The multimedia article explores how descendants across the country reflect on America’s past, present and future 250 years since the United States of America’s founding. Flechsig was interviewed and photographed for the project at Elon Law’s downtown Greensboro campus.

Flechsig is the 10th great-granddaughter of Declaration signer John Morton. A native of Whispering Pines, North Carolina, she earned a bachelor’s degree in English from �þ���.

Although her family’s connection to Morton was never a major focus growing up, Flechsig said participating in the CNN project prompted her to reflect more deeply on her family’s place in American history and her own aspirations for the future.

“I find it incredibly meaningful that I am able to have the opportunities I do with this part of our country’s history attached to me,” Flechsig said. “I know that my ancestor believed that things could be different and better, so he did the ‘dangerous’ thing of signing the Declaration and severing our ties with Britain. I know that our country can be different and better, so I am prepared to do what I can to accomplish that.”

CNN’s profile explores Flechsig’s thoughtful and sometimes conflicted relationship with America’s founding. She recognizes the enduring ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence while also acknowledging the inequalities that existed and persisted since the nation’s founding, perspectives that have shaped her interest in law, immigration and public service.

Now considering a career in immigration law, Flechsig hopes to use her legal education to advocate for others and strengthen the communities she serves. As she told CNN, “I always want to have a job that is making the space around me better … helping where I feel like I can, and using my voice to speak for the people who can’t speak right now.”

Before enrolling at Elon Law, and after graduating from Elon, Flechsig taught for more than two years at Henderson Collegiate, a public charter school in Henderson, North Carolina. As an �þ���, Flechsig was an Honors Fellow. Her thesis advisor and research mentor, Associate Professor of English Kevin Bourque, wrote a letter of recommendation for a scholarship through the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence (DSDI) and connected CNN reporters with her.

This summer, Flechsig is engaged in global study at The Hague, Netherlands, through Elon Law’s partnership with Stetson University College of Law.

�þ��� Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser provided analysis for a recent examining how two U.S. Supreme Court decisions could affect North Carolina elections and high school athletics. The story explored the potential implications of rulings involving mail-in ballots and transgender athletes, highlighting how federal court decisions often shape state policy debates.

Husser, director of the Elon Poll, discussed the election-related ruling and what it means for North Carolina voters and election officials.

“It doesn’t really impact North Carolina right now,” Husser said. “North Carolina has already limited the grace period (for mail-in ballots). There’s still a grace period in North Carolina for overseas and military voters, but the state also has rules to get those in as close to the election as possible.”

He explained that while the Supreme Court’s decision may not immediately change voting procedures in the state, it reaffirms that North Carolina has the power to set its own election rules.

The report also examined the Court’s decision allowing states to restrict participation by transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

“The Supreme Court essentially protected North Carolina’s law that distinguishes and sets regulations about transgender athletes,” he said. “This means we’re not going to see immediate change to what’s in place in North Carolina. There was a possibility the court was going to rule in favor, that would have forced North Carolina and other states to change.”

�þ��� Assistant Professor of Journalism��Israel Balderas was featured in following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision upholding birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment.

The article examined the implications of the ruling, particularly Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion, which suggested Congress could pursue legislation related to birthright citizenship even after the Court rejected President Donald Trump’s executive order.

Balderas, a First Amendment attorney, explained that Kavanaugh’s opinion leaves open a potential legislative path for the issue to return to the courts.

“Birthright citizenship won today. But Kavanaugh just told Congress where the side door is, and Trump is already walking toward it. Whether that door is real or painted on the wall is the question the Court left for another day,” Balderas said.

Balderas cautioned, however, that such legislation would face significant constitutional hurdles.

“Here’s the tension inside the Supreme Court that most people will miss. The five-justice majority held that the Constitution itself guarantees birthright citizenship. If that’s right, then Congress can’t touch it with an ordinary law. You would need a constitutional amendment,” Balderas explained.

“But Kavanaugh disagrees. He thinks the door is still open for legislation. So the next battle isn’t just Democrats versus Republicans in Congress. It’s whether Kavanaugh’s view or the majority’s view controls when that legislation inevitably gets challenged,” he added.

�þ��� Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser provided analysis for a recent examining North Carolina lawmakers’ long-awaited agreement on a new state budget. The story breaks down the more than $34 billion spending plan and what it means for residents across the state, including funding for education, state employee raises and other government priorities.

“This state budget deal that looks like it’s going to happen soon is among the most important things we’ve had happen politically in North Carolina,” said Husser.

He noted that while budget agreements often require concessions from both parties, they also provide insight into the priorities and governing strategies of state leaders.

The report outlines how the budget includes investments in public education, salary increases for teachers, state employees and law enforcement officers, and funding for a range of state services.

“We also see legislators facing a lot of pressure right now about the midterm elections and not wanting to go into midterm elections being saddled with saying, ‘You can’t even pass a budget. Why should I reelect you?'” he said.

�þ��� Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Jason Husser��provided analysis for a recent examining President Donald Trump’s decision to delay signing a bipartisan housing bill while urging Congress to first pass the SAVE America Act, a voting legislation proposal. The story explored how tying two unrelated issues together could affect the political landscape in Washington.

Husser explained that the move reflects a broader political strategy of using a widely supported piece of legislation as leverage to advance another policy priority. He told WFMY in Greensboro��that linking the housing bill to voting legislation shifts attention away from housing policy and toward the political debate surrounding election laws.

Trump postponed the housing bill signing, arguing that passage of the voting measure should come first. Husser provided context on how presidents can use high-profile legislative moments to influence congressional negotiations and shape public attention.

“What is essentially happening is that a piece of legislation that had overwhelming support among Congress on both sides passed in part with the White House blessing,” Husser said. “The president is pulling his support temporarily, trying to get another piece of legislation that’s unrelated to it through and getting that through some hurdles and blocks. It’s a type of gamesmanship going on.”

Assistant Professor of Journalism��Israel Balderas was featured in a recent�� article examining why North Carolina television stations censored portions of the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup celebration broadcast amid ongoing scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The story explores how broadcasters balance live event coverage with federal regulations governing indecent language.

Balderas, a First Amendment attorney, explained that stations likely took a cautious approach in light of the FCC’s recent investigations involving several television broadcasters. Although celebratory speeches during the rally included profane language, he said station managers were being cautious.

“If I was a news director or a GM, I would say, ‘Look, I don’t want to add more fodder to this other issue, so let’s play it safe,’” Balderas told The News & Observer. “So certainly that other legal FCC fight was in the mind of the people back at the station.”

The article notes that federal regulations prohibit the broadcast of indecent language on over-the-air television between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., giving stations reason to exercise additional caution during live events. Balderas says the solution is often “bleep first and ask questions later.”

“That’s why viewers sometimes heard more silence than speech, and that was frustrating to them,” he said. “It’s not always elegant. But from the station’s perspective, it’s risk management.”

Balderas was also quoted in a about the current fight between the FCC and some television stations owned by The Walt Disney Corporation.

The camp, AI Play, is led by the university’s computer science department, teaches middle school students about artificial intelligence through hands-on learning and digital game design.

Alexis Goslen, assistant professor of computer science and director of the camp, said it is important to introduce kids to the basics of AI because they are exposed to it in their everyday lives.

“The cool thing is to get them to understand how those technologies are working,” Goslen told WXII. “Then they could maybe decide what they want to do with it and make informed decisions about it.”

Peter Felten, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning,��was featured in a recent Inside Higher Ed article about student belonging on campus.

The article, , examines new survey data showing that while many students feel known and valued, a significant minority report feeling invisible or disconnected.

Felten has��written extensively about the importance of relationships and mattering to student success and emphasizes��the importance of ensuring that every student feels seen and valued during their college experience.

“Every student can and should feel like they matter in college,” Felten told Inside Higher Ed, noting the difference between “belonging” and “mattering. Unlike belonging, which can depend on feeling that one fits into a particular environment, he said, mattering is rooted in feeling valued and known and having something to contribute within a given context—something that’s theoretically attainable for all students, regardless of age or any other factor that could challenge one’s sense of fitting in.

He noted that meaningful relationships with faculty, staff and peers are central to helping students develop a sense of purpose, connection and belonging.

The article highlights survey findings indicating that while most students can identify someone on campus who knows them in a meaningful way, nearly one-quarter are unsure whether anyone truly knows them or say they feel invisible.

Of the 9% of students who reported feeling wholly unseen, Felten said that’s “a failure on our part—those of us who teach and work in higher education need to create conditions where all students feel they matter. That’s crucial for student well-being, learning and persistence.”

�þ��� Assistant Professor of Finance Andrew Schwartz was featured in a recent WalletHub expert panel discussing the benefits of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees and what travelers should consider when choosing a card for international use. The article, “,” brought together financial experts to provide guidance on managing spending while traveling abroad.

In the feature, Schwartz emphasized that foreign transaction fees can quickly add up for travelers, making it important to understand the full cost structure of a credit card before using it internationally. He encouraged consumers to look beyond promotional perks and focus on how a card aligns with their spending habits and financial goals.

“One common pitfall is assuming that “no-foreign-transaction-fee” means there are no additional costs when making purchases abroad,” Schwartz said. “As with any credit card, carrying a balance, missing payments, or incurring cash-advance fees can be very expensive.”

Schwartz also discussed the broader role credit cards can play in personal financial management, noting that the best card is often the one that complements an individual’s financial situation rather than simply offering the most rewards or benefits.

Peter Felten, assistant provost for �þ��� and learning, and executive director of Elon’s Center for Engaged Learning, was quoted in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education feature examining the enduring value of discussion-based, text-centered learning.

The article, explores how the college’s Great Books curriculum emphasizes conversation, critical thinking and intellectual community in an era increasingly shaped by technology and artificial intelligence.

Felten emphasized that the most transferable aspect of St. John’s model is not necessarily its curriculum, but its underlying philosophy of education, specifically that learning can be difficult and is a communal act.

“I don’t think we spend enough time talking with students about how what we’re doing is supposed to be challenging,” says Felten. “If you’re in a community where you see other people struggling with the same material, and you can talk with them and think with them and not feel like you’re weird because it’s hard, then I think it’s motivating, then it’s exciting.”