Shannon Dycus

Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus began serving as EMU’s 10th president on July 1, 2026. Prior to her appointment, Dr. Dycus served as interim president and vice president for student affairs, equity, and belonging at EMU. She is the first Black woman in EMU history named to this position.

Dr. Dycus has spent more than 20 years working in learning communities and ministry settings, including the past seven years at EMU. 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 vice president for student affairs, equity and belonging (2024-2025). As vice president, she oversaw Student Life, DEI, and Athletics departments—and nurtured a co-curricular vision of social accountability, holistic well-being, and academic success for all students. 

Dr. Dycus has made it a priority to support EMU students as they arrive on campus and to navigate barriers in their education 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. Increasing strategies to support first generation students, Dr. Dycus developed interdisciplinary teams to advance enrollment and success for these students and families. In 2020 and 2024, she was awarded Department of Justice sexual violence prevention grants to fund EMU’s Safer Together office. She has worked with EMU 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. Prior to her time at EMU, 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.

Dr. Dycus received a doctor of ministry degree 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. She is a trained spiritual director through San Francisco Theological Seminary and is active in writing and worship development roles with Mennonite Church USA and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), publishing the 2019 Women's Bible Study Every Time I Feel the Spirit and the 2023 advent devotional The Holy in the Night with Herald Press.

Board Member, Eastern Mennonite School, 2022-current

Board Member, On the Road Collaborative, 2021-current

Advisory Board Member, Women in Leadership, Mennonite Church USA, 2019 - 2025

Secretary and Board Member, National Convocation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 2017- 2022

Worship Coordinator, Mennonite Church USA conventions, 2015 – 2021

LARTS 281 Student Life and Leadership

CHST 223 Spiritual Formation, Sacred Pauses

HONRS 401 Honors Worldview Seminar

HONRS 499 Awkward Black Girls in Films and Books