Deanna Durham

Deanna F. Durham began her teaching career at the University of Maryland in 1989 teaching part-time in the Department of Family Studies.  She is now in her 20th year teaching in the Department of Applied Social Sciences at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU).  She also regularly teaches a Senior Seminar and leads Intercultural experiences with EMU students.  

Deanna worked and lived in Washington, D.C. from 1982 – 1997 and continues to take every opportunity available to live in DC and teach in our Washington Community Scholar’s Program(WCSC). She spent spring 2016 and summer 2017 with WCSC.  Cities excite her and she loves people watching as well as wondering where the service industry workers live and have they been displaced by gentrification.  

Deanna and her family lived in El Salvador for over 4 years serving as the Country Directors for Mennonite Central Committee 1997 – 2001. Leading EMU cross culturals with U.S./Mexico border components has been an ongoing commitment and a deep relationship with Fronter de Cristo, a Presbyterian bi-national ministry in Douglas, AZ and Aqua Prieta, Mexico had been established.  

Deanna, along with Byron Peachey (spouse), have continued to develop and lead Intercultural Trips to Guatemala, U.S./Mexico border, Spain and in the Shenandoah Valley.  The Local Context intercultural experience is often offered in May with a focus on the narratives:  Brethren-Mennonites, African Americans and new immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley.

In every course I teach students are asked to consider the complex intersection of race, gender, religion, class, sexuality, privilege and power. How do we create institutions, communities and families where respect, empathy and welcome are centered?  Locating ourselves, sharing our stories and listening deeply to one another is at the core of my teaching pedagogy.

*Baccaulaureate speaker 2017 commencement, “Speaking of Eating”

Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community - Racial Equity Advisor     2020 - present

*Senior Seminar:  Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

*Senior Seminar:  Suffering and Loss 2017 - 2022

• Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (2015 – present)
• Faculty Senate Member (Fall 2016 – present)
• Cords of Distinction (Fall 2007 – present)
• Faculty Advisor

• Safe Space: Fall 2009 – 2020
• Take Back the Night: Fall 2015 – present

Cross Cultural Leadership

• Spain Summer 2022
• Guatemala/Spain Spring 2019
• Summer 2017: WCSC
• Summer 2007 – 2021: Local Context