Office of the President | Today at Elon | appٷվ /u/news Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:27:11 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Mentoring sets the tone for appٷվ Los Angeles summer ‘Alumni Wisdom’ event /u/news/2026/06/23/mentoring-sets-the-tone-for-elon-university-los-angeles-summer-alumni-wisdom-event/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 19:10:29 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050443 Elon alumni Landon Kestlinger ’19, Dezirae Zaman ‘24, Frankie Campisano ‘16 and Cierra Seawright ’18 returned to Elon Los Angeles with a wide variety of personal experiences to share with students during a panel in June.

Two people chat and smile inside a brightly lit creative workspace or studio. One person gestures while speaking as the other listens, with books, equipment, and a neon appٷվ sign visible in the background.
Elon alumnus Frankie Campisano ’16 talks with Elon Los Angeles summer student Hammond Sherouse.

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’s most recent projects was providing color correction work on Steven Spielberg’s current film “Disclosure Day.” 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 appٷվ 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.

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

Two people pose for a photo. A woman is wearing a black and white dress. A man is wearing a blue patterned shirt. The man has glasses
Elon alumna Dezirae Zaman ’24 with Elon Los Angeles summer faculty-in-residence Doug Kass.
Alt text: Participants engage in conversation inside appٷվ Los Angeles. One person gestures while speaking as others listen in a collaborative workspace with tables, chairs, and neon appٷվ signage in the background.
Elon alumnus Landon Kestlinger ’19 talks with students following the Alumni Wisdom Panel session discussion at the appٷվ Los Angeles home base, the historic property The Preserve, in Hollywood.
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Elon to host annual Summer Picnic & Concert on Thursday /u/news/2026/06/22/elon-to-host-annual-summer-picnic-concert-on-thursday/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:58:34 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050340 appٷվ will hold its annual Summer Picnic & Concert on June 25 from 12-2 p.m. at the Martin Alumni Center, as part of a series of events to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Hosted by the Office of the President, the annual picnic celebrates vibrant connections among students, faculty, staff, families, and neighbors of appٷվ.

Featured live music will be presented by the NC Brass Band. Lunch and entertainment are free for registered attendees. During the event, guests are invited to explore an historical exhibit, hosted by the North Carolina State Archives in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The exhibit will be displayed in Belk Library.

Event Address:
306 N. O’Kelly Avenue
Elon, NC 27244

Parking is available at the McMichael Science Center and Innovation Lot.

Honoring 250 Years of the American Spirit: 1776–2026

Throughout 2026, the university will host a range of events as part of “Honoring 250 Years of the American Spirit: 1776–2026,” which blends civic engagement, historical exploration and cultural expression. Programs will highlight voices from across disciplines and communities, emphasizing inclusive dialogue and meaningful participation.

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Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 shares her path to somatic boxing therapy on ‘Elon Beyond the Bricks’ /u/news/2026/06/15/danielle-martinelli-taylor-12-shares-her-path-to-somatic-boxing-therapy-on-elon-beyond-the-bricks/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:02:00 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049101

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 “Elon Beyond the Bricks,” 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.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 is a graduate of Elon’s School of Communications, where she majored in strategic communications and minored in religious studies.

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.

“What 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?” 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.

“Find your strength, find your resilience find that courage,” she said.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 practices somatic boxing therapy with a patient.

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.

“I’m glad I had a marketing background. I’m glad I had a little bit of a PR background because so much, even though it’s counseling and mental health, it’s a lot of business,” she said.

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

“Just take one step,” she said. “Don’t try to figure it all out right now.”

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

“Maybe the place you’re called is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet,” 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.

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Elon Los Angeles area alumnae to premiere award-winning short films at inaugural Elon Los Angeles film festival July 22 /u/news/2026/06/10/elon-los-angeles-area-alumna-to-premiere-award-winning-short-films-at-inaugural-elon-los-angeles-film-festival-july-22/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:57:15 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049798
Elon alumna Bex Evans, Julia Boyd and Mirai will have the world premieres of their Elon Los Angeles grant-funded short films at the first appٷվ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival.

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural appٷվ 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’s appٷվ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition funds.

Julia Boyd ’15, Bex Evans ’16 and Mirai ‘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’s 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’s grant competition.

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

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Elon Academy celebrates Sigma Class success at president’s 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’s an impressive list of accomplishments for the Elon Academy’s 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 appٷվ, 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
appٷվ 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’s college access and success program, scholarships and college acceptances are more than a reflection of academic achievement. They’re a harbinger of future success.

“These accomplishments, impressive as they are, are only a glimpse of the bright path that lies ahead of you,” Book said. “The Elon Academy was founded on a simple and powerful belief — 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.”

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’s annual President’s 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.

“When people talk about Elon Academy, they’d most likely give you a polished answer,” Means said. “They talk about college preparation, leadership, and academic growth. All the things you can put on paper. And they wouldn’t be wrong. But they wouldn’t be telling the whole story.”

Means emphasized how the program transformed participants not only as students but as people. “Now we understand responsibility. Now we understand balance,” he said. “Now we understand that freedom isn’t just given, it’s something you learn how to handle.”

The reception was also the first in the Elon Academy’s 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.

“Someone told me that I did college right, and while I appreciated the notion, it’s not that I did college right, it’s that I led with my values,” Patel said. “I 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.”

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 ‘17, a member of the Delta Class and an appٷվ 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.

“As you step into this next chapter, know this: you are ready,” said Elon Academy Director Emily Wiersma. “You 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 … most of all, continue to believe in yourself as fiercely as we believe in you.”

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

“Believe in yourself. Believe that all the struggles you’ve faced prepared you and taught you what you need to succeed,” he said. “Your college acceptances and your college degrees were no mistakes, you did that. Now let’s be real. It may get difficult. Life won’t 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.”

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President Connie Ledoux Book featured on expert panel about artificial intelligence /u/news/2026/05/21/president-connie-ledoux-book-featured-on-expert-panel-about-artificial-intelligence/ Thu, 21 May 2026 18:29:51 +0000 /u/news/?p=1048320
appٷվ President Connie Ledoux Book

appٷվ President Connie Ledoux Book offered her insight on the implications of artificial intelligence during an expert panel hosted by The Conference Board, a global, nonprofit think tank and business membership organization.

The virtual panel on May 21 featured Book; Anand Eswaran, chief executive officer of Veeam; and Joe Sutherland, director of the Center for AI Learning at Emory University, and it focused on five issues:

  1. How leading companies are prioritizing AI use cases that deliver measurable ROI
  2. How organizations are building AI governance – risk management, privacy, security and compliance – without slowing innovation
  3. What “scaling AI” looks like in practice across key functions
  4. How policy can support an AI innovation ecosystem while managing potential risks
  5. How policymakers could help prepare employees to succeed in firms using AI

All of the panelists were asked about one development they think people underestimate about the way AI may reshape business, work or daily life. For Book, it’s the “deepening value of humanness.”

“Most people are asking this question … about which jobs AI will replace, but the bigger story is what human capabilities will become newly scarce and newly valuable,” she said. “I think of those as judgments, and the ability to build trust, mentor, and ask better questions are all human capabilities. The institutions and organizations that invest in that are going to be the leaders in five years.”

Book was asked about Elon’s research on AI in higher education, including a November 2025 survey of 1,057 faculty by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and Elon’s Imagining the Digital Future Center. The survey found widespread concern and skepticism about generative artificial intelligence affecting their teaching and student performance across academic disciplines.

“Faculty are not, by majority, anti-AI. They are deeply concerned that we get it right, that we get it right in our universe, and they’re looking for leadership on that,” Book said. “A majority of faculty already said they’re teaching AI literacy … They’re teaching things about bias, hallucinations, ethics and integrity. You see this unfold across universities.”

The survey also found concern over the over-reliance on AI by students. Book noted that it’s important to differentiate “over-reliance” from cheating.

“This is an over-reliance where they’re diminishing critical thinking,” she said. “They’re ‘AI dependent’ on what the answer is, rather than ‘human dominant,’ which is where we want them to take all of those liberal arts and learning skills, and really be human dominant through the technology.”

Eswaran said that adaptability to AI will be key for the workforce, and Book said that AI could even lead to more room for a liberal arts education and better workforce preparation for students.

“I think it creates even more demand for a liberal arts background,” she said. “We tend to think of ‘either or’ – either you’re a technical skills person, a STEM person, or a liberal arts person. I do think the ‘and’ is going to be even more critical in our understanding.”

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Undergraduate research opens unexpected doors for Lucy McAfee ’26 /u/news/2026/05/15/undergraduate-research-opens-unexpected-doors-for-lucy-mcafee-26/ Fri, 15 May 2026 18:08:28 +0000 /u/news/?p=1047790 Lucy McAfee ’26 in Alumni Gym in front of her poster
Lucy McAfee ’26 shared her research examining the NCAA transfer portal’s impact on high school football recruiting during appٷվ’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum in April. The exercise science and sport management double major presented her project during a poster session in Alumni Gym.

When arrived at appٷվ as a first-year student, she envisioned a future in physical therapy.

Four years later, the graduating senior leaves Elon not only with two majors, but with published scholarship, national conference presentations, and a growing passion for research that ultimately reshaped her career ambitions.

Lucy McAfee in Snow Family Grand Atrium
McAfee gained hands-on experience with departmental operations, compliance and the NCAA transfer portal during a Winter Term executive internship with Elon Athletics.

This winter, the native of Walnut Creek, California, served as lead author on a research publication in the , collaborating with Elon faculty members Alex Traugutt, Caroline Ketcham and Eric Hall. The publication represents the latest milestone in a research journey that began during her sophomore year, when she approached Ketcham about becoming involved with Elon BrainCARE.

“At the time, I was an exercise science major planning to apply to physical therapy school, so while I was genuinely interested in concussions and brain health, I also saw research as a way to deepen my involvement at Elon and strengthen my future applications,” McAfee said.

As she became more involved with research, McAfee’s interests evolved beyond concussions and brain injuries. While reviewing existing scholarship, she became increasingly interested in the ways athletics influence student-athletes off the playing field.

“One article in particular sparked my curiosity about how sports shape athletes beyond their playing careers,” McAfee said. “This led me to explore whether competitive sports help develop career readiness and how athlete identity may influence academic performance.”

Those experiences ultimately inspired McAfee to add sport management as a second major, where she met Traugutt during her first course in the department.

Lucy McAfee with mentor Alex Traugutt
During the Department of Sport Management’s senior celebration in May, McAfee collected both the department’s Achievement Award and the Excellence in Research and Scholarship Award. Also pictured is Alex Traugutt, assistant professor of sport management.

“Lucy is an intellectually driven student researcher who, over nearly three years of collaboration, led data collection, identified research topics and conducted analyses that resulted in two first-author peer-reviewed publications before completing her undergraduate degree,” said Traugutt, assistant professor of sport management.

Traugutt explained that McAfee distinguished herself through both her intellectual curiosity and her ability to connect research with practical application.

“What sets Lucy apart is her ability to bridge scholarship and practice,” Traugutt said, noting that she has presented research twice at the Applied Sport Management Conference and participated in multiple SURF and SURE programs.

McAfee said that working closely with Traugutt, Ketcham and Hall helped strengthen both her confidence and critical-thinking skills.

“When I first started doing research, I felt uncertain about my future and my own abilities,” McAfee said. “Dr. Alex Traugutt, Dr. Caroline Ketcham and Dr. Eric Hall each played a key role in guiding me, giving me direction, and helping me build confidence in my research skills.”

She especially valued the collaborative nature of the work.

“I particularly enjoyed our meetings – especially the ones at The Oak House – where we would dissect the data together,” McAfee said. “Consistently learning and discussing research with such knowledgeable professors pushed me to think more critically and challenged me to contribute insights of my own.”

McAfee’s recent publication is not expected to be her last contribution to the field. In addition to a forthcoming publication in Case Studies in Sport Management examining career readiness programming for student-athletes, she and Traugutt recently submitted a third research paper examining the NCAA transfer portal and high school recruiting opportunities in college football to the Journal of Applied Sport Management.

That research grew out of McAfee’s desire to better understand the rapidly changing dynamics of college athletics.

Lucy McAfee with ACC logo sign
As part of her internship with the Atlantic Coast Conference, McAfee ’26 explored topical issues in college athletics, such as the House settlement and the SCORE Act, which sparked her interest in how legislation and policy impact college athletics.

“My interest in the transfer portal stemmed from conversations during my time at the ACC, where its impact on various stakeholders was frequently discussed,” said McAfee, who completed an internship with the Power 4 conference last summer. “However, I noticed there was limited research regarding its effects on high school athletes. I saw that as an opportunity to contribute meaningful new knowledge to the field of sport management.”

Traugutt said McAfee’s work stands out for both its academic rigor and its broader relevance within athletics and higher education.

“Her work examining athletic identity, career readiness and student-athlete development is not only carefully designed and executed, but deeply meaningful, directly addressing questions that matter to practitioners and institutions alike,” Traugutt said.

McAfee also served as an executive intern with Elon Athletics, an experience Traugutt said complemented the practical focus of her research.

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After graduation, McAfee will pursue a master’s degree in higher education at Boston College, where she will hold two graduate assistantships – one as a student-athlete academic adviser within Boston College Athletics and another with Tufts Medical School’s graduate student services department.

Traugutt said those opportunities speak to both McAfee’s academic growth and the practical focus she brought to her research throughout her time at Elon.

“These achievements reflect a student who takes her work seriously and understands its real-world implications,” Traugutt said. “I have no doubt she will carry that same curiosity, independence and commitment into her graduate studies at Boston College and beyond.”

As Commencement approaches, McAfee said her undergraduate research experiences transformed her Elon journey in ways she never anticipated.

“When I received my acorn at convocation, I never imagined I would be doing research at this level,” McAfee said. “Now, as I prepare to receive my sapling at Baccalaureate, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support that made that possible.”

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Commencement 2026: Abigail Selikoff ’26 turned game-day experiences into career preparation /u/news/2026/05/11/commencement-2026-abigail-selikoff-26-turned-game-day-experiences-into-career-preparation/ Mon, 11 May 2026 13:06:30 +0000 /u/news/?p=1046603 Abby Selikoff ’26 at NASCAR Cup Series race in Martinsville, Virginia
As part of her internship experience with NASCAR, Abby Selikoff ’26 attended a NASCAR Cup Series race in Martinsville, Virginia, in November 2024.

On Dec. 6, 2025, day started not in Elon, but Charlotte.

By 8 a.m., the appٷվ senior was already at the Spectrum Center, one of the Queen City’s marquee entertainment venues, helping with operations for a neutral-site college basketball matchup between Dayton and Virginia. Hours later, she was darting through the tunnels of Bank of America Stadium as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship Game staff, helping coordinate pregame activities, managing an on-field photo experience for youth teams, and assisting with postgame celebrations after Duke’s dramatic victory over Virginia.

Abby Selikoff ’26 stands in appٷվ’s Historic Neighborhood
During her first campus visit, Selikoff knew Elon was the right fit.

In between, there were meetings, setup responsibilities, logistics and constant communication. The football championship game eventually stretched beyond regulation, adding even more chaos to an already packed day.

For Selikoff, though, the day never felt overwhelming.

“It doesn’t really feel like work because I love what I’m doing,” she said. “It’s rewarding because you ultimately get to see the experience that it brings at the end of the day.”

That whirlwind Saturday last fall captured much of Selikoff’s Elon experience – ambitious, hands-on and deeply connected to the sport industry she hopes to build a career in after graduation.

A double major in cinema and television arts and sport management, Selikoff arrived at Elon from northern New Jersey already knowing she wanted a university where relationships with professors and classmates grew naturally. After visiting campus during her senior year of high school, the decision came quickly.

“The second we drove through campus, I told my parents, ‘I’m done,’” she said. “I knew this was where I wanted to be.”

Once at Elon, she wasted little time getting involved.

Selikoff joined Elon Sports Vision during her first semester and directed her first broadcast before fall break. She also became involved with the Sport Management Society, an organization that shaped much of her college experience, and Women Influencers in Sports. After serving in various leadership roles, she now leads the society as president, helping connect students with industry professionals through networking events, facility tours and guest speakers.

“What stands out most about Abby is her ability to pair intellectual curiosity with real-world execution,” said Shaina Dabbs, associate professor and chair in the Department of Sport Management. “She is someone who doesn’t just show up, she fully invests in every opportunity in front of her. Simply put, she says ‘yes.’ Whether in the classroom, in research, or in the industry, Abby consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to learn.”

Selikoff’s willingness to embrace opportunity eventually led her to participate in The Sport Experience in Charlotte during fall 2024, where she balanced 18 credit hours with internships at both NASCAR and the ACC.

At NASCAR, she worked with digital products, supporting the organization’s website, app, fantasy platform and fan rewards program. Simultaneously, she served as a Football Game Day Operations Center intern with the ACC, monitoring games and helping ensure smooth coordination between on-site officials and conference staff in Charlotte.

By the end of the semester, Selikoff had completed more than 500 internship hours.

The experience – and her work ethic – opened the door to additional opportunities with the ACC. Over the next two years, Selikoff worked more than 25 football games while also supporting conference championships and events in basketball, gymnastics, baseball and tennis.

One of her favorite experiences came when the ACC sent her on-site to shadow replay officials during football games at North Carolina and N.C. State, attending pre- and post-game meetings in the process.

Abby Selikoff with research poster
Selikoff conducted extensive undergraduate research on sustainability marketing and consumer perceptions in professional sports.

“Being part of those big-game environments was incredible,” Selikoff said. “I got to see firsthand the communication between the game officials and Charlotte, and then bring what I learned back into the office.”

Dabbs said Selikoff fully embraced appٷվ experiential learning model.

“Abby is a great example of a student who maximized the Elon experience by intentionally connecting academics with industry opportunities,” Dabbs said. “What is particularly impressive is how she did not treat these as isolated experiences – she built a cohesive skillset across operations, media and fan engagement.”

Alongside her internships and leadership roles, Selikoff also immersed herself in undergraduate research under the mentorship of Young Do Kim, associate professor of sport management, and Tony Weaver, associate dean in the School of Communications.

Since fall 2023, she has investigated how professional sports organizations market sustainability initiatives and how those efforts shape consumer perceptions, gaining valuable insights into sustainability, marketing and environmental communications. The research led her to complete IRB approval and CITI certification, present at appٷվ Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and Spring Undergraduate Research Forum, and share her findings at the Sport Marketing Association Conference in Arizona. Additionally, she is currently working on a manuscript based on her results.

“I never thought I would be doing undergraduate research,” Selikoff admitted. “But I’ve loved it throughout the entire process.”

Abby and Emily Selikoff
Abby Selikoff (right) and her younger sister, Emily ’28, have treasured the opportunity to experience Elon together – both on main campus and in Charlotte.

Beyond academics and internships, Selikoff credits appٷվ faculty mentors with helping her grow personally and professionally.

She points to Kim, Dabbs, Weaver and Staci Saltz, chair of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts, as key influences throughout her four years on campus.

“The Sport Management Department is incredibly close-knit,” Selikoff said. “It feels kind of like a family. I can go to professors for anything – whether it’s personal or academic – and they’ve all had a strong impact on me.”

Fittingly, Selikoff’s Elon experience actually became a family affair when her younger sister, Emily, enrolled at the university two years ago. The two regularly meet for meals, cross paths in the School of Communications, and share many of the same academic interests.

“It’s honestly been really great having her here,” Selikoff said. “It’s like having an extra piece of home.”

After graduation, Selikoff hopes to return to Charlotte and continue building a career in sports media, communications or event operations. Whatever path she ultimately takes, she leaves Elon with the kind of hands-on experience many young professionals spend years trying to find.

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Jana Lynn Patterson shares lessons from a career in student life on ‘Elon Beyond the Bricks’ /u/news/2026/05/06/jana-lynn-pattersons-shares-lessons-from-a-career-in-student-life-on-elon-beyond-the-bricks/ Wed, 06 May 2026 15:35:55 +0000 /u/news/?p=1046403 Jana Lynn Patterson has spent nearly four decades shaping the student experience at appٷվ. As associate vice president for student Llife and dean of student health and well-being, she has guided generations of students through moments of growth and discovery, building a legacy defined by her commitment to student well-being. In the latest episode of “Elon Beyond the Bricks,” President Connie Ledoux Book sits down with Patterson as she prepares to retire and reflect on a career that has become foundational to appٷվ identity.

Drawn by the strength of appٷվ student life program and the opportunity to grow professionally, Patterson arrived in 1986 planning to stay only a short time.

“The student life program at Elon was well-regarded at the state and in the region and in the country even back in 1986,” she said. “I saw it as an opportunity to be a part of that staff and to grow professionally. And then Elon just grew into our home.”

Over the years, Patterson witnessed appٷվ transformation from a small college into a nationally recognized university.

“What I didn’t appreciate at the beginning was how the physical transformation was really the precursor for the cultural transformation of the institution,” she said.

That cultural transformation is most visible in her work with students. Known affectionately as “Dean P,” Patterson built her leadership approach through relationships grounded in accessibility, respect and authenticity. She emphasized servant leadership, encouraging students to see leadership not as personal elevation, but as a contribution to a larger community.

“I was going to be a good listener with them, but also going to ask them the tough questions so that the decisions that they made were aligned with both their values and the values of the institution,” she said.

This approach also shaped her work with student government. Patterson balanced openness with accountability, pushing students to slow down, ask better questions and fully understand the implications of their ideas. Rather than reacting in the moment, students were expected to research, refine and sometimes rethink their positions.

“Before you bring this for legislation, I want you to do your homework,” she said. “Be thoughtful and be a critical thinker.”

For Patterson, the most enduring measure of her work is what students carry forward. Watching alumni grow into leaders, mentors and engaged citizens has reinforced her belief in higher education as both a space for learning and transformation.

As she steps into retirement, Patterson remains optimistic about appٷվ future. She points to the university’s ability to balance tradition with innovation while staying grounded in its values.

“I’m in my jubilee year, as we call it,” she said. “I get a little emotional at Elon Day and those things, but I’ve received the gift to be able to reflect in a place that has been such an integral part of my life and my family’s lives.”

For all of Patterson’s contributions over her 40-year career, from mentoring generations of students to strengthening the university’s focus on student health and well-being, her service reflects what President Book described as “a job well done.”

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

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Grant recipients near completion of films in appٷվ Los Angeles Short Film Grant Competition /u/news/2026/04/23/elon-university-los-angeles-short-film-grant-competition-awardees-focus-on-final-production-days-of-their-grant-funded-films/ Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:01:12 +0000 /u/news/?p=1045177 Production is well underway and nearing completion by all three of the appٷվ Los Angeles-area alumna who were recipients of the 2025-26 appٷվ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition. Filmmakers Julia Boyd ‘15, Bex Evans ‘16 and Mirai ‘07 are all expected to wrap their productions by the end of the month.

For Mirai, her short film shoot was an opportunity to both produce her original script and bring together several Elon alumni for a Hollywood reunion. Serving in various production capacities on her “#StopAsianKate” were Lauren Gadd ’06, who worked camera, Katie Laurence ’24, who worked as assistant camera, Alicia Reynolds ’07, who acted in the film, Stevie Kloeber ’07, who traveled to Los Angeles from Minnesota to serve as script supervisor, and Dean Karasinski ’06, who worked in production design, art department, craft services and as producer.

All three short films, Boyd’s “The Life and Time of …,” Evans’s “Shadow Dusk” and Mirai’s “#StopAsianKate,” will have their world premieres at the first appٷվ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival, in late July.

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