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

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.

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.

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.

Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn鈥檛 have to follow a single path.

鈥淚 intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,鈥� said Austin.

In a way, Elon found her. Alumnus Royall Spence 鈥�42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin鈥檚 extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.

鈥淗e always spoke so fondly of his experience at Elon and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,鈥� she said.

The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. 鈥淲hen I visited Elon, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.鈥�

She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but Elon had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew Elon was the place for her.

As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, 榴莲app官方网站入 student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in 榴莲app官方网站入 in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.

鈥淥ne of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I鈥檇 track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,鈥� she said.

One opportunity at Elon that greatly impacted Austin鈥檚 career was her experience with 榴莲app官方网站入 in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.

鈥淒uring the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,鈥� said Austin.

Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.

鈥淟ike many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I鈥檝e built,鈥� she explained.

She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.

In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region鈥檚 rapidly growing entertainment industry.

鈥淚 joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including 鈥極uter Banks鈥�, 鈥楾he Summer I Turned Pretty鈥�, 鈥楾he Righteous Gemstones鈥�, 鈥楾he Walking Dead鈥� and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,鈥� said Austin.

One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

鈥淒uring the introduction, the production assistant announced me as 鈥楯enny Austin from CBS Sacramento,鈥� and Will Ferrell immediately joked, 鈥楯enny Sacramento from Austin.鈥� It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,鈥� Austin said.

She鈥檚 also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.

Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They鈥檝e titled the platform . While it鈥檚 still a new project and they鈥檝e already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.

Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she鈥檚 been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at Elon, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.

鈥淣early every major opportunity I鈥檝e had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,鈥� she explained.

She credits 榴莲app官方网站入 experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.

鈥溋窳玜pp官方网站入 in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I鈥檇 dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,鈥� she said.

It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was 鈥渞ealizing that I didn鈥檛 have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.鈥�

Austin encourages 榴莲app官方网站入 students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I love most about Elon. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,鈥� she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn鈥檛 followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.鈥�

From production, post-production, content creation, producing, writing, directing and performing, the panel offered a wide range of information to students of diverse majors who are in Los Angeles this summer for a unique core capstone course, experiential learning, alumni engagement and community service.

Zaman, who works at the post-production house Picture Shop, shared the excitement of being in the middle of the artistry of post-production. Among Picture Shop鈥檚 most recent projects was providing color correction work on Steven Spielberg鈥檚 current film 鈥淒isclosure Day.鈥� She is also a first-time site supervisor, mentoring summer student Hammond Sherouse at a first-time Elon Los Angeles Picture Shop internship.

Campisano, who served as a selection committee member for the first 榴莲app官方网站入 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall, spoke about the wide range of professional creative opportunities that await students who return to Los Angeles after graduation. Campisano is an award-winning filmmaker who often turns to the Elon Los Angeles alumni community when staffing and casting projects.

Kestlinger is a Physical Production Manager for television and feature films at SK Global Entertainment. Seawright, an actor, model, and entertainment and brand marketing specialist, currently performs at Disneyland Resort.

榴莲app官方网站入 Los Angeles offers an exciting, immersive spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through 榴莲app官方网站入 and National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 has built her career around helping people move through pain toward healing. As the founder of Animo Counseling and Coaching in Denver, Colorado, she works with clients through a holistic mind-body approach to mental health, including somatic boxing therapy. In the latest episode of 鈥淓lon Beyond the Bricks,鈥� President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Martinelli-Taylor to explore the experiences that led her to a career in trauma counseling.

A graduate of Elon’s School of Communications, Martinelli-Taylor majored in strategic communications and minored in religious studies before her career turned toward mental health care. That shift began with moments she did not fully recognize at the time, including an Elon class on human trafficking that opened her eyes to the reality of trauma and stayed with her long after graduation.

“I think like a lot of things, there were moments, but I hadn’t added them up yet,” she said.

After graduation, Martinelli-Taylor’s path moved through customer service at Wayfair, nonprofit work in London and continued reflection on the kind of work that felt meaningful. Each step helped her better understand what she was drawn to, what she needed to move away from and how service could become a throughline in her life and career.

That search eventually led her to counseling, where she began working with clients who had experienced trauma. She noticed that talk therapy alone was not always the right entry point, especially when asking clients to revisit painful stories could bring them back into that experience. From there, she began developing a new approach.

鈥淲hat can we do that still heals or helps the body get rid of this distress, this intensity, this pain, but not necessarily just… talking about it?鈥� she said.

Somatic boxing therapy grew from that question and from Martinelli-Taylor’s own experience using boxing to process the emotional weight of counseling work. Over time, she began incorporating pads and bilateral movement into sessions, helping clients reconnect with strength, courage and a sense of agency.

鈥淔ind your strength, find your resilience find that courage,鈥� she said.

While her work now sits in the mental health field, Martinelli-Taylor still sees clear connections to her Elon education. Her communications background has helped her explain a new therapeutic model, build a practice and share her work with clients and other professionals.

鈥淚鈥檓 glad I had a marketing background. I鈥檓 glad I had a little bit of a PR background because so much, even though it鈥檚 counseling and mental health, it鈥檚 a lot of business,鈥� she said.

Martinelli-Taylor’s story was featured in the 2025 President鈥檚 Report because of the meaningful impact she is creating through service to others. For 榴莲app官方网站入 students and young alumni still trying to find direction, she encouraged patience and forward motion, even when the larger path is unclear.

鈥淛ust take one step,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 try to figure it all out right now.鈥�

Toward the end of the conversation, Martinelli-Taylor shared a quote from Frederick Buechner that has helped frame her own sense of calling:

鈥淢aybe the place you鈥檙e called is where your deep gladness and the world鈥檚 deep hunger meet,鈥� she said.

“For Martinelli-Taylor, that place has become the space where service, counseling and embodied healing meet. Her story is a reminder that purpose is often formed through the moments that stay with us and the courage to follow them into work that helps others heal.

Learn more about the podcast and listen to the episode here.

Learn more about the 2025 President’s Report and read it here.

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural 榴莲app官方网站入 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival on Wednesday evening, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., at the historic Sony Pictures Studios lot, in Culver City, California.

The festival will feature the world premieres of short films from three Elon Los Angeles area alumna who were recipients of last fall鈥檚 榴莲app官方网站入 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition funds.

Julia Boyd 鈥�15, Bex Evans 鈥�16 and Mirai 鈥�07 each received grants of $3,000 for the production of their original short films. Their projects were selected for funding from among numerous submissions received. A selection committee comprised of industry professionals and Elon alumni reviewed, ranked and voted on all of the submissions received; Boyd, Evans and Mirai鈥檚 projects were the three top selections from this process.

The short film festival will also feature a conversation with Elon alumni Lindsey Emerson, vice president of streaming, global strategy & operations at Paramount Skydance and Alex Stevenson, account lead at Creative Artists Agency, about the current state of the entertainment industry and the impact these shifts are having on students transitioning from college to the professional world, as well as how current working professionals might navigate the new landscape for new opportunities.

A reception will follow the festival presentation with the opportunity for current Elon Los Angeles summer students to connect with Elon alumni and other industry professionals.

Limited availability tickets for the film festival are $25 each, with 100% of all ticket revenue designated to support next year鈥檚 grant competition.

For information and ticket purchases, and for contributions to the grant competition fund, please visit the .

Applications will be accepted starting Sept. 1, 2026.

The ABA approval clears the way for Elon Law to expand its nationally recognized model of full-time legal education to North Carolina’s largest city. At that point, Elon Law will offer three pathways to a law degree in North Carolina: a full-time program in Greensboro, a full-time program in Charlotte and the part-time Elon Law Flex Program in Charlotte.

“This comes at an incredible moment for Elon Law,” said Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer. “Within the last year, we’ve celebrated historic bar passage rates and employment outcomes for our graduates, along with record enrollment and student applications. The ABA’s approval of our Charlotte program builds on that momentum, allowing Elon Law to bring our signature approach to legal education to one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.”

The inaugural Charlotte class, consisting of up to 75 students, will begin studies in August 2027 on the campus of Queens University of Charlotte. The charter cohort will graduate in December 2029, following Elon Law’s existing 2.5-year, seven-trimester academic calendar in Greensboro. The Elon Law Flex Program will also begin holding its part-time evening classes on the Queens campus in Fall 2027.

The full-time Charlotte program will replicate the innovative curriculum established at Elon Law’s Greensboro campus. The hallmark of Elon Law’s experiential, skills-based, community-centered approach to legal education is the Residency-in-Practice Program: a course-connected placement that pairs every student with a practicing attorney or judge during the winter or spring of their second year.

That experience moves students beyond studying the law to begin living it 鈥� working alongside attorneys and judges, serving clients and communities, and developing the professional judgment and practical skills expected of new lawyers. Students return to campus with greater confidence, stronger professional connections and a clearer sense of the kind of lawyer they will become.

Elon Law is in the early stages of hiring a full complement of professors, administrators and student support personnel who will lead the full-time program in Charlotte. The move aligns with the proposed merger of 榴莲app官方网站入 and Queens University, which remains subject to final approval from SACSCOC and the U.S. Department of Education.

Elon leaders are working closely with Queens University to ensure law students benefit from a vibrant campus experience and the resources of a thriving university community.

The expansion also builds on Elon Law’s longstanding relationships throughout Charlotte’s legal community. Already, more than 10 percent of the law school鈥檚 alumni live and work in the Charlotte area. Law school leaders plan to strengthen existing partnerships, develop new connections and grow opportunities for students to serve in a region with a need for legal talent, legal services and innovative legal education.

Through clinics, residencies and community partnerships, Elon Law students regularly work alongside attorneys, judges, nonprofit organizations and public agencies to help address unmet legal needs.

“We’ve been in Charlotte all along through our students, alumni and community partnerships,” Kramer said. “This approval gives us an opportunity to deepen our commitment to Charlotte. We’re excited to invest here, build new partnerships and help shape what comes next.”

Additional information about admissions, faculty hiring and program development will be announced in the coming months.

榴莲app官方网站入 Elon Law

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 2,000 alumni since opening its doors in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, maintaining an A+ rating each year since 2023. Elon Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched in Charlotte in 2024. Designed for students balancing work, family and other commitments to earn their J.D. in under four years, it will enroll its third cohort in Fall 2026.

The 鈥淓lon Dance Team Send-Off鈥� video, directed and edited by Peter Sillitto 鈥�26 and produced in collaboration with the Elon Dance Team, received a Sports Video Group (SVG) College Sports Media Award for Outstanding In-Venue Video 鈥� Collegiate Student Championship. The award was presented May 27 in Atlanta during the 18th annual SVG College Sports Media Awards ceremony.

The honor came just weeks after the Elon Dance Team captured two national titles at the 2026 National Dance Association College National Championships, winning the Division I pom and Division I hip hop competitions. The back-to-back victories marked a historic achievement for the program, including 榴莲app官方网站入 first national championship in the pom category.

Produced for the team鈥檚 trip to nationals, the video took a more narrative approach than previous send-off productions.

鈥淧roducing a send-off video is something we do every year, with the final piece being shown in the Schar Center and shared across social media,鈥� said Sillitto, a cinema and television arts major. 鈥淭his year, we wanted to take a more story-driven approach by focusing on the team鈥檚 journey to nationals. Our goal was to showcase not only their performances, but also the hard work, dedication and experiences that led them there.鈥�

In addition to Sillitto, the student production team included Kristen Pearson 鈥�27 and Meghan McGarrigle 鈥�28 as producers; and Zack Golub 鈥�26 and Colin Dorroh 鈥�27 as creative producers and camera operators.

across multiple locations, capturing both cinematic visuals and authentic moments from practices, workouts and team activities.

鈥淥ne of the biggest challenges was making sure we told the team鈥檚 real story, which meant being present and ready to film during genuine moments,鈥� Sillitto said. 鈥淐apturing those authentic interactions and experiences was an important part of the creative process and helped make the final video feel more personal and meaningful.鈥�

For Sillitto, the award reflects months of collaboration and effort from both the dancers and the production crew.

鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the project because every year our goal is to create the best video possible, and we have a lot of creative freedom to experiment with new ideas and push ourselves creatively,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he final video represents months of hard work from both the dance team and the production crew, so we鈥檙e excited and grateful that the project has been recognized.鈥�

Sillitto graduated from 榴莲app官方网站入 in May and recently accepted a position with Booz Allen Hamilton as a videographer and social media content creator.

Sillitto and Dorroh attended the 2026 SVG College Summit in Atlanta alongside Anthony Bamford 鈥�25, coordinating producer for Elon Sports Vision; Patrick Cunningham, director of live broadcast production for Elon Athletics; and students/recent graduates Philip Doherty 鈥�26, Anthony Eppolito 鈥�27 and Joey Marinello 鈥�28.

This year marked another strong showing for Elon at the national competition 鈥� the university won its first-ever award in 2025. In addition to the winning Elon Dance Team send-off video, four other Elon productions were recognized as finalists in the Collegiate Student Championship division: 鈥淔ootball: Elon vs. North Carolina A&T,鈥� 鈥淪trength Beyond the Game 鈥� Brodie Carroll,鈥� 鈥淲in The Moment 鈥� Asher Cunningham鈥� and 鈥淲hat It Takes 鈥� Elon Men鈥檚 Basketball Halftime Hype.鈥�

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.

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�

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.

Participants in the newest cohort emphasized the program鈥檚 immediate relevance to their everyday work.

Andrea Davis L鈥�12 said the experience helped her clearly identify how AI fits into multiple areas of her life.

鈥淚 had such a great time in this course 鈥� it really allowed me to pinpoint how I can use AI in my job and in my personal life, and it helped grow my confidence in handling AI,鈥� Davis said.

The certificate focuses on experiential learning, guiding participants through hands-on exercises with AI tools, prompt development and workflow design. Rather than centering on technical complexity, the program emphasizes strategy, ethics and clarity of use.

Elizabeth Worrilow Maher 鈥�17 said the course reshaped how she approaches her daily work.

鈥淚t genuinely shifted how I think about my day-to-day work,鈥� Maher said. 鈥淲hat stood out most wasn鈥檛 just the tools, but the mindset 鈥� using AI to enhance how you think, not replace it.鈥�

Maher noted that key takeaways included the importance of strong inputs and strategy, the impact of small workflow improvements over time and the advantage gained through learning how to ask better questions.

Instructor Rebecca Macy said the growth she observed in the cohort reflected a shift in how participants approached AI.

鈥淭he strength of this program is that it does not treat AI as a one-time tool demonstration,鈥� she said. 鈥淧articipants build from foundational understanding and ethics into prompt engineering, workflow design and a personalized capstone project they can connect directly to their professional or personal lives.鈥�

By the end of the program, she added, participants gain clarity as well as confidence.

鈥淭he thirst for learning about the newest AI tools and best practices for practical, professional usage continues to grow,鈥� said instructor Scott Oakes. 鈥淗ands-on, cohort-driven learning is a uniquely Elon experience 鈥� one where students draw not only on our expertise, but on the lived experiences of their fellow learners.鈥�

For many participants, that collaborative environment reinforces both learning and confidence.

鈥淭his is a great class to learn and expand your knowledge,鈥� said Neal Saunders G鈥�17. 鈥淵ou won鈥檛 believe what you can do.鈥�

As the AI Certificate for Professionals continues to grow, the second cohort reflects the program鈥檚 evolution from a new offering into an established learning experience with lasting professional impact. The certificate reinforces 榴莲app官方网站入 commitment to lifelong learning and workforce relevance.

The certificate is offered through , part of the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies.

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A Donning of the Kente Ceremony at 榴莲app官方网站入 celebrated the African heritage, achievements and resilience of Black graduates in the university鈥檚 Class of 2026 during an evening filled with expressions of cultural tradition, reflection and joy.

Held on the eve of Commencement ceremonies, the annual event honored graduating students with handmade Kente stoles woven in Ghana, a symbol of heritage, wisdom and shared responsibility to be worn at graduation.

Family members and the wider university community gathered inside Alumni Gym on May 21, 2026, to recognize the graduates鈥� accomplishments and the communities that supported them throughout their college journeys.

鈥淭onight, we do more than congratulate our graduates,鈥� said Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education. 鈥淭onight, we bear witness to them. Tonight, we affirm them.鈥�

The 10th annual ceremony highlighted the importance mentorship in the graduates鈥� success. In his remarks to graduates, Williams recognized the 鈥渧illage鈥� of parents, grandparents, mentors, faculty and staff, and friends who supported the graduates throughout their university studies.

Alex Bohannon 鈥�17, president of the Elon Black Alumni Network, encouraged graduates to remain engaged with the university and support future generations of students.

鈥淎s you look ahead, carry this charge: build community, mentor intentionally and stay engaged. 榴莲app官方网站入 strength is its people showing up for one another, again and again,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ngagement is not symbolic. It is active. It looks like mentoring a student, returning to campus, opening doors, and investing your time, talent, and resources.

鈥淭he next generation鈥檚 experience will be shaped by what you choose to do from this point forward.鈥�

Engagement is not symbolic. It is active. It looks like mentoring a student, returning to campus, opening doors, and investing your time, talent, and resources.

Alex Bohannon ’17, president of the Elon Black Alumni Network

Bohannon also highlighted the role of the Elon Black Alumni Network in mentoring students and supporting initiatives such as the Black Alumni Scholarship Fund. He noted that the ceremony鈥檚 continued growth reflects a vision established a decade ago and sustained through alumni engagement and philanthropy.

During the donning ceremony, each graduate was joined on stage by a person who played a meaningful role in their Elon experience. Supporters presented the stoles while tributes celebrating each graduate鈥檚 accomplishments and future aspirations were read aloud.

Graduates were praised for perseverance, leadership and cultural pride as families, mentors and faculty members reflected on the challenges many students overcame to earn their degrees. Presentations highlighted stories of first-generation college graduates, international students, and campus leaders who balanced academics with research, athletics and service while supporting others along the way.

Another popular feature of the evening program: A rhythmic dance of celebration performed by served to open and conclude the ceremony.

榴莲app官方网站入’s event is made possible by the Kelli E. Palmer 鈥�98 Donning of the Kente Endowment. Funding from the endowment supports the program, including the purchase of the kente stoles.

In her own remarks to graduates, La’ Tonya Wiley 鈥�97, 榴莲app官方网站入鈥檚 assistant director of affinity alumni engagement, described the evening as a way to not only honor accomplishments, but to honor who celebrants have become.

鈥淵ou are scholars, changemakers, leaders and living examples for those who will follow behind you,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ay you always remember that your excellence is not defined solely by titles or degrees, but by how you uplift others, how you remain rooted in purpose and how you continue building community wherever your path leads.鈥�