This year’s group is the largest in the program’s history. Elon doubled the size of its physician assistant class from 38 to 76 students, growing its capacity to prepare clinicians for communities across North Carolina and the Southeast.

The expansion reflects a broader transformation in graduate eduction underway at �þ���. From classrooms on the main campus in Alamance County to new opportunities in Charlotte, graduate education is evolving with intention and purpose.

Guided by the Boldly Elon Strategic Plan, university leaders are investing in
programs where student interest intersects with societal need — strengthening health sciences, business, counseling and legal education while positioning Elon to serve both emerging professionals and working adults seeking new pathways.

That growth builds on more than 40 years of momentum. Elon launched its Master of Business Administration in 1984, followed by a Master of Education in 1986. Graduate offerings expanded into the health sciences with a Master of Physical Therapy program in 1997, which became a Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2003. The university established its School of Law in downtown Greensboro in 2006. Today, that trajectory continues with strategic expansion in fields
experiencing high demand.

“Pursuing growth now allows us to serve regional needs while also staying true to our tradition of innovation and student-centered academic excellence,” says Allie Duffney, dean of graduate admissions.

A Changing Landscape

Elon’s growth reflects broader shifts across higher education.

“We’re seeing a decline in the traditional college-age population, so expanding strong graduate programs allows Elon to serve new learners while staying centered on our �þ��� mission,” says Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

According to the Council of Graduate Schools, applications and enrollment in health professions, counseling, data science and business analytics programs remain strong in recent years. “Health care, law and behavioral health professions are facing sustained shortages across North Carolina and the Southeast,” Duffney says.

Several graduate programs are expanding to Elon’s National �þ��� in Charlotte, where students can learn, intern and network alongside major health systems, corporations, nonprofits and courts in a major metropolitan area.

“Growth in Charlotte allows Elon to design graduate education aligned with workforce needs and to support interprofessional collaboration and community partnerships,” says Veronica Marciano, associate professor, founding chair and program director of physician assistant studies in Charlotte. “It creates space to innovate across disciplines and opportunities for involvement in system expansion and workforce development.”

Recent and planned expansions include increasing the cohort size in the PA program on main campus; launching a second PA program, a full-time law program and Master of Science in Business Analytics Flex Program in Charlotte; introducing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program; and expanding graduate certificates designed for working professionals.

A Critical Call for Health Care

In response to nationwide demand for physician assistants, Elon expanded its cohort size from 38 to 76 students in January. The program remains committed to engaged learning, hands-on clinical practice, close faculty mentorship and access to diverse, high-quality rotation sites.

Elon plans to matriculate an inaugural PA class on the Charlotte campus in January 2027, pending accreditation-provisional review by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

“Establishing a PA program rooted in Charlotte directly supports workforce needs by preparing highly trained clinicians who understand the local health care landscape and are invested in serving this community,” Marciano says. “Our goal is not only to educate excellent clinicians, but to meaningfully support and strengthen the health care ecosystem in Charlotte.”

That responsiveness also shaped the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, which plans to welcome its first cohort in fall 2026 on Elon’s main and Charlotte campuses.

“Mental health care is no longer optional; it is essential,” says Judy Folmar, interim program director and chair of the clinical mental health counseling program. “Communities across North Carolina and the nation are facing rising rates of anxiety, depression, trauma and substance use while the supply of licensed counselors has not kept pace.”

Delivered in a 21-month accelerated hybrid format, the 60-credit program is designed to equip graduates for licensure while combining academic preparation with extensive clinical experience.

“The growth of graduate education at Elon reflects both institutional momentum and a commitment to workforce relevance,” Folmar says. “What excites us most is the alignment between Elon’s engaged-learning ethos and the preparation of advanced practitioners.”

Skills for a Changing Economy

As organizations accelerate digital transformation and integrate artificial intelligence technologies, demand continues to rise for professionals who can translate data into strategic action.

“Organizations are undergoing rapid digital transformation and increasingly rely on data and AI to make faster, higher-stakes decisions,” says Mark Kurt, associate dean for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. “The MSBA Flex Program in Charlotte equips working professionals with applied analytics and AI skills plus the leadership and ethical frameworks needed to translate data into responsible, measurable business outcomes — without pausing their careers.”

Built on the same STEM-certified core as Elon’s full-time MSBA, the flex format is designed for working professionals and emphasizes AI-informed entrepreneurship.

Pursuing growth now allows us to serve regional needs while also staying true to our tradition of innovation and student-centered academic excellence. — Allie Duffney, dean of
graduate admissions

“Faculty and leadership are actively refining the curriculum, building stronger employer partnerships and adapting quickly to changes in the business and analytics landscape,” says Elon alum Craig Brandstetter ’25 g’25. “That flexibility and openness to feedback mean the program can stay relevant and cutting-edge, rather than being locked into outdated structures.”

Alongside degree programs, Elon is also expanding stackable graduate certificates designed for working professionals. Certificates in health care analytics and operations excellence can serve as stand-alone credentials or pathways toward an MBA or MSBA.

The Office of Continuing and Professional Studies recently launched its second cohort of an AI certificate for professionals, delivered fully online to provide practical AI fluency grounded in ethical application.

Expanding Access to Legal Education

Elon Law has built a national reputation for experiential, practice-ready legal education. In 2024 the law school expanded its presence in Charlotte through the part-time Flex Program for working professionals and place-bound students seeking an in-person J.D. in North Carolina’s largest city.

That program quickly gained momentum, reflecting strong regional demand and Elon Law’s established ties to the Queen City, where nearly 10% of its alumni live and work. Elon has applied to the American Bar Association to begin a full-time law program in Charlotte in fall 2027.

“We already have strong relationships there through our programs and alumni,” says Zak Kramer, dean of the School of Law. “The legal community’s embrace of our Flex Program students confirmed that. A full-time program will allow our graduates to learn alongside Charlotte lawyers, build networks and launch careers there.”

Together, Greensboro and Charlotte position Elon’s School of Law as a statewide presence while maintaining the relationship-rich model that defines the institution.

Looking Ahead

As higher education evolves, graduate education is becoming an increasingly important part of the university’s future.

“The heart of Elon will always be our �þ��� liberal arts education,” Kohn says, “but we are strengthening and growing our graduate programs to meet changing societal and workforce needs.”

From Alamance County to Charlotte and beyond, Elon is expanding opportunities for graduate students to learn alongside health systems, businesses and legal institutions across the region. Those programs are preparing the next generation of physician assistants, counselors, analysts and attorneys to serve the communities that need them most.

And as she prepares to retire from the university having influenced many hundreds of graduates and earning in 2024 the university’s highest faculty honor, the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, Johansson sought to share her wisdom in a Commencement address to some of the newest members of the healthcare profession.

Her key takeaways on Dec. 12, 2025, for �þ��� students conferred with degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy included:

• Prioritize human connection over individual achievement in both career and life.
• Practice compassion with boundaries to sustain caring without burnout.
• Treat yourself with self-compassion and accept help as part of belonging.

Delivering her afternoon remarks in Alumni Gym to School of Health Sciences graduates, Johansson challenged the familiar advice to “follow your bliss,” calling it inconsistent with both evidence and lived experience. She cited the , which has tracked participants for the better part of a century and found that strong relationships matter more to long-term happiness than wealth or physical health.

“If you want to pursue an evidence-informed approach to happiness, you have to focus on other people and not just yourself,” Johansson said. “I suspect that most of you sitting here came to healthcare because you already care about relationships. It’s quite possibly also why you chose to study at Elon.

“So it’s good to know that relationships are also the key to professional success and happiness. Studies indicate that the more people focus solely on themselves, the worse off they are likely to be—physically, mentally, and professionally.”

For healthcare professionals, Johansson said, those connections may be brief but still lasting. Even short encounters, including supportive words offered in moments of care, can leave a lifelong impact. Research was cited showing that compassion improves patient experiences and protects providers from burnout, a condition marked by emotional exhaustion and detachment that disproportionately affects healthcare workers.

Johansson emphasized that compassion differs from empathy alone because it moves people to action while reducing personal emotional distress. Studies of compassion training show increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and belonging rather than pain.

Sustaining compassion over time, she reminded graduates, requires boundaries, self-compassion and a willingness to accept help. Johansson also stressed that fulfillment depends on connecting to something greater than oneself, often experienced through relationships with patients, colleagues and communities.

“When we think of relationships, we tend to imagine longevity,” Johansson said. “Yet for many of us, our intersections with patients may last only a few minutes and we never see those people again. But your supportive words and your moments of caring can stay with a person for a lifetime.”

The Commencement program welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the university’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, in her welcoming remarks thanked clinical partners who provided practical learning experiences for students, and she shared her gratitude for loved ones who supported graduates throughout their academic journeys. Lund also spoke directly to those about to enter the healthcare profession.

“Graduates, know that you are needed!” Lund said. “Today our communities face significant healthcare challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce healthcare inequities.

“Congratulations on your accomplishments. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.”

In a charge to graduates to conclude the ceremony, �þ��� President Connie Ledoux Book cautioned about the world in which healthcare workers now practice where science, once an unquestioned foundation, is too often dismissed or distorted.

Graduates will also practice in systems where business models shift rapidly, Book said, and the pressures on clinicians and the needs of patients are growing ever more complex.

“Go forth with compassion. Be a steady presence in spaces where uncertainty and instability can distract from the heart of healing,” she said. “Serve with integrity when you face difficult decisions, and let your training guide you toward what is just and wise.

“Be advocates for your patients, for your communities, and for a healthcare system that honors each and every person. And hold fast to the belief that your work matters deeply, especially in times when the world needs compassionate clinicians more than ever.”

Candidates for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

• Layla Abumayaleh
• Sarah Allison Acu:
• Ashley Emelda Banegas
• Kiara Lyniece Batts
• Joshua Isaiah Brower
• Abigail Chester
• Claire Elizabeth Cummings
• Jessica Claire Davis
• Emily Anne Easthom
• Samantha Page Eldredge
• Abigail Heath Franklin
• Cyntasia Dene’ Hammonds
• Sarah Jenkins
• Caroline Grace Maness
• Carmen Mesa
• Shania Brianna Oyler
• Alexa Porter
• Avery Lane Riley
• Mia Gabrielle Rose
• Haley Josephine Savastano
• Lillie Grace Shamblin
• Lauryn Alexandra Smith
• Madison Jaycee Steele
• Suleyma Torres-Garcia
• Anna Josie Wheat

Candidates for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

• Sarah Lane Edwards Adams
• Fatema Alhajeri
• Haley Brooke Brennan
• Brianna Laurel Bromley
• Mia Cameron Cleary
• Cynthia Chisom Dimgba
• Devron John Felder
• Samir Halalou
• Chandler Reid Halvorsen
• Grace FuJia Huisking
• Katrina Anastasija Jackson
• Nadia Zein Ja:al
• Lillian Rae Kerchinsky
• Blessed Kisakye Wiele
• Michael Richard McCormack
• Lina Concetta Meikle
• Danielle Martine Meyen
• Jordan-Lee Napolitano
• Sarah Michelle Newman
• Sydney Marie Noldin
• Brian Walter O’Hare Jr.
• Dylan James Paracka
• Robert Arthur Plagmann
• Gabriela Jazmin Quintanilla
• Patricia Lourdes Raj
• Joshua Lewis Rambeaut
• Yeimi Lizbeth Reyna Romero
• Savannah Joyce Richardson
• Andrea Leigh Robertson
• Dakota Austin Sampson
• Erin Elizabeth Schiemann
• Laura Staeheli
• Savannah Cherie Summy
• Douglas James Thompson
• Vivian Chau Tiet
• Eddie Dean Tyler White
• Julia Christine Wyner
• Ellie Christine Yakubu

Candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Nicholas Michael Bush
• Katelyn Brooke Carpenter
• Emiliano Chirigliano
• Raya Imani Coley
• Kasey Copeland
• John Carl Daniels
• Jazmyne Nechole Davis
• Rachel Laurel Davis
• Logan Gregory Deese
• Danielle Sanford Essex
• Michaela Faith Fitzgerald
• Gabrielle M. Flocco
• Josephine Freeman
• Madison Leigh Friday
• Taylor Marie Grikis
• Terris Hightower
• William Huie
• Kaleigh Iris Jenkins
• Samantha Rose Kosmacki
• Kyle Matthew Langworthy
• Breanna M. Lanouette
• Kieran Best Mahoney
• Katherine Briana Messikomer
• Alex Miller
• Andrew G. Miller
• Jamshed K. Mistry
• Sara Moore
• Isaac Murdock
• Alexis Nowell
• Airiann Marie Page
• Ashlyn Wolfe Panagrosso
• Chaney Leigh Patton
• Samantha Nichole Pawlovich
• Wesley Allen Roberson
• Veronica Romero-Perozo
• Jacob Dean Rosengarten
• Milani Denise Lavarias Saldon
• Virginia Royal Shafer
• Anthony William Shea
• Charles Fairbank Sigloh
• Addison Kay Swo:ord
• Alannah Marie Thomas
• Matthew L Urrutia
• Thomas Ryan Van Dorp
• Hannah Michelle Wright

�þ��� hosted affinity celebrations on Dec. 11, 2025, for students in the School of Law and School of Health Sciences set to graduate the following day at Commencement exercises inside Alumni Gym.

Coordinated by the Division of Inclusive Excellence with support from additional university offices and programs, the three affinity celebrations inside the Lakeside Meeting Room honored and recognized the rich histories and cultures of Elon’s community.

A heartfelt program to recognize ‘authentic selves’

Elon’s Lavender Celebration, coordinated by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center and the Division of Inclusive Excellence, recognized seven graduating students from Elon’s School of Health Sciences and School of Law as allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We celebrate you: your hard work, your resilience, and the unique journeys that have brought you here,” Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education, said in her welcoming graduates. “Each of you has made a significant impact, not only through your academic achievements, but also by being your authentic selves and advocating for a more inclusive world.”

Each student received a rainbow stole and heard a personal tribute from friends, family and faculty, including Scales, Assistant Professor Bob Minarcin and Krista Contino Saumby, associate director of career development for Elon Law.

Among the tributes were those to Taylor Streuli L’25, executive director of OUTLaw. Minarcin, also OUTLaw’s faculty co-adviser, called their kindness and courage “a superpower” that connects people.

“Taylor’s constant efforts to improve both Elon and our broader community come from a place of genuine love and bravery,” said Minarcin, recalling OUTLaw’s trip to the Lavender Law Conference where Streuli fearlessly engaged with everyone. “Keep being you, Taylor — the world desperately needs more people willing to introduce themselves to an entire bar full of lawyers.”

Scales celebrated Raya Cubley, a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate in the School of Health Sciences. “Raya advocates fiercely for equity — for her peers and for her patients,” Scales said. “She is brilliant, compassionate, and unapologetically herself.”

Closing the ceremony, Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center,  recognized the importance of family and friends in supporting the achievements of these graduate students.

“As we close our time together, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our Lavender graduates,” Garay said. “We hope the messages shared today inspire our community as we continue to support you beyond this moment.”

¡Celebremos! honors journeys, roots and communities

Heritage, community and the journeys that shaped graduates were at the heart of the ¡Celebremos! Graduates Take Flight ceremony, which honored nine Latinx/Hispanic students from Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences.

“When you think about today, think back to when you first dreamed of receiving a professional degree,” Adriana Hernandez Ordonez L’25 said during her keynote address. “The same person who worked hard every single day to accomplish their goals is the same person sitting here, now waiting to walk on the stage.”

In its third year for December graduates of Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences, ¡Celebremos! recognizes the achievements of students as well as the “villages” of family and friends whose support has been instrumental throughout their educational journey.

Building on that reflection, Hernandez Ordonez reminded graduates of the meaningful influence they’ll bring to the communities they serve.

“Our families are the emotional support we held onto through this journey,” Hernandez Ordonez said. “Our roots keep us grounded and remind us of where we come from, even when life becomes overwhelming.”

During the ceremony, each graduate received a stole adorned with a monarch butterfly design created by Carolina Ferreyros ’20. As graduates received their stoles, faculty read heartfelt letters they had written to members of their “village,” sharing gratitude, acknowledgment and reflections that honored their heritage and culture.

“This stole symbolizes the journey that brought you to Elon,” said Sylvia Muñoz G’02, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

The ceremony concluded with an alumni presentation that welcomed graduates into the Elon alumni family and underscored the value of staying engaged and lending voices to a community that now extends beyond campus.

“Your paths to this moment have taken many shapes,” said La’Tonya Wiley ’97, assistant director for alumni affinity engagement. “Some of you studied on main campus, others at locations across the region and in immersive placements far beyond North Carolina. Regardless of where you learned, you are now part of a global alumni community rooted in connection, culture, and shared purpose.”

Donning of the Kente celebrates identity, journey and achievement

A ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating students who recognize their African roots included keynote remarks from a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In her address, Cheri Beasley, �þ���’s Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Professor, encouraged graduating students to claim their future – even if those futures are uncertain.

“This moment really is about who you are as people of color in your African heritage and all that you’ve accomplished,” Beasley said. “I hope that you have begun to take the time to relish in your accomplishments and think about what this journey has really meant for you.”

Each graduate who participated in the afternoon program received a handwoven kente cloth stole imported from Ghana to be worn during Commencement. Elon faculty and staff read tributes written by student’s faculty, family and friends, as each graduate stood before the audience.

The kente cloth symbolizes prestige in many African societies dating to the 12th century. Worn during ceremonial events by royalty and important figures of state in Ghanaian society, the kente cloth is a visual representation of African history, philosophy ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles.

Beasley discussed her own meaningful trip to the village in Ghana where the kente cloth is made and how a student’s educational and career journey is comparable to the journey of the cloth itself.

“Your career will be filled with unexpected twists and turns,” said Beasley. “Many of your twists will be joyous, and other times less so, and I also know that transition often does cost stress. Life happens that way, much like that woven loom that creates the Kente, that takes months to develop this really beautiful piece of fabric. But you put in the investment and the hard work, and you always see the fruits of your labor.”

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, �þ���’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the ceremony with an invocation that was followed by an introduction from Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

“You have crossed rivers that your professors couldn’t see. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have carried the weight of brilliance and burden of community and of contradiction. And still, you continue to rise,” Boswell said. “This kente cloth, this sacred ritual, this moment, is not performance. It is a moment of proclamation. You are the ones who made it.”

Closing the ceremony, Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer reminded students to celebrate their accomplishments but get ready to do the work of their professions.

“We expect you to throw your all into that, because we need you. Our communities need you. The world needs you,” Kramer said. “It means the world to us that you started that journey, which will be long, but you started here. And you will always be part of Elon.”

“Our state is hurting when it comes to mental health professionals, and that’s even with the existing programs that are out there,” said Judy Folmar, interim program director and chair of CMHC, who joined Elon in 2003 as a counselor educator. Folmar has been leading the development of the program, along with Raychelle Lohmann and Suzan Wasik, accreditation coordinators and associate professors of clinical mental health counseling.

In North Carolina and across the Southeast, demand for licensed clinical mental health counselors continues to outpace supply, driven by increased public awareness of mental health needs, expanded insurance coverage for behavioral health services and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Elon doesn’t do anything halfway. Once there’s a decision to start a program, the resources are put behind it, and we do engaged learning better than anyone else. It is a dream come true – just thinking about how well Elon can do this,” Folmar said.

The 60-credit program will be a hybrid model, where students complete their first year of coursework in person and then transition to synchronous online coursework and in-person clinical placements in the second year. Courses include “Professional Identity, Legal and Ethical Issues,” “Counseling Theories and Techniques,” Human Development Across the Lifespan,” Diagnosis and Treatment Planning,” and more. All courses in the program will have both synchronous and asynchronous elements, and the university’s Interprofessional Simulation Lab will also be utilized. The hybrid model is a way to not only meet the needs of today’s learners but also the needs of the healthcare field.

“Tele-health has increased rapidly coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I think people have become more comfortable, in a lot of ways, with that method of delivery,” Folmar said. “It’s increased access, particularly in rural areas.”

The second year of the program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship requirement. And for students to have the option to choose between Elon’s main campus and the Charlotte national campus is a benefit not only for the students, but the communities they will eventually serve.

“It’s the best of both worlds because Elon is in a rural area that has access to the Triangle and the Triad, and Charlotte is in the center of everything,” she said. “When students are looking at our program, they’re going to have their choice of campuses to apply to and really good rationales for either one.”

To better prepare students for the National Counselor Exam (NCE), students in the program must successfully pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Because both the CPCE and the NCE are delivered in an online testing format, success on the CPCE not only indicates readiness for the NCE but also helps students build confidence and familiarity with online examination processes. While designed to meet North Carolina’s licensure requirements, the curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to pursue licensure in other states.

The CMHC program is one of two new School of Health Sciences programs at the Charlotte campus in the city’s south end. A Physician Assistant Studies program is expected to launch on the campus in Fall 2027.

Applications for the CMHC Fall 2026 cohort are with a deadline of April 15, 2026.

Associate Professor Tracey Thurnes delivered a keynote address to members of the class who gathered with family and friends inside Whitley Auditorium for an annual White Coat Ceremony hosted by the School of Health Sciences.

The ceremony on Nov. 21, 2025, was a milestone celebration that bridged the completion of classroom studies with future in-person learning under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Drawing on lessons from a childhood shaped by sports and a career grounded in patient care, Thurnes encouraged students to view the white coat as both a responsibility and a privilege. “It’s the weight of your patients’ trust, the weight of your own expectations, and the weight of every moment that brought you here,” she said. “But that weight also carries privilege: the privilege of being invited into people’s most vulnerable moments.”

Thurnes urged students to approach clinical rotations with confidence tempered by humility, comparing the year ahead to challenging game scenarios in sports competition. Success will depend on collaboration and remaining open to learning.

“Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable. It makes you safe, and it makes you wise,” she said. 
”When you call for a consultation, check in with a nurse or say, ‘I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out,’ you are modeling what it means to prioritize people over pride.”

The ceremony marked a milestone for the 2026 cohort as students prepare to begin clinical training in hospitals, clinics and community health settings across the region.

In her welcome remarks, Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, traced the history of the medical practice white coat to its origins in the 1880s with the advent of aseptic surgery.

“Today, this ceremony marks a formal entry into the medical profession and serves as a reminder of the ideals of honor, compassion, and service,” Lund said. “A white coat represents life, purity, and hope, a symbol of the profession, and the commitment to do no harm. As Hippocrates argued, it calls on us to lead our lives and practice our art in uprightness and honor.”

�þ���’s Physician Assistant Studies program is a 24-month, full-time program that prepares its students to think critically and act skillfully to meet expanding health care needs in local and global communities. Its students learn foundational skills for careers in offices, clinics, hospitals, and other settings where they will examine and treat patients under the supervision of a medical doctor.

The Nov. 21 program included a class appreciation of family and friends by Amiee Littlejohn G’26 and Trevor Minshull G’26, president and vice president, respectively, of the Elon PA Student Society. Minshull delivered personalized notes of gratitude for each of the faculty members in the program, while Littlejohn reminded her classmates that “you are brave. You are deserving. And you are prosperous.”

“You have earned this very moment,” Littlejohn told her classmates. “Congratulations!”

Members of the Class of 2026

• George Balis
• Brooke Beall
• Mia Bylykbashi
• Gia Cifalino
• Siri Condikey
• Erika Cotrufo
• Christiana Cowick
• Valeria Diaz
• Kyla Farrell
• Christina Giang
• Enosh Ishman
• Carter Jenkins
• Tiye Jones Amen Hetep
• Sukhmani Kaur
• Amiee Littlejohn
• Luisandra Lugo Vicioso
• Clara Mays
• Varenna Minshull
• Trevor Minshull
• Michelle Mujica Pereda
• Reagan O’Toole
• Trina Phan
• Sukriti Rai
• Sarah Renken
• Samantha Robinson
• Grace Scarborough
• Rachel Switchenberg
• Cindy Truesdale
• Tiffany Villegas Alvarado
• Brandee Wagner
• Katherine Walsh
• Fred Wang
• Olivia West
• James Whitham
• Landyn Williams

Housed within the School of Health Sciences, Start Early in Medicine nurtures academic and career interests among children in the Alamance-Burlington School System. It is a community-based program structured to support students that are traditionally underrepresented in the health sciences.

Through immersive, hands-on learning in anatomy, physiology, 3D modeling, and research, since 2021, Start Early in Medicine has served more than 300 youth – many of whom live in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities – guided by mentorship from Elon PA students and faculty.

The new funding will expand medically based STEM curriculum, strengthen research mentorship, and deepen community partnerships. It will also foster continued collaboration among School of Health Sciences faculty, students, and other departments and programs across the university.

“We’re grateful to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for supporting the next phase of SEIM’s development,” Moore said. “This award allows us to continue creating early pathways for young learners to imagine themselves in science and health professions.”

The 182 members of the class were selected from nearly 1,000 applications.

Together, the Class of 2027 brings rich and varied experiences to Elon Law, with a large number already demonstrating strong ties to the legal profession. Many have experience as paralegals, legal assistants, and interns in law firms, courts and judges’ chambers. Others served as deputy clerks, Guardians ad litem, or worked in jury research. One member also served as a police officer.

Outside the legal field, students include former teachers, real estate brokers, tax accountants, policy interns, and a staff assistant to a U.S. Senate committee.

“The Class of 2027 brings an impressive range of backgrounds, achievements, and aspirations to Elon Law,” said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law. “We were bowled over by the things they’ve achieved before arriving, and we’re excited to see what they will accomplish as students at Elon Law.”

Total Enrollment (as of Aug. 7, 2025): 182

• The highest in the school’s history, surpassing the 173 enrolled in Class of 2023

Average Age: 25 (ranging from 19 to 61)

Female-to-male ratio: 61% / 39%

�þ��� of Color: 30%

Top States Represented:

The class hails from 31 different states across the U.S.

• North Carolina: 47%
• South Carolina: 8%
• Florida: 7%
• Virginia: 6%
• Pennsylvania: 5%

Higher education:

Ninety colleges and universities are counted among the alma maters of those in the Class of 2027. The top universities represented:

• UNC-Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University and the University of South Carolina (12 each)
• UNC-Charlotte (9)
• N.C. State (7)
• �þ���, East Carolina, UNC-Greensboro, Clemson and the University of Central Florida (5 each)
• Wake Forest and the College of Charleston (4 each)
• High Point, James Madison, UNC-Asheville and UNC-Wilmington (3 each)

Many other private and public institutions are represented, including: Auburn University, Catawba College, Louisiana State University, the University of Arizona, the University of Georgia, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

More than 35 majors are represented in the class, with the most common being political science, criminal justice, business, history, psychology, sociology, economics, criminology, English and biology.

Eighteen members of the class already hold advanced degrees, including one member of the class with a medical degree. Many members of the class studied abroad in countries that include Australia, Denmark, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Morocco and the United Kingdom.

Hobbies, interests and service

Six members of the Class of 2027 have served in the military, including five in the U.S. Army and one in the Marine Corps.

Many have been active in their communities and indicated a desire to serve in a greater capacity. The class includes at least two Eagle Scouts and an AmeriCorps member, and others have served through mission trips and by volunteering with the Boys & Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity.

One member of the class was a professional soccer player, and several are half-marathoners. Members of the class are weightlifters, swimmers, rugby players and hikers.

One is a composer and playwright, and the class includes several award-winning pianists. Others play tuba, flute and baritone. Several have acted in theater productions, sung in choirs, and one is a salsa dancer.

“This class brings a remarkable spirit of service, energy and purpose to our community,” Woodlief said. “Their enthusiasm is matched by a focus on making a difference, and we look forward to seeing how they channel that drive into meaningful engagement at Elon Law and the greater Greensboro community.”

Orientation week programming for the Class of 2027 included New Student Convocation, Aug. 5, in Alumni Gym on �þ���’s main campus, a professionalism lunch, and a day spent getting to know each other through activities, exercises and sessions led by Elon Law and �þ��� leadership.

About �þ��� School of Law

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive curriculum offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 1,700 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students and the law school is regularly featured in the top tier of PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings. The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for place-bound students at �þ���’s Charlotte campus, welcomes its second cohort in Fall 2025.

She circulates halls and common areas, smiling and waving at familiar faces, sparking new relationships with her easy humor and boisterous laugh. She welcomes them in, counsels them, hears and advocates for them. Elon’s inaugural director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional programs recognizes the simple fact: We all want to belong. And she has the magic touch to foster that belonging.

“Dr. Buggs truly has a way with people. When you see her in the halls, there is rarely a time when she doesn’t stop to talk to a student, professor or staff member. She isn’t just talking to make light conversation, but cares about all the interactions she has,” said Gianna Landrum L’25, an Elon Law Diversity Fellow — a program Buggs established to enhance inclusive excellence at the law school and in the legal profession. “I’m in awe of her ability to connect with those whose identities she does not share because she makes the effort to learn.”

This month, Buggs was recognized with a . The annual awards honor professionals who champion inclusive excellence in workplaces, across the community and beyond. She will join other honorees and their guests at a June 12 reception at the N.C. A&T University Student Center ballroom and be featured in a June 27 special issue.

To those who’ve worked closely with Buggs — in the Division of Inclusive Excellence, at Elon Law, the School of Health Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Love School of Business — Buggs’ recognition is no surprise.

“Laké is a wonderful resource and provides valuable support for Elon’s graduate students,” said Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “She creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across �þ���, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.”

She creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across �þ���, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn

Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education, said Buggs’ effective advocacy for graduate and professional students allowed the university to be more conscious of their needs, “positioning Elon to make decisions that enable them to flourish.” Williams was a 2021 Leader in Diversity honoree.

“Laké exudes genuine warmth and empathy, which are powerful tools for engaging those whom she encounters. In turn, people are quick to trust her in guiding their decisions and accessing the many resources �þ��� offers,” Williams said.

Passionate advocacy, unwavering support

To hear Buggs tell it, there’s no secret to what she does.

“Everybody can do this work. You don’t need a title,” she reflected recently. “We change the whole experience for our students when each of us is invested in their well-being and belonging.”

Listening goes a long way. Buggs watches for areas where students may struggle, attends to the challenges they face entering professional life or preparing for a career change, and searches for ways to support them in and out of the classroom. She is especially cognizant of obstacles students from marginalized communities may face as they pursue advancement in their careers.

Beneath her warm exterior lies a passionate commitment to changing and challenging systems. �þ��� discover this when they seek mentorship in profoundly difficult and traumatic experiences. Buggs not only supports them, but elevates critical issues for transformational conversations among faculty, staff and students that lead to reconciliation and growth.

She inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile.

Zac Ormond G’23, assistant professor of physical therapy

In her �þ���, she encourages interdisciplinary work that centers inclusive excellence across professions and is “committed to providing classroom experiences that are inclusive by design and in application.”

�þ��� feel that support and gain valuable insights from her guidance.

Zac Ormond G’23 first met Buggs as a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program on the school of Health Science’s Diversity Committee. Later chairing that committee, Buggs “helped me refine my leadership skills, and her example showed me what it means to lead with both conviction and compassion,” he said. Now an assistant professor of physical therapy in Elon’s program and a Northwestern University Sports Division 1 Fellow, he continues to seek her wisdom.

“She inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile,” Ormond said.

Since arriving at Elon in 2021, some of Buggs’ achievements include:

• Creating opportunity for Elon’s graduate students to participate in affinity celebrations around commencement ceremonies, including Lavender Graduation and ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight.
• Initiating programs for graduate and professional students interested in building skills in inclusion and belonging, including Elon Law’s Diversity Fellows Program and the School of Health Sciences’ Student DEI Committee.

• Innovating and contributing to professional identity workshops that aid graduate and professional students in establishing themselves within their chosen fields, such as Acorn to Oak at Elon Law and Confronting Bias in the Clinical Learning Environment at the School of Health Sciences.
• Working with students, faculty and staff to establish the Elon Law Professional Closet for access to business attire for interviews and early careers, as well as prayer rooms for various faiths and a lactation room for new mothers.
• Spearheading book clubs that spark reflection and discussion among students around timely subjects and diverse perspectives of the world.
• Developing and �þ��� courses that investigate how society grapples with different identities and how individuals can effect change.
• Creating social events and networking activities that create community among graduate students that include game nights, cultural outings and meetings with President Connie Ledoux Book.

What others say about Buggs’ impact on the Elon community:

“Laké is a passionate advocate for students, with a deep commitment to creating the types of inclusive environments that are essential for the success and thriving of all students. The graduate student population at Elon is spread across multiple academic programs with very different schedules and student needs. Laké offers a common touchpoint for all of them in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.” – Jon Dooley, vice president for student life and associate professor of education

“Within the first week of her arrival at Elon, Laké took on the charge to increase visibility and services for graduate and professional students. As a faculty advisor to the School of Health Sciences’ Student Diversity Committee, she helps them create meaningful events for supporting and educating healthcare students in the care of diverse patients and colleagues.” –Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education

“Laké has a huge capacity to bring people in and bring people together. She loves people, loves to see them thrive and be successful, and that motivates her. She challenges students to recognize their own agency and power to make change.” – Stacie Dooley, Elon Law assistant dean of career and student development

“She builds trust and relationships by making herself available, being her authentic self and empowering students to use their voice. I have seen her give solid counsel to students who were struggling or who needed direction. The nature of her position as a student affairs professional rather than their program chair or advisor gives her the opportunity to be a true safe space for students.” – Kim Stokes, associate professor of physician assistant studies and department chair/program director for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

As Kevin Trapani is quick to note, there’s a certain paradox to life in 2025: global poverty and rates of disease are declining, educational access is expanding, and technology has made communication instant and knowledge more accessible than at any point in human history.

That doesn’t include advancements in medicine, clean energy, and global cooperation.

So then why is there a rise in loneliness, anxiety, division, and despair? What explains the growing violence, political instability, and economic uncertainty now taking a toll on many people? And what’s to be done?

“Well, if you’ve earned an advanced degree in education, I want you to teach character,” Trapani told candidates for master’s degrees who celebrated their �þ��� graduation on May 21, 2025. “And, if you’ve earned an advanced degree in business, I want you to teach… character.”

�þ��� conferred graduate degrees on 85 students representing five programs at �þ��� – the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Education in Innovation, and Master of Arts in Higher Education programs – inside an Alumni Gym filled with family, friends, and classmates.

In delivering the Commencement address, Trapani – a retired insurance executive and entrepreneur, executive-in-residence in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the father of three �þ��� alumni – suggested practices “that can anchor you in a chaotic world.”

• Belief: “Now let me be clear: Belief doesn’t require religion. But it does require intention. It requires the choice to say, ‘This is what I stand for. This is what I will sacrifice for. This is who I will be when no one is watching.’  Belief is not abstract. It informs our choices. It shapes how we live. It gives us the courage to keep going in tough times. And today, in a world that too often confuses distraction with direction, belief is more necessary than ever.”
• Belonging: “To bring people together, to find and build purpose-centered community, give of yourself. Spend your time, talent and treasure on the essential issues of human need: Feed the hungry. House the homeless. Care for children. Welcome the stranger. In that work, you’ll meet people who will challenge and shape you – and who will come to love you and give your life meaning.”
• Behavior: “I’m asking you – I’m expecting you – to change the world. I know you can only lead from where you stand – but you must lead. Your privilege is power and know this: power is not a bludgeon. It’s a blessing. Not something you use to dominate, but something that demands that you give. … Find a powerful partner and build a family. Practice your faith. Support your schools. Find and speak the truth — not just the trending soundbite. Sit with someone and really listen. Don’t choose the easy way. Do hard things. Beautiful things. Love one another. Because that’s where meaning lives.”

Trapani has been an executive-in-residence at �þ��� since 2022 and lectures on topics related to innovation, ethical leadership and stakeholder capitalism. Before his corporate retirement in 2024, he was co-founder, president and CEO of The Redwoods Group, the largest insurance provider dedicated to protecting youth-serving organizations in the country by working to prevent the sexual abuse of children in institutional settings, drowning prevention, transportation, and elevation risk safety

A 1979 Duke University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Trapani is a member and past chair of the Advisory Committee for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.

He has also been the social entrepreneur in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chair of the board of North Carolina Public Radio, chair of the board of the United Way of the Greater Triangle (N.C.) and chair of the North Carolina Workforce Development Commission.

“You. Are. Elon,” Trapani reminded graduates. “Those three words carry weight more than a diploma, a title, or a résumé ever will because to be Elon means you’ve been formed in a community that believes in purpose and that values knowledge, yes — but also character — and that believes we are not simply here to succeed, but to serve.”

The evening Commencement celebration also featured remarks by �þ��� President Connie Ledoux Book, Provost Rebecca Kohn, and Micaela Acosta G’25, a candidate for the Master of Education from Argentina who delivered a message of appreciation on behalf of her classmates.

Acosta reminded her classmates that they stood on a bridge between two worlds: “the world that shaped us and the world we are about to shape.”  Commencement, she said, is a time to ignite courage for what lies ahead.

Among the many important lessons learned while enrolled in graduate studies, she added, there was one most meaningful to her.

“We never stop learning,” Acosta said. “In education, we are not simply �þ��� content or following a curriculum. We are shaping lives. We are inspiring futures. We are making an impact that might only reveal itself years from now when a student recognizes us at the grocery store, even if we don’t recognize them. And that, truly, is the power of education.

“Today is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, ‘We are ready.’ Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies – it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

Today is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, ‘We are ready.’ Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies – it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

– Micaela Acosta G’25

“As we step forward into the world, into classrooms, organizations, businesses, and communities, may we remember that success is not just measured in titles or accolades, but in the lives we touch, the hope we plant, and the courage we inspire.”

Book concluded the ceremony with a charge to graduates to be resilient and steadfast “like the mighty oak for which Elon is named.” The strengths and skills gained at �þ��� should be used to make a difference in the world.

“As we envision each of you launching into what’s next in the exciting career path ahead, carry Elon and our values with you always,” Book said. “Honesty: be truthful in your work and in your relationships. Integrity: be trustworthy, fair, and ethical. 
Responsibility: be accountable for your actions. Respect: be simple, and value the dignity of each person.

“Use Elon’s values when you encounter the inevitable hard choices. Lean on them and each other when you need to reason things out. Remember, we are forever bound together by these values: you, me, your classmates, faculty, and staff. You are lifelong members of the Elon family.

“Congratulations, Class of 2025, and long live Elon!”

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting

Nick Amatulli
B.S., �þ���

Juliet Baudoin
B.S., �þ���

Cailin Daigle
B.S., �þ���

Kelly Degnan
B.S., �þ���

Emma Flynn
B.S., �þ���

Wise Halverson
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Anna Hamner
B.S., �þ���

Josh Hazlett
B.S., �þ���

Blake Kessel
B.S., �þ���

Tabitha Knedeisen
B.S., �þ���

Vincent Ruggiero
B.S., �þ���

Charlotte Scully
B.S., �þ���

Allison Silvernale
B.S., �þ���

Juliet Walker
B.A., �þ���

Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics

Ananya Agrawal
B.A., Assumption University

Alan Allred
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Robert Barcello
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Craig Brandstetter
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Nicholas Buchholz
B.A., Fordham University

Juan Callejo-Ropero
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Adam Cheifetz
B.A., �þ���

Mackenzie Deming
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Yadira Fernandez-Delgado
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Annie Grantais
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Cece Guyader
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Narjis Jebali
B.S., SKEMA Business School

Jazlyn Jefferson
B.S., Hampton University

Mikayla Jones
B.A., Catawba College

Charline Kergueris
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Madeline Ludwig
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Mariana Martinez
B.B.A., Christian University

Will McCoy
B.A., �þ���

Simone Royal George
M.Ed., Washington University

Annabelle Schall Faucheux
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Victor Stromsten
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Liz Sulley
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Madison Synowiec
B.S., �þ���

James Thomas Tegler Jr.
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Dylan Tucker
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Candidates for the Master of Business Administration

John Acebu
B.A., Xavier University

Addie Ackley
B.S., West Virginia University
M.S., West Virginia University
J.D., �þ���

Jaclyn Burke
B.S., University of South Carolina
J.D., �þ���

Davis Cheek
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Cuyler Field
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
J.D., �þ���

Robert Floyd
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Sarah Fuller
B.A., High Point University
J.D., �þ���

Kendra Haskins
B.A., Duke University

Tarah Holland
B.S., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Steven Lawrence Losiewicz
B.B.A., Greensboro College

Emily Lyons
B.S., Western Carolina University

Brooke McCormick
B.A., Monmouth College
J.D., �þ���

Aaron Mellette
B.S., �þ���

Eduardo Mendes Flores
B.A., Texas A&M University
J.D., �þ���

Ayo Onasanya
B.A., �þ���
J.D., �þ���

Moni Pao
B.S., North Carolina State University

William McGeachy Roberson
B.A., Davidson College

William Rock
B.S., Trident University

Ryan Xavier JaNeil Sanders
B.S., �þ���

Patrick Schwartz
B.S., University of Hartford

Jon Seaton
B.A., �þ���

Edith Sanchez Smith
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Sean Walker
B.A., �þ���

Daniel Warren
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Aaron Whetstone
B.S., Clemson University

Katie Wolfe
B.B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education

Emma Rose Varner Calhoun
B.A., Duke University

Seth Lawrence Lasher
B.S., Kentucky Wesleyan College

Logan Montana Morral
B.A., York College of Pennsylvania

Cassandra McLean North
B.A., Roger Williams University

Rebecca Emily Osborne
B.A., North Carolina State University

Asmaa Zaitoun
B.S., University of Jordan
M.A., University of Jordan

Candidates for the Master of Education

Micaela Acosta
Bachelor’s, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca

Huanhuan Cai
B.A., Southwest University of Political Science and Law

Rocio Castillo Garcia
Bachelor’s, Escuela Normal Particular Autorizada in Queretaro

Erika Conde Garcia
Bachelor’s, Universidad Del Valle

Hailey Firmin
B.A., �þ���

Lu Li
B.A., Tonghua Normal University

Rebecca McLamb
B.A., �þ���

Ana Gabriela Peñaranda
Bachelor’s, Universidad de Cuenca

Yuli Andrea Peralta Verano
Bachelor’s, Institucion Universitaria Colombo Americana

Zoë Rein
B.A., �þ���

Matthew R. Trez
B.A., �þ���

Nan Ye
Bachelor’s, Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang

Qianhan Yi
Bachelor’s, China West Normal University

Yuqi Yuan
Bachelor’s, Yunnan Normal University,
Foreign Languages College in Kunming

Judges John Tyson, April Wood and Christopher Freeman heard arguments on April 3, 2025, in , which involves questions around statutes of limitations that govern when cases can be refiled. Attorneys for Puma Biotechnology argue the trial court erred in determining their case wasn’t re-filed within those prescribed time frames.

Attorneys in also presented arguments in a negligence case arising from a high school lacrosse game where a player was paralyzed during a play. The plaintiff-appellant’s counsel argues that the athlete’s family’s claims of negligence were improperly dismissed by a trial court, which also granted the defendant’s motion for summary judgment.

Arguments took place in the Robert E. Long Courtroom inside �þ���’s downtown Greensboro law school. The N.C. Court of Appeals visits the law school annually to hear cases before students and faculty.

“We learn about, craft and practice oral arguments in class, but seeing experienced attorneys present their cases is completely different. It sets the bar in terms of what we should be aiming for,” said Saniya Pangare L’25, a graduate of North Carolina State University and a McMichael Law and Leadership Fellow at Elon Law. Pangare is interested in complex litigation and completed her residency with Judge Jimmie V. Reyna in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

“I think the Residency program sets this school apart. I have found that putting students in a legal practice for an extended period of time daily to be invaluable. That’s been a boon for me and my chambers, and I think it shows why so many clerks have been hired from Elon: You’ve gotten that training and you’re ready.”
– Judge John Tyson, N.C. Court of Appeals

Landon Eckard L’25, who plans a career in appellate advocacy and constitutional litigation, focused on how lawyers responded to questions and the contrast in style among each judges’ questions and attorneys’ arguments.

“The most valuable thing for me was observing the spontaneity between the judges and advocates: how an advocate’s response prompted the judge to inquire further on a particular point or to shift to a different issue the case presented,” said Eckard, who graduated from Appalachian State University and completed his residency this winter with U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez in the Western District of North Carolina. “It shows that the true purpose of oral arguments is to engage in conversation with judges and address their concerns.”

New alumni return as court clerks

The hearings marked a homecoming for several recent Elon graduates now clerking for judges at the N.C. Court of Appeals.

Addie Ackley L’24 began working as a judicial law clerk in Wood’s office last month after completing her Residency-in-Practice and an additional internship with Tyson’s office. Libby Fadl L’24 and Ashton Hopson L’24 both began clerking for Freeman this winter. For Fadl and Hopson, the oral arguments at Elon Law were the first they’d attended as clerks in their new positions.

During a Q&A session after the hearings, Tyson praised Elon Law’s experiential curriculum and cited it as a primary reason Elon Law graduates are frequently hired as clerks by judges on the Court of Appeals.

“I think the Residency program sets this school apart,” Tyson said. “I have found that putting students in a legal practice for an extended period of time daily to be invaluable. That’s been a boon for me and my chambers, and I think it shows why so many clerks have been hired from Elon: You’ve gotten that training and you’re ready. It makes a difference when you can demonstrate that level of skill.”

Both Fadl and Hopson listened to counsels’ arguments with new perspectives, focused less on how the attorneys made their arguments — which absorbed most of their attention during their law school days — and more on the content and persuasiveness they employed.

“Returning to Elon Law for our first oral arguments, I felt such a deep sense of gratitude to share a small part of my early career with the community that helped me create it,” Hopson said. “The most important duty we owe to our clients is competency, and when speaking with someone in the legal field, they tell you they ‘practice’ law. I believe our profession always calls for us to be students, which is pretty amazing.”

The student Q&A was moderated by Caroleen Dineen, associate professor of law and director of the Legal Method and Communication Program. Judges and attorneys representing the cases responded to students’ questions about how cases are decided and how lawyers craft persuasive legal briefs. Before the hearings, students and faculty interacted with judges and court staff over lunch.

“We are so excited each year to have the Court of Appeals visit and provide our students the opportunity to learn about advocacy through observing distinguished judges and advocates in action,” said Alan Woodlief, vice dean and professor of law. “Opportunities like these spark student interest in advocacy generally and specifically in pursuing prestigious judicial clerkships upon graduation and Residencies-in-Practice while students. It was a proud moment when the judges recognized several Elon Law alumni and students in attendance who are currently working with the court.”

About Elon Law

Elon Law in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive curriculum offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 1,500 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 440 students and the law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, placing in the Top 10 for three consecutive years.

The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for working professionals, launched in Fall 2024 at �þ���’s Charlotte campus.