Olivia Ryan ’18, who graduated in May with a degree in policy studies, is the recipient of a , one of 12 selected this year.

Founded in 1942, Coro is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institute that develops young leaders through placement into philanthropic, corporate, media and civic sectors. The fellowship program places 12 participants each year in one of five Coro Centers across the United States: New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis and Pittsburgh.

Fellowship recipients represent a wide range of interests, ideologies and experiences. The institute’s original mission was to “train young veterans in the leadership skills necessary to assure that our democratic system of government could more effectively meet the needs of its citizens.”

At Elon, Ryan was a Leadership Fellow, a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship, and was named the 2015 Gender and LGBTQIA Center Breakout Student of the Year. During her senior year, Ryan participated in an executive internship in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, an experience that she says solidified her love for advocacy work, her passion for communicating important issues and her interest in the Coro Fellowship.

“Through this internship, I worked with the Latinx/Hispanic community to try to find out more about the history of the community before making recommendations on how to better represent and celebrate Latinx/Hispanic people at Elon,” Ryan says. “The mentorship from Dr. Randy Williams (associate vice president for campus engagement) and Sylvia Muñoz (associate director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education) gave me the confidence and support I needed to apply and to be my authentic self throughout this process.”

Ryan first learned about the Coro Fellowship from Dan Sheehan ’15, a recipient of a Coro Fellowship who was Ryan’s tour guide when she first visited Elon as a prospective student. Once Ryan completes her fellowship, she plans to attend graduate school and to pursue degrees in journalism and law.

“It is an honor to be part of a program that has produced such incredible advocates, communicators and government workers whom I can learn from,” Ryan says. “Ultimately, I want to work in advocacy and communications, with hopes of bringing public support and awareness to important laws and court cases. I believe that Coro will give me the network, mentorship and experience I need to accomplish that.”

Ryan is the daughter of Heidi and Mark Ryan of Glen Rock, New Jersey.

Elon students and recent alums interested in the Coro Fellowship or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to visit the National and International Fellowships Office in Powell building or to call (336) 278-5749.  

The Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs is pleased to welcome nine students to the Executive Internship Program for the 2017-18 academic year. 

The students were recognized during an Annual Executive Intern Reception on Tuesday, May 2 in Johnston Hall where outgoing interns were also honored and both groups gave remarks. These students will work with members of the university’s senior leadership team on important projects and key initiatives that advance the university’s strategic plan, The Elon Commitment.

This year, the program received more than 30 applications. Executive Interns will also attend the spring 2018 Board of Trustees meeting and have already submitted project plans for their work during the January Winter Term.

For more information about the Executive Internship program, please visit /u/administration/executive-internship/

Bernadette Cooper ‘18
Hometown: Durham, North Carolina
Major: Psychology
Minors: Neuroscience, Leadership Studies, and Criminal Justice
Placement: Center for Access and Success

Rebecca Fliegel ‘19
Hometown: New York, New York
Major: Accounting
Minors: Economics and Spanish
Placement: Business, Finance, and Technology

Michael Krueger ‘18
Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware
Major: Accounting
Minors: Leadership Studies
Placement: Admissions

Jacob Malamed ‘18 
Hometown: Tenafly, New Jersey
Major: Finance and Marketing
Minor: Spanish
Placement: University Advancement

Stefanie Milovic ‘19
Hometown: New Fairfield, Connecticut 
Major: Event Coordination and Public Relations
Minor: Entrepreneurship
Placement: Athletics

Mariatu Okonofua ‘19
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Major: Policy Studies and Sociology
Minor: Criminal Justice and Political Science
Placement: Senior/Associate Provost

Meredith Piatt ‘18
Hometown: Elon, North Carolina
Major: Human Service Studies
Minor: Poverty and Social Justice, Communications, and Women & Gender Studies
Placement: Office of the Provost

Olivia Ryan ‘18
Hometown: Glen Rock, New Jersey
Major: Policy Studies and Journalism
Minor: Leadership Studies and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
Placement: The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education

Taylor Stuck ‘18
Hometown: Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Major: Business Management
Minor: N/A
Placement: University Communications

Micaela Aikins ’16
Hometown: Houston, TX
Major: International Business and Marketing
Minor: Spanish
Placement: Student Life

Gabriela Alvarez ’17
Hometown: Sterling, VA
Major: International Studies and Political Science
Minors: Peace and Conflict Studies and Dance
Placement: 消消犯 Engagement

Heather Lamb ’17
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Major: Sport and Event Management
Minors: Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Placement: Athletics

Kennedy Ojimadu ’17 
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Major: Business Management
Minor: Computer Science
Placement: Office of the President

Anna Rice ’17
Hometown: Naples, FL
Major: Public Health Studies
Minor: Biology, Human Service Studies
Placement: University Advancement

Claudia Rodriguez ’17 
Hometown: Aguas Buenas, PR
Major: Psychology
Minor: Criminal Justice
Placement: Office of the Associate Provost for Inclusive Community

Giles Roll ’18
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Major: Finance
Minor: Leadership Studies
Placement: Office of the Provost

Simone Royal ’17 
Hometown: Graham, NC
Major: Psychology
Minor: Public Health
Placement: Admissions

Alex Vandermaas-Peeler ’17 
Hometown: Saxapahaw, NC
Major: Political Science
Minor: Gender Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, and Leadership
Placement: Office of the Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs

Emma Warman ’17
Hometown: Ellicott City, MD
Major: Strategic Communications
Minor: Poverty and Social Justice
Placement: Center for Access and Success

Sean Webber ’18
Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Major: Economics and Computer Science
Minor: Statistics
Placement: Business, Finance, and Technology

Created in 2011, the President Executive Internship Program is for highly motivated juniors and seniors who are interested in working closely with Elon Senior Staff and key stakeholders.

Participants will further develop leadership skills, project management skills, and apply 消消犯 experiences to help achieve university and departmental goals as related to the Elon Commitment strategic plan and other institutional priorities.

This program provides students a variety of enriching opportunities throughout the year that help prepare them for post graduate endeavors.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about Elon or if you have an idea to better your school, the Executive Intern Program will allow you this opportunity to learn about Elon, create and implement changes, and leave your legacy. With Senior Staff as mentors, you can develop leadership skills, learn about higher education administration and work on university projects. Past interns have planned fundraising events, studied and recommended new plans for community and inclusivity, and created feasibility studies on campus initiatives.

The goals of the program are to provide an apprenticeship experience in the field of higher education, provide leadership development through an on-campus executive internship, enhance communication between senior staff and students and to foster deeper student understanding of 消消犯.

During fall semester, the students will attend orientation and introductory sessions with senior staff members. Then during Winter Term, the students will work full-time to complete projects they have planned with their mentors. In the spring, they will present their project and participate in the application and interview process for next year’s interns.

To learn more about the Executive Intern Program itself, you can visit the website at

Applications are now available on the Elon Job Network. You should apply through the portal; the ELN Job ID is 10591.

For the 2013-2014 year, the students involved with the Executive Intern Program include the following:

• James Carter, who worked with Interim Associate Provost for Inclusive Community: Dr. Brooke Barnett;  

• Stacey Crutchfield, who worked with Vice President for University Advancement: Mr. Jim PIatt;

• Maritza Gamboa, who worked with Vice President for University Advancement: Mr. Jim PIatt;

• Phoebe Kot, who worked with Athletic Director: Dave Blank;

• Ottavia Pomazon, who worked with Senior Vice President for Business, Finance, and Technology: Mr. Gerald Whittington;

• Danielle Prongay, who worked with President and Chief of Staff: Dr. Lambert and Jeff Stein;

• Lori Schachle, who worked with Provost and VP of Academic Affairs: Dr. Steven House;

• Kelly Smith, who worked with Executive VP: Dr. Gerry Francis;

• Le To, who worked with Vice President of Admissions and Financial Planning: Greg Zaiser;

• Jason Waterman, who worked with Vice President of University Communications: Mr. Dan Anderson;

• Kyle Whitaker, who worked with Vice President for Student Life and Dean of 消消犯: Dr. Smith Jackson.

We invite all questions! For more information, please attend an Interest Meeting on either Tuesday, February 18, or Wednesday, February 19, at 7:30 p.m. in McEwen 011 (in the basement! Cookies, coffee and hot chocolate will be provided). You could also e-mail execintern@elon.edu with any questions!