Journalist and author Katherine Blunt ’15 acknowledges a challenging reality – that today’s graduates are leaving institutions of higher learning across the country and embarking on professional journeys in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn and think. But she left the students at �þ���’s Graduate Program Commencement ceremony on May 20 with reason to feel hopeful amid so much uncertainty.

While many people may be tempted by the path of least resistance, Elon cultivates leaders who are deeply rooted in collaboration, communication and, most importantly, the ability to think critically.

“As scholars, we have a responsibility to challenge AI’s assumptions in the same way we’ve learned to challenge our own,” Blunt said, “to treat it as a debate partner or research assistant, to find new ways to augment our thinking, not replace the process.”

Elon conferred graduate degrees on students from five master’s-level programs – Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Education in Innovation – during a joint ceremony in Alumni Gym, where they were surrounded by the loved ones and faculty and staff mentors who championed their education.

Think about what it took to get here. The value in every paper you wrote or project you tackled came not just from the final product, but the mental strength and confidence you built in the process. You didn’t skip the struggle. You embraced the chance to grow.

Katherine Blunt ’15

In her introduction of Blunt, Dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Ann Bullock pointed out that Blunt’s work is highly relevant to every graduate from both the School of Education and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Her in-depth reporting on artificial intelligence provides essential knowledge as teachers strive to prepare students to think critically about AI-generated content and digital information. And for those in business, Blunt’s coverage of corporate accountability, energy infrastructure and the explosive growth of AI-driven industries aids in understanding the forces reshaping markets, supply chains and organizational strategy.

Blunt reminded graduates in both fields that AI doesn’t think but rather repeats what has already been said and mimics opinions. Asking it to form opinions and conclusions on our behalf, she said, removes the friction that comes with processing information and generating ideas ourselves.

“That satisfaction is what I hope you feel today,” Blunt said. “Think about what it took to get here. The value in every paper you wrote or project you tackled came not just from the final product, but the mental strength and confidence you built in the process. You didn’t skip the struggle. You embraced the chance to grow.”

Blunt was a Lumen Scholar and news editor of The Pendulum student newspaper at Elon before graduating in 2015 with a degree in journalism and history. She reported first for the San Antonio Express-News and then the Houston Chronicle prior to joining the Wall Street Journal in 2018, covering power, renewable energy and utilities. Her coverage with colleagues of Pacific Gas and Electric was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and earned top journalism honors including a Gerald Loeb Award.

Blunt is the author of “California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric — and What It Means for America’s Power Grid,” a national bestseller and the 2022 Golden Poppy Award winner for nonfiction. She is now based in San Francisco, reporting for the Journal on Google and how artificial intelligence is reshaping search, along with related stories such as the rapid data-center buildout and its implications for the power grid.

During her Commencement address, Blunt told graduates that their Elon degrees and the relationships they built with professors put them at a distinct advantage in their careers.

“If you are in business, you are prepared to be the strategist who understands the importance of relationships among colleagues, customers and competitors. If you are in education, you are prepared to be the mentor who understands that learning is as emotional as it is logical.

“Algorithms can sort, count and summarize. But only you have empathy, a strong moral compass and the ability to tell a great story. Go do what only humans can do: Act with care, take risks and trust the intuition that comes from living in an imperfect world. Our schools and businesses will be better for it.”

The master’s candidates also heard from Yates May ’23 L’25 G’26, a triple Elon graduate who delivered the Message of Appreciation. A Burlington native with a family full of proud Elon alumni, May began taking Elon classes while still in high school through a dual-enrollment program and went on to double major in strategic communications and journalism, earned her law degree in December and received her MBA during the May 20 ceremony.

She recently asked about 20 current students and alumni to share one word that encapsulates what Elon means to them, and many shared the same word she would choose herself – home. She wondered why Elon felt like home to so many people she spoke with across different fields and experiences.

“I think the answer starts with this – at Elon, we are not anonymous,” May said. “People know when you don’t show up. Professors, they check in. And friends, they notice. In a world that at times can feel so disconnected, this type of connection and care is rare.”

May reflected on how Elon not only teaches students to think critically, but to invest in one another. Elon constantly encourages its students to grow while still making them feel supported, she said, pushing them beyond their comfort zone and reminding them that they don’t have to face moments of uncertainty alone.

“That support system is what allowed so many of us to become the people that we are today,” May said. “And that’s important because soon, each of us will scatter across different cities, different states, different countries, classrooms, courtrooms, newsrooms, businesses, communities all over the world. But when we leave behind Elon, Elon does not leave us. We carry it with us. We carry Elon in the way that we lead, in the way that we treat people, in the way that we show up for others.”

President Connie Ledoux Book closed the ceremony by charging the graduates to be resilient and steadfast like the oak trees for which Elon is named in their next endeavors. As she presented the students with a sapling in recognition of their growth throughout their Elon education, she reminded them that oaks symbolize the strength of Elon’s community – strength that now resides in each of them.

“My hope is that each time you see an acorn or an oak tree,” Book said, “you are reminded of the personal leadership you have developed during your studies at Elon – strengths and skills that I’m counting on you to use to make a positive difference in our world.”

View the complete list of graduates from the spring 2026 Graduate Program Commencement ceremony.

She will also tell you Edison, New Jersey, her hometown, has a tower honoring Thomas Edison. She has visited once.

“It was electric,” Carlsen joked.

That quick humor is part of what makes Carlsen easy to talk to. But underneath the wit is a student-athlete with a clear sense of purpose, a sharp analytical mind and a deep interest in work that keeps people at the center.

Carlsen came to �þ��� with one season of volleyball eligibility, a public health background and a question she was still working through: What comes next?

The answer, as it turned out, involved a familiar coach, a new team and a graduate program that helped her see how data could support the kind of mission-driven work she had always cared about.

Carlsen, a Master of Science in Business Analytics student, earned �þ��� degrees in public health and environmental science from Johns Hopkins University. She had spent much of her academic and professional experience drawn to work with a clear purpose, especially in public health and environmental science.

“What stayed consistent for me was wanting to do work that felt mission-driven,” Carlsen said. “I wanted to be part of work that had a clear purpose and could make a meaningful difference for people.”

After completing her �þ��� degree, Carlsen was considering her next step when she reconnected with Matt Troy, who had coached her at Johns Hopkins and was named Elon’s head volleyball coach in December 2024.

Carlsen still had one year of athletic eligibility remaining after an injury earlier in her college career, and Troy saw an opportunity for her to help shape a new chapter for Elon volleyball.

For Carlsen, the possibility of coming to Elon was about more than playing one more season.

“I knew I wanted to continue my education eventually, but I wanted it to feel purposeful,” Carlsen said. “The MSBA program felt like something I could fully invest in.”

Carlsen said the one-year structure, technical focus and support for students from different academic backgrounds made the program feel like the right fit. She saw it as a way to build the skills she wanted while staying connected to work that keeps people at the center.

“Hopkins gave me a strong foundation,” Carlsen said. “At Elon, I saw an opportunity to build on that with technical skills that would help me become a stronger employee and decision-maker.”

Carlsen found that Elon’s MSBA curriculum paired technical skills with practical application. In one trimester, she studied Python and Tableau in Assistant Professor Long Xia’s data visualization course while also taking “Business for the Greater Good” with Associate Professor Elena Kennedy.

For Carlsen, the pairing helped her understand analytics as more than numbers or software. It was also about how information is shared, understood and used.

“You’re getting the technical foundations,” Carlsen said, “but also learning how to translate those findings in a way that is ethical and makes sense to other stakeholders.”

That connection became clearer through her internship with Cone Health, where she worked on patient experience projects. The role helped her see how health care organizations can use data to identify gaps in care, understand patient experiences and make more informed decisions.

“I got to work on a whole bunch of different projects and figure out how every part of health care touches patient experience,” Carlsen said.

The experience helped confirm the direction she hopes to pursue after graduation.

“Ideally, it would be a role that is people-centric, but also uses analytics to make decisions and hopefully make their lives better,” Carlsen said.

Carlsen’s Elon experience also helped her understand leadership in a new way.

In a course taught by Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Carlsen examined her own leadership style, practiced negotiation and worked through real-world scenarios involving conflict, influence and decision-making.

The timing was meaningful. She was coming off her final collegiate volleyball season and beginning to think about how the leadership skills she had built as an athlete could translate into professional settings.

“It was a class based on identifying your own leadership strategies and the way that you lead,” Carlsen said. “It was very tangible.”

Carlsen said Mercado brought leadership concepts to life by creating a discussion-based environment where students could connect course material to their own experiences.

“You can lecture all day long about leadership,” Carlsen said. “But what made the class meaningful was the way she shared real examples and encouraged us to think about how leadership shows up in our own lives.”

Carlsen had spent more than a decade learning those lessons on the volleyball court.

She began playing around age 11 after watching her older sister play. She was drawn to the communication, shared responsibility and constant movement of the sport.

“There are six of you on the court. Everyone is touching the ball at some point,” Carlsen said. “Everything is a team effort.”

At Johns Hopkins, Carlsen competed on a successful Division III team that regularly reached the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four appearance during her senior season. At Elon, she stepped into something different: a new team, a new coaching staff

For Carlsen, coming to Elon was never about stepping into an established program. It was about being invited into one.

“Coach Troy gave me an opportunity I will always be grateful for,” Carlsen said. “I got to come here, work alongside an incredible group of players and help build something we could all be proud of. And I got to do it while getting an education that genuinely changed how I think. I couldn’t have asked for more than that.”

One of Carlsen’s favorite Elon volleyball memories came at Towson, the CAA leader that entered the weekend on an 18-match winning streak.

After dropping the opening match of the weekend, the Elon team came back the next day with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“When you’re building something new, there’s a freedom to it. Every match is a chance to show people, and yourself, what you’re capable of,” she said.

The Phoenix pushed Towson to five sets and won the final set 17-15, snapping the Tigers’ winning streak and giving Elon its first win over Towson since 2022.

“It felt really good to beat someone that hadn’t been beaten in a long time,” Carlsen said.

That same mix of grit, humor and initiative carried through her graduate year. Carlsen moved to Elon knowing Coach Troy and almost no one else. The cohort structure of the MSBA program helped change that. �þ��� took classes together, worked through the same challenges and built friendships through the intensity of a one-year graduate program.

A January study abroad experience in Madrid and Milan became a turning point for the cohort. The group visited companies, learned about international business practices and spent enough time together outside the classroom to become more than classmates.

“You’re going out to dinner, you’re exploring a city, you’re in it together,” Carlsen said. “That was the point where we were all like, ‘Why not be friends?’”

The trip also gave Carlsen a broader view of how culture shapes business. In Spain, the group met with a U.S. commercial diplomat who discussed adapting to a more relationship-driven business culture. In Italy, students learned about the significance of “Made in Italy” goods and the role of craftsmanship, pace and cultural identity in business.

For a student interested in how decisions are made, the experience reinforced that analytics does not exist in a vacuum. Data helps people make choices, but those choices are always shaped by context.

Carlsen also found support through the Porter Family Professional Development Center, especially from Amanda Traugutt, senior associate director of career services – Love School of Business.

Carlsen reached out shortly after moving to Elon, bringing what she described as “a ton of really big ideas” about life after graduation. Traugutt helped her narrow them down, polish application materials and think more intentionally about possible career paths.

“She will walk with you where you are, but a few steps ahead to help lead you in the right direction,” Carlsen said. “She’s your biggest cheerleader.”

As graduation approaches, Carlsen is looking forward to sharing the moment with the people who understand what the year required. The MSBA program is fast, intense and, for Carlsen, layered with practices, lifts, games, travel, classes and an internship.

Her advice to future students is simple: take initiative.

“The best things that have come up for me have been direct products or byproducts of taking initiative,” Carlsen said.

That includes building relationships with professors, using career resources, connecting with classmates, and paying attention to the opportunities that appear along the way.

“I didn’t come in with a business background,” Carlsen said. “But I am leaving more confident in my ability to hold my ground in conversations about business and analytics.”

The event, “” will take place on May 6 at 6:30 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina and is hosted by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

The session is open to the public and designed for working professionals interested in strengthening their data and analytics skills in a rapidly changing environment.

The program will focus on how AI tools are being used to move from raw data to usable insights more efficiently. Attendees will be introduced to practical approaches for working with data, building simple visualizations and generating summaries using tools such as ChatGPT, Power BI and Claude.

Participants will also explore how different prompting approaches can influence results, highlighting the role of prompting in shaping analysis, interpretation and communication.

Designed as an introductory, application-focused session, the program offers a practical look at how AI is being incorporated into workflows across analytics, strategy and operations roles, and how professionals can begin to build these capabilities in their own work.

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop to follow along during the session.

The session will be led by Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration, in collaboration with Elon AI.

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

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

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

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

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

A Changing Landscape

Elon’s growth reflects broader shifts across higher education.

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

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

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

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

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

A Critical Call for Health Care

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skills for a Changing Economy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Expanding Access to Legal Education

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

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

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

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

Looking Ahead

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

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

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

�þ��� learn in small classes and receive personalized mentorship from faculty while completing applied, project-based coursework that can connect directly to workplace challenges.

A distinguishing feature of the Charlotte-based program is its focus on the intersection of analytics, artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship.

“What distinguishes the MSBA Flex program in Charlotte is its focus on AI in action,” said Mark Kurt, associate dean for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. “�þ��� move beyond theory to design applied analytics and AI tools, supported by faculty mentorship, a Charlotte-based professional community and immersive experiences that show how organizations are using data to drive innovation.”

Coursework introduces students to core analytics concepts and modern approaches to working with data, with applied projects that emphasize real-world problem solving and decision-making.

MSBA Flex students will also have the opportunity to participate in a 3 to 4 day immersive domestic experience at no additional cost, offering a closer look at how organizations apply analytics and AI to drive impact.

Elon’s National �þ��� in Charlotte places students near employers and organizations across finance, health care, consulting and tech, supporting networking and applied learning.

More information about the MSBA Flex Program in Charlotte.

Elon’s National �þ���

As part of �þ���’s strategic plan for 2030, Boldly Elon, the university has identified key areas for deepening and expanding its national footprint to areas that include Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and other strategic locations. National �þ��� Programs aspire to be an extension of Elon’s main campus by bringing the same quality, energy, engagement and service to our constituents around the country. These campuses benefit the greater university by offering unique professional and cultural experiences to �þ��� and graduate students that they can only experience in these select locations and provide engagement for external members of the Elon community.

Elon’s National �þ���es each host robust activity centered around engaged, place-based, academic programs offering new opportunities for current students through internships and Elon’s Study USA programs. Each campus supports multiple Elon partners (alumni, admissions, advancement, career services, athletics, professional and continuing education, and more) by collaboratively working with these departments to host distinctive events, programs and workshops that support their respective constituents to advance Elon’s national footprint.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Micaela Acosta G’25

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

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

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

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

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

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting

Nick Amatulli
B.S., �þ���

Juliet Baudoin
B.S., �þ���

Cailin Daigle
B.S., �þ���

Kelly Degnan
B.S., �þ���

Emma Flynn
B.S., �þ���

Wise Halverson
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Anna Hamner
B.S., �þ���

Josh Hazlett
B.S., �þ���

Blake Kessel
B.S., �þ���

Tabitha Knedeisen
B.S., �þ���

Vincent Ruggiero
B.S., �þ���

Charlotte Scully
B.S., �þ���

Allison Silvernale
B.S., �þ���

Juliet Walker
B.A., �þ���

Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics

Ananya Agrawal
B.A., Assumption University

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

Robert Barcello
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Craig Brandstetter
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Nicholas Buchholz
B.A., Fordham University

Juan Callejo-Ropero
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Adam Cheifetz
B.A., �þ���

Mackenzie Deming
B.S.B.A., �þ���

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

Annie Grantais
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Cece Guyader
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Narjis Jebali
B.S., SKEMA Business School

Jazlyn Jefferson
B.S., Hampton University

Mikayla Jones
B.A., Catawba College

Charline Kergueris
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Madeline Ludwig
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Mariana Martinez
B.B.A., Christian University

Will McCoy
B.A., �þ���

Simone Royal George
M.Ed., Washington University

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

Victor Stromsten
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Liz Sulley
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Madison Synowiec
B.S., �þ���

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

Dylan Tucker
B.S.B.A., �þ���

Candidates for the Master of Business Administration

John Acebu
B.A., Xavier University

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

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

Davis Cheek
B.S.B.A., �þ���

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

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

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

Kendra Haskins
B.A., Duke University

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

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

Emily Lyons
B.S., Western Carolina University

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

Aaron Mellette
B.S., �þ���

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

Ayo Onasanya
B.A., �þ���
J.D., �þ���

Moni Pao
B.S., North Carolina State University

William McGeachy Roberson
B.A., Davidson College

William Rock
B.S., Trident University

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

Patrick Schwartz
B.S., University of Hartford

Jon Seaton
B.A., �þ���

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

Sean Walker
B.A., �þ���

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

Aaron Whetstone
B.S., Clemson University

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

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education

Emma Rose Varner Calhoun
B.A., Duke University

Seth Lawrence Lasher
B.S., Kentucky Wesleyan College

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

Cassandra McLean North
B.A., Roger Williams University

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

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

Candidates for the Master of Education

Micaela Acosta
Bachelor’s, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca

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

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

Erika Conde Garcia
Bachelor’s, Universidad Del Valle

Hailey Firmin
B.A., �þ���

Lu Li
B.A., Tonghua Normal University

Rebecca McLamb
B.A., �þ���

Ana Gabriela Peñaranda
Bachelor’s, Universidad de Cuenca

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

Zoë Rein
B.A., �þ���

Matthew R. Trez
B.A., �þ���

Nan Ye
Bachelor’s, Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang

Qianhan Yi
Bachelor’s, China West Normal University

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

Led by Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, and Robert Moorman, the Frank S. Holt, Jr. Professor of Business Leadership and professor of organizational behavior, the nine-day experience took students from the streets of Seoul to the industrial city of Pohang.

The program provided an up-close look at how tradition and technology coexist in one of Asia’s most dynamic economies.

“Every experience challenged me to look beyond familiar corporate models,” said Madeline Ludwig ’23 G’25, an MSBA student from Nashville, Tennessee. “From the moment we touched down, I realized how deeply cultural values like respect and teamwork influence business operations here.”

�þ��� began to see a recurring theme during site visits.

“I was amazed by how ancient customs fit seamlessly with high-tech innovation,” said Liz Sulley ’25 G’25, an MSBA student from Staten Island, New York. “It’s an approach I’d love to bring into my future career, where tradition and progress can complement each other.”

In between company tours, the cohort also met with individuals who fled North Korea through Freedom Speakers International. Hearing firsthand accounts of resilience and reinvention provided new perspectives on societal challenges.

“Their stories highlighted incredible perseverance,” Sulley said. “It also brought home the region’s humanitarian issues—something that rarely surfaces in day-to-day business discussions.”

Beyond formal meetings, cultural immersion added depth to what students learned in conference rooms. Ludwig and her cohort enjoyed late-night karaoke sessions and sampling puffer fish as steps in understanding Korean approaches to collaboration and problem-solving.

“Diving into everyday customs gave me a richer sense of how Koreans work together,” Ludwig said. “It’s something I’ll carry with me in any team environment.”

Site visits included:

• Posco Steel in Pohang
• Wells Fargo Korea
• Samjeong KPMG
• EY Korea
• SV Investment
• Ringle AI Tutors

For many, witnessing South Korea’s rapid economic development, less than a century after devastation offered lessons in adaptability and a broader global awareness.

“Seeing how they rebuilt and continue to innovate reminded me that business success is deeply tied to resilience,” Ludwig said. “There’s no better classroom than the world itself.”

Both students encouraged peers to seek out global study opportunities.

“Studying abroad isn’t just about adding passport stamps; it’s about transforming your perspective,” Sulley said. “If you get the chance, go. You’ll grow in ways you never imagined.”

This is the first known test of the incidence of an incivility spiral due to communications enacted through ICT. According to the authors, there is special cause for concern given the often-impersonal nature of ICT use (and abuse) in organizations. Individuals may feel emboldened by the distance and perceived safety ICT mediation affords and may be less likely to moderate their online interactions with colleagues. Absent the physical intimacy and non-verbal signals that face-to-face interactions provide, individuals may be more likely to perpetuate incivility in ICT interactions even if there is no implicit intent to harm others.

The primary finding was that ICT incivility in the workplace has the potential to spiral, insofar as incivility victims are likely to become incivility perpetrators in the future. The research shows how technology-mediated communication can influence workplace relationships and behaviors, impacting overall workplace culture. By understanding the dynamics of incivility perpetuation through ICT, managers and organizational leaders can work toward promoting respectful and positive interactions in both virtual and physical work spaces.

ICT use is ubiquitous in organizations and maintaining high standards for civil discourse through the varied communication media may help organizations enhance collaboration, support employee emotional well-being, and deepen organizational commitment. Additionally, civil online interactions may help organizations avoid an escalation of other deviant behaviors in the future.

In online ICT interactions, the research team generally found that “what goes around, comes around.”

This certificate is ideal for those in the health care industry looking to advance their careers or for professionals eager to transition into this growing field.

“Our graduate certificate in health care analytics is designed to empower professionals with the skills and knowledge to make impactful, data-driven decisions in healthcare,” says Haya Ajjan, associate dean of the Love School of Business. “We are committed to providing an education that is both practical and transformative, preparing our students to lead in an ever-changing industry.”

Health care analytics has a, with a $110,680 anticipated median salary. The certificate could prepare professionals with the necessary experience to assume positions such as Chief Medical Information Officer, Vice President of Advanced Analytics, Senior Data Analyst, Vice President of Quality Improvement, Healthcare Analytics Advisor, Director of Analytics, Research Manager, Data Consultant, and Product Developer.

Program Highlights

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Gain in-depth knowledge in areas such as data management, statistical analysis, predictive modeling, and data visualization.
• Experienced Faculty: Learn from distinguished faculty members who bring academic excellence and real-world industry experience to the classroom.
• Flexible Learning Options: Our program offers evening and online classes, allowing you to balance your studies with your work and personal commitments.
• Hands-On Experience: Engage in real-world projects and case studies that provide practical, hands-on experience.
• Networking Opportunities: The program offers ample networking opportunities to help you expand your professional connections and advance your career.

“With recent advancements in AI, this certificate equips professionals with cutting-edge skills in natural language processing, large language models, and computer vision,” said Long Xia, assistant professor of management information systems. “Graduates gain the knowledge to tackle real-world healthcare challenges and drive AI-assisted solutions, positioning themselves at the forefront of health care innovation.”

Who Should Enroll?

This course is ideal for professionals who wish to gain a greater understanding of statistics, machine learning, data management, and reporting. This includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, IT professionals, and professionals with engineering backgrounds who are transitioning into the health care industry.

Complete the graduate certificate program in as few as nine months (12 credit hours). �þ��� who successfully complete the graduate certificate can “stack” earned credits into Elon’s Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs.

Program Investment: $8,520 ($710 per credit hour)

How to Apply

Applications for the Fall 2024 semester are due July 15 and can be completed online. Prospective students must have completed a bachelor’s degree before enrollment.

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Analytics and discover how it can help you achieve your career goals. Please visit the Health Care Analytics Certificate page for more information, including admission requirements and application deadlines.

“Graduates, a commencement is the beginning of a new chapter of your life, and you are now armed with the knowledge from an advanced degree to begin something new,” Gaither said. “The Elon motto is ‘numen lumen,’ which signifies spiritual light and intellectual light. At Elon, you have walked in the light. Now, you enter the world as the light.”

The joint ceremony in Alumni Gym recognized graduates from the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics and Master of Business Administration programs in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the Master of Arts in Interactive Media program in the School of Communications; and the Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Education programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.

Stephen Gyan of the Master of Arts in Higher Education program, who was selected to deliver the message of appreciation on behalf of his fellow students, encouraged the graduates to embrace the beauty of the unknown. A first-generation college student from Ghana, Gyan traveled 5,389 miles to realize his goal of earning a master’s degree and deepening his understanding of how educational systems nurture people and transform societies.

He shared how overwhelming it was at times to pursue an advanced degree in an unfamiliar country, an ocean way from his family. But Gyan’s Elon experience also broadened his educational and professional horizons and boosted his confidence in his own abilities, leading him to pursue his Ph.D. this September.

“There’s power in the unknown, and it’s important to reframe it as a catalyst for action,” Gyan said. “Life may be complex, but I firmly believe that when we trust ourselves and take initiative in the present moment, the world will conspire to help us achieve our dreams.”

Gyan said he believes that earning their master’s degrees Wednesday night signified a stepping stone for the future he and his fellow graduates want to create for themselves. With a commitment to learning continuously, constantly seeking mentorship and acting proactively, he said he felt confident the graduates would leave Elon well equipped to take on whatever comes next for them.

“Let’s draw inspiration from taking small steps even when the path isn’t clear,” Gyan said. “By doing this, we become bold, action-oriented and willing to experiment. It will free us from the fear of inadequacy and imposter syndrome and empower us to embrace the humanity that includes failure as part of our journey. After all, our actions can have a variety of outcomes – it can be good, it can be bad or somewhere in between. But the most important thing is that we would have tried. Colleagues, let’s choose to be optimistic and embrace the positive world that awaits us.”

André Valcour, vice president and laboratory director with the Center for Esoteric Testing and discipline director of allergy, coagulation and endocrinology at Labcorp, echoed the importance of lifelong learning in his keynote address. He remarked on humans’ capacity to adapt to change and reflected on how rapidly the world has evolved throughout his own educational and professional journey.

When he took his first computer programming course in college, he submitted his homework on punch cards. His doctoral dissertation at the University of Vermont was the school’s first to be written on a word processor rather than a typewriter. Today, people carry computers in their pockets or wear them on their wrists and are now experimenting with artificial intelligence as a resource. To keep up with such exponential evolution, Valcour said it’s imperative that people always aspire to learn.

“To soar in the age of explosive change, you will need to constantly increase your knowledge and skills,” said Valcour, a 2014 graduate of Elon’s MBA program. “You will need to be a lifelong learner to be a lifelong success. The days when you could get a four-year degree or even a graduate degree and think that it would sustain you for a lifetime are over.”

To be successful in today’s world, Valcour encouraged the graduates to routinely assess what further self-development they need, what further knowledge and skills they need, what standards they should set for themselves and what strengths they should employ. He also urged them to be proactive in exploring mentoring relationships with people who are smarter than them, people who will provide guidance and support, and people who will challenge them.

“You must remember that if you will be successful in this kind of relationship, you must be open to criticism, you must have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and, most of all, you must be passionate about your goals and be willing to take risks to achieve them,” Valcour said.

Valcour also underscored the importance of not only learning throughout your career but using that knowledge to empower the success of others. Leadership, he said, is not about a person’s position, but about their actions, their innovations and their influence.

“Be the kind of leader that makes others successful,” Valcour said. “Use your talents to effect positive change. Above all, maintain a strong moral compass. Your integrity is your most valuable asset.”

In her charge the graduates, President Connie Ledoux Book said she hoped they would carry Elon’s core values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect with them as they begin their next chapter as master’s degree recipients.

“Use these Elon values when you encounter hard choices,” Book said. “Lean on them – and each other – when you need to reason things out. Remember, we are forever bound together by these values – you, me, your classmates, faculty, staff, Elon.”

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting Degree

Alex Belveal

Katlin S. Bollenbach

Blake C. Cleven

Liam M. Dabagian

Tommy Dimock

Claire E. Doherty

Taylor Getz

Kaitlin A. King

Jack C. McAuliffe

Jackie Schmidt

Ariston J. Tomes

Jake Varady

Julia C. Vide

Callum R. Walker

Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics Degree

Annabelle Ackroyd

Jessica Booth

Jack Cutler

Rafi Dahdal

Léanna Dejean

Justine Dobral

Matthew Downing

Raphael Engelhard

Luca Erhardt

Zac Ervin

Zane Bruce Gilbert

Kai Glass

Chazz Harley

Nazhiyah Hayes

Dylan Heap

Kathryn Johnson

Maya Johnson

Daniel Martin

Drew Ellen Menscer

Hannah Miller

Ajay Nimmala

Caleb Ogunmola

Tate Ostrowski

Shane Paradine

Edoardo Righetti

Victor Roche

Isak Sedin

Suman Sharma

Trinity Roshni Swepson

Vanessa Taylor

Jabril Williams

Jun Yin

Candidates for the Master of Business Administration Degree

Kyra Auguste

Richard Bechtold

Quintin Brenner

Frederick Brown

Jose Daniel Castillo Solano

Felicia Cenca

Major Duckett

April Dawn Dudash

Jessica Hamrick Hart

Nitish Kumar

Meghann Mae Lail

Breanna Lewis

Aeriel Miller

David Eugene Morgan III

Jasmine C. Ryant

Victoria Schneider

Warren Snell

Brandon Jade Swindell

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Interactive Media Degree

Raven Monique Abbott

Jessica Maris Baker

Andrew Allen Dryfoos

Isabella Maria Szalay Hilditch

Tishana Trinity Jackson

Kaitlin N. McGoogan

Cameron Xavier Rosebud

Gabriella R. Sable

Denise Yvonne Simmons

Abigail Sparkman

Morgan Sierra Stankiewicz

Amaya C. Waddy

Puxin Zhao

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education Degree

Hao Chun Chi

Julia Ruth DeWitt

Darynha Gnep

Elana Rae Gutmann

Stephen Gyan

Caleigh Shea MacKinnon

Marie-Clare Oluebube Ofoegbu

Elijah Pennock

Vanessa Lorraine Truelove

Haley Nicole Turczynski

Alexandra Lucia Weaver

Candidates for the Master of Education Degree

Robert A Alvis

Fernando Antonio Arevalo Rodriguez

Wanying Deng

Yanmei Duan

Maria Florencia Guida

Alexa Perkins LaTorre

Wenting Li

Zongchao Mu

April Ashford Siler

Madeleine Steffani Tapia Solis