Already, the fund has raised over $2.1 million toward their $2.5 million Spring 2026聽goal. 榴莲app官方网站入 goal is to raise the endowed funds necessary to make internships 100% accessible for any student who wants or needs one. And with help, Elon can further the impact, helping students like senior Nailah Ware.

Ware completed a transformative internship experience in Los Angeles with event technology company ShowPro, courtesy of the innumerable Elon donors who believe in experiences like hers. At ShowPro, Ware assisted with high-profile events like the TikTok Summit, a physics and astronomy convention at Hudson Loft, and Netflix Summer Break (NSB).

鈥淢y favorite project was NSB, where I learned to fly line array speakers, mic performers and collaborate with the stage manager in a fast-paced, professional environment,鈥� Ware says. 鈥淭hese experiences helped me build both technical and interpersonal skills and confirmed my passion for becoming an Audiovisual Technician.鈥�

Laurie Johnson P鈥�17 is among those donors invested in Ware鈥檚 success. A co-chair of the WE Advisory Council, Johnson and husband Rich Johnson 鈥�87 P鈥�17 endowed a need-based internship scholarship in support of current and future 榴莲app官方网站入 students.

鈥淚 believe internships are invaluable for students because internships provide practical experience in a real working environment,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淚 also believe that internships help students build confidence in their chosen field and in their skills related to that field. Lastly, internships can help a student build a cadre of professional relationships which continue to support them and their career goals.鈥�

The minimum gift commitment to establish an endowed internship fund at 榴莲app官方网站入 is $50,000. This can be paid over five years and generates approximately $2,250 in annual support. During this initiative, women are encouraged to gather a group of friends and pool their resources to create a collective endowed internship fund. For more information about making an endowed gift, please contact Emily Majmudar, director of development. Online tax year-end gifts must be made by midnight on Dec. 31. Read more about other ways of giving here.

For donors wanting to support the effort but not at the endowment level, . These gifts go directly to supporting 榴莲app官方网站入 interns with current needs.

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The Women of Elon (鈥淲E鈥�) are a diverse network of alumnae, parents and friends dedicated to providing transformational support for 榴莲app官方网站入 students. Together, we will grow an inclusive culture of philanthropy and expand our impact on campus and beyond.

Other ways to support students this tax year (which ends Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025) include:

• . Credit card gifts must be charged by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31 to count for the 2025 tax year. Gifts made through the online giving form are processed immediately and include an instant receipt.
• Gifts of .
• Mailed checks, which must be postmarked Dec. 31 or earlier to be counted for the 2025 tax year.

Each year, contributions help students thrive across campus by supporting scholarships, academic schools and departments, global study programs, athletics and more.

鈥淵ear-end giving has always played an important role in strengthening opportunities for our students,鈥� said John H. Barnhill 鈥�92, associate vice president for university advancement. 鈥淭hese tools make it even easier for donors to support the experiences they care about most.鈥�

Donor generosity truly makes a difference for students and keeps Elon moving forward. For questions, please contact John H. Barnhill 鈥�92 at jbarnhill2@elon.edu.

Note: Elon will be closed for the holiday break from Dec. 22-Dec. 26, 2025.

This once-in-a-generation investment in human potential will open a bold new chapter for 榴莲app官方网站入 and for education. Gather with the Elon community as we announce details of this initiative.

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.*
The Great Hall, Sato Commons

Members of the Elon community, alumni and friends of the university are invited to gather for this historic moment.

*Program begins at 2 p.m., followed by a Community Celebration with light refreshments

As founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies and the host of the 鈥淐areer View Mirror鈥� podcast, Crawford brings over two decades of experience in leadership development 鈥� including a long tenure at Verizon 鈥� to her work today as a coach, consultant and speaker. She鈥檚 also the author of the career guidebook 鈥淪how Your Ask,鈥� a practical and motivational toolkit for professionals looking to take charge of their careers.

鈥淚 like to say that I grow leaders for a living,鈥� Crawford said. 鈥淔rom Elon to beyond, that whole leadership thread just continued.鈥�

After starting in customer service at Verizon, Crawford quickly realized her passion was in developing people 鈥� and she relentlessly pursued a path into training and development, sharing that she was able to successfully make the transition because, 鈥淚 asked, and I just kept on asking. The results are what gave me the confidence to keep on going, because people were going from point A to Z (in their careers), and I was helping them along.鈥� Eventually, Crawford realized, 鈥淚 think there is a wider opportunity for me.鈥�

That persistence 鈥� along with what she calls 鈥渟uccess blinders鈥� 鈥� led her to a career in learning and development, where she coached individuals at all levels. Eventually, after 20 years in corporate America, she launched her own business to reach even more professionals.

Crawford鈥檚 RISE methodology 鈥� reflect, identify, strategize and execute 鈥� serves as a foundational framework in her coaching. It encourages leaders to slow down, realign with their values, and take meaningful steps toward their goals.

As a thought leader, Crawford has shared her message widely, including on 鈥淕ood Morning America.鈥� But despite the visibility, she stays grounded in her purpose.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not about the spotlight. It鈥檚 about the service. I believe I was placed here to motivate and inspire others to take action in their careers and their lives.鈥�

-Joyel Crawford ’97

Her book, 鈥淪how Your Ask,鈥� combines personal stories and lessons learned with聽interactive reflections 鈥� helping readers get clear on their direction and build confidence to make bold career moves. The title speaks to the power of knowing what you want and voicing it unapologetically.

It鈥檚 a skill Crawford herself used, ensuring that she continued to progress in her career by 鈥溾�eeing myself in the driver鈥檚 seat of my career. Whoever I was reporting to was the GPS. I calculated the route, and if the route was changing, I just recalculated!鈥�

Looking back on her time at Elon, Crawford credits the university with providing聽her a 鈥渓eadership lab.鈥� As a Leadership Fellow, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and active participant in student life, she developed critical skills she still draws on today.

鈥�(Elon) showed me that leadership isn鈥檛 about a title,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was about showing up and creating space for others to shine, grow and rise.鈥�

From reflecting on values to championing bold self-advocacy, Joyel Crawford鈥檚聽story is a powerful example of leading with clarity and courage 鈥� and helping others do the same.

Queen City Internship Grants
Since its launch last fall, 榴莲app官方网站入 Queen City Internship Grant program has already supported 26 students in gaining hands-on experience at organizations across Charlotte 鈥� from the Atlantic Coast Conference and NASCAR to Make-A-Wish and Goodwill.

Over the summer, Katie Strohl 鈥�26 helped Special Olympics North Carolina plan a community event, managing logistics like athlete transportation and coordinating volunteers. Across town, classmates Garek Johnson 鈥�26 and Vinny Weinkam 鈥�26 spent their internship at the Make-A-Wish Foundation office in Charlotte, learning about donor outreach and creating promotional materials to encourage donations that help fund children鈥檚 dreams.

鈥淚 want to do accounting, but not for a 鈥榖ig four鈥� company,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 want to do something more meaningful, and this experience helped me do that.鈥�

Upcoming Events
榴莲app官方网站入 National Campus in Charlotte, which opened in Fall 2023 in South End, is more than a hub for classes and programs 鈥� it鈥檚 a place where alumni, current and prospective students, and local leaders come together to connect, share ideas and build community. This fall, the campus is hosting a lively lineup of events, from networking gatherings and professional workshops to lectures and cultural programs, all designed to foster collaboration and strengthen ties under the Elon Charlotte banner.

Events will take place both on the Charlotte campus and in other locations across the city:

• Sept. 18: Entrepreneurship Alumni Networking Event
• Sept. 19: Love School of Business Executive in Residence Student Visit
• Sept. 23: Elon Law Admissions Open House
• Oct. 2: Paddles Up Alumni Social
• Oct. 9: Building Charlotte鈥檚 Talent Pipeline with 榴莲app官方网站入
• Oct. 9: 榴莲app官方网站入 Charlotte Open House
• Oct. 10: Food for Thought: Alumni Insights
• Oct. 16: Alternative Break & Study USA Dinner
• Oct. 19: Admissions Event
• Oct. 23: WE Chat: Bite-sized Chats in Charlotte
• Nov. 7: Study USA Food for Thought: Alumni Insights
• Nov. 8: Elon Law 鈥淲ills For Heroes鈥�
• Nov. 13: Communications Fellows Student Experience
• Dec. 12: Study USA Capstone College Coffee

Why Charlotte?
Charlotte was a clear choice for 榴莲app官方网站入 next National Campus location. Before 2023, it was America鈥檚 largest city without a law school, making the Queen City an ideal location for the Elon Law Flex Program. This innovative new legal studies program opened in August 2023 and quickly exceeded enrollment goals.

Charlotte is also a major player on the sports scene, serving as headquarters to the Atlantic Coast Conference and home to a high concentration of professional athletics teams. This provides students across majors with unique internships and professional development opportunities through 榴莲app官方网站入 鈥淭he Sport Experience鈥� academic program. In addition, the city鈥檚 growing banking and healthcare industries offer plentiful career and networking opportunities. Elon has proposed launching a Physician Assistant Studies program in January 2027 to further meet local needs.

With a metropolitan population of more than 2.5 million people, the city is a hub for alumni and professional education opportunities. More than 36% of Elon alumni live in North Carolina, and Charlotte boasts one of the largest concentrations of Elon graduates in the nation. This vibrant community is actively engaged in various sectors, including sports, banking, government and public service. And, affordability makes Charlotte an equitable choice, providing meaningful academic and experiential opportunities for all students without the high cost of other major cities.

Together, these factors reflect 榴莲app官方网站入 broader mission of engaged learning and preparing students for leadership, while aligning with the Boldly 榴莲app官方网站入 strategic plan goal of establishing dynamic learning centers that extend the university鈥檚 reach and impact beyond main campus.

Stay in the Know
Ready to find your place in 榴莲app官方网站入 National Campus? Visit the National Campus website to see the different ways available to engage with Elon Charlotte and the university鈥檚 other national campus locations.

President Connie Ledoux Book and Alexis Franzese delve into these questions of happiness, authenticity and belonging in the latest episode of the “” podcast. During the episode, Franzese鈥攁ssociate professor and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology鈥攐ffers this perspective on the relationship between happiness and hardship:

鈥淲e have a cultural narrative telling us we should be happy all the time, but this messaging is not realistic,鈥� she says. 鈥淗appiness is something we experience in contrast. What really matters for a sense of happiness is purpose and meaning. For a lot of people, the experiences where we make meaning and find purpose come through hardship. It鈥檚 through our challenges that we realize how we want to spend our time, and what a life worth living looks like and feels like to us.鈥�

Franzese brings her expertise in the science of happiness, authenticity and belonging into the realm of travel and tourism, with Disney serving as a central focus of her research. She recently co-edited the book, with Jill Peterfeso of Guilford College. Through her leadership in Study USA courses such as 鈥淒isney: Happiest Place? The Science of Happiness,鈥� Franzese offers a distinctive lens on how places like Disney shape our emotional and psychological experiences, and the cost of those experiences.

“I worked on designing a class to take students to Disney to unpack how Disney creates, curates and sells happiness and why it resonated with so many people,” she says. “A lot of people who enjoy Disney feel a very strong sense of belonging there. It feels inclusive to them. They feel like their needs and their wants have been thought of and attended to. They actually do quite a bit of labor while they are there鈥攖here’s a lot of invisible labor that people do in pursuit of the leisure of Disney鈥攂ut Disney does give people a sense of belonging.鈥�

Listen to the full episode on , or .

Additional “Elon Beyond the Bricks” episodes

鈥淓lon Beyond the Bricks鈥� has featured a dynamic lineup of alumni, parent and university leaders sharing personal insights and professional wisdom:

Jon Seaton 鈥�24 G鈥�25
Elon football player and social media persona
鈥淪tudent-athletes and the impact of NIL鈥�

Dave Porter P鈥�11 P鈥�19
Owner, Baystate Financial and 榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees member
鈥淟eadership and other life lessons鈥�

Barrett Wilbert Weed 鈥�11
Actor and performer
鈥淪tages and Screens: Barrett Wilbert Weed 鈥�11 on Broadway and Beyond鈥�

Zora Stephenson 鈥�15
NBC Sports Reporter
鈥淶ora Stephenson 鈥�15 on Breaking Barriers in Sports Media鈥�

Visit to listen to these episodes and learn more about the podcast.

In the episode, she shares what it鈥檚 like reporting from some of the world鈥檚 biggest stages 鈥� including the Olympics 鈥� and how storytelling remains at the heart of everything she does.

鈥淲e’re humans at the end of the day,鈥� Stephenson said during the conversation. 鈥淵es, these are larger-than-life athletes, whether it’s in the NBA or Simone Biles doing gymnastics, but they’re humans with great triumph and things that they care about. They鈥檝e all been through something 鈥� and so that鈥檚 how you connect them to the viewer.鈥�

Stephenson also discusses her path from local news to becoming a sideline and digital reporter for the NBA鈥檚 Milwaukee Bucks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a great example of preparation meeting opportunity, and you have to have a little luck,鈥� says Stephenson. 鈥淚 started in local news and started doing sports on the side. I would call D2 games, and鈥 taught my husband how to use a camera. I would just send my tape out to everyone I knew, and then the Milwaukee Bucks called. That job changed everything for me.鈥�

In 2021, Stephenson became the first woman to handle play-by-play responsibilities for the franchise in its 53-year history, with the Bucks going on to win the NBA Championship later that year.

鈥淚 just hadn鈥檛 seen anyone that looked like me doing (play-by-play). It鈥檚 hard to go after something when you don鈥檛 necessarily have a lot of examples. What鈥檚 amazing is there are more and more examples of women doing play by play every single year.鈥�

Stephenson, who served as team captain on the women鈥檚 basketball team when she was a student-athlete, also credits Elon with instilling the confidence and versatility needed to thrive in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.

鈥婰earn more about the podcast and listen to the episode here.

榴莲app官方网站入 the podcast

Produced by the Office of University Advancement, in partnership with the Office of the President, 鈥淓lon Beyond the Bricks鈥� features engaging conversations with alumni, faculty, staff and parents who are making an impact in their fields. New episodes are released monthly to help the Elon community stay connected and inspired.

After earning a degree in music theatre, Weed made her Broadway debut in 2011 as an understudy for several roles in 鈥淟ysistrata Jones.鈥� She also starred as Sally Bowles in Signature Theatre鈥檚 production of “Cabaret.”

Soon after, she originated the role of Veronica Sawyer in the production of 鈥淗eathers: The Musical,鈥� a role she first brought to life in Los Angeles before taking it to New York City. She then played the iconic role of Janis in “Mean Girls.”

In the podcast, Weed reflects on her journey from college to Broadway, sharing how Elon helped prepare her for the ups and downs of a career in theater. She also discusses her first solo show, “Dear Diary,” which debuted in fall 2024 at Sony Hall in New York. Weed not only wrote and starred in this deeply personal production, but also worked with a team of friends, many from Elon, to bring it to life. She also opens up about the mental health challenges she has faced and how these personal struggles have shaped her career and creative process.

榴莲app官方网站入 the podcast

Produced by the Office of University Advancement, in partnership with the Office of the President and University Communications, “Elon Beyond the Bricks” offers thought-provoking conversations with alumni, parents, faculty and staff, providing a unique way for the university community to stay engaged, no matter where they are. New episodes are released at the beginning of each month, with the following guests joining the podcast in the coming months:

May 2025 – Zora Stephenson 鈥�15, NBC Sports Reporter

June 2025 鈥� Alexis Franzese,聽Associate professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Donations made on Elon Day play a vital role in increasing access to an Elon education through scholarships while also enriching the student experience across academic programs, athletics, student organizations and other key university initiatives. In total, donors supported 201 campus funds.

“Elon Day is a powerful reminder of our community鈥檚 generosity and deep connection to the university,” says James B. Piatt, Jr., senior vice president for advancement and external affairs. “Each year, thousands of people come together on Elon Day to support current students, and this year, we are especially grateful for the record-breaking number of gifts. This incredible show of support demonstrates the unwavering commitment of our donors, and we are profoundly thankful to everyone who continues to invest in student success at Elon.”

This year鈥檚 fundraising total was made possible through thousands of contributions, including several special challenges and matches that inspired additional generosity. Thanks to the following donors for their leadership in making these initiatives possible:

• Jerry Neuman P鈥�22
• Jen and Trustee Dave Porter P鈥�11 P鈥�19
• Kerry and Steve Curran P鈥�25
• Melinda Measamer Dickinson 鈥�91
• Kristi and Pete Nevin P鈥�27
• Liz 鈥�06 Sullivan and Bryan 鈥�07 Padgette
• Ashley and Gail Taylor P鈥�25
• Mary and Chris Sexton P鈥�27
• Malika 鈥�03 and Wilson White
• Dr. William Carvajal P鈥�27
• Mindy and Larry Feinstein P鈥�25
• Francine and Benson Pillof GP鈥�27
• Jaime Curtis ’00 and Mike Proctor ’98
• Dina and Trustee Burney Jennings 鈥�87 P鈥�18
• Sue and Trustee Bill Smith
• Liz and David Forgash P鈥�28

In addition, through their generous support,聽10 new spaces have been named in the university鈥檚 new HealthEU building, and $200,000 in new study abroad scholarships were also announced.

Since the first Elon Day was held in 2014, the annual day of giving has raised more than $24 million through nearly 58,000 gifts, furthering the university鈥檚 commitment to student success and excellence.

Beyond making gifts, thousands of students, faculty, staff and alumni engaged in Elon Day festivities both on campus and across the globe. The university hosted a variety of events, including a special College Coffee, the Whittington Residence Hall Dedication, a Pop-Up Student Lounge, Taco 鈥橞out Philanthropy, a Fac/Staff Lounge, Senior Toast, SUB鈥檚 Spring Comedian: Joe Gatto and SUB Late Night Bingo. Regional alumni chapters organized gatherings in cities worldwide, bringing the spirit of Elon to communities far and wide.

For more details on the impact of Elon Day and how donors are making a difference, visit the Elon Day website.

In the latest episode of Elon Beyond the Bricks, President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Dave Porter, chair of 榴莲app官方网站入 Board of Trustees and managing partner of Baystate Financial, for a conversation about leadership, career growth,\ and the importance of giving back. Together, they explore the challenges and rewards of leadership, the lessons learned through career transitions and the lasting impact of mentorship within the Elon community.

鈥淚 use the phrase often, 鈥榚motional reciprocity,鈥�” said Porter during the episode. “When I enter into a relationship, enter into a conversation or enter into a business agreement, I always do it with the idea that I know that person extremely well. I always try to prioritize the relationship before I worry what the outcome is going to be, and that often leads to steps along the way and momentum towards whatever we鈥檙e trying to achieve together.”

The episode also includes Porter’s take on giving back鈥攁 principle that he and wife, Jen, have embraced through their longstanding support of Elon. In 2011, the couple made a leadership gift to establish the聽Porter Family Professional Development Center in the Love School of Business, which provides resources to assist students in preparing for and acquiring internships, full-time employment or graduate school placement after graduation. Since then, they鈥檝e made additional major gifts to support the construction of The Inn at Elon and Numen Lumen Pavilion, in addition to supporting scholarships, the Phoenix Club and the School of Law.

The new episode, 鈥淟eadership and Other Life Lessons,鈥� is now available on the Elon Beyond the Bricks podcast. Watch it on the or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

榴莲app官方网站入 the podcast

Produced by the Office of University Advancement, in partnership with the Office of the President and University Communications, Elon Beyond the Bricks offers thought-provoking conversations with alumni, parents, faculty and staff, providing a unique way for the university community to stay engaged, no matter where they are.

This season, Elon Beyond the Bricks continues to feature a dynamic lineup of guests. The following episodes will be released during spring/summer 2025:

Barrett Wilbert Weed ’11, Actor and singer
Topic: Stages and Screens: Barrett Wilbert Weed 鈥�11 on Broadway and Beyond

Alexis Franzese, Associate professor of sociology and chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Topic: Disney and the Science of Happiness