Legalization has reshaped markets across North Carolina, and the sports betting landscape continues to evolve. Bockino, Squadron and Tobias impressed upon the audience that this wasn’t just a sports story, but it’s actually a business, data, and policy story, too. The panelists explored the industry’s economic impact, regulatory environment, and the growing role of data and analytics. They spoke about consumer trends and fan engagement and answered questions from the audience about the NCAA’s role in sports betting and how taxes on sports betting could be used to support community areas like K-12 public education.

“It’s always fun to talk about sports betting with people from a variety of industries,â€� Bockino said. “This is a growing industry that affects not only amateur and professional sports but education, finance, and tourism, and I appreciate the opportunity to connect with Charlotte’s leaders across all these sectors.â€�

“Sports betting is having a major impact and has a lot of elements that people don’t always see,� Squadron said. “Elon’s bringing together the Charlotte community to discuss it was a great opportunity to explore all the different pieces of this growing area.�

Elon University Charlotte will hold future  with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance. Interested in learning more about sports betting? Bockino will release a book on the topic on Tuesday, June 2.

When arrived at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ as a first-year student, she envisioned a future in physical therapy.

Four years later, the graduating senior leaves Elon not only with two majors, but with published scholarship, national conference presentations, and a growing passion for research that ultimately reshaped her career ambitions.

This winter, the native of Walnut Creek, California, served as lead author on a research publication in the , collaborating with Elon faculty members Alex Traugutt, Caroline Ketcham and Eric Hall. The publication represents the latest milestone in a research journey that began during her sophomore year, when she approached Ketcham about becoming involved with Elon BrainCARE.

“At the time, I was an exercise science major planning to apply to physical therapy school, so while I was genuinely interested in concussions and brain health, I also saw research as a way to deepen my involvement at Elon and strengthen my future applications,� McAfee said.

As she became more involved with research, McAfee’s interests evolved beyond concussions and brain injuries. While reviewing existing scholarship, she became increasingly interested in the ways athletics influence student-athletes off the playing field.

“One article in particular sparked my curiosity about how sports shape athletes beyond their playing careers,� McAfee said. “This led me to explore whether competitive sports help develop career readiness and how athlete identity may influence academic performance.�

Those experiences ultimately inspired McAfee to add sport management as a second major, where she met Traugutt during her first course in the department.

“Lucy is an intellectually driven student researcher who, over nearly three years of collaboration, led data collection, identified research topics and conducted analyses that resulted in two first-author peer-reviewed publications before completing her ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ degree,â€� said Traugutt, assistant professor of sport management.

Traugutt explained that McAfee distinguished herself through both her intellectual curiosity and her ability to connect research with practical application.

“What sets Lucy apart is her ability to bridge scholarship and practice,� Traugutt said, noting that she has presented research twice at the Applied Sport Management Conference and participated in multiple SURF and SURE programs.

McAfee said that working closely with Traugutt, Ketcham and Hall helped strengthen both her confidence and critical-thinking skills.

“When I first started doing research, I felt uncertain about my future and my own abilities,� McAfee said. “Dr. Alex Traugutt, Dr. Caroline Ketcham and Dr. Eric Hall each played a key role in guiding me, giving me direction, and helping me build confidence in my research skills.�

She especially valued the collaborative nature of the work.

“I particularly enjoyed our meetings – especially the ones at The Oak House – where we would dissect the data together,� McAfee said. “Consistently learning and discussing research with such knowledgeable professors pushed me to think more critically and challenged me to contribute insights of my own.�

McAfee’s recent publication is not expected to be her last contribution to the field. In addition to a forthcoming publication in Case Studies in Sport Management examining career readiness programming for student-athletes, she and Traugutt recently submitted a third research paper examining the NCAA transfer portal and high school recruiting opportunities in college football to the Journal of Applied Sport Management.

That research grew out of McAfee’s desire to better understand the rapidly changing dynamics of college athletics.

“My interest in the transfer portal stemmed from conversations during my time at the ACC, where its impact on various stakeholders was frequently discussed,� said McAfee, who completed an internship with the Power 4 conference last summer. “However, I noticed there was limited research regarding its effects on high school athletes. I saw that as an opportunity to contribute meaningful new knowledge to the field of sport management.�

Traugutt said McAfee’s work stands out for both its academic rigor and its broader relevance within athletics and higher education.

“Her work examining athletic identity, career readiness and student-athlete development is not only carefully designed and executed, but deeply meaningful, directly addressing questions that matter to practitioners and institutions alike,� Traugutt said.

McAfee also served as an executive intern with Elon Athletics, an experience Traugutt said complemented the practical focus of her research.

After graduation, McAfee will pursue a master’s degree in higher education at Boston College, where she will hold two graduate assistantships – one as a student-athlete academic adviser within Boston College Athletics and another with Tufts Medical School’s graduate student services department.

Traugutt said those opportunities speak to both McAfee’s academic growth and the practical focus she brought to her research throughout her time at Elon.

“These achievements reflect a student who takes her work seriously and understands its real-world implications,� Traugutt said. “I have no doubt she will carry that same curiosity, independence and commitment into her graduate studies at Boston College and beyond.�

As Commencement approaches, McAfee said her ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ research experiences transformed her Elon journey in ways she never anticipated.

“When I received my acorn at convocation, I never imagined I would be doing research at this level,� McAfee said. “Now, as I prepare to receive my sapling at Baccalaureate, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support that made that possible.�

This work represents an important step forward in the planned merger, which is awaiting a vote from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. That accreditation approval is the first step in a two-step federal approval process before Elon assumes operational oversight of Queens.

As the approval process continues, Elon and Queens are planning to align a number of administrative and operational functions through shared services, beginning June 30. The goal of the shared services model is to strengthen the financial and operational foundation of the future combined institution while ensuring that students continue to receive strong support throughout the transition.

“This next stage is about building the foundation for a stronger future,� said Jeff Stein, chief integration officer and executive vice president. “Leaders from both institutions are working collaboratively and deliberately, and drawing on the strengths, talents and traditions of Elon and Queens to design shared functions that serve students well and position the combined institution for long-term success.�

The shared services model will bring together teams in areas such as admissions and financial aid, advancement, career services, communications and marketing, finance, human resources, information technology, academic advising, facilities, library services, study abroad and other key administrative functions. These areas support the daily operations of both campuses and play an important role in the student experience. Leaders have emphasized that the design process is not simply about combining existing structures, but about creating stronger teams and practices that reflect the best of both institutions.

The merger also builds on Elon’s growing presence in Charlotte, including the expansion of Elon Law and future graduate programs. Queens’ deep roots in the city, distinctive ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ experience, Division I athletics program and legacy of civic engagement will remain important parts of the combined institution’s future. Athletics programs at Elon and Queens will continue to operate as distinct and separate Division I programs.

For employees, the transition will include direct communication, HR support and detailed information about next steps. Queens employees whose roles are part of the shared services areas will transition to ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ employment at the end of June and continue in similar roles. Queens employees who transition will move to Elon’s benefits program.

A small number of positions will not continue as part of the shared services structure. Employees in those roles are receiving direct support, including information about open positions at Elon in which they are eligible to apply and career transition resources.

The transition plan also includes onboarding, professional development and culture-building opportunities designed to help newly integrated teams build relationships and establish shared practices. Planned supports include department retreats, leadership workshops, employee resources, buddy programs and ongoing opportunities for feedback and questions.

Throughout the process, Queens will continue to have dedicated leadership guiding campus operations, helping ensure continuity for students, employees and the Charlotte community while federal approvals are pending.

For Elon and Queens, this stage of the work is both practical and forward-looking. It is about aligning systems and teams, but also about shaping a shared future grounded in student success, institutional strength and a commitment to Charlotte.

“The promise of this merger is not only that two institutions will come together,� Stein said. “It is that, together, we can create something stronger — an institution with deeper resources, broader opportunities and an enduring commitment to the students and communities we serve.�

On Dec. 6, 2025, day started not in Elon, but Charlotte.

By 8 a.m., the Elon senior was already at the Spectrum Center, one of the Queen City’s marquee entertainment venues, helping with operations for a neutral-site college basketball matchup between Dayton and Virginia. Hours later, she was darting through the tunnels of Bank of America Stadium as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference Football Championship Game staff, helping coordinate pregame activities, managing an on-field photo experience for youth teams, and assisting with postgame celebrations after Duke’s dramatic victory over Virginia.

In between, there were meetings, setup responsibilities, logistics and constant communication. The football championship game eventually stretched beyond regulation, adding even more chaos to an already packed day.

For Selikoff, though, the day never felt overwhelming.

“It doesn’t really feel like work because I love what I’m doing,� she said. “It’s rewarding because you ultimately get to see the experience that it brings at the end of the day.�

That whirlwind Saturday last fall captured much of Selikoff’s Elon experience – ambitious, hands-on and deeply connected to the sport industry she hopes to build a career in after graduation.

A double major in cinema and television arts and sport management, Selikoff arrived at Elon from northern New Jersey already knowing she wanted a university where relationships with professors and classmates grew naturally. After visiting campus during her senior year of high school, the decision came quickly.

“The second we drove through campus, I told my parents, ‘I’m done,’� she said. “I knew this was where I wanted to be.�

Once at Elon, she wasted little time getting involved.

Selikoff joined Elon Sports Vision during her first semester and directed her first broadcast before fall break. She also became involved with the Sport Management Society, an organization that shaped much of her college experience, and Women Influencers in Sports. After serving in various leadership roles, she now leads the society as president, helping connect students with industry professionals through networking events, facility tours and guest speakers.

“What stands out most about Abby is her ability to pair intellectual curiosity with real-world execution,� said Shaina Dabbs, associate professor and chair in the Department of Sport Management. “She is someone who doesn’t just show up, she fully invests in every opportunity in front of her. Simply put, she says ‘yes.’ Whether in the classroom, in research, or in the industry, Abby consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a genuine desire to learn.�

Selikoff’s willingness to embrace opportunity eventually led her to participate in The Sport Experience in Charlotte during fall 2024, where she balanced 18 credit hours with internships at both NASCAR and the ACC.

At NASCAR, she worked with digital products, supporting the organization’s website, app, fantasy platform and fan rewards program. Simultaneously, she served as a Football Game Day Operations Center intern with the ACC, monitoring games and helping ensure smooth coordination between on-site officials and conference staff in Charlotte.

By the end of the semester, Selikoff had completed more than 500 internship hours.

The experience – and her work ethic – opened the door to additional opportunities with the ACC. Over the next two years, Selikoff worked more than 25 football games while also supporting conference championships and events in basketball, gymnastics, baseball and tennis.

One of her favorite experiences came when the ACC sent her on-site to shadow replay officials during football games at North Carolina and N.C. State, attending pre- and post-game meetings in the process.

“Being part of those big-game environments was incredible,� Selikoff said. “I got to see firsthand the communication between the game officials and Charlotte, and then bring what I learned back into the office.�

Dabbs said Selikoff fully embraced Elon’s experiential learning model.

“Abby is a great example of a student who maximized the Elon experience by intentionally connecting academics with industry opportunities,� Dabbs said. “What is particularly impressive is how she did not treat these as isolated experiences – she built a cohesive skillset across operations, media and fan engagement.�

Alongside her internships and leadership roles, Selikoff also immersed herself in ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ research under the mentorship of Young Do Kim, associate professor of sport management, and Tony Weaver, associate dean in the School of Communications.

Since fall 2023, she has investigated how professional sports organizations market sustainability initiatives and how those efforts shape consumer perceptions, gaining valuable insights into sustainability, marketing and environmental communications. The research led her to complete IRB approval and CITI certification, present at Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and Spring Undergraduate Research Forum, and share her findings at the Sport Marketing Association Conference in Arizona. Additionally, she is currently working on a manuscript based on her results.

“I never thought I would be doing ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ research,â€� Selikoff admitted. “But I’ve loved it throughout the entire process.â€�

Beyond academics and internships, Selikoff credits Elon’s faculty mentors with helping her grow personally and professionally.

She points to Kim, Dabbs, Weaver and Staci Saltz, chair of the Department of Cinema and Television Arts, as key influences throughout her four years on campus.

“The Sport Management Department is incredibly close-knit,� Selikoff said. “It feels kind of like a family. I can go to professors for anything – whether it’s personal or academic – and they’ve all had a strong impact on me.�

Fittingly, Selikoff’s Elon experience actually became a family affair when her younger sister, Emily, enrolled at the university two years ago. The two regularly meet for meals, cross paths in the School of Communications, and share many of the same academic interests.

“It’s honestly been really great having her here,� Selikoff said. “It’s like having an extra piece of home.�

After graduation, Selikoff hopes to return to Charlotte and continue building a career in sports media, communications or event operations. Whatever path she ultimately takes, she leaves Elon with the kind of hands-on experience many young professionals spend years trying to find.

Beginning this fall, Queens will align its ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ academic calendar with Elon’s ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

“J-Term gave Queens students something rare — three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,� said Queens alumna Staci McBride ’92. “We forged lifelong memories while living our motto, ‘Not to be served, but to serve.’ I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can’t wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.�

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from Elon’s nationally ranked participation rate to .

“J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,� said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at Elon. “Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.�

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. “The John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ experience,â€� she said. “Queens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our Elon colleagues.â€�

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈs to Elon’s School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and Elon share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

“The DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,â€� said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at Elon. “Active listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our Elon colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.�

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. “¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,â€� Clark added.

The Elon team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won’t be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of Elon.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits — along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats — open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to Elon employees as well.

“Mergers are hard work,â€� Stein said. “Yet it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and Elon have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students — an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.â€�

Attendees connected with members of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Charlotte campus team members to learn more about Elon’s engagement with area non-profits.

Since Elon Charlotte was established in the fall of 2023, the campus has worked to learn about the needs of the Charlotte metro area and support the community through student volunteering and donation drives. Associate Director of Elon Charlotte Karen Neff, partners with Roof Above, a shelter for unhoused men, each semester, and arranges for Study USA Charlotte students to serve dinner there. Human Service Studies practicum students spent part of a winter term volunteering at Beds for Kids, Roof Above, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and Gigi’s Playhouse, and heard from representatives from Abara: Beyond Borders and Wayfinders about their organizations.

This past winter, Lavette Shirley, assistant program director for physician assistant studies in Charlotte, led efforts to support the Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM). CRM serves men and women at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. Elon donated two large bins of coats, clothing, toothpaste, lotion, soap, shampoo, menstrual pads and other toiletries to the women at this facility. The Women’s Law Association, an Elon law student organization, also collected women’s hygiene supplies to support Safe Alliance, a nonprofit agency providing hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Law students have also been active as volunteers in the community, supporting organizations such as the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the Mecklenburg Council of Elders and more.

Elena Kennedy, Elon’s faculty fellow for community-based learning, spoke to the group at the event and shared that last year the ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ community invested over 85,000 service hours in community organizations, about half of which were in the context of community-engaged courses.  Other ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ community members highlighted several opportunities for community organizations to engage with the campus, including partnering with classes, hosting interns, developing tailored lunch and learn sessions for professional development and participating in deliberative dialogues.

Learn more about the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Alumni can stay informed of upcoming events in Charlotte through the alumni calendar.

The introductory meeting, to be held via Zoom on April 24, will focus on relationship-building and information sharing between the two student government associations. Conversations will include a discussion of how both associations are structured, how often they meet, and how they represent student interests on their campuses.

Leaders will also exchange perspectives on campus traditions, highlighting the events and experiences that define student life at each university. The discussion is expected to begin the process of identifying opportunities for honoring and sharing those traditions across both communities.

The meeting is serves as an early step in aligning student leadership efforts.
Michael Swartz ’27, president of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s Student Government Association, and Jessica Paredes ’27, president of Queens University’s Student Government Association, answered questions this week in the lead-up to their first meeting.

The duo described their expectations ahead of the conversation and the role of student leadership in shaping what comes next for students on both campuses as the merger progresses.

Describe the role you envision for your Student Government Association as both universities begin to merge operations over the next several months.  

Michael Swartz: I see SGA as being an important bridge between the decisions happening at the highest levels of the university and Elon students. ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ sometimes feel a little uninformed, and at both institutions, SGA can be a part of that solution, as well as sharing with administrators and faculty what students think.

Jessica Paredes: The role I envision for Queens University’s Student Government Association is to reflect our motto of “Not to be served, but to serve.” I want to help lay the foundation of service so that when we progress in our relationship with Elon, it goes beyond our campuses into our cities.

Can you share some of the ideas you’ve heard from classmates when they’ve talked about the merger that excite you as a student leader?  

´³±ð²õ²õ¾±³¦²¹: One of the things that I’ve heard from my peers that really excited me is the possibility of being able to take classes on either campus. I think this is an awesome idea that can allow for even more networking, career and friendship opportunities for both Queens and Elon students. Another idea that is exciting is being able to cheer for Elon’s football team! Through organized field trips to Elon’s campus, Queens students can support a team they have close ties to!

Michael: There’s a lot of curiosity I hear from friends and peers. They’re thinking about locations and spaces and potentially taking classes at a different location or pursuing their degree in a place that might make more sense, whether that be in Charlotte for Elon students, or for Queens students in Charlotte to come to Elon. Having options, I think, is a new, valuable asset.

What opportunities for collaboration between the SGAs do you already see that you want to explore first?  

Michael: It makes sense to not plan any huge steps this first year. We’ll want to start a little smaller and think about how we can interact via Zoom, like we’re doing Friday, and really meet the people that are spearheading the change on our campuses. Going from there, hosting retreats together and getting connected in person as soon as possible is a great idea.

´³±ð²õ²õ¾±³¦²¹: Between Queens University’s SGA and Elon’s SGA, I foresee collaborative opportunities such as creating new traditions, whether that is taking regularly scheduled trips to each other’s institutions, hosting joint listening sessions for all students and inviting each other to participate in select board of trustee meetings so that they are hearing from both student populations.

What are the most important qualities or traits of your campus culture that may be important for the other SGA to understand when you work together?

²Ñ¾±³¦³ó²¹±ð±ô: A lot of things at Elon are relationship-driven. I’m thinking about our small class sizes. That’s probably not unique to Elon, but it’s something that is so defining about the student experience here, having those connections. Understanding how involved students are in a lot of different things is also important. Many students don’t have one passion or place where they spend all their time. They’re involved in many activities and in diverse parts of campus.

´³±ð²õ²õ¾±³¦²¹: Queens is unique in the connections it has with its community and throughout the city of Charlotte. I think it’s very crucial to understand that Queens is career readiness driven. Our SGAs can discuss what our jobs are when it comes to connecting Elon students to Charlotte, and Charlotte to Elon.

Define ‘success’ in the context of collaboration. Where do you want your SGAs to be a year from now? 

Michael: For me, success means things feeling more normal than they do now, and this merger not being something that’s happening to students, but something that they’re a part of. I think that collaboration a year from now will also feel more natural.

´³±ð²õ²õ¾±³¦²¹: Success to me looks like being on the same page, and everyone feels their ideas have been heard or even acted on! I want Queens University’s SGA to be in a space where our student body feels confidence and pride in being a part of our mission. I hope the same thing goes for Elon.

A fun question to end the interview: What might surprise your SGA counterpart to learn about you? 

´³±ð²õ²õ¾±³¦²¹: I am a very open book and have built connections with most of the people in our SGA. However, I think a surprising thing about me is that I am always learning from them. The President title bears a lot of weight, but if it weren’t for the Senate showing up and giving new perspectives, my job would be way less fun.

²Ñ¾±³¦³ó²¹±ð±ô: I’ve been on the Queens campus more times than I can count because my mom went there as a student and she currently works there in their advancement department. I spent my childhood traveling from Davidson, North Carolina, to Charlotte, hanging out around Queens and seeing it grow in its own way before I had any idea at all I was going to end up at Elon. I used to say that I didn’t want to go to a school where my mom works. It’s funny that, one way or another, that happened.

The event, “� will take place on May 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina and is hosted by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

The session is open to the public and designed for working professionals interested in strengthening their data and analytics skills in a rapidly changing environment.

The program will focus on how AI tools are being used to move from raw data to usable insights more efficiently. Attendees will be introduced to practical approaches for working with data, building simple visualizations and generating summaries using tools such as ChatGPT, Power BI and Claude.

Participants will also explore how different prompting approaches can influence results, highlighting the role of prompting in shaping analysis, interpretation and communication.

Designed as an introductory, application-focused session, the program offers a practical look at how AI is being incorporated into workflows across analytics, strategy and operations roles, and how professionals can begin to build these capabilities in their own work.

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to follow along during the session.

The session will be led by Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration, in collaboration with Elon AI.

The two-day experience is designed to connect alumni working across the commercial real estate industry with students preparing to enter the field, creating space for insight, mentorship and conversation around how the industry is evolving.

The Summit begins Thursday, April 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. with a Kick-Off Reception at Hi-Wire Brewery. Programming continues Friday, April 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Elon Charlotte Center, located at 330 W. Tremont Ave., with a keynote from Nicole Young, managing director and head of CRE portfolio management at Wells Fargo.

Throughout the day, attendees will engage in alumni speed networking and interactive discussions exploring key areas shaping the industry, including capital markets, development, asset management and major property sectors, along with broader trends across multifamily, industrial, office and retail markets. The day also includes opportunities for students to connect directly with alumni and gain perspective on navigating real estate careers across changing market cycles.

The Summit concludes with an applied AI workshop led by Assistant Professor of Finance Thibaut Morillon, highlighting how machine learning and generative AI are being used in real estate analysis, underwriting and day-to-day workflows.

The event, “Charlotte’s Next Competitive Edge: Decision Intelligence,� will take place on April 15 at 6 p.m. at 330 W. Tremont Ave in Charlotte, North Carolina and is sponsored by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’ MSBA Flex program in Charlotte.

The conversation will focus on how AI is moving analytics from insight to action, and how organizations are adapting in response. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how AI is being used in practice, how roles and workflows are evolving, and what skills are becoming more important in a rapidly changing landscape.

Panelists include:

• Su Dong, associate professor of management information systems
• April Frazer ’03, CFO for Corporate and Investment Banking at Wells Fargo
• Eric Fender, enterprise transformation executive at Truist
• Danielle Nashold ’04, enterprise data, AI and data science technology strategy at Bank of America
• Derek Gould ’14, chief growth officer at Home Solutions

Designed as a candid and grounded conversation, the panel will highlight real-world examples, emerging challenges and the tradeoffs organizations are navigating as they integrate AI into decision making.

The program will include moderated discussion segments on analytics and judgment, organizational change and workforce readiness, followed by an audience Q and A.