Sue Conrad Howes named director of alumni engagement

Sue Conrad Howes ’92, of Quakertown, Pennsylvania, is joining the Goshen College staff as director of alumni engagement. She will begin full-time on Aug. 12.

Conrad Howes has a deep professional and educational connection to Goshen College. She served as an admissions counselor from 1993 to 1996, and as an assistant professor of communication until 2002.  “My return to Goshen College as director of alumni engagement feels a bit like a homecoming,” she said. “The four years I spent as a GC student were the most formative years of my life and left such a positive impact on me.”

She brings extensive experience in relationship building, leadership, communications and pastoral care through roles in higher education, congregational ministry, nonprofit organizations and health care chaplaincy.

Jodi Beyeler, vice president for institutional advancement, said, “Sue brings an exceptional combination of deep love for Goshen College, genuine care for people and the leadership experience to help our alumni community flourish.” 

Conrad Howes currently works as chaplain and director of pastoral services at St. Luke’s Penn Foundation in Sellersville, Pennsylvania, providing interfaith pastoral care to staff and clients at the outpatient mental health facility.

Her chaplaincy work has included roles at Abington-Jefferson Hospital and Penn State Hershey Medical Center, where she completed Clinical Pastoral Education training with a focus on trauma care, palliative care and end-of-life care.

Conrad Howes’s career reflects a consistent commitment to building community and supporting  others through times of transition and challenge. She has served congregations across Pennsylvania as an associate pastor, interim co-pastor and interim associate pastor, and was ordained for Christian ministry in 2009.

In the nonprofit sector, Conrad Howes supported development, event planning and writing as an engagement representative with Mennonite Economic Development Associates. Earlier, she oversaw adult, delegate and youth programming for a denominational gathering of more than 6,000 people as assistant director of convention planning for Mennonite Church USA. More recently, she wrote and edited the weekly conference newsletter and other publications for Mosaic Mennonite Conference.

She holds a master’s degree in speech communication from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Divinity from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS).

“Sue knows Goshen College well, but just as importantly, she brings a fresh perspective,” Beyeler said. “She has a passion for helping alumni see the many ways they can continue to make a difference here.”

After earning bachelor’s degrees in communication and in Bible, religion and philosophy, Conrad Howes returned to campus as an admissions counselor. In that role she recruited prospective students and coordinated events including the college’s centennial parade and race. She later served as an assistantprofessor of communication, teaching speech and interpersonal communication while advising students and directing the speech program.

“Working with alumni feels a bit like a full-circle moment, as I have been a student, an admissions counselor and a professor over the years,” Conrad Howes said. “Now I return to work with alumni, reflecting on their experiences as students and the impact their GC education has had on their lives.”

Her honors include the Paul Miller Communication Excellence Award from AMBS and Goshen College’s Dr. Ruth Gunden Champion of Character Award — an award granted to former student-athletes who embody the college’s core values through their life, work and community service — in 2007.

“Sue understands that alumni engagement is ultimately about building meaningful, lifelong relationships, and she has a remarkable gift for listening, connecting and helping people feel that they belong. We are thrilled to welcome her back to campus,” Beyeler said.  

As an alumna, former admissions counselor and former faculty member, Conrad Howes brings a deep understanding of Goshen College and its mission as she builds relationships with alumni around the world.

“I look forward to meeting more alumni, hearing stories, making connections and dreaming together about how GC might continue to educate and send graduates into a world very much in need of what Goshen College has to offer,” Conrad Howes said.