EASTERN | Spring 2024

SPRING 2024

Ignited into

“

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. ”

into 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

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.

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.

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.

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 ’ 1 3, MAT ’24

Designer / ALAINA MOSSO

WRITER / HOLLY SCOFFONE

ADDITIONAL PHOTO, ART, & ILLUSTRATION CREDITS / RLSP ARCHITECTS (5)

ALISA WISMER (32)

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.

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

For Discovery & Creativity

By Luisa Wilsman

oy and gratitude define moments like these in the history of our university. From our beginning, the arts and humanities have offered a path for students to express, explore, and understand the world around them in creative, inventive, and thoughtful ways. However, securing the 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, 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."

The addition of new spaces for hosting inspirational speakers, thoughtful campus events, and community performances will contribute to the culture, embody values of Eastern, and serve the pedagogical mission of the Templeton Honors College by fostering fellowship and creating spaces for thought-provoking conversations.

"This building will realize a dream the Honors College has had since its founding of a hospitable home for current and future Honors College 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.

The $11 million project is part of a larger $30 million comprehensive campaign initiative to continue enhancing the University. In addition, Eastern has received support in the form of grants from The Presser Foundation and National Endowment for the Humanities for its commitment to enhancing our music, arts, 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. “It will ignite a transformative, lasting impact on Eastern University’s entire student body and community.”

We look forward to the long-term effect this will have on the Eastern experience. The renovation will bring more speakers, performances, and visual arts to campus, while also creating performance spaces for our students to showcase their artistic gifts, thus promising to light a path for students for generations to come.

“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.

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.

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 the wider university, and they would be delighted to see that vision coming to fruition in the new Templeton Hall.

UKRAINIAN ART BRINGS NEW PERSPECTIVE TO CAMPUS

THE ARTS ARE AN INTEGRAL part of Eastern’s identity, bringing our community together to laugh, cry, and gain a greater understanding of ourselves and the world God created.

In the fall of 2023, my colleague, Rev. Jane Filkin, and I led the Campolo Fellows through the contemplative spiritual practices of Visio and Lectio Divina using Henry Osswa Tanner's breathtaking masterpiece, The Annunciation, and The Magnificat from Luke 1: 46-55. The students responded so enthusiastically that we took them on a field trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see Tanner's painting and other sacred art in person.

It was there that I discovered the religious artwork owned and curated by John Kohan.

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: Women Icon Makers of Western Ukraine exhibit to our campus. We were incredibly grateful to present this opportunity for thoughtful observation to Eastern and surrounding community throughout the 2023 Advent season.

The paintings captured our attention, refocused our gaze, and facilitated the possibility of seeing and contemplating God, the human experience, and our Christian story in a new light.

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 the Eastern community demonstrates our commitment to the educational, cultural, moral, and religious development of our community for generations to come.

ARTWORK CREDITS: (TOP PHOTO FROM LEFT): IVANKA DEMCHUK, ULYANA TOMKEVYCH, AND KATERYNA KUZIV

By Robert Gauthier

CREDITS:

EAST MEETS WEST

ARTWORK

(TOP TO BOTTOM): LYUBA YATSKIV & NATALYA RUSETSKA

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.

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 Xeyah Martin ’22. He designed the pantries to address food insecurities that students faced. Currently, there are four pantries on campus: in Doane, KeaGuffin, Walton, and Gough. With the recent grant we received, we plan to expand to more residence halls such as Eagle and Sparrowk!

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

In our current pantries, students can find nonperishable foods, snacks, microwaveable foods, and more. Concerning hygiene, students can find items like toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and more. With the addition of the grant, we will look to add even more of a variety of items.

What is the process for students who need something from the pantry?

Students are able to access the pantries on their own and grab what they need. We recommend to students that they should always only grab what they need, so we can serve as many students as possible. If students are in need of items that may not currently be provided in the pantries, they are asked to email the Student Government Association to let us know of the items that they feel would benefit the Eastern community.

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 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.

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

The money from outside grants is primarily used for the upkeep of supplying pantries, and for expansion into additional residence halls. Grants assist us in our goal of addressing food insecurities on campus and allow us to serve more students who experience food insecurity or might not be able to afford hygiene products on a regular basis. Other than grants, the funding from the pantries primarily comes from SGA, along with faculty donations and partnership with a local church.

How has access to the pantry impacted students?

We’ve received great feedback from students ever since the inception of the pantries. Students can now have access to food and hygiene items for free instead of going out to buy them themselves or using a meal swipe elsewhere. We aim to continue doing everything we can to address food insecurities across campus and give students access to products they need.

What future plans do you envision for the pantry?

We have plans to expand the pantry to more residence halls, as well as ensure they host a variety of products for both on-campus students and commuters as well. We don’t want any student to ever go hungry or go without basic needs like soap, toothpaste, or other hygiene products. With the aid of the grant and funding from SGA, we plan to continue the Christian 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.

ignite Voices on

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.

of Biology

Unearthing God's Miracles in Ourselves and the World

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 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.

human experience Capturing the

Discovering the Richness of our Existence through Creative Writing

By Dr. Iheoma Nwachukwo, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing

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.

When Spirituality, Psychology, and Data Science Collide Discovery Data and

By Dr. Greg Longo, associate professor of data science and chair of mathematical sciences

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.

Igniting Change through Therapy and Teaching education and therapy The Marriage of

By Dr. Kristen Poppa, Phd ’14 associate professor and chair of marriage and family therapy

WHEN I WAS PREPARING for college, I found myself standing at the intersection of two roads: education and therapy. Both of these pathways equally allowed me to live out my dreams of helping others 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.

After a few classes, I realized that I was not as invested in the coursework as other students seemed. I was feeling called in a different direction, so 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.

Every time I was present with someone in therapy who was willing to share the hardest parts of their life with me, I saw how helping them navigate their experiences led to something bigger and ignited positive change in the world.

It wasn’t until later in life that I ended up at the exact same crossroads I had started in, staring both therapy and education in the face. This time, I realized that I could choose both.

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 passion to impact the lives of my clients, but I can also use that experience to help my students impact others, too.

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 of all backgrounds are constantly in dialogue with each other, exchanging ideas, integrating faith and practice, and pushing each other to think outside of the box and wrestle with their beliefs.

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.

CHAMPIONING CHANGE:

An Alumna's Advocacy for an Equitable World

by ALLY (HOLMES) ROSARIO ’14, MEd ’21

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

ELEVATING THE VOICES OF THE MARGINALIZED

“I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED that God orchestrates and ordains my steps,” Maame (Yankah) Boateng '13, Esq shares. From her childhood in Ghana to the legal advocacy she currently engages in as an attorney, it’s clear that God has directed her path and used her experiences to shape her legacy.

Growing up in Ghana, Maame quickly developed a passion for pursuing an equitable world. Her Christian upbringing emphasized the importance of a life founded on God’s love – and extending that love to all of his creation. These values began to shape her heartbeat for economic development.

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.

“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.”

During her time at Eastern, Maame served as a Youth Ambassador for Plan International USA, advocated for the marginalized Kayayo women in Ghana, and spoke at the USAID Youth Policy Launch where she advocated for the role of youth in policy and development changes. Additionally, she lobbied for the Water for the World Act to be introduced to the US Congress, which was eventually passed in 2014.

After graduating, Maame moved back to Ghana and continued to champion many other organizations with the same goal: representing and advocating for marginalized groups, specifically women and children. 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.”

SPOTLIGHT

By an Entrepreneurial Spirit

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 responsibilities with the agility of an athletequite literally, as the libero for Eastern’s Men’s Volleyball team. But his game doesn’t end there. He is a full-time student here at Eastern and full-time Director of Technology and Warehouse Operations at Keystone Novelties Distributors, a fireworks retailer in Lancaster, PA. Although his schedule is packed with responsibilities, he knows that every obstacle will burst into an opportunity for growth.

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 by his freshman year of college. He holds a pivotal role in the company, overseeing point-of-sale devices, managing warehouse operations, and working directly with the president to ensure goals are being met and high-level problems are being solved.

“To play a large role in the success achieved throughout an operation of 450 locations across 10 different states up and down the East Coast is truly the most rewarding experience that I could have asked for at this stage in my life,” says Max. “But balancing a full-time position while also being a full-time 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.”

As a current sophomore in the College of Business & Leadership at Eastern, Max credits his drive for business to his father’s successes.

“I grew up in an entrepreneurial household,” he describes. “My dad has worked hard to build his own successful real estate business from the ground up, and watching him work hard for something that he takes pride in has been my inspiration and motivation to work tirelessly to have my own business someday.”

Watching from a young age, Max’s passions were ignited through his father’s hardwork 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.”

Max describes Eastern as a community that encourages him to achieve what he has set out to do and supports his goals, offering him the schedule flexibility and opportunities he needs to thrive on his journey to entrepreneurship.

“One of the main reasons why I chose Eastern is because I knew I would not just be a number in a big lecture hall,” Maxwell states. “My professors show genuine care and support towards me and my future. I have the unique ability to be able to take what I have learned in the classroom and combine that with real-world application.”

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

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

The Spirit-Filled Fusion of Church and Academy

By Daniel Garrison Edwards '11, mdiv '18

THE FUSION OF CHURCH and Academy parallels the process of making an alloy by melding two metals together in extreme heat, with the goal of creating a stronger, more robust substance. When intertwined, the Church and Academy create an 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

Often, the Church and the Academy are seen as two elements that tarnish, dilute, or even corrupt the other. According to Rev. Dr. Adetokunbo Adelekan, Associate Professor of Theology and Ethics, to treat them as such is a grave mistake. “The Church and the Academy are two sides of the same ecclesiastical coin.”

Rev. Dr. Adelekan also serves as the Pastor of Rise Community Church in Dayton, OH. He is not alone; many of Palmer’s faculty serve in both the classroom and the local church. This described fusion of Church and Academy, theory and praxis, is a natural outpouring of the Holy Spirit’s igniting within the faculty themselves, creating a formative space for both rigorous academics and compassionate pastoral care.

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. They have the same goal.” Likewise, Rev. Dr. Watson, who taught high school French prior to seminary, says she could never get away from teaching, and has always had the heart of a pastor. She currently serves as an Associate Pastor at Narberth Presbyterian Church, Narberth, PA. “I am committed to keeping these two things together…

A threefold cord is not easily broken.” One might say, an alloy of metals is not easily shattered.

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

In the furnace of Palmer, in the hearts of our very own faculty, we are continuing to forge an ecclesiastical coin not so easily fractured.

“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

By dan mouw

Men’s Basketball Claims 1 st Conference Championship Highlights fall

As the final seconds ticked off the clock, fans could hardly believe what they were witnessing. When the top-seeded Widener University Pride 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

hosts. Those fans had a lot to cheer about early in the game as Widener built a 15-point lead in the first nine minutes.

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 Zubair Lee ’26 scored 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to claim Tournament MVP Honors.

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

“I am very proud of our team and coaching staff,” says Head Coach Dan Pruessner of the team’s run. “To win road games against two 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.”

The next weekend, the Eagles (21-8) won their first game in the NCAA Tournament to achieve 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 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 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.

Women’s Volleyball wins MAC Commonwealth Championship.

2024 Lamplight Society Inductees

Jared ’07 and Chloe bass ’06

Blazing the International Trail for Social Justice

By Holly scoffone

THIS YEAR’S LAMPLIGHT SOCIETY AWARD WINNERS, Jared ’07 and Chloe Bass ’06, have shaped their careers for helping others around Eastern University’s missional values of Faith, Reason, and Justice. They are active in their community, integral leaders in their church, parents to two sons, Josiah and Caleb, and are passionate about the love they share for Eastern and each other — they even got engaged on campus!

The Lamplight Society honors those who have left a legacy of light on the Eastern University community. The award honors individuals who are part of our alumni, faculty, staff, or administration for the contributions they made during their time at Eastern.

Jared is guided by his commitment to public service, leading the education team at the Center for American Progress. “Since leaving Eastern, I’ve had the opportunity to exercise Faith, Reason, and Justice in City Hall, state government, and the halls of the United States Congress,” he shares. Jared also currently serves on Eastern’s Board of Trustees. 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.”

Chloe is a Senior Technical Advisor for Women’s Economic Empowerment at World Vision, an organization that works in around 100 countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, addressing the root causes of poverty and injustice. “My semester abroad in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan sparked my passion for international development and opened my eyes to women’s circumstances globally, beyond the walls of Eastern, and my own community.”

Chloe’s efforts have transformed communities by empowering women around the world through greater access to resources and opportunities that will help them bring income, safety, and security to their households. “It is rewarding to play a small part in helping make people’s lives a little better.”

Jared and Chloe’s work yields profound progress toward a more just world for everyone and demonstrates Eastern’s values and mission on a global scale. Both honorees cite Eastern’s values and emphasis on loving God with 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. He had served over 8 years of a 25 year sentence in prison, alongside his brother, for taking the life of their abuser after many years of abuse.

A client of the Equal Justice Initiative, David found himself in conversation with Bryan Stevenson ’81, PhD ’99 (HD). Bryan gave David hope for his future and encouraged him to apply to Eastern University to start fresh. David was inspired to consider how his passion for educating the next generation on rehabilitation could lead to advocacy for an effective and equitable justice system. In 2014, David’s parole was moved from Alabama to Pennsylvania, and his journey at Eastern began.

In his second week of classes, David shared his testimony with The Waltonian – a risk, but one he was willing to take. David was surprised at the reactions he received – he didn’t find himself treated as a “token” student, or find himself shunned, but rather, David experienced love and knew that he was seen for who he was and the potential he had. While on campus, David studied Urban Studies with a focus in criminal justice and social welfare, and continued cementing his legacy by devoting himself to Eastern’s Prison Ministry: playing basketball with and mentoring incarcerated youth at the Lancaster Youth Intervention Center.

From that point on, David has been an amazing example of how the past does not define the future.

This year, David has been named Eastern’s Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year. David Garlock is a successful returning citizen, reentry professional, and criminal justice reform advocate. He has made an impact working on campaigns to abolish death by incarceration, create geriatric parole programs, and reinstitute Pell Grant funding for incarcerated students. He serves as a board member for the National Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws, the Pennsylvania Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws, the Pennsylvania Reentry Council, and the Eastern University Prison Education Program.

A few years after graduating, David was speaking at another university when one of the men in the back of the class spoke up and recalled when he heard David speak at the Lancaster Youth Intervention Center as an Eastern student. This conversation revealed the flame for reform that had been ignited in that young man’s life, carrying forward David’s legacy, and even Bryan before him, of lighting the way forward for those who are marginalized and in need of hope.

Distinguished Young Alumnus of the Year

David garlock ’17

Securing Forever Homes

Alumna of the Year ignites change for hundreds of families by asking life's difficult questions

By Elyse Garner ’13, MAT ’24

SOMETIMES THE ‘WHY’ QUESTIONS are the hardest to answer. They stretch us far beyond what our minds can comprehend, forcing us to shift our perspective and dig deeper. And sometimes, just having the courage to ask those questions can be the catalyst to something world-changing.

For the 2024 Alumna of the Year, Anthea “Thea” Sholander Ramirez ’06, asking ‘why?’ has led to the establishment of forever homes for hundreds of orphans in the United States. Understanding why so many children languish in foster care despite goals for adoption was the spark needed to ignite Thea’s passionate advocacy for children without permanent homes. “It always amazes me how powerful a question can be to ignite meaningful change,” Thea muses. “Now I see it was the simple willingness to ask a question that got us to where we are today.”

As the founder and CEO of Adoption-Share, Thea works hard to bring reform, transparency, and efficiency to the foster and adoption process through compassion-driven technology. Through the establishment of a new program called Family-Match, Thea has furthered the impact of her nonprofit by simplifying the work for agencies via a pairing technology that makes it easier to provide successful, expedited placement for children in stable homes.

Over the years, her dedication and perseverance has led to speaking invitations from the White House and European Parliament as well as numerous features in prominent nationwide media outlets. By partnering with powerful organizations and spreading her passion for child welfare, Thea has contributed to significant policy reform in the United States, making a difference that impacts thousands of children and families.

Drawn to what she describes as Eastern’s “just go do it” attitude, Thea was immediately inspired by her classmates and professors “to be a solution to the world's hurt, to be peace to the word's raging wars, to be an agent of change to the places and spaces that need the warm light of an eternal, loving God.” Using her degree in social work, Thea laid the groundwork for a now thriving career that combines her education, relentless passion and marathon spirit.

Thea and her husband, fellow alumnus Lucas Ramirez ’05, now live in Brunswick, Georgia with their three children, who inspire her everyday to continue doing the work she is doing for other children around the world. “It is an incredible honor to be named Eastern's Alumna of the Year,” she says. “Considering the breadth of incredible alumni and their service and impact in the world, it is a privilege to be included in the ranks of fellow world-changers!”

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

By Daniel Garrison Edwards '11, Mdiv '18

WHEN WE HEAR Palmer’s mission “The Whole Gospel for the Whole World through Whole Persons,” do we assume certain boundaries on that wholeness? Do we expect that a seminary education only equips those who are called to full-time professional ministry?

Dr. Bridgette Rice, MDiv ’17 entered Palmer Theological Seminary in 2012, well into her career as a nursing educator with a PhD. “I wanted to deconstruct my faith in a healthy way, using a systematic theological approach, to fully understand why I believe what I believe about God.” She considered seminary to be the right place to learn in a way that would prepare her for seasons of adversity and enrolled in Palmer’s MDiv program.

During her first week of class, she became keenly aware of how distinct the environment was from the secular academic settings in which she typically found herself. Professors started class with prayer and opened the floor for students to share what was on their minds and hearts. While her nursing background emphasized self-care and wellness, the MDiv program put God as the focus.

Dr. Rice is now the Associate for Research and Innovation at Villanova University’s M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, and the Richard and Marianne Kreider Endowed Professor in Nursing for Vulnerable Populations.

She notes that her theological education enriches her research, informs how she understands it in the context of larger systemic injustices, and helps her be mindful that participants are whole persons who have experienced trauma that informs their behavior.

Dr. Rice describes how Palmer taught her to integrate her professional academic life and her religious life, two spheres that she once thought should be kept separate. “Palmer equips you to bring the fullness of who you are wherever you are, and respectfully.” The attention Dr. Rice gives to whole persons is nothing short of the outpouring of the soul work she underwent in seminary. She reflects that it is not uncommon that students and other faculty comment on how peaceful her office feels. She says that is no accident, it is answered prayer. She asked God to bring that experience of peace into that space, and he answered.

Dr. Bridgette Rice, Palmer’s 2024 Alumna Waymaker in Service and Ministry, exemplifies that theological education can reach beyond the pulpit and Church walls. The Whole Gospel for the Whole World through Whole Persons is being lived out in nursing classrooms and in research right here in the greater Philadelphia area.

Alumni Corner

Eastern and Palmer Alumni Class Notes

1970 S

Charles ’71 and Christine Schwarz ’70 are happily living in Penney Farms Retirement Community in northern Florida.

Darlene Spartas ’76 is loving retirement. She bought a home on the shore and is living the dream!

Jacqueline (Sanders) Tilford ’78 and Tony Tilford, MDiv ’85 are celebrating their marriage in April 2023. Tony is a retired ABC pastor, currently serves with the Hope and Help Network, and recently co-authored Becoming a Healthy Griever for Life. Jacqueline is Pastor of Haverford United Methodist Church.

1980 S

Rocky Brown, MAR ’83 is celebrating his 40 year anniversary of graduation from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rocky is the 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 Community Charter School. Rocky is also a published author including 800 Sayings By Old Folks, Who Raised Us and A Trilogy of Spiritually Filled Motivational Messages.

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-

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.

Chuck Fox, MDiv ’83 is celebrating his retirement, April 2024, as Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh after 40 years of 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 high school English after 35 years. She did 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.

Dan McDowell, MDiv ’87 currently serves on regional staff for the ABCOPAD region. He has three grown children and four grandchildren with another on the way!

1990 S

Hans Giller ’90 has been married to his wife, Beth, for 25 years and together, they have two daughters. Beth is the Senior Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Toledo. Hans works in the juvenile court with youth who 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 Beth are very involved in the Northwest Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church, with Hans serving on two boards. In August of 2022, Hans was nominated and elected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s Churchwide Council, where he serves on multiple committees. He has also served as a youth leader at his church and in youth ministry for 33 years. Hans performs standup at local clubs and is an avid kayaker, having provided kayak support for two Ironman Triathlons. Last year, Hans hiked over 100 miles on the North Country Scenic Trail.

Starting January 2024, Rajendra Pillai, MBA ’98 is the Vice President and Chief of Staff of Exponential. He and his wife Erika ’98 have four

daughters (one currently attending Eastern) and they live in Ijamsville, MD.

Angel Pagan ’99, MTS ’05 is celebrating marriage to Amanda in February 2024. Angel serves as Pastor of Lower Merion Baptist Church, Bryn Mawr, PA.

Rev. Alan Rudnick ’99, MDiv ’06 successfully defended his Doctor of Theology (Th.D.) dissertation, NuBaptist: An American Baptist Vision of Spirituality, Ecclesiology, and Missiology for the Twenty-First Century in May 2023 and graduated from La Salle University with distinction. Alan and his wife Christine (Capuano) Rudnick ’02 live in the Syracuse, NY area with their three children.

2000 S

Angeline Washington-Clark ’02, MDiv ’18 is celebrating finishing a fourth unit of Clinical Pastoral Education in April 2023.

Elizabeth Dyson ’06 was pleased to serve on the new mayor's transition subcommittee on education.

Congratulations to Luminitza Nichols, ESCM ’06, MDiv ’15 on successfully defending her Doctor of Ministry thesis-project on Church Relocation at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, January 2024.

Sarah Harper ’07 was married in October of 2014 and was blessed by the arrival of her daughter Claire in September 2016. In January of 2021, Sarah gave birth to her son, James. In October of 2021, Sarah’s husband, Allen, passed away.

Angela Roskwitalski, MS ’07 is a children’s book author, releasing her debut children’s book series, which is an ode to love, hope, and the cherished dreams she holds for her

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ALUMNI

grandchild. Angela’s inspiration to write these heartwarming stories came when she learned she would become a grandmother for the first time. Angela’s motivation to write her books is an open-hearted declaration of love and an unwavering dream to one day be reunited with her grandchild. Her stories are love letters from a grandmother to her grandchild and 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.

2010 S

Whitney Saint-Fleur ’11 is a happy wife and proud mom of three boys, currently residing in a suburb of Philadelphia. She works in contracting during the day, and in her free time, runs her non-toxic, faith-based candle business called Wicks By Whit™, LLC. Whitney’s mission is to

light up the world one candle at a time, with the word of God placed on each candle. She loves creating custom orders and feels blessed to be able to utilize her God-given creativity to make others feel inspired and special. Whitney is thankful for the degree she earned at Eastern University, which continues to serve her well, both professionally and as an entrepreneur.

Ryan Seckman ’11 and Eva Strawser ’11 were married November of 2022 and reside and work in Pennsylvania.

Marilynn Abraham, MDiv ’13 is currently serving as a hospital chaplain at Nemours Children’s Hospital and as an Associate Pastor at Lower Marion Baptist Church, in Bryn Mawr, PA.

Dorette Ligons-Ham, MDiv ’13 is celebrating earning her Doctor of Ministry degree in 2022 from United Lutheran Seminary, in Philadelphia, PA.

Yvonne Walker ’14 feels fortunate to have had the experience of attending Eastern and coming back to further her professional life working with small children

EASTERN UNIVERSITY AND PALMER SEMINARY IN MEMORY BY CLASS YEAR:

1950s

Joseph Faith, ABTHB ’52 / November 20, 2023

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

1960s

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

Ronald Dyson ’66 / October 2020

Arden Hennessey ’68 / February 16, 2024

1970s

Helen Belanger, MAR ’72 / September 2023

Edith Hartos-Kirchner ’72 / August 29, 2023

1980s

Karen Gallagher, MDiv ’83 / September 2023

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

Gregory Morton ’84 / April 25, 2024

2000 s

Kenna Morton ’00 / November 12, 2023

Congratulations to Rev. Alexis Washington ’14, who was honored by the State of Black Learning by receiving a Black Excellence in Education Award. While Rev. Alexis was an undergraduate student at Eastern University, 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.

Jonathan Peri, Ph.D. ’17, J.D., President of Manor College, was selected as one of Philadelphia Business Journal’s Most Admired CEOs for 2023 and will be recognized in the PBJ December issue.

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 currently serves as a Chaplain and at James Street as a Minister of Music and Worship. Elisabeth Sims ’19 has been working hard to pursue publication for her poetry. Most recently,

she had a poem titled Icarus Lost published in the September issue of Beyond Words

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

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.

John Rife, MTS ’22 published his most recent book Kosmic Reconciliation: A Survey of the Gospel of Reconciliation from Genesis to Revelation.

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!