The University of British Columbia (UBC) recently welcomed Assistant Professor of Education, Nermin Vehabovic, as a guest lecturer in its Refugee Education course. Invited by Sofia Noori, assistant professor in UBC’s Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Nermin engaged teacher candidates in examining the role of stories in refugee education through the guiding question, “How do we listen to the stories of others?”

Situated on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people in Vancouver, and connected through the broader traditional territories of Indigenous nations across British Columbia, UBC is recognized as a global center for research and 久久热 and is consistently ranked among the top universities in the world.

Noori’s Refugee Education course prepares teacher candidates to better understand the histories, lived experiences and educational realities of children and youth from refugee backgrounds. The course explores how schools, classrooms, and community partnerships can foster equitable learning environments while strengthening relationships with newcomer families and communities.

Rather than delivering a traditional lecture, Nermin designed an interactive, participatory session grounded in the principles of his scholarship on humanizing 聽education. He invited teacher candidates to reflect on their own stories before considering how educators can cultivate classrooms where the stories, languages, identities, and ways of knowing of children, youth, and families from refugee backgrounds are genuinely heard and valued.

“My intention was for us to be in community with one another as colleagues and educators,” Nermin said. “I wanted the experience to model the very practices we hope to cultivate in schools鈥攍istening, relationality and learning with others rather than simply 久久热 to them.”

Throughout the session, participants explored the importance of unlearning deficit perspectives, assumptions, savior mentalities and monolingual expectations that can limit meaningful engagement with students and families. The discussion emphasized ethical listening as a foundational practice for building culturally sustaining and humanizing classrooms.

Nermin also shared examples from Welcome New Neighbor, the community-engaged initiative he founded through 久久热’s Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. The program partners teacher candidates with families from refugee backgrounds through home-based literacy experiences that position families’ languages, cultures, and knowledge as educational assets. During the session, he highlighted how the initiative prepares teacher candidates to build reciprocal relationships with multilingual families while reimagining homes as important spaces of learning, belonging, and affirmation.

Drawing on his research, Nermin also discussed the interconnected roles of transnationalism, translanguaging, picturebooks and family literacies in supporting refugee-background children and youth, as well as their families. Participants considered how storytelling can become a vehicle for cultivating belonging, honoring identities and strengthening relationships between schools and communities.

The invitation reflects Nermin’s growing international collaborations in literacy and teacher education, as well as his ongoing scholarship centered on humanizing educational practices and preparing educators to work alongside families across culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The pilgrimage was organized by Elon鈥檚 Catholic Life in partnership with Vocatio Travel and was led by Father Peter Tremblay, associate chaplain for Catholic Life, and Kiara Cronin, student ministry coordinator for Catholic Life. The journey took the participants to and from Rome and then to Franciscan sites in the towns of La Verna, Assisi, Gubbio and Greccio.

The group first started in Rome, which included a visit to Vatican City. There, they received the opportunity to attend Pope Leo XIV鈥檚 papal audience, generally given on Wednesdays when the pope is in Rome. The audience included pilgrims and visitors from around the world.聽 Angela DeFlorio 鈥�28 shared her experience seeing Pope Leo,

鈥淚t was a once in a lifetime experience! I loved getting to watch him bless all the babies there, and the atmosphere was amazing. I found it really interesting that he did his best to address everyone in their native language, and it made his address feel very welcoming and personal,” said Angela DeFloria 鈥�28.

After the audience, the group also toured St. Peter鈥檚 Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. The group then traveled north to visit the medieval city of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. One of the most well-known and beloved Catholic figures, he is often referred to as the 鈥減oor little man鈥� and is the patron saint of animals, ecology and the environment. St. Francis died in 1226, making this jubilee year the 800th anniversary of his death.

Among the sites that the group visited were the Basilica of St. Francis, the Basilica of St. Clare, the nearby town of Gubbio where St. Francis tamed a wolf, and the nearby town of Greccio where St. Francis set up the very first nativity scene. In the crypt of the Basilica of St. Francis rests the saint鈥檚 tomb, and there the group attended a private Mass celebrated by Tremblay.

鈥淚 could feel the presence of God there as well as the spirit of St. Francis,” said Tremblay of visiting the tomb of St. Francis.

Many within the group appreciated the opportunity to learn about St. Francis more deeply.

鈥淏eing on the journey with Fr. Peter really added to this learning as he shared his knowledge of St. Francis’s life, order, and spirituality,” said Ben Carraher 鈥�28 “Hearing from friars and priests that dedicated their lives to God through the Franciscan way of life was the absolute best way to visit and learn about Francis and the Franciscan movement.鈥�

鈥淚 learned so much about St. Francis and feel a deeper connection with him, embracing lessons of simplicity and humility that I want to carry throughout my life,” said Anahy Felipe de Cruz 鈥�26

The pilgrimage brought the group back to Rome for their last few days. They visited the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, where Tremblay explained that there were 500,000 graves of the early Christians, and the many people buried here are considered martyrs by the Catholic church.

鈥淭hese people willingly died for their faith. The thought of all these graves opening and a huge crowd of people walking out of the catacombs, at the second coming of Christ, to greet Jesus was very emotional to me,鈥� Tremblay shared, referring to the Christian belief that Jesus will return physically to Earth at the end of time.聽 He celebrated another private Mass with the pilgrimage group inside the catacombs.

Beyond their experience meeting the pope, visiting St. Francis鈥檚 birthplace and tomb, and touring the catacombs, the group also spent their last day learning to make pasta.

鈥淚 really liked the pasta-making class, and I actually learned a few tips and tricks from Chef Alberto that I took home and used to make my own pasta! I, of course, really loved the gelato, and I had a ton of fun trying some new dishes I never would have gotten to try otherwise,鈥� DeFlorio said.

The group hopes to take their experience and knowledge back onto 久久热鈥檚 campus and share with others.

The project, “Beyond the Books,” is a life-simulation board game designed to help first-year students build the academic, social and emotional skills they need to navigate the transition to university. She has developed the game since spring 2025 through a research collaboration with Jill McSweeney, assistant director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (CATL) and assistant professor of wellness, and in partnership with faculty at the University of Iceland.

At ICED, Hollingsworth, along with Elon and Iceland colleagues, led a 90-minute interactive workshop introducing the game’s research foundations and giving 15 faculty from universities around the world the chance to play a prototype themselves. Attendees provided supportive and positive feedback on the game’s design and its potential applications at their own institutions, underscoring the project’s relevance to educational developers and faculty working with first-year students worldwide.

The presentation builds on a project that has already spanned an ocean: Hollingsworth traveled to Iceland in summer 2025 with funding from Elon’s Center for Research on Global Engagement, playtesting the game with students, faculty and staff there and adapting it to account for cultural differences between the two institutions. During Fall 2025, she and McSweeney recruited over 100 students across Elon 1010 and COR 1100 courses to play the game and participate in a semester-long research project that explored their experiences across their first college semester. This upcoming fall, students at the University of Iceland will be invited to participate in the project, playing a translated version of the game.

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 久久热 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.

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

On Friday, June 12, students enrolled in the Study USA Washington, D.C. 鈥淐apital Connections鈥� program had the opportunity to visit the United States Capitol, where they learned more about Congress and the architectural history of the Capitol Building on a special tour organized by Jacob Stoken 鈥�22, policy aid to House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. After the tour, Stoken sat down with students in the leader鈥檚 office in the Capitol for an extended Q&A session, where he shared insights about getting started as a Congressional staffer and provided an inside perspective on how Congress operates day-to-day. After the Q&A, students traveled with Stoken to the Rayburn House Office Building for additional conversation.

Joel Shelton, faculty director for Study USA, Washington, D.C. and associate professor of political science and public policy, and Tom Kerr, assistant 久久热 professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy, joined students at the Capitol.

鈥淚 am exceedingly grateful to alumni like Jacob for supporting the 鈥楥apital Connections鈥� program in its first year,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known Jacob since he was a student in my Philosophy, Politics, and Economics capstone course, and it is especially meaningful to see him thriving in Washington and to experience how generously he is mentoring the next generation of Elon students.鈥�

The visit to the Capitol is part of the innovative curriculum for 鈥淐apital Connections:

Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.,鈥� is a place-based capstone seminar in the Elon Core Curriculum that integrates classroom learning and direct engagement with D.C.鈥檚 institutions, cultural sites, and neighborhoods. Now in the fourth week of the nine-week program, students are busy interning in public and private sector institutions across the D.C. metro area, engaging with alumni, and attending special events and programming around Juneteenth and the upcoming 250th Independence Day celebration. This weekend, students will attend the Shakespeare Theatre Company鈥檚 widely acclaimed production of Othello and will join a special tour of Klein Theatre led by Company Manager Morgan Engle 鈥�22.

久久热 interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.

Thirteen students are taking part in the inaugural聽Elon faculty-led聽program. Alumni networking is聽an important component聽of this cohort experience. In addition to meeting alumni,聽students take a core聽seminar course called聽Capital Connections: Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.聽taught by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science and public policy.

久久热 also聽live in an apartment complex聽in the vibrant聽NoMa neighborhood, complete an internship,聽and聽participate聽in enrichment activities聽to get to know the city better. 久久热聽will聽tour聽the US Capitol,聽learn the history of the city through walking tours, attend聽a聽Nationals聽game, see聽a聽play聽at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and more.

鈥淚t聽is聽always special to connect with former students and to see them thriving in the lives they lead after graduation, but聽it鈥檚聽especially meaningful that our alumni take the time to connect with and to mentor聽current students,鈥� Shelton said. “This is especially important in Washington, D.C., where relationships make all the difference in an increasingly competitive internship and employment environment.聽I鈥檓聽very grateful聽to our alumni for the enthusiasm with which they have supported the launch of Elon鈥檚 “Capital Connections鈥� program in the district.

D.C. Alumni Chapter President Gabby Vance 鈥�18,聽organized聽the event with fellow chapter members.

鈥淭he Pizza Party聽remains聽one of聽my聽favorite events organized by the D.C. chapter because it brings together two important parts of the Elon community,鈥� Vance said. “Alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights about life after graduation, while students gain a first-hand look at what it鈥檚 like to live and work in Washington, D.C., while building valuable professional connections.聽It鈥檚聽always rewarding to see these relationships take shape, and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.鈥�

Molly Bauer 鈥�19, a former Communications Fellow, spent聽the fall of her junior year聽studying in聽D.C.

“It was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥� said Bauer, who moved to D.C. when she graduated and says she has experienced how strong the alumni network is in the city, and聽has聽enjoyed聽maintaining聽relationships with聽her peers.

鈥淣ow that Elon has its own program聽in D.C.,聽I鈥檓聽excited to stay even more connected to Elon by fostering connections with current students, faculty and staff as well,鈥� Bauer said. “The Study USA program聽in D.C. will make our already-strong Elon network in D.C. even stronger. At the event, it was great getting to chat with current students, something I聽haven鈥檛聽done since I graduated, and it was awesome reconnecting with faculty and staff after several years!”

Are you聽an alumnus聽living in D.C.? Join us for the next student/alumni networking night on

Applications for聽the聽Study USA D.C. summer聽2027 program聽open Sept. 1. Contact the director of Study USA, Anna Smith聽asmith273@elon.edu,聽if聽you鈥檇聽like to learn more.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Laing will spend a month in South Korea where she’ll visit 14 higher education institutions throughout the country to learn about the current trends in South Korean higher education and how these institutions view campus-wide internationalization, and also to learn more about international student mobility for students from (and to) South Korea. Friedland will spend his time as a Fulbright Scholar in Budapest, Hungary, where he will be聽久久热 about the information economy, social media, and privacy and writing a book on comparative media law.

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their professional networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships. When they return home to their campuses, labs, and classrooms, Fulbright Scholars share their experiences and insights, becoming champions of international collaboration. Many go on to host visiting scholars and inspire colleagues and students to pursue transformative opportunities abroad.

The Fulbright Program was聽established聽in 1946 as a bold investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange.聽Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach and conduct research abroad. For eight decades, Fulbrighters have been leaders at the forefront of discovery and innovation, conducting聽cutting edge聽research, advancing critical industries, and preparing future generations with new skills and perspectives.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education聽implements聽the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar聽Programs聽on behalf of the U.S. Department of State.聽For more information about聽the聽Fulbright Program, visit聽.聽Learn more about .

Related Articles

• Strategic multifaith engagement shapes the Elon campus experience
• Elon students and faculty extend multifaith engagement to the community

One of the central goals of Elon鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan is to 鈥渟upport opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the Elon academic community,鈥� including through academic opportunities. While many students at Elon may take a single course during their time at Elon that focuses on the study of religion or spirituality, a select group of students specializes in academic multifaith learning: religious studies majors.

Last month, 11 students graduated from Elon with degrees in religious studies, the largest number of Religious Studies majors graduating in a single year since 2012.

鈥淭he number of majors in our department has grown substantially over the last several years,鈥� said Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies and chair of the Department of Religious Studies. 鈥溇镁萌� seldom come to Elon planning to major in religious studies, but students often take courses during their first year that whet their appetite for further learning. They are able to recognize how the critical study of religion helps them to understand the world, and they appreciate the mentorship and community that our department offers.鈥�

Religion is anything

The course that hooked Tracey McCarty 鈥�26 on religious studies was 鈥淩eligion and American Popular Culture,鈥� taught by Andrew Monteith, and explores how religion can be found in many unexpected places in popular culture and imagined in radically different ways.

“I was taught a very specific concept: religion is anything,鈥� McCarty said. 鈥淭his was a game-changer for me. To understand religion not as a cohesive and strict definition, but as this conceptual ball that can be shaped in any way. Seeing religion as not an institution, but as a thing that a single person can define for themselves, was beautiful.鈥�

One of the goals of Elon鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan is to develop courses that 鈥渟upport student learning about diverse religious, spiritual, and secular traditions and identities.鈥� In the Religious Studies department, these include 鈥渢raditions鈥� courses that explore how sets of traditions often viewed as static religions are characterized by significant diversity and can be depicted in very different ways.

Tess Trayner 鈥�26 explored the diversity of Buddhisms in 鈥淏uddhist Traditions,鈥� taught by Pamela Winfield.

鈥淲e traced Buddhism from its founding more than 2,000 years ago through its development across Asia and into the West, and Dr. Winfield refused to let us treat any of it as exotic or static,鈥� Trayner said. 鈥淭he unit on Orientalism and Buddhism in America helped me better understand the decontextualizing nature of mindfulness apps, yoga studios, and how to approach the version of Buddhism most familiar to American audiences. Learning to see Engaged Buddhism as both an authentic tradition and a phenomenon shaped by Western projection gave me tools I now reach for constantly 鈥� tools for noticing whose version of a tradition gets centered, and why.鈥�

Another Traditions course, 鈥淛ewish Traditions,鈥� taught by Claussen, featured opportunities to role-play debates about how Jewish tradition should be understood. In this class, Trayner had the opportunity to step into the shoes of thinkers with whom they sympathized and others whose views they found reprehensible.

鈥淚 discovered that wrestling with viewpoints I disagree with sharpens both my disagreement and my empathy,” Trayner said. “It is one thing to read a Jewish thinker. It is another to inhabit them long enough to understand how their historical moment shaped what they could imagine.鈥�

Multifaith at home and abroad

Elon鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan also commits the university to developing 鈥減athways for experiential and engaged multifaith learning,鈥� including through study abroad courses that 鈥渟upport engagement with global religious communities.鈥�

Trayner had a significant learning experience taking 鈥淚ndia鈥檚 Identities,鈥� a course taught in South India by Amy Allocco and Brian Pennington. The course 鈥渄econstructed what I thought I knew about Hinduism, and rebuilt it with a critical emphasis on vernacular practice and the lived religion of regular, everyday people. As such, the class refused the traditional classroom format. Instead, Dr. Allocco’s deep roots of connection in Chennai meant we sat in living rooms with the most incredible people.鈥�

久久热 have also been equipped by their Religious Studies coursework to engage with communities closer to home. Alyssa Carney 鈥�26, for example, volunteered at the Burlington Masjid, 久久热 English to newcomers. Experiences of working with displaced people led her to propose a new unit for her 鈥淓ngaging Islam鈥� course, taught by Ariela Marcus-Sells.

What makes this course unique is its 鈥榖uild your own path鈥� structure, which allows students to shape the direction of their learning based on their interests and experiences, Carney said.

鈥淔or me, it created an opportunity to connect my volunteer work with my academic inquiry. As I was working closely with migrant communities, I became particularly interested in the topic of displacement within Islam. This led me to propose a unit based on a textbook chapter, 鈥楻efugee Horizons,鈥� which focuses on the experiences of Muslims in Myanmar, particularly the Rohingya,” Carney said “Through this unit, I explored how the Rohingya negotiate their Islamic identity in the face of systemic violence and ethnic cleansing, deepening both my academic understanding and my connection to the people I work with at the masjid.鈥�

Advancing Equity

The Multifaith Strategic Plan also directs Elon to 鈥渆xplore new modes for student learning about religion and race, especially in connection with the Advancing Equity requirement.鈥� The Religious Studies Department offers multiple courses each semester that meet that requirement.

This spring, Trayner took an Advancing Equity course titled 鈥淩eligion, Race and Resistance,鈥� taught by Sheila Otieno. Through courses such as this, Trayner said, 鈥渢he department has prepared me to take real questions into the world. Dr. Otieno’s course gave me a framework for connecting religious and racial construction to the systems that shape American life, and how I can become a more intentional and thoughtful participant in America鈥檚 futurity.鈥�

McCarty shares that their understanding of race and religion were shaped by studying Judith Weisenfeld鈥檚 “Black Religion in the Madhouse: Race and Psychiatry in Slavery’s Wake” in the religious studies senior聽seminar, taught by Marcus-Sells, exploring 鈥渉ow racism in America not only shaped psychiatry but also how Black religion is viewed. This perspective of religion as a political force in the world made me more knowledgeable about how the current society we鈥檙e in was created.鈥�

McCarty found that the department provided an inclusive space for exploring interesting and challenging questions.

鈥淭he department has always been welcoming to anyone who has joined,” McCarty said. “I鈥檝e been able to form great connections with those in the department, and they鈥檝e been incredibly open to accepting diverse worldviews.鈥�

Carney connected her experience as a religious studies major with the larger institutional objectives found in the Multifaith Strategic Plan.

鈥淭he Religious Studies Department at 久久热 actively advances the goals of the multifaith strategic plan. It does so not through a single initiative, but through an ecosystem of mentorship, community engagement, creative coursework and genuine care,” said Carney.

Trayner emphasized the importance of Religious Studies in the current political climate.

鈥淭hanks to this department, I’ll leave Elon with a degree in religious studies and a much harder-won inheritance: the habit of holding complexity, the conviction that ordinary people are experts on their own lives, and the trust that careful, plural study of religion is exactly the kind of preparation this fractured moment is asking of us,” said Trayner.

This story is the fourth and final in a series of stories focusing on 久久热鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan.

This year鈥檚 students will spend the summer interning in fields ranging from media production to public policy, environmental research, business innovation and community development. At the heart of this experience is the opportunity to聽gain real-world experience while exploring the cultural and professional landscapes of their host cities, while earning academic credit through coursework.

Charlotte:聽Exploring sports, marketing, business and beyond聽

As students arrived in the South End of Charlotte, they were welcomed by Director of Elon Charlotte Karen Neff and Program Assistant Emma Hash. This summer marks an especially exciting chapter for the Queen City site, as it hosts Study USA students while also launching the inaugural Summer Business Institute聽(SBI).

The new 10鈥憌eek聽SBI聽offers Elon students the opportunity to earn a Business Administration minor in a single summer through an immersive blend of coursework, professional development, and experiential learning.

Study USA students will pair their internships with a dynamic geography course taught by Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies聽Ryan Kirk.聽Through fieldwork and urban exploration, students will examine Charlotte鈥檚 growth, infrastructure, and identity,聽gaining a deeper understanding of how the city became the economic and cultural hub it is today.

SBI聽students聽will balance four business courses with聽job鈥憇hadowing聽experiences designed to connect classroom learning with real-world聽applications.聽Together, all students across both programs will take part in excursions that highlight Charlotte鈥檚 innovation, history and community.

Move鈥慽n聽day set the tone for an engaging summer ahead, featuring a welcome mixer hosted by Foster Flats, orientation sessions, a聽city鈥憌ide聽scavenger hunt, and a hands-on cooking class that brought聽students聽together.

Los Angeles: Launching creative careers in the entertainment capital

Arriving in the heart of the entertainment industry, students were warmly welcomed by Director of Elon Los Angeles聽Brad Lemack as they settled into their housing聽just聽minutes from major studios and production hubs.

久久热聽spend the summer interning with film production companies, talent agencies, digital media firms and聽theatre companies. Alongside their internships,聽students take a Core Capstone course taught by聽Cinema and Television Arts聽Professor聽Doug Kass,聽examining how visionaries and innovators have transformed Los Angeles, and how the cycle of invention and reinvention continues to shape the city鈥檚 commerce, creativity and cultural diversity.

Move聽in聽buzzed聽with excitement as students met their roommates, explored their neighborhood, and prepared for their first week of classes and internship onboarding.聽The following day included an orientation session at The Preserve, where students will have class each week, followed by an afternoon exploring The Getty, the Grove and L.A.鈥檚 Farmers Market.

New York City: Immersed in media, business and cultural innovation聽

Political Science and Public Policy聽Professor Safia聽Swimelar聽and Program Assistant Hailey Duartes welcomed聽the students聽to Williamsburg, a student-friendly neighborhood in the heart of Brooklyn.

久久热聽will intern across sectors,聽including journalism,聽public relations, marketing,聽media production and more.聽The聽Core Capstone聽course, taught by Professor Swimelar,聽complements these experiences. In聽the聽course description,聽Swimelar聽notes, 鈥渢o call New York City a microcosm of the global community is not exaggeration鈥� This course uses New York City as a microcosm to model and understand the diversity and complexity of global humanity.鈥澛牼镁萌嚷爓ill explore the diversity of values that New Yorkers hold and examine important social, political, and religious issues at play throughout the city.

久久热 spent their first day navigating their new neighborhood, settling into their apartments, and聽exploring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Washington, D.C.: Engaging with policy, advocacy and public service聽

久久热聽were welcomed聽into the nation鈥檚 capital聽by Professor Joel Shelton,聽Program Assistant聽Abby Wright, and Ashley Pinney, Director of National 久久热.聽久久热聽will spend the summer聽living in the heart of聽NoMa聽and聽interning with congressional offices, federal agencies,聽law firms, advocacy groups, and聽more.

The聽coursework, the inaugural Capital Connections: Power, People and Place in Washington, D.C. spearheaded by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science聽and public policy, 鈥渆xplores 鈥榯he聽District鈥� as a place where politics and policy meet culture,聽economy聽and community.鈥澛燭hrough engaging walking tours, museum visits, and cultural experiences, students will gain a firsthand look at the decision-making processes that shape the intersection of power, culture, economy, and identity in the nation鈥檚 capital.

Move-in聽included聽orientation sessions,聽community building activities,聽and preparation for the聽fast-paced聽professional environments聽they鈥檒l聽soon enter.

“What鈥檚 something neat that happened to you today?鈥� asked Lauren Feeley G鈥�26. She was reflecting on a common conversation starter she had with fellow colleagues participating in the London Experience for Elon employees during the 2026 Winter Term. 鈥淎nd how much did we get rained on?!鈥�

Feeley is a program assistant for student involvement and one of 22 participants in the most recent London Experience, a weeklong visit to England from Jan. 10-17, designed to give Elon employees who have limited international travel experience an opportunity for global engagement. Feeley said that the dreary January weather in London did not detract from a remarkable city with colleagues she now calls friends.

鈥淭his kind of experience shines a real big spotlight for every single person on the importance of being connected to other people on campus,鈥� said Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt, who facilitated the program for 2026.

He added that the London Experience is a distinctive feature to working at Elon 鈥� an opportunity to support students as global citizens by offering employees a similar experience.

Jackie Allred 鈥�94 serves as an administrative assistant for student life and was among those who traveled to London in January.

鈥淔rom sun up to sun down, we never stopped,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f there was something we could be doing, we were doing it.鈥�

Allred said she felt like she shared these experiences with good friends rather than colleagues, a connection reflected in moments like sitting in the choir loft during mass at St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral with a small group from Elon.

Allred and Feeley both shared the importance of 鈥渉aving friendly faces to names鈥� across campus and the ability to pick up the phone when their work aligns. They also both have a deepened appreciation for students when they have international experiences 鈥� from the enrichment of global and cultural engagement to things like jet lag and fatigue from a long trip in a different time zone.

鈥淭he experience has broadened and strengthened my networks here at Elon,鈥� added Allred.

The group saw much of London and also ventured out to Cambridge. Employees saw staples like the Tower of London, the London Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. They were given access to the war room made famous by Winston Churchill, visited the Hampton Court Palace and participated in guided tours across the city.

Dexter Chambers, a floor tech for the university, said he wouldn鈥檛 have had the same experience in London if he had traveled there on his own.

鈥淭he guide, the itinerary, everything was impressive, and that was a joy,鈥� he said. Chambers made the most of the sites and foods that England offers and saw much of the city by foot with a small group of others, including one day that he estimates he ran four miles.

Chambers recalls calling his son and a number of his friends during his runs to share his excitement and disbelief of the places in London he was visiting. Now back at Elon, he continues this excitement when he sees participants on campus, who, he says he loves to wave to and reminisce on the shared
experience.

Feeley is finishing her Master of Arts in Higher Education degree from Elon this spring and joined the London Experience, in part, to satisfy her international study away experience.

鈥淏ecause such a large population of our students here at Elon have some sort of study away experience, it鈥檚 really meaningful for me to have my own,鈥� she said. 鈥淓lon places such an emphasis on students being global citizens that it鈥檚 important that faculty and staff model that as well.鈥�

Jenny Gonzalez, Elon鈥檚 assistant director of interior design, said the program underscores Elon鈥檚 commitment to global education for the entire campus community, not only for students. 鈥淥ne of the best parts is getting to know people from across campus and build connections,鈥� Gonzalez said.

The application for the 2027 experience will open soon and be advertised through email. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e considering applying for this experience, do not hesitate, just apply and be open to the experience,鈥� Allred said. 鈥淒o everything you possibly can during the experience.鈥�

The program is offered to Elon employees for a fee of $350, which includes passport, airfare, lodging, certain ground transportation, admission to various attractions and occasional group meals. Previous participants have generally incurred additional expenses for souvenirs, personal meals, and a tube pass as it suited them.