Messiah College News Archive

Bradley Genevro, associate professor of music, was appointed as the new conductor and artistic director of the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, an adult wind symphony for high-quality players who share a common goal of engaging the community by bringing the best literature and performances of the band and wind ensemble tradition to Center City Philadelphia.

Douglas Jacobsen, distinguished professor of church history and theology at Messiah College, has been awarded a Sabbatical Grant for Researchers from the Louisville Institute. His proposal is to write a new book on global Christianity that emphasizes both the diversity and the interconnectedness of the world Christian movement.  The volume will explain the divergent histories of Christianity in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America and will also reflect on what Christians in differing parts of the world can learn from each other.

The Louisville Institute’s Sabbatical Grant for Researchers Program enables scholars to conduct a major study that can contribute to the vitality of Christianity in North America. Grants of up to $40,000 support year-long research projects that address Christian faith and life, pastoral leadership, and/or religious institutions.

The Louisville Institute is funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment and based at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary (Louisville, Kentucky). The Institute’s fundamental mission is to enrich the religious life of North American Christians and to encourage the revitalization of their institutions, by bringing together those who lead religious institutions with those who study them, so that the work of each might inform and strengthen the other.

Linda Tedford, director of choral activities at Messiah College, received one of two Arts Awards from Theatre Harrisburg at a gala on April 28. Tedford directs the College’s Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Choral Arts Society and Men’s Ensemble. She is also founder and director of the Susquehanna Chorale, an ensemble-in-residence at Messiah that frequently performs with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.

Robin Collins, professor of philosophy, recently received a $53, 644 grant through the Providence and Chance project (funded by the John Templeton Foundation) to work on a two-year project entitled “Discoverability, Providence, and Chance.” He will be working with Messiah College physicist Abaz Kryemadhi.

Professor Catherine Prescott’s painting “Legacy, Portrait of Val” was accepted into the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2013 Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Museum, Washington D.C. The exhibit will run from March 23, 2013 to February 23, 2014.

Director of Bands Brad Genevro was recently invited to guest conduct the Philadelphia Wind Symphony in their first concert of the 2012-2013 season. The concert will be held at the University of the Arts on Dec. 11. William Stowman, professor of trumpet, will be the guest soloist at the concert.

Professor of Art and Design Kathy T. Hettinga’s photograph, “Chinquiquira Mausoleum, Colombia,” has been chosen for the Latin American Fotografia of American Illustration – American Photography. It will be exhibited permanently on The Archive, a web gallery of AI-AP.com. In addition to being included on The Archive, the work will also be presented in a winners’ slide show announcement sent to more than 25,000 creative professionals. The distinguished jury included Photo and Art Directors from Loduca, JC Penney, Danilo Black and Latina Magazine.

Jay McDermond, professor of Christian ministry and spirituality, recently received the Frey Service Award from Paxton Ministries, a Christian non-profit community of homes serving adults who may be challenged with social, mental or emotional needs.

The Frey Service Award is an annual award given to individuals who are recognized for “consistently demonstrating a Christ-centered life, a sacrificial spirit, a heart of compassion, and a history of service over time.” McDermond and his son have been serving and cleaning up Sunday morning breakfast at Paxton Ministries since 2008.

Professor Brian Nejmeh’s book, “Service-Learning in the Computer and Information Sciences: Practical Applications in Engineering Education,” has been published by Wiley Press. The book is an edited compilation of articles by colleagues at many higher education institutions across the United States.

Nejmeh is professor of business information systems and entrepreneurship.

David Pettegrew, associate professor of history, has received a grant from Harvard University’s Loeb Classical Library Foundation to complete research on a work titled, “The Isthmus of Corinth: Crossroads of the Roman Mediterranean.” The book explores the story of the Isthmus of Corinth and the region’s connections to the Mediterranean world during the Roman era.