Harmon Remmel Menker

Harmon Remmel (Mel) Menker graduated (magna cum Laude) from WSU in 1985 with a degree in Religion, having completed an associate of Arts degree at Sinclair. He has continued his education at a variety of institutions, including United Theological Seminary, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies, and other places. He earned a Masters of Pastoral Counseling degree from Andersonville Theological Seminary and is currently completing a Doctorate in the same program.

He has used his education to serve both church and community, while pastoring at various parishes in Ohio and Maryland for over 30 years. He sees his work as threefold: teaching, preaching, and counseling, and is constantly looking for new ways to help people.

His extensive community service includes: working in mental health, providing hunger relief, counseling for deployed military, and coaching athletics. He has been involved in all levels of mental health, from counselor, to trainer, to supervisor, to board member. He directed a Harvest for the Hungry Program and served on the board of trustees of a regional Food Bank. He has been a soccer coach for school and community teams, from youth soccer to college sports and was named JUCO Region xx Men’s Soccer coach of the year in 2003.

His selection as the outstanding alumnus from the Departments of Religion, Philosophy, and Classics recognizes his extensive service, his commitment to education, his creativity in finding new solutions to old problems, and his considerable talents, both personal and academic.