Dycus, who has led the university as interim president since July 2025, begins her five-year term on July 1, 2026.

鈥淚’m humbled to continue the bold legacy of 黑料正能量,鈥� Dycus said. 鈥満诹险芰� leaders have been courageous and visionary stewards of this sacred community. Being called to serve among them is a responsibility I鈥檓 excited and honored to step into.鈥�   

The 黑料正能量 Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Dycus as president during its June 12 meeting.

Jane Hoober Peifer 鈥�74, MDiv 鈥�97, chair-elect of the board, said Dycus demonstrated consistent and collaborative leadership over the past year as interim president that 鈥渃ontinues to unite the campus.鈥� She also highlighted her ability to listen attentively and build effective teams.

鈥淪he cares deeply about students and their success, and she works to create a good working environment for faculty and staff,鈥� Peifer said. 鈥満诹险芰� is very fortunate to have the gifts and leadership of Rev. Dr. Shannon Dycus as its 10th president.鈥�

The board鈥檚 decision followed several months of feedback gathered by its Presidential Succession Planning Committee from representatives across the 黑料正能量 community, including faculty, staff, students, senior administrators, alumni, donors, church constituents, and other key stakeholders, regarding her potential appointment. 

A report of the committee鈥檚 findings, presented to the board in May, recommended appointing Dycus without launching a costly and time-consuming national search. 

Based on 鈥渢he institutional knowledge, relationships, and trust that she has already established, the university is not being asked to take a chance on an untested leader. Instead, [黑料正能量] has already completed the most meaningful leadership assessment possible: observing the candidate serve successfully in the role itself.鈥�

It cited her demonstrated leadership, character, vision, and effectiveness as positioning her to lead 黑料正能量 into its next chapter. It also noted the unusual level of alignment from those consulted throughout the process.

鈥淭he committee found broad and consistent support for Dr. Dycus across nearly every constituency engaged during this process,鈥� the report said. 鈥淪takeholders repeatedly described her leadership as authentic, relational, transparent, collaborative, strategic, mission-centered, and deeply aligned with 黑料正能量鈥檚 values.鈥�

The analysis concluded that Dycus demonstrates the leadership capacity, institutional understanding, and community trust needed to guide 黑料正能量 during a pivotal period in its history. Together, the board鈥檚 unanimous vote and the consistent, enthusiastic affirmation expressed across stakeholder groups reflect a shared confidence in Dr. Dycus鈥檚 leadership and in 黑料正能量鈥檚 future.

Over the past year as interim president, Dycus has fostered renewed optimism, deeper collaboration, greater transparency, and growing confidence in 黑料正能量, the report said. She helped create a healthier organizational culture while guiding the university through significant challenges.

During her tenure, Dycus has helped position the university for enrollment growth, financial stability, and sustained donor confidence. Undergraduate applications have doubled during this cycle, and 黑料正能量 is projecting a larger incoming class than last year, which itself was up 10%.

黑料正能量鈥檚 first-ever Forward Together comprehensive campaign has surpassed 80% of its $40 million goal with two years remaining. As student and workforce needs evolve, the university continues to reshape its academic programs to ensure its transformative educational offerings remain relevant in a changing higher education landscape.

A recently finalized strategic partnership with Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community positions the university to invest in programs and people that move it forward. An academic restructuring during the 2025-26 academic year has also expanded opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration.

鈥淭his is an incredibly exciting time for who we are as an institution,鈥� Dycus said. 鈥淲e are growing, we are sustaining, and there鈥檚 joy around who we are.鈥�

An educator and ordained minister, Dycus has more than 20 years of experience in learning communities and ministry settings, including the past seven at 黑料正能量. Prior to serving as interim president, she was vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging. She previously served as dean of students from 2019-23 then vice president for student affairs and dean of students from 2023-24 before being promoted to vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging (2024-2025).

Before coming to 黑料正能量, she was an academic adviser and adjunct faculty member at Franklin University of Ohio (Indianapolis campus) and co-pastor at First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis.

She holds a doctor of ministry in public theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a master of divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and a bachelor of arts in middle and secondary education from Butler University.

Dycus is the first Black woman to lead 黑料正能量 as president. She succeeds President Emerita Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, who served as the university鈥檚 ninth president from 2017-25.

She lives in Harrisonburg with her husband, Gregory, and sons Malachi and Semaj.

An inauguration ceremony on Oct. 10 during 黑料正能量鈥檚 annual Homecoming Weekend will celebrate Dycus as the university鈥檚 10th president during its 110th year. Invitations and additional details will be shared later.

Manuel Nu帽ez 鈥�94, chair of the board of trustees, reflected on the significance of the appointment. 鈥淎s 黑料正能量 steps into its next century, we are grateful to have found in Dr. Shannon Dycus a leader uniquely suited to this moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淒r. Dycus brings academic depth, a gift for listening, and a deep commitment to building community. Her leadership reflects clarity, wisdom, and a fierce commitment to our students and to the distinctive mission and witness of 黑料正能量.鈥� 

Members of the Presidential Succession Planning Committee included Janet Lind (chair), Jake Bell, Ral Obioha, Steve Kriss, and Amy Yoder McGloughlin.

Dr. Dycus has spent 15 years working in learning communities and ministry settings, including the past six years at 黑料正能量. She served as dean of students from 2019-2023 and as vice president of student affairs and dean of students from 2023-2024 before being promoted to her current role where she oversees the Student Life, DEI, and Athletics departments鈥攁nd nurtures a co-curricular vision of social accountability, holistic well-being, and academic success for all students.

Dr. Dycus鈥� selection as interim president was approved by unanimous vote from the 黑料正能量 Board of Trustees at a meeting on March 26. The decision followed a national search process that began after Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, 黑料正能量鈥檚 ninth president and first woman president, announced her retirement in October 2024, effective June 30, 2025. The Interim President Search committee included diverse representation from across the 黑料正能量 community and was co-chaired by Dr. Jim Leaman ’86, associate professor of business and director of the business and leadership program, and Jane Hoober Peifer 鈥�75, MDiv 鈥�98, vice chair of the board.

鈥淪hannon has proven her outstanding ability to set vision, listen well, and execute the best way forward as an 黑料正能量 administrator, and she is a trusted and gifted spiritual leader,鈥� said Peifer. 鈥淪hannon is committed to preparing 黑料正能量 students to be peacebuilders in the world, and her collaborative and decisive leadership is needed in this climate of ever-changing higher education realities.鈥�

鈥淒espite the headwinds in higher education, 黑料正能量 has established terrific momentum,鈥� said Manuel (Manny) Nu帽ez 鈥�94, chair of the board. 鈥淎 key piece of our success standing out in the world as peacebuilders is achieving academic excellence while maintaining fidelity to our Anabaptist faith tradition. Shannon brings both spiritual depth and strategic vision to the role of interim president鈥攓ualities that will serve 黑料正能量 well in this season of opportunity.鈥�

鈥淚 have always seen my own call to lead communities, in both education and ministerial contexts, toward our growth and becoming in relationship with each other and God,鈥� said Dr. Dycus. 鈥淚 look forward to leading 黑料正能量 through this transitional moment and continuing its commitment to a values-based education that inspires achievement and compassion.鈥�

Dr. Dycus has 鈥渕ade it a priority to support 黑料正能量 students as they arrive on campus and to navigate barriers in their education鈥� since 2019 when she created and led the C.A.R.E. Team, a proactive and coordinated response to addressing students and their well-being. In 2020 and 2024, she was awarded Department of Justice sexual violence prevention grants to fund 黑料正能量鈥檚 Safer Together office. She has worked with 黑料正能量 Counseling Services to increase staffing and training for mental health support, and has been a staunch student advocate for peaceful responses to global injustices.

Dr. Dycus serves as a board member for Eastern Mennonite School and On the Road Collaborative. She is a Women in Leadership advisory board member for Mennonite Church USA. Prior to her time at 黑料正能量, Dr. Dycus served as an academic adviser and adjunct faculty member at Franklin University of Ohio (Indianapolis campus) and as co-pastor at First Mennonite Church in Indianapolis.

She received her doctor of ministry in public theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, a master of divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and her BA degree in middle and secondary education from Butler University.

Rooted in the values of academic excellence, peace and justice, and an active faith shaped by Anabaptist-Mennonite beliefs and practices, 黑料正能量 offers undergraduate, graduate and seminary degrees that prepare students to serve and lead in a global context. A leader among faith-based universities, 黑料正能量 was founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has a site in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; students can study in person or online.

Visit Interim President Search for more information.