Hosted by Historic Faculty Director Claudine Moreau and Faculty in Residence Kevin Otos the festival kicked off with a warm welcome from Living Learning Assistant Kendall Somol. Moreau, also a lecturer in the Physics Department, unveiled her first full-length poetry book titled, “” a collection of science-inspired verses published by Main Street Rag Publications. She then introduced alumnus Lane Fields ’11, whose poetic journey was nurtured during his time at the university by mentors Kevin Boyle, a retired Elon English professor, and Moreau who saw the poetic supernova flaring in Lane’s center.

Fields, now a distinguished poet in his own right, graced the audience with readings from his poignant and introspective work–intensely personal, vulnerable, visceral. These were narrative works of longing and ultimately of love of oneself.

Serving as the judge for the Primavera Poetry Contest, Fields bestowed accolades upon the winners: Anabelle Sumera-Decorat for “Fanfic” (1st place), Grady Cooke for “Cataclysmic Gimmicks” (2nd place), and Claire Lancaster for “A Broken Curtal Sonnet About Eye Cream” (3rd place). Honorable mentions were awarded to Megan Duckworth for “Body Dysmorphia,” and Carissa Pallander for “Abecedarian about a 20-year-old virgin kiss” and “with the lights off.”

The penultimate reading of the night was the invited guest poet Dr. Patrick Bizzaro, who retired as a full professor from Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s doctoral program in Composition and TESOL and is at work on a new a novel, Draft Dodging in the Sixties, which takes place in Bethel, NY in 1969 during the cleanup of Max Yasgur’s farm after the Woodstock concert. (Bizzaro attended Woodstock, y’all!) Bizzaro, Moreau’s original poetry mentor, read from “Fog at the Manassas Battlefield,” accompanied by striking photography from his wife Resa Crane Bizzaro. Dr. Bizzaro’s work begs us to ask, “Who owns history?”

Through the prism of poetry, the festival illuminated the vibrant creative spirit thriving on campus–between the walls of engineering and physics to theatre to sociology to English– and underscored the transformative power of mentorship in nurturing aspiring writers across disciplines.

Special guests in attendance included President Connie Ledoux Book, Provost Rebecca Kohn, Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt, Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley, Vice President and Associate Provost for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams and Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley.

The LGBTQIA Alumni Network and Community Enrichment Awards were established in 2012 to create opportunities to affirm and acknowledge the work alumni, faculty, and staff have done to uplift LGBTQIA people and causes on campus and in their communities at large. The Community Enrichment Awards recognize those individuals who have made and continue to make a positive impact and for their dedication to Elon and LGBTQIA communities.

In addition, an Elon student was also honored during the ceremony with the Matthew Antonio Bosh Student Award for their positive impact and diligence to the Elon and LGBTQIA communities. The award is named in honor of the former director of Elon’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), Matthew Antonio Bosch, for his contributions to and support of the LGBTQIA communities at Elon.

Community Enrichment Award Recipients

Julius John ’97

Julius John (he/him/his) is a prominent figure in higher education with a strong background in acting and a diverse range of expertise in theatrical education. John’s areas of knowledge span from Shakespearean studies and acting methodologies to theater management, production development, historical theater perspectives, musical and multicultural theater, script analysis, and the intricacies of physical movement in theater.

In addition to his contributions to academia, John has a significant presence in the fashion world, serving as the vice president for Fashion News Live. He actively participates in prestigious fashion events like Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York, Miami and Los Angeles, representing RLG Productions with distinction. Throughout his career, John has been a dedicated advocate for diversity and equity in education. He has earned impressive credentials, currently serving as full professor and director of theatre at Bethune-Cookman University. He also serves as co-director of commencement ceremonies and faculty senate chair at the university. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., further highlighting his commitment to leadership and service.

Raafe Purnsley ’12 

A proud queer black activist, Raafe Purnsley (he/him/his or they/them/theirs) has made it their mission to create safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. After earning a degree in ecological and environmental science from Elon in 2012, Purnsley connected kids to nature in North Carolina’s Triangle area and supported small minority farms by promoting alternative farming practices, offering resources and building rural farming community connections.

As discussions on LGBTQ issues gained prominence in North Carolina and beyond, Purnsley transitioned from an education-focused path to seeking a queer community. They revived the persona of Stormie Daie, initially a local phenomenon at ľĂľĂČČ, turning it into a platform for engaging with the queer community. Over the past decade, Stormie Daie has become an emcee, educator and performer.

Purnsley’s involvement with Elon Spectrum, the LGBTQ student Alliance, was a turning point. They are now known as the first lady of Alamance Pride. Their work embodies activism, education and inclusivity. Purnsley continues to return to Elon for events like Dragstrav, which they once led as a student. When they are not working to change the world or captivating audiences with their performances, Stormie Daie shares life with their partner Joaquin Carcaño. The duo resides in Durham with their three beloved mutts.

Ashley Fowler ’14

A native of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, Ashley Fowler (she/her/hers) graduated from Elon in 2014 with a degree in political science and international studies. She has demonstrated exceptional skills as a project manager, team leader and a strong advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

Fowler’s career has taken her on a global journey, from using virtual reality to educate journalists on digital safety in Bulgaria to supporting queer communities at Baltic Pride in Lithuania. Her various projects reflect her unwavering commitment to human rights.

For the past six years, she has been a crucial figure in the field of Internet Freedom. As the senior manager of internet freedom and resilience programs at Internews, she leads a global team dedicated to providing secure and trustworthy access to credible information for people worldwide, regardless of their identity or profession. During her time at Elon, Fowler was recognized as the Student of the Year at the Lavender Graduation and was honored for her outstanding Lumen Prize project, “Human Rights Norm Change: LGBT Rights in a Wider Europe.” She has remained actively involved with the LGBTQIA+ Alumni Network, including a two-year term as president. After nearly a decade in Washington, DC, she returned to North Carolina, cherishing time with her family and enjoying the rediscovery of her home state alongside her wife.

Daniel Castillo ’21 

The son of Costa Rican immigrants, Daniel Castillo (he/him/his), arrived in the United States as a child and was raised in western North Carolina. He graduated from Elon in 2021 with a degree in exercise science. During his time as a student, Castillo played a crucial role in establishing the first Latino fraternity and chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc. He also served as the vice president of this organization for two years and held positions as a diversity ambassador for the Office of Admissions and coordinator for the Center for Race, Ethnicity, & Diversity Education.

Following graduation, Daniel joined Elon’s university advancement team as the coordinator of annual giving. In this role, he builds connections with alumni and current students, encouraging philanthropy and alumni engagement. Castillo is also a strong supporter of the LGBTQIA community at Elon. He leads the LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group and actively participates in GLC events, serving as an advocate and mentor, particularly for the QTPOC community. He aspires to be a cornerstone in his community, where people of color can be their authentic selves. Through his leadership and actions, Castillo is actively working to create a more inclusive and affirming environment at ľĂľĂČČ.

Matthew Antonio Bosch Student Community Enrichment Award Recipient

Jasper Serenity Myers ’24 

A member of Elon’s Class of 2024, Jasper Serenity Myers (she/her/hers or they/them/theirs) has demonstrated exceptional dedication in their role as the resident assistant for the Gender & Sexuality Living and Learning Community. Over the span of two years, they have taken charge of organizing engaging community events, nurturing an environment of empathy, and ensuring the safety, inclusion and celebration of LLC residents and members of the Elon LGBTQ+ community.

Their ľĂľĂČČ research is centered around the portrayal of women-loving-women in Greco-Roman classical antiquity. This involves a meticulous analysis of various elements, including mythology, astrology, Sapphic poetry, erotic spells, and love magic. In astrology, Myers is a Pisces sun, Scorpio moon and Cancer rising, reflecting a multi-faceted and deeply sensitive nature. Their commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive community at ľĂľĂČČ is evident in their extensive contributions and scholarly pursuits.

The Community Enrichment Awards were established in 2012, the same year the LGBTQIA Alumni Network was founded, born out of the need and desire to create opportunities to affirm and acknowledge the work alumni, faculty, and staff have done to uplift their LGBTQ within the campus and communities at-large.

In 2018, an additional honor was created, the Matthew Antonio Bosh Student Award. Named in honor of Matthew Antonio Bosch, former director of Elon’s Gender and LGBTQIA Center, for his contributions to and support for the LGBTQIA communities at Elon, this award recognizes students who are making great impacts on Elon’s campus through their representation and advocacy.

“Today has been such a wonderful reminder of how interconnected our journeys truly are and I hope you are each inspired to continue advocating for and supporting the LGBTQIA community,” said Courtney MacMasters ’18, the network’s president, during her closing remarks. “Congratulations again to each of our deserving award winners.”

Community Enrichment Awards Honorees

Bud Harrelson ’99

Bud Harrelson graduated from Elon in 1999 with degrees in chemistry and science education. After leaving Elon, Harrelson taught high school chemistry at Northeast Guilford High School. In his second year of ľĂľĂČČ, he joined the faculty of Greensboro Middle College at Greensboro College – a school designed to encourage potential dropouts to graduate high school and transition into college. Bud credits the students, families and faculty at Greensboro Middle College for ľĂľĂČČ him to focus on relationships and the whole person and content mastery will follow.

Harrelson transitioned to school and district leadership. He left the middle college to lead the International Baccalaureate program at Grimsley High School. Under his leadership, the program grew in student participation, diploma completion, and curriculum offerings. Due to his success at Grimsley, Harrelson moved to Winton-Salem Forsyth County Schools where he served as the district’s Academically Gifted Program coordinator. While in Winston-Salem, Harrelson led a school reform initiative designed to create a single school culture around academics, behavior and climate. Capitalizing on the talent of the faculty to meet the needs of the students, student achievement increased in all schools that implemented the model. Soon, the entire district utilized the protocols of Single School Culture. During his time in Winston, Harrelson earned a graduate certificate in academically gifted education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Master of School Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Harrelson departed Winston-Salem to pursue a doctorate in education at UNC full-time. His research focuses on creating safer schools for LGBTQ people, especially queer employees. While at UNC, Harrelson served as an executive board member of Safe Schools NC – a nonprofit whose mission is to create safer schools for LGTBTQ people in NC. As a board member, Harrelson lead SSNC’s efforts to offer an annual statewide conference for educators where they could become more aware of the needs of queer students, families and colleagues, and develop strategies for support them in and out of school. Harrelson also served as president of Elon’s LGBTQIA Alumni Network. During his tenure as president, we saw growth in membership, philanthropy, and Elon Day participation.

Harrelson has been a member of the Boy Scouts of America since the third grade. As an adult, he served nationally on the BSA’s national diversity committee. He is recognized nationwide as an advocate for LGBTQ people in the Boy Scouts – who only recently changed their membership policies to welcome openly gay and transgender members. Harrelson is now employed full-time with the Boy Scouts where he serves as the local camp director. While LGBTQ advocacy is no longer his primary role in Scouting, he does strive to create a welcoming and inclusive summer camp culture that meets the needs of all Scouts.

Jonathan Shutt ’05

Jon Shutt’s Elon roots run deep as he is the grandson of beloved President Emeritus Earl Danieley ’46, and the first of three brothers, all of whom graduated from Elon. As a student and graduate, Shutt was actively supportive in the forming of LGBTQIA Alumni Network and its work.

Ever committed to advocating for LGBTQ rights, Shutt, an employee of Disney, organized the New York City walkout in support of the #DisneySayGay protest. He cemented his protest of the company when he left Disney to work for a queer dating app company, moving from “queer professional” to “professionally queer.”

Professor of English Kathy Lyday

Kathy J. Lyday has taught first-year writing, linguistics, grammar, history of the English language, American literature, Introduction to Literature, literature of the Holocaust and Appalachian literature at Elon for 40 years. She has been the faculty leader on Winter Term study abroad courses in London and Central Europe, and led semester programs in London and Costa Rica. During the past several summers, she has taught applied and descriptive linguistics and grammar in the Masters of TESOL program at Greensboro College.

After finishing her ľĂľĂČČ and graduate degrees in English at Tennessee Technological University, she completed a doctorate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in American literature with special emphasis areas on English language studies. Her research interests include Appalachian authors, Holocaust literature and language use in society. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling, various needlework arts, gardening, writing and, of course, reading. She is the co-author of two historical novels and is currently researching the third book in the series.

Professor of Art History Kirstin Ringelberg

Kirstin Ringelberg is a professor of art history in the Department of History and Geography at Elon. They came to Elon in 2003 from a prior position at Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a doctorate in modern and contemporary art history.

As a scholar, Ringelberg writes on the history of art history and visual culture using feminist, queer and trans methodologies. They co-chaired the first all-trans panel at the College Art Association conference in 2018 and co-edited the first trans-themed issue of any art history and visual culture journal in 2020. As a professor at Elon, Ringelberg has taught 24 distinct classes, including classes for honors, core capstones, study abroad, international and global studies, Asian studies, African and African-American studies, and of course women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. They’ve mentored 30 ľĂľĂČČ research projects, six ľĂľĂČČ and learning apprenticeships, and 15 internships for credit, but their most important mentoring is working with queer, trans and otherwise marginalized students outside of the official structures of course work and service.

Speaking of service, Ringelberg was Elon’s first LGBTQIA coordinator, and 20 years ago they hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Elon’s first LGBTQ Resource Room in Powell House, and supported alumni and staff in developing this Alumni Affinity Network.

Matthew Antonio Bosch Student Community Engagement Award

Ket Cordova ’23

Ket Cordova is a senior in his last semester at Elon. He is majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. He is from Queens, New York, and plans to return there after graduation to live with his partner and their gecko.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, questioning, Queer, Intersex, asexual and Ally (LGBTQIA) Alumni Network strives to improve the campus climate for members of the Elon community by advocating on behalf of LGBTQIA issues and partnering with others to build an inclusive and respectful community.

The issue features several articles developed from papers given a graduate symposium on “Sex and Religion” that Davis organized in Spring 2019 at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Topics range from male homosexual love in the Aeneid and the Iliad, to Biblical characters such as Leah and Hagar, to gender-bending saints and the contemporary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Davis’ own contribution looks at the Book of Job through a queer theoretical lens, and another Elon alum, Delaney James ’18, analyzes Rumi’s homoerotic poetry dedicated to his spiritual master Shams Tabrizi.

These new young voices in the field are complemented by a special interview with Robert Orsi, a leading scholar of American Catholicism who came to Elon in April to deliver the inaugural Smith-Chase Lecture sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies. In the interview, Orsi discusses his forthcoming book on the Catholic sexual abuse scandal and critiques the “willful naĂŻveté” of those who believe the Church can handle it internally. Most disturbingly, he argues that “It is not a ‘crisis.’ It is the modern Catholic normal.”

Erin Krupa ’02, Don Chaplin and Andy Hunt received the 2019 Elon LGBTQIA Community Enrichment Award. Jay Tiemann ’21 was the recipient of the 2019 Matthew Antonio Bosch Student Community Engagement Award.

“We’re here to say today that we see you, that the university sees you, that there is most certainly a place for you at Elon right now and forever,” said Matt Lardi ’06, a member of the leadership team for the LGBTQIA Alumni Network.

Prior to the acknowledgment of the award recipients, Luis Garay, the new director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, shared a hopeful campus update regarding the work the center has done in the Elon community to further improve campus inclusivity.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, questioning, Queer, Intersex, asexual and Ally (LGBTQIA) Alumni Network strives to improve the campus climate for members of the Elon community by advocating on behalf of LGBTQIA issues and partnering with others to build an inclusive and respectful community.

The 2019 Elon LGBTQIA Alumni Network Award Recipients

Erin Krupa ’02
Community Enrichment Award

Pronouns – she/her

Erin Krupa graduated from Elon with a degree in mathematics and earned her master’s degree from Wake Forest University. She then taught at W.G. Enloe High School in Raleigh for four years before returning to school at North Carolina State University to earn her doctorate degree in mathematics. Currently, Erin serves as an assistant professor of mathematics and statistics education at North Carolina State University. In 2017, alongside her wife, Marianne ’04, Erin fought for homosexual couples in New Jersey to have equal rights in fertility health insurance coverage as heterosexual couples and succeeded in seeing this law amended on the day of the birth of their daughter, Carolina. A year ago the family also welcomed their son, Tyler.

Don Chaplin and Andy Hunt
Community Enrichment Award

Pronouns – he/him

Don Chaplin received both his ľĂľĂČČ and medical degrees from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and went on to the University of Alabama Medical Center where he completed his residency. For 40 years, Don worked at the Kernodle Clinic in Burlington as well as a hospital practice at Alamance Regional Medical Center as an internal medicine specialist and cardiologist. Additionally, Don is one of the founders of Alamance Cares and serves as the medical director. This organization provides HIV education and prevention resources. He was also a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, formerly known as the American Physicians for Human Rights. His service to the LGBTQIA community, however, does not stop there. Don also serves on the North Carolina Commission of Public Health, ARMC Charitable Foundation and the Burlington Rotary Club and volunteers at the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County.

Andy Hunt attended Appalachian State University where he earned his business administration degree. He worked in the financial services sector, primarily the mortgage servicing arena prior to launching his independent contract business, which provides consulting and leadership services in the areas of business process management, regulatory compliance and loss and risk analysis. Andy is also active in the local aerialist silk community and often attends Elon health and wellness fairs to educate students on the importance of wellness practices.

Don Chaplin and Andy Hunt are both North Carolina natives who reside in Alamance County. They have been proudly together for 37 years and were officially married in 2013. They have devoted their lives to the enrichment and health of the LGBTQIA community and have humbly served as pillars of the community. They both serve as members of PFLAG Alamance and Alamance Pride, two organizations dedicated to LGBTQIA inclusion and support. With Andy proudly at his side, Don also served as the first out and proud president of the North Carolina Medical Society.

Jay Tiemann ’21
Matthew Antonio Bosch Student Community Engagement Award

Pronouns – he/him

Jay Tiemann ’21 is a human service studies major with minors in women’s gender and sexuality studies as well as poverty and social justice. His ľĂľĂČČ research focuses on the experiences of trans men/transmasculine in the U.S. prison system. Jay has worked in Gender & LGBTQIA Center for the past three years, is a member of the President’s Student Leadership Advisory Council and is one of only a handful of students to serve on the university’s Strategic Planning Committee.

During his three years as a member of the Elon community as a visible trans student, Jay has helped improve the visibility of LGBTQIA students on campus by allowing for his story to be shared on numerous Elon news platforms. He has advocated for a comprehensive approach to support trans/nonbinary/genderqueer students, from requesting changes on how names appear on Phoenix cards to advocating for universal restrooms. Additionally, Jay successfully encouraged Elon representatives to attend the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, which provided information as to how college campuses may be more trans-inclusive in providing health and wellness services.

ľĂľĂČČ has again been recognized as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities in the country. 

College Consensus, which combines a variety of college rankings with real student interviews from around the web, ranked Elon 5th among its 25 LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities list this year. 

In its assessment of Elon, College Consensus noted the work of the university's Gender & LGBTQIA Center to promote tolerance and inclusion. College Consensus notes that the center provides students "a chance to feel valued, validated and victorious while attending Elon, and in their lives," noting the "3 Vs" of the Gender & LGBTQIA Center. 

College Consensus also noted the university's robust LGBTQIA Alumni association and student activities such as a student-produced documentary that was screened last year at the N.C. Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the second-largest LGBTQ film festival in the Southeast. 

In September, Elon was recognized by ľĂľĂČČ Pride, a national advocacy group, as one of the top 30 American colleges and universities for policies, programs and practices that are friendly to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. 

This year saw the largest number of Lavender Graduates at Elon and its largest crowd, with about 175 helping celebrate this year’s graduates and award winners. The event is part of that is co-sponsored by the Office for Alumni Engagement, the LGBTQIA Alumni Network and the Gender and LGBTQIA Center. 

​The annual graduation ceremony, which is held at other college and university campuses around the country, celebrates the achievements and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, intersex, asexual and ally students. 

The event was emceed by Matthew Antonio Bosch, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, with an opening address by President Connie Ledoux Book. 

The award winners at this year’s events are:

Highest GPA:

• Bethany Beckham ’18
• Mitchell Bergens ’18

Student Publication / Research of the Year:

• Olivia Ryan ’18

Student of the Year:

• Tres McMichael ’19
• Charlie Cheema ’19

Breakout Student of the Year:

• Avery Hunt ’20
• CJ Porterfield ’20
• Tim Boles ’20

Faculty / Staff of the Year:

• Kevin Bourque (Faculty, English)
• Kaila Price (Staff, Residence Life)

Inspirational Ally of the Year:

• Ann Cahill (Faculty, Philosophy)
• Sabrina Thurman (Faculty, Psychology)

Department of the Year:

• Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies
• Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education

Event / Initiative of the Year:

• Dragstravaganza (Spectrum, Gender & LGBTQIA Center)
• #MeToo & You:  Shifting Society and ľĂľĂČČ Culture (EFFECT Elon Feminists, Gender & LGBTQIA Center, Inclusive Community Development, Sexual Assault & Gender Issues Council (SAGIC), Title IX, Violence Response, Women’s Forum, & Women’s, Gender, and Sexualities Studies)

Community Excellence Award:

• Raafe Purnsley ’12

This signature event will honor four deserving alumni, students and community members who have made a significant impact on the LGBTQ community. Cash bar available. Tickets: $15 per person, includes complementary mimosa drink.

This signature event will honor five deserving alumni and community members who have made a significant impact on the LGBTQIA communities. Brunch will include a full buffet breakfast and mimosa bar. We look forward to seeing you there! Cost: $15 pr person.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and Ally (LGBTQIA) Alumni Network strives to improve the campus climate for members of the Elon community by advocating on behalf of LGBTQIA issues and partnering with others to build an inclusive and respectful community.

“Receiving the 2016 Community Enrichment Award means so much me for so many reasons. Elon is the first place where I felt safe to come out to friends and loved ones, and it’s because of that inclusive and welcoming environment that I was able to thrive at Elon academically and in student life,” said Michael Brumby ’07, one of this year’s award winners. “I am who I am, large in part, thanks to Elon, and I’m very thankful for this humbling recognition by the LGBTQIA alumni affinity network and the University.”

Established in 2012, the awards honor Elon community members who have made a positive impact on the LGBTQIA community, as well as LGBTQIA alumni who are bettering their local communities. These awards also highlight individuals who serve as partners, advocates and investors in ľĂľĂČČ. This year’s honorees included:

Joshua McIntosh ’97

Joshua began serving as the vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Bates College in 2014. In this capacity, he provides vision, leadership and direction to a variety of student services offices. Prior to going to Bates, Joshua served as the dean of academic services at Johns Hopkins University and served as the associate dean of Harvard College at Harvard University. Joshua’s work in higher education has included overseeing student services, financial management and planning, human resource management, policy development, and assessment and research. He earned his doctoral degree from Syracuse University and serves on the Elon Alumni Board.

Michael Bumbry ’07

A native of Ashland, Virginia, Michael started his higher education administration career as a resident director at North Carolina State University, where he obtained a master’s degree in higher education in 2009. Since then Michael has worked in a variety of student affairs and university advancement positions. After earning a doctorate in higher education from Loyola University Chicago, Michael assumed the role in August of associate director of development at Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies. In that role, he cultivates relationships with alumni and friends of the school and supports efforts for the Johns Hopkins “Rising to the Challenge” campaign. Throughout his career, Michael has remained a loyal Elon alumnus, serving as youth trustee, vice president of the Philadelphia alumni chapter, president of the Young Alumni Council and president and vice president of the LGBTQIA Alumni Network. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Lee Buono ’16 (in absentia)

Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Lee was a part of the Teaching Fellows program at Elon and an active part of the School of Education. Specifically, Lee worked with members of the School of Education to shed light on the experience of non-gender binary students in practicum settings. Lee’s experience and advocacy work have allowed faculty in the School of Education to begin conversations about opportunities to create more welcoming practicum environments and also develop impactful mentoring experiences. Today, Lee teaches seventh grade writing in Las Vegas and is adjusting to life as a new college graduate.

Laurin Kier

Laurin has worked at ľĂľĂČČ for 20 years and serves as director of tutorial services, assistant professor of sociology and member of the executive board of Alamance Pride. She has two grown children and two beautiful granddaughters. Laurin is a native North Carolinian who mourns what has become of her beautiful state politically in the last several years, but feels ľĂľĂČČ is a bright, progressive island that gives her hope. Over the years, Laurin has taught many of the members of the Elon LGBTQIA alumni group and especially treasures the memories from 12 years as the adviser for Elon’s Women’s Rugby club team and two years as a co-adviser of Spectrum.

Elizabeth Rogers (in absentia)

Elizabeth joined Elon in October 1996, when she moved from Loma Linda, California, to be the founding chair and program director for the then-master of physical therapy program. She was named the founding dean of Elon’s School of Health Science in April 2011 and a year later, the school moved to the newly remodeled Gerald L. Francis Center. In expanding the scope of the school, she played a critical role in the development of Elon’s physician assistant studies master’s program, which enrolled its first class in January 2013. After retiring in 2016, she moved back to Loma Linda with her spouse, Marianne, and daughter Brittany. She looks forward to travelling and hopes to visit every national park in the United States.