Members of the �þ��� School of Law Advisory Board gathered in Greensboro this week for their regular fall meeting, providing strategic guidance and professional insights to university and law school administrators while devoting significant time to students through panel discussions and small-group mentoring conversations shared over meals.

The 21-member board includes prominent attorneys, judges and business leaders from across the country who advise Elon Law and �þ��� leaders on the law school’s development and strategic direction.

A Wednesday, Sept. 16, panel featured Jennifer Bowden L’09, principal at R. Steve Bowden & Associates; Marla Crawford, general counsel at Cimplifi; and Gerald Walden G’14, general counsel at The Fresh Market. Student Bar Association President Trey McClenny L’26 moderated.

Their conversation offered students practical advice drawn from careers spanning private practice, corporate law, litigation and emerging legal technology. Among their key takeaways:

Treat law school like your first professional job.

Bowden encouraged students to take advantage of access to professors and seek their guidance rather than trying to navigate difficult material alone. Walden similarly urged students to make law school a priority and to be intentional about learning from classmates who excel in different legal areas, as well as faculty.

Stay open to where a legal career can lead.

All three panelists described careers that evolved in directions they hadn’t necessarily anticipated in law school. Crawford encouraged students not to arrive with a fixed idea of where they must end up. Opportunities others overlook, she said, can sometimes become defining moments in a career. For her, that arose through first managing discovery, which became her specialty and led to managing the nation’s first electronic discovery case in the complex Enron case that began in 2001. She then leveraged that skill to become an expert in technology and the law, and is now focused on AI.

Get legal experience (even if it isn’t your dream job).

The panelists emphasized internships, summer work and other law-related opportunities as ways to test practice areas and workplace environments. �þ��� can learn as much from discovering what they don’t enjoy as from finding an immediate fit.

Build relationships deliberately.

Walden reminded students that their professional networks already include the classmates sitting beside them. When meeting practicing attorneys, he advised students to follow up, reference the conversation and give the attorney something memorable to know about their own interests and goals.

Referencing a specific conversation and expressing interest in continuing it can help turn a brief introduction into a meaningful professional connection, he said.

The panel was only one part of the board’s interaction with students. Members joined students for a community dinner in the Elon Law Library on Wednesday, Sept. 16, creating opportunities for informal conversations about careers, law school and professional life.

Those connections continued Thursday, Sept. 17, when board members met with students in smaller mentoring conversations over lunch.

The interactions reflect Elon Law’s emphasis on connecting students with practicing attorneys, judges and other leaders throughout their legal education, as well as the Advisory Board’s dedication to providing top-notch law school experience to law students as they develop professional networks and clearer understanding of opportunities available.

�þ��� will host “United in Purpose” on Thursday, Nov. 5, bringing together alumni, parents and friends of �þ��� and Queens University of Charlotte for an evening of connection and community.

The event will be held at Urban Garden in Charlotte and begin at 6:30 p.m. with a hosted reception featuring hors d’oeuvres. Guests will gather at 7:30 p.m. for a special program featuring remarks from �þ��� President Connie Ledoux Book. A dessert reception will follow the program and conclude the evening. Business attire is requested.

United in Purpose
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026
6:30 p.m. — Hosted reception with hors d’oeuvres
7:30 p.m. — Program
Dessert reception to follow until 9 p.m.

Urban Garden
150 N. College St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

Register at or contact advancement@elon.edu.

With the support of the Departments of Art History, English, History, Philosophy, Religious Studies and World Languages and Cultures, a slate of events from Oct. 5-9, 2026, are intended to communicate the value of the humanistic disciplines in a digital age.

All Elon community members are welcome to join. Contact Associate Professor Ariela Marcus-Sells (amarcussells@elon.edu) with any questions. 

Monday, October 5

• Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak House

Tuesday, October 6

• Social Media Takeover with Humanities majors

Wednesday, October 7

• Career Paths for Humanities Majors at 6 p.m. in Lakeside 212 and 213

Thursday, October 8

• Being Human Coffee, from 9:50 – 10:20 a.m. in Numen Lumen

Friday, October 9

• Being Human Alumni Reception and Networking from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. on the Spence Pavilion Patio

Visit the Humanities Week webpage for updated information.

This August, �þ��� hosted university and college educators from across the region and around the world for the 22nd Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. A free, hybrid event sponsored jointly by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (�䴡�ճ�),��Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT), and the Office of the Provost.

Nearly 70 educators attended the conference on Elon’s campus, including faculty from Queens University of Charlotte, providing an opportunity for educators to connect and exchange ideas. Hundreds more participated virtually from institutions across the country and beyond.

Rather than simply streaming the in-person conference, the fully hybrid format offered distinct programming for virtual and on-campus participants throughout the day. The two groups came together virtually for the conference’s keynote, while other sessions were designed specifically for each mode of participation.

This year’s conference, themed “Teaching for Tomorrow: Building Transferable Skills and Lifelong Learners,” encouraged attendees to reflect on how today’s �þ��� practices shape students’ abilities to adapt, think critically and thrive in the future. Presentation submissions addressed one of four related sub-themes: Technology and the Future of Learning, Foundations for the Future, Building Transferable Skills for Tomorrow, and Teaching Innovations.

The keynote address was given by director for curriculum transformation initiatives at , titled “Boldness by Design: Reimagining our University from the Classroom Out.” McGowan shared how universities might move from preserving tradition to designing new models, structures, and pathways toward the learning outcomes they seek for students, drawing on her experience leading institution-wide educational transformation initiatives.

Following the keynote, McGowan and Jill McSweeney, assistant director of CATL, led an in-person workshop for on-campus attendees, “Envisioning Structures of the Possible,” which invited participants to imagine a new, fully experiential core curriculum requirement for the year 2032. The workshop asked educators to consider experiential learning as a holistic, emergent and relational response to the complexities of higher education today.

Throughout the day, presenters shared research, practices, and �þ��� strategies aligned with the conference’s themes, creating opportunities for both virtual and in-person participants to connect with colleagues and exchange ideas about the future of �þ��� and learning.

The Teaching and Learning Conference is held annually at Elon and remains free for registrants. Information about the 2026 conference schedule, past conferences and future calls for proposals is available on the CATL and TLT websites.

We live in a “take culture,” where everyone wants to know everyone else’s opinion, particularly in the sports and fitness industry. In fact, one of the most popular sports commentary shows is called First Take. But many of the claims we see online are based more on strong opinions than strong evidence.

Over the past year, Evans has grown an Instagram account to more than 70,000 followers by using scientific data to explore common questions, myths and controversies in sports and fitness. The most successful posts do more than simply present research; they use data to tell a story. In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the art of storytelling on social media, how to turn data into content people actually understand and care about. Evans will share all the secrets to Instagram’s data and how it can shape the next story you tell.

Attendees will leave with a step-by-step guide for how to use data to develop their content to increase their following. Expect food, raffles and hand-on engagement.

Register your participation on the Elon MIFLC2026 website. Registation is $25 for non-presenting attendees for both days, including lunches and Friday wine reception. The full program will be available on the Elon MIFLC2026 website. (If you can only attend the conference for a panel or two, please email the conference co-chairs, Mina Garcia & Nina Namaste, to attend for free.)

Saturday, Oct. 3 interactive workshop 9 a.m. to noon, by Todd Lee Goen is

“Galvanizing Intercultural Competence for Growth: Building Capacities in People, Classrooms, and Organizations” by Todd Lee Goen  — interactive workshop Saturday, October 3 9am to noon in LaRose Commons
This workshop centers intercultural competence as an essential component of global learning that supports the development of many of the skills necessary for academic and professional success. It is a foundational component of most �þ��� and skill-building related to global education, yet international educators often treat it as a byproduct of global engagement rather than a competency that requires intentional development. Through the lens of developing global career-ready graduates, this workshop challenges globally engaged faculty to employ a three-pronged approach to global learning.

First, the workshop explores ways educators can improve their own intercultural learning to ensure they are equipped to support their students and organizations. Then, participants will share methods for integrating the developmental process of intercultural growth into classrooms for the purpose of advancing NACE’s career-readiness competencies. Finally, they will conclude by challenging ourselves to channel our intercultural growth as a catalyst for greater organizational focus on globally oriented processes and outcomes. Each segment of the workshop will provide participants with tools, strategies, and skills to implement in their professional endeavors.

The conference plenary workshop as well as the free Saturday workshop is generously sponsored by the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center.

Plain White T’s headlined last year with over 2,000 alumni, students and friends in attendance! As a fan-favorite Homecoming event, Rock the Block will once again transform into a full music festival experience featuring a variety of food trucks, a bar, activities and an end-of-night fireworks show.

O’Neal will perform from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Rock the Block and the Homecoming Concert are open to all members of the Elon community for free, so register for today!

“We invite the Elon community to join us in celebrating and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing ourselves in the vibrant art, music, food, and traditions that unite and inspire the community,” Amy Gutierrez-Luviano, assistant director of the CREDE, said. “By doing so, we are creating supportive spaces focused on mental, physical and holistic health that uplift the community.

Observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on Aug. 17 that year. The month highlights the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.

The celebration begins with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on Sept. 16 and 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month programming at Elon will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30. Highlights of this year’s events include the annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and “Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities,” featuring film producer and poet Françoise Nieto-Fong, sponsored by Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Center for Advancement of Teaching nd Learning, and Belk Library.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events at Elon

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

Tuesday, Sept. 15

5:30 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities

Wednesday, Sept. 16 

2-3:40 p.m. | Turner Theatre

�þ��� Screening: Sunset over America and The Return-Family Separation

Sponsored by Latin American Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Belk Library.

Noche Latina

Tuesday, Sept. 29

7 p.m. | Rudd Field

Perspectivas

Wednesday, Sept. 30

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Soccer Tournament

Friday, Oct. 2

4-8 p.m. | Intramural Fields

Perspectivas

Thursday, Oct. 8

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Café con Leche Homecoming Edition

Friday, Oct. 9

3:30-5 p.m. | El Centro (Carlton 114)

Café con Leche w/ friends!

Monday, Oct. 19

5:30-7 p.m. | Irazú

Gala Latina

Friday, Oct. 30

5:30-8 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Explore the detailed schedule of events for Hispanic Heritage Month on the CREDE website. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Gutierrez-Luviano at agutierrezluviano@elon.edu.

When you cast your ballot during the midterm elections, how will you decide whom to vote for? How will you decide what makes an effective elected official? Elections provide an opportunity for voters to select the leaders who will shape how our municipalities, counties, states and nation are governed. Making informed decisions about who we vote for has a direct impact on our daily lives and the lives of our fellow citizens. This dialogue will provide an opportunity to explore the issues that matter most to you and to consider how you might select candidates who best represent your values and needs.

Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Political Engagement Work Group and Elon Votes!

Parker Stevens worked for MegaWatt Lasers, a company based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, which designs and manufactures solid state lasers. These laser systems often find use in medical, industrial and military applications. One of Parker’s tasks was to develop a new safety system and signage for the research lab that could be controlled remotely.

Ja’Mir Parham spent his summer at a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) site at the SETI Institute, an organization whose primary mission is to explore life in the universe. Ja’Mir focused on finding large, hydrogen-rich regions of the Milky Way Galaxy that could be star-forming regions. His team identified 15 new candidate regions, a significant increase in the number of previously identified regions.

Jonathan Berkson spent his summer at an NSF-REU at Washington State University, where his work centered on observational data related to dwarf galaxies and intermediate black holes. Jonathan and his mentors are continuing to work on a paper based on his efforts this summer.

Hosted weekly by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Physics & Astro Tea promises engaging discussions, thought-provoking ideas and a delightful spread of refreshments. Open to all students, faculty and staff, this gathering is the perfect opportunity to connect with fellow physics aficionados in a relaxed and informal setting. Meetings take place in the third-floor lounge of Innovation Hall at 3:20 p.m. on Wednesdays.