Feb. 5, 2026

Dear colleagues,

Nearly a month into our spring semester, the weather certainly does not feel very spring-like! For those of us working and serving at our Grantham and Winding Hill locations, we started our new academic year with some challenging cold weather and snow accumulation. Thank you to the dedicated employees from Facility Services, Safety, Dining and other Division of Operations colleagues who worked tirelessly before, during and after Winter Storm Fern to care for our students and campus. (Many Operations employees stayed overnight on campus the night before and after the storm to be on-site to keep students safe and dining options open.) You consistently demonstrate that community at Messiah is more than just a word, it is a faithful way of life in service to one another.

In recent weeks, I have been reminded of other areas of faithfulness to Messiah. President’s Cabinet colleagues and I spent some time in late January with our board of trustees at the University’s annual winter board meeting. This is a committed, generous group of alumni, parents and friends who care deeply about Messiah and our students. Together, we spent time envisioning a framework for future initiatives and priorities that will propel our university community into its next period of growth and flourishing. You’ll hear more about the groundwork for Messiah’s next strategic plan in the weeks ahead.

I was also privileged to recently represent Messiah, along with several other colleagues, at the international forum for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), in Dallas, Texas. Celebrating the CCCU’s 50th anniversary (Messiah was one of the founding members), the forum was a powerful reminder of the positive transformation and reach of Christian higher education. It was encouraging to hear the exciting stories and testimonies of how God is at work at other Christ-centered colleges and universities in the U.S. and around the globe. Our world needs educational communities like Messiah University who are equipping the next generation to serve, lead and reconcile in church and society!

Now, as we head deeper into our semester, in addition to highlights of the January board of trustees meeting, I’d also like to share updates on enrollment, giving and other related campus news.

Highlights from the January board meeting

On Jan. 25-27, Messiah’s board of trustees held their annual winter meeting. The board’s first general session focused on a discussion of Messiah 2034: Vision and Strategic Framework—a draft of a dynamic document developed in collaboration with President’s Cabinet that serves as a potential framework for Messiah’s next strategic plan. The title Messiah 2034 has significance as that year will mark the 125th anniversary of our founding. It was surely a gift that the founders named the University in honor of our Messiah, as it has served as a powerful reminder of the Lord’s continued faithfulness since our doors first opened in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1909. As we approach this important milestone, it is essential we lay out a vision and necessary strategic goals to ensure Messiah will be able to sustain its strong reputation for distinctive Christ-centered education leading up to 2034 and beyond.

Our proposed timeline involves seeking campus input throughout the spring and, after University Council review and affirmation, we will present the finalized framework at the spring 2026 board of trustees meeting for a vote. I will share additional details about how senior administrators will be gathering feedback from their respective areas of campus at our upcoming Feb. 10 all-employee in-service, including how we might move forward in using the finalized framework to develop a strategic plan with campuswide input heading into FY27.

Presidential search: I would also like to refer to the email sent earlier this week from Board of Trustees Chair Rod Musser to update the campus on the status of the renewed presidential search. I invite you to continue to lift up the entire process in prayer. I remain deeply grateful for the support the board has provided me to serve and to lead during this interim period. Please join me in praying not only for the board, but also for our colleagues on the vetting committee, the search committee, and for God’s leading and wisdom throughout the entire process. As always, you may continue to find the latest updates on the search for Messiah’s ninth president at www.messiah.edu/nextpresident.

Committee actions: Additionally, each board committee met to conduct their respective agendas; below is a summary of the resulting key actions and decisions.

From the Committee on Assurance: The board approved to engage Capin Crouse to complete the 403b audit for calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2025.  The board also approved to continue the three-year engagement letter provided by Baker Tilly, LLC to perform the financial audit of the University’s fiscal financial statements for the years ending June 30, 2025, 2026 and 2027, including the audit of the federal awards program, preparation of the Data Collection Form and an audit of the PHEAA Institutional Assistance Grant in each of those same years.

From the Committee on Education: The board approved faculty promotions from associate professor to full professor for the faculty members as presented, based on the recommendation of the Term-Tenure  and Promotion Committee, the provost and the president, effective Aug.1, 2026. Those names will be shared by the Provost’s Office later this spring so we may congratulate our colleagues.

 From the Committee on Finance: The board updated language from a prior resolution regarding the use of a $1.25 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant, previously awarded in 2020, to support major infrastructure and interior improvements to Naugle Residence, including core building systems and shared student spaces. The total project cost is approximately $3.8 million, with the University providing the required matching funds and covering remaining costs. To keep the project moving forward on schedule, the University will temporarily pay construction expenses upfront and then be reimbursed by the Commonwealth once grant funds are released. This approach allows us to responsibly steward external funding while continuing to invest in safe, modern, and well-maintained campus facilities.

From the Committee on Governance:  The board approved an update to Section 9 of the Messiah University Bylaws to more accurately describe the Conflict of Interest (COI) language as it relates to the annual COI disclosures completed by every trustee and senior administrator.

Enrollment snapshot

Undergraduate spring enrollment 2026: Spring classes began on Jan. 12, with the arrival of 39 new and transfer undergraduate students. As of the spring snapshot on Jan. 27, total undergraduate enrollment stands at 2,238 annualized full-time financial equivalency (FFTE), exceeding the revised FY26 budget target of 2,195 by more than 40 students. Fall-to-spring retention remains strong at 92.5%, reflecting continued student persistence, though it is slightly lower than last year’s rate of 93.5%.

Undergraduate fall enrollment 2026: For fall 2026, the undergraduate admission funnel is performing well relative to recent history. Applications, acceptances and deposits for first-year students are all tracking ahead of the prior three-year average, and applications have reached a five-year high. While deposits are slightly behind last year at this point in the cycle, they are comparable to fall 2024 and remain ahead of all earlier years. Notably, we are seeing a five-year high in both applications and deposits from domestic students of color, and female student interest has rebounded to a five-year high after several years of decline. Male student deposits are modestly behind last year but continue to exceed the five-year average. Fall transfer activity remains early in the cycle; however, current admits and deposits are trending slightly below recent years and will be an area of continued focus. With several more premier scholarship days ahead and financial aid packages being released weekly from Student Financial Planning (SFP), we are excited to help students and families see that they can thrive here at Messiah.

Feb. 3, 2026

  
Fall 2026 % to goal Goal Fall 2025 3-year average

First-year students

  
Applications 2,268 94% 2,415 2,180 2,154
Acceptances 1,805 93% 1,950 1,740 1,692
Active Deposits 247 42% 585 270 246

Domestic students of color (FY)

  
Applications 610 101% 603 603 573
Acceptances 455 93% 487 428 403
Active Deposits 41 28% 146 45 36

Transfer students

  
Applications 106 42% 250 99 107
Acceptances 47 26% 180 49 55
Active Deposits 6 8% 75 10 10

Dual enrollment: Dual enrollment continues to demonstrate sustained growth, exceeding participation levels from last year and all prior years. In fall 2025, 374 high school students participated in dual enrollment, compared to 331 in fall 2024 (+43). As of Jan. 15, 351 students have registered for at least one dual enrollment course for spring 2026, a significant increase over the 278 students registered at the same point last spring (+73). Of those spring participants, 92 students (26%) attend a Pathway Partner school, underscoring the continued importance of these partnerships.

FY24 graduate spring enrollment: Graduate enrollment for spring 2026 totals 753 students, including 551 full-time and 202 part-time students, resulting in 1,010 FFTE. Total registered credit hours stand at 6,061, representing growth from last year’s 984 FFTE and 5,901.5 credit hours at the same point in the cycle.

Graduate student enrollment fiscal year comparison: When comparing graduate enrollment progress to the same snapshot date last year:

  • 270 new graduate students have enrolled to date (76% of goal), compared to 275 students (84% of goal) last year.
  • 859 unduplicated graduate students are enrolled overall (95% of goal), compared to 889 students (97% of goal) at this time last year.
  • 13,564.5 graduate credit hours have been generated (85% of goal), exceeding last year’s total of 13,212.5 credit hours at the same milestone (85% of goal).

 Giving update

FY26 giving: The sustained generosity of Messiah donors continues to inspire and encourage our community. We simply could not fulfill our mission without the support of our alumni, parents, trustees and friends. A very strong end-of-calendar year has resulted in numbers competitive with a near-record year for giving last year. Total outright gifts and new pledges are on pace to help us reach an ambitious $9 million (gifts plus new pledges) fiscal year goal. These funds are critical for providing an exemplary educational experience for Messiah students.

FY26 as of Feb. 4, 2026

  • Total outright gifts: $3,680,119 (60.5% of the June 30 $6 million goal)
  • New pledges plus bequest/planned gifts: $2,969,961 (99% of the $3 million goal)
  • Total giving: $6,650,080 (74% of the June 30 $9 million goal)

Warmer Welcome Campaign: We have reached the finish line for the Warmer Welcome Campaign, with $7.3 million raised! Thank you to all who have made this a reality. Phase 1 was completed prior to fall semester 2024, which included construction of Sawyer Pavilion and the Witmer Family Lacrosse Stadium. Phase 2 includes the construction of Lehnert Athletics Plaza, and enhancements to our softball and baseball facilities, with construction on these fields to take place over the summer of 2026. We are so grateful to our campaign co-chairs, David and Bonnie Millary and Brent and Mindy Smith, for shepherding this project over the past several years. I am also grateful to Campaign Director John Zeigler, as well as the entire Advancement Division for their collective work in ensuring we reached this important fundraising milestone. We are delighted to be so close to completion of new facilities to enhance the athletic experience for the entire Messiah community.

40th Anniversary of Nursing Campaign: We have also completed  the 40th Anniversary of Nursing Campaign with $500,000 raised! This campaign provides much-needed simulation equipment upgrades and enhancements for both Messiah’s undergraduate nursing students, as well as scholarship assistance to encourage our nursing graduates to return and obtain the necessary experience required to teach nursing, a critical need for the profession. A third component of the campaign provides $100,000 in funding to Macha Mission in Zambia for expansion of their neo-natal unit, an integral partner to the Messiah nursing educational program for decades. Those dollars have now been sent and that important and lifesaving expansion can move forward.

The Messiah Fund: April 7 is Giving Day and, along with support for many other programs on campus, we are looking to Giving Day to help us exceed the $1 million goal for The Messiah Fund. Currently $627,379.96 has been raised towards this goal (62.7%). The Messiah Fund assists with funding for the University’s highest priorities, including supplementing tuition for 100% of the student body via scholarships. The Messiah Fund also provides critical funding for student-faculty research, campus improvements, service trips and overall student well-being.

Facilities update

Campus entrance: The precast Messiah University, Christ Preeminent sign is currently in production, and we are eagerly anticipating its delivery. Field measurements are complete, and electrical work has been updated. Landscaping is scheduled for early spring, and we look forward to celebrating the project’s completion at the spring 2026 board of trustees meeting.

 Master planning: In December, a master planning task force met with Derck & Edson, Messiah’s campus planners, to begin updating the campus master plan. The process includes reviewing the current plan, identifying unfinished items that should be reconsidered—such as the Lottie Nelson Dining Hall kitchen and the most recent science master plan— as well as exploring new priorities. The goal is to develop a roadmap for campus facilities over the next 7–12 years that can also inform the next strategic plan. The team will meet again in the coming months to review the comprehensive list of needs and provide feedback. The updated master plan remains on schedule to be presented at the spring board of trustees meeting.

Good news about Messiah

Here are some of the recent achievements and good news stories of members of the Messiah community. For more details visit messiah.edu/news and Messiah’s official Facebook page (the source sites for many of the below news items).

  • Todd Allen, vice president for diversity affairs, was interviewed last month on the regional television show Morning Light Live! on the Lighthouse TV network. Dr. Allen’s segment, “A Call to Service—MLK Day,” focused on the legacy of service surrounding the life and work of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and some of the numerous ways Messiah University has honored and celebrated Dr. King’s legacy and commitment to reconciliation.
  • Messiah has approved a new Global Health and Development Major (B.A.) and a Global Health Minor for launch in  fall 2026. Under the leadership of program director Robert Aronson, we are working with Penn State Hershey to establish early assurance program for Messiah students applying to medical school or graduate programs in public health/global health. Additionally, we are developing collaboration on malaria prevention using insecticide treated baby wraps with UNC, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda Christian University (UCU). This is an expansion of work between UNC and MUST to another region in Uganda (via UCU). It is exciting to watch this program lift off as we also explore opportunities for student engagement in global health and development projects in multiple countries in Central and South America as well as Uganda.
  • During its fall 2025 season, Messiah Esports welcomed 13 first-year students, bringing total program participation to more than 45 student-athletes. Messiah’s teams competed across three national collegiate esports conferences, continuing our visibility and engagement across this fast-growing segment of competitive sports.
  • All five NEXT Steps students will be returning for the spring 2026 semester, having successfully completed the program’s inaugural fall semester. Under the leadership of program director Amber Brisbane, each student is enrolled in two inclusive courses and three program-specific courses. Some of the inclusive courses selected include aquatics, children’s literature, introduction to theater, and sport and exercise psychology.

Messiah Athletics highlights

Below are highlights of recent success and accomplishments of Messiah student athletes and the Division of Athletics. For more details, and to view schedules to come out to cheer on the Falcons at future athletic events, visit www.gomessiah.com.

  • On Feb. 4, Messiah’s women’s basketball team earned a 59-56 win over Albright College to give head coach Mike Miller his 800th career win! Coach Miller becomes just the third coach in Division III history with 800 career wins, and is just 15 wins behind Michael Strong for the second most wins in DIII women’s basketball history. Miller also ranks 23rd all-time in women’s basketball wins across all divisions.
  • Messiah Men’s and Women’s Basketball both are wrapping up the 2025-26 season! Messiah Women’s Basketball leads the MAC Commonwealth in the standings and look to finish the season strong to host the MAC Commonwealth Semifinal and Championship games.
  • Messiah Wrestling won the 2026 MAC Championships. Keegan Demarest won the lone Individual MAC Championship in 165 lbs. weight class.
  • Messiah Men’s Volleyball season started in early January. The Falcons are currently rank 4th in the country.
  • Messiah Baseball enters the 2026 season as the top team in the MAC Commonwealth Preseason Poll and ranks seventh in the country in the D3baseball.com preseason poll.
  • Messiah Women’s Lacrosse enters the 2026 season ranked 24th in the country.
  • Men’s Lacrosse looks forward to a new season with returning coach Jerry Stanford who previously led the Falcons from 1997 to 2005.
  • Messiah Softball enters the season receiving votes in the 2026 NFCA Preseason Poll.

In closing

Shari and I count it as such a privilege to be a part of the Messiah University community. Yes, there are headwinds and challenges in higher education in general and here specifically. Yet, we face these challenges together and with the promise of our Lord who is ever present. While I was at the CCCU international forum conference in Dallas, our wonderful alum Peter Greer ’97 spoke on his book, “Lead with Prayer.” Peter encouraged us in the craft of persistent prayer. One of my favorite times of prayer is when I run outside. When I am running, that is when I feel the closest to the Lord, praying not so much in words, but in listening to the Spirit speak to my soul and in taking in the beauty of God’s creation – yes, even in the cold of winter.

My prayer for our community is that we have times of prayer that certainly petition the Lord for the needs on our hearts, but also that we spend time in prayer simply in quiet meditation allowing God’s grace and peace to provide nourishing refreshment and rejuvenation. Messiah University is a resilient, beautiful and lifegiving community – not without blemish – but with a firm commitment to Christ Preeminent and with a bright and promising future.

In gratitude,

Jon C. Stuckey

Interim president