MOE Summer 2017 by University Communications

SUMMER 2017

CONTENTS The Magazine of Elon | summer 2017

16 COVER STORY

RELATIONSHIP RICH BY DAN ANDERSON

The historic leadership and legacy of President Leo M. Lambert.

PURPOSEFULLY FOCUSED BY KEREN RIVAS ’04

It has taken Al Drago ’15 only two years to earn his place in the nation’s capital press corps, amassing an impressive social media presence along the way.

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE BY TOMMY HAMZIK ’17

After stepping down as Elon’s vice president for student life and dean of students, Smith Jackson reflects on some of the major changes he saw during his almost 24-year tenure.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: FALLEN SOLDIER BY ALEXA BOSCHINI ’10

Remembering Charles Whitelock, Class of 1918, the first Elon student to die in military service 100 years ago.

I AM ELON BY KIM WALKER

2 Under the Oaks 11 Long Live Elon 14 Phoenix Sports

31 Point of View 35 Alumni Action 39 Class Notes

On the cover: President Leo M. Lambert with the Kappa class of the Elon Academy, a college access and success program for Alamance-Burlington high school students that was established with his support in 2006.

Watch the full story at

www.elon.edu/magazine Matt Sears ’18 fondly remembers spending time in the woods, collecting bugs with his brother as a child. But somewhere in adolescence he had a change of heart and decided that bugs were gross. Now he’s come full circle, and squash bugs—or Anasa tristis— and their reproductive behavior are the topic of his undergraduate research project with Assistant Professor of Biology Jen Hamel. An Elon College Fellow and biology major,

Matt says he fell in love with biology “because it’s literally the study of life. If you consider a seed, it’s like a little instructional packet for cells inside to reorganize and create a huge tree. That’s absolutely incredible.” Matt is part of Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences program, working with Hamel, area farmers and a local high school student assistant who is also an Elon Academy scholar. He is examining the reproduction of an agricultural pest that devastates squash crops. He hopes understanding their behavior can lead to learning how to control their population growth. “Studying things on an organismal level is cool. People often get consumed with the human world and forget about the other organisms all around us.

I enjoy stepping back to observe.” Outside of his academic work, Matt is a member of the men’s rugby club team, and he worked as a resident assistant in the Global Neighborhood last year. “Being an RA allowed me to offer all types of guidance. I sent a student to Arts West to record guitar. Another student wanted to make stickers for his solo rap project, so I directed him to the Maker Hub. I love connecting people with all of the great resources Elon has.” Matt is Elon. Visit www.elon.edu/magazine to see more of his story, part of our “I Am Elon” multimedia series featuring Elon students in their own words.

UNDER THE OAKS

▶ from the PRESIDENT

The long view I am entering a stage of my life when my perspective on time has shifted. Laurie and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary this past June. I vividly recall hosting her parents’ 40th anniversary party at our home in upstate New York in the early 1990s and thinking then, “Wow, 40 years seems like ages!”

facebook.com/leomlambert twitter.com/headphoenix

{ Steven Armendariz ’17, an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, Odyssey Scholar and Elon Commitment Scholarship recipient, will spend a year in Spain teaching English with the support of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. }

2 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Fast-forward 25 years. My grandson Caleb has finished kindergarten and I already wonder what life will be like for him as a college student in 2029 and quietly caution myself, “That day will be here in the blink of an eye!” One of the greatest perils of our present age is short-term thinking. Successful businesses don’t proclaim, “Let’s put off making these changes for our company’s long-term viability because the short-term ramifications will be painful or require fundamental change.” And at every level of government today, and practiced by both major political parties, polariza-

tion and hyper-partisanship have fueled short-term thinking that focuses on winning elections, even if the consequences of short-sighted policies will be disastrous down the road. The reputations of great institutions of higher learning are not created overnight. Elon University’s strategic climb to academic distinctiveness and

excellence has required decades of focused commitment. Today, Elon appears on many lists of selective institutions with high graduation rates. In truth, we are the new kids on the block among such institutions. Our founding in 1889 was 50 years or more behind many of our peers, providing them with a good head start in establishing their academic programs and traditions. Our fellow Colonial Athletic Association member, The College of William & Mary, established the first Phi Beta Kappa Society chapter in 1776; Elon’s chapter, Eta of North Carolina, was established in 2010. That more than 60 percent of our alumni are under the age of 40 is another indicator of Elon’s youthfulness. We are now in the early stages of meeting the next great long-term challenge for Elon: building our endowment for the primary purpose of increasing student financial aid. For almost every family, one of the big conversations around the dinner table is how to pay for college. Many of us are passionate about the idea that quality higher education should not be accessible only to those with great means. We pride ourselves at Elon on our ability to spot great potential in deserving young people. With the support from major endowed scholarships, we’ve been able to attract students such as Bridgette Agbozo ’19, who studied at the University of Bristol this summer with an award from the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission. Steven Armendariz ’17 will teach in Spain this coming academic year with the support of a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Daniel Sheehan ’15 received the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs given to aspiring changemakers. Jazmine Langley ’19 and Yousaf Khan ’20 are both Gates Millennium Scholars. And Nosipho Shangase ’17, who came to Elon from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, is now enrolled in graduate study in epidemiology at the University of North Carolina

UNDER THE OAKS

WOMEN IN PHILANTHROPY

“Many of us are passionate about the idea that quality higher education should not be accessible only to those with great means.” at Chapel Hill. These students’ presence on our campus has enriched us all. Because of leadership and generosity from benefactors like Leon ’25 and Lorraine Watson, who endowed the Watson Scholars program, and Furman ’56 and Susan Moseley, who endowed both the Georgeo Scholarship and the Susan Scholars program, many others were inspired to change young lives for the better. Today, Elon has 134 major endowed scholarships to attract great talent, all supported through Elon’s Center for Access and Success. Just within the past year, several trustee families, including Bill and Pat Inman P’00, Ed and Joan Doherty P’07, Kerrii ’79 and Doug Anderson, and Cindy and Rob Citrone P’17, along with the estate of Edna ’44 and Doug Noiles, have generously provided for more. And young alums like Cam Tims ’00 have already made provisions in their estate plans to do even more. This extraordinarily important next chapter in Elon’s history will succeed because we are committed to it for the long-term and because we believe we can create a better world through the immense power of higher education. Elon’s last comprehensive campaign, Ever Elon, completed in 2011, was the first campaign in Elon’s history devoted principally to endowment building; our current campaign, Elon Leads, is the second. We have two generations of hard work ahead of us, but perseverance is in our institutional DNA. The results of our labors will give us joy and inspiration, and in the end, we will have taken a great step toward sustaining the institution we so deeply love. Leo M. Lambert President

undreds gathered in Whitley Auditorium in May to learn about the impact women are having in modern philanthropy. The discussion, part of Women at Elon: Moving Philanthropy Forward, featured a panel that included Kerrii Brown Anderson ’79, chair of Elon’s board of trustees; trustee Kebbler McGhee Williams ’98; trustee Cindy Citrone P’17; Jean Rattigan-Rohr, associate professor of education and executive director of Elon’s Center of Access and Success; and Abbey Roberts Chung P’12, a former executive with Johnson & Johnson who serves on Elon’s Presidential Advisory Council. The panel was moderated by Gabie Smith, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Gabriela “Gabby” Citrone ’17, who has often shared her passion for philanthropic giving with students, was instrumental in organizing the event and promoting it on campus. “First, invest in people and in ideas,” said Cindy Citrone, who with her family has offered support for the School of Communications expansion, Elon’s design thinking initiative and the university’s Odyssey Scholars program. “That’s what is really important to us. We want to get to know the organization we’re backing. We want to be active philanthropists, not just thankful philanthropists.” Lauren Bush Lauren, the founder and chief executive of FEED Projects, a company that combats global hunger, provided the headline address for the event, which also included Elon students sharing their own philanthropic stories. Lindsey Bauer ’17, Lauren Brown ’17, Josephine Gardner ’17 and Ella Fies ’19 talked about their own ventures in philanthropy and how broader philanthropic efforts have affected their lives. The event’s debut at Elon recognized the impact women have on philanthropy through charitable giving and service. It was made possible by a gift from Chung and her husband, Jin Chung.

summer 2017 3

UNDER THE OAKS

The Magazine of Elon summer 2017 | Vol. 79, No. 3 The Magazine of Elon is published quarterly for alumni, parents and friends by the Office of University Communications. © 2017, Elon University ED I TO R

Keren Rivas ’04 D E SI G N ER S

Garry Graham Bryan Huffman PH OTO G R A PH Y

Kim Walker ED I TO R I A L S TA FF

Holley Berry Alexa Boschini ’10 Owen Covington Roselee Papandrea CO N T R I B U TO R S

Belk Library Archives and Special Collections Sarah Mulnick ’17 Tyler Seibring ’19 Noah Zaiser ’20 V I C E PR E SI D EN T, U N I V ER SI T Y CO M M U N I C AT I O NS

Daniel J. Anderson ED I TO R I A L O FFI C E S

The Magazine of Elon 2030 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244-2020 (336) 278-7415 www.elon.edu/magazine B OA R D O F T R US T EE S, C H A I R

‘A significant piece of history’

piece of church history came home to Elon in May when a New Testament Bible belonging to the Rev. James O’Kelly, the founder of the Christian Church, was donated to the university. The book is believed to be the same one O’Kelly held in 1792 as he began to lay the foundation for the creation of the Christian Church, which founded Elon College in 1889. “I hope the Rev. O’Kelly would be proud of the university that they created,” said President Leo M. Lambert, who received the gift from Steve Lynch, a relative of O’Kelly’s, during a ceremony in the university’s archives room within Carole Grotnes Belk Library. { Steve Lynch presents the O’Kelly Bible to President Leo M. Lambert. } “It’s wonderful to see all these pieces of Elon’s history coming back home again.” and his supporters left the Methodist Church to found Raymond Beck ’75, a historian researching the life the Christian Church, now the United Church of of O’Kelly, connected with Lynch and helped facilitate Christ. University Archivist Chrystal Carpenter called the gift to Elon. Speaking during the ceremony, the New Testament “a significant piece of history, not Beck noted the importance of the artifact because only family history, but of the Christian Church.” the beginning of the Christian Church marked the Lynch, a retired captain of the Burlington (N.C.) creation of the first American-based denomination, as Police Department, has owned the Bible since 1975. It a spin-off from the Methodist tradition using the New was passed down through the family as Lynch’s greatTestament as its centerpiece. great-grandfather was Albert Anderson Lynch of The Bible has O’Kelly’s name inscribed in the front Mebane, who was related to O’Kelly’s wife. The New with notations throughout the margins. He began Testament Bible will join donated O’Kelly items such using the text as a clergyman with the American as the saddlebags he used as he traveled the circuit Methodist Church in eastern North Carolina and and will rest in a custom-made walnut box Lynch had southern Virginia, and continued to use it when he made for it when it was given to him.

Kerrii Brown Anderson ’79

Columbus, Ohio

Chris Bell ’92

Lauren Brown ’17 named Elon Youth Trustee

YO U N G A LU M N I CO U N C I L , PR E SI D EN T

The standout member of the Elon women’s basketball team began her two-year term in June.

ELO N A LU M N I B OA R D, PR E SI D EN T

Raleigh, North Carolina

Kelly Smith ’14 Oxford, Mississippi

PA R EN T S CO U N C I L , CO - PR E SI D EN T S

John & Kristin Replogle P’18 Raleigh, North Carolina

SCHO OL OF L AW ADV ISORY BOARD, CHAIR

David Gergen

Cambridge, Massachusetts S C H O O L O F CO M M U N I C AT I O NS A D V IS O RY B OA R D, C H A I R

Michael Radutzky P’12 P’17 Summit, New Jersey

M A R T H A A N D SPEN C ER LO V E S C H O O L O F B USI N E SS B OA R D O F A D V IS O R S, C H A I R

William S. Creekmuir p’09 p’10

Atlanta, Georgia

PH O EN I X C LU B A D V IS O RY B OA R D, C H A I R

Mike Cross

Burlington, North Carolina

4 the MAGAZINE of ELON

eorgia native Lauren Brown ’17 has been elected to a two-year term as youth trustee on the Elon University Board of Trustees. Brown graduated in May with a degree in exercise science and a minor in neuroscience. She is pursuing a master’s thesis program at the University of Georgia, where she will conduct research on individuals with muscle disorders, including patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and stroke victims. A 2016 Trey Walker Scholar and an inaugural Provost Scholar, Brown served as a member of the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council, a Diversity Ambassador campus guide, a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and an Elon 101 teaching assistant. She was also a member of the CAA champion women’s basketball team, scoring more than 1,100 points in her collegiate career. As an undergraduate, Brown conducted research as part of Elon BrainCARE Research Institute with faculty co-directors Caroline Ketcham and Eric Hall and physical therapy faculty member Srikant Vallabhajosula. She also completed practicums in exercise science at the Polaris Spine and Neurosurgery Center, Duke Orthopedic Clinic and the Cone Health/Alamance Regional Physical and Sports Rehab Center. Besides completing more than 50 hours of community service, Brown worked at Alamance Regional Medical Center as a certified nursing assistant, where she provided patient care in surgical, acute-care and rehabilitation settings.

SIT

IVE

RIV

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

LEBANON AVENUE

TROLLINGER AVENUE

IVE

RSI

RIV

SOUTH CAMPUS RECREATION CENTER EXPANSION

UE VEN NA IAM

Following a fall 2016 groundbreaking, work began quickly on the construction of Schar Center, Elon’s new 160,000-square-foot convocation center and the new home for Elon’s PHO E N IX D R IV basketball and volleyball programs. Significant E progress has been made on the interior of the 5,400-seat arena, as crews continue to work to get the building systems operational and outfit it with seats, flooring, scoreboards, equipment and branding. The project is expected to be completed in 2018. Follow its progress at www.elon.edu/scharcenter. ME

R ICA DR.

SCHAR

UNIVERSITY DRIVE

N. O’KE L LY AV E N UE

WIL

LIA

Schar Center

PHO

L WIL

Work on a new recreation facility on South Campus began in the spring. The facility will be similar to the Phoenix Activities and Recreation Center in the Danieley Center and is being built to replace East Gym. With 11,000 P H Osquare feet, the expanded recreation center ENI will connect X D to the South Campus Gym and RI will include Va Elarge playing court to be used for basketball, indoor soccer and hockey, along with support spaces and spectator seating. The facility will be accompanied by PHOENIX DRIVE about 70 parking spaces, and is expected to be completed by August 2018.

N. O’KE L LY AV E N UE

AV E N U E

N. O’KE L LY

IVE

LIA

R ICA DR.

UNIVERSITY DRIVE

WIL

UE N AV E ON

AV E N U E

N. O’KE L LY

ENI

BAN

R ICA DR. BAN

PHO

AV E N

South Campus recreation center expansion

UNDER THE OAKS

The renovation of Long Building, which now houses the Interactive Media master’s program and the Department of Sport Management, was completed in June. In the meantime, several other projects designed to enhance and expand classroom, office and recreation spaces are underway. S. O’KELLY AVENUE

R AVENUE

E. COLLEGE AVENUE

S. ANTIOCH AVENUE

VENUE

OAK AVENU

AVENUE

VER

KERR AVENUE

IT Y

N. ANTIOCH AVENUE

ERS

WILLIAMSON AVENUE

NIV

SANKEY HALL PHOENIX DRIVE

N. O’KELLY AVENUE

E. H Construction of Sankey Hall, a 30,000-square-foot expansion for the Martha and Spencer E. HAGGARD Love School of Business, began following Commencement 2017. The new three-story building just south of the Colonnades Dining Hall will become home to the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center as well as a new financial education center, classrooms and offices.

N AV E

E. HAGGARD AVENUE

OAK AVENUE

N. ANTIOCH AVENUE

TROLLINGER AVENUE

KERR AVENUE

LEBANON AVENUE

Interior demolition and reframing work took place in West Hall this summer, along with upgraded finishes, furniture,AVENUE bathrooms E. COLLEGE and building systems (lighting, heating, air, plumbing). A new faculty apartment has also been added. The project is part of the ongoing effort to upgrade student housing in the Historic Neighborhood. OAK AVENUE

WEST HALL

N. ANTIOCH AVENUE

E. COLLEGE AVENUE KERR AVENUE

N. ANTIOCH AVENUE

West Hall revamped

S. ANTIOCH AVENUE

N. O’KELLY AVENUE

S. O’KELLY AVENUE

LEBANON AVENUE

WILLIAMSON AVENUE

OAK AVENUE

WILLIAMSON AVENUE

LEBANON AVENUE

VENUE

NUE AV E Sankey Hall ARD AG G

E. HAGGARD AVENUE The former East Gym is now the site for three HAGGARD AVENUE W. HAGGARD AVENUE new three-story residence halls that willE. house a total of 309 students. Besides providing shared resources and services, each floor features a central area where students can gather for social W. COLLEGE AVENUE RESIDENCE HALLS or academic pursuits. Along with the residence W. COLLEGE halls,AVENUE the former East Gym site will be home to E. COLLEGE AVENUE a new 5,000-square-foot tennis center to serve LEBANON AVENUE the Jimmy Powell Tennis Center and house TROLLINGER AVENUE coaching staff. Both projects are expected to be completed by August 2018. KERR AVENUE

AVENUE

N. ANTIOCH AVENUE

AVENUE

New residential halls and tennis center W. HAGGARD AVENUE

N. O’KELLY AVENUE

IA ILL

N AV E

BAN

PHOENIX DRIVE

LEBAN

LEBANON AVENUE summer 2017 5 W. FRONT STREET

NUE

TROLLINGER AVENUE

NUE

TROLLINGER AVENUE UE

R AVENUE

VEN

CH AVENUE

TROLLINGER AVENUE

TROLL

UNDER THE OAKS

“Learn to negotiate and stand firm in what you believe. Cherish all the great memories, especially those unexpected [ones] that make you laugh hard. Be grateful, smile always, respect others—especially those that have more experience than you—and always, always, be proud of your culture, your background, your story.” —Maity Interiano ‘07, a producer and on-air talent for Univision Network, during her 2017 Commencement keynote address on May 20.

“Find what you are great at and align your greatness with what the world needs. Follow your contribution and you will be the greatest generation, unlocking the human potential of our global community.”—Rabbi Irwin Kula, president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, as he addressed the graduating class as part of his Baccalaureate message on May 19.

FACULTY/STAFF SPOTLIGHT { From left: Loretta Ellison, Kelly Elliston & Jeff James }

Associate Professor of Physics Ben Evans has received a National Science Foundation grant for $108,182 for his research in the field of soft robotics. His project examines the development of composites to be used in soft robotic devices that have immediate practical applications, particularly in the development of medical diagnostic devices. 6 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Six Elon staff members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the university at a May 26 awards program during the annual staff appreciation celebration in Alumni Gymnasium. Kelly Elliston, executive assistant to the vice president for university advancement, was named Professional Hourly Staff Member of the Year; Jeff James, chief engineer, was named Administrative Staff Member of the

{ From left: Dana Carnes Pursley, Bill Burress & Doug Purnell }

Year; Loretta Ellison, custodian, was named Physical Plant Staff Member of the Year; Bill Burress, associate director of study abroad, received the Phoenix Innovation Award; Dana Carnes Pursley, interim director of the Center for Leadership, received the Phoenix Rising Award; and Doug Purnell, database administrator, received the Phoenix Community Engagement Award.

CAMPUS

UNCOMMONS

UNDER THE OAKS

BY OWEN COVINGTON

As an assistant professor in Elon’s School of Communications, Ahmed Fadaam brings his experiences as a translator and journalist covering years of war in his home country of Iraq into the classroom for many of his courses. And as an artist, Fadaam uses his skills to bring to life the audio accounts of those wartime experiences he documented through “Ahmed’s Diary,” a series appearing through the American Public Media radio show, “The Story.’’ By the end of the year, Fadaam expects to have completed “Art Under Fire,” which pairs detailed illustrations in pencil with transcripts from “Ahmed’s Diary.” Produced by WUNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, “Ahmed’s Diary” includes dozens of audio diary pieces Fadaam recorded largely while covering the war in Iraq, with the series bringing home a gold medal from the New York Festival of Broadcasting in 2007. Fadaam began transforming the diaries into a graphic novel after being approached with the idea by DC Comics in 2009. Support from the global publisher fell victim to the Great Recession, but Fadaam continued illustrating, in large part to better tell the story of how violence is ravaging his home country. Prior to becoming a journalist, Fadaam was an art professor and sculptor in Baghdad. “When I came to North Carolina in 2009, I noticed that there were lots of people who wanted to meet with me and hear more about what’s happening in Iraq,” Fadaam says. “They used to listen to my diaries on the radio, and wanted to know more.” The detailed pencil illustrations capture the pained faces of those Fadaam saw suffer during the war, as well as his own image—as a videographer telling stories to the world, as an Iraqi searching for his brother, as a bystander to violence. Fadaam says the process of recalling these experiences and translating them into illustrations can be a painful one. “Sometimes you try to forget the things you saw, to go on with your life and leave them hidden somewhere,” he says. But he views the graphic novel as important work that will help provide a new audience with a more personal and visual look into how the war has transformed Iraq and Iraqis. “Sometimes words are not enough,” Fadaam says. “There are 30 million Iraqis, and this is the story of just one Iraqi. There are still the stories of 30 million-minus-one to be told.” What faculty or staff member do you think is uncommon? Send a suggestion to themagazineofelon@gmail.com.

summer 2017 7

UNDER THE OAKS

OPRAH COMES TO ELON

hen Nosipho Shangase ’17 arrived at Elon from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa nearly four years ago, she wasn’t afraid to be so far away from home. After all, her school’s patron and namesake was “just a phone call away.” On May 19, as Shangase was less than 24 hours away from graduating from Elon with a degree in public health studies, the media mogul was much closer than a phone call—she was sitting in the front row in Alumni Gymnasium, taking in the Baccalaureate ceremony. “I’m a proud mentor Mom today, celebrating what is none other than an astounding accomplishment by my South African daughter girl, Nosipho,” Winfrey said. “To understand the fullness of her journey is to understand resilience in the face of multiple adversities, pain and loss. Her walk across the Elon stage to receive her diploma will be a victory walk.” Shangase, who was orphaned at a young age, said Winfrey { Oprah Winfrey & Nosipho Shangase ’17 } has been a solid force in her life since before she was a teenager, and she’s remained in close contact with her each step of the way throughout her college career. “She’s been a source of support, not just financially but also mentally and emotionally throughout my years at Elon,” Shangase said of Winfrey. “She’s been a great mentor throughout.” Since it first opened in 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls has educated more than 300 young women in grades eight through 12. Shangase will enter graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she will pursue a master’s degree in epidemiology.

SYLLABUZZ

BY ALEXA BOSCHINI ’10

hat does it take to be an effective teacher in today’s learning environment? How are middle and high school students changing? What are the most important tools and strategies new teachers need to know? In EDU 355: Teaching in 21st Century Classrooms, Associate Professor of Education Jeff Carpenter guides up-andcoming teachers through the evolving world of teaching and learning. The class covers approaches to organizing and managing classrooms, technology integration and emerging teaching strategies. It draws juniors from a variety of majors, including English, history, math, physical education and health, science, Spanish and music with teacher licensure. Some of the building blocks in today’s classrooms include tried-and-true methods like “understanding by design,” in which teachers start planning their curriculum with the end goals in mind and work backward to develop assessments and

8 the MAGAZINE of ELON

EDU 355: Teaching in 21st Century Classrooms

activities. EDU 355 students also learn to engage their pupils through newer techniques such as “flipped learning,” which reverses the traditional learning structure. Students watch lectures in advance so class time can be devoted to more stimulating exercises and interactive discussions. Carpenter’s students learn to navigate technology as both a distraction in the classroom and a powerful teaching tool. “When I taught high school, cell phones were not a big classroom management challenge, because a lot of kids didn’t have cell phones then,” Carpenter says. “Now, managing technology is a big classroom management challenge for teachers.” In addition to experiencing structured teaching, students also observe methods they learn in class in action at nearby Williams High School. In a one-to-one classroom, where all students have their own laptop, Carpenter’s students analyze how the teacher uses the computers to enhance class activities while keeping students on task.

A core tenet of EDU 355 is teaching teachers to take ownership of their own professional development. Students are required to create a professional Twitter account, follow other educators and engage in Twitter chats about relevant teaching and learning topics throughout the semester. Though Twitter is the tool used in the class, students also learn about other popular digital avenues for teacher collaboration such as Google Hangout, Skype and Voxer, a mobile messaging app. Above all, Carpenter wants to instill in his students a desire to continue learning. “Right now, I think Twitter is a great way to get you talking to more teachers beyond your school,” Carpenter says. “If you decide to go the Pinterest route or Voxer or Reddit, that’s fine. But I want you to hold onto that idea that you need to talk with teachers beyond your building. Even if there are a bunch of really smart people in your building, it’s still going to limit your growth if you stay siloed at your school.”

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Bridgette Agbozo ’19 spent four weeks this summer studying at the University of Bristol after being selected for the Fulbright U.K. Summer Institute. Agbozo, a psychology major and African & African-American studies and leadership studies double minor, is one of 10 students selected to take part in the program, which is themed “Slavery and the Atlantic Heritage.” The program is sponsored by the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Commission, a part of the historic Fulbright program that builds goodwill between the United States and people of other nations.

Josephine Gardner ’17 has earned one of three Samuel Huntington Public Service awards. The competitive and prestigious award includes a $15,000 stipend that will provide Gardner the opportunity to advance her work with low-income women in her native Ethiopia. Her nonprofit, Yenegat-Chora, teaches women how to weave traditional scarves and cloth and help them learn business and leadership skills. Greg Sutton ’14 will spend a year teaching English in Indonesia with support from a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Since graduating from Elon with degrees in political science and international studies, Sutton has been working at the Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., a private nonprofit that promotes

U.S. global engagement and international collaboration. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Sarah Holdren ’18 spent eight weeks this summer conducting research in Ethiopia as part of the Harvard University School of Public Health’s Multidisciplinary International Research Training program. An anthropology major with minors in public health and chemistry, Holdren was placed with the Adis Continental Institute of Public Health, where she analyzed the effect of caffeine on ischemic strokes. The program is designed to encourage underrepresented students to pursue careers in biomedical and behavioral science research.

COMMENCEMENT WEEK

May 15 marked the beginning of Commencement Week. Besides graduation ceremonies for undergraduate and graduate students, the week featured a picnic and a gala for the senior class, a Baccalaureate celebration and other events that kept the campus abuzz. Here are some figures from this memorable week.

1,414

The number of diplomas given at Elon’s 127th undergraduate Commencement on May 20.

12,000

The approximate number of chairs Physical Plant staff set up for this year’s undergraduate graduation.

ABOUT THE PROFESSOR Jeff Carpenter has taught at Elon since 2010. An associate professor of education, Carpenter is the School of Education’s secondary and K–12 programs coordinator and the director of the Elon Teaching Fellows program. His research interests include new and innovative modes of student and teacher learning, particularly collaborative technologies.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS • “Understanding by Design” by Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe • “Teach Like a Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College” by Doug Lemov • Create a professional Twitter account

1,983

The total number of overtime hours incurred by staff members, with the environmental services department accounting for more than 47 percent of the total.

12+

The number of catered receptions held throughout the week to celebrate graduates and their families.

Source: Registrar’s Office, Physical Plant, Dining Services

summer 2017 9

UNDER THE OAKS

FALL

CULTURAL CALENDAR

PREVIEW

For a complete list of events, check the E-net calendar at www.elon.edu/e-net/calendar.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14

Jennine Capó Crucet, “Make Your Home Among Strangers” Elon University Common Reading In this heartfelt novel, Crucet encourages readers to consider issues of the first-year college experience, intercultural competency and Cuban-American relations. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20

Siddhartha Mukherjee, “The Changing Landscape of Cancer” Baird Lecture Series and Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series A leading oncologist and researcher, Mukherjee has received wide acclaim as an author for his examinations of cancer and the human gene.

AGENTS OF CHANGE

even 2017 Elon graduates will spend the first year of their professional career in service to the community as part of two service-year programs the university offers. The 2017–18 Elon-Alamance Health Partners Fellows, who all majored in public health studies, will work with one of four Alamance County agencies: Maryn Hayward is working with Alamance Regional Medical Center; Vashti Shiwmangal is working with Impact Alamance; Chloe Donohue, who also majored in environmental studies, is working with the Alamance County Health Department; and Olise Obi, Jr. is working with Healthy Alamance. In its third year, the partnership has been praised for the impact it has had on both the community and the fellows as they pursue careers and research that will lead to long-term benefits in public health. The 2017–18 Kenan Community Impact Fellows will continue to build upon the work started by the first cohort. Oscar Miranda, a psychology major, and Crystal Carroll, a human services studies and international

{ The 2017–18 Elon-Alamance Health Partners Fellows }

studies double major, are working with Alamance Achieves, while human service studies majors Zoe Sachs and Rachel Gledhill are working with Alamance Partnership for Children. The program, which was launched during the summer of 2015 with support from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, builds on the work of Elon’s “It Takes a Village” Project that pairs Elon students and faculty with students in the Alamance-Burlington School System to assist with literacy.

ELON SPORT HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED

THURSDAY, OCT. 5

Elon University Fall Convocation with the Rt. Hon. David Cameron The former prime minister of the United Kingdom offers lessons in leadership at an extraordinary and turbulent time in global affairs.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, OCT. 26–28 THURSDAY-SATURDAY, NOV. 2–4

Department of Performing Arts presents “Hello Dolly!” This blockbuster Broadway hit bursts with humor, romance, high-energy dancing and some of the greatest songs in musical theater history.

10 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Four outstanding alumni athletes will be inducted into Elon’s Sports Hall of Fame during a Sept. 16 ceremony in Whitley Auditorium. The 47th class of inductees includes (from left) women’s soccer player Shannon Currin ’95, women’s track and field standout Jessica Clendenning ’07 and former football players Steven Ferguson ’00 and Andrew Wilcox ’09. A four-year letter-winner for the women’s soccer program from 1991–94, Currin’s career numbers rank third in program history in goals, second in assists and points and sixth in games played. She is a four-time first-team All-South Atlantic Conference honoree who helped Elon earn a share of the SAC regular-season titles in 1992 and 1993. Clendenning, the 2007 recipient of the Basnight Outstanding Female Athlete Award, earned four letters as part of Elon’s women’s track and field team from 2003–07. While she ran sprints and relays, she made

her mark in the pole vault, earning three conference championships during her collegiate career. Ferguson lettered from 1996–98 for the Elon football program. The running back and 2000 Basnight Outstanding Male Athlete Award recipient appeared in 36 games, carrying the ball 429 times for 2,270 yards and 26 touchdowns. As a senior, he posted a team-high 1,003 rushing yards on 190 attempts. Wilcox earned four letters as a kicker on the Elon football team from 2005–08. During his Elon career, he made a program-record 59 field goals and his 307 career points rank third in program history. He kicked five field goals in two games and tied the Elon record with nine extra points made in a game.

LONG LIVE ELON

making a difference

‘He was my anchor’ BY JALEH HAGIGH

{ From left: Marsha Herbert, Griffin McClure, Micki McClure, Erin McClure Nettles & Dr. Bill Herbert ‘68. }

rowing up in the small town of Graham, North Carolina, Bill Herbert ’68 and Jim McClure, Jr. ’68 were inseparable. They played sports together. They got into and out of trouble together and rarely missed a Western at the Graham Cinema. They even double-dated as teenagers, and later were in each other’s weddings. “I bet we were together just about every day and night,” recalls Herbert, an Elon trustee. “Jim’s family had their big meal at lunch and there was always a place for me at the table. My mother worked, so we’d have our big meal at night and she always set a plate for Jim.” It seemed fitting they would end up as classmates at Elon, where Herbert studied biology and McClure earned his degree in business. Following graduation, Herbert pursued medical school and training at Vanderbilt and UT Southwestern in Dallas before moving on to teach at the medical schools at the University of North Carolina and Duke University. He retired in 2011 after serving as professor of obstetrics and gynecology and chair of the department at the University of Virginia Medical Center. McClure went on to own and operate the family business, Green & McClure Furniture, in downtown Graham, which flourished under his leadership. Through it all, their friendship remained strong. “Anytime I wanted to talk to him, I would call him,” Herbert says. “I was in a constant high pressure situation with academics and medicine, and Jim was my touchstone. He was someone I could always count on to have fun with and confide in. He was my anchor.” McClure died in 2015 following a long battle with mel-

anoma and leukemia. Recently, Herbert and his wife, Marsha, of Charlottesville, Virginia, decided to honor McClure by endowing a scholarship in his name to help bring outstanding students to Elon. “I still think of Jim most every day and miss him every day,” Herbert says. “Jim and I had a special friendship, and Marsha and I thought endowing a scholarship was a good way of honoring him, especially having been the recipient of several scholarships myself along the way.” The James G. McClure, Jr. ’68 Memorial Scholarship will assist two McClure Scholars each year, with preference given to students with financial need from Graham or Alamance County, North Carolina. Jim’s wife, Micki McClure, is thankful to the Herberts for their generosity. She calls the scholarship gift a great tribute to an enduring friendship. “They were like brothers, and they loved each other in life and in death,” Micki says. “I always knew when Jim was on the phone with Bill because there was so much laughter. They were the kind of bear-hugging men who didn’t let go of each other for a while whenever they got together.” “This gift is a way for my dad’s legacy to live on in perpetuity at Elon,” says Griffin McClure, the fourth-generation president and owner of Green & McClure Furniture. “It creates a pathway to Elon for students and can help students build the kinds of long-lasting friendships that Bill and my dad had.” Erin McClure Nettles says her father would have been “honored and humbled” by the Herberts’ gift. “Elon was very special to my dad,” Nettles says. “He would be so excited that the scholarship was going to give someone from Graham access to such a prestigious university like Elon without having to leave home.” Herbert has many fond memories of his Elon days with McClure, including joining Sigma Mu Sigma fraternity (now Kappa Sigma) together and watching football games at Williams High School. During the summers, they painted small rental houses that McClure’s father, J. Griffin McClure, Sr., owned in Graham. Jim also worked at the furniture store and later took over running the business following his father’s death in 1965. “He never had a single pretention and was quietly generous,” Herbert says of his friend. “I remember one year he paid for one of his young part-time employees to attend a basketball camp because he couldn’t afford it. If I hadn’t asked him about it, he wouldn’t have mentioned it at all.” McClure was a dedicated donor to Elon, supporting scholarships, Phoenix athletics and the Elon Academy college access and success program. Herbert has been a generous supporter of those priorities, along with Rhodes Stadium, science programs and the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center. Both men are members of Order of the Oak, recognizing donors who make estate or other planned gifts to Elon. “Jim was very loyal to Elon, and I think he would be pleased and proud of this scholarship,” Herbert says. “Marsha and I feel very good about making this gift.” summer 2017 11

LONG LIVE ELON

Building a premier learning center

lon parents Robert and Dilek Koenigsberger p’17, of Greenwich, Connecticut, have made a $5 million gift to establish a premier learning center that will bring the offices of academic advising, tutoring and disabilities resources under one roof for the first time to serve all students. The new two-story, 11,000-square-foot Koenigsberger Learning Center will be on the east side of the Carol Grotnes Belk Library. Locating the center as part of an expanded Belk Library will promote powerful synergies between academic advising services and resources in the library, creating a dynamic learning commons that includes the Center for Writing Excellence, Teaching and Learning Technologies and a staff of research librarians.

{ Dilek & Robert Koenigsberger P ’17 } 12 the MAGAZINE of ELON

BY JALEH HAGIGH AND MADISON TAYLOR

“We are grateful to Robert and Dilek for this very generous gift, which will assist all Elon students in their educational journeys,” said President Leo M. Lambert. “Strategically placing the Koenigsberger Learning Center in Belk Library will allow all students to reach their full academic potential and will send a powerful message about Elon’s commitment to student success. Our entire community is indebted to the Koenigsberger family for helping to prepare outstanding Elon students to lead our future.” Robert and Dilek Koenigsberger are parents of Amber Koenigsberger, a member of Elon’s Class of 2017. The couple said they were inspired to make their gift to allow each student to take full advantage of everything Elon has to offer. “We are honored to partner with Elon to establish the Koenigsberger Learning Center to ensure that engaged learning opportunities can be anchored in one centralized center with optimal access for the entire Elon community,” Robert Koenigsberger said. The center will be located in close proximity to the Inman Admissions Welcome Center and the Student Professional Development Center, demonstrating Elon’s commitment to ensuring that students thrive from the moment they enroll to the day they graduate. Currently, academic advising and disabilities resources are housed in Duke Building, while tutoring services are located in Belk Library. The Koenigsberger Learning Center will provide ease of access to all these programs for thousands of students who use Belk Library each week. “The Koenigsberger Learning Center will make referring students to different resources a matter of a few steps down the hall instead of across campus,” said Becky Olive-Taylor, associate dean of academic support. “This is another example of Elon being a best-value institution in terms of creating learning resources for students that meet them where they are and advance their learning.” Joan Ruelle, dean and university librarian, agrees. “This new center will give us the space to embody the kind of engaged learning that we facilitate at Elon,” she said. “It’s going to double down on the notion that Belk Library is the academic heart of the residential campus and how we want to facilitate academic engagement and student success.” The Koenigsberger Learning Center will include an assistive technology lab, a conference room for staff and families to discuss student academic needs and 18 new testing rooms that will be available for students to study or work on group projects. Construction is scheduled to begin in late August and be completed by fall 2018.

LONG LIVE ELON annual gifts to the university so the scholarship could be awarded immediately and she could see the impact of their gift. She continued to make annual gifts to Elon until her death in December 2016 at age 98.

Weavers establish Fellows scholarship

{ A rendering of the Koenigsberger Learning Center }

Elon alumni endow ‘game-changer’ scholarship

$400,000 gift from the estate of the late Mattie Pickett Edwards ’39 and John Lee Edwards ’41 will endow a scholarship to assist Elon students studying music. The couple created the scholarship by making Elon the beneficiary of a portion of their estate. “My parents loved music and they loved Elon dearly, and I’m so glad they left a legacy at the university with this scholarship,” said Priscilla Edwards Hill, of Asheville, North Carolina. “They felt very strongly about establishing a scholarship focused on music and hoped that as many students as possible would be able to attend Elon and earn this degree.” The John Lee and Mattie Pickett Edwards Music Scholarship will be a powerful recruiting tool for Elon, according to Jon Metzger, professor of music and chair of the music department. “This scholarship will be a game-changer for us in terms of being able to compete with other schools for talented students and bring them to our music department,” Metzger said. “Each year, we have great students audition for us, and scholarships are very important for us to attract and retain these talented students.” Mattie Pickett, of Burlington, North Carolina, graduated with a secretarial certificate in 1939 and immediately began working for then-Elon President Leon Edgar Smith. It was during that time that she met John Edwards, an Elon junior from Stantonsburg, North Carolina. The couple married shortly after John’s graduation and before he shipped out with the Air Force to fight in World War

II. A skilled pilot, he flew 22 missions in cargo and transport planes, including harrowing flights over the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. Mattie did her part by volunteering as a Gray Lady with the Red Cross, assisting wounded soldiers during their hospital stays. John Edwards served with the Air Force for 22 years before retiring as a major. The couple eventually moved closer to Elon’s campus and enjoyed attending Homecoming, concerts and other cultural programs at their alma mater. Following John’s death in 2003, Mattie continued to attend her class and sorority reunions at Homecoming. The couple were proud of their decision to endow a scholarship by placing Elon in their estate plan. Like many donors, Mattie made

{ Mattie Pickett Edwards ’39 & John Lee Edwards ’41 }

A generous gift from Elon Trustee Katherine S. Weaver and her husband, Mike, of Greensboro, North Carolina, will create The Weaver Family Endowed Honors Fellows Scholarship, helping to bring high-achieving students to Elon. This gift supports one of Elon’s top strategic priorities, deepening scholarship funding to attract students who raise the academic bar for the entire university community. Elon’s Honors Fellows is a dynamic, rigorous program that draws together top students from across the university to form a thriving community of scholars and leaders. The four-year program focuses on development of strong writing and critical-thinking skills that promote scholarly research. Honors Fellows have the highest academic profiles on campus and regularly secure prestigious fellowships, including Fulbright, Truman and Udall awards. “We were interested in supporting scholarships because the cost of college is so high today and helping students get there is so important,” Katherine Weaver said. “We want to encourage the best students to come to Elon.” This gift continues a strong tradition of philanthropy at Elon by the Weavers, beginning with their early support of establishing the Elon University School of Law in downtown Greensboro. The Weaver family has made numerous generous gifts to the university, including the Sidney J. Stern, Jr. Endowed Scholarship at Elon Law, named in honor of Katherine Weaver’s late father and made in conjunction with her mother, Katherine Goodman Stern. Katherine Weaver has been a member of Elon’s board of trustees since 2007. She serves as president of Residence Development Company, a real estate development, management and investing firm. She also chairs the board of directors for the Weaver Group, an investment company led by Mike Weaver. “We’re happy to support Elon,” Katherine Weaver said. “I love its sense of community, its faculty and staff commitment to students, and the school’s ability to experiment and create the best learning opportunities for students. It’s what inspires us to give to Elon.” summer 2017 13

PHOENIX SPORTS

▶ elonphoenix.com

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT STEPHANIE ASHER ’18 BY NOAH ZAISER ’20

rom midfield to attack position, Rookie of the Year in 2015 to the 2017 caa Women’s Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Elon’s Stephanie Asher ’18 has proven herself as both a dominant and exciting force on the lacrosse field. She finished the 2017 season with a new program record of 58 goals— ranking 25th in the nation—as well as 11 assists for a total of 69 points, the third-most points achieved by an athlete in the caa and a new Elon record. With the number of accolades she has accumulated, it would be easy to think the sport she has played since the age of 4 defines her life. Far from it. There are many other characteristics that make Stephanie a “competitive, goofy and energetic” student-athlete.

She isn’t superstitious. Stephanie doesn’t necessarily believe in luck or pregame rituals. Instead, she opts to “visualize” the game ahead, especially with music. The hype songs that she continually finds herself coming back to are the very fitting “Heart of a Champion” and “Remember the Name.”

14 the MAGAZINE ofof ELON

She admires Ray Lewis. Hailing from the state of Maryland, it’s easy to see why she considers the lifelong Baltimore Raven to be her favorite athlete of all time. “He’s competitive, and I really like that,” she says. “In a way, we’re kind of similar with our passion for our individual sports.”

She’s an avid scuba diver. When she isn’t lifting weights or exercising, you’ll find her at the beach, exploring what’s underneath the ocean’s surface. “It has to be my most interesting hobby,” she says, though not the only one. She also enjoys photography and managed to hone her skills in the spring by taking portraits of all the graduating seniors on her team.

She loves sushi. Iced tea completes the combo for an ideal meal. Her time in North Carolina, it seems, has influenced her a bit with her affinity for sweet tea. “I love it so much,” she says, “but I’ve had to cut back on it.”

She prefers books over the screen. Stephanie rarely has time for television, but when she does sit in front of a screen, she enjoys watching “Dexter.” Otherwise she finds turning the pages of historical fiction books a more enjoyable use of her time. The top book on her all-time list goes to Pulitzer Prize Winner Anthony Doerr’s “All the Light We Cannot See,” a novel inspired by the devastation of World War II. “It is an incredibly interesting read.”

PHOENIX SPORTS

JUST THE BEGINNING

BY ANDREW WILSON ’14

Championship mentality drives football coach Curt Cignetti and the Phoenix forward.

ong before the sun comes up, first-year Elon University head football coach Curt Cignetti is awake preparing for the day ahead. Each morning, you’ll find his black Chevrolet parked in front of Alumni Field House with his day already hours old. “I’m normally up between 4 and 5 a.m. and I’m usually in the office by 6:10 every morning because McDonald’s opens at 6 so I grab my Egg McMuffin on my way to campus,” Cignetti says. “Occasionally I’m in at 5 a.m. opening the doors. It’s a really good time of day to get a lot done and set the plan for the day.” First up on Cignetti’s morning agenda is exactly that: the daily agenda. During the summer months, the focus for him and his assistants has been recruiting. And when that’s over? More recruiting. All the while Cignetti & Co. are finding future Phoenix, and Director of Strength and Conditioning Brian Phillips is hard on the whistle on the ground floor of the field house running players through drills and workouts. “Each morning I spend about 30 to 45 minutes on the daily agenda,” Cignetti says. “This time of year, it’s always going to start with recruiting and then to opponent preparation. Building a program is all about recruiting and development.” Cignetti has been hard at work at Elon since the calendar turned to 2017. Hired on

New Year’s Eve 2016 by Director of Athletics Dave Blank, Cignetti was introduced to the Phoenix community Jan. 2 and told fans and media Elon’s style would be “an up-tempo, exciting team that plays fast and physical and relentless.” Nearly seven months later with the start of the 2017 season in sight, Cignetti is looking for improvement in year one starting Aug. 31 at perennial FBS Mid-American Conference powerhouse Toledo. “Toledo has been to six bowl games in seven years,” Cignetti says. “They pose a tremendous challenge, but all great accomplishments are accompanied with major obstacles. Regardless, one game does not make or break a season and our ability to improve in year one will be determined by how well we are able to develop high standards of consistency in performance on a daily basis.” The foundation for Elon’s new brand of football, Cignetti says, was laid during the winter months, beginning with a grueling three-week session of 6 a.m. mat drills and culminating with spring football practice. “Our student-athletes are eager to be successful,” Cignetti says. “They really tried to do the things we asked of them this spring and I think we made a lot of progress on the field playing fast and physical. We came out of spring with a belief that we got better and

we’re in a good place right now as a result of our effort to buy in.” Before Cignetti arrived at Elon, he made it clear he never intended to leave his previous job as head coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he led the program to a 53–17 record during six seasons with success on the national scene from start to finish. But when Elon called, Cignetti says he made a promise to a confidant that he would listen, which led him to Elon around the holidays with the campus donning traditional luminaries and lights. “I was familiar with Elon when I was at North Carolina State about 12 or 13 years ago,” Cignetti says, adding that when he saw the changes and growth of the campus since then, he saw the potential to build a championship football program. “My dad coached until he was 70 and I would like to coach until I’m at least 70. It’s all I’ve ever done. This is year 34 for me, but when you’re in athletics, you’re around young people all the time and it keeps you young,” he says. “Elon is a great fit for my family, and I believe it is a great coaching challenge. “We will make a difference here by setting high standards and expectations in all areas of the program and working daily to improve the program to its maximum potential.” summer 2017 15

COVER STORY

Relationship Rich The historic leadership and legacy of President Leo M. Lambert BY DANIEL J. ANDERSON

{ Below: President Leo M. Lambert celebrates the installation of Elon’ s Phi Beta Kappa chapter during Spring Convocation in 2010. Bottom: President Lambert with students at the 2017 Elon Day College Coffee. }

16 the MAGAZINE of ELON

sk Leo Lambert about the impact of his 18-plus years as Elon’s president and he will tell you about the collaboration of trustees, faculty and staff who have transformed the institution. Press for details of his vision to create a university of national stature and he shifts the focus to individual students who were able to attend Elon through scholarships and benefit from excellent academic programs.

Try one more time, because we are entering the final months of the Lambert presidency as the board of trustees searches for his successor. Ask him to explain the secret sauce that has made him so successful and he prefers to talk about what lies ahead and the ways Elon can be better. He’s not interested in talking about himself. He much prefers shifting the conversation to the future and the alumni who will build the Elon of tomorrow. But as Lambert makes every effort to low-key his transition to president emeritus and prepare the university for its next leader, he’ll get an argument from the longest-serving member of his senior staff. Senior Vice President for Business, Finance and Technology Gerald Whittington has settled on the Latin phrase “sine qua non” to describe Lambert’s essential role in Elon’s development. “It means, ‘without whom, it could not be,’” explains Whittington. “It was really audacious to change the institution’s name to Elon University, and to say that every school would have the highest academic accreditation,” Whittington says. “And it was crazy to say, ‘we want a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and a law school.’ If President Lambert had done nothing but those things, you would say he had a wildly successful presidency—and that’s to say nothing of the expansion of the campus and the continued focus on students at the center of everything we do.”

“

HE TOOK US TO NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND MADE SURE IT WAS DONE CORRECTLY.”

summer 2017 17

Intensely personal Future historians will be tempted to focus on enrollment growth and expansion of the physical plant during the Lambert era. Twothirds of the campus has been constructed or acquired since he joined Elon, creating a renowned learning environment that will be enjoyed by generations of students. But the essence of President Lambert’s success is clearly his priority on nurturing a campus culture based on personal relationships. He seems to know everyone on a first-name basis and has an amazing capacity to remember details of the life stories of individual community members. Each year Lambert and his wife, Laurie, host numerous dinners, receptions and holiday gatherings at their home for students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff. The Lamberts often travel with students and faculty on study abroad trips, cheer on Phoenix athletics teams and performing arts groups, volunteer their service alongside students and attend hundreds of campus events large and small. Each of those opportunities is an investment in the community culture. Dean of Students Jana Lynn Patterson has witnessed countless examples of President Lambert’s genuine concern and advocacy for students. She has watched him ask for their ideas, inquire about their classes, challenge them to reach ever higher and support them in times of failure. He visits injured students in the hospital and makes personal calls to parents in times of tragedy. “Just this spring, one of our graduating international students was notified that her father was undergoing a serious surgery and she needed to miss Commencement and travel home to be with him,” Patterson recalls. “President Lambert rearranged his schedule, came in on a Saturday morning, put on his cap and gown and awarded the student her

{ President Lambert is joined by (from left) Elon trustee Kerrii Anderson ’79 & Martha Schar & Dwight Schar P’16 P’19 at the 2016 groundbreaking for Schar Center. Below: The Lamberts meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu during a 2010 study abroad course in South Africa. }

The future forest

{ President Leo and Laurie Lambert meet the Phoenix with their grandchidren, Anna and Caleb, in 2015. }

18 the MAGAZINE of ELON

diploma in his office. That’s what sets him apart. It’s who he is.” Patterson says college students often make fun of their schools’ presidents. “At Elon, there is a very unique sense of pride and respect for his leadership among students and generations of alumni.” Alumna Jasmine Turner ’15 says it’s hard to describe how much students love President Lambert. “Leo is like a celebrity—but a celebrity that you feel comfortable enough to give a hug to,” Turner says. “He has this rock-star status, but at the same time, he’s very down-to-earth. Any student who starts talking to him feels immediately at ease. He’s just so real.” Faculty member Peter Felten, who heads Elon’s Center for Engaged Learning and has co-authored a book with Lambert on higher education, says this personal style is the result of the president’s fundamental identity as a teacher. “It’s not just that he’s good with people,” Felten says. “He’s intentionally interacting with students in ways to challenge and support them. He has an intellectual agenda of developing students. He believes that the best education is relationship-rich, a set of human interactions.” Those are counter-cultural ideas in a time when technology is a driving force in society and higher education, but Felten says Lambert has earned high regard among college leaders for his steadfast commitment to students, the liberal arts and the importance of a residential higher education experience.

Associate Dean of Admissions Barry Bradberry ’75 has been recruiting students to Elon for 42 years and couldn’t be prouder of what has been accomplished under Lambert’s leadership. “He respected the past and could see to the future,” Bradberry says. “He took us to national recognition and made sure it was done correctly.” Elon University Board of Trustees Chair Kerrii Anderson ’79 echoes Bradberry’s assessment in comparing the university of today with the college she graduated from 38 years ago. “Leo led Elon’s transition from a good institution to a great institution, and he did it at a time when the environment for higher education was becoming more challenging,” Anderson says. “He linked Elon, engagement and excellence. The concept of engagement permeates every facet of the university, from students, faculty and staff to alumni, parents and even grandparents.” The legacy President Lambert is most proud of can be found in the positive impact of Elon graduates around the world. He beams with pride when he points out he has awarded 23,600 diplomas during his time as president—55 percent of all degrees awarded in Elon’s history. When he raised the traditional sapling and declared, “Long Live Elon” to conclude Commencement ceremonies in May, he surely knew he has planted a great forest of mighty oaks.

RELATIONSHIP RICH

The Lambert years: Campus growth 67%

OF ELONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CAMPUS HAS BEEN BUILT, EXPANDED OR ACQUIRED SINCE 2000 Carol Grotnes Belk Library

H. Michael Weaver Building (Elon University School of Law, Greensboro)

Athletics facilities

Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center Residential neighborhoods and dining halls Inman Admissions Welcome Center

Colonnades The Oaks Global Neighborhood The Station at Mill Point Loy Center and Danieley Center expansions Lakeside and Colonnades dining halls

Rhodes Stadium Hunt Softball Park Jerry and Jeanne Robertson Track and Field Complex Alumni Field House Rudd Field Walter C. Latham Park W. Cecil Worsley III Golf Training Center Koury Field House Schar Center (opening 2018)

Other facilities Academic Village

Martha S. & Carl H. Lindner III Hall Numen Lumen Pavilion Cannon, Spence, Belk, Kenan and Gray Pavilions

School of Communications facilities Dwight C. Schar Hall Steers Pavilion Snow Family Grand Atrium

Gerald L. Francis Center (School of Health Sciences)

Arts West and Scott Studios

South Campus Psychology and Human Service Studies building Phoenix Club Sports Fields and Harden Clubhouse R.N. Ellington Center for Health and Wellness Johnston Hall, Truitt Hall, Advancement Services building Holt Chapel Loy Farm Martin Alumni Center Elon University Forest Downtown Elon: Elon Town Center, Park Place at Elon summer 2017â&#x20AC;&#x192; 19

The Lambert years: Academic improvem ACADEMICS Full-time faculty

Four-year graduation rate 2016

Phi Beta Kappa

Student participation 1999

2016

1999 78% 65%

Elon chapter established in 2010 â&#x20AC;&#x201D;the highest standard of quality in the arts and sciences.

Student-faculty ratio 1999: 16.3-to-1 2016: 11.9-to-1

FUNDRAISING Elon endowment value

Annual number of gifts

Total annual support

Schools/graduate programs established 2000 - Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences 2000 - School of Communications 2000 - School of Education 2005 - Doctor of Physical Therapy Program 2006 - School of Law/Juris Doctor Program 2009 - Master of Arts in Interactive Media 2010 - Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies 2011 - School of Health Sciences 2015 - Master of Science in Management 2018 - Master of Science in Accounting 2018 - Master of Arts in Higher Education

ATHLETICS Conference affiliations

Big South (1999) 20â&#x20AC;&#x192; the MAGAZINE of ELON

Southern Conference (2003)

Colonial Athletic Association (2014)

RELATIONSHIP RICH

ent and growth STUDENTS Enrollment Graduate

Undergraduate

Percent of students in the top 20% of their high school class

Admissions Applications

Ethnic minorities

Enrolled 10,098

2016 1999

1,000

ALUMNI

1,553

53%

ACADEMIC CENTERS & SPECIAL PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED

Total number of Elon degrees awarded President Leo M. Lambert All previous presidents

19,141 23,600

Total living alumni on record

All previous presidents 19,141

18%

26%

5,322

President Lambert 23,600

• Isabella Cannon Global Education Center • Student Professional Development Center • Center for Access and Success Elon Academy “It Takes a Village” Project Odyssey Scholars Program Collegiate Start @Elon • Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life •D oherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership • Chandler Family Professional Sales Center • P orter Family Professional Development Center • William Garrard Reed Finance Center •C enter for Organizational Analytics •C enter for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society •C enter for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) •G ender and LGBTQIA Center •C enter for Writing Excellence • E lon College Fellows • L umen Scholars • L eadership Prize •N ational and International Fellowships Office

• Center for Leadership • Civic Engagement Scholars • R.N. Ellington Center for Health and Wellness • Center for Environmental Studies • Elon University Poll • Elon BrainCARE Research Institute • Center for Public Affairs • Imagining the Internet Center • Sunshine Center • Elon Docs documentary production • Program for Ethnographic Research and Community Studies • Center for Engaged Learning • Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning • Center for Research on Global Engagement • Center for Engaged Learning in the Law • Center for Law and Humanities • Project Pericles • Life@Elon • Elon-Alamance Health Partnership • Community Impact Scholars Program

summer 2017 21

Lambert’s legacy: In their own words An inspiration to parents

Keeping the vision

BY WARREN “DUSTY” AND PEGGY RHODES P’86

BY JEFFREY C. PUGH, PROFESSOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES

he right person, in the right place, at the right time and with the right resources, can change a world of things. Elon College was fortunate to hire Leo Lambert in 1998 to be the institution’s eighth president. He brought ideas that would change a small educational institution into the national institution we know today. The Rhodes family lived close to campus and had a strong relationship with the college—our son, Larry, graduated in 1986 and our daughter, Jennifer, also attended. Dusty joined the board of trustees in 1997 and met Leo when he arrived on campus. We were impressed with his ideas and ability to communicate, and we soon began discussing Elon’s need for an on-campus football stadium and greater recognition for athletics. At that time, Elon was playing its football games at a local high school stadium. To get the stadium project moving, the Rhodes family gave $1 million to Elon in April 1999 and added another $1 million gift in July 1999 to encourage support from others. On March 14, 2000, we gathered for a groundbreaking. It happened to be Peggy’s birthday and Laurie Lambert led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” on this historic occasion. The stadium was named for the Rhodes family and the first game was played there in September 2001. Much has changed since those early days of President Lambert’s service to Elon. But throughout the years, parents have always felt that Leo could make Elon an example of what a higher education institution should be. He inspired parents because his focus is always on young people and providing the faculty and programs they need to succeed. He has brought national and world recognition to the university, which is now known as a leader in business, communications and liberal arts programs. Many families, including ours, continue to be a big source of support for Elon and its students. Leo was the right person at the right time, and his thoughts, words and deeds will live forever at Elon University. 22 the MAGAZINE of ELON

“From the moment Leo Lambert came to Elon, he has kept our priorities where they need to be.” { President Lambert delivers the charge to the Class of 2017. }

nticipation had been building over the weekend of the board of trustees retreat about Elon’s next 10-year plan. Small groups of Elon’s most committed supporters had gathered in the mountains of North Carolina to plan the roadmap for our future. I was sitting on the edge of the room with other members of the strategic planning committee when excitement flared up about a new convocation center. All eyes turned to President Lambert. What did he think? Leo looked around the table and said that the future of Elon was not going to rest on the building of a basketball arena, rather Elon’s role in American higher education would be defined by the quality of graduates we send out into the world, and the reputation of our faculty who were making contributions to their fields and bringing recognition to the university. Though it was not what many wanted to hear, it was a reminder of how important it is to keep our focus. From the moment Leo Lambert came to Elon, he has kept our priorities where they need to be. We built a library before a football stadium, which was a powerful reminder of why we are here. We empowered our faculty with time and resources to work with students in engaged learning, helping them in research and the classroom. As a result, our students are admitted to some of the finest graduate programs in the country and are respected in their professions. As we reflect on how far we have come since Leo Lambert arrived at Elon, we can be grateful that he had a vision, shared by many across the Elon family, of who we could be. He called us to be our best selves and Elon, as well as our surrounding communities, are stronger for it.

RELATIONSHIP RICH

The roadmap BY KEBBLER M CGHEE WILLIAMS ‘98

here is a popular quote: “Some people touch our lives so briefly while others leave lasting impressions and are never forgotten.” President Lambert has left a lasting impression on Elon University. That impression will be felt by the next generation of Elon students and remembered by alumni from all eras. As a new president, he carefully studied the work of his predecessors and embarked upon a new strategic plan that propelled our university into the 21st century. His bold leadership under two comprehensive strategic plans has resulted in Elon becoming a household name both nationally and internationally. That boldness is consistently matched with humility and grace, the kind of humility and grace that is rare to find in someone who has had so much success. When President Lambert began his tenure at Elon, I was a youth trustee on the Elon College Board of Trustees. At that time, I was an elementary school teacher who was passionate about K–12 education, but didn’t really understand what it meant to be a college trustee. Dr. Lambert saw something in me that he has cultivated during our 18-year relationship. That is another one of his many gifts—finding value in people and providing opportunities for them to demonstrate their value in unique and complementary ways. President Lambert appreciates diversity of thought and regularly asks the right questions and selects the right people to sit around the table to deliberate those questions. He is also a lifelong learner, continually finding new ways to boost his own knowledge to help Elon grow. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. I sometimes wonder how he keeps up, but then I consider the wonderful team he has assembled. Without a doubt, he is the Head Phoenix, but his leadership style exudes teamwork, inclusiveness and high expectations of all. It is hard for me to imagine Elon University without Leo Lambert at the helm, but the legacy he is leaving behind will surely help us to remain on the right course for excellence in transforming mind, body and spirit. His leadership has inspired me. There is no question the university is better because of him, and so am I. He is my mentor, and the model that he has provided is my roadmap.

{ School of Education faculty members Jean Rattigan-Rohr and Deborah Long cut the ribbon to open the Center for Access and Success in 2014. }

“Leo Lambert has a heart as big as the campus he has built."

The stuff of legend BY NAN PERKINS, VICE PRESIDENT EMERITA

y first introduction to Leo Lambert was as a member of the Presidential Search Committee in 1998. Twelve of us sat behind tables in a hotel conference room, armed with penetrating questions and serious determination to expose the real man behind the resume. Walking in the door, he lit up the room. Within moments, he charmed and disarmed us. His ready smile, quick wit and relaxed confidence all seemed to say, “We’ve known each other for a long time, right?” And his answers to our questions revealed the smart, visionary, “lets-talk-outside-the-box” leader he turned out to be. Perhaps as early as that interview, Leo started talking about a Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Elon, the ultimate symbol of academic prestige. Most of us thought he was crazy, but were too polite to say so. Now, of course, due in large part to his relentless drive, Elon has that PBK chapter and a long list of other accolades. Leo’s achievements in building Elon’s academic distinctiveness and reputation are the stuff of legend, nationally and even internationally. Hard driving as he is, the real Leo Lambert has a heart as big as the Elon campus he has built, especially for young people who have the fewest advantages. “Elon cannot be an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty,” he has often said. The Elon Academy, the Odyssey Scholars program and the “It Takes a Village” Project owe their existence to his vision, compassion and support. Through those programs, hundreds of young people have a chance to receive a world-class education, breaking the cycle of poverty for them and their future families. Soon after Leo became president, he led a group to rewrite the college’s mission statement. A great writer himself, he labored over every word and phrase and the result is a beautifully written, inspiring statement that, among many ideal attributes, speaks of “preparing students to be … informed leaders motivated by concern for the common good.” Leo Lambert not only wrote that vision. He lived it.

summer 2017 23

Leader, collaborator, friend BY MARK MAHAFFEY P’97 P’01

met Leo Lambert in 1999 when he became president of Elon. My daughter, Kiley, was a junior, having followed her brother, Tom, who graduated from Elon in 1997. I remember receiving a phone call in 2001 from Leo asking if my wife, Marianne, and I would be willing to have lunch with him in St. Petersburg, Florida, the following week. I cautiously agreed. Later I mentioned the lunch to Marianne and she replied, “I wonder what he wants?” My answer was that he wants money or something from me. I had just promised Marianne a few days prior that I was stepping back from volunteer activities after having been involved in many organizations for many years. Well, the big lunch arrives and Leo waits for dessert (standard

{ Right: Members of a student rugby team celebrate their graduation with President Lambert in 2014. Facing page: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’ Connor dedicates Elon University School of Law on Sept. 19, 2006. }

{ Above: President Lambert is joined by students in ringing the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange in 2009. Right: The Elon community celebrates the successful conclusion of the Ever Elon Campaign in 2011. }

24 the MAGAZINE of ELON

operating procedure) and then proceeds to ask me to consider joining the Elon University Board of Trustees. After a couple of days of serious thought, I graciously accepted. I told Marianne that something tells me that I need to do this. Needless to say, I thank God that I decided to say yes. Sixteen years have now gone by. What an experience for me. I have witnessed Leo’s extraordinary talents as a leader in so many ways. He is one of the few individuals that I have met in my life who is a visionary and then is able to accomplish and execute the vision. He knows how to surround himself with extraordinary staff and has the unique ability to communicate his goals to all the stakeholders of the Elon family. During my term as chair of Elon’s board of trustees in 2010–12, I learned Leo is a great listener and collaborator. Leo is definitely a team player from all perspectives. I cherish my friendship with Leo. Marianne and I consider Leo and Laurie very close friends and certainly look forward to many wonderful experiences in the future.

RELATIONSHIP RICH

Going above and beyond BY OMOLAYO OJO ’15

“Dr. Lambert, along with all the dedicated staff and faculty, have created an environment where students can develop into amazing individuals.”

y relationship with President Lambert started with a voicemail he left on my home phone after I attended Fellows Weekend at Elon. I got home one day and my dad said, “the president of Elon called you.” Wow, I thought, these Elon people like to go above and beyond. Dad insisted, “He left his home number, so I doubt it's just a courtesy call. Quickly, call him back.” I did, and Dr. Lambert warmly told me I had been chosen as the Kenan Scholar with a full-tuition scholarship. Elon was my dream school and I would not have been able to attend without this award. A few months later, Dr. Lambert made time to meet with my entire family when I arrived on campus. Over the years, I learned firsthand how Dr. Lambert’s passion and dedication to Elon, especially its students, have shaped the university. I’ve witnessed his commitment to programs like the Periclean Scholars, National and International Fellowships Office, Isabella Cannon Global Education Center, Lumen Scholars and Elon Fellows program, all of which I was involved in. I was particularly impressed with how open Dr. Lambert was to students’ suggestions. For example, he wholeheartedly championed the intellectual climate initiative, which was proposed by two students. In May 2015, I had the opportunity to reminisce about our relationship when Dr. Lambert interviewed me on stage at the Leaders of the 21st Century event during Commencement week. I recalled our first in-person conversation, sitting in his office and talking about my plans for my time at Elon. Now it was my chance to tell the audience how I had achieved all those goals and even more. Dr. Lambert frequently says, “the world needs Elon graduates.” He, along with all the dedicated staff and faculty, have created an environment where students can develop into amazing individuals, spread their wings and soar. Today I stay in touch with many of these remarkable mentors, updating them on what I’ve been up to and seeking their guidance. I’m lucky to count Dr. Lambert among the many Elon people who are only an email away. summer 2017 25

Purposefully Focused

{ Al Drago ’15 captured this photo of President Barack Obama boarding Air Force One on Oct. 13, 2016. }

26 the MAGAZINE of ELON

{ Al Drago ’15 }

PHOTO COURTESY OF PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

BY KEREN RIVAS ’04 ADAM CONSTANTINE ’10 CONTRIBUTED TO THIS STORY

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL DRAGO/THE NEW YORK TIMES

It has taken Al Drago ’15 only two years to earn his place in the nation’s capital press corps, amassing an impressive social media presence along the way.

hese days Al Drago seems to be everywhere. Wherever POTUS goes, the 2015 Elon graduate goes, too. Watch live coverage of the White House and Congress—take for example former FBI director James Comey’s testimony before the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee—and you’re likely to see Drago in the background or crouched on the floor amid a sea of photographers. It’s one of the demands of his job as a New York Times contract press photographer in its Washington, D.C., bureau and a dream come true for the North Carolina native. That’s not to say Drago’s positioning in the field is surprising. One can argue nothing in his career has happened by coincidence. “I was 16 when I said to myself, ‘I am going to be a newspaper photojournalist for the rest of my life,’” Drago recalls. “I consciously and purposefully dedicated everything to work, and it worked out. … I love the daily grind and the constant hustle and fighting to make the front page the next day.” Indeed, many of Drago’s photographs have landed on The Times’ front page and been featured in other news outlets around the country and the world. Perhaps one of his most well-known and endearing photographs is that of former first lady Michelle Obama embracing former President George W. Bush during the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in September 2016. After being posted on The Times’ Instagram account, the image received more than 39,000 likes and 600-plus comments.

Summer 2017 27

esides having a sharp eye for framing the perfect shot, Drago has a nose for sniffing out engaging social media content. He embraced Snapchat early in his career, becoming one of the first photojournalists to harness the multimedia mobile platform’s potential to reach audiences in more meaningful ways. “Al has what the best journalists have: curiosity,” says Rich Landesberg, an associate professor in the School of Communications who worked closely with Drago. “That curiosity extends beyond the story and into how the story is told. He is always ready to embrace a new medium and try stretching its capabilities.” This desire to stay ahead of the game is something he perfected while at Elon and what has distinguished him as one of the best in his field. “Al is a hustler in the best sense of the term,” says Associate Professor of Communications Anthony Hatcher. “He is a whirlwind of energy and activity, seeking out opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to him.”

***

Drago’s passion for photography traces back to his childhood. He was 10 when, while taking photos of flowers during a trip to Boston, he

wondered how he could make the background look blurry. His curiosity for learning more about photography led him to a journalism class in high school. That’s when he heard the term “photojournalism” for the first time. He was intrigued and soon fell in love with the prospect of a career that offered to combine his passion for photography with the adventure and discovery inherent in journalism. “It was the perfect marriage,” he says. From that point on, he made a commitment to learn all the skills he needed to be successful. He worked in his high school newspaper and started covering sports, something that put him in contact with local professional newspaper photographers. By his senior year, he was working for The Independent—the “alternative hipster paper in Durham,” as he calls it, which later became Indy Week—shooting college sports. Always looking to network, he continued befriending professional photographers on the sidelines. When time came to choose a college, he picked Elon University for the reputation of its journalism program and proximity to his Durham home. From the first day he set foot on campus, it was apparent Drago had a clear vision of what he wanted to do. He photographed his own Move-in

Day, which meant leaving his parents to do all the work, though not because he was lazy. He knew college was going to be an important part of his journey, and he wanted to make sure it was well documented. He also reached out to folks at the student-run newspaper, The Pendulum, and started shooting for them right away. He later became chief photographer for Elon Local News. Meanwhile, Drago kept working for Indy Week for gas money and to keep his skills sharp. “Al has never hesitated to get ahead,” says Senior Lecturer in Communications Randy Piland, who met Drago before he came to Elon and became one of his mentors during his undergraduate years. “His set answer when he’s asked to photograph something is ‘I can do that.’” To make money to buy equipment, he started a DJ company with his brother and a close friend. He bought his first camera, a Canon 7d, and little by little, started building up his gear. After his first summer at Elon, he had landed an unpaid internship at The Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham. (Remember all that networking on the sidelines at high school and college games? A photographer he met there helped him get that internship.) Looking for ways to save money to buy more equipment, he got a night shift job at a newspaper distribution plant.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL DRAGO/THE NEW YORK TIMES

{ Left: The iconic photo Al Drago ’15 took of former first lady Michelle Obama embracing former President George W. Bush during the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in September 2016. Below: A New York Times front page featuring one of Drago’s photos. }

28 the MAGAZINE of ELON

PURPOSEFULLY FOCUSED

“Al is a hustler in the best sense of the term. He is a whirlwind of energy and activity, seeking out opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to him.” —Associate Professor of Communications Anthony Hatcher to a student-of-the-year honor by the White House News Photographers Association. While each award marked a milestone in his career, it was a story he covered near his hometown that had a deeper impact on his development as a photojournalist.

***

On the afternoon of Feb. 10, 2015, three Muslim students were fatally shot by a neighbor inside an apartment complex near the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Drago was a freelance photojournalist with The News & Observer at the time and one of the first to arrive at the scene. He returned the following day to cover a vigil on the university’s campus. He didn’t know then the story was going to become national news. Through that experience he learned the

importance of being effective and the impact his work can have in a community. “People might not want me to have my camera in their face while they’re grieving at a vigil. I get that,” he says. “But your job is so important to keep the community and the public informed accurately, especially with so much stuff on the internet and nobody knows what’s what. Establishing yourself through years of experience as a credible, reliable source that people can trust, I think it’s the best way you can serve your community.” Armed with that knowledge, Drago traveled to Baltimore three months later with a team of journalists, including fellow Elon student Eric Halperin ’15, to cover the aftermath of Freddie Gray’s death from spinal cord injuries after being arrested by Baltimore police. The { Hannah Allen ’15 }

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE AP/THE NEWS & OBSERVER/AL DRAGO

There, while counting and packing newspapers from midnight to 5 a.m., he read all the bylines from The News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times while eating Cookout double cheeseburgers, corn dogs and fries. He started paying attention to the photos they used and began to develop an eye for what photo editors look for. By his sophomore year, he was interning in the photo department at the Times-News in Burlington, covering sports and everything else that comes with working at a community newspaper. He eventually landed an internship at The News & Observer and later at The Baltimore Sun. His work started earning him state and national honors, ultimately leading

{ A photo Al Drago ’15 took on Feb. 11, 2015, during a vigil in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after three Muslim students were fatally shot. }

Summer 2017 29

PHOTO COURTESY OF AL DRAGO/THE NEW YORK TIMES

PHOTO COURTESY OF TOM BRENNER

{ Left: Al Drago ’15, bottom left, taking a picture of President Donald Trump inside the Oval Office. Below: Drago taking a selfie in front of the White House. }

“The best thing at Elon for me was that nobody said ‘no.’ Nobody told me I couldn’t do something.” event sparked statewide protests, some of them violent, which led authorities to use tear gas. It was a dangerous situation, but the team was prepared with helmets and gas masks. Though he only spent a day there—it was Reading Day at Elon—he was able to help a fellow photojournalist with The Washington Post run his social media account while protests unfolded. When he returned to his reporting class the following morning, “I had a raspy voice due to the tear gas,” Drago recalls. “But we didn’t have any negative experiences because we were safe about it and worked together.” Meanwhile, there were classes to attend and papers to write. His senior year, he made sure to take only early classes so he could work in the afternoons. When breaking news occurred, he made sure to let his professors know. Having flexible professors who understood he was working to get better at his trade made all the difference in his development as a professional, he says. “The best thing at Elon for me was that nobody said ‘no.’ Nobody told me I couldn’t do something,” Drago says. “There was a mutual level of respect between myself and my professors and that helped me grow so much professionally.”

***

After graduation Drago spent a year covering Capitol Hill daily as a credentialed member of the U.S. Senate Press Photographer’s Gallery 30 the MAGAZINE of ELON

for CQ Roll Call. Since joining The New York Times in June 2016, he’s been one of a dozen or so photojournalists who go with the president everywhere—in every motorcade, every trip on Air Force One, in and out of town. Whether they see him or not, the pool of photographers stays with the president’s entourage at all times. That means spending countless hours waiting, sometimes in crammed quarters, regardless of the time of day. One memorable day in his career is the day prior to the 2016 election. Drago started the morning in Washington, D.C., then flew to Michigan and later to New Hampshire before ending the day in Philadelphia as President Barack Obama campaigned for Hillary Clinton. On Election Day, he covered activities outside the White House until 5 the following morning, only to head back to the White House by 9 to cover President Obama as he addressed the nation. In an attempt to show the hectic nature of his work, Drago started using Snapchat, a social media platform that allows users to capture 10-second videos and pictures that disappear a few seconds after they are viewed. The medium grows followers predominantly through word of mouth. First he started posting a behind-the-scenes photo here and there. Then he started adding commentary to put the images in context, applying skills he learned when he took Landesberg’s “60 Minutes” master class. “He came to me seeking new

challenges and boy did he ever reach beyond his comfort zone,” Landesberg recalls. “He shows an absolute fearlessness when it comes to trying new things.” Drago now handles the Times’ Snapchat account and his personal stories have received millions of views, which put him alongside some of the top Snapchat users. He’s even managed to encourage politicians like New Jersey Sen. Corey Booker to embrace the medium and learn how to give short answers in a lighthearted way. “It’s really hard to grow [followers] but there aren’t a lot of journalists who are doing this new, mobile, vertical 10-second journalism,” Drago says. As one of the few who does, Drago often speaks about Snapchat at national media conferences, including College Media Association and Associated Collegiate Press. He has also given invited lectures on the topic at Elon, Syracuse University and George Washington University. No matter what tool he uses, Drago is cognizant of the importance of his job, whether it’s covering the president or a vigil in a small town. “I’ve realized how important the press is for keeping the public informed and keeping our elected officials accountable,” he says. “What we do matters and what we do keeps everything running smoothly. … There’s never been a more important time to be a journalist. “And for me, there’s nothing else I could see myself doing.”

What’s in a poll Poll results are a ubiquitous part of the modern news cycle. They have an important appeal in the United States because we live in a democracy, and as citizens in a democracy, we tend to believe that opinions of our fellow citizens should matter. BY JASON HUSSER

However, this assumes the numbers produced by pollsters are useful and that most people understand how polls work. So are polls accurate? Many people expect polls to be highly accurate, and they often are—but how the public often thinks of accuracy is different from how pollsters do. Imagine an election poll that showed a onepoint lead for a Democrat, and had a margin of error of four percentage points. If the Republican ac tu a l ly w ins the election by one point, many people would think the poll was wrong, off by two points. But that’s not the case: The pollster actually said the race was too close to call, given typical margins of error and somewhat unpredictable undecided voters. The American Association for Public Opinion Research commissioned a study after the 2016 election to evaluate accuracy and methods. This group of scholars and industry leaders arrived at several important conclusions. Here is brief summary: • National polls have accurately estimated the popular vote since 1936. Collectively, they gave Hillary Clinton roughly a 3-percentage-point lead, which was basically correct; she ultimately won the popular vote by 2 percentage points. • There is no consistent partisan favoritism in recent U.S. polling. For instance, in 2016 national and state-level polls tended to underestimate support for then-Republican nominee Donald Trump. But in 2000 and 2012, general election polls tended to underestimate support for the Democratic presidential candidates. This means that for any given election, whether the polls tend to miss in the Republican direction or the Democratic direction, is tantamount to a coin flip.

• Polls underestimated Trump’s appeal in the Upper Midwest. Polling averages showed a slight lead for Clinton in Pennsylvania and Michigan, states that Trump ultimately won very narrowly. Wisconsin was a bigger miss, but fewer polling organizations were active in the state. For our part, the Elon Poll produced accurate information leading up to the 2016 election. Our final poll of the cycle correctly forecast a victory for U.S. Senator Richard Burr. The Elon Poll’s last estimate of the governor’s race placed Cooper ahead by 0.1%, almost perfectly matching the final 0.2% advantage Cooper held after the recount. The last Elon Poll found that Trump and Clinton were essentially tied in North Carolina. However, we also found Trump gaining substantial ground in key demographic groups and that undecided voters were breaking Republican. North Carolina going for Trump was no surprise to me based on our final Elon Poll. Despite having received much unfair scorn during the past election cycle, polls remain a valuable resource for democracy. Without polls we would base our understanding of elections more on “hunches” and guesses based on rough trends. Among the reasons why the Elon University Poll was created in 2000 was the fact North Carolina lacked publicly available information about what state residents thought about many key issues. We attempt to understand the “why” of citizens’ perspectives, not only “who” they support. As technology changes, so will the way polling is conducted. From the proliferation of landline phones up to the 1990s, surveys often reached one out of four eligible respondents. Today, with the widespread adoption of cell phones and caller identification, pollsters must put in extra effort to reach one in 10. This increases the cost of surveys and raises concerns for accuracy. Added to this, call screening is a much more common behavior among voters in the millennial and Generation X cohorts. The Elon Poll is currently testing methods to conduct cost-effective scientific surveys using the internet as a supplement to telephones. If political polls were weather forecasts, they would be good at saying whether the chance of rain is high or low, but they would not be good at declaring with confidence that the temperature will be 78 degrees instead of 75 degrees. In modern politics with narrow margins of victory, what causes someone to win an election is closer to a minor change in temperature than an unexpected deluge. If I’m planning a large outdoor event, I would still be better off with an imperfect forecast than a nonexistent perfect prediction.

Jason Husser is director of the Elon University Poll and an assistant professor of political science. He researches American political behavior and survey methodology. summer 2017 31

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

32 the MAGAZINE of ELON

After stepping down as Elon’s vice president for student life and dean of students, Smith Jackson reflects on some of the major changes he saw during his almost 24-year tenure. BY TOMMY HAMZIK ’17

hen Smith Jackson arrived at Elon, the student center was in Long Building. There was no Global Neighborhood, Rhodes Stadium or Belk Library. Simply put, times were different, and much has changed. Jackson saw it all during his 23-and-a-half years leading Elon’s division of student life. During his tenure, he was responsible for 15 departments that provide student services and support student development. He was instrumental in shaping the modern Elon, building a student life program that is a national model, fully integrated with the intellectual life of the campus. He was also a highly visible leader on campus, communicating regularly about issues of safety and security and providing a calm and comforting voice in difficult times. Since Jackson arrived, 70 percent of Elon’s alumni base has graduated. We sat down with Jackson, who now serves as assistant to the president, to reflect on some of the changes in student life he has witnessed during his years at Elon. Q: What was the student experience and student life like when you arrived at Elon? A: When I arrived at Elon in 1994, there were just over 3,200 students. While students enjoyed the strong relationships with peers, faculty and staff and getting a good education, Elon was still a “suitcase” campus, with few students remaining on campus for the weekends and few things to do. Elon has evolved from being a small, aspiring and ambitious college to what it is today—a nationally-recognized university of 6,700 students. Student and faculty-staff relationships and mentoring have always been central at Elon, as have Elon’s strong sense of community and can-do attitude. Q: How are students today different from students 20 years ago? A: Students today are more academically prepared, more geographically and ethnically diverse and have a broader awareness of the world. They’re more willing to engage with faculty and staff as individual people versus via defined roles. Their parents are much more involved in their lives. However, Elon students of today have many of the same characteristics they always seemed to have had. They are, and have always been, bright, articulate,

fun-loving, of good character and engaged in the life of the campus. They have always been very well-rounded, ambitious, kind and interpersonally skilled. Q: What trends can you pinpoint in students over your time at Elon? A: Students are much more technologically savvy. They’re much more service- and civic engagement-oriented. They’re also more open to differences and more likely to voice their positions. At the same time, greater numbers of students are coming to campuses with more severe mental health issues. A very positive aspect is that students and parents are more open about these issues and therefore more open to addressing them. Openness about learning disabilities has also improved educational access and success for many students. Q: What issues do students deal with now that weren’t prevalent when you arrived? A: Many of the issues with which we deal now are the result of increased pressures on students of today. They are constantly bombarded with information and so many choices; making decisions can be challenging. The internet, which was just coming into vogue in 1994, has been ever present in the lives of today’s student body. This has affected the students’ awareness of world events as well as their relationships with peers and the use of social media, positively and negatively. In addition, Elon students of today are very entrepreneurial and innovative, so keeping up with their creative endeavors is a change, as the speed of campus life seems be more rapid. Q: What are some of the demands for services and amenities students often request,

{ Smith Jackson during a campus conversation. Below: Jackson, center, with Josephine Gardner ‘17 & Colby Halligan ’15, recipients of the Ward Family Learning in Action Award in 2015 & 2014, respectively. }

and how has the university balanced those with the rest of the student experience? A: Students of today expect a good fitness center, good living environments with community spaces, first-rate technology across the campus, an array of dining options, a more vibrant downtown and more student activities on campus, excellence in athletic events and campus speakers, etc. Students are also more particular in the niches they seek, versus the one-size-fits-all approach of the past. They expect 24-hour access to services. The university addresses these increased demands for services and amenities by staying focused on making decisions that emphasize that the campus and programs are designed with student learning in mind. Q: Elon has become a model for integrated student life. How has that affected the overall student experience? A: At Elon the focus is on student learning and mentoring. Elon’s philosophy is that learning takes place best when students are involved and invested in the process and that learning occurs not only in the classroom but outside the classroom as well. We see learning as “seamless,” where intellectual and social are not seen as opposites; rather, learning is seen as a function of the whole person and experience—it should be continuous, overlapping and mutually reinforcing. Because we know students learn from each other outside of class, Elon faculty and staff work to intentionally extend learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom. Q: What are the biggest accomplishments in the realm of student life during your time at Elon? A: Some of the biggest accomplishments would have to include deepening the belief that the entire campus and student experiences should be about student learning. I have always

been interested in how we can best shape the campus climate and student experiences for students’ growth and learning. I hope I have contributed to creating a campus climate of mutual respect and the valuing of each person, and this includes being fair in handling student situations, always with an eye to what is fair, just and developmental. Q: How do you see the Elon student experience continuing to evolve in the next 25 years? A: In 1994, it would have been hard to predict the 2017 Elon student experience, so it is impossible to predict the Elon experience of 2042. I do believe Elon has found its niche of being the premier campus in the nation, and even beyond, for engaged learning. The investment of the university in providing a residentially based education is something I would expect will only continue to develop and deepen. To maximize the campus’ learning climate will involve the university continuing to become a more diverse population. Nonetheless, the rate of technology and information will only continue to accelerate, so virtual learning is bound to lower the classroom walls and open up new learning opportunities for engagement across the globe. Also, I expect opportunities and the need for community engaged partnerships and experiences with different cultures will invest students, faculty and staff more deeply in local and regional, long-term projects. I would expect an even greater emphasis of immersive experiences to further community and cultural engagement. And I believe there will be even more emphasis on and off the campus for students to innovate and create new programs and structures. Summer 2017 33

From the ARCHIVES

Fallen SOLDIER Remembering Charles Whitelock, Class of 1918, the first Elon student to die in military service 100 years ago. BY ALEXA BOSCHINI ’10

calling to serve his country ran in Charles Nottingham Whitelock’s blood. His greatgreat-grandfather died in the War of 1812, his grandfather and two greatuncles in the Civil War and his uncle in the Spanish American War. Like his relatives before him, Whitelock lost his life during his service, becoming Elon’s first fallen serviceman. Born and raised in Huntington, Indiana, Whitelock began attending Elon in fall 1914 and immediately took an active role in campus leadership. His peers chose him as vice president of their class, and as a class representative in the freshman-sophomore debate. He served as secretary and treasurer of his dorm as a sophomore. He became an active member of the Clio Literary Society. He was part of the Yankee Club, a group for students from the North. And he was elected president of the Elon YMCA in spring 1917, the day before President Woodrow Wilson’s address asking Congress to declare war on Germany. Though World War I began in Europe on July 28, 1914, the United States did not intervene until April 6, 1917. Congress declared war following an increase in German submarine attacks and Britain’s interception of the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany proposed an alliance with Mexico against the United States. In his first act as president of the YMCA, Whitelock held a rally at Elon to address the question, “Shall a Christian fight?”—an event that filled the YMCA hall and overflowed into the campus auditorium. According to a note in the Elon Bulletin announcing Whitelock’s death, “when the service concluded, he remarked that his purpose had been accomplished with his own decision without further hesitation to offer his services to the government.” Though he was a junior, Whitelock was selected to speak at Commencement in 1917 as a Clio Society representative orator. He was slated to give an address fittingly titled “Our Responsibility to Our Democracy.” He never delivered the speech because of his decision to pursue military service, but the text is available in Elon’s archives. On April 23, 1917, Whitelock wrote to his father asking permission 34 the MAGAZINE of ELON

to leave school and enter an officer training camp. He applied to train at Fort Oglethorpe in Georgia, but he was rejected despite passing the physical test. His mother speculated in writings after his death that this was because of his youth, or perhaps “a defective arch in his feet.” He next missed the conscription draft call by five days. The call was for men who would be 21 years old by June 5, 1917; Whitelock did not turn 21 until June 10, but he would not abandon his desire to serve. He decided to pursue the ambulance service instead, telling his mother he wanted “to save life, and not destroy it.” He ventured to Indianapolis and enlisted in the Red Cross Ambulance Co., No. 18 on Aug. 4, 1917. He was called to report for duty on Sept. 16 at Camp Grant in Illinois, but his service was brief. Whitelock developed appendicitis and later peritonitis, an inflammation of the abdomen’s inner wall. The condition proved fatal, and he died at the base hospital on Oct. 4, 1917. According to a memorandum certificate from Capt. Mason B. Light, Whitelock “showed excellent character and obedience in every line of duty” during his service. According to an article from the News & Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina, published after his death, Whitelock expected to be sent to France “and was anxious for that time to come.” The piece also noted he was “a universal favorite of students and faculty” at Elon. He received his degree posthumously, along with three other Elon students who died during the war—Pvt. Herbert H. Barber, Sgt. William Frank Odom and Capt. John Carl Miller. Whitelock was survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. His funeral was held Oct. 8, 1917, at First Christian Church in his hometown of Huntington. Elon’s N.G. Newman, the college pastor, represented the school at the service. His family received telegrams and letters from many in the Elon community in the days following his death, including President William Harper, the YMCA, the Clio Society and the Class of 1918. At the 1920 Commencement ceremony, the Class of 1918 donated a memorial tablet to Elon honoring those who sacrificed their lives during the war. At the dedication, classmate Gertrude Minniear said of Whitelock, “the greatest tribute we can pay to him by word of mouth, is to say that his integrity was never questioned. In the memory of Charles, our prayer is that Elon College may be the Alma Mater of many sons typified by the life of Charles N. Whitelock.”

ALUMNI ACTION

Why every percentage point matters Dear Elon alumni,

eflecting back on the 2016–17 year, our alumni body should be proud. More than 6,400 of you strengthened the Elon network and cultivated lifelong relationships by attending an Elon event or participating in other forms of meaningful engagement, an 11 percent increase over the previous year. Nearly 2,300 of you served in a variety of alumni leadership and volunteer opportunities to support your alma mater, a 17 percent increase. More than 6,700 of you made a gift, a 10 percent increase in the number of alumni donors. Despite all of that, perhaps our most significant accomplishment was the 1 percent increase in our alumni giving participation rate from 22 to 23 percent. Let me explain. The participation rate is the total count of our alumni body divided by the number donating to Elon. We’ve come a long way in recent years, raising the participation rate from 16 percent in 2009 to 23 percent in 2017. While that may seem modest, consider the fact that the number of donors has nearly doubled in that timeframe and reached new heights each and every year. So why is the rate such a challenge to increase? The denominator. With more than 1,400 students, the Class of 2017 is significantly bigger than the Class of 2007 (966 students), 1997 (561 students), 1987 (294 students), 1977 (187 students) or the Class of 1967 (106 students). So while a percentage point may appear insignificant, every point increase represents a substantial step forward given Elon’s increasing class sizes and corresponding alumni base. Why should it matter to you?

As an Elon alum, I know you strive to reach your full potential and positively impact the world. As a university, your alma mater is working each day to do the same. As the alumni participation rate rises, it allows Elon to provide more scholarships, innovate alumni programs, empower more students to take advantage of engaged learning opportunities, fund student organizations and events, and do even more to prepare future graduates the world needs. We all love Elon and believe in its future, and while our 23 percent beats national averages, we can do better. Raising it will put us in the company of the top-ranked institutions in the country. Fine institutions all of them, but I would put our alumni body’s passion, dedication and commitment to Elon up against any one of them. We are Elon. So, in the midst of all that we accomplished together this year, don’t underestimate what that 1 percent increase means to Elon and what it says about the momentum we share as an alumni body. Just imagine what is possible with the unified idea that we’re going to keep surging forward. Collectively, we are limitless. Since this column is typically reserved for the Elon Alumni Board president, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Chris Bell ’92 for lending his space to me. Chris’ steady leadership as an alumnus has been invaluable. I’m grateful for his service as he becomes the next president of the Elon Alumni Board. I look forward to seeing you at one of our regional events or on campus Nov. 3–5 at Homecoming. Brian Feeley ’03 Director of Alumni Engagement

CELEBRATING ALUMNI SUCCESS

Alumni representing many disciplines were honored this spring for their professional accomplishments and upholding Elon’s values in their communities and the world. ՔՔ Michael Capps ’99, director of bands at A.L. Stanback Middle School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, with the Elon College Distinguished Alumnus Award in the Arts & Humanities

{ Carly Ledbetter ’13, Ralph Mueller ’83 & Michael Capps ’99 }

Elon College, the College of Arts

and Sciences recognized:

ՔՔ Ralph Mueller ’83, vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost at Purdue Northwest University in Indiana, with the Elon College Distinguished Alumnus Award in the Natural, Mathematical & Computing Sciences

ՔՔ Carly Ledbetter ’13, lifestyle editor for The Huffington Post, with the Elon College Distinguished Alumna Award in Social Sciences.

The Elon University School of Law recognized four distinguished alumni: ՔՔ Angelique Ryan L’16 received the Young Alumna Award (in absentia) ՔՔ Adrianne Edmonds Poe L’11 received the Distinguished Service to Elon Law School Award

{ Adrianne E. Poe L’11 }

{ Jim R. Grant L’12 } } { Elon University Scho

ՔՔ James “Jim” R. Grant L’12 received the George R. Johnson Professional Achievement Award ՔՔ Kristin Thompson Seum L’13 received the Leary F. Davis Service and Leadership in the Community Award (in absentia). summer 2017 35

on the town

ALUMNI ACTION

ANNUAL Welcome to the City Series 9thCOMING SOON

ach fall, Elon’s alumni chapters host events as part of the Welcome to the City event series. Hosted in restaurants, at baseball games, in parks or your city’s newest hot spot, these events connect new graduates and relocated alumni to the Elon network in their new cities. If you are new to one of the 38 areas where we have an alumni chapter, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know others in your city, meet chapter leaders and learn more about Elon programming in your new home. { Charlotte }

More information about dates and locations for the entire event series, as well as other regional programs, can be found at www.elon.edu/alumni. We hope to see you at the events in your area!

{ Philadelphia }

{ Cleveland }

WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI FAMILY, CLASS OF 2017!

our Elon experience didn’t end at graduation. Now that you are an alum, Elon will continue to serve you in many ways—through job opportunities from alumni, chapter events in your area, Homecoming and professional development opportunities. Help Elon keep you informed and involved by updating your information. Visit www.elon.edu/alumniupdate to ensure you receive information relevant to you. 36 the MAGAZINE of ELON

ALUMNI ACTION

Communications Survey Spring 2017

In the spring, the Alumni 360 volunteers gave very insightful input and feedback about their Survey communication preferences with Elon. Below areCommunications the highlights from the survey’s results. Spring 2017 More information can be found at www.elon.edu/alumni360.

Preferred method of communication:

GET READY TO CHEER ON THE

PHOENIX! Miss seeing the Phoenix in action? The Phoenix Club and Elon’s alumni chapters are planning events to help you cheer on Elon where you live. Below are some of the football tailgates you can attend:

490

Preferred Emails method of communication:

490

The Magazine of Elon Emails

RESPONDENTS

Social media channels The Magazine of Elon

RESPONDENTS

Social media channels

Favorite Magazine of Elon section: Favorite Magazine of Elon section:

Campus { Denver } news Campus

Alumni stories Alumni

news

stories

communication device:

Sept. 23 – Richmond Spiders

47% 47%

Watch for emails this fall to learn about additional opportunities to support the Phoenix in your own backyard.

TO FIND A CHAPTER NEAR YOU, GO TO

www.elon.edu/alumni.

notes

Preferred communication device: Preferred

Sept. 9 – Furman Paladins Oct. 28 – Villanova Wildcats

Class notes Class

44% 44% Computer

Mobile Mobile phone phone

Computer

Best time of of day Best time day to communicate: to communicate:

86% 86% consider Elon web pages consider Elon web pages to be mobile-friendly to be mobile-friendly Best dayof ofweek week Best day to communicate: to communicate:

Evening 1 1Evening Morning 2 2Morning Afternoon 3 3Afternoon

MON. MON.

TUES. TUES.

WED. WED.

KEEP ELON IN THE KNOW

If you have recently moved or changed jobs, make sure to update your information at www.elon.edu/alumniupdate to receive information about upcoming events in your area. summer 2017 37

ALUMNI ACTION

SAVE THE DATE FOR #ELONHOME 2017

WELCOME HOME NOV. 3–5

It’s time to gather your friends and book your hotel room for Homecoming 2017, Nov. 3–5. Don’t miss the chance to reconnect with alumni, students, faculty and staff. We have an event lineup that is better than ever!

SIGNATURE #ELONHOME EVENTS INCLUDE: ✪✪

✪✪

Rock the Block: Elon Community Block Party, a celebration on Haggard Avenue (between the Alamance and Moseley Center buildings) that includes food trucks, live music, a beer garden and plenty of family-friendly activities. Class Without a Quiz: Design Thinking Edition, an hour workshop that introduces the design thinking process with a social innovation case study, hands-on learning activities and interaction with faculty leading this new initiative at Elon. Homecoming 5K Brick Run, a Saturday morning run through campus. All participants will receive a giveaway and special prizes will be awarded.

✪✪

Game Day Experience, featuring a BBQ lunch and lawn games in the All-Alumni Tailgate before Elon takes on CAA rival Towson.

✪✪

Homecoming Concert, our fun and free annual outdoor concert. Artist will be announced in early fall.

✪✪

Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony, honoring Susan Yow ’76, W. Cecil Worsley III ’86 P’14, Garrett McKnight ’94, Brandon Shore ’08 and Ashleigh Palmer Weathers ’08.

✪✪

Class and Affinity Reunion events and more!

Registration opens in early fall at www.elon.edu/homecoming. Email alumni@elon.edu with questions or if you want to learn about volunteer opportunities at Homecoming. 38 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Did you know? Your graduating class now has a Facebook group. Go to Facebook.com and search for your class using “Elon Class of ________.” Join the new group to stay in touch with classmates and keep updated on class news. And don’t forget to follow Elon Alumni for all things Elon!

CLASS NOTES

CLASS 62| NOTES

REUNION Members of the Class of 1962 will reunite on campus at Elon’s Homecoming on Nov. 3–5 to celebrate their 55th reunion with other Golden Alumni. Reunion committee chairs Carol Adams Foster and Della Marie McKinnon look forward to seeing classmates at this significant reunion. For questions please contact reunions@elon.edu.

66|

David P. and Charlotte Harper ’68 Layton renewed

their wedding vows in July as they celebrated 50 years of marriage. David still remembers that fateful day in Whitley Auditorium when he first laid eyes on Charlotte as he played a song by The Lettermen on his guitar. “The look on her face and in her eyes told me that we could not have chosen a more appropriate song,” David recalls, adding that while he lost the ability to sing and play the guitar 18 years ago after suffering two strokes, his love for “that same beautiful brunette” has not wavered. “She always had this unique ability to make me feel much more talented and special than any mortal could possibly be,” he says, “so my heart keeps on singing as she keeps that spark of love in her eyes.” He is forever thankful to Elon for bringing them together and to God for all the blessings and

happiness they have enjoyed in the past 50 years. David and Charlotte live in Summerfield, N.C., having moved there in 2006 in order to be closer to grandchildren Jonathan and Christina.

67|

REUNION Reunion committee chairs Sandy Bueschel Bass, Tom Bass and Sam Troy, along with committee members Gail Campbell Allcock, Anne Stegall Atwater, Hilda Eason, Tim Gifford, Marty Matthews Grimson, Oliver Halle, Gregory Knott, Clyde O’Ferrell, Phil Shaw, Linda Shields and Jane Holler Williamson encourage all classmates to attend the 50th class reunion during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3–5. Members of the class will receive their Golden Alumni Medallions at a special luncheon and induction ceremony on Friday, Nov. 3. For questions please contact reunions@elon.edu. • Oliver Halle attended a reunion of the Swift Boat Sailors Association in San Diego. The organization honors veterans who served on the 51-foot gunboats during the Vietnam War. Oliver, a retired FBI agent, lives in Atlanta.

72|

REUNION The Class of 1972 will be celebrating its 45th reunion at Elon’s Homecoming, Nov. 3–5. ALUMNI ALBUM

Reunion committee chair Charlie Davis and committee members Barry Cheatham, Beth Brinckerhoff Johnson, Dean McBrayer, Henry Pittman and York Poole look forward to seeing the rest of the class back on campus to help celebrate this special weekend. For questions please contact reunions@elon.edu.

75|

Drew Parr retired in December after working with Smithfield Foods for more than 30 years. He and wife Joan Shultzaberger ’76 call the community of Chesapeake, Va., their home. His fond memories of Elon include Barry Bradberry, a fellow Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity brother.

77|

REUNION Reunion committee co-chairs Don Ritter and Terry Charlton, as well as committee members Bill Gortney, Les Hall, Andy Kirkman and Rick Renick ’80 invite the Class of 1977 back on campus Nov. 3–5 to help celebrate their 40th reunion. For any questions, please contact reunions@elon.edu.

79|

himself in more than one role throughout his 38-year career in education. After a threeyear stint as a physical education teacher and head football coach at North Stanly High School in North Carolina, he spent 35 years teaching physical education in South Carolina’s Chesterfield County School District, also serving as driver’s education instructor for the past 25 years and as offensive line football and women’s basketball coach at Cheraw High School. Now retired, he lives in Cheraw with wife Trina.

80| David P. ’66 & Charlotte ’68 Layton

Joey Mills has found

Chris Jones was inducted

into the 2016 Nandua High School Hall of Fame in Onley, Va. For 15 years, Chris coached, taught and served as theater director at the school, where he led his theater teams to the state finals 10 times and managed to grab the 1995 state theater championship along the way. He and wife Cindy live in Midlothian.

Oliver Halle ’67 (center) & friends

82|

REUNION Join the Class of 1982’s 35th reunion committee chair Scott Stevenson and committee members Patty Brodie-Bailey, Ron Ehrhardt and Kelley Loughlin France on Nov. 3–5 to participate in class reunion activities and reminisce

Aaron Chatkin ’86 & Dawn Chatkin

Bryan James ’95 summer 2017 39

CLASS NOTES

AN ADVOCATE for PEACE & JUSTICE

AITH, AS WELL AS THE SEARCH FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, stand as constants in the ever-changing life of the Rev. Joyce Myers-Brown ’59. As a teenager, she left the comfort of her home in Philadelphia to attend a rally featuring Martin Luther King, Jr. His speeches discussing the need to create “the beloved community” resonated with her deeply, influencing her perception of the world. His call for equality continues to fuel her desire to help those in need to this day. From an early age, Myers-Brown’s faith and family helped her develop an attitude of love for every being. “I was raised by wonderful Christian parents and was very close to my grandfather, the Rev. Harry W. Myers, who was also my pastor,” says the ordained United Church of Christ minister. “I learned of God’s love for all people and the call to ‘life in its abundance’ for all.” After graduating high school, Myers-Brown began her search for higher education with two main criteria: she wanted a college affiliated with the United Church of Christ and she wanted to experience the South. Her search soon led her to a small school in North Carolina, relatively unknown in the North at the time—Elon College. Like many other students, Myers-Brown’s college years helped to shape her life path. “I started out as a religion and math major. I was going to teach math in Turkey in a school related to our United Church Board for World Ministries,” she recalls. “Then, because of a variety of summer church-related service experiences, I switched to a triple major: religion, philosophy and religious education.” Though her majors changed, her path to service remained intact. After graduating summa cum laude from Elon in 1959, Myers-Brown moved back north to attend Hartford Seminary in Connecticut. She was ordained in 1963 and shortly after was sent to serve in Angola for theological education and leadership training. Her time in the African nation, while presenting various challenges, enlightened and expanded her worldview. After more than a decade in Angola, her ability to adapt to change was tested again. “When I finally got to Angola, I expected to be there for many, many years—my whole career,” she says, “but a civil war changed that and I was evacuated in 1975.” After her return to the United States, Myers-Brown continued to support the country she called home for 12 years, going on a yearlong media tour speaking out against the violence she saw and bringing to light the issues that colonization caused within Angola. She served as a missionary-in-residence in New York City and on staff with the Office

40 the MAGAZINE of ELON

BY TYLER SEIBRING ’19

for Church Life and Leadership before moving to Atlanta for a 10-year assignment as Southern Regional Associate with OCLL. During this time, she met the late Rev. Edward M. Brown, whom she married in 1987. Always looking to make a difference, Myers-Brown got involved with the Atlanta chapter of Adopt-a-Minefield, a landmine-clearing effort by the United Nations, and helped raise money to clear nine mine fields in Mozambique. Her legacy of peace and justice grows as she continues her life’s work—whether it is tutoring twice a week at a school with children of Hispanic immigrants, participating weekly in peaceful protests carrying a “War is Not the Answer” sign as part of the Stand for Peace initiative or through her involvement with the Atlanta Interfaith Sisters and Church Women United. For her unwavering service to people in her community and around the word, Myers-Brown has received numerous recognitions, including the 1989 Antoinette Brown Outstanding Woman in Ministry Award, the 1998 Henry Weaver Peace Award, the 2002 Church Women United Valiant Woman Award and the 2007 CWU Human Rights Award. Those who know Myers-Brown well can attest the world is a better place because of her. Staci Robbins stills remembers when she first met her in 2014. Robbins was teaching third grade at Montclair Elementary School, where Myers-Brown volunteers as a reading tutor. “She came twice a week to work with three students and I could see a difference in these shy readers almost immediately,” Robbins says. “The bond Reverend Joyce formed with these students and their families was incredible.” Myers-Brown continued working with students in Robbins’ class in the fourth grade; she is still in contact with them and their families. “Recently she planned a lunch for me to meet up with her and two of my former students,” Robbins says. “It is incredible to see how they have come out of their shells with her.” Friend and fellow Prayers for Peace participant Barbara Gifford calls Myers-Brown “the backbone” of the group. “Without her, P4P would never have survived,” she says. “I am grateful for the example she is to me, and many others, of perseverance as she pursues the cause of justice. She is a faithful, praying and loving friend and I give thanks for her being in my life.” Myers-Brown just turned 80, and while she cannot be as active as she once was, she plans to continue living in service to others. “I sure need to keep on keeping on because there is still so much to work for,” she says.

CLASS NOTES

about the great times spent at Elon. The committee is looking forward to catching up with classmates during Homecoming weekend. For questions please contact reunions@elon.edu.

85|

Bill Bride has a sports

blog and was given the opportunity to cover the Elon women’s basketball team’s first-ever appearance in the ncaa Tournament in March. While also meeting Elon President Leo M. Lambert, Bill described the event as an “exciting experience” and looks forward to covering more Elon athletics in the Washington, D.C., area. He lives in Sterling, Va. • Steven Sabol, an associate professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has written

a second book, “The Touch of Civilization: Comparing American and Russian Internal Colonization.” The book was published in March by the University Press of Colorado. He lives in Charlotte.

86|

Passionate about traveling,

Aaron Chatkin and wife

Dawn have completed 30 cruises. Their most recent experience took them to Italy, Greece and Croatia. When they aren’t traveling, they enjoy time with the two family bulldogs, Herman and Oliver. They live in Gastonia, N.C. • Bill Coffman {mba ’88} looks forward to seeing his lifelong brothers and former sweethearts at Sigma Pi’s 40th reunion during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3–5. For questions

ALUMNI ALBUM

Charitable Gift Annuities Can Provide Income for Life a charitable gift annuity of $10,000 or more to Elon will guarantee a fixed income for the rest of your life. With market interest rates near historic lows, a gift annuity is an attractive way to increase your income and make a gift to Elon at the same time. You will receive immediate tax benefits and can defer capital gains. The payment rate of a charitable gift annuity depends on your age at the time of the gift—the older you are, the higher the rate.

CURRENT RATES ONE BENEFICIARY

TWO BENEFICIARIES

AGE

ANNUIT Y R ATE

AGE

ANNUIT Y R ATE

4.4%

60/65

4.0%

4.7%

67/67

4.4%

5.1%

71/73

4.7%

Annuity rates are subject to change. The annuity rate remains fixed once your gift is made.

To explore a gift annuity for you, your spouse or a family member, visit ELONLEGACY.ORG. Talk with us today about how you may benefit from a life income gift to Elon and other gift planning opportunities. Zack Worrell ’95

Geoff Gentry ’97

please contact: Carolyn DeFrancesco, Director of Planned Giving 336-278-7454 ■ cdefrancesco@elon.edu ■ elonlegacy.org.

l-r: Sarah R. Smith ’98, Jennifer McCumber Curtin ’98, Emma Curtin & Olivia Curtin

Juandalynn Freeman-Ray ’98

Kelly Suttles ’01 & family

Rebecca Lestner Hauser ’03

{ Inside a chemistry lab during the 1950s. } summer 2017 41

CLASS NOTES

On Her Own Terms BY TYLER SEIBRING ’19

he daughter of an architect and a theater producer, Beatrice Copeland ’11 discovered her passion for both organizing and storytelling at an early age. While at Elon, she came up with an idea for a show after seeing her classmates struggle with organization. She began producing videos for ESTV of her helping students be organized while offering tips to viewers, and Bea Organized was born. ”Elon provided me the opportunity to experiment,” Bea says. “I was able to find what I wanted to do both behind and in front of the camera.” Now living in New York and working at Refinery29, a digital media company focused on women, Copeland is still doing the show, though her clients have changed a bit over time. “It’s been fun to see the show grow—from starting with Elon students to working with bloggers, celebrity chef Gabe Kennedy and sometimes organizing my employees,” Copeland says. “It’s great being able to develop a show where I can fuse my knack for organizing and interest in making video content.” Her do-it-yourself and room-makeover series has garnered thousands of views on YouTube and become one of the company’s most popular segments. The topics she covers vary from tips on organizing “junk drawers” and streamlining closets, to how to use plants to bring light and color to a space and creating home décor items using inexpensive materials found at a dollar store. The life of a video producer leaves little time outside of work. There are no typical 9-to-5 workdays, Copeland says. Despite her hectic schedule, she still finds time to be a filmmaker. Her coming-of-age short film, “Erstwhile,” has been featured in several festivals, including the 2015 about reunion events, contact bcoffman@coffmansmenswear.com. • C.L. Marshall will publish his third book, “Hunting & Fishing the Chesapeake: Unforgettable Tales of Wing and Water,” in late fall. His previous book, “Chesapeake Bay Duck Hunting Tales,” was released November 2016. He lives with wife Cheryl in Pocomoke, Md.

87|

REUNION Time to celebrate the Class of 1987’s 30th reunion with committee co-chairs Lisa Shadyac Afshar and Marty Matthews, and committee members Anne Frank Casey, Tammy Cobb, John Edwards, Penny Pickering Green and Randall Holley. They hope their classmates make plans to head back to campus Nov. 3–5 to help celebrate this exciting milestone

42 the MAGAZINE of ELON

Cannes Short Film Corner. In 2016 she won the Symbiosis Competition at the Imagine Science Film Festival sponsored by the Tribeca Film Institute with “Light Hearted,” where she partnered with geneticist Andres Mansisidor to { Beatrice Copeland ’11, right, & celebrity chef Gabe Kennedy } describe love in terms of electromagnetism, chemistry and radiation. “It allowed us the opportunity to mesh science with art and film,” Copeland says. While she is enjoying her time at Refinery29, Copeland’s ultimate goal is to be behind the camera full time, directing. It’s a dream largely inspired by her experience with Elon in LA in summer 2009, when she realized the significant difference between the number of male and female directors. “It ignited something in me that I didn’t even know I had,” she says. “I had never considered being a director before.” Copeland is encouraged by the progress she has seen in the industry in the short time since graduating from Elon. “All of the forward momentum with women in film, commercials and TV is very exciting,” she says. “We’re at an interesting time when women in the industry should feel empowered to take risks and put their stories out there. “Now is the time to be unapologetically yourself.” With a short film on the horizon, Copeland is on her way to achieving her dream and continuing to tell her story and that of other women— on her own terms.

together. For questions please contact reunions@elon.edu.

92|

REUNION Exciting plans are underway for the Class of 1992’s 25th reunion during Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3–5. Reunion committee chair Deanna Hansbrough Manning and members Brian Allen, Andrew Cleffi, Raquel Coulbourn Donaldson, Bill Hanckel, Melissa Allen Hogan, Heather Williamson Meadors, Cindy Bailey Ryman, Sallie Hutton Sistare, Carter Smith, Laura Kinney Wright and Malissa Zimmerman hope to see all their classmates on campus to mark this special milestone. For more information, please contact reunions@elon.edu. • Russell Witcher, a music minister, has published a book, “Coming Out of the Ashes.” He and wife Frances live in Burlington, N.C.

95|

Rebekah Davis has accepted

a four-year graduate assistant position in the Media and Education Technology Resource Center at N.C. State University, where she will pursue a doctorate degree in learning, design and technology. Her responsibilities include working with pre-service teachers alongside faculty to include new methods of technology in their practice. Rebekah and husband Joe Davis ’93 live in Elon, N.C. • Bryan James was promoted to director of global accounts receivable for CSC, a leading provider of business, legal, tax and digital brand services. On a side note, he is featured in the documentary “Sons of Ben,” which is available on Netflix and iTunes, among other on-demand platforms. Bryan established the grassroots group Sons of Ben a decade ago with the intention of attracting a Major League Soccer team to Pennsylvania.

CLASS NOTES ALUMNI ALBUM

Lindsey Coley ’04

Peter Bellezza ’06

97|

REUNION It’s time for the Class of 1997’s 20th reunion. Committee chair David Stern and members Aimee Dick Carter, Melissa Crowe, Christi Chandler Floyd, Beth Everett Murphy, Rebecca Romig Parks, Stephanie O’Brien Putnam, Patrick Ryder and Anji Roe Wood hope classmates make plans to mark this milestone with them at Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3–5. For more information, contact reunions@elon.edu. • Geoff Gentry was named the Classified Employee of the Year at McDougle Middle School in Chapel Hill, N.C. A data

Alexander Dubé, Melissa Steinbach Dubé ’07 & daughters Catalina Vera & Olivia Sarah

Kyle Kolkmann ’09, Lisa Burzotta Kolkmann ’09 & friends

Brandon Poling ’07 & Tarryn Poling That dream became a reality when the Philadelphia Union began play in 2010. Ben lives in Lincoln University with wife Mary. • Zack Worrell is a designer, maker and founder of Monolith Studio Knives. He was a runner-up in Garden and Gun Magazine’s Made in the South Awards (home category), was featured in the December/January issue of the magazine and attended its jubilee celebration in Charleston, S.C. Zack and wife Carrie Kiser Worrell ’95 call Charlottsville, Va., their home.

Samantha McComas King ’06 & Charles J. King, Jr.

manager at the school, he was also an honor recipient for the Mary Scroggs Award for Excellence in Providing Support Services for the Chapel HillCarrboro City Schools. He lives in Burlington, N.C.

98|

Jennifer McCumber Curtin

is happy to announce she successfully ran the 2017 Boston Marathon, an experience she called “simply amazing.” Sarah R. Smith served as “captain” of her local support team, which included family, friends and Elon alumni Jackie Gardner Allred ’94 and Melisha Hartman Chamra ’03. Alongside her training, Jennifer was part of the team that worked with Joslin Diabetes Research Center to raise more than $225,000 for Type 1 diabetes research efforts. She is the director of marketing services at High Point University and lives in Burlington, N.C. • Juandalynn Freeman-Ray, an educator for Clinton County Schools in North Carolina, was one of nine teachers statewide selected as the regional Teachers of the Year for her dedication, innovation and ability to inspire

Justin R. Ervin III G’10, John Denning ’93 & Matthew Antonio Bosch

others to achieve. She competed for the 2017 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year title, representing the Sandhills Region. She lives in Clinton. • Dana Obrist has been promoted to vice president for corporate communications at Wells Fargo Bank. In that role, she manages media relations for the company’s middle market banking (east). She and husband Patrick welcomed daughter Delaney Francesca, on 6/10/16. The family lives in Charlotte, N.C.

99|

Calvin Stanley passed the

board certified behavioral analyst exam in August and received his Massachusetts license in February. He works as a behavioral consultant for the May Institute, where he assists children with autism and developmental delays. His primary focus is reducing difficult behaviors such as aggression, selfinjury and development, and helping children become more adept in social settings and their surroundings. Calvin lives in Randolph, with his wife, Joanna Li.

01|

After receiving a master’s degree in natural resources from N.C. State University, Kelly Suttles has joined the U.S. Forest Service to complete a oneyear Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education fellowship. During that time, Kelly is using hydrologic models to assess future effects of climate change and urbanization on water resources to help land managers and policymakers plan for associated risks. She and husband John live in Hillsborough, N.C.

02|

REUNION Josh Phoebus has stepped up to chair the Class of 2002’s 15th reunion committee. He and committee members Mary Scot McAllister Boyce, Katie Sullivan Corrigan, Josh Donley, Maggie Houts Donley, Jaya Martin and Janell Niebuhr would like to encourage all classmates to come back to campus Nov. 3–5 for Elon’s Homecoming weekend to celebrate. For more information, contact reunions@elon.edu. summer 2017 43

CLASS NOTES

03|

Rebecca Lestner Hauser was

chosen by The Daily Record as one of 50 recipients of its 2016 Leading Women awards, which recognize accomplished women 40 years old or younger based on “professional experience, community involvement and commitment to change.” Rebecca is owner and founder of The Painted Palette, a popular art studio in Maryland she opened in 2012 after spending 13 years working in the fields of corporate communications and community relations. Encouraging

appreciation and creation of beautiful art from people of all skill levels, the business has found great success around the Baltimore area.

04|

Lindsey A. Coley was

selected as one of the 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars. The national legal ranking recognizes attorneys who are 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less. Lindsey was chosen by her peers for her outstanding professional achievement in the area of employment and labor

law. She is a partner with Gentry Locke.

05|

Theresa Cooley received

her master’s degree in liberal studies from Duke University in May. She is a realtor for Coldwell Banker and lives in Durham, N.C. • Yale University Press published John Penniman’s first book, “Raised on Christian Milk: Food and the Formation of the Soul in Early Christianity,” in June. John is an assistant professor of religious studies at Bucknell University. He lives in Lewisburg, Pa.

Leveling the scales of justice for youth offenders BY SARAH MULNICK ’17

ntil recently, there was only one state where all 16- and 17-year-olds were required to be tried as adults in the criminal justice system: North Carolina. Fighting to end the practice altogether and erase that distinction in his home state was Ricky Watson, Jr. L’11. The Elon Law alumnus joined the Southern Coalition for Social Justice last year as co-director of its Youth Justice Project. In his role, Watson helped lead“raise the age” efforts that included legislative advocacy and hosting educational sessions to educate the community on how North Carolina criminalized its youth and why the nearly 100-year-old law should change. When North Carolina lawmakers passed the state budget in June, Watson and other criminal justice reform advocates from the Outer Banks to the Blue Ridge Parkway claimed partial victory: Starting in 2019, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors and low-level, nonviolent felonies in North Carolina will have their cases adjudicated in the juvenile justice system. “I’m big on advocating and fighting for the ‘little guy,’ a person that maybe people have given up on,” says the Greensboro native. Watson has worked for the Guilford County Public Defender’s Office and the Social Security Administration. Both positions connected him to underserved populations with limited access to legal resources. Making a move to the Youth Justice Project was a natural next step in the evolution of a career focused on social justice and public service. As Watson sees it, North Carolina’s “school-to-prison pipeline” pushes teens into prison rather than remediation programs in public schools or local communities. Even those charged with crimes that may later be dismissed often encounter obstacles to finishing high school, applying to college and securing employment. Watson is in favor of allowing all youth to remain in the more rehabilitative juvenile system, regardless of the alleged offense, because

44 the MAGAZINE of ELON

he believes youth and the community have more to gain from the developmentally appropriate programming present in juvenile court. As such, there is more work to be done. “I was representing kids who had been funneled from the classroom into the prison system for what was often minor behavioral issues,” Watson says. “The majority of the cases that I handled were incidents of youthful behavior that most kids grow out of with time. Seeing that firsthand sparked an interest in figuring out how to help alleviate young people from all the collateral consequences of being in the system.” Elon Law Professor Catherine Dunham saw Watson thrive as a law student as he found his passion for helping underserved populations. At the same time, Dunham says, an innate humility led Watson to forge strong relationships with those around him, something that makes him a perfect candidate to work at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. “Ricky was a really good colleague to fellow students—he was supportive, humble in his accomplishments, always genuinely happy for the success of his peers,” Dunham says. “A student like that leaves an impression. He really has the character to work with social justice.” Watson remains hopeful for additional changes in the way North Carolina treats juvenile offenders. Legislation to “raise the age” found strong support in Raleigh, much like it did earlier this year when New York lawmakers ended the practice there of automatically trying 16- and 17-yearolds in adult court. But there is still work ahead. “I’m proud of all of the hard work advocates across the state have done to see this finally happen,” Watson said of the recent changes. “Even though we’ve raised the age, we still have a lot of work to do improving our juvenile justice system. We’ve got to continue this work to ensure the most positive outcomes for all youth here in North Carolina. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

CLASS NOTES

06|

07|

Peter Bellezza has completed

REUNION Join Class of 2007’s 10th reunion chair Michael Bumbry and committee members Jeremy Allen, Kyle Baker, Jen Budd, Natasha Christensen, Matt Dunand, Meghan Partelow Fisher, Carson Foushee, Clifton Johnson, Garrett Kachellek, John Kalas, Brittany Kendrick, Kiley Moorefield McGrady, Katie Radcliffe, Rachel Rogers, Emily Schmitt, LaToya Smalls, Janelle Styons and Jackie Immordino Wollett on Nov. 3–5 to participate

a three-year residency training program at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. A foot and ankle surgeon, Peter has accepted a physician position at Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty Group in Connecticut. As the only podiatrist on staff, he handles all foot and ankle pathology within the group. • Samantha McComas and Charles J. King, Jr. were married 9/24/16 at the Maylon House in Milton, W.Va. Samantha is a coordinator for Cabell Huntington Hospital. They live in Huntington.

in class reunion activities during Elon’s Homecoming weekend. For more information, contact reunions@elon.edu. • Shantia Coley was selected as one of the National Black Lawyers’ 2017 Top 40 Under 40 in North Carolina. A milestone that requires both peer nomination and third-party research, Shantia demonstrated superior qualifications, leadership skills and performance in her areas of legal practice. She and husband Joshua live in Charlotte, N.C.,

where she is an associate attorney with Hedrick Gardner Kincheloe & Garofalo. • Melissa Steinbach Dubé and husband Alexander Dubé welcomed their second daughter, Catalina Vera, on 3/23/17. Catalina joins older sister Olivia Sarah. The family lives in Crofton, Md. • Brandon Poling and Tarryn Poling were married 5/7/17 in Jacksonville, Fla., where they live. Alumni in attendance included Liz Ludwig ’09, Jason Crawford ’10 and Eric Ludwig ’10. Brandon works in logistics for Estes.

ALUMNI ALBUM

Matthew Ramsey, Catherine Melendez Ramsey ’10 & daughter Isabella

Meredith Berge Reeves ’11

Jesse Scarborough ’14, Kara Johnson ’13 & Marshall Rogalski ’14

Jacki Shipp Melkonian ’11, Michael Melkonian & friends

Berkeley Smith Shoemaker ’12 & Kyle Shoemaker ’12

Alexandra Gol-Chambers ’14, Will Galleher ’14 & friends

Philip Nemec ’11, Melissa Nemec ’13 & son Lukas Philip

Darien Flowers ’13, Kirsten Ferreira Flowers ’13 & friends

Jennifer Sekulow Stringfellow ’15, Benjamin Stringfellow ’15 & friends summer 2017 45

CLASS NOTES

MAKING WAVES IN SILICON VALLEY

BY OWEN COVINGTON

way I wanted to go,” Tumbleston says. “One thing that was so helpful to me at Elon was all the attention I got from the professors. The attention they gave me and the interest they had in my development was so important to me.” During graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tumbleston focused on solar energy research. Connections he built while obtaining his doctorate in physics from UNC and during postdoctoral work at N.C. State University would lead him to the Chapel Hill startup EIPI Systems that would { John Tumbleston ’06, left, helped attract Connor TeVault ’16 to Carbon, a leading 3D printing company in Silicon Valley. } become Carbon. The company has developed an innovative method for 3D printing that uses ultraviolet light and oxygen to ithin the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, John Tumbleston ’06 continuously grow polymer parts. While a move from solar energy to is used to seeing credentials from some of the country’s top three-dimensional printing might seem to the layman to be a stretch, technology schools. It’s much rarer for him to find an Elon it wasn’t for Tumbleston. “I had done a lot of research to use light diploma hanging on the wall in this global center of the tech industry. to move electrons around,” he says. “At Carbon, we use light to get But that’s something Tumbleston, head of print development for the 3D oxygen and materials to move around like we want them to.” printing firm Carbon, would like to change. In 2014 Tumbleston headed to Redwood City, California, as Carbon “We have a lot of representation here in Silicon Valley from schools relocated to Silicon Valley to be closer to some of those funding the like MIT and Stanford, and all these big schools, so I want to show what company as well as to attract top talent from the market. And while the those of us from Elon can do,” says Tumbleston, who in 2014 received the company draws from what Tumbleston says is a “great pool of talent,” Distinguished Alumnus Award from Elon College, the College of Arts & the Elon graduate has also looked back to his alma mater to offer young Sciences. scientists an opportunity. TeVault was a senior when he first chatted Tumbleston has already doubled the number of Elon alumni with Tumbleston about the Carbon internship via Skype. The summer employed by his company, which as a startup was based in Chapel before his sophomore year he had bought parts to make his own 3D Hill, North Carolina. Keeping in close contact with professors in the printer, and had been deeply involved in the Maker Hub while at Elon. Department of Physics, Tumbleston helped attract Connor TeVault ’16 to a He looks back to his senior capstone project, which examined the future summer internship at Carbon that led to a full-time position as a systems of the automotive industry, as well as the breadth of courses he took integration engineer. And he intends to tap into top Elon talent again in beyond physics as helping create the foundation he needs to be part of the future. “Elon means a lot to me for so many different reasons,” he says. Silicon Valley. “Elon’s diversity of core classes really prepares you to head Tumbleston grew up in the North Carolina mountain city of Boone, out into the workforce,” TeVault says. and when he began looking at colleges, he searched for a place that Tumbleston echoed those thoughts, saying that while his peers could satisfy his dual passions of running and science. He found it at within Carbon or at other companies who graduated from large research Elon, where he was part of the Teaching Fellows program and was a star institutions may have delved deeper into the science as undergraduates, cross country runner before earning his degree in physics and science Elon prepared him to think more broadly and exposed him to a more education. He was the A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2005 and creative approach to research. “I think when it comes to science and was named to ESPN’s Academic All-America Men’s Track and Field/Cross conducting research, some of the most important things are creativity, Country first team twice during his time at Elon. the ability to think outside the box and how to manage your time,” Through faculty members like Jimmie Agnew, Kyle Altmann, Pranab Tumbleston says. “These are all things that are central to a liberal Das, Tony Crider and Martin Kamela he developed a love of physics. “I knew I liked science when I started at Elon, but I didn’t know which arts education.”

46 the MAGAZINE of ELON

CLASS NOTES

11|

Nneka Enurah has been named

vice president for multi-platform and partnerships for production company Authentic Entertainment, a division of Endemol Shine North America. In her new role, Nneka leads creative development for original video across all platforms and establishes new strategic partnerships in the digital space. Nneka’s recent successes include selling the series “Glow With Me,” which stars beauty expert Ole Henriksen, and “Breaking Bass,” a documentary series commissioned by Complex Network’s Rated Red channel.

09|

Lisa Burzotta and Kyle Kolkmann were married

4/22/17 in Charlotte, N.C., where they live. Alumni in attendance included Alex Satterfield ’08, Andrew Wilen ’08, Paul Benedict, Katherine Black, Sean Flynn, Lauren France, Sarah Garnitz, Mary Beth Grossman, Bennett Hart, Craig Johnson, Jennifer Johnson, Angela Griffey Leaf, Sam Leaf, Libby Long, Jennifer Keldie McMillian, John McMillian, Kayla Rodrigues, Jacqui Seidel, Jamie Schoenfeld Surridge, Phillip St. Clair, Ryan Catanese ’10, Jessica Burzotta ’11 and Amy Burzotta ’14. Lisa works for pnc Bank and Kyle works at Ortho Carolina.

10|

Justin R. Ervin III {Law ’10}

and Matthew Antonio Bosch were married 5/6/17. Elon alumni in attendance included David Carter ’92, John Denning ’93, who served as Justin’s best man, Ivey Ghee ’03, Kristy Andraos {Law ’10}, Ashley Andrews {Law ’10}, Meghan Howard {Law ’10}, Lauren Jeffries {Law ’10}, Jonathan Raymer {Law ’10}, Tiffany Atkins {Law ’11}, Tamaya

Franks {Law ’11}, Jessica Yañez {Law ’11}, Beth Klein {Law ’12} and Brenna Ragghianti {Law ’14}. Several

Elon faculty and staff members were also present to celebrate with the couple. Justin is an attorney with Johnson, Peddrick & McDonald, llc and Matthew Antonio is the director of Elon’s Gender and lgbtqia Center. • Daniel Logan has joined Beechler Tomberlin as an associate. Daniel practices criminal, civil and education law. Prior to this role, he spent two years representing indigent clients as an assistant public defender in Forsyth County in North Carolina. He lives in Winston-Salem. • Catherine Melendez Ramsey and husband Matthew Ramsey welcomed daughter Isabella on 8/31/16. The family lives in Naples, Italy.

11|

Natalie Lampert, a journalist

based in Houston, has sold her first book to Penguin Random House. The nonfiction book, which looks at the femtech industry, fertility science and egg freezing from her perspective as a millennial, will be published by Ballantine Books. • Philip Nemec and Melissa

Lockley Nemec ’13 welcomed son Lukas Philip on 4/30/17. The family lives in Charlotte, N.C. • Meredith Berge Reeves has joined Sturgill, Turner, Barker & Moloney, llc as an associate. She focuses in the areas of employment and higher education law and K-12 schools law practice groups. She lives in Lexington, Ky. • Jacki Shipp and Michael Melkonian were married 11/26/16. Several alumnae members of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority attended the ceremony. Jacki and Michael live in Boston.

12|

REUNION Class of 2012 fifth reunion committee members Meghan Burge, Matt Campbell, Evan Gamble, Meaghan Howard, Stuart Jones, Nick Livengood, Katie Link, Taylor Martin, Laura Parker, Joe Patterson, Cedric Pulliam, Lindsay Richardson, Jackie Serany, James Shaver, Jennifer Shipowitz, Christopher Slonin and Kelly Sykes Walton encourage the entire class to return for Elon’s Homecoming weekend, Nov. 3–5. For more information, contact reunions@elon.edu. • Berkeley Smith and Kyle Shoemaker were married 1/14/17 in Naples, Fla., where they live. Berkeley is a marketing coordinator for the Port Royal Association and Kyle is an investment consultant for Fidelity Investments.

13|

technology (now music production and recording arts program) alumni Marshall Rogalski ’14 and Jesse Scarborough ’14 in San Francisco, for an impromptu Elon reunion. Kara is a location sound mixer for film and television in Los Angeles, while Marshall is a sound designer for Facebook and Jesse works for Coitcom AV.

14|

Will Galleher and Alexandra Gol-Chambers

were married 3/31/17 in Indianapolis, where they live. Alumni in attendance included the groom’s parents, Huntley and Julie Galleher ’84, as well as Patrick Brown, Michael Hart and Ben Kashdan. Will is a sales and catering coordinator for Conrad Indianapolis, while Alexandra recently received her master’s degree in anatomy from Indiana School of Medicine. She works as a research assistant for Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital.

15|

Jennifer Sekulow and Benjamin Stringfellow were

married 2/25/17. Roughly 31 members from the Classes of 2015, 2016 and 2017 attended the ceremony. Benjamin and Jennifer call Braselton, Ga., their home.

17|

REUNION The Class of 2017 will be celebrating Reunion Zero this year during Homecoming. Class members are invited to return to campus Nov. 3–5 for this milestone reunion. For more information, contact the Office of Annual Giving at (336) 278-7421 or reunions@elon.edu.

Kirsten Ferreira and Darien Flowers were

married 4/15/17. Alumni in attendance included Daniel henke ’12, Kenny Dunkle, Alex Lake, Trey Newstedt, Janice Spearbeck and Michele Guthrie ’14. Kirsten and Darien live in Washington, D.C. • Over the Memorial Day weekend, Kara Johnson visited fellow music

IN MEMORIAM Helen Truitt Hicklin ’43, Burlington, N.C., 3/6/17. Rachael Crowell Gobble ’44,

Virginia Beach, Va., 4/3/17.

Maxine Cole Richardson ’48,

Jackson Springs, N.C., 3/17/17. Alice Brewer Caudle Birmingham ’49,

Marshville, N.C., 2/18/17.

Charles Stanley “Stan” Hollander ’49,

Annapolis, Md., 3/20/17.

Helen Hudgins Nance ’49, Atlanta, 10/1/15. Wade C. Euliss ’50, Burlington, N.C., 3/29/17. Margaret Patillo Cass ’54 P’88 P’91, Stokesdale,

N.C., 1/25/17. The Margaret P. Cass and Stewart Thornton Cass Scholarship in Music was created in honor of her and her late husband.

Dr. Charles W. Phillips, Jr. ’54,

Gibsonville, N.C., 3/17/17. James Harrell Flynt ’55, Lexington, N.C., 3/22/17. John D. Downs, Sr. ’64, Dover, Del., 3/21/17. James “Jim” Miller Ferrell ’64, Graham, N.C., 5/5/17. George Samuel Weber, Jr. ’66, Carrollton, Texas, 3/4/17. The Rev. James William Caviness, Jr. ’68, Siler City, N.C., 4/5/17. Jeannette Amick Armour ’69, Mebane, N.C., 4/30/17. Ernest Y. Wilkinson, Jr. ’70, Kenly, N.C., 5/8/17. Thomas Preston Jackson ’75, Salisbury, Md., 5/7/17.

Don “Donnie” Randolph Haynes ’77,

Eden, N.C., 4/15/17.

David M. Powell ’86, Kure Beach, N.C., 4/22/17. Tonya Core Hamren ’87, Knightdale, N.C., 4/10/17. Dennis Keith Isaacson G’94, Landis, N.C., 4/16/17. David Joseph Carroll ’13, Scituate, Mass., 3/31/17. Olivia Suhair Farah L’15, Greensboro, N.C., 5/18/17. Paul H. Cheek, Elon’s Vaughn Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, died 5/2/17. A b-17 navigator during World War II, Paul joined the Elon faculty in 1950 and taught chemistry until his retirement in 1986. summer 2017 47

CELEBRATING THE

Class of 2017

There were many special moments during Elonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Commencement Week in May. Here are some images from Elonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest undergraduate and graduate alumni.

Office of Alumni Engagement PO Box 398 Elon, NC 27244 Toll Free: (877) 784-3566 www.elon.edu/alumni Change Service Requested

{ On May 18, nine graduating international students planted their graduation oak saplings in a new grove of trees by Harden Clubhouse, on the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s South Campus, marking the beginning of a new tradition for Elonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s international students. }

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Durham, NC Permit # 104