Seminary bids farewell to Metzler, welcomes Chupp

Published: March 26, 2024

By Annette Brill Bergstresser

ELKHART, Indiana (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary) — Linda Metzler of Berrien Springs, Michigan, ended her time as Caterer in Residence for AMBS in late March 2024 after 20 years of service. 

Metzler has served AMBS since February 2004. She began as an assistant and transitioned to the role of Caterer in Residence about 10 years ago. She has provided meals for the seminary community in the AMBS Dining Hall and catered for events such as board meetings, Graduation Weekend activities, conferences and other gatherings hosted by the seminary, and special breaks throughout the academic year. 

Deanna Risser, MBA, Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer, expressed gratitude for Metzler’s many years of service, noting that countless people have experienced and enjoyed her gifts in hospitality at AMBS.

“Linda has played an important role in supporting AMBS’s mission by going above and beyond in providing hospitality and nutritious and tasty meals for students, employees, board members and campus guests,” she said. “We will miss her wonderful and creative meals, and we wish her the best as she heads into semi-retirement.”

Risser added that Metzler is known for her care and attention to details — creating distinctive menus and beautiful table settings with just the right special touches — and for her ability not only to accommodate people’s specific dietary needs and preferences but also to remember them. She also has worked with members of the AMBS community to use produce grown in the seminary’s student-run garden for her meals.

Kaylena Chupp of New Paris, Indiana, took on the role of Caterer in Residence on March 19, 2024. She’ll serve as the primary point person for all special dining events at AMBS. Her responsibilities include training and supervising kitchen aides and servers, maintaining compliance with Health Department codes, keeping track of inventory, and working with individuals and groups requesting catering.

Chupp brings both experience with and a passion for hospitality to her new position. She most recently worked for two years in a mobile festival kitchen, traveling throughout the United States and serving food to event and festival attendees.

“We are excited to welcome Kaylena to our learning community in this role,” said Risser. “She is looking forward to sharing her love of food and serving people at AMBS.”

Chupp attends Zion Church near Syracuse, Indiana. She also enjoys being involved in video and audio production work at her church.

Located in Elkhart, Indiana, on ancestral land of the Potawatomi and Miami peoples, Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary is a learning community with an Anabaptist vision, offering theological education for learners both on campus and at a distance as well as a wide array of lifelong learning programs — all with the goal of educating followers of Jesus Christ to be leaders for God’s reconciling mission in the world. ambs.edu

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