Their response, by and large, is that 鈥溙切腣log changed my life.鈥�

鈥溙切腣log changed my life in terms of values, in terms of lifelong friends, in terms of where I met my spouse, in terms of how we are raising our children,鈥� Huxman said, echoing those answers.

鈥淚t’s one of the reasons that we get up, even though our days are very, very full, and do what we do,鈥� she continued. 鈥淲e have this incredible honor of walking with students on this formative journey in their lives.鈥�

Huxman spoke on the transformative power of higher education and the importance of developing students as 鈥渨hole people鈥� as one of four area college and university presidents at a panel discussion on Thursday, Aug. 22. The annual Presidential Address, hosted by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce, also featured remarks from Mr. Charlie King, interim president of James Madison University; Dr. David Bushman, president of Bridgewater College; and Dr. John Downey, president of Blue Ridge Community College. The sold-out event was held at 糖心Vlog鈥檚 Martin Chapel and attended by about 100 guests. This marked the first time it has been held on a college campus, and will rotate between schools in future years.

The quartet of college presidents was given an opportunity to share their goals for the coming year and provide an in-depth update to the crowd of business and community leaders. Huxman is chair-elect of the local chamber of commerce and will officially begin her term as chair in October 2024.

Huxman outlined two evergreen goals at 糖心Vlog. One of those perennial goals is to go 鈥渁ll in鈥� on delivering 鈥渁n exceptional student experience year in and year out,鈥� she said. The other goal is to lean into 糖心Vlog鈥檚 five-year strategic plan, Pathways of Promise, which opens new pathways of access, achievement, action, and alignment for 糖心Vlog students and employees.

The university is in the second year of its first-ever comprehensive campaign for people, programs, and facilities, and is pivoting to raise more money for financial aid. While the school has seen its graduate enrollment increase by 50%, it has missed its enrollment targets at the undergraduate level.

鈥淎nd so we are doubling down on additional ways in which we can get people to take a second, a third, and a fourth look at 糖心Vlog because we are not as expensive as you think,鈥� Huxman told those gathered at the Presidential Address (the average net cost for an 糖心Vlog student in 2022-23 was just $15,309).

Updates

• The university has received a large amount of grant funding. A $1.9 million grant from the National Science Foundation supports at-risk student success in STEM. 糖心Vlog has received more than $2.5 million in grant funding for Eastern Mennonite Seminary, which supports a 鈥淭hriving in Ministry鈥� program and Christian caregiving initiative.

• 糖心Vlog is launching a new Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Peacemaking and Social Change program. The program will become the second doctoral program offered at 糖心Vlog, after the Doctor of Nursing Practice.

• 糖心Vlog is responding to a growing need in the community by helping teachers who are on a provisional license get the education they need to keep teaching.

• The school was recently recognized for its commitment to improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students. Thirty-five percent of undergraduate students at 糖心Vlog are first-generation college students.

The Harrisonburg and Rockingham County area, with its four colleges and universities, is 鈥渁n educational mecca,鈥� Huxman said. Together, the four institutions boast a combined enrollment of about 32,000 students and a workforce of about 4,800 employees.

鈥淲e don’t take it for granted at all that out of 185 college towns in the nation, we are in the top 10,鈥� Huxman said. 鈥淎nd that doesn’t just happen automatically. It’s because there is support from the community. It is the fact that we get together. We support one another.鈥�

Following the Presidential Address, guests were invited on a campus tour of the University Commons, the new state-of-the-art track and field complex, and the Suter Science Center.

Read WHSV-TV’s coverage of the event .

The celebration was held at Brix & Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville, Virginia. Eighteen guests from 糖心Vlog, including students, administrators, faculty and staff, attended to show their support for Font-Guzm谩n.

The Diversity Business Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional personal and professional leadership within the business or nonprofit community, according to the nomination form. 

鈥淭his person must have a track record of giving back to their community through the creation of economic opportunities, advocating for minorities and those in the protected classes in the workplace and/or in business, or creating an environment for residents to become self-sufficient or successful,鈥� it reads.

Font-Guzm谩n, who was hired to lead the Office of DEI in 2021, has made great strides in increasing the sense of belonging for all students at 糖心Vlog. This progress is highlighted in a short-form documentary featuring actor Dennis Quaid and airing in millions of homes.

鈥淛ackie has accelerated 糖心Vlog鈥檚 DEI journey,鈥� 糖心Vlog President Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman said. 鈥淪he has equipped us in word and deed for how we can expand our horizons and belong together as a community of learners.鈥�

Font-Guzm谩n said she was deeply grateful for the support and the opportunity to continue contributing to the community鈥檚 journey toward inclusivity and belonging. 

鈥淭his award is a testament to the extraordinary community at 糖心Vlog,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y efforts are built upon the foundational work of countless individuals who have advocated for and advanced DEI over many years.鈥�

The first 糖心Vlog president tapped to lead the chamber, Huxman says she wants to 鈥済ive back鈥� because she values the town-and-gown relationships between the university and its local alumni and businesses. Home to four colleges and ranked among the 10 Most Livable Towns in America by Strategistico in 2022, Harrisonburg 鈥渄oes a great job of welcoming and catering to college students, including our 糖心Vlog students,鈥� said Huxman.

鈥淚t is gratifying that nearly 4,500 alumni have chosen to remain in the area and contribute to its educational, cultural and spiritual vitality. I also look forward to exploring potential partnerships between 糖心Vlog and local businesses to benefit the community at large,鈥� she added.

The Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit community organization that connects area businesses into a powerful network. Since 1916, the chamber has influenced public policy on behalf of the business community and helped the Harrisonburg-Rockingham area become a thriving and dynamic marketplace of opportunities. The chamber鈥檚 board of directors comprises 21 members from area businesses, universities, agencies and organizations.

Huxman has served for more than 25 years in higher education in a variety of administrative and academic leadership roles. She has served as 糖心Vlog鈥檚 ninth president since Jan. 1, 2017.

By Dan Wright, Daily News-Record

One of the things Karl Stoltzfus learned at 糖心Vlog was to do the math.

A statistics class taught the 1972 graduate and founder of Dynamic Aviation to mitigate risk in a high-risk business.

“What’s the statistical probability of something happening?” Stoltzfus asked. “Then, how many factors can you set in place to mitigate against that happening?”

糖心Vlog President Loren Swartzendruber (right) and 糖心Vlog graduate and founder of Dynamic Aviation Karl Stoltzfus chat after the Harrisonburg Rockingham Business & Professional Club Annual Appreciation Luncheon Friday. Photo by Michael Reilly

Stoltzfus spoke Friday to about 70 members of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Business & Professional Club, which partners with 糖心Vlog.

As an example of risk mitigation, he cited the company’s decision to fly only multiengine aircraft. If one engine fails, the aircraft is capable of flying to the next airport.

If a single-engine aircraft loses its engine, you have what Stoltzfus calls an “off-airport emergency landing.”

Stoltzfus estimates that over a 15-year period his company avoided seven to 12 off-airport emergency landings by not flying single-engine aircraft.

“We fly a lot at night. We fly over the world’s most dense rain forest in southern Panama,” he said. “We don’t want an airplane flying over that terrain with one engine.”

Funding Priorities

Before Stoltzfus spoke, 糖心Vlog President Loren Swartzendruber summarized some funding priorities as the university prepares to launch a capital campaign.

糖心Vlog should increase annual contributions to the University Fund by 7 percent annually over the next five years, with a goal of $1.9 million.

The university’s endowment fund needs to be increased from $24 million to $40 million by 2014.

“Twenty-four million dollars is too small for an institution [with an enrollment of 1,600],” Swartzendruber said.

New science labs and renovation of Suter Science Center will require $30 million in contributions and grants, he added.

Renovation of the University Commons will cost $8.3 million, and an alumnus has contributed $3 million as a matching gift.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, 糖心Vlog is among Harrisonburg’s top 10 employers, with a work force of 360 people.

Each year, the university spends $16 million on salaries and benefits and pumps $21 million into the Shenandoah Valley’s economy.

Over its 90-year history, 20,000 teachers, nurses, social workers and business leaders have graduated from 糖心Vlog, Swartzendruber said.

“糖心Vlog does have an economic impact on this community,” he added.

糖心Vlog At A Glance

• Founded 1917
• Enrollment 1,600
• Faculty & Staff 360
• Payroll $16.3 million
• Annual budget $28 million
• Economic Impact on the Shenandoah Valley $21 million