Mentor. Thoughtful. Academic defender. Curious. Compassionate. These are just a few words used by colleagues to describe scholar and historian Professor Marlene Epp, who has served Grebel as Dean since 2016. (She was also Dean from 2002 through 2005.) Stepping in at a time of transition, Marlene fully engaged her job, offering enthusiasm for each of Grebel’s programs and caring for students and faculty alike. She sees the big picture and pays attention to details. An inspiring model for faculty members, she consistently looks for ways to improve her own scholarship and teaching.
“I know that our faculty are very grateful for Marlene and the skills, experience, and unflappable presence she brought to the Dean’s office,” remarked President Marcus Shantz. “I’m personally indebted to Marlene for her steady advice and insight during my first year at Grebel. While I will miss her as an administrator, I know that she is eager to return to teaching, and to research projects which she has had to defer the past few years.”
“Marlene came to the role of Dean with the strong support of her faculty colleagues and the high respect of scholars in her fields of research,” noted retired Dean and former Interim President Jim Pankratz. “It is a great tribute to her that the support and respect grew during her time in this demanding and crucial leadership role.”
Marlene is a Canadian historian with eclectic research and teaching interests in Mennonite studies, immigrants and refugees, women and gender, the history of peace and nonviolence, and the history of food and culture.
Putting high value on individual student experiences, Marlene works to personalize her teaching and to find out the unique story each student brings to the classroom. As she moves back into her full professor role, Marlene will be able to spend more time teaching and connecting with students, as well as pursuing her research.
Thank you, Marlene, for your steady and enthusiastic leadership over the last three years!
