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.

The expansion will leverage Elon’s commitment to relationship-rich education and will strengthen health sciences programs to expand the impact of Elon graduates in health care. This expansion is supported by institutional investment. Over the next year, �þ��� will add a total of six new faculty to the Elon PA Program, ensuring the continued delivery of an exceptional, student-centered education.

Advancing Workforce Capacity in a Critical Moment

Demand for Physician Assistants continues to rise across the United States as health care systems work to address provider shortages and expand access to high-quality care. By increasing its cohort size, �þ��� is accelerating the preparation of new PAs who will enter the workforce ready to meet these pressing needs.

“Elon is deeply committed to educating compassionate, skilled Physician Assistants who can make an immediate impact in their communities,” said Dr. Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences at �þ���. “This expansion underscores our responsibility to the profession and to the patients our graduates will one day serve.”

High-Touch, High-Quality Education

As enrollment grows, the Elon PA Program continues to focus on its hallmark personalized learning environment that is central to the student experience. This approach includes:

• Engaged learning
• Hands-on practice
• Close faculty engagement
• Access to diverse, high-quality clinical rotation sites

�þ��� will also benefit from an enhanced focus on critical reasoning when collecting clinical data through history and physical exams, intentional application of diagnostic evaluation and reasoning in laboratory courses and strengthened clinical placement infrastructure.

The larger cohort will also bring expanded perspectives, stronger collaboration, and a broader professional network.

Preparing the Next Generation of PA Leaders

As the next cohort prepares to begin their training, faculty and staff remain committed to guiding and supporting students through every stage of their academic and professional journey.

“We are excited to welcome the next cohort of vibrant, future PAs who will help shape the future of health care,” said Kim Stokes, Elon PA program director and chair. “This moment represents an important step forward, not only for Elon, but for the communities our graduates will serve throughout their careers.”

And as she prepares to retire from the university having influenced many hundreds of graduates and earning in 2024 the university’s highest faculty honor, the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, Johansson sought to share her wisdom in a Commencement address to some of the newest members of the healthcare profession.

Her key takeaways on Dec. 12, 2025, for �þ��� students conferred with degrees in nursing, physician assistant studies and physical therapy included:

• Prioritize human connection over individual achievement in both career and life.
• Practice compassion with boundaries to sustain caring without burnout.
• Treat yourself with self-compassion and accept help as part of belonging.

Delivering her afternoon remarks in Alumni Gym to School of Health Sciences graduates, Johansson challenged the familiar advice to “follow your bliss,” calling it inconsistent with both evidence and lived experience. She cited the , which has tracked participants for the better part of a century and found that strong relationships matter more to long-term happiness than wealth or physical health.

“If you want to pursue an evidence-informed approach to happiness, you have to focus on other people and not just yourself,” Johansson said. “I suspect that most of you sitting here came to healthcare because you already care about relationships. It’s quite possibly also why you chose to study at Elon.

“So it’s good to know that relationships are also the key to professional success and happiness. Studies indicate that the more people focus solely on themselves, the worse off they are likely to be—physically, mentally, and professionally.”

For healthcare professionals, Johansson said, those connections may be brief but still lasting. Even short encounters, including supportive words offered in moments of care, can leave a lifelong impact. Research was cited showing that compassion improves patient experiences and protects providers from burnout, a condition marked by emotional exhaustion and detachment that disproportionately affects healthcare workers.

Johansson emphasized that compassion differs from empathy alone because it moves people to action while reducing personal emotional distress. Studies of compassion training show increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and belonging rather than pain.

Sustaining compassion over time, she reminded graduates, requires boundaries, self-compassion and a willingness to accept help. Johansson also stressed that fulfillment depends on connecting to something greater than oneself, often experienced through relationships with patients, colleagues and communities.

“When we think of relationships, we tend to imagine longevity,” Johansson said. “Yet for many of us, our intersections with patients may last only a few minutes and we never see those people again. But your supportive words and your moments of caring can stay with a person for a lifetime.”

The Commencement program welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the university’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, in her welcoming remarks thanked clinical partners who provided practical learning experiences for students, and she shared her gratitude for loved ones who supported graduates throughout their academic journeys. Lund also spoke directly to those about to enter the healthcare profession.

“Graduates, know that you are needed!” Lund said. “Today our communities face significant healthcare challenges and inequities. You have worked hard to develop clinical and leadership skills that can help you address these challenges and reduce healthcare inequities.

“Congratulations on your accomplishments. We wish you continued success and happiness as you apply your learning to serve those around you.”

In a charge to graduates to conclude the ceremony, �þ��� President Connie Ledoux Book cautioned about the world in which healthcare workers now practice where science, once an unquestioned foundation, is too often dismissed or distorted.

Graduates will also practice in systems where business models shift rapidly, Book said, and the pressures on clinicians and the needs of patients are growing ever more complex.

“Go forth with compassion. Be a steady presence in spaces where uncertainty and instability can distract from the heart of healing,” she said. “Serve with integrity when you face difficult decisions, and let your training guide you toward what is just and wise.

“Be advocates for your patients, for your communities, and for a healthcare system that honors each and every person. And hold fast to the belief that your work matters deeply, especially in times when the world needs compassionate clinicians more than ever.”

Candidates for the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing

• Layla Abumayaleh
• Sarah Allison Acu:
• Ashley Emelda Banegas
• Kiara Lyniece Batts
• Joshua Isaiah Brower
• Abigail Chester
• Claire Elizabeth Cummings
• Jessica Claire Davis
• Emily Anne Easthom
• Samantha Page Eldredge
• Abigail Heath Franklin
• Cyntasia Dene’ Hammonds
• Sarah Jenkins
• Caroline Grace Maness
• Carmen Mesa
• Shania Brianna Oyler
• Alexa Porter
• Avery Lane Riley
• Mia Gabrielle Rose
• Haley Josephine Savastano
• Lillie Grace Shamblin
• Lauryn Alexandra Smith
• Madison Jaycee Steele
• Suleyma Torres-Garcia
• Anna Josie Wheat

Candidates for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies

• Sarah Lane Edwards Adams
• Fatema Alhajeri
• Haley Brooke Brennan
• Brianna Laurel Bromley
• Mia Cameron Cleary
• Cynthia Chisom Dimgba
• Devron John Felder
• Samir Halalou
• Chandler Reid Halvorsen
• Grace FuJia Huisking
• Katrina Anastasija Jackson
• Nadia Zein Ja:al
• Lillian Rae Kerchinsky
• Blessed Kisakye Wiele
• Michael Richard McCormack
• Lina Concetta Meikle
• Danielle Martine Meyen
• Jordan-Lee Napolitano
• Sarah Michelle Newman
• Sydney Marie Noldin
• Brian Walter O’Hare Jr.
• Dylan James Paracka
• Robert Arthur Plagmann
• Gabriela Jazmin Quintanilla
• Patricia Lourdes Raj
• Joshua Lewis Rambeaut
• Yeimi Lizbeth Reyna Romero
• Savannah Joyce Richardson
• Andrea Leigh Robertson
• Dakota Austin Sampson
• Erin Elizabeth Schiemann
• Laura Staeheli
• Savannah Cherie Summy
• Douglas James Thompson
• Vivian Chau Tiet
• Eddie Dean Tyler White
• Julia Christine Wyner
• Ellie Christine Yakubu

Candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Nicholas Michael Bush
• Katelyn Brooke Carpenter
• Emiliano Chirigliano
• Raya Imani Coley
• Kasey Copeland
• John Carl Daniels
• Jazmyne Nechole Davis
• Rachel Laurel Davis
• Logan Gregory Deese
• Danielle Sanford Essex
• Michaela Faith Fitzgerald
• Gabrielle M. Flocco
• Josephine Freeman
• Madison Leigh Friday
• Taylor Marie Grikis
• Terris Hightower
• William Huie
• Kaleigh Iris Jenkins
• Samantha Rose Kosmacki
• Kyle Matthew Langworthy
• Breanna M. Lanouette
• Kieran Best Mahoney
• Katherine Briana Messikomer
• Alex Miller
• Andrew G. Miller
• Jamshed K. Mistry
• Sara Moore
• Isaac Murdock
• Alexis Nowell
• Airiann Marie Page
• Ashlyn Wolfe Panagrosso
• Chaney Leigh Patton
• Samantha Nichole Pawlovich
• Wesley Allen Roberson
• Veronica Romero-Perozo
• Jacob Dean Rosengarten
• Milani Denise Lavarias Saldon
• Virginia Royal Shafer
• Anthony William Shea
• Charles Fairbank Sigloh
• Addison Kay Swo:ord
• Alannah Marie Thomas
• Matthew L Urrutia
• Thomas Ryan Van Dorp
• Hannah Michelle Wright

�þ��� hosted affinity celebrations on Dec. 11, 2025, for students in the School of Law and School of Health Sciences set to graduate the following day at Commencement exercises inside Alumni Gym.

Coordinated by the Division of Inclusive Excellence with support from additional university offices and programs, the three affinity celebrations inside the Lakeside Meeting Room honored and recognized the rich histories and cultures of Elon’s community.

A heartfelt program to recognize ‘authentic selves’

Elon’s Lavender Celebration, coordinated by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center and the Division of Inclusive Excellence, recognized seven graduating students from Elon’s School of Health Sciences and School of Law as allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“We celebrate you: your hard work, your resilience, and the unique journeys that have brought you here,” Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education, said in her welcoming graduates. “Each of you has made a significant impact, not only through your academic achievements, but also by being your authentic selves and advocating for a more inclusive world.”

Each student received a rainbow stole and heard a personal tribute from friends, family and faculty, including Scales, Assistant Professor Bob Minarcin and Krista Contino Saumby, associate director of career development for Elon Law.

Among the tributes were those to Taylor Streuli L’25, executive director of OUTLaw. Minarcin, also OUTLaw’s faculty co-adviser, called their kindness and courage “a superpower” that connects people.

“Taylor’s constant efforts to improve both Elon and our broader community come from a place of genuine love and bravery,” said Minarcin, recalling OUTLaw’s trip to the Lavender Law Conference where Streuli fearlessly engaged with everyone. “Keep being you, Taylor — the world desperately needs more people willing to introduce themselves to an entire bar full of lawyers.”

Scales celebrated Raya Cubley, a Doctor of Physical Therapy candidate in the School of Health Sciences. “Raya advocates fiercely for equity — for her peers and for her patients,” Scales said. “She is brilliant, compassionate, and unapologetically herself.”

Closing the ceremony, Luis Garay, director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center,  recognized the importance of family and friends in supporting the achievements of these graduate students.

“As we close our time together, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all our Lavender graduates,” Garay said. “We hope the messages shared today inspire our community as we continue to support you beyond this moment.”

¡Celebremos! honors journeys, roots and communities

Heritage, community and the journeys that shaped graduates were at the heart of the ¡Celebremos! Graduates Take Flight ceremony, which honored nine Latinx/Hispanic students from Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences.

“When you think about today, think back to when you first dreamed of receiving a professional degree,” Adriana Hernandez Ordonez L’25 said during her keynote address. “The same person who worked hard every single day to accomplish their goals is the same person sitting here, now waiting to walk on the stage.”

In its third year for December graduates of Elon Law and the School of Health Sciences, ¡Celebremos! recognizes the achievements of students as well as the “villages” of family and friends whose support has been instrumental throughout their educational journey.

Building on that reflection, Hernandez Ordonez reminded graduates of the meaningful influence they’ll bring to the communities they serve.

“Our families are the emotional support we held onto through this journey,” Hernandez Ordonez said. “Our roots keep us grounded and remind us of where we come from, even when life becomes overwhelming.”

During the ceremony, each graduate received a stole adorned with a monarch butterfly design created by Carolina Ferreyros ’20. As graduates received their stoles, faculty read heartfelt letters they had written to members of their “village,” sharing gratitude, acknowledgment and reflections that honored their heritage and culture.

“This stole symbolizes the journey that brought you to Elon,” said Sylvia Muñoz G’02, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

The ceremony concluded with an alumni presentation that welcomed graduates into the Elon alumni family and underscored the value of staying engaged and lending voices to a community that now extends beyond campus.

“Your paths to this moment have taken many shapes,” said La’Tonya Wiley ’97, assistant director for alumni affinity engagement. “Some of you studied on main campus, others at locations across the region and in immersive placements far beyond North Carolina. Regardless of where you learned, you are now part of a global alumni community rooted in connection, culture, and shared purpose.”

Donning of the Kente celebrates identity, journey and achievement

A ceremony that celebrates the achievements of graduating students who recognize their African roots included keynote remarks from a former chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.

In her address, Cheri Beasley, �þ���’s Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Professor, encouraged graduating students to claim their future – even if those futures are uncertain.

“This moment really is about who you are as people of color in your African heritage and all that you’ve accomplished,” Beasley said. “I hope that you have begun to take the time to relish in your accomplishments and think about what this journey has really meant for you.”

Each graduate who participated in the afternoon program received a handwoven kente cloth stole imported from Ghana to be worn during Commencement. Elon faculty and staff read tributes written by student’s faculty, family and friends, as each graduate stood before the audience.

The kente cloth symbolizes prestige in many African societies dating to the 12th century. Worn during ceremonial events by royalty and important figures of state in Ghanaian society, the kente cloth is a visual representation of African history, philosophy ethics, oral literature, moral values, social code of conduct, religious beliefs, political thought and aesthetic principles.

Beasley discussed her own meaningful trip to the village in Ghana where the kente cloth is made and how a student’s educational and career journey is comparable to the journey of the cloth itself.

“Your career will be filled with unexpected twists and turns,” said Beasley. “Many of your twists will be joyous, and other times less so, and I also know that transition often does cost stress. Life happens that way, much like that woven loom that creates the Kente, that takes months to develop this really beautiful piece of fabric. But you put in the investment and the hard work, and you always see the fruits of your labor.”

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, �þ���’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, opened the ceremony with an invocation that was followed by an introduction from Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

“You have crossed rivers that your professors couldn’t see. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have spoken truths that your peers could not hold. You have carried the weight of brilliance and burden of community and of contradiction. And still, you continue to rise,” Boswell said. “This kente cloth, this sacred ritual, this moment, is not performance. It is a moment of proclamation. You are the ones who made it.”

Closing the ceremony, Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer reminded students to celebrate their accomplishments but get ready to do the work of their professions.

“We expect you to throw your all into that, because we need you. Our communities need you. The world needs you,” Kramer said. “It means the world to us that you started that journey, which will be long, but you started here. And you will always be part of Elon.”

“I’m so proud of our students,” said Maha Lund, dean of �þ���’s School of Health Sciences. “Their research topics and the depth of the work are impressive. What it shows me is that they have learned how to access original research and resources that will help them take care of their patients.”

Twenty 3rd year DPT students presented 12 posters on topics related to their personal and professional growth while learning and exploring culturally unique healthcare settings across the world. As part of the DPTE Global Learning Opportunities program, students took DPT courses in locations across the US and around the world, including Peru, Italy, Australia, Belize and various US locations.

“We are celebrating students’ development of intercultural skills necessary to effectively work across differences, with the ultimate goal of delivering equitable, culturally responsive, and individualized healthcare,” said Paula DiBiasio, associate professor and director of the Global Learning Opportunities Program in the Department of Physical Therapy Education.

ABSN students showcased their research via eight evidence-based poster presentations on important topics, including management of pediatric migraines, family involvement in diabetic foot care, technology innovations to improve medication safety and many others. The students completed this research work as part of their “Evidence-based Nursing Practice” course.

“As these students prepare to begin professional nursing practice, it is essential that they are able to use the current research literature to provide evidence-based support for their practice,” said Associate Professor of Nursing Elizabeth Van Horn. “The students have done an excellent job of exploring and analyzing the research literature to make sound recommendations for nursing practice to improve patient care. We are all very proud of their accomplishments.”

Thirty-eight 2nd year PA students each presented their research findings at the Forum. The students presented on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to research regarding drug trials, surgical options, and new treatments for emerging medical concerns.

“These students are ready to move into their professional role as PAs and will bring this knowledge of the latest research with them in order to practice evidence-based patient care,” said Antoinette Polito, associate professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies.

Forty-six 1st year DPT students presented their research via 17 posters from their “Research Design III” course. The research project topics ranged from pediatric-, cardiovascular-, neurologic- and sports-physical therapy.

“These presentations are a culmination of more than 6 months of quantitative, hands-on research experience,” said Srikant Vallabhajosula, professor and research coordinator for the Department of Physical Therapy, who also teaches the course. “Each group has gone through a different journey but culminated in this wonderful conference-like experience! I am proud of their hard work and thankful to the faculty members who mentored these groups in their research endeavors. I am hoping many of these will go to national conferences to give these students a richer exposure to research and evidence-informed practice.”

“We really complemented each other,” said McCormack. “I’m thankful for Samir and Dev for pushing me out of my shell and having me go out more. It was a fun experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s friends we’ll have for life.”

The ‘Room Dogs’

The three men are not only classmates in the Physician Assistant Studies program, but also roommates. Before coming to Elon, McCormack posted on a Facebook page for the PA studies cohort and connected with Felder and Halalou. They quickly formed a bond.

“We flew down here in October 2023 to meet each other and look at apartments,” said Halalou. “Mike came to pick me up from my hotel, and when I got in the car, the first thing I realized was he was playing Fella Cuti, who is a very popular Nigerian artist, and that’s how we kicked it off. I’m like, ‘Oh, we got the same vibe and taste in music.’”

The connection was aided by a nickname given to them by the store associate at a mattress store where McCormack and Halalou were shopping.

“I was like ‘This is my roommate and I’m bringing him out so he can get a mattress,’ and he said ‘Oh, you guys are room dogs!’” said McCormack with a laugh. “I don’t know where he came up with that, but it just stuck, and we named our group chat based on that.”

But their friendship proved to be more than just a nickname; their varied skills helped guide each other through the two-year program. Felder’s experience as an enlisted hospital corpsman and then an independent hospital corpsman gave him real-world experience managing different conditions and patients. McCormack earned his �þ��� degree in medical laboratory science and had experience interpreting lab results. Halalou was initially exposed to X-rays after tearing his labrum at 15 years old, leading him to eventually become an X-ray technician.

“Our differences made each other better,” said Felder. “I’m the super definition of a non-traditional student, so how to study and how to be in school again was something I had no idea about. Mike and Samir showed me how to be a person in school again since it’d been a couple of years.”

A team approach

The three students are preparing to graduate on Dec. 12 during Elon’s School of Health Sciences commencement ceremony. It’s a culmination of the 24-month Physician Assistant Studies program, which engages students through an innovative systems-organized curriculum that employs large and small group discussion, hands-on clinical skills labs, simulated patient experiences, lecture and patient scenario discussions. Upon graduation, students are prepared to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

“I liked the team approach to medicine,” said Felder, of his choice in PA studies. “It’s one team, one fight. That’s always appealed to me.”

For all three students, the faculty in the program made a difference as well.

“I really liked how accessible the faculty is,” McCormack said. “They’re available to you. They seem generally invested in student success. I like how we’re focused on the communities we serve, like with the Open Door Clinic. They are very mission-focused.”

“We really complemented each other. I’m thankful for Samir and Dev for pushing me out of my shell and having me go out more. It was a fun experience, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s friends we’ll have for life.”

-Mike McCormack G’25

Shared success

Halalou says the support from the program helped him when he initially felt out of place because of his background.

“You see all your friends and classmates and ask yourself, ‘Do you even deserve to be here?’ I would say yes, I deserve to be here. And Elon has exceeded my expectations,” said Halalou. “It’s like a family.”

The program’s class sizes, ability to learn through the Anatomical Gift Program and ultrasound training were all big benefits. Felder and McCormack want to enter emergency medicine, while Halalou is exploring critical care – two areas of medicine that can continue to bond them together.

“There are some problems and conditions where we can fix it, and then the patient can leave,” said McCormack of emergency medicine. “But for those very complex patients, or they have a lot going on, we’d admit them and send them to Samir, and Samir would solve the problem, and then they can go home.”

And Felder says it’s that collaborative spirit that drew him to Elon in the first place

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “I went to some other program where they were very competitive amongst themselves, but at Elon, it felt more like our successes were shared successes. We struggled together, and we succeeded together.”

“I wanted to be a PA because I had a lot of medical problems when I was younger, in and out of different hospitals,” Newman said. “I remember noticing that the PAs were very involved in the patient care side, which was something that I was really interested in.”

Being from southern California, Newman didn’t initially apply to any East Coast schools. However, after learning about the direct line from �þ��� to physician assistant school through the Accelerated Pathways (AP) program at Elon, Newman jumped on the opportunity, as did Huisking. Both students will be the first to graduate after going through the AP program to physician assistant studies.

“I’ve always had an interest in science, as well as helping others, so this way, I combined those,” said Huisking. “I wasn’t originally sure what I wanted to do in the medical field, but then I saw this program when I was looking at colleges, and I thought it’d be a great opportunity. PAs are so awesome. They work in a collaborative team, expand patient access to care and so much more.”

The AP program helps students fast-track their careers to become a physician assistant or physical therapist. It includes an Elon 1010 course, similar to the design of that for first-year �þ���s, but specifically designated to assist healthcare students in achieving a holistic academic and career plan. �þ��� engage in leadership workshops, local volunteer opportunities and research. Additionally, they reap the benefit of graduating a semester early and entering the workforce ahead of their peers working in healthcare. During their �þ��� years, Newman majored in biology, while Huisking studied exercise science.

“I think one advantage from going straight to PA school from undergrad is that we never really left that sort of ‘study’ mindset. We never forgot how to study,” Newman explained. “A lot of our classmates had to get back into that mindset and re-figure out the best way to study for them, when we never really lost that. I was able to take some of my undergrad study methods and continue that.”

Both Newman and Huisking volunteered with the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County throughout their �þ��� years, as well as completing secondary research required in the AP program. For Newman, this sparked an interest in what may potentially be her specialty upon becoming a physician assistant.

“After that research, I did a subspecialty of women’s health for my elective,” Newman said. “I picked something that I was able to ask my preceptor, and the clinic I was at, about, so that’s kind of a cool thing to pick a question and then actually see a real-world application of it.”

As they reflected upon their time in the program, both Newman and Huisking acknowledged the role that Tracey Thurnes, associate professor of physician assistant studies and director of the AP program, had on their experience.

“Dr. Thurnes has been the biggest influence since my freshman year of undergrad. We’ve been with her for five and a half years at this point,” Newman said. “I can’t even begin to describe the number of ways in which she’s helped us.”

“Whether it was undergrad drama, figuring out classes, or transitioning from undergrad to PA school, she was there,” Huisking added “Feeling a bit younger than everybody else can have its own difficulties, and she helped us navigate that for sure. She’s just there for whatever we need.”

Though the age difference between them and their classmates was an initial struggle, Huisking noted the great impact that other students in the program had on her experience.

“One of my best friends in the program is the oldest person in our program,” Newman said. “Getting to learn with people that have so many different experiences than I have through their previous healthcare and even world experiences, has definitely shaped the way that I hope to practice in the future and has taught me a lot in addition to the books and the clinicals.”

Both Newman and Huisking graduate Dec. 12 and plan to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) a few days afterwards. Upon receiving the proper credentials, Newman hopes to work in women’s health, while Huisking is open to primary care, emergency medicine and other fields before honing a specific specialty.

“Dr. Moore shared that she was working with the Dream Center and wanted to host the event, and she asked if I’d be interested in leading it,” Ishman explained. “Nutrition education and community advocacy are both things I’m deeply passionate about.”

To prepare for the presentation, Ishman read over research papers and broke down the science of diabetes prevention and nutrition to present to attendees. He gathered a team of fellow Elon PA students to assign different roles, including a student interpreter who translated the presentation for non-English speakers at the event.

“Had it been 10 of the same students from the same city and culture, I don’t think the impact would have been the same,” Ishman said. “Our diversity, with students who are African American, Hispanic, and international backgrounds, allowed us to come together and answer questions not only from an academic perspective, but a cultural perspective as well.”

The students cooked recipes developed by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a national nonprofit organization of physicians and health professionals dedicated to preventive medicine and clinical nutrition research. The team split up into groups to cook different plant-based meals to present and discuss their nutrients and benefits.

“Elon and our professors consistently emphasize the epidemiology and pathology behind conditions like diabetes,” Ishman said. “We have the knowledge and skill set to explain what’s happening, and more importantly, how to prevent disease upstream before patients require medication or long-term management of chronic disease.”

Associate Professor Tracey Thurnes delivered a keynote address to members of the class who gathered with family and friends inside Whitley Auditorium for an annual White Coat Ceremony hosted by the School of Health Sciences.

The ceremony on Nov. 21, 2025, was a milestone celebration that bridged the completion of classroom studies with future in-person learning under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Drawing on lessons from a childhood shaped by sports and a career grounded in patient care, Thurnes encouraged students to view the white coat as both a responsibility and a privilege. “It’s the weight of your patients’ trust, the weight of your own expectations, and the weight of every moment that brought you here,” she said. “But that weight also carries privilege: the privilege of being invited into people’s most vulnerable moments.”

Thurnes urged students to approach clinical rotations with confidence tempered by humility, comparing the year ahead to challenging game scenarios in sports competition. Success will depend on collaboration and remaining open to learning.

“Asking for help doesn’t make you less capable. It makes you safe, and it makes you wise,” she said. 
”When you call for a consultation, check in with a nurse or say, ‘I’m not sure, but we’ll figure it out,’ you are modeling what it means to prioritize people over pride.”

The ceremony marked a milestone for the 2026 cohort as students prepare to begin clinical training in hospitals, clinics and community health settings across the region.

In her welcome remarks, Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, traced the history of the medical practice white coat to its origins in the 1880s with the advent of aseptic surgery.

“Today, this ceremony marks a formal entry into the medical profession and serves as a reminder of the ideals of honor, compassion, and service,” Lund said. “A white coat represents life, purity, and hope, a symbol of the profession, and the commitment to do no harm. As Hippocrates argued, it calls on us to lead our lives and practice our art in uprightness and honor.”

�þ���’s Physician Assistant Studies program is a 24-month, full-time program that prepares its students to think critically and act skillfully to meet expanding health care needs in local and global communities. Its students learn foundational skills for careers in offices, clinics, hospitals, and other settings where they will examine and treat patients under the supervision of a medical doctor.

The Nov. 21 program included a class appreciation of family and friends by Amiee Littlejohn G’26 and Trevor Minshull G’26, president and vice president, respectively, of the Elon PA Student Society. Minshull delivered personalized notes of gratitude for each of the faculty members in the program, while Littlejohn reminded her classmates that “you are brave. You are deserving. And you are prosperous.”

“You have earned this very moment,” Littlejohn told her classmates. “Congratulations!”

Members of the Class of 2026

• George Balis
• Brooke Beall
• Mia Bylykbashi
• Gia Cifalino
• Siri Condikey
• Erika Cotrufo
• Christiana Cowick
• Valeria Diaz
• Kyla Farrell
• Christina Giang
• Enosh Ishman
• Carter Jenkins
• Tiye Jones Amen Hetep
• Sukhmani Kaur
• Amiee Littlejohn
• Luisandra Lugo Vicioso
• Clara Mays
• Varenna Minshull
• Trevor Minshull
• Michelle Mujica Pereda
• Reagan O’Toole
• Trina Phan
• Sukriti Rai
• Sarah Renken
• Samantha Robinson
• Grace Scarborough
• Rachel Switchenberg
• Cindy Truesdale
• Tiffany Villegas Alvarado
• Brandee Wagner
• Katherine Walsh
• Fred Wang
• Olivia West
• James Whitham
• Landyn Williams

Housed within the School of Health Sciences, Start Early in Medicine nurtures academic and career interests among children in the Alamance-Burlington School System. It is a community-based program structured to support students that are traditionally underrepresented in the health sciences.

Through immersive, hands-on learning in anatomy, physiology, 3D modeling, and research, since 2021, Start Early in Medicine has served more than 300 youth – many of whom live in predominantly Black and Hispanic communities – guided by mentorship from Elon PA students and faculty.

The new funding will expand medically based STEM curriculum, strengthen research mentorship, and deepen community partnerships. It will also foster continued collaboration among School of Health Sciences faculty, students, and other departments and programs across the university.

“We’re grateful to the Burroughs Wellcome Fund for supporting the next phase of SEIM’s development,” Moore said. “This award allows us to continue creating early pathways for young learners to imagine themselves in science and health professions.”