The Elon spirit was strong in Boston on May 1 as a group of alumni, parents and friends came together to hear updates on the university from President Connie Ledoux Book and several key volunteers.

A reception at the beginning of the event provided attendees with the opportunity to make new connections within the Elon network in Boston. Attendees also heard remarks from ľĂľĂČČ Board of Trustees Chair Dave Porter P’11 P’19, as well as Kristin Chan ’21 and Emily Sanderson ’22, who serve as co-presidents of Elon’s Boston Alumni Chapter.

President Book then shared her remarks, starting with a message of gratitude. “Thank you for the role each of you played in making our Elon LEADS Campaign the most successful in university history,” Book said. “More than 34,000 donors contributed more than $260 million to support our distinctive mission.”

She also shared that donors added 287 new endowed scholarships and 60 new endowments during the campaign, helping to ensure that all students can engage in the Elon Experiences.

Additional campus updates from Book included the use of AI, the addition of new majors, the expansion of Elon STEM programs, and the launch of a new national campus center in Charlotte.

The evening also provided guests with an introduction to one of the largest construction projects in university history: the HealthEU Center. Book shared that the center will serve as “a physical hub to provide programs and spaces to allow students to explore ways to advance their personal wellness within each of these areas and to develop habits and skills that will support their wellness for the rest of their lives. This new facility is going to be transformational, providing space for collaboration, connection and community building.”

Book also announced that Elon will build a new performing arts center to support the music theatre and performing arts programs. Jim Piatt, senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs, then provided closing remarks, urging attendees to focus on growing stronger together and to stay involved with Elon as partners, advocates and investors.

Elon will host two Evening for Elon events in the fall. The Evening for Elon in Washington, D.C., will be held Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Union Station, and the Evening for Elon in Tampa, Florida, will be held Thursday, Nov. 14, at Armature Works. To register for either event, please email advancement@elon.edu.

This fall, Elon LEADS events were held in Atlanta, New York, Boston, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and saw over 1,200 attendees in total, renewing ties with Elon constituents across the nation and bringing a piece of Elon to them.

“This campaign has taught us that we can never let our attention wander from the
importance of scholarships and financial aid for students,” President Connie Ledoux Book said.

Atlanta, Georgia

The fall 2022 Elon LEADS Campaign events kicked off with the first event in Atlanta, Georgia on Sept. 7 at the historic Fox Theatre. Elon LEADS co-chair Christian Wiggins ’03 gave the opening remarks, starting off with encouragement to his fellow alumni to make a difference and step up by joining other donors in giving to the campaign. The importance of scholarships and student aid was a common theme throughout the night.

Cedric Pulliam ’12 also took the stage, detailing how scholarships and fellowships led to real-world experience for him, in the form of internships that shaped the course of his career and life.

“The Periclean Scholars program debuted me into the global public health space that I currently work in,” said Pulliam, who has worked in public health for over a decade. His career comprises many leadership roles, including stints at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services as the senior advisor for the chief medical officer for the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy and at the CDC in Atlanta as a senior public health advisor in the Division of HIV Prevention. Pulliam shared how he is an example of how gifts from donors assist students and make an impact, because it was his scholarships that allowed him to gain the practical experience he needed for his future.

President Book followed and continued to hone in on the impact of supporting students by urging attendees in their philanthropy. “Make Elon and Elon LEADS one of your priorities. After all, we are funding dreams in this campaign,” Book said.

New York City

The next event followed just on the heels of Atlanta, on Sept. 15 at The Glasshouse in New York City. Ava Rosen ’23 spoke about student impact, and how important funding is for students in need. She discussed how the Inman Family Scholarship in the Odyssey Program and the Business Fellows scholarship gave her the opportunity to pursue her dreams and avoid significant debt following the emotional and financial hardships that her family saw after losing her father to cancer when she was only 13. The funding she received made college affordable for her and made her dreams attainable.

The highlight of the event was a special tribute to Ed and Joan Doherty P’07, who have been inspirational agents of change in their service to Elon. One of their visions was to create a vibrant alumni network in the New York area, which they have helped accomplish by sponsoring yearly Evenings for Elon gatherings at iconic venues across the city for more than a decade. The Dohertys were also instrumental to the Elon LEADS Campaign, serving as chairs of the Campaign Planning Committee from 2014-2016. In recognition of their generous support of Elon, President Book presented Ed and Joan Doherty with the Elon Medallion, the university’s highest honor recognizing exemplary service to the institution.

Closing out the night was a performance of the song “I’ll Be There” by Sidney Wilson ’21, who currently stars in the hit Broadway musical “The Lion King.” President Book emphasized that alumni like Wilson help make Elon one of the top 10 music theatre programs in the nation.

Boston, Massachusetts

The next fall event was held in Boston on Oct. 12 at Fairmont Copley Plaza. Campaign co-chair Priscilla Awkard ’95 opened the night with a focus on Elon’s recent national rankings and recognition.

“Elon’s rise to the national stage is one of the most remarkable stories in higher education, and the generosity of our community has played a pivotal role in that continued rise,” Awkard said.

President Book also focused on these rankings, and said, “As we saw reinforced last month by the latest U.S. News rankings, Elon’s standing as a top-100 national university means that we increasingly compete in an admissions market with schools with much larger endowment resources. Together, by keeping our focus on student support, we can ensure that Elon has the resources it needs to recruit the finest community of students year in and year out.”

Another major focus of the night was internships and real-world experience students receive through the generous funding of donors. President Book explained that close to 90% of Elon students participate in an internship while in school and that around half of those lead to employment in prominent companies, including many in Boston such as Baystate Financial, Bank of America and more.

Speakers throughout the night focused on the importance of this practical experience. President Book noted that nearly half of internships are unpaid, which is a major barrier for students with limited funds. She then encouraged attendees that this was why funding was so important in providing those opportunities for students, one of the major goals of the campaign.

Los Angeles

The next stop of the campaign was Los Angeles, with an event on Nov. 1 at the Carondelet House. The night opened with remarks from campaign co-chair Maity Interiano ’07. Interiano grew up in Honduras and knew from a young age that she wanted to be an influential journalist. Now a Network News Anchor for Univision, she credits Elon for giving her the opportunities that she needed to succeed in this field.

She explained that she remains committed to helping support the university and students, especially Hispanic, Latinx and international students like herself. Interiano also established the Maity Interiano Annual Scholarship as a part of the Elon LEADS Campaign. She announced that Jose Alex Reyes ’25 is the first recipient of the scholarship. Reyes is the son of immigrants with hopes of becoming a creative director, and it is Interiano’s hope that this scholarship will assist him in making his dreams a reality.

“I was like Jose Alex Reyes at the time, and the most important thing is I know he is taking full advantage of his Elon experience and will achieve everything he sets out to do and more. And that is why tonight, I want to invite you to join the Elon LEADS Campaign too. Think about the legacy you want to leave and remember how there were people, experiences and opportunities that made a difference in your time at Elon,” Interiano said.

The focus of the night remained on student impact, furthering dreams and making a way for the future of Elon. President Book followed with a focus again on internships and how they lead to career opportunities. With Los Angeles being a major draw for employment in the entertainment industry, she explained that almost half of internships for students at Elon lead to employment at companies in Los Angeles.

Washington, D.C.

The last event was held at The Willard InterContinental in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 15. Jim Piatt, vice president for University Advancement, took to the stage to explain just how transformative this campaign has been and will continue to be for Elon.

Piatt focused on the four key priorities of the campaign — increasing support for students through scholarships, increasing access to engaged learning programs, investing in faculty and staff “Mentors Who Matter,” and adding to the campus footprint through innovative facilities.

He noted that more than 270 new endowed scholarships have been created in the campaign, bringing historic growth to the university’s endowment; more than 50 new endowed funds have been established to broaden access to the Elon Experiences programs, including global study and internships; and that donors have invested nearly $8 million in faculty and staff mentors.

Piatt also shared the profound impact of Elon LEADS on Elon’s iconic learning environment, including eight new facilities strategically added to the campus footprint. One of those facilities is The Inn at Elon, where all revenue beyond operating costs goes to fund scholarships. “Elon has awarded more than $1.3 million in need-based scholarships thanks to income from The Inn,” Piatt said.

Next to the stage was Ike Credle ’83. As an Elon alum and a veteran that has served for 20 years in the U.S. Army, Credle said, “One of my purposes in life is to be a bridge builder. The idea is to build a bridge so that those coming behind you may avoid some of the pitfalls you may have encountered.” Credle explained the challenge loans had on him following graduation and how he wanted to make an impact on students. He honored his mother by making an estate gift that will endow the Rebecca A. Credle Scholarship. It is gifts such as this one that opens doors for our future leaders.

President Book followed, noting the university’s endowment has grown to nearly $300 million, with 70% of that going to student scholarships, Elon’s top-100 national ranking in U.S. News & World Report, over 34,000 donors giving to the campaign and the announcement that collective contributions total more than $257 million surpassing the $250 million goal for the campaign.

President Book ended the final event by noting there is more to accomplish in the campaign. “Let’s keep this amazing momentum of the Elon LEADS Campaign going as we move toward its Dec. 31 close, and let’s also look beyond, in partnership and with confidence!”

As the final days of the campaign approach, all donors can find their place in this historic fundraising effort by making a gift at . Every gift, no matter the size, will make an impact for the future of Elon and the university’s students. The final tally for the Elon LEADS Campaign will be announced in January.

The Elon community is invited to celebrate the impact of this historic campaign at an event on Apr. 28, 2023, at the Schar Center, where alumni, parents, students, faculty/staff and friends will gather once more to show thanks for the generosity of donors who continue to support Elon’s mission and growth.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Fairmont Copley Plaza. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book and special guests.

Elon LEADS in Boston
A celebration of leadership and philanthropy with President Connie Ledoux Book

Wednesday, October 12
6:30 p.m. Reception
7:30 p.m. Remarks by President Book and guests

Fairmont Copley Plaza
Ballroom
138 St. James Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02116

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres

If interested, RSVP can still be made by emailing elonleads@elon.edu with questions.

As summer kicks into high gear, things are heating up for our regional alumni chapters and Elon in the Ballpark is back. Take your family out to the ball game and mingle with other alumni!  Select cities and regional alumni chapters will be hosting a baseball outing in your city. Check out the list below to see how you can snag your tickets just in time to join alumni, friends and family at the game.

• 
  July 30
  Burlington Sock Puppets
• 
  Aug. 5
  Greensboro Grasshoppers
• 
  Aug. 6
  Durham Bulls
• 
  Aug. 7
  New York Yankees
• 
  Aug. 27
  Atlanta Braves
• 
  September 19
  Boston Red Sox

We’re laser-focused on keeping our alumni and their guests safe by following social distancing guidelines. Certain areas may have reduced capacity, so register sooner than later to make sure you can join us at the game.

We hope to see you there.

Speakers for the program included President Connie Ledoux Book, Vice President for University Advancement Jim Piatt and Campaign Chair Chris Martin ’78 P’13, as well as other faculty, staff and alumni leaders. Attendees learned more about important university initiatives including scholarships in the Odyssey Program, the new Innovation Quad that will house expanded STEM initiatives, two new nursing degree programs that will offer students a focus on health equity, and spring admissions data.

The entire Elon community is now able to view the latest version of the update on-demand to learn more about these initiatives.

“This special university update on the Elon LEADS Campaign amplifies the campaign’s far-reaching impact on our students,” says Piatt. “The university community remains grateful for the alumni, parents and friends who are dedicated to our mission and vision and provide philanthropic support of our strategic priorities.”

>> to participate in the update. 

The on-demand video will begin automatically once you complete the registration process.

Elon LEADS is a seven-year campaign that has completed its planning and leadership phases and moved into its public phase in spring 2019, with supporters setting their sights on raising $250 million by May 31, 2022. That includes $140 million for student scholarships, $10 million to increase access to engaged learning programs called the Elon Experiences, $10 million to support faculty and staff mentors and $90 million to enhance Elon’s iconic learning environment.

President Connie Ledoux Book shared with the crowd that the campaign will inspire and support students as they serve as leaders on campus and beyond. “We educate leaders who share their talents and their hearts with the world, and we know that leadership, vision and hard work are the critical ingredients in advancing change.”

In her remarks, President Book also touched on Elon’s recent rankings in U.S. News & World Report, which included Elon’s debut in the report’s national university category.

“We are so proud that Elon is now ranked among the top 100 universities in the nation,” Book said. “Debuting at #84, Elon is listed in that category with other prestigious institutions like Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Duke and Johns Hopkins. The ranking I was most proud of was Elon’s #2 ranking for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, with only Princeton University ahead of us.”

Boston’s Museum of Science served as a perfect backdrop as President Book shared Elon’s ranking of #11 for innovation by U.S. News & World Report. Attendees were able to explore some of the museum’s attractions, setting the tone for an exciting and fun night.

The program also showcased a few of the many examples of how Elon has been changing lives for 130 years, including music theatre alumna Cara McNiff ’18, who performed to kick off the evening, and Oscar Miranda ’17, who shared his gratitude for the donors that made his dream of attending college a reality.

Miranda attended Elon as a scholarship recipient in the Odyssey Program, a highly selective merit-based program consisting of talented individuals who are academically strong, civically engaged, and will benefit from an Elon education.

“The Odyssey Program was family, a family away from home,” said Miranda. “This program provided me the opportunity to succeed and a chance at a better life.”

After graduating from Elon, Miranda went on to earn a master’s degree in higher education from Harvard. He returned to Elon to pursue a career in the office that supported his dream as a student, Elon’s Center for Access and Success. In his role as assistant director, access and student support, Miranda supports first-generation college students and students from low-income households.

Miranda’s story of success is one of many, thanks to the generosity of the Elon community. The top priority of Elon LEADS is increasing funding for scholarships so that additional outstanding students like Miranda have access to an Elon education.

Following Miranda’s remarks, trustee and Elon LEADS Campaign Chair Dave Porter P’11 P’19 took the stage. Porter shared how an Elon education influenced his two sons, Tim and Jack. Inspired by their education, Porter chooses to support Elon because “we need courageous, hard-working leaders to guide our future.”

Porter challenged those in the Boston crowd to find their role in Elon LEADS. “I know there’s no goal we can’t reach when we have strong leadership and a collective commitment to preparing the leaders our world needs. This is our charge in the Elon LEADS Campaign — to reach our $250 million goal and make this historic campaign a success.”

The program also included remarks from James B. Piatt, Jr., vice president for university advancement, and Jean Rattigan-Rohr, vice president for access and success and professor of education.

Prior to the event, campaign donors and volunteers attended a pre-reception with President Book and others. The evening concluded with a Loyal Alumni Celebration honoring current alumni donors and the university’s most active alumni volunteers.

This Evening for Elon was the third of six special events across the country this fall celebrating the launch of Elon LEADS. Upcoming Evening for Elon events will be held in Charlotte (Oct. 17), San Francisco (Nov. 12) and Raleigh (Dec. 4).

Visit the Elon LEADS website to learn more about the campaign.

Through the campaign, donors will build on Elon's position as a leader in higher education by investing in graduates the world needs, engaged learning, mentors who matter and the university's iconic learning environment. 

The event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Museum of Science. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d'oeuvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., immediately followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book and special guests. 

Elon LEADS in Boston
A celebration of leadership and philanthropy with President Connie Ledoux Book

Wednesday, October 2, 2019
6:30 p.m. Reception
7:30 p.m. Remarks by President Book

Museum of Science
Blue Wing
1 Science Park
Boston, Massachusetts 02114

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres

Please RSVP by Sept. 18: 

Contact Jill Hollis '13 G'17 at jhollis@elon.edu with any questions. 

Thursday, Oct. 10
6-9 p.m.
Tia's
200 Atlantic Ave
Boston MA 02110

Join fellow alumni and friends to welcome new alumni to the area! We will be providing appetizers and Elon swag. All alumni, guests and friends are welcome.

Please contact alumni@elon.edu with any questions.

You won’t want to miss the chance to cheer on the Sox from the Sam Adam’s Rooftop Deck alongside fellow Elon alumni and friends! This is one of the biggest events of the year and will likely sell out. If you are able to attend, click the link and purchase your ticket(s) below:

Sam Adam’s Rooftop Deck

Aug. 21, 2019

7:10 pm

Check out at Fenway!

"The Elon in Boston Alumni Chapter had a successful wine tasting event this past month," Morgan O'Brien, the chapter's co-president said. "An evening filled with mingling, and learning about wines was a unique way to round out our exciting year of engaging alumni gatherings. We can't wait to see what next year has in store for us!"

The Boston Alumni Chapter looks forward to their next popular outing at the Red Sox game this August. Details to be released this summer.