The board of directors of The Mennonite, Inc., has named Hannah Heinzekehr executive director (ED) of The Mennonite, Inc., effective Oct. 1.

Heinzekehr currently serves as director of communications and convention planning coordinator for Mennonite Church USA.

Prior to that role, she worked in church relations and communications for Mennonite Mission Network.

“Our board of directors is impressed by Hannah’s leadership abilities, her awareness of Anabaptist-Mennonite perspectives, her thoughtful vision for communication as a way of bringing people together and her knowledge of trends in digital communication,” said Barth Hague, board president, on Aug. 20. “We’re confident she will make a significant contribution to helping shape the future of our organization.”

The ED brings broad vision to the organization as a content delivery system for Mennonite Church USA and beyond and works to develop programs appropriate for the digital age. The ED will continue to function as CEO of The Mennonite, Inc.

The ED will prioritize development work—both fund-raising and grant proposal writing—and will seek out new web and print advertising opportunities.

Heinzekehr has a B.A. in communication from Bluffton (Ohio) University and an M.A. in religious education and theology from Claremont (Calif.) School of Theology.

Her writing been published in numerous publications, and her personal blog, The Femonite, receives significant web traffic.

“I am passionate about the power of stories and excited about this new opportunity to amplify diverse voices from across Mennonite Church USA. There is great potential to build on the good foundation of The Mennonite magazine and to continue to expand this organization into the must-read hub for Anabaptist and Mennonite content,” said Heinzekehr on Aug. 20.

Heinzekehr lives with her husband, Justin, and two children in Newton, Kan. She attends New Creation Fellowship Church, a Mennonite Church USA congregation in Newton. She will work for The Mennonite, Inc., from Newton.

She also serves on the board of ReconciliAsian and is a member of Newton Community for Racial Justice.

Anna Groff, outgoing executive director, submitted her resignation on May 26. Groff has worked for The Mennonite, Inc., in a variety of editorial roles for over nine years. In October, she will begin full-time as executive director of Dove’s Nest, an organization that works to equip faith communities to keep children safe.

Gordon Houser will continue to work as editor of the print magazine The Mennonite. Houser was associate editor of The Mennonite, beginning in 1998. From 1992-1997, he served as editor of The Mennonite, the General Conference Mennonite Church publication, which merged with Gospel Herald in 1998.

After 13 years as editor, Everett Thomas left The Mennonite, Inc., in January 2014, and Groff became interim editor Feb. 1, 2014, and then executive director in February.

On Aug. 26, the Mennonite Church USA Executive Board approved The Mennonite board’s appointment of Hannah Heinzekehr as executive director.  According to the bylaws, the EB approves the appointment of the CEO of each churchwide agency, program, board and committee.