Love School of Business | Today at Elon | 消消犯 /u/news Fri, 24 Jul 2026 19:40:45 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Elon and Queens students present 消消犯 research at annual summer symposium /u/news/2026/07/24/elon-and-queens-students-present-消消犯-research-at-annual-summer-symposium/ Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:15:27 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051803

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Dozens of students showcased research projects inspired by personal experiences and academic interests, guided by faculty mentorship, during the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The most recent SURE symposium featured more than 50 students from both 消消犯 and Queens University of Charlotte, marking the latest example of collaboration between two institutions in the process of merging into a united community.

SURE continues to be one of the flagship events of Elons Undergraduate Research Program. This poster session is a celebration of their dedication and growth as budding young scholars, said Justin Clar, director of 消消犯 research and associate professor of chemistry. I was especially pleased that we were joined by amazing students from Queens who shared their work with the Elon community.

A student presents research on immigrant integration in Charlotte during a poster session at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
Sebastian Enrique Ramirez Araya 27, a Queens University of Charlotte international studies major, presents his research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations at Snow Family Grand Atrium on July 23, 2026.

At Elon, the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience has for years provided student researchers with a stipend to spend eight weeks working full-time on a project in collaboration with a faculty mentor with substantial and recognized expertise in the discipline.

The program concludes every July with a symposium that deepens students knowledge of the research experience while offering an opportunity to grow their public speaking and presentation skills.

It was a great opportunity for the students to share their summer research in a low-stakes environment,” said Kira McEntire, director of 消消犯 research and creative work; and associate professor of biology at Queens. “It was also fun to see the Elon students sharing their summer projects and to learn about some of the interests of Elon colleagues.”

At Queens, the university holds its annual in the spring, a campus-wide celebration of academic inquiry and community impact. The day starts with oral and poster presentations, followed by service activities in the afternoon.

Personal connections

For many students at SURE, like Elon studentThomas Gress 27, projects carried a deeply personal connection. Gress designed a four-week study comparing exercise approaches for people with chronic fatigue syndrome, inspired in part by his brothers experience with the condition.

 Thomas Gress 27 shares details of his research comparing exercise approaches for individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
Thomas Gress 27, an 消消犯 biology major, presents his research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition is a serious and often long-lasting illness that keeps people from doing their usual activities. It makes physical and mental exertion difficult, and symptoms include difficulty thinking, severe tiredness, and other issues.

Before I started this project, (my brother had) been suffering for four years, and there seemed to be no end in sight. So, this was something small that I could do to be of use, said Gress, a biology major from Savannah, Georgia. For all of these patients, theres no other option. There are no drugs available, only a few supplements with very little efficacy. So, it seems the best option is experimenting with lifestyle. And if not this, then there is nothing.

Queens student Isabella Sherman 27 has a love for nature that inspired her to explore plant communities at the Carolina Wildlands Foundation with mentor E. Davis Carter, assistant professor of biology at Queens.

It was an excellent experience, said Sherman, a conservation biology major from Charlotte. Its really close to what I want to do with my career. I love research, I love forestry, and every time I went out there, I was like, This is exactly what I want to do. This kind of information is what people take into consideration when theyre trying to develop land or provide an additional environment for fauna and flora.

Isabella Sherman points to data collected during her study of herpetofauna habitats in the South Carolina Piedmont during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.
Isabella Sherman 27, a Queens University of Charlotte conservation biology major, presents her research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

Mentoring relationships

A common thread among many of the projects was the close relationship students developed with their faculty mentors.

Anna Grace Gilbert 27, an Elon psychology major from Knoxville, Tennessee, says Associate Professor of Psychology Sabrina Perkins completely changed her 消消犯 experience through their work studying infant motor development.

An 消消犯 student discusses findings related to infant play and mother vocalizations during a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentation.
Anna Grace Gilbert 27, an 消消犯 psychology major, presents her research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

Ive worked with (Professor Perkins) technically since the summer of my freshman year. I just reached out to her and was like, I love babies. Id love to work with you, Gilbert said. Im very grateful. Weve really bonded over these almost three years.

For Jack VanValkenburg 27, a Queens student majoring in data analytics, 消消犯 research provided an opportunity to apply his technical skills. He worked with Queens Assistant Professor of Biology Denni Einersson to develop a computerized system for organizing trash collected during community cleanup events.

It was a great opportunity to work with people who know more than me. The coding that Ive done in the past is more analytical and this was more developmental, said VanValkenburg, who is from Atlanta. (Clean-up crews) would go out with field cards, like pencil and paper, and just mark things down, which was super timely and its very inconvenient, and then that just led to a lot of data that wasnt being used.”

Jack Van Valkenburg of Queens University of Charlotte discusses his project on digitizing environmental field data during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations.
Jack VanValkenberg 27, a Queens University of Charlotte data analytics major, presents his research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

Pushing through the learning process

Elon business analytics major Chase Hannibal 28 examined the sense of belonging among Black business students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly White Institutions. It can sometimes feel isolating as a Black female business student, Hannibal said.

Chase Hannibal 27, an 消消犯 business analytics major, prepares to present her research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

I just wanted to see if other students felt that way, and if it was a pattern, what could be fixed, Hannibal said. (I wanted to) let other students know that youre not alone.

Hannibal says her mentor, Shanetta Pendleton, assistant professor of strategic communications, pushed her to be better, even when she was at her stopping point.

Even when I felt at the worst of the worst, she supported me throughout everything, Hannibal said. She was great, and Im very excited to work with her in the future.

Amelia Weaver 28 also explored the experiences of college students, particularly women. Her Elon Honors Fellows research examines the motivations of college-aged women who participate in sports betting after she noticed women were less vocal about the topic in class discussions.

A young women presents a research presentation poster as a man listens and faces the poster
Juliana Viray 27, an 消消犯 nursing major, presents her research at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations in 消消犯’s Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schar Hall) on July 23, 2026.

It made me think about why the women in the class werent as talkative or excited about their own experiences with sports betting, said Weaver, a sport management and media analytics double major with a minor in . I wondered if this was because they didnt participate, didnt care, or they just didnt want to say anything.

Weaver said her mentor, Alex Traugutt, an assistant professor of sport management, has helped guide her through the process.

He immediately said, This is going to be a partnership. Were going to take steps together. Were going to figure this out together. Im not just going to throw you into everything, said Weaver. Thats been really helpful in the learning process.

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Inaugural Elon Phoenix Summer camp brings college life to high school students /u/news/2026/07/22/inaugural-elon-phoenix-summer-camp-brings-college-life-to-high-school-students/ Wed, 22 Jul 2026 19:34:12 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051713 消消犯 hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on Elons campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

“The transition from high school to college is one of the biggest milestones in a students life, and after working with first-year students for many years, Ive learned that one of the most common things they say is I wish I had known what to expect,” said Theresa Higgins, academic coordinator for alternative start programs. Phoenix Summer gives students the opportunity to experience college before they get here full time.

消消犯 lived in the residence halls, navigated campus, ate in the dining hall, learned from Elon faculty, connected with staff and explored the academic and social opportunities Elon has to offer.

Phoenix Summer student in the Chemistry in the kitchen class
Student making butter in the Chemistry in the kitchen Phoenix Summer course.

消消犯 selected two courses to take throughout the camp, including Order in the court!, An introduction to law and justice, taught by Shilanka Lewis, assistant professor of law; Chemistry in the kitchen, taught by Mary McManamy, associate 消消犯 professor of chemistry; Exploring astronomical and poetic light, taught by Claudine Moreau, assistant 消消犯 professor of physics; and Start-up Spring: concept to creation, taught by Elena Kennedy, associate professor of entrepreneurship and Dan Reis, assistant director of creative learning technologies.

Student looking at light sources in the "Exploring astronomical and poetic light" Phoenix Summer course.
Student in the Exploring astronomical and poetic light Phoenix Summer class.

The Phoenix Summer faculty were truly the highlight of this pre-college experience, Higgins said. Their enthusiasm, passion and genuine engagement with their subject matter inspired students to see college as a place to explore their interests and discover new possibilities.

Each day the students spent time learning and engaging in the classroom through a variety of hands-on lessons.

“The law class was my favorite part of the camp, said Ava Hendricks, an eleventh grade student from Raleigh, North Carolina. I have always been interested in law and what we have been doing in the class to prepare for a mock trial has been so cool. Phoenix Summer gave me the opportunity to picture college. I would never have known what college would be like without this possibility.

Three Phoenix Summer students sitting around a fire making s'mores
消消犯 making s’mores as part of the Phoenix Summer activities.

During the day, students participated in their courses, while evenings and weekends were filled with social events, activities, several off-campus excursions and signature Elon experiences to help students build community. Activities students participated in included a trivia night, human bingo, smore making, karaoke, a water balloon fight and a sip and paint.

“My favorite parts of the camp were meeting new people, living in a dorm and attending the classes, said Sienna Rohan, a twelfth grade student from Greensboro, Georgia. “Its been nice meeting new people, and Ive learned a lot about Elon.

Higgins’ hope is that students left the campwith not only a greater appreciation for Elon, but also a renewed excitement about the possibilities that lie ahead as the students transition from high school to college.

The primary goal of Phoenix Summer is to provide high school students with an authentic college experience that builds confidence, independence and a sense of belonging before they begin their college journey, Higgins said. The most exciting part of the camp was watching the students truly thrive in the experiences we intentionally designed for them.

Student standing at a podium during a mock trial in the Order in the court!, An introduction to law and justice class
Student during a mock trial in the Order in the court!, An introduction to law and justice Phoenix Summer course.

I watched them blossom from students who arrived on the first day feeling nervous and uncertain about what to expect into confident, engaged learners and, in the case of our Order in the Court students, budding lawyers in training. I hope they leave believing in themselves. Whether they ultimately choose Elon or another institution, I hope Elon will always hold a special place in their hearts as the place where they first experienced college and began to see themselves as future college students.

For more information about Phoenix Summer and information about future camps, contact Theresa Higgins, academic coordinator for alternative start programs, at thiggings7@elon.edu.

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Elon MBA named among Princeton Reviews Best Business Schools for 2027 /u/news/2026/07/20/elon-mba-named-among-princeton-reviews-best-business-schools-for-2027/ Mon, 20 Jul 2026 17:46:21 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051614 The Princeton Review has named the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business to its list of for 2027.

The Love School of Business is one of 208 schools included on the unranked annual list, which is based on surveys of business school administrators and MBA students.

The program earned its for faculty 消消犯 and availability. 消消犯 gave Elon a 97 for the quality of its professors as teachers and a 96 for faculty accessibility outside the classroom.

Our faculty set a high standard for 消消犯 while remaining deeply invested in each students success, said Haya Ajjan, dean of the Love School of Business. They bring strong academic and professional experience into the classroom, challenge students to grow and make themselves available beyond class. That combination is central to the Elon MBA experience.

The Princeton Review selected the programs using data collected in 202526 from administrators at 245 schools offering on-campus MBA programs and more than 24,250 students. More than 60 data points were considered, including academics, faculty, career services, technology, campus life and student satisfaction.

The Princeton Reviews of the Love School of Business highlights the MBA programs flexible format, small class sizes and supportive environment. 消消犯 surveyed for the profile praised the programs leadership focus, accessible professors and options for working professionals.

消消犯 also noted that professors are willing to meet outside class and bring professional experience into their courses.

About the MBA program

The Master of Business Administration program is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their business knowledge and leadership skills while continuing to work.

The program offers full- and part-time options, small classes and close access to faculty. 消消犯 also receive advising and career support throughout the program.

Applications are reviewed throughout the year for fall, winter and spring enrollment.

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Elon professor publishes Harvard Business School case study /u/news/2026/07/10/elon-professor-publishes-harvard-business-school-case-study/ Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:37:16 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051319 Jose Cerecedo Lopez, assistant professor of management in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, co-authored a new Harvard Business School case study that brings students into a strategic decision facing a Mexican hospitality and artisanal mezcal group.

The case, focuses on Grupo Los Danzantes as the company considers whether to launch a lower-cost mezcal line to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded global spirits market.

The proposed line, Encantado, could help the company reach broader international audiences and respond to distributor needs. But the move also raises questions about whether expansion could weaken the brands artisanal identity, cultural mission and long-standing relationships with producers.

The case asks students to weigh the strategic, operational and cultural trade-offs of growth within a mission-centered organization. 消消犯 must consider whether Destileria Los Danzantes should pursue category expansion or preserve its differentiated identity amid industry pressures.

The case was published by Harvard Business School through Harvard Business Publishing with co-authors James Riley and David G. Fubini at Harvard Business School and Bernal Cortes.

Harvard Business Publishing case studies are used by business educators to bring real-world decision-making into 消消犯, MBA and executive education programs.

Cerecedo Lopez joined 消消犯 in Fall 2024. Lopezs 消消犯 and research focus on organizational theory, entrepreneurship and strategy, with particular interest in how individuals make decisions under uncertainty.

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Elon professor research links community inclusion to employee retention /u/news/2026/07/10/elon-professor-research-links-community-inclusion-to-employee-retention/ Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:58:43 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051299 A new study co-authored by Barjinder Singh, associate professor of management in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, finds that employees experiences outside the workplace can affect how they feel at work and whether they intend to stay with their employer.

The research, looks at how perceptions of inclusion and acceptance in residential communities carry into the workplace.

Using survey responses from 151 employees at a U.S.-based manufacturing company, the researchers found that employees who viewed their communities as more inclusive reported greater psychological safety at work. That sense of psychological safety not only inspires the confidence to express the ones true self at work but is also linked to a stronger intent to stay with their organization.

Key findings:

  • Community experiences carry into the workplace. Employees who perceived their communities as more inclusive reported greater psychological safety at work.
  • Psychological safety is linked to retention. Employees who felt psychologically safe reported stronger intent to stay.
  • Support from inclusive communities may also help when workplaces are perceived as less supportive. The connection between community inclusion and psychological safety was strongest among employees who viewed their organizations diversity climate as less supportive.

The research is also part of discussions in Singhs Organizational Behavior and DEI courses at Elon.

It serves as a great way to help students understand that employees perceptions regarding organizational culture and inclusion are not confined to the workplace alone but are shaped by larger societal contexts, Singh said. I incorporate these discussions in my classroom to encourage students to think about how leaders can create psychologically safe environments and how organizations can engage with communities to support inclusion and employee retention.

The study was co-authored with Sarthak Singh of Sheldon B. Lubar College of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and T.T. Selvarajan of the College of Business and Economics at California State University, East Bay and published in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal.

Singh, who joined Elon in 2017, teaches courses in organizational behavior, human resource management and business ethics. His research has appeared in leading journals, including the Journal of Organizational Behavior, the Journal of Business Ethics and Human Resource Management.

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Elon professor research reviews rise of religious entrepreneurship /u/news/2026/07/07/elon-professor-research-reviews-rise-of-religious-entrepreneurship/ Tue, 07 Jul 2026 19:28:46 +0000 /u/news/?p=1051100 Religion can shape how people see work, purpose, risk and success. New research by Jose Cerecedo Lopez, assistant professor of management in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, examines how those beliefs and practices may also influence entrepreneurship.

The co-authored article, , looks at entrepreneurship beyond traditional business measures such as profit, growth and market opportunity.

It asks how religious beliefs and practices may shape the way entrepreneurs understand risk, make decisions, build organizations and define success. The research also considers how entrepreneurship may affect religious organizations and communities, making the relationship more complex than religion simply influencing business.

Key Highlights:

  • Religion may shape entrepreneurship at multiple points, from how entrepreneurs recognize opportunities and judge risk to how they seek funding, respond to uncertainty and define success.
  • Different religious traditions and practices may influence entrepreneurs in different ways. The article notes research connected to Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Judaism and other traditions, while cautioning that religion should not be treated as one single influence. Religious practice can also vary within the same religion.
  • The article introduces a framework showing how religious beliefs and practices may overlap with entrepreneurial thinking and action. Religious beliefs may shape how entrepreneurs think about opportunity, while religious practices may shape how they build relationships, access resources or run organizations.
  • The relationship may work both ways. Religion may shape entrepreneurship, but entrepreneurship may also shape religious organizations, practices and communities.
  • Future research could look more closely at how religious entrepreneurs measure success beyond profit, including financial, social, psychological and spiritual outcomes.

This research helps students think more carefully about how religion and faith can shape entrepreneurs motivations, decisions, relationships and definitions of success, said Cerecedo Lopez. That is especially relevant for students in the inaugural Love School of Business Summer Business Institute, who are serving as consultants for Hustle USA, a non-denominational, faith-based entrepreneurial support organization launching in Charlotte.

The article was published in Entrepreneurship & Regional Development with co-authors Chris Welter and Brett Smith at Miami University Ohio, Amanda Lawson at the University of Cincinnati and David Townsend at Virginia Tech.

Cerecedo Lopez joined 消消犯 in Fall 2024. Lopezs 消消犯 and research focus on organizational theory, entrepreneurship and strategy, with particular interest in how individuals make decisions under uncertainty.

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Elon, City of Charlotte partner to examine growth, mobility and opportunity /u/news/2026/07/02/elon-city-of-charlotte-partner-to-examine-growth-mobility-and-opportunity/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:41:13 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050954 As Charlotte continues to grow, city leaders are asking an important question: How can growth create opportunities for the businesses and communities that already call the region home?

That question brought together students, professionals, community members and local government leaders for the Charlotte Decision Challenge, hosted through 消消犯’s Master of Science in Business Analytics Flex program in partnership with the City of Charlotte.

Guided throughout the day by Lakeisha Vance, assistant 消消犯 professor of business analytics, and Vinayaka Gude, assistant professor of business analytics, participants worked in teams using real data and a custom analytics platform to explore potential impacts along the proposed Red Line corridor and develop recommendations aimed at supporting businesses and communities as growth continues across the region.

“One of the strengths of the MSBA Flex program is the opportunity to bring together industry partners, community leaders and learners from a variety of backgrounds to tackle real challenges,” said Mark Kurt, associate dean of curriculum and academic programming at the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. “Partnerships like this allow us to apply analytics in ways that extend beyond the classroom and support the communities we serve.”

For city leaders, the challenge offered an opportunity to bring new voices into conversations that will help shape Charlotte’s future.

“As city leaders, we have to constantly ask ourselves who’s not here and who’s impacted by the decisions we’re making, said Charlitta Hatch, deputy chief information officer and chief data and analytics officer for the City of Charlotte. Bringing students, professionals and community members into that process helps us see challenges from new perspectives.”

Between July 2024 and July 2025, Charlotte added more residents than any other city in the nation. Transportation infrastructure will play an important role in supporting that growth. As city leaders look toward future transit investments, they are also looking closely at lessons learned from previous transit projects and how those experiences can inform future decisions.

The proposed Red Line will bring commuter rail service to communities north of Charlotte, including Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson. Throughout the challenge, participants looked to experiences from Charlotte’s existing Blue Line light rail system and explored themes including business ownership, entrepreneurship and economic mobility.

For Jackie Tynan, data analytics manager for the City of Charlotte, that combination of perspectives is exactly what makes partnerships like this valuable.

“The students here today are a different generation than those in leadership making the decisions,” Tynan said. “By including the voices of our future in the decisions, we can build stronger outcomes that reflect what matters most to them and better prepare them for whats ahead. ”

Hatch described universities as “community think tanks” and emphasized the value of collaboration between higher education and local government.

“The partnerships are critical because we are limited in what we know and what we can do,” Hatch said. “The breadth that you have, from researchers to practitioners to emerging talent, really helps us make sure we are recommending the best solutions for our community.”

By the end of the event, participants had transformed publicly available data into recommendations for one of Charlotte’s most important future infrastructure projects, demonstrating the role collaboration can play in shaping stronger communities.

“It makes me hopeful about what a larger group can do over a longer period of time,” Tynan said.

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Elon faculty bring SoTL expertise to International Educators Network /u/news/2026/06/30/elon-faculty-bring-sotl-expertise-to-international-educators-network/ Tue, 30 Jun 2026 15:10:43 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050790 Two Elon faculty members recently shared their expertise in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) with a global audience, delivering a keynote for the on June 17.

Sarah Bunnell, director of Elon’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and associate professor of psychology, and George Talbert, assistant professor of marketing and sales, co-presented “The Power of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Individual and Institutional Transformation, in Business Schools and Beyond.” The online session marked the group’s second community event and drew educators from across Europe and beyond.

Bunnell opened by tracing SoTL’s roots to Ernest Boyer’s influential 1990 framework, which expanded the definition of scholarship to include systematic study of student learning. She then expanded on the field’s history to include later contributions from scholars like Elons Peter Felten, assistant provost for 消消犯 and learning, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning, and professor of history, whose work has helped establish public dissemination, peer review and collaboration as foundational principles of SoTL practice.

Talbert then offered a personal lens, reflecting on his own transition from a senior marketing and sales career into higher education and how engaging with SoTL has reshaped his approach to 消消犯 and student learning. Rather than focusing solely on content delivery and student satisfaction, he described moving toward deeper questions about how students’ thinking develops and whether his 消消犯 approaches achieve their intended learning outcomes. This personal insight was highlighted by event organizers as a , and its accessibility to faculty across disciplines, not just educational researchers.

Bunnell and Talberts work is an example of meaningful collaboration between faculty across disciplines who center student learning, professional growth, and development of ones 消消犯 practice within their work. Their session is a meaningful contribution to the growing international dialogue about SoTL’s role in higher education, which Elon is increasingly recognized as leading. The invitation for the keynote reflects the continued recognition of Elon’s leadership in 消消犯 消消犯 and educational development on the global stage. Following the session, Bunnell and Talbert were invited to remain engaged with the international SoTL community, with plans to continue building on the conversation in future collaborations.

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Beyond 12 summer program encourages career and self-exploration /u/news/2026/06/25/beyond-12-summer-program-encourages-career-and-self-exploration/ Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:32:45 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050571 As middle school studentsenteratransitionalperiod of their lives,Beyond12 is planting seedsforthemto start thinking about the future.

消消犯 observe a medical simulation as an instructor demonstrates patient assessment on a mannequin in a hospital training room.
Beyond 12 students and staff practice using the Interprofessional Simulation Center.

To kick offthe summer,Beyond12 welcomed50rising sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students to 消消犯 for a hands-on exploration of careerpathways andinterests.Throughout two days, students traveled acrosscampus,participatedin interactive learning experiences, and engaged with 消消犯 faculty, staff, and communitymembersrepresentinga variety of professional fields.

Each sessionoffereda uniquelearningexperience for the students.During an introduction to cinema and television arts led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects in the School of Communications, students explored the university’s live television studio andviewedstudent madeproductions. Participants also gained hands-onexperiencesuch as with Elons Interprofessional Simulation Center, where Nita Skillman, director of the ISC, and Bethany Fearnow, simulation coordinator, introduced students tousinghealthcare simulation technology.In addition to exploringcareers, students were able toobservedifferent facilities onElonscampus. During a sports management session led by Jenn Strawley, director of athletics, participants stepped into the world of collegiate athletics with a visit to the Schar Center, where theygot a behind the scenes look at Elon Athletics.

A group of students walks toward the Schar Center entrance during a guided campus visit.
消消犯 visit the Schar Center to learn about careers in athletics.

“Spending time with the Beyond 12 program was such a rewarding experience. I appreciatedtheir curiosity and loved their questions, saidStrawley.I hope that hearing about my journey and learning about career pathways in college athletics opened their minds to new possibilities and inspired them to continue to dream.

消消犯 also had the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations with presenters, asking questions, and gaining deeper insight into different fields.

I spoke with the students about what finance, corporate finance, and investment really are, and I was genuinely surprised by how interested they were, said Feng Dong, director of the Reed Finance Center. Many asked great questions, and even the teachers were engaged. Beyond 12 gives students an early, hands-on look at fields they may not have considered,exactly the kind of exposure that can shape where they go next.

消消犯 watch a faculty member demonstrate computer programming in the William Garrard Reed Finance Center.
Feng Dong, assistant professor of finance, introduces the Reed Finance Center to students.

The program had an equallymeaningful impact onthepresentersinvolved. Dr. Janine A. Scott, founder ofTriUnityHealthcare Inc., shared her story of overcoming adversity and creating positive change through her work in healthcare, and found herself thinking about the impact of programs such as Beyond 12.

I really enjoyed myself during my interaction with both the students and staff, Scott said. Just hearing what they were doing prior to coming to our session made me wish I was a student again and able to participate.

A large group of students poses behind a television news desk inside 消消犯s student media studio.
Beyond 12 students visit the Jane and Brian Williams Studio as a part of Bryan Baker’s Cinema and Television Arts session.

Through experiences like these,Beyond12ishelpingstudents recognizea wide range ofopportunitieswithin their reach.

I remarked to someone that I wish I had the opportunity to attend a program like this back in my day.Itruly believethat exposure and representationmatters, and that is exactly what these students gained from being part of the Beyond 12 program, said Scott.

Following the summer session,participatingstudents from Turrentine Middle School and Broadview Middle School willattendmonthly Beyond 12 sessions throughout the academic year, where theywill continueto focus on career readiness anddeveloping essential life skills.Beyond 12 programming is made possible through the generous support of NC Glaxo Smith Kline.

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Making an impact: 消消犯 contribute more than 88,000 hours of service /u/news/2026/06/22/making-an-impact-students-contribute-more-than-88000-hours-of-service/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:15:54 +0000 /u/news/?p=1050331 During the 2025-26 academic year,thousands of students contributed their time and talents to address community needs, strengthen local organizations, and build meaningful partnerships through curricular and co-curricular community engagement. The infographic below highlights the powerful impact that students, faculty, staff, and community partners have made together.


Infographic showing 88,084 student service hours, 3,256 participants, 44,485 course-linked hours, and community impact by student groups.


Alongside this infographic, these stories highlight some of the positive impact across campus through community partnerships during the past academic year:

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