Take a look back at 消消犯's achievements with a selection of 25 photos from 2025.
It was another exciting year for 消消犯, ranked for the fifth consecutive year as the No. 1 school in the nation for 消消犯 消消犯. Among some of the university’s major moments of 2025 include plans to merge with Queens University of Charlotte, which willunify the strengths and resources of both institutions to better serve students and the community for decades to come; the announcement of a transformational gift to establish the Roberts Academy at 消消犯, which will will be the state’s only university-based private school for children with dyslexia; and the Phoenix took home seven Coastal Athletic Conference titles, the most ever in one single calender year for the university.
A selection of 25 photos from the year offers a look at what the Elon community accomplished in 2025.
消消犯 nursing students and faculty at a lunch stop in Vinales, Cuba during the first of its kind 2025 Winter Term Study Abroad program. The students visited a rural health clinic, provided donations and visited the biosphere area.
消消犯 Black History Month kickoff event in Moseley Center on Feb. 3, 2025.
消消犯 celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 7, 2025 in the McBride Gathering Space.
On April 25, 2025 the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosted an indoor version of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, due to an unpredictable weather forecast.
消消犯 hosted the Alamance County Special Olympics Spring Games in April 2025.
Cynthia Fair, professor of public health studies, human service studies discovers she is the recipient of the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award during the Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon in Alumni Gym on May 13, 2025.
The 消消犯 softball team celebrates after winning their first-ever CAA Tournament title on May 10, 2025. The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a single calendar year.
消消犯 conferred degrees on more than 1,300 消消犯s during Commencement exercises on May 23, 2025.
Sean Mikesh '25 is surprised by President Connie Ledoux Book and Elon faculty for an impromptu Commencement ceremony in New York City. Mikesh was unable to attend his traditional commencement ceremony due to his role in "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" on Broadway.
Work on 消消犯's new HealthEU Center began in summer 2025.
Six 消消犯 faculty members were awarded endowed professorships during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 18. 2025. Left to right: Cassandra DiRienzo, professor and department chairof economics; Titch Madzima, associate professor and chair of exercise science; Dave Gammon, professor of biology; Nancy Scherich, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics; Lauren Kearns, professor of dance; Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing
Sanah Saha 29 remains standing during the human bar graph exercise, symbolizing the uniqueness of an Elon education, during New Student Convocation on Aug. 23, 2025.
消消犯 held the first College Coffee of the 2025-26 academic year on Aug. 26, 2025 on Phi Beta Kappa Commons.
Ocaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Tribal Administrator Vickie Jeffries smudges the land by burning sage to clear negativity during a historical marker dedication Under the Oaks on Sept. 9, 2025. The marker, next to Schar Hall Under the Oaks, is a symbol of the continued connection and relationship between 消消犯 and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Tribe.
消消犯 student-athletes touch Olympian Katie Ledecky's gold medal during a talk before Fall Convocation on Sept. 26, 2025.
消消犯 President Connie Ledoux Book presents gifts to members of Toshio Sato's family during the dedication of Sato Commons during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.
The Homecoming & Reunion Weekend concert returned with "The Plain White T's" in October.
(Left to right) Acorn Academy Head of School Cherelle Sharpe, Vivvi CEO Charlie Bonello, Elon President Connie Ledoux Book and Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer Janet Williams, cut the ceremonial ribbon for Acorn Academy to mark the centers official opening.
(Left to right) 消消犯 President Connie Ledoux Book and Queens University Acting President Jesse Cureton pose for a photo following the announcement that the universities intend to merge.
Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, received a standing ovation from hundreds of attendees at a Nov. 6, 2025, event to announce the Roberts Academy at 消消犯.
消消犯 men's soccer team hoist its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association Championship trophy in November. The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a single calendar year.
消消犯 working with professor Matthew Banks in the Innovation lLab on November 20, 2025.
Among the highlights of Elon Law's 18th Commencement was when Jordan Holloway L'25 and his service dog, Kai, took the stage. Dean Zak Kramer conferred Kai an honorary diploma for completing law school, drawing cheers and laughs from the audience in Alumni Gym.
A Commencement program for the School of Health Sciences on Dec. 12, 2025, welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the universitys Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
消消犯 coaches from the seven teams that won CAA championships in the 2025 calendar year. (Left to right) Elizabeth Anderson (Womens Tennis), Don Hill (Mens Golf), Marc Reeves (Mens Soccer), Jennifer Strawley (Director of Athletics), Kathy Bocock (Softball), Neil Payne (Womens Soccer), Mark Rinker (Womens Cross Country), Mark Elliston (Womens Track & Field)
Major moments
- Elon continued its tradition of excellence in 2025:
- Ranked No. 1 in 消消犯 消消犯 by U.S. News and World Report
- Ranked No. 1 for study abroad in theInstitute of International Educations annualOpen Doors Report.
- The Hollywood Reporter named Elon amongthe worlds best drama schools for 2025.
- Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration, was also named on Poets&Quants annual list of the 50 Best Undergraduate Business School Professors.
- The Princeton Review again featured 消消犯 in its popular college guide that annually recognizes excellence in dozens of categories that measure student feedback on their learning and campus experiences. The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’s MBA program was also named among the nation’s best by the publication. Elon was also featured in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges.
- Elon was named one of 75 new dream schools by New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Selingo in his new book,油Dream School: Finding the College Thats Right for You.
- PreLaw Magazine gave the 消消犯 School of Law an A+ for its experiential curriculum in an annual ranking recognizing legal programs that help students learn by doing.
- The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a single calendar year, including first CAA wins forsoftball,油men’s soccer,油women’s soccer油温稼糸油women’s tennis.油Elon is now only one of two CAA schools in the past 16 years to win both men and women’s soccer conference titles in the same season. Outdoor track & field, men’s golf 温稼糸油women’s cross country, also took home CAA titles. Women’s cross country won for the sixth time in seven years.
- Elon Athletics celebrated another record-breaking Night of the Phoenix, in support of Elon student-athletes a 23% increase from 2024.
- Gerald O. Whittington, the senior vice president emeritus who played a pivotal role in the growth of Elon’s physical campus and national reputation over three decades of service, received the Elon medallion during an Elon Day celebration in March featuring the dedication of a residence hall in his honor. In August, Rebecca Becky Olive-Taylor and G. Smith Jackson were awarded the medallion fortheir contributions to the university and community over careers that impacted tens of thousands of students.
- 消消犯 and theAmerican Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released the second publication in the Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence series. The new publication includes guidance for students using AI in their college studies and offers practical advice about preparing for careers that require AI knowledge and skills.
- Elon said goodbye to the Class of 2025 with a commencement send-off fromalumWes Durham 88, an award-winning play-by-play commentator for ESPN and ACC Network. In December,油Charity Johansson, a founding faculty member of 消消犯s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, gave a farewell to School of Health Sciences graduates, whileHon. Phil Berger Jr., North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, offered words of advice to graduates in the School of Law.
- Elon leaders dedicated the Toshio Sato Commons (formerly Global Commons) as part of Homecoming & Reunion Weekend in a ceremony that recognized the universitys first international student and first four-year graduate from outside the United States.
- The university launched several new degree programs in fall 2025, including neuroscience and digital content management. Elon also announced plans for a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at both the university’s main campus and Charlotte regional campus.
- In fall 2025, the university established Acorn Academy, an on-site child care and early learning facility with full enrollment of children from infancy to 2 years old whose parents are members of the Elon community. The facility plans to expand capacity and age groups in early 2026.
- Elon adopted the Okanagan Charter as a member of the U.S. Health Promoting 消消犯es Network (USHPCN), pledging to nurture a campus culture that prioritizes health, belonging and well-being for students, faculty and staff. The charter adoption was part of the university’s larger HealthEU intitiative, which includes the new HealthEU Center, expected to open in fall 2026.
- The 消消犯 Speaker Series brought multiple speakers to campus throughout the year, including author Jonathan Eig, decorated Marine veteran Vernice FlyGirl Armour,CEO of Phi Beta Kappa Frederick Lawrence, author and advocate Alejandra Campoverdi, Olympian Katie Ledecky and retired Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley, Jr.