She Built This City’s mission is to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women and marginalized communities.��In her role, Faustin��has launched key initiatives��for the��organization,��including Adult Workforce Development, and expanded youth programming through partnerships with local government and community organizations.

Faustin��received �þ�����degrees in��corporate��communications and Spanish from �þ���,��before getting her��master’s in business administration from��the university��in 2010.��In 2016,��she received her master’s in��educational leadership and administration from Queens University, as well as a certification in��nonprofit/public/organizational management from Duke University��in 2022, and a��certification in Diversity,��Equity��and Inclusion – Building a Diverse Workplace from Cornell University��in 2023.

In 2023,��Faustin��was recognized��with the Charlotte Business Journal’s Power 100��award,��and �þ���’s Distinguished Alumni Service Award.��In 2024, she��received��Atrium Health’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing the Dream Award.
Faustin is also��president-elect for the �þ��� Alumni Board, and founder and managing��director of��Stay Ready Consulting Solutions.

Her��impact will be featured in the Most Admired CEO Special��Section published in the June 19 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

“When I was a student, there weren’t a huge number of local alumni that I was able to connect with,” he said. “I’m excited that this is a way I can highlight that staying in the community is an option.”

For Jensen Roll ’16, the path to building a business began long before he ever stepped onto a construction site. His path started with service, leadership and a long-standing connection to North Carolina. Both of his parents were born and raised in North Carolina, and summers spent visiting grandparents made it feel like a second home. So, when he began looking at colleges, North Carolina topped his list. Elon stood out almost immediately.

“I discovered Elon while looking at multiple schools and immediately fell in love with the service opportunities, the Leadership Fellows program and the deep commitment to study abroad,” he said.

The Leadership Fellows program was the primary motivation for his enrollment; he was accepted into the program before receiving his acceptance to the university.

Once on campus, Roll leaned into innovation. He designed a custom major in social entrepreneurship that bridged the gap between the business school, environmental studies and the humanities. He helped bring the University Innovation Fellowship program to Elon. This experience introduced him to design thinking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley, including visits to Google and Stanford University.

Because his self-designed major didn’t fit into a standard study abroad box, Roll worked with Angela Llewellyn, now assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, to create a bespoke program. This journey took him to San Francisco and eventually to Cape Town, South Africa, for six months. It was there, while attending Jubilee Church through a connection from Emma Burress (then overseeing study abroad students), that he met his future wife, Mtende. After a year and a half of long-distance dating, she moved to North Carolina and today they are 50-50 partners in life and business.

While Jensen oversees the construction side as a licensed general contractor, Mtende is a licensed realtor who manages the investment and real estate side of their ventures.

“We co-own all of our companies together. Both of us have a very entrepreneurial and creative spirit,” he explained, stating that their shared vision is the backbone of their company culture.

He credits a wide network of mentors for pushing him to think differently. In addition to Leon Williams, former director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), he points to Gary Palin, former executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, for challenging him to “be” an entrepreneur rather than just study it. He also highlights the influence of Steve Moore, a retired faculty member in environmental studies who shaped his views on urban sustainability. His growth was further guided by Phil Miller, a former lecturer in human services studies; Rex Waters, former dean of student development; and Steven Mencarini, former director of the Center for Leadership.

“The ability to work one-on-one with professors and attend national conferences gave me the confidence to launch initiatives like H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat),” he said.

Perhaps the most significant application of this “Triple Bottom Line” education, focusing on people, profit, and planet, is a current project Roll is particularly proud of: building seven tiny homes for Benevolence Farm. The project provides housing for women and non-binary individuals transitioning out of incarceration.

“As a construction company, not every project we take on has that opportunity to provide that triple bottom line in a meaningful way,” Roll said. “This is going to increase their capacity to serve that population.”

What’s been most rewarding, he said, is watching that impact accumulate.

“Construction is unique because the results are tangible and lasting,” he said. “Years later, you can drive by something you worked on and see how it’s become part of someone’s life.”

He credits Elon with giving him the freedom to experiment early, without the pressure of getting everything right.

“Elon was the ultimate sandbox,” he said. “It was a place to try things, take risks and even fail safely.”

He notes that while he didn’t graduate with a construction management degree, the problem-solving and systems-building skills he learned at Elon translated perfectly to the industry.

“What I spent four years learning at Elon had much more to do with the problem-solving, the engaged learning, the building of systems,” he said. “That is what we are doing in the real world.”

His advice to current students interested in entrepreneurship mirrors that mindset.

“Start now,” he said. “Spend time with business owners. Read. Build something. Use your four years to experiment while you still have that safety net. The best way to learn is by doing.”

Looking ahead, Roll is eager to take on larger, more complex and more creative projects. He thrives on unique builds and clients with distinct design visions. At the same time, he sees affordable housing as an area where his background in both entrepreneurship and service naturally converges.

“Our goal is to build a community that we want to live in,” he said. “The company is so closely aligned with the things that we care about.”

From building a tiny house as a student to shaping the built environment of his community, Roll’s journey highlights the combination of service and entrepreneurship, a foundation strengthened at Elon and carried forward through every project he takes on.

What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

Moeller has made a name for��herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment��Television,��who now��works��as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew �þ��� had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that Elon was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to Elon helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers Elon asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With Elon’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did Elon’s inaugural ‘Elon in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller��made the��switch��from��the��international��department��to��the��domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer.��Over��her��15��years at��E!��News,��she��was nominated for five Emmy Awards,��and��interviewed people��like��Steve Carell,��Charlize Theron and��50 Cent. She also had the��privilege��of��working��on��the��red carpet at the��Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing��that’s��gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are��just normal��people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained.����“When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts,��I’ve��always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.����They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally��and��give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller��credits��her continued success��to��strong relationships with her coworkers,��interviewees, and��former hosts,��always��keeping in��contact��with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the��biggest��pop��culture stages as a top moment.

“I��recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars,��like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,��and��Leslie Mann,��to name a few.”

This��unforgettable��experience solidified for��her��that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for��Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples��Center.

“It was just me, my host Will��Marfuggi, and��a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.����It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Moeller’s��journey��at��E! News was marked by steady growth��in��leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and��opportunity.

“One��meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell,��who at the time was��hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in��September,��we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,”��said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position��in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

Elon’s��top-notch��curriculum and amazing professors helped��her��feel��prepared��for the real��world, knowing she��could succeed outside the classroom.��Elon’s study abroad center helped many students,��including��Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller��has come a long way��through��courage and perseverance,��and now she works��for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide��show.

“This business,��especially��out��in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that��is what��keeps you there,” she��explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always��keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s��going to��end up where and who can help you down the line. And when��you’re��on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you,��as��one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to��share your feedback or those stories online.

They stood poised with their hands raised, breathing steady, before their fists began to fly. Jab, cross, right hook, left upper cut.

They noticed the sensations in their body as childhood memories raced through their mind, allowing themself to feel every feeling that remained with them from a time when they didn’t have a voice. With every punch, they stepped closer to regaining their power, closer to a deeper understanding of their full self.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12 says the physical movement often allows clients to recognize and begin healing younger parts of themselves that were never fully seen or supported. “Through the movement, through fighting back against that, they were able to trust themself more.”

A licensed professional counselor, Martinelli-Taylor centers her Denver practice, Animo Counseling and Coaching, on healing the whole person. Among the approaches she uses is somatic boxing, a method that connects mind and body to help clients process trauma and strengthen their overall well-being.

“We’re interconnected beings,” she says. “Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.”

A Non-Linear Path

Martinelli-Taylor’s journey toward counseling wasn’t straightforward, but every step helped develop the empathy, critical thinking and global perspective that shapes her work. The Massachusetts native wasn’t familiar with Elon before stumbling upon it while touring colleges along the East Coast. She was immediately drawn to its arts and sciences foundation, small class sizes and study abroad program.

She enrolled Early Decision, planning to study education, but soon found that �þ��� wasn’t her passion. She did, however, have a knack for fostering strong one-on-one connections, and she found other ways to build those skills through a strategic communications major and religious studies minor.

“There’s a lot of psychology in strategic communications, learning what are people’s needs, what do they want, why do they do what they do. I loved that aspect,” Martinell-Taylor says. “Then my religious studies minor was just a window to the world of what other people believe, why they believe it and how that directs their decisions, hopes and dreams.”

But it was her semester abroad in London that influenced her most, broadening her worldview and clarifying what she did and didn’t want to pursue post-graduation. She interned for a fashion supplier on Oxford Street but didn’t feel a strong connection to the work. She loved London, though, and wanted to use her communications skills in service of something she cared about deeply.

After graduating, she returned to London for two years, working with an international mission organization that supported churches and other spiritual communities. Martinelli-Taylor spent much of her time connecting with South Asian women, children and teens and found their conversations about life and struggle deeply meaningful. On weekends, she volunteered with a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, a cause that first sparked her interest through an Elon course examining slavery in the Bible, in American history and in modern times. Again and again, she found herself drawn to work that offered support to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“I was hearing people’s trauma, hearing really difficult life journeys and feeling this pull,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “If people have gone through these really awful things, forced into things they had no control over, how do I step into that world?”

That realization ignited Martinelli-Taylor’s calling to be a counselor. She moved back to the U.S. and earned her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Denver Seminary in 2019. Her communications, religious studies and study abroad experience from her time at Elon remained foundational as she forged this new path.

L.D. Russell, senior lecturer emeritus of religious studies at Elon, remembers Martinelli-Taylor as open-minded, eager to learn and deeply committed to helping others. Her unique counseling approach feels like a natural extension of that spirit. “One of the truest values of an Elon education,” he says, “is gaining a clearer sense of how others live and move through the world, and how our own gifts can be used to foster the public good.”

The Mind-Body Connection

After obtaining her master’s degree, Martinelli-Taylor again used her skills to support human trafficking victims, providing counseling to survivors with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She later moved to a group practice, helping clients with a broader range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

In graduate school, she began to learn how physical movement, education and preventative work can help set clients up for a healthier life and resiliency amid difficult challenges. That idea coupled with her own personal experience with boxing prompted her to try bilateral boxing as a technique with some clients at the group practice. “It was starting to help people break out of dissociation and get into their body,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “We used it as a tool when they felt stuck or overwhelmed with talk therapy.”

As she saw the approach resonate with more clients, Martinelli-Taylor set out to develop it further and open her own practice. Drawing on her strategic communications background, she built the foundation for her business while consulting with counselors who use somatic therapies that link breath, body and mental health. In 2024 she founded Animo Counseling and Coaching, where she offers treatments such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and her own style of somatic boxing therapy.

Animo means “mind” in Latin, “soul” and “courage” in Italian and “encouragement” in Spanish. “The practice reflects that intentionality, that purposefulness,” she says. “It represents the embodiment of the brain and body’s role in learning about yourself.”

Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.��— Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12

Martinelli-Taylor first teaches her clients the basics of non-contact boxing, using the bilateral movements of boxing but no sparring, just hitting boxing gloves to mitts as the whole body engages. She focuses on proper form and breathwork, guiding clients to concentrate on each motion. The practice becomes a type of moving meditation, stimulating both sides of the body and both hemispheres of the brain.

For many clients, the approach offers another avenue for healing, especially for those who may not feel ready to talk through difficult experiences right away. By focusing on the rhythm of movement and breath, clients begin to notice what their bodies and minds are holding, and shift it out.

Once clients feel comfortable with the technique, she introduces strategies for building courage, managing stress and emotions, and processing difficult memories. The approach encourages people to tune in to the physical sensations that often accompany mental health struggles, opening the door to more holistic healing. Movement and breathwork, Martinelli-Taylor says, can help move through distress, regulate mood and ground the body to allow clients to face and work through deeper challenges.

In addition to continuing to grow her practice, Martinelli-Taylor hopes to conduct larger studies on the impact of somatic boxing on mental health. And while she is there to support her clients in the “ring” when they need it, she doesn’t expect them to rely on a coach forever. Her goal is to help people build the awareness and tools to continue the work on their own — to trust their bodies, their instincts and their capacity to heal.

“I want them to feel like they’re equipped to learn and grow,” Martinelli-Taylor says. “They can take this work, try it out in the world and know that they’re resilient.”

The Elon Alumni Board (EAB) acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

Katie Corrigan ’02

Katie is a Vice President at MKI Global Partners, an advisory firm focused on how policy, politics and regulation shape financial markets and corporate transactions.��She graduated from Elon in 2002 and values the strong community and network it continues to provide. Her younger sister is also an Elon alum, Class of 2003.

Katie lives in South Burlington, VT, with her husband, Dan, and their two sons, James (12) and Thomas (9). Outside of work, she enjoys taking full advantage of Vermont’s seasons, from lake days in the summer to skiing and hiking with her family.

Lauren Ludlow ’13

Lauren is the founder of��, a New York–based consultancy helping brands and creators build influencer marketing programs that drive long-term growth. She has partnered with leading CPG and retail brands including Sephora, P&G Beauty, Nike, Meta, and No7 Beauty Company.

She is also the co-founder of��, a community and networking event series built on the belief that meaningful connection drives better ideas, stronger businesses, and a more collaborative beauty industry. Lauren previously served on the New York Elon Alumni Board for four years.

Kari Taylor ’09 will be transitioning from her current role in the President’s Office to a new position as Elon’s Deputy Chief Integration Officer, based in Charlotte. Beginning June 1, Kari will play a pivotal role in Elon’s integration efforts, bringing the relationship-building expertise, collaborative efforts and strategic vision she has demonstrated through her extensive leadership at Elon.

An Elon alumna who earned both her �þ��� degree and MBA, Kari joined the President’s staff in 2018 and has been instrumental in amplifying campus engagement through innovative strategies and meaningful initiatives, such as the 1923 Commemoration, fostering trust and building community.

Director of New Student Programs Emily Krechel will transition to the President’s Office as Deputy Chief of Staff for �þ��� Engagement and Strategic Initiatives, also effective June 1. Emily joined the Elon community in 2017 and holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education from UNC Greensboro, where her research focused on equity and student success, and her career includes leadership roles at UC Berkeley, Earlham College, and now Elon.

As co-chair of the university’s Mentoring Initiative Design Team and former chair of Staff Advisory Council, Emily is a dedicated advocate for meaningful relationships on campus and embodies our commitment to student-centered excellence. Her deep belief in our mission, passion for student development, and proven ability to build transformative programs make her an outstanding addition to our team.

“These transitions reflect the strength of Elon’s leadership pipeline and our commitment to positioning talented colleagues where they can have the greatest impact,” said President Connie Ledoux Book in an email to the university community. “Please join me in congratulating Kari on her new opportunity and welcoming Emily to her expanded role.”

�þ��� student Rony Dahdal ’26, and his brother, alumnus��Rafi Dahdal ’24 G’24��were highlighted in a The Assembly article chronicling their family’s journey from war-torn Syria to North Carolina in search of educational opportunity.

The story, details how the Dahdal family’s commitment to learning endured despite the dangers of civil war and the challenges of rebuilding their lives in the United States.��

After fleeing Damascus in 2012 amid escalating violence, the Dahdal family settled in North Carolina, where education remained central to their long-term goals.��Rafi Dahdal is��an Elon graduate through the Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program in business administration and business analytics. He has gone on to serve as a Youth Trustee for the university.

At Elon, Rony Dahdal has distinguished himself as a Lumen Scholar and Goldwater Scholar, conducting innovative research using LiDAR technology to explore noninvasive ways to detect vital signs — work aimed at improving health outcomes through emerging technologies.

“I felt so encouraged to continue research because I’ve seen my parents value higher education,” said Rony. “It was very hard to deal with as a little kid, but I look back on it now, and I’m grateful.”

At �þ���, she majored in��environmental and��ecological��science and minored in��statistics,��laying��the foundation for her career in public service.

“I found Elon while I was touring colleges in the South, and if I’m honest, what initially captivated me was the beautiful campus,” says��Nighswander. “It was quaint, but not too small, and I��immediately��felt comfortable there. I also learned that they offered the environmental science program I was interested in, as well as plenty of extracurricular activities, so it was��a pretty easy��choice.”

Once on campus, Nighswander immersed herself in student life and began shaping her sense of self, playing on the women’s rugby club��team��and working as a referee for Elon’s �þ��� Recreation intramurals program all four years.

Beyond extracurricular involvement, Elon also nurtured her academic and professional growth.

“I received a scholarship through the Elon College Fellows program, which gave me financial aid as well as a program that really helped me succeed at Elon,” she said. “The program itself was fairly rigorous, and I credit the academic standards and research requirements for starting me on the path that got me into graduate school and ultimately, my career at the EPA.”

Through the Elon College Fellows program, she spent her junior and senior years conducting �þ��� research on��wetland��ecology, an experience that sparked her passion for��environmental��research.

She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning her master’s degree while discovering a new passion for CrossFit and the��strong sense��of community it fostered. After graduating in 2019, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to live with her parents and begin her job search. When COVID-19 upended those plans, she adapted, taking on side gigs and consulting work while also �þ��� CrossFit once gyms reopened.

“I met some members��at CrossFit��who worked at the EPA. I had told them��that��I��really wanted to work there, and they sent me a few positions that were hiring,” she said.��“The positions were in the Office of Pesticide Programs,��which��I��wasn’t��sure I was qualified for since I had��very little��knowledge about pesticides,” she explained. “When I interviewed, I��leveraged��my experience with statistics, entomology, and data analytics, and was lucky enough to get hired and start working there by the end of 2020.”

Today, her work at the EPA��remains��fast-paced, with priorities shifting quickly and requiring constant adaptability. “I work in pesticide regulation, and more specifically, I manage both public and proprietary pesticide usage data and analyze said data as part of assessing the benefits and risks of a given pesticide active ingredient,” Nighswander said.

Her time at Elon continues to influence her professional approach.

“My experience conducting research at Elon helped me a lot. It helped refine my skills in developing and testing hypotheses, technical��writing and public speaking,” she said.

She is especially energized by projects that blend science and technology.

“My favorite project currently is using a mapping software called ArcGIS to develop Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) to protect endangered species from pesticide exposure,” Nighswander said.

Her career as a public servant has been��complex, but she explains that it also makes her work rewarding.

“What gets me to work every day is knowing that I am working to help protect human health and the environment. I have always wanted to have a successful career where I can still balance my love for the environment.��At��the��same time,��I��also��must��make members of the industry, the��general public, and environmental groups happy, which is��very challenging,” she explained.

The past year has brought��additional��demands amid broad changes across the federal workforce. Even so, she feels grateful to remain in her role and grounded in the purpose behind her work to safeguard the environment.

Looking back, Nighswander offers simple but powerful advice to her younger self: “Know that you have all the tools you need to be successful. You��don’t��have to be the smartest kid in the class or the loudest voice. Just trust your instincts, love yourself, and��you’ll��find your way.”

She approaches the future with the same openness. “I have no idea where I will be in my future, and I kind of love that,” she said. “There��was a period last year where every week, I was worried if I would still have a job. A year later, I am still here, serving the public, and I am grateful for that. I trust myself enough to know when it is time to move on and make a change, and I am sure that time will come, but for now, I am enjoying the work that I do.��The uncertainty, while scary at times, can be the most beautiful part of life.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please feel free to��share your feedback or those stories online.

While much of the marketing world is obsessed with algorithms, Weickert focuses on the “science and soul” of human interaction. Her work aims to combat the modern “loneliness epidemic” by creating spaces that foster psychological safety,��trust and a genuine sense of belonging.

“In today’s world, people aren’t buying the product anymore,” Weickert explains. “They are buying identity and how a brand makes them feel. That’s the future of experiential.”

Her��expertise��has earned her��a spot on��the��2024��Women We Admire’s Top 50 Women Leaders in North Carolina, a testament to her influence��on the up-and-coming industry.

“There’s��not a ton of experiential representation in our state, so it was nice to put our agency and our industry on the��map,”��she��said.

Weickert’s��reach extends globally��as well��through her work with the World Experience Organization, where she collaborates with fellow creators to design experiences that��connect��people.

“Experiences are the best form of ads and will be the only channel that matters in a world that is being inundated with AI, mistrust, a loneliness epidemic and a��polycrisis,” she��said.

Her��rise to the top of the experiential marketing world began with a deep-seated curiosity about��the human��experience. Her career started in��traditional��advertising,��where��she quickly became exposed to the greater marketing ecosystem. Seeing��all��the many��facets��of marketing allowed her to find��her true��calling in experiential��work.

“There was something soulful about��experiential��marketing;��it was much deeper than a human being exposed to a digital ad on the��screen,��and I��was drawn to��that,” she said.��“I felt instantly connected to this idea of using brand stories as a powerful tool to create��connection��and belonging amongst strangers.”

Weickert’s��career was heavily influenced by her��experience��at Elon.��She credits her classes at Elon��for helping��her thrive in her current role.

“My Business Communications class and my Public Speaking class both taught me how to effectively communicate with others in a concise yet compelling way, with lessons that I still use in my current role today,” she said.

Winter Term ended up being one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at Elon, especially due to one class centered on Woodstock.

“My Winter Term class��explored the music surrounding the Woodstock era, both the cultural and artistic influences that��led up��to it and the ones that emerged in its wake,” she said. “What struck me most about the class was how deeply it invited us to reflect on the creative act itself. It��taught me the biggest��lesson above all: to always engage in experiences that leave you inspired, stay curious about the human experience, and expand your world into new realms of thinking.”

That mindset has stuck with her, and she now makes a point to seek out experiences that spark inspiration and bring those insights into her everyday work. Her work as head of strategy at��XD Agency��involves working with her team to discover��“how people make sense of the world and turn it into category-shifting advantages for brands,”��she explains.

Her job��also��consists of��constant travel and high-pressure environments. For Weickert,��she��maintains��a level head��with a��disciplined sense of gratitude, reminding herself how lucky she is to��feel tired from a long week of��traveling the world��and how fortunate she is to meet unexpected��people��around the globe.��She also looks to stay��present��through��mid-day meditation or simply appreciating the��moments.

Weickert points to one standout project as her favorite: Camp��Poosh��at��the��2025��Coachella��Festival,��created for Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s brand��Poosh.

The team transformed a massive Palm Desert estate into something entirely immersive, blending “color, texture, sound, nostalgia, and ritual” to create a space that tapped into what people crave most: novelty,��belonging, and pleasure.��What made the event especially memorable for Weickert was its carefully crafted sensory journey, which Weickert was a main part of creating.��Guests flowed through an environment filled with contrasts,��moving between workout classes, cold plunges, sound baths, DJ sets, and late-night celebrations that blurred self-care with nightlife.

“The brain loves contrast, so we leaned into it,” she explained, highlighting how each moment was designed to keep energy and engagement high. That philosophy culminated in a surprise performance by Heidi Montag, which, “turned the entire house electric.” The result was a perfectly balanced experience: “wellness that didn’t feel preachy” and “indulgence that didn’t feel guilty,” capturing what she calls a seamless blend��of inscape and��escape.

Her advice for those��following in her footsteps?��Put down the��phone and��connect with others.

“The only way you can understand what it means to be human is by exposing yourself to things that fundamentally make us human,” she said.

Weickert emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time outdoors to stay grounded. As algorithms increasingly shape our digital lives, it is essential to nurture a curiosity for the physical world, enabling us to become better communicators.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.