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Welcome to �þ��� and the Center for Leadership! We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program as a member of the Class of 2030. Now in its 37th year, this program brings together some of the most promising student leaders on campus. You are one of 28 students selected from an applicant pool of over 400 students.  Your selection was based on your outstanding leadership in high school, both inside and outside the classroom. As a Leadership Fellow, you’ll have countless opportunities to grow, learn, and lead. Rooted in the legacy of Dr. Isabella Cannon, a 1924 Elon alumna and the first female mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, the program has evolved into one of Elon’s most dynamic leadership experiences. As your Fellows Directors, we can’t wait to see how your class continues to shape its future.

Now is the time to begin preparing for the Fall semester.  On this webpage, you will find helpful information.  Below is a list of terms for you to look over and a basic overview of the program.

Program Manual & Alamance Choosing Hope

We’re mailing you a copy of the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Program Handbook to review with your family. Inside, you’ll find important information about the program’s expectations, requirements, and the opportunities connected to your Leadership Fellows scholarship.

As you may remember from the selection process, all Fellows will design and carry out a “Common Good Initiative” project during their time at Elon. To help you start thinking about ways to engage with your new community, we’re also including Alamance Choosing Hope—a report that introduces you to Burlington, North Carolina, your new home and discusses how our local community is striving to make this a place where all feel included within our greater community.  We will discuss this report at our September retreat, so please read it before arriving on campus. It may spark ideas for how and where you can make a meaningful impact—both in the local community and at Elon.

Information Form

In early May, we requested via email, that each student provide information for our summer planning.  We still have several students who have yet to fill it out. Please fill out the online by July 17, 2026.

• This form includes your T-Shirt size and food allergies.  We need both of these things urgently to best prepare for the retreat and fall events that include food.
• This also asks for updated contact information and information to get to know you better.
• Lastly, we need to update our website, so please upload a senior picture or nice selfie in this form.

Welcome Events:

Parents and Family Welcome Gathering – Friday, August 21, 2026 (4:30 – 5:30 pm in the Center for Leadership – 230 Moseley Center)

Parents and family members are invited to stop by the Center for Leadership for light refreshments before the dinner break during Orientation. We’d love the opportunity to welcome you back to campus, reconnect, and share what’s ahead for the year.

While families are visiting the Center, students will participate in an Orientation session led by our outstanding Leadership Fellow Orientation Leaders, Caleb King and Sophia Barnes.

FDOC Coffee Meet Up – Tuesday, August 25, 2026 (Anytime between 10:30 am – 2:30 pm in Irazú Coffee Shop – Moseley Center)

Kick off the semester with a casual coffee meet-up at Irazú Coffee Shop! Stop by to find Tierza and connect with other Leadership Fellows. During your visit, you’ll:

• Receive your Fall Required Events calendar
• Sign your Leadership Fellows Program Agreement
• Learn more about the upcoming First-Year Retreat
• Enjoy a free drink of your choice from Irazú!

We’ll be there from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. If you have class during that time, no worries—just stop by the Center for Leadership to complete your agreement between 2:30 – 5pm that same day.  We can’t wait to see you there!

Class of 2030 Retreat

All first-year Leadership Fellows are required to attend their orientation retreat, which will take place at YMCA Camp Haynes (north of Winston-Salem, NC).  Over the weekend (Friday, September 11 – Sunday, September 13, 2025), the Class of 2030 will get to know each other through team-building activities, learn about the and have lots of fun!  We’ll also go over program requirements and answer your questions.

Rosh Hashanah:

We’ve recently realized that our retreat falls during Rosh Hashanah. We want to ensure that students who observe the holiday are able to fully honor their religious commitments while remaining part of our leadership program. If you observe Rosh Hashanah, please let us know so we can coordinate the accommodations that best support your observance if you’d like to still attend the retreat. We are working with our partners in the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life to plan accommodations at the retreat after we know who is interested.  Please reach out to us no later than August 7, 2026 so we can plan or cancel your attendance with the YMCA camp.

If attending the retreat is not possible because of your religious observance, you are welcome to take an excused absence. We will work with you individually to complete any missed learning activities through a follow-up meeting with our office before the end of the month. Your participation in the program will not be negatively affected because you choose to observe this important religious holiday.

We look forward to working with you over the upcoming year.
Yours in Leadership,

Tierza Watts, Director – Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows
Jonathan Loeb, Class of ’27 & Leadership Fellows Student Director

Additional Information

Center for Leadership Social Media:

• Follow our Leadership Fellows account
• Follow our Center for Leadership  account
• Like our Center for Leadership  page