Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation���s past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

���As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,��� said Jason Husser, director of the 消消犯 Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. ���We found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.���

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only ���fair��� or ���poor.���

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country���s long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation���s democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation���s semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the 消消犯 Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:油www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 消消犯 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

About the 消消犯 Poll

Established in 2000, the 消消犯 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens��� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 消消犯 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 消消犯 Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll���s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

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As the 2025-26 academic year drew to a close, May was marked by celebration, reflection and new beginnings across 消消犯. From Commencement festivities and awards ceremonies to end-of-year traditions, performances, and moments of community, the month showcased the accomplishments and experiences that defined another successful year on campus. These photos highlight some of the memorable scenes and milestones that made May a special month at Elon.

Engineering excellence

消消犯 in Elon’s Department of Engineering油put their classroom learning into practice through six capstone projects showcased May 8 in Founders Hall as part of the Engineering Senior Design course.

Coolin’ on the Commons

消消犯’s Black Student Union held Coolin’ on the Commons in May, which featured live music, games and fun.

‘Elon will never leave you.’

The Class of 2026 gathered Under the Oaks on May 19 for Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a time for reflection on the light students will take into the world. During the event, Jana Lynn Patterson,油associate vice-president for student life, dean of student health & well-being, and assistant professor, reminded graduates about the importance of the relationships they’ve built at Elon. Patterson will retire from the university this summer after 40 years.

Think critically, lead empathetically

Candidates from graduate-level programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and Martha and Spencer Love School of Business received their diplomas during a joint Commencement ceremony on May 20 in Alumni Gym.

In her address, journalist and author Katherine Blunt ���15 acknowledged a challenging reality ��� that today���s graduates are leaving institutions of higher learning across the country and embarking on professional journeys in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn and think.

But she reminded the graduates that油while many people may be tempted by the path of least resistance, Elon cultivates leaders who are deeply rooted in collaboration, communication and, most importantly, the ability to think critically.

Celebrating community

Ahead of and during Commencement Week, Elon held a variety of affinity celebrations celebrating and engaging graduates who share common identities, passions and connections that exist throughout various affinities. Those include Lavender Celebration, , Celebremos: Graduates Take Flight and Donning of the Kente.

‘Be-possible-ists’

During the 136th Commencement Ceremonies in Schar Center on May 22, President Connie Ledoux Book asked the Class of 2026 to look back on their油New Student Convocation in 2022,油1,371 days prior.

During their first year, the Class of 2026 all read the Common Reading book油���Factfulness��� by Hans Rosling. In his book, Rosling described the word ���possible-ist:��� someone who looks honestly at the world���s problems and still believes, based on evidence, that things can get better, and that they are getting better. Book asked the graduates to be “possible-ists” as they enter the world.

Elon celebrated graduates in two ceremonies ��� the morning event for the School of Communications and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the afternoon event for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences.

���Grievous Entanglement��� explores the most common way that people in the Atlantic world came to understand their personal connection to, and complicity with, slavery in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries: consumption. It exemplifies the interdisciplinary approach of American Studies by examining油a wide variety of media, including poetry, political cartoons, blackface minstrelsy, slave narratives, and novels produced from the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries.

According to the prize committee,油���Grievous Entanglement���油“brings new insights to well-trodden topics ��� from abolitionism to blackface minstrelsy. The new insights may well shape the way that we teach this period of history…”油 The committee praised the book’s “rigorous research, creation of a new methodological approach, and the connections it draws between multiple different fields of study” as well as its “clear and engaging prose.”

Pearson is grateful for the many ways Elon has made this work possible, including financial support from the Department of English, Faculty Research & Development, and the Dean’s Office in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

Circles of varying shades of red creep up the box���s side, while daubs of deep blues, bright greens and icy whites give passersby something new to notice every time they see it. Has Burlington commissioned a new piece of modern art for its downtown? No, this colorful beauty is entirely practical; it���s a traffic control signal box. The first in this collaboration.

A traffic control signal box may not be most people���s first thought for an art installation, but downtown Burlington has chosen it to be the new medium to host a collaboration with 消消犯���s Department of Art. Samantha DiRosa, professor of art and environmental studies and chair of the art department, acted as their liaison, choosing student work to be shown to a committee, from which they selected the finalists.

���It���s energizing to see this partnership between Elon���s Art Department and downtown Burlington,��� DiRosa said. ���Public art has the potential to spark dialogue, invite curiosity and strengthen community identity. We���re excited about the possibilities for more students to participate and to see their work enliven the streets of Burlington.���

The signal box initiative is the latest of downtown Burlington���s efforts to incorporate local art into public spaces, with previous installations including Hervey Garcia���s mural ���Between Us,��� Beechwood Metalworks��� ���Heart of Downtown��� and Gina Elizabeth Franco���s ���Dance It Out.���

���We value local art and we wanted the downtown to have locally generated art and reflect the community,��� said Adam Shull, economic development director for the City of Burlington. ���The signal boxes were chosen as a canvas since they are in plain sight, because once you see them, you notice them everywhere. We wanted to bring more whimsy in everyday life.���

The first box to be installed is the work of Jolie Patten ���25, an art major and expressive art minor. Patten���s work emphasizes finding wonder in the mundane, a concept she brings to fruition through this project. Chosen for its ���vibrant color and abstract qualities��� Patten���s design was printed onto vinyl, which was then installed onto the signal box. This combination of durability and vibrancy ensures that the artwork will remain available to the Burlington community for years to come.

Patten���s box was the first of nine signal boxes designed by Elon students and alumni. Art major Sarah Allan Straight���s ���26 artwork is also on display.

���Some work I did in class happened to be a good fit for the signal boxes, Straight said. ���I���m happy the piece was a good fit, and it got to have a life outside of being just classwork. It���s exciting that I get to have my work displayed in Burlington. I���m happy to be able to contribute.���

DiRosa views the opportunity for civic partnership as an extension of the Department of Art���s mission.

���At Elon, we empower students to reach their potential as makers, thinkers and global citizens,��� DiRosa said. ���It reflects our emphasis on curiosity, material exploration and community engagement ��� showing students that their art has the power to shape public spaces and spark creative transformation beyond the classroom.���

The city of Burlington has received positive feedback on the artistic signal boxes.

���Businesses and residents really like the signal boxes, and it gives Burlington a nice and cultural feeling that adds to the downtown,��� said Maggie Hogan, City of Burlington downtown manager. ���As a student, seeing your art on something public is really exciting. We hope to continue to build that relationship with Elon.���

消消犯 and the City of Burlington both see this collaboration continuing to display student artwork.

���We see this as a growing collaboration,��� DiRosa said. ���More students and alumni will be able to showcase their work in highly visible, community-centered ways, whether through additional signal boxes or other downtown art initiatives. It���s an opportunity not only for professional exposure but also for students to see their art making a tangible difference in the place where they live, work and study.���

Roberts, a biology major from Charlotte, North Carolina, studies how a cancer, fibrosarcoma, can be stopped by a virus, the reovirus. His project explores how genetic editing can be used to decrease the cancer cells��� immune responses, and in turn increase the virus���s infection rate and decrease the cancer cells��� viability.

���Cancer cells have altered immune responses which can be exploited by viruses to infect and replicate in those cells,���油Roberts said.

By studying these pathways, his work aims to better understand how to improve the anti-cancer properties of oncolytic viruses.

The NCICU funding will support the purchase of key reagents needed to study the role of protein kinase R (PKR), a cellular protein, which cells use to fight viral infections and whether Roberts and Rivera-Serrano can enhance the cancer-killing properties of viruses by disrupting PKR.

Roberts’s mentor is Efrain Rivera-Serrano, assistant professor of biology.

���While being awarded the grant reflects the scientific merit of my project, it is also a recognition of the help Dr. Serrano has given me in mentoring and designing my project,��� Roberts said. ���He has been an amazing help with his depth of scientific knowledge, and I love that I have the opportunity to work in his lab.���

As part of the NCICU Undergraduate Research Program, Roberts will present his work at the 2026 State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium for Fall 2026.

He also received funding from the American Society for Virology (ASV) through a competitive Undergraduate Student Award to attend and present his research at the ASV annual meeting in July, marking the first time an Elon student will attend this national meeting.

Roberts will participate in Elon���s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and was recently awarded a J. Nathan Grant Endowed Grant to support his research.

���To have one of my students receive this grant is incredibly meaningful because it recognizes the quality of 消消犯 research at Elon and the strong potential of our students to contribute to meaningful scientific questions, particularly in the biomedical sciences,��� said Rivera-Serrano. ���These awards are competitive across NCICU institutions, so Alex���s selection highlights both the strength of his proposed work and the level of research training that Elon students receive. This opportunity also gives students important experience communicating their work beyond campus, networking with peers and faculty from across the state and developing the confidence to see themselves as scientists.���

Rain didn���t stop the light of more than 1,500 消消犯 students shining bright as the Class of 2026 became alumni during the university���s 136^th Commencement Ceremonies on May 22 in Schar Center.

Despite the wet weather, families, friends, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate graduates who were encouraged not only to pursue success, but also to embrace failure as an essential part of growth.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick P���16, an Elon trustee and accomplished Wall Street strategist, delivered the Commencement address, reminding graduates that quitting is the ���only true definition of failure��� and urging them not to let fear guide their decisions.

���Pundits have a way of forecasting disaster every spring just as college graduates step into the world. My advice is simple: ignore them,��� she said. ���Technology will not be the ruin of us all; it opens far more doors than it closes. You are the future of the workforce, and that should excite you.���

The paths to success

Chadwick reflected on her own unconventional path, emphasizing that there is no ���magic potion��� for success. She shared how she grew up in a religious sect, which she later described as a cult, and was forced out at 17 years old.

���Fearful of the world, and in my na誰vet辿, I turned to a single phrase for guidance: ���Failure is not an option,������ she said. ���What I hadn���t realized is that no one is immune from mistakes or failures. Those two words, dreaded by so many, are part of the learning process.���

Technology will not be the ruin of us all; it opens far more doors than it closes. You are the future of the workforce, and that should excite you.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick P���16

She also spoke about her son, Elon alumnus Jim Chadwick ���16, who had planned to launch a gaming company after graduation. After spending a year pursuing that dream, he realized it was not the future he had envisioned and eventually transitioned into private finance.

���Remember to take something of value from every employment experience before moving on to the next one,��� she said. ���I like to think of a career path as a circular stairway, where each success leads to a new challenge winding slowly upward toward your dreams.���

Elon celebrated graduates in two ceremonies ��� the morning event for the School of Communications and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the afternoon event for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences.

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, 消消犯’s chaplain and dean of mulfifaith engagement, opened each ceremony with the invocation.

���As these graduates step into what comes next, grant them wisdom beyond knowledge, courage beyond fear and compassion deep enough to serve a world that is in need,��� Boswell said. ���May they use their gifts not only for personal success, but for healing, for justice, for truth and for the flourishing of others.���

Corinne Wilson ���26 performed the Star-Spangled Banner, and led the singing of the alma mater, while Mindy Monroe ���26 and Malia Horst ���26 gave a special musical performance of ���For Good,��� from the musical ���Wicked.���

The Elon magic

Graduates reflected on the experiences that shaped their time at Elon, including the university���s commitment to 消消犯 消消犯. In 2025, for the fifth year in a row, Elon topped a ���Best Undergraduate Teaching��� list published by U.S. News & World Report.

“Professors can actually invest in you because of the class sizes being so small,” said Robbie Simpson ���26, an Elon native who earned a degree in exercise science. “I really appreciate that because professors get to take their time to understand you, get to know you and invest because they have a personal connection to you, so it makes them it more valuable to them.”

The strong relationships with faculty were an important part of Honors Fellow Diego Hernandez’s ���26 Elon experience.

“The time that the professors have taken out of their day and their lives to support us as students, that’s one of the best things I got from Elon,” said Hernandez, who earned a degree in engineering. “That’s something that I’m going to take with me.”

The myriad of involvement opportunities was also essential for graduates.

Autumn Goyette ���26, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in油accounting through the Love School of Business Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program, says her time working for Residence Life and in the Love School of Business Dean���s Office has made an impact on her time at Elon. She will soon be moving to Virginia to work for Ernst & Young.

���I’m just so grateful for everything that Elon gave me and brought to me,��� said Goyette, who is from Pittsburg, North Carolina. ���This place is my home and has been my home for four years.���

Decked out in various graduation cords, Ella Allen ���26, a Teaching Fellow who earned a mathematics degree with teacher licensure from Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, was heavily involved on campus, including as an orientation leader and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Next, Allen will be pursuing her Master’s of Higher Education at Elon. She noted that the people and support she received at Elon were invaluable.

Lilly Ikle ���26 of Baltimore, Maryland, earned a油cinema & television arts油degree from the School of Communications. She says the time has flown by and she feels like she was ���dropped off yesterday.��� Ikle initially came to Elon for its nationally recognized musical theatre program and for Elon���s ability to work with students with learning disabilities.

���My major really helped me get that creative outlet that I wanted in musical theater, but it also gave me the practical side of work I wanted to do in the future,��� said Ikle, who plans to move to Nashville after graduation to pursue music. ���My major gave me a creative outlet, let me get kind of that artsy side out of me, but also taught me things that I can bring into the real world.���

The Class of 2026 includes many stand-out stories:

• After a trip to Ecuador, Bernardo Vargas-Lopez ���26, who earned a degree in油sport management, and Juan Daniel Chiriboga ���26, who earned a degree in油entrepreneurship & innovation, built油YAPA, a plant-based energy drink shaped by friendship, curiosity and mentorship.
• Kaitlyn Lewis ���26, who earned a degree in油elementary education, came to Elon through three of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education���s primary scholarship programs: Alamance Scholars, NC Teaching Fellows and, post-graduation, Teach for Alamance.
• Jonathan Weaver ���26 originally intended to go into finance, but through exploration and faculty mentorship, switched his major to biology, and is now going to dental school at The Ohio State University.
• Being waitlisted for one program allowed Allie Schult ���26 to realize her true passion for nursing.油She now has a post-graduate position at Children���s Healthcare of Atlanta.
• Rony Dahdal ���26, a Goldwater Scholar and Lumen Scholar, earned a degree in油computer science, mathematics and philosophy油and did three different 消消犯 research projects while at Elon. The first was helping to create a mathematical model of complex equations that predict how the human immune system responds to COVID-19; another was developing an autonomous robotic arm to monitor and tend to crops by training the 3D machine-learning model to understand plant anatomy, and a third was developing a method to gather medical vital signs.

All of these students were helped by what student commencement speaker Ruby Radis ���26油of Chicago called the ���Elon magic.��� Radis, who earned a degree in油human service studies,油delivered the ���Message of Appreciation��� on Friday.

���From the moment I stepped onto this beautiful brick-covered campus, one truth became clear: there is magic here,” Radis said. “That Elon magic builds a community where students know their neighbors, teachers and coworkers.油Rather
than a quick hello, connections are founded on respect.”

Radis emphasized that Elon helped “emphasize the value of human difference,” and her fellow graduates should take that forward with them.

“Using those lessons, we can work together to uplift each other, amplify voices often left unheard and sprinkle a little of our very own Elon magic on everyone we meet,” Radis said.

That Elon magic builds a community where students know their neighbors, teachers and coworkers.油Rather油than a quick hello, connections are founded on respect.

Ruby Radis ���26

Be possible-ists

In her charge to the graduates, Elon President Connie Ledoux Book asked the Class of 2026 to look back on their New Student Convocation in 2022,油1,371 days prior.

“That morning, we placed an acorn in your hand, and I asked you to do something simple, and yet profound: To grow deep roots, and to reach high. Today, I look out at you, and I see what’s grown,” Book said.

During their first year, the Class of 2026 all read the Common Reading book油���Factfulness��� by Hans Rosling. In his book, Rosling described the word ���possible-ist:��� someone who looks honestly at the world���s problems and still believes, based on evidence, that things can get better, and that they are getting better.

���Class of 2026, through your Elon journey,油you have grown into油these油possible-ists,��� she said.油���You have learned to hold complexity without losing hope, to see what’s broken without losing your willingness to build, to zoom out and recognize progress, and to keep moving forward.油That is the Elon way, and the world needs油more of油it.���

View the full 消消犯 commencement program online.

Rua, a Colombian-American artist, is known for blending his street-style dance background with contemporary musical theatre movement. Before beginning his Broadway career, he trained extensively in hip-hop and freestyle forms, later integrating those influences into his work as both a performer and choreographer. His movement vocabulary often incorporates rhythmic footwork, sharp isolations and groove-based foundations drawn from the roots of street styles.

As a performer, Rua has appeared in Broadway productions including “Hamilton,” “In the Heights,” “Hands on a Hardbody” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.” His recent choreography credits include the 2025 Broadway revival of “Floyd Collins” and serving as assistant choreographer to Jerry Mitchell on “BOOP! The Musical.” In addition to his Broadway work, Rua has contributed choreography to regional theatres, workshops, and developmental labs, further establishing himself as a multifaceted creative artist.

During the masterclass, Rua taught his own choreography from the Tony-nominated revival of “Floyd Collins,” offering students insight into the movement and staging process behind the production. He also participated in a Q&A session, discussing his experiences in the industry, his navigation of being a working performer and choreographer, and the ways his street dance foundation informs his creative approach.

Patrick Murphy G���01

Assistant vice president for financial aid

Patrick Murphy joined Elon at the beginning of 1994 as bursar for Elon College to find a career that would, as he put it, add positivity to his day. Retiring at the end of the month, Murphy has served in a myriad of roles at Elon, including director of financial aid, senior associate dean and director of financial aid and assistant vice president for financial aid.

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment, credited Murphy with quietly and deliberately supporting Elon���s growth from a regional college to national and international distinction.

���What I know now is because of Pat���s patience, accessibility and strong desire for success,��� added Zaiser.

After retirement, Murphy looks forward to spending more time with his wife and his five grandchildren, who are all under the age of six. He says his favorite memory at Elon was picking up astronaut and former senator John Glenn and his wife from the airport and guiding them across campus to multiple events.

���I will miss the people I work with,��� he said. ���Elon has been the only place I worked where my friends are also people I work with.���

Beth McCain

Assistant 消消犯 professor of accounting

Beth McCain joined Elon in 2016 消消犯 part-time as an adjunct after 消消犯 at a community college. She was hired permanently in 2021 as a lecturer and also served as the director of the Master of Science accounting program. She retired on December 31, 2025.

While at Elon, McCain led January Term study abroad courses to Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and was the inaugural faculty member for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business study abroad program in Singapore.

At the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Catherine Chiang, professor of accounting and chair of the department of accounting, described McCain as one of the most dedicated and student-centered educators she had the privilege of knowing. ���Your decade of service has shaped careers, strengthened our programs and raised the standards for what it means to be an Elon educator,��� said Chiang.

McCain returned the compliments to her department chair and gave a shoutout to Linda Poulson, who gave McCain ���a chance��� and also to her husband, who was in attendance.

Now retired, McCain is volunteering for Guilford County Animal Services in Greensboro and taking a French course at Elon in preparation for a three-month trip to France in the fall. Reflecting on her time at Elon, McCain said, ���I will greatly miss the amazing faculty and staff that I worked with as well as relationships that I developed with my students over the years.���

Linda Niedziela

Associate professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biology

Linda Niedziela joined Elon in 2001 excited to teach courses in genetics and biotechnology. She was attracted to the university���s strengths in 消消犯 education and 消消犯 research. She will retire at the end of May after serving in a myriad of roles, including biology department chair, assistant professor, associate professor, director of the science branch of Elon College Fellows and the Japheth E. Rawls chair for 消消犯 research in science.

Niedziela said she will miss what she calls the ���daily therapy sessions.��� She shared that every day during the semester, whoever is able will meet for lunch on the first floor of McMichael and discuss wide-ranging topics, including 消消犯 tips, research reports, personal stories about families and pets and anything else that is on the mind of lunch attendees.

She said, ���I will miss the wonderful faculty and staff colleagues in the biology department who have become like family to me.���

After retirement, Niedziela and her husband, Carl, an adjunct assistant professor of biology at Elon, who will also be retiring, will travel with their dogs in an airstream travel trailer and spend time in their woodworking shop. She will also be devoting more time training and competing with her Shetland sheepdog in performance dog sports.

Anthony Hatcher

Professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department

Anthony Hatcher joined Elon in 2002 and has served as associate professor of journalism, full professor of journalism and the inaugural chair of the Department of Journalism.

Hatcher said he did not have a passport until he joined Elon in his early 40���s. ���Since 2004, I have taken students to Hong Kong, South Africa and multiple European countries,��� he reflected. Hatcher also created a religion and media course in his first year, which he taught every year since.

One of those colleagues, Harlen Makemson, professor of communication design, praised Hatcher at the Faculty/Staff Luncheon for Hatcher���s empathy and humanity during what he described as a time of upheaval in the media world, brought on by new technologies. ���And while it’s true that Anthony Hatcher serves on virtually every major standing committee at Elon, it’s his humanity, his warmth and his care, that is his most impactful service to his university.���

���I will miss being with students, and I will miss seeing my colleagues ���油my friends ���油daily or weekly,��� said Hatcher. During the ceremony, he added, ���I hope in addition to 消消犯 all those wonderful students I���ve had over the past nearly quarter century, I hope in some small way, I made their lives a little better because God knows they helped me be better.

After retirement, Hatcher looks forward to biking, hiking, travel and spending time with his granddaughter. ���Writing will be part of retirement as well, since I can���t sing or paint,��� he added.

Robert Moorman

Frank S. Holt, Jr. professor of business leadership and professor of organizational behavior

Robert Moorman joined Elon as the Frank Holt Jr professor of business leadership in 2011, a title he held throughout his time at Elon. Retiring in May, Moorman has also served as the department chair for the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and International Business.

During the Faculty, Staff Awards Luncheon, Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and professor of management information systems, shared that Moorman has a gift few others do ���油the ability to ask the types of questions that ���make you stop walking, look around at where you actually are and suddenly see it���a question that stays with you for the rest of your life.��� Ajjan offered Moorman a golf club afterwards in the spirit of his retirement.

During the ceremony, Moorman shared that education is so much more than reading books and looking at stats. ���It���s really about the relationships we have,��� he said. ���It’s the relationships with our students and the utter joy of seeing people cycle through during this really important time of their lives, you know, touching you and stepping in and stepping out and then seeing them grow as they go.���

Moorman said his favorite memories are those involving friendships with colleagues and partnerships with students. ���I have fond memories of a few colleagues congregating in my office talking about the joys and frustrations of the day,��� he said.油 ���I also have fond memories of holding classes that just seemed to ���work��� that day and then talking with students afterward about how they continued thinking about our discussions.���

After retiring at the end of this month, Moorman looks forward to what he calls unstructured adventure. ���I am looking forward to a time of boredom that then grows into something new, unplanned and adventurous. What fun!���

Charity Johansson

Professor of physical therapy education and chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department.

In 1999, Charity Johnsson joined what would become the Doctor of Physical Therapy program as one of its first faculty. She retired in December 2025 after decades of service in which she held positions of associate professor, full professor, faculty administrative fellow, interim associate department chair, interim department chair and program director, department chair and program director and university parliamentarian.

Johansson said she is already missing the ���daily exchanges with colleagues whose brilliant minds and genuinely kind hearts��� have shaped her over nearly three decades. Likewise, she will miss the students, and their ���infectious enthusiasm, their compassion and the joy of watching them transform in ways they hadn���t even imagined possible.���

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Crystal Ramsey praised Johansson as a ���cornerstone of the Elon academic community, whose legacy is defined not just by the position she has held, but by the enduring way she has nurtured the hearts, minds and professional identities of future healthcare providers.��� Ramsey is an associate professor of physical therapy education and a former student of Johansson���s.

At the ceremony, Johansson reflected on the retirement of Gerry Francis, who served as professor emeritus of mathematics and provost emeritus.

���Gerry Francis told me he doesn���t miss the work, but he really misses the people ��� and I get that,” she said.

She also said it was a privilege working with so many in the Elon community who have encouraged her, challenged her and made her laugh to help her be a better a human. ���Fred Rubeck, you���re among those,��� Johansson added, honoring the late professor of performing arts and chair of the Department of Performing Arts.

Now retired, Johansson said she is enjoying time outdoors with family and close friends, planning travel and trying new ventures, including fiction writing.

Marcia Dodson

Program assistant for the Station at Mill Point Neighborhood

Marcia Dodson joined Elon in 2015 and is the proud mother of three sons who graduated from Elon. She will be retiring at the end of May and has served as a service desk analyst for facilities management, program assistant in the Danieley Neighborhood and Station at Mill Point.

A favorite memory of Dodson���s while at Elon is joining the London Experience for staff, where she built relationships with colleagues she had not yet had the opportunity to meet while working at Elon. ���What an awesome experience!��� she reflected.

After retirement, Dodson looks forward to being a traveling grandparent with her husband.

Rosemary Haskell

Professor of English

Rosemary Haskell joined Elon in 1985 and will be retiring in August. She has held the roles of temporary instructor and assistant, associate and later, full professor of English.

Haskell said she will most miss her kind and interesting colleagues, as well as the ���energizing power of the new class of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-years each August.���

One of Haskell���s favorite memories at Elon is during the transition of the Fighting Christians to the Phoenix. She enjoyed the papier-mache birds and eggs in trees around campus that offered a clue to the new mascot.

After retirement, Haskell said she plans to spend time with her family and do some home improvement work.

Cheryl Riley

Custodian

Cheryl Riley joined Elon in 2013 as a custodian and will retire at the end of May. ���I will miss the people I work with,��� she said. ���And I look forward to spending time with my grandkids.���

Linda Dunn

Adjunct assistant professor of Peace and Conflict Studies

Linda Dunn joined Elon in 1998 as the director of the Alamance County Dispute Settlement Center, where she trained a group of students and returned to train several faculty members in mediation skills, who later became volunteer mediators for the center. Dunn���s official start date on record is 2001, when she taught a two-credit mediation and conflict resolution skills course as part of a new minor called Nonviolent Studies. She retired at the end of December, 2025.

Federico Pous spoke on behalf of Dunn during the Faculty/Staff Awards luncheon, praising Dunn���s ability to teach hands-on peaceful conflict resolution skills and strategies across different social backgrounds.

���Linda’s way of 消消犯 and interacting with students, staff and professors, makes you feel that you are equal to her in the same community space,��� he shared.

���I will miss the students and their passion the things I teach,��� said Dunn. Two of her students attended the luncheon.

After retirement, she plans to attend cultural events on campus and potentially assist in future facilitated discussions on campus. She will also continue to volunteer as a mediator at the Alamance County District court, continue restorative circle skills and mediation and training skills with Restorative Justice Durham and the Orange County District County District court.

���I will continue to be an activist for restorative justice and peacemaking organizations as we navigate the chaos and violence in our world,��� she added.

Elizabeth Bailey

Assistant 消消犯 professor of exercise science

Elizabeth Bailey began her career at Elon in 2004 and, enjoying the vibe of the community, wanted to be ���part of it all.��� She started as a lecturer for the required wellness course, lectured for the School of Education before joining Exercise Science.

Retiring at the end of Spring semester, Bailey said she will most miss her colleagues and all the ���friends among the faculty and staff��� she has made while at Elon.

���I will also miss the opportunities to continue to learn that are available at Elon, whether it be through taking classes or participating in workshops or going abroad,��� she added. She said, while at Elon, he has learned a lot.

Bailey said her retirement plans continue to evolve, and she still intends to exercise classes and do some research on the side.

Kim Giles, ���11 G���16

Associate director of communications for the Student Professional Development Center

Since her first role in 1995, Kim Giles has served in various roles at the university, including data entry in admissions and accounting, budget clerk in the physical plant, program assistant for Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics, and assistant director of communications in the Student Professional Development Center.

Giles retired during the summer of 2025. She said she cherishes the opportunity to earn an MBA at Elon along with her daughter. She said about the experience, ���what an unforgettable experience that was in crossing the stage along with my daughter to get our MBA���s together ���油it was quite surreal.���

Giles also reflected on traveling with peers and faculty to Vietnam and Singapore, the many evolutions of Staff Appreciation Day, and being honored as the staff member of the year ���油an experience she said she will cherish forever.

Since retiring, Giles has taken nine cruises and has done kayaking, camping and gardening. She looks forward to continuing to spend time with family.

Sharon Moss LaRocco

University accompanist and instructor in music

Sharon Moss LaRocco was recognized at the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon by Hallie Hogan, associate professor of music. LaRocco joined the Elon Music Department in 1988 as a pianist for musical theater productions, music ensembles and student recitals.

Hogan shared, ���Although she kept a very low profile, there was never any doubt about this, because she never missed a beat, much less a note, and maintained high quality for every performance she gave,” Hogan said.

She shared that students developed a strong admiration for LaRocco���s talent and a deep love for her kind and understanding nature.

Beyond Elon, Sharon has devoted herself to advocating for people with autism, through her work as a leader in the Office of Society of North Carolina, notably promoting autism awareness for the Native American communities of Western North Carolina.

At the awards ceremony, LaRocco shared that one of her favorite memories was the construction of Rhodes Stadium, which signaled to her the emergence of a marching band.

���Who doesn���t love a marching band?��� asked LaRocco to the audience. ���And the spirit and the energy it creates walking through the campus, en route to the games.���

Jana Lynn Patterson

Associate vice president for Student Life/dean of student health & well-being/assistant professor

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education, described Patterson as someone who is consistent in how she shows up for others, patient when a young leader makes a mistake, honest with students and colleagues even when it is hard and someone who not only believes in others, and one who helps others believe in themselves.

���She supported students in college through tragedy, advised student organizations, and celebrated their success,��� said Dooley. ���She has created spaces of welcome and belonging, and met the students in their darkest hours, helping them piece together on plans to move forward.���

Patterson was also recognized for her 40 years of service and held back tears while addressing the audience. A first-generation student from Hope Mills, North Carolina, Patterson said her parents could have never dreamed where she is today.

���To my staff and colleagues, you are the A-Team,��� she shared. “But to everyone in this community, I want you to know that every day has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this community and to have worked with you.���

Also retiring

Retiring staff members will be recognized on May 29 as part of Staff Appreciation Day.

• Joan Barnatt
• Mona DeVries
• Chris Dockrill, head women’s golf coach
• Sharon Hodge
• John Chinnici, community service officer
• David “DD” Donohue, painter
• Kelly Elliston
• Gloria Graves, custodian
• William “Tom” Hall, telecommunications technician
• Rhonda Kosusko, associate director of career services, education and Elon
• Katherine Rodriguez, assistant director for application processing
• Michelle Stephens, custodian
• Ed Williams, service desk analyst
• Donna Wood , electronic services/ acquisitions librarian

Helena Padial ���26, a music theatre major and Honors Fellow, received the honor during the annual awards ceremony in New York City. The Broadway���s Next Triple Threat award supports the next generation of artists who excel in dance, voice and acting.

Presented through the Chita Rivera Awards and produced by the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, the award is designed to support emerging performers as they transition into the professional theatre industry. In addition to national recognition, the recipient receives the Chita Rivera Training Grant, providing $10,000 of油financial support to live, study and train plus, one year of free dance classes at New York City���s Steps On Broadway.

Padial learned about the award through her high school voice teacher, Celeste Simone, who coached Rivera. Although she was hesitant to apply at first.

���I initially was tentative about applying because it was a competition and I didn���t want to get caught up in too much self-comparison, but ultimately I decided that the feedback from industry names that I have looked up to for years would be worth it, even if I didn���t make it to the next round,��� Padial said.

The initial application process included video submissions and written responses, including two songs and a dance solo. Adjudicators chose 15 semifinalists to advance to the next round. The second round included a video integrating song and dance where Padial choreographed a solo of ���Sparkling Diamond��� and ���Diamonds are Forever,��� which earned her a spot as one of the five finalists.油The finalists participated in an immersive weekend of mentorship and training which culminated in a live performance at the Chita Rivera Awards.

The weekend consisted of intense sessions of classes, mock auditions, singing and 17 hours of dance in three days where the finalists were constantly being filmed and pulled into video interviews.

���My body has never felt so tired, but I knew I had to bring my A-game and keep challenging myself to show up as the best version of myself,��� Padial said.

Padial did not know how the weekend would go油as油she was surrounded by other talented finalists. The finalists performed a number to ���Too Darn Hot,��� which they only had six hours to learn and ran through the number four times before performing it at the awards show.

���It was the fastest I have ever learned choreography and music and it took a ridiculous amount of stamina to perform, but it ended up being the most rewarding experience of my life,��� Padial said.

That night she proved to herself what she was capable of.

���The experience was absolutely insane, it is still so surreal to me,��� Padial said. ���When I heard my name called that I won the award I immediately started shaking and freaking out because it was such a shock. 10 of my family members were at the awards to support me and hearing them cheer was so special.���

Throughout the weekend Padial had the opportunity to meet people in the industry she looked up to including Bebe Neuwirth, Jessica Lee Golden, Charlotte d���Amboise and Anne Margret.

���I feel so beyond lucky to have been awarded this grant, as it will definitely ease the financial stress as I move to New York and navigate this next period of my life,��� Padial said. ���It is also very validating and reassuring to know that my hard work is recognized and that I am capable of having a career in this very difficult industry.���

The weekend marked a full circle moment for Padial because Rivera surprised the cast of her seventh grade production of ���Bye Bye Birdie,��� and 10 years later she received the award in her name, in front of Anne Margret who starred in ���Bye Bye Birdie.���

For Polly Cornelius, associate 消消犯 professor of music, the recognition is a testament to Padial���s years of dedication.

���It is my honor to have been Helena���s voice professor for four years,��� said Cornelius. ���She has always been super focused and hardworking, but most importantly compassionate and kind.���

Cornelius praised Padial���s vocal ability throughout her time at Elon.

���Her voice is gorgeous, strong and versatile, meaning she is able to sing well in many styles from contemporary belt to soprano,��� Cornelius said. ���I am thrilled but not surprised at all that she won this prestigious award. I have always believed in Helena���s potential and look forward to following and supporting her on her career journey.���

After graduation, Padial will move home to Palisades, New York and commute into New York City for classes and auditions while also 消消犯 musical theatre at Coup辿, where she trained growing up.

In July, she starts rehearsals for ���Antigone: 1989,��� a new musical headed to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she will be performing in August.

Ryu co-organized the two-week workshop (with油Adrianne Jenner, senior lecturer, equivalent to assistant professor, at Queensland University of Technology) entitled “Collaborative Workshop for Under-Represented Genders Advancing Mathematical Biology” at 油This workshop focuses on collaborative research, in small groups of underrepresented genders, including female-identifying researchers, each group working on an open problem in a particular area of mathematical biology guided by a senior group leader.

During her visit, she participated in a collaborative project entitled “Models for cell dynamics in developing atherosclerotic plaques,” led by Mary Myerscough, professor of applied mathematics at the University of Sydney.油The primary goal is to develop and analyze mathematical models of macrophage behavior in atherosclerotic plaque development, with a focus on understanding how lipid trafficking, LDL cholesterol and HDL activity influence plaque progression and reduction. Building on existing spatial models, the project will simplify these models into systems of ordinary differential equations to perform bifurcation analyses and investigate whether incorporating mid-stage plaque processes preserves predictions about the effectiveness of increasing HDL action and reducing LDL levels.

Upon the MATRIX workshop, Ryu also delivered a math biology seminar talk at the University of Melbourne, titled ���Immune Dysregulation in COVID-19: What Can Mathematical Modeling Tell Us?��� based on油her recently published work油supported by the National Science Foundation. In the talk, she addressed why some individuals experience mild COVID-19 while others develop severe disease, presenting a mathematical framework that captures interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the immune system. Through computational simulations and sensitivity analysis, she demonstrated how variations in immune responses can lead to divergent disease trajectories and highlighted key mechanisms that influence disease progression.

Following her time in Melbourne, Ryu briefly visited Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane to continue working with Jenner on their collaborative project. In addition, she delivered a seminar talk there titled “Bistable Dynamics Arising from Macrophage-Tumor Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment” based on her recently published paper.

These visits, supported by the National Science Foundation and 消消犯 College of Arts and Sciences, provided valuable opportunities to advance interdisciplinary collaboration and strengthen international research connections in mathematical biology.