Posts by Eric Townsend | Today at Elon | 榴莲app官方网站入 /u/news Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:27:44 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Roberts Academy selects inaugural teaching faculty /u/news/2026/06/24/roberts-academy-selects-inaugural-teaching-faculty/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:05:23 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050490 The Roberts Academy at 榴莲app官方网站入 has selected three educators to serve as inaugural full-time faculty in the university鈥檚 new private elementary school for children with dyslexia.

The Roberts Academy will use the multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction once it opens in August for third- and fourth-grade students in a temporary location on West Trollinger Avenue.

The academy will expand to grades 1-6 when a new building opens for the 2028-29 academic year on East Haggard Avenue near the university鈥檚 Danieley Neighborhood. Each classroom will be capped at 12 students.

鈥淲e are excited to have such well-trained, committed teachers join us at Roberts Academy,鈥 said Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. 鈥淭heir dedication to children and their ability to provide an engaged environment for learning will lead to a remarkable growth in confidence for young students.鈥

The Roberts Academy is also finalizing the recruitment of part-time teachers to provide enrichment instruction in art, music and physical education. The school is led by Acting Director Alicia S. Tate and Tracy Roof, director of business and school operations.

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at 榴莲app官方网站入 will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple established at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

2026-27 Full-Time Faculty for Roberts Academy at 榴莲app官方网站入

A photo of Carrie Whitley
Carrie Whitley

Carrie Whitley

With a bachelor鈥檚 degree in elementary education and a master鈥檚 degree in reading education from Appalachian State University, Carrie Whitley brings three years of experience working closely with elementary-aged students in both classroom and tutoring settings.

Throughout her career, Whitley has focused on providing individualized instruction, collecting and analyzing student data, and creating targeted interventions to support diverse learning needs. Her experience in special education at a private school in Raleigh strengthened her ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, to develop meaningful student goals, and to communicate progress with families.

Whitley is Orton-Gillingham trained and has implemented the method with fidelity in both small-group and one-on-one settings. She said she has seen firsthand the impact that explicit, systematic literacy instruction can have on students with dyslexia in developing reading skills, building confidence and instilling a love of learning.

A photo of Kaitlyn Leazer
Kaitlyn Leazer

Kaitlyn Leazer ’25

After serving for a year with the Alamance-Burlington School System as teacher of exceptional children, Kaitlyn Leazer brings experience in designing and implementing differentiated instruction, prioritizing strong relationships with families as essential collaborators in each child鈥檚 success.

Leazer holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary and special education and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in innovation from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. Leazer said she was drawn to the Roberts Academy for its values and evidence-based practices to meet the individual needs of every learner.

In her year with ABSS, Leazer sought to create classrooms where students felt supported through thoughtful differentiation, intentional data collection and Universal Design for Learning. She developed a system for students to track and chart their own IEP goals, fostering both independence and accountability.

A photo of Isabella "Bella" Martino
Isabella “Bella” Martino

Isabella 鈥淏ella鈥 Martino ’26

Isabella “Bella” Martino is a recent 榴莲app官方网站入 graduate with dual licensure in K-6 general education and special education, allowing her to serve students across all domains of learning.

During her work as a student teacher, Martino created structured, predictable learning environments for students with unique behavioral and academic needs. She integrated technology into students鈥 daily routines, leading to increased engagement and improved behavioral outcomes. Martino works in partnership with families and other service providers to holistically meet the needs of students.

Passionate about providing students equal access to the general education curriculum, Martino points to her efforts to align lesson content with grade-level standards whenever possible. She describes herself as driven by a belief that holding students who learn differently to the same social and emotional expectations as their peers is essential to fostering independence and autonomy.

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榴莲app官方网站入 publishes 2025 Provost’s Report /u/news/2026/06/23/elon-university-publishes-2025-provosts-report/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:33:22 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050386 The Office of the Provost has published the most recent issue of an annual online resource that highlights the teaching, research聽and creative achievements of 榴莲app官方网站入’s accomplished faculty.

With a theme of “Breaking Through the Ordinary,” the 2025 Provost’s Report emphasizes the role of聽innovation聽in聽teaching today’s students and creating learning opportunities that lead to human transformation. Elon’s nearly 500 full-time faculty members exemplify an institutional commitment to the聽teacher-scholar-mentor model聽that defines the university’s nationally acclaimed approach to higher education.

Signature features in the report include an in-depth look at the way 榴莲app官方网站入:

The report also includes shorter profiles drawn from each of 榴莲app官方网站入’s six schools/college that represent the innovative spirit faculty and staff bring to the community every day.

“As I reflect on these accomplishments, and on the important work that continues across the university, I am inspired by the talent, dedication, and shared purpose of 榴莲app官方网站入’s faculty members, staff members, and students,” said Rebecca Kohn, 榴莲app官方网站入’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Together, we are strengthening the academic life of the university and creating pathways that will sustain Elon’s ability to provide a valuable and transformative education for generations into the future.”

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A homecoming for a family with deep Elon roots /u/news/2026/06/10/a-homecoming-for-a-family-with-deep-elon-roots/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:42:25 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049932 For Edward Martin Hamlin, stepping through the front door of the Sklut Hillel Center felt a bit like stepping back in time.

The building now serves as a gathering place for Jewish students at 榴莲app官方网站入. Decades earlier, it was the home where his recently departed mother, Mary Martin Hamlin, grew up and where countless family memories were made.

On June 4, 2026, members of the Martin family returned to campus to celebrate what would have been Mary Martin Hamlin鈥檚 100th birthday. The gathering included all seven of her nieces and nephews and several of their spouses, along with Karen Martin Yost, 91, the last surviving Martin sister.

The family’s connection to 榴莲app官方网站入 stretches back more than a century. Leo DeWitt and Annie Raper Martin, both members of 榴莲app官方网站入 Class of 1919, returned to the campus community when Leo joined the faculty as a history professor.

Leo Martin, familiarly known as Dick Martin throughout the community, would later partner with fellow Elon professor Thomas E. Powell, Jr. to help launch Carolina Biological Supply Company, whose squid logo and early catalog illustrations were drawn by Annie.

During the Great Depression, Leo Martin designed and built a two-story home on the corner of North Antioch and East College Avenues where he and Annie raised daughters Mary, Joanne and Karen. That home remains standing today, though in a different form.

After being acquired by 榴莲app官方网站入, the house served as the home of the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life before becoming the Sklut Hillel Center in 2013.

As Hamlin toured the building, memories came flooding back from his visits in the 1960s and 70s. He recalled the smell of canned food once stored in a pantry that no longer exists, the coal kept in the basement to heat the house and the Chinese elms that once shaded the property.

鈥淎 lot of this is familiar to me, from the living room and den to the sunroom where my grandfather鈥檚 desk was,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s I walk around now, it鈥檚 just wonderful to feel the youthful energy of the students.鈥

Karen Martin Yost said she enjoyed seeing the architectural details that remain in the house, as well as in her memory and frequently in her dreams鈥攆eatures like the fireplace and mantle, the built-in bookcases, the seventeen steps to the upstairs, and the black and white tiles in her childhood bathroom.

The family鈥檚 visit was made possible through arrangements between Betsy Polk Joseph, 榴莲app官方网站入 senior director of Jewish Life, and Hamlin, Mary Martin Hamlin鈥檚 only child.

Hamlin said he was struck not only by what remained of the home, but also by how it is being used today. To know that the building serves as a center for Jewish students and that Elon continues to create spaces that welcome people from a variety of backgrounds reflects values long embraced by his family, he said.

The June gathering included a celebratory lunch, a tour of the house, readings from memoirs written by Mary Martin Hamlin and Karen Martin Yost, and visits to places around campus that shaped Mary鈥檚 childhood.

The day concluded at Magnolia Cemetery, where family members gathered at the family plot to share memories of Mary Martin Hamlin, a proud native of Elon.

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John Walz named inaugural dean of 榴莲app官方网站入鈥檚 School of Engineering and Computing聽 /u/news/2026/06/09/john-walz-named-inaugural-dean-of-elon-universitys-school-of-engineering-and-computing/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:30:14 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049764 A former president of the聽 and聽longtime leader in engineering and technology education has been named the inaugural dean of 榴莲app官方网站入’s聽new聽School of Engineering and Computing.

Dr.聽John聽Walz will join聽the聽Elon聽University administration聽on聽June 30,聽2026,聽after nearly a decade聽helming聽a private university recognized for its emphasis on experiential learning, strong industry partnerships and workforce preparation.

Walz’s聽appointment follows a national search and comes as Elon聽debuts聽an academic division that聽will leverage the聽university鈥檚 nationally聽ranked approach to undergraduate teaching and its emphasis on engaged, experiential learning in pursuit of human transformation.

鈥淛ohn Walz is an accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success,聽engaged learning,聽innovative program development and strong connections between higher education and industry,鈥澛燩rovost Rebecca Kohn said.聽鈥淗is experience leading engineering programs, combined with his collaborative leadership style and strategic vision, make him exceptionally well suited to guide the School of Engineering and Computing during this important moment in its history.鈥

John Walz is an accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success,聽engaged learning,聽innovative program development and strong connections between higher education and industry.

– Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn

Walz will provide聽leadership for the School of Engineering and Computing’s academic programs, strategic planning, fundraising聽and external partnerships while helping advance the university’s goals for innovation, engaged learning and student success.

When the school formally opens for the 2026 Fall Semester, anchoring the university鈥檚 Innovation Quad in the heart of campus, it will include聽20聽full-time faculty and three full-time staff positions with more than 300 undergraduate students.

Engineering is among the university鈥檚 most rapidly expanding academic areas, reflecting both national demand and student interest.聽榴莲app官方网站入 existing ABET-accredited engineering program offers聽programs聽in biomedical, computer, mechanical, and environmental, as well as dual-degree pathways.聽聽The school will include computer science and cybersecurity majors and a minor in game design.

榴莲app官方网站入 President聽Connie Ledoux Book said Walz鈥檚 background aligns with 榴莲app官方网站入 vision for the new school.

鈥淭he launch of the School of Engineering and Computing represents an exciting step forward for 榴莲app官方网站入,鈥 Book said. “Dr. Walz brings a rare combination of academic leadership, industry engagement and commitment to student-centered education. His leadership building engineering programs, supporting faculty excellence and preparing graduates for meaningful careers will position the school for continued growth and distinction.鈥

Walz has spent more than three decades as a faculty member, researcher and academic administrator. During his tenure as president of Milwaukee School of Engineering, he led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan, launched the institution’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, expanded academic offerings in computer science and artificial intelligence, strengthened student retention initiatives and oversaw significant investments in academic facilities and student success programs.

Under his leadership, Milwaukee School of Engineering achieved record undergraduate enrollment, increased student diversity, expanded industry partnerships and raised more than $150 million in philanthropic support for capital projects and academic initiatives.

Before becoming president, Walz served as dean of the , where he led efforts to establish a common first-year engineering program, expanded聽student success resources and strengthened relationships with industry partners.聽Earlier leadership roles at Virginia Tech and Yale University included overseeing faculty recruitment, program growth and research initiatives while maintaining active teaching and scholarship responsibilities.

Throughout his career, Walz has emphasized strategic planning, student retention, faculty support and partnerships with industry and community organizations. He has also championed initiatives that broaden participation in engineering and technology fields and expand pathways for students to connect classroom learning with professional experiences.

Dr. John Walz

Walz said the opportunity to help shape a new school at Elon was particularly appealing because of the university’s emphasis on engaged learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.聽He also expressed gratitude聽to聽Book, Kohn and members of the search committee for the opportunity.

鈥淚 am deeply honored and excited to be selected as the inaugural dean of the School of Engineering and Computing,鈥澛燱alz said.聽鈥淚 have long admired Elon’s commitment to engaged learning and believe it provides an ideal environment for educating the next generation of engineers and computer scientists.

鈥淭he combination of Elon’s strengths in the liberal arts and its investment in engineering and computing creates a unique opportunity to prepare graduates with both the technical expertise and聽leadership聽skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, globally connected world.鈥

Walz earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in chemical engineering at Tulane University before completing a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering聽at聽Carnegie Mellon University.聽He and his wife,聽Moira, have three聽daughters.

榴莲app官方网站入 榴莲app官方网站入

榴莲app官方网站入 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, and ethical citizens聽and聽leaders.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff who prioritize聽teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. 榴莲app官方网站入 is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

榴莲app官方网站入 academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences;聽the School of Engineering and Computing;聽and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2025, 榴莲app官方网站入 and Queens University of Charlotte announced plans to merge institutions. Final approval from the U.S. Department of Education is anticipated by 2028.

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Elon Academy celebrates Sigma Class success at president鈥檚 reception /u/news/2026/06/05/elon-academy-celebrates-sigma-class-success-at-presidents-reception/ Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:56:08 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049601 It鈥檚 an impressive list of accomplishments for the Elon Academy鈥檚 Sigma Class:

  • 136 college acceptances from 38 different universities
  • $2.5 million in merit scholarships and grants awarded to scholars
  • Seven will join the Class of 2030 this fall at 榴莲app官方网站入, three are headed to UNC Chapel Hill, and three more to UNC Charlotte, among other top schools
  • Several earned some of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships North Carolina offers, including a Carolina Covenant Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, an Elon Teaching Fellow, and a North Carolina Teaching Fellow
榴莲app官方网站入 President Connie Ledoux Book congratulates Logan Mercier, a senior at Hugh M. Cummings High School and a rising first-year student at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina.

And for Elon President Connie Book, who addressed the 17th class of the Elon Academy at a recent dinner reception to recognize graduates of the university鈥檚 college access and success program, scholarships and college acceptances are more than a reflection of academic achievement. They鈥檙e a harbinger of future success.

鈥淭hese accomplishments, impressive as they are, are only a glimpse of the bright path that lies ahead of you,鈥 Book said. 鈥淭he Elon Academy was founded on a simple and powerful belief 鈥 that talent and potential exist in every community, and when that talent is matched with opportunity and support, there is no limit to what a young person can achieve. Each of you is living proof of that belief.鈥

Book was joined by family members, mentors, program alumni and other university leaders on May 28, 2026, in celebration of the Sigma Class during the Elon Academy鈥檚 annual President鈥檚 Reception.

The Elon Academy is an intensive, comprehensive opportunity for academically promising high school students in Alamance County with a financial need and/or no family history of college. The Elon Academy Summer Academy program includes three consecutive summer residential experiences prior to the sophomore, junior and senior years, as well as year-round Saturday Academy programs for students and families.

Shawn Means of Alamance Burlington Early College delivered the Elon Academy’s Sigma Scholar Speech on May 28, 2026. Means will attend UNC Charlotte in the fall.

As part of the ceremony in the Lakeside Meeting Rooms, Shawn Means, a member of the Alamance Burlington Early College Class of 2026, delivered the Sigma Scholar Speech to his 24 classmates. Means reflected at length on the ways Elon Academy shaped their development beyond academics.

鈥淲hen people talk about Elon Academy, they鈥檇 most likely give you a polished answer,鈥 Means said. 鈥淭hey talk about college preparation, leadership, and academic growth. All the things you can put on paper. And they wouldn鈥檛 be wrong. But they wouldn鈥檛 be telling the whole story.鈥

Means emphasized how the program transformed participants not only as students but as people. 鈥淣ow we understand responsibility. Now we understand balance,鈥 he said. 鈥淣ow we understand that freedom isn鈥檛 just given, it鈥檚 something you learn how to handle.鈥

The reception was also the first in the Elon Academy鈥檚 nearly two decades of operation where alumni returned to be honored for their own graduations from college. Four Elon Academy College Scholars were applauded and presented with certificates commemorating their own recent college graduations.

Reception guests heard from Shiv Patel, a member of the Xi Class that graduated from high school in 2022. Now a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Patel encouraged members of the Sigma Class to stay true to themselves as they head to college.

鈥淪omeone told me that I did college right, and while I appreciated the notion, it鈥檚 not that I did college right, it鈥檚 that I led with my values,鈥 Patel said. 鈥淚 wanted the choices I made in college to be choices that reflected who I was and the background I came from. I never wanted to pretend to be someone I was not or do things that went against who I was.鈥

From left: Jaime Carranza-Navarrete, Shawn Means, Mariam Rosales ’17, Julio Santiago, Naje Gray and Lexie Bennett

The program concluded with another first for the Elon Academy – a presentation of scholarships to four Sigma Class graduates made possible through the philanthropy of those who recognized the power of the academy to change lives.

Mariam Rosales 鈥17, a member of the Delta Class and an 榴莲app官方网站入 graduate who today works in real estate, joined with Julio Santiago to create the awards. Honored in 2026 were:

  • Lexie Bennett, River Mill Academy
  • Jaime Carranza-Navarrete, Graham High School
  • Shawn Means, Alamance Burlington Early College
  • Naje Gray, Walter M. Williams High School
Emily Wiersma, director of the Elon Academy

The reception was a final opportunity for scholars before leaving high school to be encouraged with support from mentors who have been with them over the past three years.

鈥淎s you step into this next chapter, know this: you are ready,鈥 said Elon Academy Director Emily Wiersma. 鈥淵ou have the tools, the resilience, and the heart to thrive. Life will bring challenges, yes, but it will also bring new mentors, new questions, and new opportunities to grow. Embrace it all. Stay curious. Stay connected to this community. Support from the Elon Academy does not end here today 鈥 most of all, continue to believe in yourself as fiercely as we believe in you.鈥

Elon Academy Assistant Director of College Success Manny Campos emphasized the same point in closing the program.

鈥淏elieve in yourself. Believe that all the struggles you鈥檝e faced prepared you and taught you what you need to succeed,鈥 he said. 鈥淵our college acceptances and your college degrees were no mistakes, you did that. Now let鈥檚 be real. It may get difficult. Life won鈥檛 always be rainbows and butterflies.

“On those days that feel heavy and you feel like giving up, because those days will come, remember everyone here, remember the journey, and remember why you stayed. You did the work and you are more than capable of succeeding.鈥

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Elon Poll: A proud but deeply uneasy public as America celebrates 250th /u/news/2026/06/02/elon-poll-a-proud-but-deeply-uneasy-public-as-america-celebrates-250th/ Tue, 02 Jun 2026 11:00:19 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049241 As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans remain proud of their country but pessimistic about the health and future of American democracy, according to a new national 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll.

Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

Related Articles

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation鈥檚 past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

鈥淎s the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,鈥 said Jason Husser, director of the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. 鈥淲e found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.鈥

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only 鈥渇air鈥 or 鈥減oor.鈥

A graphic that shows 6% of Americas believe the overall health of American democracy is healthy; 22% that think it's good. 32% that think it's fair; and 41% that think it's poor, based on a national survey by the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll.

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

  • 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
  • 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
  • 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
  • 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
  • 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country鈥檚 long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation鈥檚 democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation鈥檚 semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:聽www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

榴莲app官方网站入 the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll

Established in 2000, the 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens鈥 opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 榴莲app官方网站入 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 榴莲app官方网站入 Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll鈥檚 voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

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榴莲app官方网站入 students honored for Spring 2026 grades /u/news/2026/05/31/elon-university-students-honored-for-spring-2026-grades/ Sun, 31 May 2026 14:16:07 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049224 Download Hometown News Releases

Academic honors for the 2026 sall semester are now online, with students and parents invited to download customized news releases to send to hometown newspapers.

The President’s List is composed of students with no grade below an A-minus in a minimum of 12 semester hours. The Dean’s List is composed of students with no grade below a B-minus and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in a minimum of 12 semester hours.

The 榴莲app官方网站入 News Bureau encourages students and families to submit the announcement to local newspapers. Some newspapers welcome photos to accompany the announcement.

All questions about the criteria for the President’s List and Dean’s List and an individual student’s qualifications for the honors should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (336) 278-6677 during normal business hours. There is often a delay in the reporting of grades for some students studying abroad, and the lists will be updated once all grades are received.

If you find a factual error or a misspelled name in your release, please contact Eric Townsend in the Office of University Communications at etownsend4@elon.edu.

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2026 Commencement news releases available to download /u/news/2026/05/31/2026-commencement-news-releases-available-to-download/ Sun, 31 May 2026 14:00:59 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049214 Download 2026 Commencement News Releases

Members of the Class of 2026 and their parents can now聽download customized news releases for distribution to hometown media outlets that publish information on academic achievements. News releases can also easily be shared through social media platforms Facebook and LinkedIn.

The university encourages submissions to local newspapers, which often announce college graduations in their community sections.

President鈥檚 List and Dean鈥檚 List honorees also have聽news releases聽available for download.

Students and parents may contact Eric Townsend in the Office of University Communications at聽etownsend4@elon.edu聽if corrections to the news release need to be made before sending to local media.

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榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees elects two members at spring meeting /u/news/2026/05/28/elon-university-board-of-trustees-elects-two-members-at-spring-meeting/ Thu, 28 May 2026 15:14:21 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049079 Two accomplished leaders with records of professional achievement and philanthropic service have been elected to the 榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees.

Eric Sklut P鈥14, an entrepreneur and longtime community leader in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Amy Muntner P鈥24, a retail and strategy executive based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, will bring extensive experience in business, innovation and civic engagement to the university鈥檚 governing body.

The 榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees has ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the institution, providing oversight of its mission, strategic direction and long-term sustainability.

Sklut is the founder of Perfection Automotive, a Charlotte-based company known for producing custom trim components for high-end vehicles. His development of the BumperPlugs product line grew from an entrepreneurial solution to a gap in the luxury automotive market and has since become a widely used product among car enthusiasts.

In addition to his business success, Sklut has demonstrated decades of philanthropic leadership across the Charlotte region. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including and the , and has led major fundraising campaigns supporting community initiatives.

His efforts have helped generate more than $70 million for charitable organizations, including a recent campaign exceeding $23 million for a regional hunger relief initiative.

Sklut previously served on 榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023 and has maintained a deep and sustained commitment to the university. He and his wife, Lori, have been transformative supporters of Jewish life and Jewish Studies at Elon, including naming the Sklut Hillel Center and establishing endowed faculty and scholarship support.

Their son, Mason, is a 2014 graduate of 榴莲app官方网站入.

Muntner brings a global perspective shaped by a career in consulting, consumer products and retail strategy. She began her career with Andersen Consulting before joining , where she advised major international corporations. Her additional leadership positions have included Executive roles with Toys 鈥淩鈥 Us and , where she led brand and business strategy initiatives.

Her work has spanned multiple international markets, including Asia and Europe, and has focused on strategic growth, partnerships and product development. At Sesame Workshop, she played a key role in cross-functional efforts to expand the organization鈥檚 reach and impact through new character development and brand initiatives, including the introduction of the popular

Muntner鈥檚 connection to Elon grew through her daughter Lucy鈥檚 enrollment as a member of the Class of 2024. She and her husband, Kevin, are members of the university鈥檚 1889 Society and have supported scholarships, Hillel and university priorities through philanthropic giving.

Their broader civic engagement includes support for international relief organizations, and education and community well-being in Scotland, Hong Kong and the United States.

榴莲app官方网站入 榴莲app官方网站入

榴莲app官方网站入 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. 榴莲app官方网站入 is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

榴莲app官方网站入 academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

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Elon named to Hollywood Reporter’s 2026 list of 鈥25 Best Drama Schools in the World鈥 /u/news/2026/05/28/elon-named-to-hollywood-reporter-list-of-25-best-drama-schools-of-2026/ Thu, 28 May 2026 14:51:21 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049065 榴莲app官方网站入 is again featured among聽the world鈥檚 best drama schools in an annual list published by The Hollywood Reporter, an American print and digital magazine that covers the entertainment, film, theatre and television industries.

For the second consecutive year, the university is the only North Carolina private school featured by the magazine in its list of “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.” The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also made the list.

The publication said it consulted with educators and industry insiders to determine the best schools for an acting degree. It also weighed overall training, cost, facilities, alumni success, industry connections and more.

The 16 students accepted to the undergraduate musical theater program go through a rigorous training process, which begins with classes in acting, voice and dance, and then allows students to explore individualized paths, including taking part in student-driven cabaret performances. Seniors also take part in a two-semester course on professional readiness and artistic identity, which includes bringing in casting directors and talent representation, with many students gaining representation or jobs out of this process. To that point, Campy Rodriguez, a current student in the senior class, is on Broadway in聽Aladdin, in addition to such alum as Taylor Trensch, who recently led the off-Broadway production of聽Bat Boy. Tuition and fees are close to $51,000.

榴莲app官方网站入鈥檚 Department of Performing Arts聽offers seven degree programs: Acting, Arts Administration,聽Dance Performance & Choreography,聽Dance Science, Drama and Theatre Studies,聽Music Theatre聽and聽Theatrical Design and Technology. Four programs require an audition or interview.

榴莲app官方网站入 榴莲app官方网站入

榴莲app官方网站入 is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. 榴莲app官方网站入 is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

榴莲app官方网站入 academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

 

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