastoral Leadership at Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington KY. Denise started her position in September of 2023.

Dave Carber, MDiv ’22 serves as Pastor of Aldine United Methodist Church in Elmer, NJ.

currently serves as a Chaplain and at James

John Rife, MTS ’22 published his most

Street as a Minister of Music and Worship.

recent book Kosmic Reconciliation: A Survey

Elisabeth Sims ’19 has been working hard to pursue publication for her poetry. Most recently,

of the Gospel of Reconciliation from Genesis to Revelation.

31

A Time to Rise From the picturesque campus nestled amidst nature's embrace to the halls filled with wisdom and camaraderie, Eastern University has been a beacon of light for generations.

As we reflect on the past and look toward the future, we invite you to join us on our journey. Your support plays a crucial role in empowering our students, fostering academic excellence, and creating a thriving community.

Together, let's ensure that Eastern University remains a place where potential knows no bounds, and students learn to lead with Faith, Reason, and Justice.

Your support is fundamental to our success, and we are truly grateful for the generosity of our community of alumni and friends!

Y O U R G I F T M AT T E R S

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