This listing includes events for the spring semester at Eastern Mennonite University. To see most current details, additional events and further information, please visit the events calendar at www.emu.edu/events.
EMU News often publishes event previews. Visit www.emu.edu/news to view latest postings or to subscribe to the news digest to receive the Tuesday morning weekly update.
Classes for students begin on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
January
Jan. 8-10 — Shalom Academy (formerly known as the School for Leadership Training). “Pursuing Community in a Divisive World.” Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Program schedule.
Jan. 9, 12 — Bonhoeffer: Cell 92. The groundbreaking multimedia performance on the life of the celebrated theologian, dissident and spy is back. 2 p.m., Jan. 9; 7 p.m., Jan. 12. MainStage Theater. $9 for general admission, $5 for students (purchase tickets at the MainStage Theater door before performances).
Jan. 10 — Opening Convocation and Worship. Join Provost Tynisha Willingham to launch the spring semester with Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojourners and author of A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community. There will be a prayerful send-off for the Guatemala-Cuba Intercultural Seminar group. 10:10-11 a.m., Lehman Auditorium. This event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from our EMU Facebook page.
Jan. 15 — Convocation: MLK Jr. Celebration. The Virginia Union University Gospel Choir performs a series of songs before being joined on stage by the EMU Chamber Singers. 2-3:30 p.m., Lehman Auditorium. The event is part of a three-day celebration honoring the civil rights leader. For more events, check out the schedule. This event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from our EMU Facebook page.
Jan. 17 — University Colloquium: Marci Frederick, director of libraries at EMU. “We Make Ours the Right Way: Communion Breadmaking and Use in Brethren Traditions.” 4-5 p.m., SSC 106. This event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from our EMU Facebook page. Canceled
Jan. 19 — Opening reception for EMU professor Anna Westfall’s art exhibition. 4-5 p.m., Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery.
Jan. 22 — Concerto Aria Competition. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
Jan 24 — Campus Worship: An Untidy Faith – Kate Boyd. Join the author of An Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of Following Jesus for honest conversations, thoughtful resources and gentle encouragement for when following Jesus gets messy. 10:10-11 a.m., Martin Chapel.
This event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from our EMU Facebook page.
Jan. 25 — Albert N. Keim Lecture Series: Dr. Kristina Hook. Hook, assistant professor of conflict management at Kennesaw State University’s School of Conflict Management, Peacebuilding and Development, will speak on the topic of “Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine: Atrocity Crimes, Accountability, and Pursuing a Sustainable Just Peace.” 4-5 p.m., Campus Center, Room 105, Strite Conference Room.
Jan. 26-28 — Two Solos and a Duet: A Collaboration with EMU Theatre and Constellations Theatre Project (working title). Come experience the thrill of live theatre with three days of back-to-back intimate original performances in EMU’s MainStage Theater. Performances are $10 for general admission and $5 for students. Purchase tickets at the MainStage Theater door before performances.
- Jan. 26 — The Gospel Project: A Theatrical Journey through the Life of Jesus Christ. Created and performed by Justin Poole (actor) and Perry Blosser (musician). 7 p.m., MainStage Theater.
- Jan. 27 — The things I forgot. Written and performed by Ingrid DeSanctis and directed by Ben Lambert. 7 p.m., MainStage Theater.
- Jan. 28 — Cooking with a Small Arab Girl, A Workshop Performance. Written and performed by Aya Nassif and directed by Ingrid DeSanctis. 2 p.m., MainStage Theater.
Jan. 31 — Suter Science Seminar: EMU Chief Operating Officer Shawn Ramer, Ph. D. “Stories from the Intersection of Science, Technology, and Health Care.” Dr. Ramer will present several different case studies of his professional experience as a scientist and technologist in the health care industry. The talk will use real-life examples to illustrate the link between technology, science and health care, especially in the context of new drug development. 10:10 a.m., Suter Science Center Room 104. Canceled
February
Feb. 5 — “A Better World through Engineering Design” presented by Dr. Brent Cunningham, candidate for the engineering faculty position in the school of sciences, engineering, art and nursing. Cunningham holds a Ph.D. in Macromolecular Science & Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic & State University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. There will be time for a Q&A after the presentation. 4 p.m., SSC 104.
Feb. 5 — Movie & Talkback: Ricochet. The documentary feature film is about the trial of an undocumented immigrant, Jose Inés Garcia Zaraté, for the accidental shooting of a young woman, Kate Steinle on Pier 14 in San Francisco in July of 2015. 6:30-8:30pm, SSC 106.
Feb. 6 — Lecture event with noted Christian ethicist Dr. David P. Gushee. “Defending Democracy Against its Christian Enemies.” Surveying global politics and modern history, the author and editor will analyze how Christians have discarded their commitment to democracy and bought into authoritarianism. 6:30 p.m., Martin Chapel.
Feb. 14 — Suter Science Seminar: Eli Wenger, Ph. D., postdoctoral scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. “Mechanistic Enzymology as a Metaphor for Life.” Dr. Wenger will tell the story of how he deduced the mechanism of one member of an enzyme subclass, using it as a platform to share some general principles of kinetics and the techniques involved in mechanistic enzymology. 10:10 a.m., SSC 106.
Feb. 16 — Presentation from Hannah Daley, candidate for the chemistry faculty position in the School of Sciences, Engineering, Art and Nursing. “Decoding Methane: Navigating the Surprises in Natural Gas Emissions – Insights from Aircraft Analysis.” 3:30 a.m., SSC 104.
Hannah Daley graduated from EMU with a BS in Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability. Hannah is a current PhD student in Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Maryland.
Feb. 21 — University Colloquium: Anna Westfall, associate professor of Visual and Communication Arts (VaCA). In Entropy is a mixed-media installation created to provide the viewer with a multisensory experience through an altered space. 4-5 p.m., SSC 106. Photographs of the installation and artist statement will be available on https://emu.edu/vaca/gallery/home.
Feb. 23 — Opening reception for artist Stuart Landis and his exhibition of oil paintings. 4-5 p.m., MMG.
Feb. 23 — “A Night At The Movies” Wind Ensemble Concert. Disney, The Greatest Showman, Star Wars, AND MORE! Bring your favorite movie snacks and drinks, and enjoy the show! 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
Feb. 27 — Augsburger Lecture Series: J. Kameron Carter. Religion Otherwise: A Lyric at the End of Time. Carter, professor of religious studies at the University of California, Irvine, is the author of RACE: A Theological Account and The Anarchy of Black Religion: A Mystic Song. 7-9 p.m., Martin Chapel.
Feb. 29 — Music Student Spring Recital. 12:10-1 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
Feb. 29 — EMU Jazz Ensemble/Jazz Combo Concert. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
March
Spring Break for students is between Saturday, March 2, and Sunday, March 10. Classes resume on March 11.
March 13 — Suter Science Seminar: Nathan Derstine, Ph. D., “Sociality and the Evolution of Reproductive Signals in Bees.” Dr. Derstine will both describe his path toward a career in science and his recent research on the role and evolution of reproductive signals in bees. 10:10 a.m., SSC 104.
March 15 — Music Faculty Artist Series: David Berry. 7-9 p.m., Martin Chapel.
March 19-20 — Writers Read: Jocelyn Nicole Johnson. Johnson is the author of My Monticello (2021), a collection of five short stories and a novella, which was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Fiction. 7 p.m., March 19, Martin Chapel. 10:10 a.m., March 20, Lehman Auditorium.
March 20 — University Colloquium: Carol Hurst. “Love & Duty in the Final Chapter: Experiences of Home-Based Caring for Family Elders.” Dr. Hurst, associate professor of social work at EMU, will present results of a qualitative inquiry exploring home-based caregiving experiences for family elders. 4-5 p.m., SSC 106. This event will be livestreamed on EMU’s Facebook Live page.
March 21 — Music Faculty Artist Series: Benjamin Guerrero, percussion, and Kyle Remnant, trombone. 7-9 p.m., Martin Chapel.
March 28 — Music Faculty Artist Series: Amanda Gookin, cello. 7-9 p.m., Martin Chapel.
April
April 5 — EMU Senior Art Exhibition No. 1. Come see the final projects of the first group of senior VaCA students. 4-5 p.m., MMG.
April 5-14 — The Little Mermaid performances. Directed by Justin Poole with music direction by Kyle Remnant. See your favorite characters and songs come to life like never before in this epic musical theatre production that uses found objects, puppetry, and a cast of EMU students and community members. 7 p.m., Friday, April 5; 2 p.m., Saturday, April 6; 7 p.m., Sunday, April 7; 10 a.m., Monday, April 8; 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 9; 7 p.m., Thursday, April 11; 7 p.m., Friday, April 12; 7 p.m., Saturday, April 13; 2 p.m., Sunday, April 14. MainStage Theater.
April 6-7 — Spring Concerts from Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir. 7 p.m., April 6; 4 p.m., April 7. Lehman Auditorium. Tickets go on sale online on Feb. 26.
April 17 — Convocation: ACE (Academic and Creative Excellence) Festival Keynote. Two Truths and Three Lies About Hope and Humanity. The keynote features Douglas Abrams, one of the authors of The Book of Hope, EMU’s 2023-24 Common Read. 10:10-11 a.m., Lehman Auditorium. Abrams will follow up his keynote address with a question-and-answer session with the audience from 11 to 11:30 a.m. This event will be livestreamed on Facebook Live from our EMU Facebook page.
April 18 — Music Student Spring Recital. 12-12:50 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
April 18 — EMU Senior Art Exhibition No. 2. Come see the final art projects of the second group of senior VaCA students. 4-5 p.m., MMG.
April 18 — Wind Ensemble Concert. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
April 19 — University Choir Concert. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
April 20 — Concerto Aria Orchestra Concert. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
April 25 — EMU Jazz Ensemble/Jazz Combo Concert. 7-9 p.m., Lehman Auditorium.
April 28 — EMU Chamber Singers spring concert. 7-9 p.m., Parkview Mennonite Church.
The 106th University Commencement is from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 5.
Join the Discussion on “Arts and Lectures Calendar for Spring 2024”