�鶹ԭ�� Blog | News Stories and Media Releases

�鶹ԭ�� Homecoming and Family Weekend 2026 is Oct. 16-17

Chloe Leckrone — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:48:36 +0000

Celebrate �鶹ԭ��’s Homecoming and Family Weekend 2026 on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 with events at the North Manchester and Fort Wayne campuses. Reunions this year are for the classes of 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026. Friday events that are open to the public include: Virtual 5k throughout the week leading up to Homecoming Alumni Honor Award Recipient Q&A Panel at 1:15 p.m. in Wine Recital Hall Now and Then Student and Alumni Panel at 2:30 p.m. in Wine Recital Hall Self-guided campus tours from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Alumni Honor Awards and Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.manchester.edu/alumni/homecoming. Saturday events that are open to the public include: State of the University with President Stacy Young at 9:30 a.m. in Wine Recital Kall Peace studies plaque dedication in honor of Professor Emeritus David Waas at 10 a.m. in the Gladdys Muir Peace Garden Tree planting ceremony with the Class of 1966 at 10:30 a.m. in Oak Grove Donuts and Departments with �鶹ԭ�� faculty from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on East Street Literacy Lab Open House from 11 […]

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�鶹ԭ�� announces 2026 Alumni Honor Award recipients

Chloe Leckrone — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:19:14 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� will celebrate five alumni at its annual Alumni Honor Awards banquet on Friday, Oct. 16 during Homecoming 2026. The five recipients are: Keith Strauss ’74 – Alumni Honor Award Strauss, a medical physicist, was instrumental in the creation of the Image Gently Alliance, whichis committed toproviding safe, high-quality pediatric imaging and changing practice until imaging doses are optimized at the point of care. Image Gently, the first in a now worldwide network of campaign partners, has become a recognized and respected presence both nationally and internationally. Howard Petty ’76 – Alumni Honor Award Alongside his decades as a professor, Petty has conducted groundbreaking research in breast cancer recurrence—specifically in women of color. He and a partner have now established a company to create and market software, called Predictoma, that allows doctors and hospitals to mainstream testing and lower the cost. The first clinical application is the use of a hybrid biochemical machine vision test to identify patients who harbor aggressive cells and are at risk of suffering recurrences. Shawn Kobb ’96 – Alumni Honor Award Kobbhas worked intheU.S. State Departmentfor 20 years.Since June 2026, Kobb has been serving in Slovenia as Management Officer for the U.S. Embassy. There […]

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�鶹ԭ�� alumna, board member receives Distinguished Service Award from Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists

Chloe Leckrone — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:21 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� alumna and Board of Trustees member Harriet Hamer, MD, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 ISA Distinguished Service Awardby the Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists. Dr. Hamer has dedicated decades of service to anesthesiology, organized medicine, and the patients and physicians of Indiana. A longtime ISA leader, she served as ISA President from 2006-2008, along with her many years as an active board member, delegate, and committee chair. Her leadership included extensive involvement in membership development, advocacy efforts, legislative conferences, and physician engagement across the state. Beyond ISA, Hamer has held numerous leadership positions within the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Indiana State Medical Association, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, and several community organizations. She has also been a passionate mentor to younger physicians. Since 1991, she has been a staff anesthesiologistforMidwest Anesthesia Consultants (MAC), working out of Beacon Memorial Hospital South Bend and surrounding clinics. Hamer graduated from Manchester in 1980with a bachelor’s degree in biology-chemistry.She served on the University’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2008 and joined again in 2023. In 2023, she was named vice-chair of the $45 million Manchester Bold capital campaign. Within the Board, she serves as a member of […]

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�鶹ԭ�� communication studies professor earns endowed position

Chloe Leckrone — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 12:40:52 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� is pleased to announce that Dr. Janine Armstrong has accepted the position of Robin D. and Jeanette M. Lahman Endowed Scholar in Communication Studies. Armstrong joined ManchesterUniversity’s faculty in Fall 2025 as avisiting assistant professor of communication studies.She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of the Ozarks, hermaster’sfrom the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University.Herareas ofexpertiseinclude intersectionality, race,genderand sexuality,faithand interpersonal communication. She isa member ofManchester’sValues,Ideasand the Arts (VIA) committee.She was also a contributing writerfor�鶹ԭ�� faculty’s third edition of“Communication Across Contexts: A Listening-Centered Approach to Communication.” “I have some ofthebest colleagues ever,” said Armstrong.“Manchester Communication Studies faculty are dedicated educators who incorporate‘respecting the infinite worth of every individual’into every course we teach.I’mhonored to work alongside them.” The Robin D. and Jeanette M. Lahman Endowment is rooted in the work of Dr. Paul W. Keller, who, at a time when many communication programs emphasized interpersonal and mediated persuasiveness, articulated dialogue as a collaborative process, developed an ethics of communication based in empathy and active listening, and focused on ways to reduce barriers to understanding. In recent years, Dr. Keller’s approach was extended by Dr. Mary Lahman, who integrated empathy and active listening […]

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�鶹ԭ�� Announces Fall 2026 VIA Lineup

Chloe Leckrone — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 14:20:28 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� offers more than a dozen presentations in its Values,Ideasand the Arts (VIA) series forFall2026. Presentations are at 11 a.m. on Mondays in Wine Recital Hall at the North Manchester campus unless otherwise noted. They are free and open to the public. Aug. 24: President StacyYoungwelcomesthe student populationtothe new school year. Aug. 31: Students fromProfessorBeateGilliar’scoursesshare their experiences navigating life through trials and tribulations—discoveringhow to create meaning and thriveas a young college student. Sept. 7: Allison Ackley shares her journey from graduating from Manchester to co-owning multiple Ben and Jerry’s shops in California. Ackley speaks on challenges, successes, and lessons learned while managing everything from leadership visions to day-to-day operations. Sept. 14: Dr. Elizabeth Bennion, Director of American Democracy Project at IU South Bend, is joined by Democracy Fellows to discuss the role, practices, and importance of the Constitution in today’s world. Sept. 28: Brandon Reynolds, also known as B the Keeper, discusses his pivot from traditional marketing to environmentalism and teaches attendees how to use their unique abilities to build community and protect the planet. Held in Cordier Auditorium as part of the Student Environmental Conference. Oct. 5:A performance by the Fort Wayne Dance Collective. Oct. 19:Kathy Nimmer, educator […]

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Researchers including �鶹ԭ��’s Dr. Sabrina Brown reconstruct environmental history of Yellowstone’s geyser basins

Chloe Leckrone — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:18:59 +0000

A studyincluding work from a �鶹ԭ�� professorreveals how climate and hydrothermal activity have shaped the vegetation, wildfire and aquatic ecosystem history of the Yellowstone Plateau over the past 15,000 years. The results of the National Science Foundation-funded project were published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Sabrina Brown, assistant professor of biology and environmental studies at �鶹ԭ��, has spent the last decade conducting research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.Her interest in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basinbegan in 2020when sheanalyzed sediment samples from Goose Lake, noticingalongside coauthors Cathy Whitlock and Chris Schillerthat its contents differed from those in lakebeds in other parts of the park, suggesting that distinct geologic factors may have influenced the lake’s evolution. Collaboratorson the projectincludedscientists fromMontana State University,theU.S. Geological Survey, Oregon State University,�鶹ԭ��and Colorado State University. Inthis study,the teamcollectedcore samples from small lakesof different agesin theLower Geyser Basin, which is Yellowstone’s largestgeyser system.The lakes are closed, meaning that theyhave noinflowing or outflowingstreams. Pollen records from thelakesindicatethatafterthe ice receded, a grassysteppeecosystem developed onthe rhyolitevolcanic soils.Steppewas replaced byalodgepole pine forestthatestablishedbetween 12,800 and 11,000 years ago. Despitesubsequentchanges in climate,these pineforestshavechanged littlein composition, leading theauthors tosuggestthat lodgepole pine will continue to […]

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�鶹ԭ�� hosts more than 100 youth for NxtGen Leadership Camp

Chloe Leckrone — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 12:20:34 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� hosted105campersfrom 26 Indiana high schoolsfor itsthird-annualNxtGenLeadership Camp from July6-10. The NxtGen Program on Campusis a Lilly Endowment-funded initiative designed to help Indiana colleges and universities in their efforts to create new or expand and enhance existing high-quality, on-campus programs for community youth. The program aims to increase opportunities for Indiana youth to participate in learning experiences on college campuses that expose them to Indiana’s higher education institutions, while also providing them with experiences that will help prepare them for success in college and beyond. The camp is hosted at no cost to campers, and a $250 stipend is provided to every participant at the end of the week to ease the financial burdens of the students and their families. Camp highlights this yearincluded academic explorationat both campuses, team building, college preparation andexperience, leadership development, and a trip to Camp Mack. In addition toparticipatingin academic and leadershipsessions, campersalsocompleted a service project for Humane Fort Wayne,baggingand delivering more than 1,000 poundsofdog food. One student said, “Going to the North Manchester and Fort Wayne campuses was impactful to me because it showed me the environment of a college. I’ve never truly been able to explore one before and it was a […]

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�鶹ԭ�� to host Regional Student Environmental Conference

Chloe Leckrone — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:09:29 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� will host the inaugural Regional Student Environmental Conference on Monday, Sept. 28, organized by Earth Charter Indiana and Manchester’s Center for Environmental Resilience and Social Engagement. This event will connect youth and local experts for environmental education, stewardship, and action. The conference will begin at 9 a.m. with a welcome session, followed by morning sessions led by high school and college students who will share success stories about implementing environmental initiatives in their communities. The day will continue with a presentation by a speaker, to be announced soon, as part of �鶹ԭ��’s Values, Ideas and the Arts (VIA) series. The program will be held in Cordier Auditorium and is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided for all attendees thanks to generous sponsors. The afternoon will have sessions focused ontaking action, led by local experts and organizations. This event welcomes all high school and college students, as well as educators. RSVP by Sept. 21 at /event/regional-student-environmental-conference/. For the media �鶹ԭ��, in North Manchester and Fort Wayne, Ind., offers vibrant and transformative student experiences. Learn more atwww.manchester.edu/about-manchester. Our mission and values �鶹ԭ�� respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of […]

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�鶹ԭ�� appoints Julie Knuth chief of staff

Chloe Leckrone — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:26:20 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� has appointed Julie Knuth chief of staff to the president. She previously held the role of director of presidential and board operations. Knuth, a2001Manchestergraduate,holds a bachelor’s degree innonprofit business management.Shehasservedthe Universityfor15yearsthrough three different presidential administrations. In this expanded role, Knuthwilloversee institutional research and all grant work for the University.She willcontinue to serveas assistant secretary and liaison to the Board of Trustees and support the Executive and Governance Trusteeship Committees.Sheremainsthe Title IX appeals administrator. Knuthis Manchester’s lead contact for theManchester Togetherinitiatives, whichincludeCollege Row housing, campus facility upgrades,Eel River Commons, and the Manchester Mile.These projects are funded by Lilly Endowment Inc.’sCollegeandCommunityCollaboration grant. “Few individuals understand �鶹ԭ�� as deeply as Julie Knuth,” said President Stacy H. Young. “Throughout her years of service and under three presidential administrations, she has consistentlydemonstratedunwavering commitment, sound judgment, and a remarkable ability to navigate complex challenges with professionalism and grace. Julie is a trusted partner, a thoughtful strategist, and an exceptional problem solver. I am thrilled to have her step into the role ofchief ofstaff, where she will help guide strategic initiatives, overseeinstitutionalresearch and grants, and continue to advance the mission and success of �鶹ԭ��.” For the media �鶹ԭ��,in North Manchester and Fort […]

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Manchester Symphony Orchestra announces 88th season

Chloe Leckrone — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:17:31 +0000

The Manchester Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is prepping for its 88th season. “I am thrilled about this music!” said Conductor and Artistic Director Debra Lynn. “Mark your calendar now because you don’t want to miss a note. This year, we’ve made a special effort to balance our repertoire more evenly between new, diverse works and familiar, beloved symphonic standards.” The season begins with A New World concert on Oct. 4 at �鶹ԭ��’s Cordier Auditorium, featuring the “New World Symphony” by Antonín Dvořák, “A Place in the Sun” suite by Franz Waxman, “American Salute” by Morton Gould and based on “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” by Patrick Gilmore, and Aaron Copland’s rousing “Hoedown from Rodeo.” “A Place in the Sun” showcases Scott Humphries on saxophone. The Fort Wayne resident is well known to MSO fans as its former conductor. “Our first concert features music composed right here in the USA, celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday,” Lynn said. “Scott Humphries’ saxophone solo adds a textural layer not often heard in symphonic music.” The MSO will kick off the holiday season on Nov. 22 with its Winter Wonderland concert at Cordier. “We’ll include the familiar tunes‘Winter Wonderland’byFelix Bernard and Leroy Anderson’s timeless‘Sleigh Ride,’complete […]

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Tish Kalita selected for Institutional Leadership for Vocation Seminar

Chloe Leckrone — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 12:57:12 +0000

Tish Kalita, executive director of experiential learning and external relations at �鶹ԭ��, was selected to participate in the inaugural Institutional Leadership for Vocation Seminar through the Council of Independent Colleges’ (CIC) Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education (NetVUE). CICselected 16 individuals through a competitive nomination process toparticipatein the inaugural 2026 summer seminar on Institutional Leadership for Vocation.The seminar brings together a group of emerging institutional leaders who explore how vocational exploration and discernment can play a greater role across campus, particularly in the work these leaders do with members of the faculty and staff, but also in curricular and co-curricular programming for students.Participants in the seminargatheredfrom June 15–19 in Louisville, Ky. Participants hadthe opportunity toreflect ontheir vocational path into leadership and how that informstheway they continue to lead. They exploredhow to make the case for vocational exploration and discernment across their campus, and ways that vocation can be integrated across student-facing programming. The seminar wasled by Remylin Bruder, provost, vice president of academic affairs, and professor of nursing at Rochester Christian University, and Kurt Schackmuth, vice president for student life and chief mission officer at Lewis University. For more information about this and other seminars,visit the NetVUE website. “One […]

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�鶹ԭ�� runner Gavin Byerly named HCAC 2025-26 Male Athlete of the Year

Chloe Leckrone — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:07:04 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� senior Gavin Byerly, of Huntington, Ind., has been named the 2025-26 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s (HCAC) Male Athlete of the Year. The HCAC consists of10universities that compete in a conference championship at the end of each sport season. Byerly competed incrosscountry and bothindoor andoutdoortrack andfield his senior year at Manchester, breaking school records, receiving prestigious awards and dominating talented race fields. Byerly’s year-long reign started in Fall 2025 inthecross-countryseason, winning the HCAC Championship and earning MVP honors among all other athletes in the HCAC. Byerly then competed in the Great Lakes Regional meet, earning the Great Lakes Region Athlete of the Year, marking the first time in �鶹ԭ�� historythata runner has received this award. Byerly continued to thenational stage, competing among the best Division III runners in the nation at Spartanburg, S.C. Byerly earned First Team All-American, placing 39th in a field of 291 runners. Byerly carried his momentum to the winter season, winning the 800-meter run, 1 milerunand 3000-meter run at the HCAC Indoor Championship. His performances earned him Distance Runner of the Year for the conference and All-Region honors. Entering his final athletic season in the Spring semester, Byerly once again achieved three victories at […]

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�鶹ԭ�� professor emeritus named pioneer in social work

Chloe Leckrone — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:10:45 +0000

Dr.Brad Yoder,professor emeritus of sociology and social work,wasone of three Hoosiersrecognized as aPioneer in Social Workby the National Association of Social Workers Foundation(NASW)at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.in early June. Yoder was inducted into the 2025 and 2026 Pioneers program classes, created to honor social workers who have made significant contributions to advancing the profession. Yoderspent more than five decadesestablishingthe high standard to which social work can achieve when compassion is paired with courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Yoder’s career reflects a rare blend of visionary leadership, community engagement, and transformative teaching that has left a lasting impact on mental health care, criminal justice reform, social work education, and public policy in Indiana and beyond. Yoder taught sociology and social work at Manchester fornearly 40years, where heguided the social work program through continuous CSWE accreditation since 1978, developed a criminal justice major, and taughtcourses insociology and peace studies.He helped to create the Wabash County Habitat for Humanity Affiliate and the �鶹ԭ�� Habitat Campus Chapter. He led 31 Habitat Spring Break Workcamps in nine states. “Our Hoosier Social Work Pioneers reflect lifelong work and commitment to the social work profession,”statedBeryl Cohen, Executive Director, NASW-IN. “Because of their […]

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�鶹ԭ�� welcomes new College of Business dean

Chloe Leckrone — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:05:57 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� welcomesDr. Ron Lewis as the new Dean of the College of Business and Human Services.Hestarted atthe University on June 1, 2026. Lewispreviously servedas Assistant Professor and Program Chair for Marketing andSport Management at the University of Saint Francis, where he has led significant program growth, including developing one of the largest programs in the School of Business. In his leadership roles, he has overseen curriculum design, program assessment, faculty collaboration, and initiatives focused on student retention, progression, and career readiness. Throughout his career, Lewis hasdemonstrateda strong commitment to student success and access. As a formerTRIOStudent Support Services Project Director, he managed and implemented programs supporting first-generation and low-income students. His work consistently reflects a focus on removing barriers to student achievement and preparing graduates for meaningful careers. Lewis is also a recognized leader in experiential learning and community partnership development. He has designed innovative, applied learning models that connect students with real-world projects, employers, and community organizations. His extensive engagement across the Fort Wayne region, combined with his experience as a consultant and founder of a leadership development firm, underscores his ability to build strong external partnerships that enhance both student opportunities and institutional impact. Manchester thanksHeather Twomey,professor […]

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�鶹ԭ�� celebrates the Class of 2026

Chloe Leckrone — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 12:21:26 +0000

�鶹ԭ�� graduated 269 students at this year’s commencement ceremonies. In total, 286 degrees were awarded, including 186 undergraduate degrees and 100 graduate and professional degrees. Twenty-eight students earned honors distinction. This yearalsomarks the 10thanniversary ofthe graduation of Manchester’s inaugural pharmacy class in 2016. The program launched in 2012 alongside the opening of ManchesterUniversityFort Wayne. David Haist, a 1973 Manchester graduate, was this year’s commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient.He served as a member of the �鶹ԭ�� Board of Trustees for fiveterms andbecame an honorary trustee in 2025. The ceremonies highlighted several meaningful �鶹ԭ�� traditions. For the third year, some students were handed their diplomas by family members who work at Manchester, a tradition introduced by President Stacy H. Young in 2024. With the installation of the Manchester Chime in 2022, another new tradition was born: students wait until they graduate to pass under the Chime. As part of the commencement recessional, new alumni walked through the Chime’s pillars for the first time. Another longstanding tradition connects students’ first and final daysatManchester.As incoming students, all Spartans are given an acorn. After every graduation ceremony, when students have officially become alumni, they receive oak saplings from the Office of Alumni Relations,symbolizingtheir […]

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