Rising Tide: Catholic �þ�� Ministry sees record attendance matching national trends | Today at Elon | �þ��

Rising Tide: Catholic �þ�� Ministry sees record attendance matching national trends

Kasey Miller — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:02:05 +0000

Catholic ministries across the United States are witnessing a rising tide of young adults participating in religious services, with many joining the Catholic Church. This was evident at Easter Mass on Sunday, April 5, in Alumni Gym. C

atholic �þ�� Ministry (CCM) welcomed more than 550 students, families, and community members for worship, filling the gym floor and overflowing into the bleachers. CCM has witnessed continued growth in Easter Mass attendance, from 268 in the spring of 2023 to over 550 this year.

“Young people have grown disenchanted with the superficial promise of happiness that our culture offers,” said Father Peter Tremblay, associate chaplain for Catholic Life. “They are looking for something deeper: seeking a deeper connection to truth and beauty.”

Lorelei Lowen ’29, Roxanny Difo Rojas ’27, Maggie Blakeney ’26, and Abigail Siegal ’29 receive First Communion during the CCM Easter Mass.

But the story is about more than just those attending Mass; eight students received the Sacraments on Easter, including a baptism, two professions of faith and Confirmation for all. Easter, the most important celebration in the Christian calendar, is traditionally a time when new members are welcomed into the Catholic Church through the Sacraments after a year of attending classes in the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA). Lorelei Lowen ‘29 shared,

“I was interested in receiving my sacraments, so I emailed Father Peter before coming to Elon, and he connected me with T and the OCIA program,” said Lorelei Lowen ’29.

“OCIA has allowed me to face some of the most difficult doubts and questions in my faith journey,” said Maggie Blakeney ’26. “It has taught me that faith isn’t done alone, but with others.“

Maggie Blakeney ’26, Meredith Marks ’28, Savanna Bell ’28, Denali Cubillo ’29, Father Peter Tremblay, Savannah McElroy ’27, Lorelei Lowen ’29, Roxanny Difo Rojas ’27 and Abigail Siegal ’29 pose for pictures after Easter Mass.

Local dioceses in Raleigh and Charlotte have noticed a similar trend of college-aged adults participating in the OCIA process. �þ�� ministry played a crucial role in fostering this growth. Through welcoming communities, retreats, small groups, and conversations with the Chaplain and ministry staff, students find opportunities to explore questions of faith, life, and meaning.

“CCM has shaped not only my experience at Elon, but it has transformed the way that I think about life and the circumstances that are thrown our way,” said Savanna Bell ’28. “CCM was simply the light in the darkness that chained me to my past life. By placing myself at the center of it, literally, the friendships are what have made me Catholic (or how I like to say it, ElonCatholic). I would have never gotten so deeply rooted in the Sacraments if it weren’t for the smiles that greeted me each time I walked into the big church doors.”

Maggie Blakeney ’26, Kiara Cronin, Savanna Bell ’28, Savannah McElroy ’27, Lorelei Lowen ’29 and Abigail Siegal ’29 prepare to take up the gifts Easter Mass.

Across disciplines, Elon faculty integrate multifaith understanding into the classroom

Avery Craine Powell — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:20:44 +0000

At �þ��, faculty say preparing students means helping them understand the people they will interact with throughout their lives, and that includes the influence of faith and religious identity.

That commitment to multifaith understanding is a primary goal of the university’s Multifaith Strategic Plan, which strives to “support opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the academic community.”

“Elon’s Multifaith Strategic Plan is a promise to our students, faculty, staff and the wider community that we will take them seriously as whole, complex people,” said Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society. “

The multifaith experience

The Multifaith Scholars Program is a two-year program, founded in 2016, that emphasizes interdisciplinary learning as student scholars undertake original research projects and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multireligious societies.

Amy Allocco, professor of religious studies, photographed May 4, 2023.

“Our work is richer when we have students bringing questions from their own disciplines,” said Amy Allocco, director of the program and professor of religious studies. “It is a sign of a vibrant campus ecosystem when not only students but also their mentors can see their interests and expertise intersect with questions of interreligious contact, religion and society.”

Allocco says that the breadth of disciplines represented by students and mentors participating in the program has widened each year. The current cohort includes students with diverse majors such as psychology, theatrical design, history, economics consulting, political science, religious studies, and international and global Studies. Owen Hayes ’26, a history major with minors in political science and religious studies, is a 2024-2026 Multifaith Scholar studying the historical and contemporary relationship between Christian missionaries and Indigenous Australians.

“I’ve always been interested in understanding the interreligious encounters of the world, like global Christianity and understanding how different communities can come together and understand such an important religious concept in such different, varying ways, but still have that belief of Christianity,” Hayes said.

The interreligious studies minor also allows students to analyze the historical and contemporary encounters between and interactions among religious communities and traditions.

“Elon has done incredible work in enfranchising multifaith as an academic as well as a student affairs initiative and aligning and even blending those areas in meaningful ways that enhance the student experience,” Allocco said.

Multifaith in the classroom (and clinic)

In the Department of Nursing, faculty don’t just train future healthcare professionals on specific medical assessments but, as Assistant Professor of Nursing Lori Hubbard says, they “prepare students for the diversity in the populations they will serve,” including religion.

“Diversity in people is understanding their religious background, because religious practices are often infused into health practices and health beliefs,” said Hubbard, who teaches the Healthcare Relationships course, which focuses on understanding diverse backgrounds in healthcare.

Assistant Professor of Nursing Jeanmarie Koonts (far right) demonstrates health care techniques on one of the mannequins in the Gerald L. Francis Center’s Interprofessional Simulation Center.

The course is just one component of the Department of Nursing’s commitment to equitable healthcare �þ��, which is incorporated throughout the curriculum.

“From birth to death and everywhere in between, the people that are going to be important in a person’s wellness or their healing may come from their church body,” said Hubbard, who says they also want students to understand the role of the chaplain in a hospital setting. “People may have members of a church congregation bring them meals, they may have pastors and friends visit to pray with them. A person’s support network is a social determinant of health.”

In December 2025, a faculty team consisting of Pennington, Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing; Molly Green, assistant professor of public health, and Helen Orr, assistant professor of religious studies, was awarded a $60,000 Faith & Health �þ�� Grant from Interfaith America to promote awareness of how religious diversity impacts healthcare space and medical decision-making.

From left to right: Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society and professor of religious studies; Jeanmarie Koonts, assistant professor of nursing; and Helen Orr, assistant professor of religious studies.

Engineering a multifaith course

Along with nursing, several Elon courses across disciplines integrate multifaith understanding. Orr is co-�þ�� a new course, Engineering A Better World, with Professor of Engineering Sirena Hargrove-Leak on ethical practices in engineering.

“Religion is an important category for a lot of people, and it informs not only beliefs, but also everyday practice and ritual, including when people fast, how they dress and how they interact in professional spaces,” Orr said. “One of our sessions in the course focuses on the value of multi-faith spaces in professional working environments. Those spaces can be beneficial both for religious people and non-religious people, while also encouraging us to think about how environments themselves can be designed to be more inclusive.”

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, professor of engineering

Hargrove Leak says the engineering curriculum requires an ethics course and, historically, faculty advised students to choose an ethics course through the Core Curriculum. The downside, she says, is they may not connect what they’re learning to engineering practice. This new course, she says, connects the dots directly.

“The work of engineering professionals has the potential to impact people directly; therefore, ethical practice is critically important,” said Hargrove-Leak.

Communicating religion

While Orr and Hargrove-Leak’s course is new this semester, Professor of Journalism Anthony Hatcher has been studying and �þ�� the intersection of religion and media for more than 20 years. His course Religion and Media analyzes how the two interact through media coverage of religious issues and themes, religion’s use of television and the Internet and media portrayals of religious people and traditions.

Professor of Journalism and Chair of the Journalism Department Anthony Hatcher

Hatcher began �þ�� the course in 2003, coming from a longtime interest in the intersection of the two subjects.

“It has always sparked my interest how religion intersects not only with a news item, but how it intersects with popular culture,” he said. “I tell my students, ‘If there is a secular entity of some sort, there is a religious corollary to it.’”

Finding religious connections in culture is endless for Hatcher, who says he never runs out of material for the course. For one assignment, students must attend a house of worship outside of their own faith and do a research project on the experience. The projects range from more well-known religious practices to lesser-known, like a student who visited a coven of witches in Hillsborough, North Carolina

“I make it clear: this is not a religion class. I’m not here to teach you about the scripture,” Hatcher said. “When they go (to these houses of worship), it’s not just a religious thing. I say, ‘What kind of media did they use? Do they have cameras? Do they have a single microphone? Do they use screens and slides? Is it a majestic organ? What are you seeing there? Did they give you a paper program? Everything that’s media.’ It gets them thinking about all the mediated ways that they experience religion.”

The course is open to all majors, and Hatcher says it can be relevant for all professions.

“The subject matter is so important,” Hatcher said. “It’s like how study abroad is mind-broadening. I think understanding where somebody else comes from, especially if faith is a big part of who they are, is a big deal.”

And for Pennington, Elon’s approach to multifaith learning is an example for others to follow.

“We live in a moment where we can clearly see that the faith commitments and religious practices interact with our global politics, our legal systems, our media environments, and our healthcare systems,” said Pennington. “By attending to multifaith education across academic departments and programs, Elon is leading the way in preparing its students for a rapidly evolving world.”

This story is part of a series of stories focusing on �þ��’s Multifaith Strategic Plan.

SURF Stories 2026: Amanda McGee ’26 designs campaign to spark healthier living

Tommy Kopetskie — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:31:46 +0000

When nearly 400 students present during �þ��’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) on Tuesday, April 28, will showcase something beyond a research project – she’ll introduce a community health campaign designed to make lasting change in Alamance County.

Amanda McGee ’26, a senior Communications Fellow, will present her research at �þ��’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF), highlighting a community health campaign designed to promote sustainable, healthy living in Alamance County.

The strategic communications major’s work centers on a multi-platform outreach strategy that blends grassroots engagement with a six-week, workbook-driven workshop. Her project, “Designing Accessible Wellness: A Community Health Intervention Campaign for Alamance County Inspired by Blue Zones,” draws on research examining regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives and translates those insights into practical solutions.

That approach is intentionally hands-on and community-focused. McGee’s campaign reaches people through tabling at local grocery stores, social media outreach and partnerships with local organizations, all aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging participation. At its core is a flexible workshop experience, which participants can complete in person or remotely, guiding them through topics such as movement, purpose, belonging, rest and diet.

“I wanted to create something that didn’t just inform people, but actually gave them the opportunity to build healthier habits in a supportive environment,” McGee said. “By narrowing my focus to a specific community, I realized I could design something more meaningful and impactful.”

Her research reflects a broader understanding of health as both a personal and systemic issue – an idea that first drew her to the project. McGee said she was inspired to focus on Alamance County at a time when healthy living can feel increasingly out of reach, noting that nearly half of adults in the United States live with at least one chronic health condition and that everyday environments often make unhealthy choices the easiest ones.

Drawing on Blue Zones principles, McGee emphasizes that lasting change depends on environment, culture and access – not just individual willpower. That perspective shapes how she tailors her campaign locally, incorporating resources specific to Alamance County – from nearby hiking trails to community-based spaces – and encouraging participants to rethink how their surroundings influence daily habits.

The project has also reshaped McGee’s own understanding of what research can be.

“While this started as a project for class, I have come to realize that this is something that could be real,” the Sutton, Massachusetts, native said. “Working through this project has made me feel capable and inspired to keep pursuing projects in life that can create change by starting small.”

That sense of possibility is exactly what SURF is designed to highlight. As one of Elon’s signature academic experiences, �þ�� research provides students with the opportunity to explore complex challenges while developing solutions that extend beyond the classroom.

For McGee, the hope is that her campaign does more than raise awareness. She wants it to spark a ripple effect.

“Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. We are influenced by our social circles,” she said. “By inspiring even a small subset of the population to take their health more seriously, it has the potential to shift behaviors across entire communities. The change starts small.”

McGee’s research was mentored by Paula Rosinski, professor of English, as part of her multimedia authoring minor.

Nastassia Harrison ’28 blends art and science in pursuit of physical therapy through the help of her scholarships

Katelyn Snyder — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:06:46 +0000

Although she grew up playing nearly every sport in Warren County, North Carolina, Nastassia Harrison ’28 has loved dancing since she was three years old.

“My dad would put me in any recreational sport that was happening in our town. I played softball, basketball, and even track. But I’ve always loved to dance,” Harrison said.

In the summer of her junior year of high school, Harrison attended a summer dance program at Radford University, where she met Elon West African Dance professor Keshia Gee.

“She told me about Elon’s dance science program, and I did my research and decided to apply,” she said. “I cried tears of joy when I got admitted.”

Combining her passions for dance and physical therapy, Harrison decided to enroll at Elon for the opportunities that come with the dance science major.

“I saw that the dance science program was a way for me to open the door for physical therapy. I found that there was more opportunity in this major rather than a typical path,” she said. “This major gives me the background to solidify trust with a patient because I know the body and know how to alleviate the pain they may feel, so they can get back to playing a sport or doing their art.”

Nastassia Harrison ’28

Harrison is also pursuing minors in exercise science, African studies and dance. Later in her Elon career, she aspires to conduct �þ�� research involving West African dance with Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Gee. She has also had her sights set on planning a Winter Term study abroad program to broaden her studies on a global scale.

One of Elon’s opportunities she is using to her advantage is the EMT-Basic certification course done in collaboration with Alamance Community College. Aligned with her physical therapy aspirations, Harrison is excited to complete the course and take the final exam to earn her official EMT certification.

“The aspect of helping people is why I want to do sports physical therapy. I get to incorporate that into my EMT work,” she said. “I’m already getting more confident with labs and learning skills from the practice.”

Eager to learn more and advance her career as much as possible, Harrison has connected with Elon’s athletic trainer for club sports and performing arts, Christina Yanakis. Harrison recently attended a club hockey game alongside Yanakis, where she saw a professional in action.

“I was able to observe her scope of practice and see the different dynamics of hockey players and their pain points. It helped me realize that I want to do both sports and performing arts, which is why I think physical therapy is my correct path,” said Harrison.

When asked about what she is most proud of, Harrison replied, “I’m proud of how committed I am to the career path I’m on. I’ve stayed with it, and there have been times where I’ve debated changing, but as I advance, I realize more and more that this is what I want to do.”

Nastassia Harrison ’28

Harrison’s F.W. Beazley Leadership Scholarship has strengthened her resilience in pursuing her passions.

“With any experience, you get what you put into it, so I am giving it all my might, and I hope I get that in return,” she said.

This mindset has led to sustained motivation and incredible progress within her studies.

She notes that the support through scholarships has given her motivation, adding, “The donors believe in me so much that they will spend their resources and time to make sure that I succeed in my education and career. I am striving for greatness, and I promise to make you proud, and I will always be grateful for the financial help from Elon donors.”

Lumiere Rostick ’20 brings ‘Crime & Parody’ to RiverRun, exploring satire and free speech

Tommy Kopetskie — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:03:29 +0000

Lumiere Rostick ’20, co-producer of “Crime & Parody,” helped shape the documentary’s narrative and story structure as it followed a satire-driven legal case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court. “Crime & Parody” is screening at the upcoming RiverRun International Film Festival, continuing its run on the festival circuit.

What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

Rostick’s professional path has included work on the FX documentary series “Children of the Underground,” traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide.

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

Rostick said their time at Elon – including work with Cinelon and mentorship from faculty – helped define their path into documentary filmmaking.

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

�þ�� students explore Los Angeles through art, architecture and civic space

Macy Mills — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:14:26 +0000

This semester, students in the Study USA Los Angeles program taking the LA Issues and Art History course stepped beyond the classroom and into the city itself, engaging directly with some of Los Angeles’s most iconic cultural and historical landmarks.

Hollyhock House at Barnsdall Art Park
Perched atop Olive Hill, the Hollyhock House stands as one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most significant West Coast works and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the early 1920s for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, the home represents Wright’s experimentation with blending architecture and environment, what he called “organic architecture.”

�þ�� explored the house’s Mayan Revival influences, geometric motifs and the iconic hollyhock flower design woven throughout the structure. The site offered a powerful introduction to how Los Angeles became a testing ground for architectural innovation, especially during a time when the city was rapidly expanding and redefining itself culturally.

Downtown Los Angeles: Layers of History and Movement
Traveling via the Los Angeles Metro, students experienced the city as Angelenos do, through its evolving public transit system, before diving into the heart of downtown.

�þ�� Los Angeles Spring 2026 students in front of the historical Bradbury Building in downtown.

Union Station – Opened in 1939, Union Station is often called the “Last of the Great Railway Stations.” Its architecture blends Spanish Colonial Revival, Mission Revival, and Art Deco styles, reflecting Los Angeles’s layered cultural identity. Inside, students observed the grandeur of its waiting rooms, tiled floors, and wooden beam ceilings, symbols of a bygone era when rail travel defined urban movement.

�þ�� Los Angeles Spring 2026 students, Angels Flight is a historic 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge funicular railway in the Bunker Hill district of Downtown Los Angeles

Angels Flight – Just a short walk away, Angels Flight, the world’s shortest railway, offered insight into the city’s early 20th-century infrastructure. Originally built in 1901, the funicular once transported residents up Bunker Hill, a neighborhood that has since undergone dramatic redevelopment. Its preservation speaks to ongoing efforts to maintain pieces of Los Angeles’ historic fabric amid modernization.

Los Angeles City Hall & Chinatown
At City Hall, students discussed civic architecture and governance, noting the building’s Art Deco style and symbolic prominence in the LA skyline. Nearby Chinatown provided a contrasting cultural lens, highlighting immigrant histories, urban displacement and the evolution of ethnic enclaves in Los Angeles.

�þ�� Los Angeles Spring 2026 students at Olvera Street, commonly known by its Spanish name Calle Olvera, is a historic pedestrian street in El Pueblo de Los Ángeles, the historic center of Los Angeles.

Olvera Street
Often referred to as the birthplace of Los Angeles, Olvera Street immerses visitors in Mexican-American heritage. �þ�� explored its marketplace, murals and historic buildings while discussing the complexities of cultural preservation versus commercialization. The site reflects both celebration and simplification of heritage, an important conversation in art and public history.

Inside the Bradbury building, the five-story office building is best known for its skylit atrium with access walkways, stairs, and elevators, and its ornate ironwork.

Angelus Temple & Echo Park
In Echo Park, students visited Angelus Temple, a striking example of early 20th-century religious architecture and a cornerstone of the Foursquare Church movement founded by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. Built in 1923, the temple reflects a blend of revivalist architecture and emerging media-savvy religious practices, as McPherson was one of the first to use radio to reach a national audience.

The surrounding Echo Park neighborhood added another layer to the visit, offering insight into how communities evolve over time. Once a streetcar suburb, Echo Park has transformed into a culturally vibrant area shaped by waves of immigration, artistic communities, and, more recently, gentrification. Together, the site and neighborhood sparked discussion on the intersection of faith, media and urban change.

The Gamble House
In Pasadena, students visited the Gamble House, a masterpiece of the American Arts and Crafts movement designed by architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene in 1908. Commissioned by the Procter & Gamble family, the home emphasizes craftsmanship, natural materials, and harmony with its surroundings.

�þ�� examined intricate woodwork, custom furnishings, and the intentional use of light and space—hallmarks of the Arts and Crafts philosophy, which emerged as a reaction against industrialization. The visit provided a striking contrast to Wright’s modernism, allowing students to compare different architectural responses to similar cultural shifts.

Looking ahead: Final excursions
As the semester continues, students will expand their exploration of the city’s artistic and architectural landscape with one final site visit.
The course will conclude with a visit to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry. Celebrated for its sweeping stainless-steel forms and innovative acoustics, the building stands as a defining example of contemporary architecture in Los Angeles. Here, students will consider how modern design continues to push artistic and structural boundaries while shaping the city’s global cultural identity.

These excursions bring course themes to life, allowing students to critically engage with Los Angeles as a living museum. From early 20th-century architectural movements to the layered cultural histories embedded in downtown neighborhoods and beyond, each site offers a unique perspective on how art and environment shape one another.

By navigating the city firsthand, students not only deepen their understanding of art history but also develop a stronger connection to LA itself—its stories, its communities and its ever-evolving identity.

The immersive Study USA Los Angeles semester and summer experiences offer students opportunities for alumni engagement, community service, unique academic classes with industry professionals and site-based experiential learning. .

Federico Pous delivers a talk about 50 years of the dictatorship in Buenos Aires Argentina

fpous — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:32:06 +0000

On Friday, March 27, Associate Professor of Spanish Federico Pous addressed graduate students and professors from the College of Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. He inaugurated the Master in Latin American Social Sciences, and gave another talk at the University of El Salvador, both located in downtown Buenos Aires.

Pous’s talk was part of a much larger week of events that included other research presentations, cultural events, and public talks, with an epicenter in a huge street demonstration that took place on March 24 throughout the country. The massive mobilization commemorates the day on which the dictatorship started in 1976, and brought together political activists and groups, as well as cultural spectacles and common citizens, to remember the dark years of the dictatorship, so as not to repeat them again. Under the cry of Nunca Mas! (Never again), the people maintain a culture of memory despite the attempt of the current government to dismantle the human rights platform that makes it possible.

A street demonstration for the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Coup D’etat in Buenos Aires.

In the context of the Cold War, Argentina, like most Latin American countries during the 60s, 70s and 80s, went through a period of military dictatorships that targeted political opponents with the financial and political support from the U.S. From 1976 to 1983, Argentina was under a military dictatorship that utilized irregular methods of repression against its own population. Following the lesson learned at the School of the Americas, the military regime created a system of clandestine centers of detention in which political opponents were brought after being kidnapped in the streets, their workplaces or in their homes. Once in these clandestine prisons, they were tortured, treated with minimum care, uncommunicated from their family members, and most of them were killed and their bodies disappeared. It is calculated that 30,000 people disappeared under this system of repression.

Since the return of democracy in 1983, there has been a grassroots collective effort to recompose the social link by fomenting a culture of memory in the country under the banner of Not forget, not forgive (Ni Olvido ni Perdón). Throughout the years, different human rights organizations worked along with state officials, international support groups, and local community organizations to persecute the criminal legally (over 1000 were already condemned), build and maintain several sites of memory, and provide retribution to the people affected directly and indirectly by it.

A sign at the entrance of El Olimpo, an ex-clandestine center of detention that has been transformed on a cultural center by the work of activist of memory. Translated: “They didn’t leave. They stayed. They were not defeated. Only posponed”

Pous’s talk emphasized this collective effort to cultivate a culture of memory across different generations. For Pous, “the task of memory today is an intergenerational endeavor that requires to be open ot listen to the questions and concerns of the new generations.” In his talk, he focused on key cultural products like the films “The Official History” (1985) and “Argentina 1985” (2022) as well as the fiction books “La casa de los conejos” (2006) and “Diario de una princesita Montonera” (2012) to highlight the public debates around postdictatorship democracy that have fed the culture of memory in the country.

Earlier in the week, Pous presented his book, Eventos Carcelarios (UNC Press, 2022), at the University of El Salvador for an audience of professors and graduate students. He delivered a talk about the novel “El beso de la mujer araña” (Puig 1976) in conjunction with a historical analysis of the liberation of political prisoners in 1973, at the return of a seven-year dictatorship that preluded the most horrific one mentioned above. His talk focused on the “connection between an historical event that was lived as if it was the revolution, but it turned out to be the beginning of the defeat of the revolutionary project”. For Pous, the prison cell became “a singular place of reflection and self-critique” that the novel depicts in detail to reimagine the possibility of a radical imagination today.

�þ�� Associate Professor Federico Pous gives a talk at the University of Buenos Aires

HealthEU Day to highlight well-being across campus April 21

Kelsey Armstrong — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:31:50 +0000

The Elon community is invited to attend HealthEU Day on Tuesday, April 21, held in conjunction with the national Health Promoting �þ��es Week and Earth Week. As an institution that has adopted the Okanagan Charter, Elon has also received the designation as a Health Promoting University. The week invites institutions to share their successes in incorporating health promotion values and principles into their everyday efforts to improve community health and well-being.

“This purposeful alignment of HealthEU Day with the Health Promoting �þ��es Week and Earth Week highlights our commitment to advance the well-being of people, places and the planet that we made as we adopted the Okanagan Charter last fall,” said Anu M Räisänen, director of HealthEU initiatives and assistant professor. “HealthEU Day provides an opportunity for students, faculty and staff to celebrate Elon’s culture of health and well-being and reflect on how we can make an impact on the well-being of our communities and the planet.”

This year’s event will feature a special College Coffee and sessions throughout the day. It will also introduce new offerings, as all university departments and organizations were invited to host sessions. Many sessions reflect HealthEU’s “Rooted in Community” campaign, which emphasizes how caring for individuals, creating supportive environments and promoting environmental stewardship all contribute to fostering a healthier campus community.

All sessions will have exciting giveaways and opportunities to win great prizes. In addition, there will be “health forward” eating ideas and samples shared throughout the day, courtesy of Harvest Table. All events are free and open to students, faculty and staff.

HealthEU is the university’s integrated health and well-being initiative that focuses on empowering students, faculty and staff to practice holistic well-being through the six dimensions of well-being: emotional, community, financial, physical, purpose and social.

HealthEU Day Schedule of Events

College Coffee

9:40 – 10:20 a.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Commons

Designing for Well-Being Workshop

10:30 – 11:15 a.m. | Belk Library 102

DIY Self-Care Boxes

10:30 a.m. – noon | Young Commons

Fleet Feet on �þ��

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | Koury Concourse

Reserve a time using or drop by.

Drum, Destress and Decompress!

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. | Young Commons

CommUnity Field Day

2:30 – 4 p.m. | Young Commons

STARS Celebration

4 – 5 p.m. | Lakeside Meeting Rooms

Explore the Pilates System

4:15 – 5:15 p.m. | Needham Pilates Studio (bottom floor of the Koury Fitness Center)

Pickleball Smash

5 – 7 p.m. | Outdoor courts at the Gerald L. Francis Center

Feel free to drop in at any time or register for a time slot using the .

For a detailed schedule of events, please visit the HealthEU website.

Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Reagan Wible ’26 explores her heritage in unexpected places

Kelsey Armstrong — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:29:01 +0000

Reagan Wible ’26 compares her four years at Elon to a roller coaster – or, as she puts it, “being afraid to try something, then realizing how much that thrill shaped who I am and helped me find my community.”

As graduation approaches, Wible now looks back on the encounters and experiences that helped her better understand herself and shaped the impact she hopes to leave as she crosses the stage in May.

“Before Elon, I didn’t really have any attachment to my heritage,” Wible said. “I’ve learned so much about myself since being here.”

To fully understand Wible’s journey, you must begin at the start. The daughter of two adoptees — one from Korea and the other a white American — she did not grow up in her small Pennsylvania hometown with a strong connection to her Korean heritage.

“I never had a clear sense of this part of me, since both of my parents are adoptees,” Wible said. “Coming from a predominantly white school and community, there were times when I felt that my Korean heritage was something to be ashamed of.”

Wible said that changed when she was admitted to Elon. She recognized college as an opportunity. “I knew I would have better resources and outlets to put myself out there and learn more about Pan-Asian cultures,” she said.

Anna Marchesseault ’24 (left) and Reagan Wible ’26 (right) reconnect in Porto, Portugal, during Spring 2025 while Wible was studying abroad.

Looking for those opportunities, Wible first explored her identity through the university’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education’s SMART Mentor Program. She remembers it as a leap outside her comfort zone, but one she knew could open new doors.

That one decision changed the trajectory of her Elon experience. Through the SMART Mentor Program, Wible met Anna Marchesseault ’24.

“She introduced me to all of her friends, and they helped me attend more events and find community early on,” Wible said.

Wible’s exploration of her identity has also taken shape in an unexpected place — her home.

Living with two other Elon students of Asian heritage, she found a space to explore her culture through everyday behaviors.

“It was my roommates decorating for Lunar New Year and �þ�� me traditions, like cleaning the house before the Lunar New Year holiday,” Wible said. “I just never realized those were things that happened.”

What may have seemed like small moments became meaningful opportunities for connection and growth.

Finding community through connection

With the encouragement of her new friends, Wible began exploring her heritage by attending events, such as Food for Thought and previous API Heritage Month programs

These steps would eventually lead her to deeper campus involvement, including membership in Elon’s Associate Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, a sorority open to anyone interested in Pan-Asian cultures.

(Left to right) Olivia Mohil ’27, Reagan Wible ’26, Keopagnapech “Pech” Ngoun ’26 and Emma Hash ’26 at the Lunar New Year celebration hosted by the Truitt Center.

“We aim to promote an inclusive sisterhood while giving back to the community and celebrating culture, especially in a space where there aren’t many of us,” Wible said.

This mission is reflected in the sorority’s guiding pillars of service, academic excellence and cultural awareness across university campuses and communities. As the current president of the Associate Chapter at Elon, Wible serves as the organization’s on-campus face and primary contact, as well as a member of the sorority’s national marketing staff.

Beyond her responsibilities as president, she has served as a mentor and demonstrated strong leadership within the sorority.

George Dou, assistant director of the CREDE and advisor to the sorority, praises Wible’s presence and contributions to the university campus.

“Reagan is someone who’s passionate about what she does,” Dou said. “Many student leaders are, but Reagan has always expressed a desire to improve upon what she’s given and to excel rather than being content with simply being satisfactory.”

As Wible has invested in the organization, the sorority has also become a space where she has further discovered herself, explored her identity and developed her leadership.

“I want to build relationships across organizations and show that even if we come from different backgrounds, there are still ways we can connect and learn from each other,” said Wible, who also serves on the executive board of the Multicultural Greek Council.

That vision has taken shape through her efforts to strengthen relationships across chapters.

(Left to Right) Reagan Wible ’26 and Bella Pelini ’27.

“Reagan doesn’t just support Elon KPL members, but supports our (members) all over the country,” said Bella Pelini ’27, a member of the Associate Chapter of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Incorporated, who considers Wible a mentor. “She is always the first to ask Elon (memberS) if we want to join her at other North Carolina school cultural events or reveals. She has helped us strengthen our sisterhood throughout all of North Carolina and beyond.”

These actions reflect the legacy Wible hopes to leave on campus and bring her journey full circle, from the moment her mentor invested in her upon arriving at Elon. As she looks ahead, Wible is considering graduate school and pursuing a career on a college campus.

She hopes to leave a lasting impact on the community she has built at Elon by encouraging others to pursue new opportunities. “Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone,” Wible said. “It might be scary, but it can change your life in a really positive way.”

Elon honors Asian Pacific Island Heritage Month

As part of Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, �þ�� is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Asian and Pacific Islander students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month, Elon is also recognizing API Heritage Month through a series of events and programming.

Stephanie Moeller ’09: Growing an Emmy-nominated career from Elon Roots

Caitlin Fish — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:02:26 +0000

“I’m 16 years in this business, and if anyone asks me about my path, I truly owe it all to �þ��, as I wouldn’t be where I am in my career without it,” said Stephanie Moeller ’09.

Moeller has made a name for herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment Television, who now works as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

Stephanie Moeller ’09 poses on the ET stage.

“Back in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,” she explained. “I knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew �þ�� had one of the best schools for communications in the country.”

Recognizing that Elon was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,” she said. “My junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to Elon helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers Elon asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With Elon’s help, she secured exactly what she’d hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

“I kept in touch with the London office, so when I did Elon’s inaugural ‘Elon in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,” she explained. “One week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.”

Moeller made the switch from the international department to the domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer. Over her 15 years at E! News, she was nominated for five Emmy Awards, and interviewed people like Steve Carell, Charlize Theron and 50 Cent. She also had the privilege of working on the red carpet at the Oscars and Golden Globes.

“I think one thing that’s gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are just normal people too, and they want to be treated that way,” she explained. “When working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts, I’ve always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty. They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally and give them honest feedback, good or bad.”

Moeller credits her continued success to strong relationships with her coworkers, interviewees, and former hosts, always keeping in contact with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the biggest pop culture stages as a top moment.

“I recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars, like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Leslie Mann, to name a few.”

This unforgettable experience solidified for her that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples Center.

“It was just me, my host Will Marfuggi, and a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death. It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,” she said.

Stephanie Moeller with the production team at E! News

Moeller’s journey at E! News was marked by steady growth in leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and opportunity.

“One meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell, who at the time was hosting ‘The Talk.’ After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in September, we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,” said Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

Elon’s top-notch curriculum and amazing professors helped her feel prepared for the real world, knowing she could succeed outside the classroom. Elon’s study abroad center helped many students, including Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller has come a long way through courage and perseverance, and now she works for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide show.

“This business, especially out in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it’s how good you do that is what keeps you there,” she explained.

“My main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,” she said. “You never know who’s going to end up where and who can help you down the line. And when you’re on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you, as one day you may be working for them.”

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

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Rising Tide: Catholic �þ��� Ministry sees record attendance matching national trends