As graduation approaches, Wible now looks back on the encounters and experiences that helped her better understand herself and shaped the impact she hopes to leave as she crosses the stage in May.

“Before Elon, I didn’t really have any attachment to my heritage,” Wible said. “I’ve learned so much about myself since being here.”

To fully understand Wible’s journey, you must begin at the start. The daughter of two adoptees — one from Korea and the other a white American — she did not grow up in her small Pennsylvania hometown with a strong connection to her Korean heritage.

“I never had a clear sense of this part of me, since both of my parents are adoptees,” Wible said. “Coming from a predominantly white school and community, there were times when I felt that my Korean heritage was something to be ashamed of.”

Wible said that changed when she was admitted to Elon. She recognized college as an opportunity. “I knew I would have better resources and outlets to put myself out there and learn more about Pan-Asian cultures,” she said.

Looking for those opportunities, Wible first explored her identity through the university’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education’s SMART Mentor Program. She remembers it as a leap outside her comfort zone, but one she knew could open new doors.

That one decision changed the trajectory of her Elon experience. Through the SMART Mentor Program, Wible met Anna Marchesseault ’24.

“She introduced me to all of her friends, and they helped me attend more events and find community early on,” Wible said.

Wible’s exploration of her identity has also taken shape in an unexpected place — her home.

Living with two other Elon students of Asian heritage, she found a space to explore her culture through everyday behaviors.

“It was my roommates decorating for Lunar New Year and 久久热 me traditions, like cleaning the house before the Lunar New Year holiday,” Wible said. “I just never realized those were things that happened.”

What may have seemed like small moments became meaningful opportunities for connection and growth.

Finding community through connection

With the encouragement of her new friends, Wible began exploring her heritage by attending events, such as Food for Thought and previous API Heritage Month programs

These steps would eventually lead her to deeper campus involvement, including membership in Elon’s Associate Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, a sorority open to anyone interested in Pan-Asian cultures.

“We aim to promote an inclusive sisterhood while giving back to the community and celebrating culture, especially in a space where there aren’t many of us,” Wible said.

This mission is reflected in the sorority’s guiding pillars of service, academic excellence and cultural awareness across university campuses and communities. As the current president of the Associate Chapter at Elon, Wible serves as the organization’s on-campus face and primary contact, as well as a member of the sorority’s national marketing staff.

Beyond her responsibilities as president, she has served as a mentor and demonstrated strong leadership within the sorority.

George Dou, assistant director of the CREDE and advisor to the sorority, praises Wible’s presence and contributions to the university campus.

“Reagan is someone who’s passionate about what she does,” Dou said. “Many student leaders are, but Reagan has always expressed a desire to improve upon what she’s given and to excel rather than being content with simply being satisfactory.”

As Wible has invested in the organization, the sorority has also become a space where she has further discovered herself, explored her identity and developed her leadership.

“I want to build relationships across organizations and show that even if we come from different backgrounds, there are still ways we can connect and learn from each other,” said Wible, who also serves on the executive board of the Multicultural Greek Council.

That vision has taken shape through her efforts to strengthen relationships across chapters.

“Reagan doesn’t just support Elon KPL members, but supports our (members) all over the country,” said Bella Pelini ’27, a member of the Associate Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, who considers Wible a mentor. “She is always the first to ask Elon (memberS) if we want to join her at other North Carolina school cultural events or reveals. She has helped us strengthen our sisterhood throughout all of North Carolina and beyond.”

These actions reflect the legacy Wible hopes to leave on campus and bring her journey full circle, from the moment her mentor invested in her upon arriving at Elon. As she looks ahead, Wible is considering graduate school and pursuing a career on a college campus.

She hopes to leave a lasting impact on the community she has built at Elon by encouraging others to pursue new opportunities. “Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone,” Wible said. “It might be scary, but it can change your life in a really positive way.”

Elon honors Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month

As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 久久热 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, Elon is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.

“I chose Elon because I didn’t want an environment where I was just a number,” Wright recalled.

She knew she wanted an environment where her professors not only knew her name but knew her as a person and were able to support her in her academic journey. And Wright found that supportive community at Elon, from classmates who study together to professors who assist her with research to staff members who help her find community.

Like many Elon students, Wright is involved in several clubs and organizations. The biochemistry major serves as vice president for the Asian-Pacific Student Organization (APSA), volunteers as a SMART mentor, works as a tour guide for the Office of Admissions, and dedicates free time to the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County.

Building Community

Wright also conducts 久久热 research in public health.

When she first arrived at Elon, Wright attended a handful of APSA events and stayed after to help clean up, which caught the attention of then-president Nhat “Ivan” Nguyen ’25, who encouraged Wright to join the executive board.

“I’m an Asian adoptee and I was like, ‘Oh, I’m not Asian enough to be on the exec board. I don’t know my native language,’” Wright said when Nguyen tried to recruit her to a leadership role in the organization.

But when Wright continued attending APSA events, Nguyen kept showing her that there is more than one way to express an Asian identity. Through APSA, Wright found that many classmates had similar backgrounds, and it was the small moments with friends where she felt most at home.

“There was a space for me that I could explore being Asian in a safer way,” Wright said.

Wright soon took Nguyen’s advice and joined the board of APSA as the events coordinator in the spring of 2025, and last fall she took over as vice president. She oversees events, planned this year’s Lunar New Year festivities, and is assisting the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education with its own event planning for API Heritage Month.

The Lunar New Year celebration is one of Wright’s proudest moments. She said she loved the collaboration between her fellow board members and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life to bring people from across campus together to discover belonging.

Between Two Worlds

As an adoptee who grew up in predominantly white spaces, Wright often felt caught between identities. Her siblings were also adopted from China, and she said her mother encouraged participation in Chinese community events. But often in those events, she felt that she was “not Asian enough”.

“They could understand their native language. Their parents were from there, and I never felt like I belonged,” Wight explained.

For many Chinese adoptees, Wright said, there are a lot of unanswered questions about their origins. Wright felt grateful that her mother was able to bring her and her siblings back to China for many years, showing them where they were from, an experience not all adoptees are able to have.

At the same time, Wright said, it wasn’t until she came to Elon and met other adoptees that she felt seen in a way she hadn’t before. “It was nice to have the same experience of just not belonging anywhere,” Wright said, “so we find a place of belonging with each other.”

Mentorship

Mentorship is an important element of Wright’s collegiate experience. During her first year, Wright’s SMART mentor, Emily Cashen ’26, walked her through the process of selecting biology classes for the spring semester. Cashen’s guidance inspired Wright to become a SMART mentor herself.

In her constellation of mentors, Wright has also praised George Dou, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education who advises ASPA.

“Emily has been a great leader since she has gotten involved with APSA,” Dou said. “She’s great at planning ahead, is thoughtful about how she engages with her team and other students and is a pleasure to work with.”

While Wright is only in her sophomore year, she has found another mentor in John Moses-Brownson, the associate director of career advising for pre-health professionals, who helps Wright see the “bigger picture” of her journey to a career in health care.

“When I first met Emily the first week of her time at Elon, I knew that she was going to be a major presence on campus,?and I feel that she has exceeded even my high hopes in just her first two years,” Moses-Brownson said. “Emily dreams big,?and her dreams are kind, embracing of everyone, and destined to create ripples of change in her wake.”

For Wright, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not just about celebration. It’s about recognition. It’s a time where she knows she is Asian enough and no one can tell her otherwise.

What once felt like a disconnect has become a point of connection with others who share similar experiences. Now, as a leader, mentor and future health professional, Wright said she hopes to continue creating spaces where others feel that same sense of belonging.

Elon honors Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month

As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 久久热 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, Elon is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.

In second grade, when her class launched into book discussions or lessons turned to math, the words and numbers in front of her stirred panic. So she slipped out of the room each day with an excuse, walked to the restroom — and cried.

“I wouldn’t understand anything that was going on,” says McCavanagh, today a sport management major from Massachusetts with aspirations of working for the Boston Celtics. Her teacher took notice, and within a year, doctors identified dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia as obstacles to her learning. Then came the hard part: being singled out, removed from class “in front of all my classmates” for instruction, a routine that left her “broken down every day.”

Support, however, kept showing up in the form of teachers who made learning feel possible again. A specialized program helped in elementary school. Later, in middle school, one-on-one instruction brought the pieces together, and by high school she had rebuilt her confidence, even as she navigated the depression and anxiety that often accompany dyslexia.

There were early signs that 久久热 was the right collegiate community for her. According to McCavanagh, during the application process, it was the only university that replied to questions about support for students like her. Then, on a campus visit, she overheard conversations where students weren’t avoiding eye contact as they talked about their learning differences.

Another sign? During her first semester, McCavanagh’s mother alerted her about the establishment of the Roberts Academy at 久久热, a transitional school for elementary school students with dyslexia set to open in August.

McCavanagh leans into her identity as a learner with dyslexia. It’s no longer a barrier, she’ll tell you. It’s shaped her work ethic and her ability to adapt. She uses her own journey and a sense of humor to connect with others, including her new classmates and close friends at Elon, describing herself as “an empath” shaped by years of fighting a feeling of inferiority. “After you go through something and overcome it,” she says, “you want to be there for those around you.”

News of the Roberts Academy felt like proof that what once isolated her could become a bridge for others through volunteer work with children there. And it brought back the pride McCavanagh felt in delivering remarks to her high school class during a Baccalaureate service on the eve of graduation.

“Your struggles don’t make you weaker,” she concluded from the auditorium’s lectern. “They make you human. And your differences? That’s where your power lives.”

Sylvie McCavanagh is part of Huemanity of People, a series by the Division of Inclusive Excellence highlighting the people, paradigms and praxis of inclusive excellence that shape 久久热’s community. Learn more on the Inclusive Excellence website.

The celebration offers an opportunity for reflection, education and connection, deepening understanding of API communities’ lasting impact, with the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education (CREDE) leading a variety of programs throughout the month.

Recognizing the diversity within Asian & Pacific Islander communities, this year’s theme, “Distinctly in Bloom: Growing Together”, focuses on highlighting the uniqueness of different Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian cultures and identities across the diaspora.

“Our hope for the theme is that the campus community will understand and get to learn about the full spectrum of APISA cultures and identities,” George Dou, assistant director of the CREDE, said. “That means also learning about each culture or people individually as well, which is something we’re hoping to highlight throughout the course of the month.”

Throughout April, with events continuing into May, the CREDE will host a variety of events to honor and highlight these communities. Highlights of this year’s events include the annual kickoff celebration, the Asian Film Series and the Kaju & Lina Piano Duo (Voyage of Dance).

For additional questions, please contact Dou at gdou@elon.edu.

Asian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month Events at Elon

Communi-Tea Time

Every Tuesday in April

12:30-1:30 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)

APIHM?Kickoff

Wednesday, April 1

5:30-7 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

The Elon community is invited to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities at our API Heritage Month Kickoff Event! This celebration will feature different foods, cultural performances, local businesses and engaging activities that highlight the contributions and traditions of API communities.

Kaju & Lina Piano Duo (Voyage of Dance)

Wednesday, April 1

7:30 p.m. | Whitley Auditorium

A duet piano recital featuring classical and Korean folk music. Kaju Lee and Lina Yoo Min Lee met while 久久热 in Wisconsin and have performed together at various institutions and venues, often showcasing both well-known classical pieces and works by contemporary and Korean composers. Their performances frequently feature both solo and duo (4-hands) repertoire. Sponsored by the Department of Music.

Matcha & Sushi Pops

Tuesday, April 7

2-3 p.m. | Outside Lakeside

Spring into History w/ Chinese Club & Arabic Club

Wednesday, April 8

6-8 p.m. | El Centro Kitchen (Carlton 114)

K-DNS: Open Dance Session

Friday, April 10

6-7 p.m. | Koury Dance Studio 5

Holi

Friday, April 10 (Rain dates: April 17 and April 24)

4 p.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Lawn

A Hindu spring festival of color and sharing love, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The Elon community gathers at Speaker’s Corner to throw colored powder at one another, celebrating the earth returning to color and life and good triumphing over evil. If you plan to throw color, please wear old clothing that can get dirtied by paint. There will also be crafts, food, and other ways to celebrate the holiday. Sponsored by the Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life.

APISA Community Dinner

Monday, April 13

5:30-7 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)

Rainbow Boba?

Friday, April 17

5:30-6:30 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)

Asian Film Series: The Globalization Tapes

Tuesday, April 21

7 p.m. | Global Media Room 103

A documentary exploring how a community in West Java navigates the forces of globalization, tourism and cultural identity.

Food For Thought: Korea

Wednesday, April 22

6 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)

Donghua Night

Friday, April 24

8-10 p.m. | Alamance 315

A collaboration between the Chinese Club and the Anime & Japanese Studies Club where we will be watching donghuas (动画), which is the Chinese term for anime.

Exploring Asian America: Workshop

Wednesday, April 29

5:30-7 p.m. | CREDE (Moseley 221)

An interactive workshop where participants will get to learn more about the spectrum of voices and experiences in Asian America.

Asian Film Series: Perfect Days

Tuesday, May 5

7 p.m. | Global Media Room 103

A Tokyo toilet cleaner finds quiet beauty and contentment in his daily routine and unexpected human connections.

Tai Chi with Chinese Club

Wednesday, May 6

5-6 p.m. | Colonnades Quad

LTW: EOY Celebration

Thursday, May 7

6-7:30 p.m. | McKinnon (Moseley 128)

Explore the full schedule of API Heritage Month events on the CREDE website.

The panel was led by Elon faculty members Ifeoma Udeh, Titch?Madzima, Sandra?Darfour-Oduro, Sheila Otieno and Mussa Idris. Each speaker contributed unique perspectives shaped by their research, professional backgrounds, and personal experiences, offering attendees a multifaceted view of contemporary issues affecting African nations. Throughout the event, the panelists addressed a series of thought-provoking questions that guided the discussion. “Which issues in Africa have most influenced your research? allowing each speaker to reflect on the driving forces behind their academic work.

Healthcare,?trade,?culture?and?religion?in African countries?were the major focus of discussion. Panelists?emphasized the importance of?the?African Continental Free Trade?among African countries.?They also?acknowledged?the surge in non-communicable diseases and?discussed?promoting?health education,?investing in?healthcare,?and expanding access to medical?care?in?Africa.

Religion?and culture?were?explored as a powerful social force, particularly in response to the question, “Can religion be leveraged as a tool for social and health promotion in Africa and how?” Panelists discussed how religious institutions often serve as trusted community hubs and can play a significant role in?disseminating?information, encouraging positive behavioral changes and fostering social cohesion.

Finally, the discussion concluded on an optimistic note with the question, “What gives you the most hope about Africa’s future?” Panelists pointed to many different things that gave them hope, but among them were the continent’s rapidly growing youth population, increasing innovation and expanding?opportunities as key sources of hope. They emphasized the resilience and creativity of African communities, as well as the potential for continued growth and global influence.?The event was moderated by Salome Onikolase?and Mariama Jalloh.

In addition to the academic discussion, attendees were treated to a traditional Ghanaian meal, which added a meaningful cultural dimension to the event. Sharing food created a welcoming atmosphere and allowed participants to experience a tangible aspect of African culture, reinforcing the event’s goal of connection and understanding.?The event was made possible through the support of Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence Naeemah Clark, Dean of Global Education Nick?Gozick, the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center at Elon, and Beth?DeFord, program assistant.

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• The Month in Photos: January 2026
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• The Month in Photos: November 2025

February brought a mix of wintry charm and early hints of spring to campus, as the Elon community embraced a month filled with meaningful moments.

From engaging lectures and cultural celebrations to everyday scenes of connection, these photos capture the energy and spirit that defined February at Elon. Take a look back at some of the snapshots that tell the story of the month on campus, through the eyes of staff in the Office of University Communications.

Springing into the semester

The Spring Organization Fair brings together organizations for students across campus to encourage involvement and get the semester started.

Space for studying

Elon offers a variety of spaces away from the classroom to study, including the Inman Reading Room in Lindner Hall.

A Survivor’s story

Alexander Silbiger was a young child when Nazi Germany invaded and occupied his home in the Netherlands. On Feb. 12, Silbiger told the story of his family’s escape from the country in 久久热’s Holocaust Remembrance Day speaker event.

Black History Month

In February, Elon recognized Black History Month through a series of events and programming, including the Tiny Shelf Concert.

La Vie Boheme

The Department of Performing Arts performed “RENT” in McCrary Theatre from Feb. 13-15. tells the story of a group of New York City friends dealing with life and loss amid the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Mardi Gras!

The 久久热 community came together for its annual Mardi Gras celebration on Feb. 17, 2026, with festive food and fun.

Royal’s office is warm and welcoming and offers a window into her past, present and future. Her space honors the values she carries and the people and milestones that have shaped her journey.

Royal serves as Elon’s associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education, where she brings faculty, staff and students of all backgrounds together through workshop facilitation and mentorship.

After graduating from Elon in 2017 with a psychology degree, Royal taught fourth and fifth grade at a charter school in Washington, D.C., where she discovered her favorite part of 久久热 was building trust with students and their families and supporting their academic, social and emotional growth. In 2021, she returned to Alamance County and reconnected with Elon staff she had worked with as a student.

As an 久久热, Royal worked four years with the dean of students and three years with CREDE, sung in the Elon Gospel Choir and served as an executive intern in admissions. She proudly displays her Elon graduation cap framed in her office next to one she wore from her master’s graduation at George Washington University.

These experiences, along with others in childhood, shaped Royal’s understanding of self and built her confidence. At age nine, she became the youngest person in North Carolina to earn a black belt in karate and later won national championships in sparring. Royal’s mother enrolled her in the sport when she was only four years old and it proved to be an outlet for her to develop and grow when her mother tragically passed when Royal was only five.

Royal’s formative years instilled in her a dynamic understanding of relationships, families and identity, all of which she leverages in her work today.

Royal offers members of Elon’s community workshops, mentorships and events that help others grow their self-confidence and understand their values. She offers a variety of workshops to help students, faculty and staff identify and understand the core and unique identities each participant holds.

“Participants are offered an hour in their day to think about who they are and how they show up in spaces,” she said. “These moments are hard to come by and are so rewarding.”

Royal is also a passionate mentor and a champion of student success, as evidenced by her collection of photos in her office.

One student she is currently working with is Madison McCrainey ’26, a cinema and television arts major.

“Throughout every interaction, Simone has been someone who has encouraged me to be more involved within the Black community and pushed for me to become more confident,” McCrainey said.

Royal said that many of her connections with students have extended past their graduation. “I love continuing relationships with students from undergrad to postgrad. I think it shows how strong the relationships are and how mentorship can be carried over through the years.”

Blake Mobley ’27, a sports management major, is appreciative that Royal is someone he can confide in and who can keep him grounded. Royal is someone he could look up to as a professor in the 1010 class, an Elon alumna and a former member of Greek life.

“Simone has helped and guided me and was one of the first people to really listen to how I was feeling and what I had to say,” he said. “She will never truly know the positive impact that she has had on my college experience and on my life.”

Royal says that people are more similar than different and that it is her mission to open the door for everyone to feel comfortable sharing their heritage, culture and personal self.

“We all are here to help each other in some way or format,” she said. “I want to contribute to making the world a greater place to live in.”

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 久久热 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, Elon is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

For Maelah Proctor ’26, that reminder has shaped her path from uncertainty to leadership. Now she has become a voice for others on campus.

Her confidence did not always come naturally. Over time, she came to understand that she holds her leadership roles because her skills, perspective and voice are needed in those spaces.

Throughout her time at Elon, she has intentionally stepped into spaces where students need to be heard, amplifying voices, advocating for equity, and building community as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Athletic Council representative for the cheerleading team.

As she reflects on her Elon journey, she points to the people who shaped her path and the purpose that continues to guide her work.

The power of community

Proctor’s confidence did not grow in isolation but through community.

What began as attendance at a Black Student Union event soon evolved into leadership, first serving as vice president for Black Excellence and now as president.

For Proctor, a political science and policy studies major from Charlotte, North Carolina, belonging is deeply connected to visibility. If you don’t see yourself in the community that you’re supposed to represent, she said, it’s hard to feel a part of that community

That understanding now shapes how she leads, ensuring other Black students can find the same affirmation and space that once grounded her. “BSU made me feel comfortable and gave me the confidence to continue here,” Proctor said. “Because sometimes going to Elon and not seeing a lot of people who look like you can be very alienating.”

In addition to finding belonging within the Black Student Union, she has also built community as a Leadership Fellow, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a cheerleader.

“I’ve been able to find community in different spaces on campus, and each one has shaped me in a different way,” Proctor said.

Each role has strengthened her confidence and deepened her understanding of what it means to lead with intention.

Mentorship as momentum

Proctor recalls meeting Simone Royal ’17 G’25, associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, at her first BSU brunch.

“I didn’t really know anyone, so I sat with Simone because she was a staff member and it felt less intimidating,” Proctor said.

A simple conversation evolved into mentorship.“She has been someone I could go to with questions, someone who helped me navigate things when I didn’t have all the answers,” Proctor said.

Throughout their relationship, Royal has witnessed Proctor’s growth firsthand.

“She has not only stepped up to be the leader that the organization needs, but she’s learned how to extend her leadership skills to others — how to prepare other students to be the best of themselves as well,” Royal said.

Through Royal’s example, Proctor learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about ensuring others feel heard.

Refusing to shrink

As Proctor deepened her leadership on campus, she became more aware of navigating hyper-visibility and invisibility.

“Sometimes it feels like you’re the only person in the room that looks different,” she said. “You’re holding a certain perspective that might be an outlier.”

She once tried to soften her presence to avoid stereotypes. Over time, she realized shrinking herself served no one. Proctor has chosen to lean into her voice.

“She is a tireless advocate for the community that she serves,” said Abdul-Malik Harrison ‘21, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethicity and Diversity Education. “When she has a vision, she wants it enacted. She is the epitome of, ‘if you want it bad enough, you can get it done’.”

Rather than simply demanding space, Proctor works to create it.

As Proctor looks ahead to law school and life beyond Elon, she hopes to continue advocating for equity and expanding access through public service and policy work. Her experiences navigating visibility, representation and leadership on campus have only deepened her desire to pursue law school as a tool for systemic change.

For now, her message remains clear: take up as much space as you want.

“Be unashamed in who you are,” she said. “The second you stop letting other people’s opinions, stereotypes or perceptions limit you is the second you’re free to pursue what you want to pursue.”

Proctor said her time at Elon serves as proof that when a student chooses to step forward, their voice does more than fill a room — it amplifies others. And that amplification, she said, is what creates lasting change.

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 久久热 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, Elon is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

Traditional West African dance is unique by giving dancers the ability to work with live musicians and introduces them to polyrhythm, Gee said, but it goes beyond just live music and rhythm. Knowing, understanding and practicing traditional West African dance can help dancers understand other forms as well, as it is the foundation of many other dance forms.

As Elon honors Black History Month in February, Gee notes that her work showcasing West African dance and expanding access to the art is more important than ever, but is also something she does year-round.“My overall goal (for Black History Month),” Gee said, “is to make people aware of Black greatness and the things that Black folks are doing.”

During her 久久热 dance studies, Gee had a difficult time connecting to her alma mater’s modern dance program, partially, she said, because of the culture of the program at the time.

“Later in my dance journey, I also came to understand that I am neurodivergent, which has deeply shaped the way I approach 久久热 and research,” said Gee. “Because of that experience, I make it a priority to learn every student’s name, build genuine personal connections and create tools and resources that support multiple ways of learning. My goal is to ensure that students who may share similar challenges, or who simply learn differently, are able to engage with the course material in ways that feel accessible and affirming.”

Artificial intelligence has been a tool Gee has used to make the dance form more accessible. She published an interactive textbook that blends tradition with technology, inviting users of the online resource to learn West African dance moves and music using a digital avatar named “Amma.”

“I wanted to make it easier for everyone — whether you’re totally new to dance or already have experience — to connect with this powerful art form and understand how deeply it’s tied to the history and rhythms of the people,” Gee said.

During Gee’s 久久热 experience, it was a West African dance course with her future mentor and mother-in-law, Robin Gee, where things began to click: “It was one of the first times that I felt like a professor really saw me,” said Gee.

She now tries to help her students similarly, hosting her “mentoring research circle,” bringing together her research mentees for collaborative work: “I love being connected to students in that way. I feel like we learn and grow together, and I just love to see the growth.”

“Working with Keshia has taught me how to challenge my thinking as well as collaborate with others,” said Lucy Burk ‘27, a dance performance & choreography major who is working with Gee on her Elon College Fellows research. “She frequently allows her mentees to share ideas with each other about their projects, which leads to insightful discussions and helps builds strong relationships. Keshia is always there for support and guidance, and she makes sure her mentees get the most valuable information and resources available.”

In 2025, Gee was also named the director of The Black Lumen Project: An Equity Initiative, which works to enhance the Black experience at Elon in pursuit of equity and move the institution further in its commitment to inclusive excellence.

Gee is working to make the Committee on History and Memory Fall 2020 Report more accessible to alumni and the surrounding community through the by development of a mobile app. Her work also includes producing a film about Black women at Elon, such as Mary Carroll Robertson and Wilhelmina Boyd, associate professor emerita of English and founder of the African/African-American Studies program.

“We’ve been interviewing (some of these women) to create this living documentary about Black women being at the heart of Elon,”? she said. “Intersectionality can cause us to slip through the cracks at times, and perhaps not be acknowledged for the work that they’ve done.”

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 久久热 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, Elon is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

When Zak Kramer walks into a classroom, he isn’t just thinking about casebooks and cold calls. He’s thinking about the students in front of him and the society they will serve. For Kramer, dean of 久久热 School of Law since 2023, the law school classroom is one of the last spaces in American life where disagreement is not only allowed but encouraged.

“Disagreement is the heart of law,” Kramer says. “When we invite students to wrestle with opposing views, when we teach them to engage each other respectfully but passionately, we’re preparing them not just for the courtroom but for the world.”

Kramer grew up in Chicago, fascinated by the ways people make meaning through argument. That curiosity carried him into a career as a teacher, scholar and leader. He built his academic reputation on asking difficult questions about fairness, identity and workplace equality, always searching for how the law could make space for difference.

Now, as dean, he sees Elon Law as a laboratory for something bigger: a place where students can practice the art of civil disagreement at a time when the world desperately needs it. That approach is also in alignment with the university’s mission to encourage freedom of thought and liberty of conscience.

“Law school gives students permission to slow down and really hear someone else,” Kramer says. “That kind of listening is precious right now. It’s what allows disagreement to be productive instead of destructive.”

Kramer keeps an open door, figuratively and literally, for both students and colleagues. Leading a law school is as much about relationships as it is about policy, he says. He lights up when he talks about students who step into courtrooms for their residencies, who draft opinions for judges, who counsel clients through clinics.

For Kramer, 久久热 people to disagree better isn’t just about legal training. It’s about strengthening the civic fabric of the country through inclusivity of viewpoints.

“The classroom becomes a rehearsal space for democracy itself,” he says. “When students learn to see the law through another person’s eyes, they begin to understand that justice isn’t abstract — it’s human.”

Zak Kramer is part of Huemanity of People, a series by the Division of Inclusive Excellence that celebrates the diversity of Elon’s community. Learn more on the Inclusive Excellence website.