Pereyra majored in cinema & television arts with minors in entrepreneurship and French. Her undergraduate years were defined by a need to get involved, serving as a tour guide, diversity ambassador, orientation leader and a member of the student government.

Of all her roles, she highlights her time as a tour guide as particularly transformative for her current career.

“Being a tour guide helped me tremendously sharpen my people skills, adaptability, presentation skills and my communication clarity,” she explained.

Pereyra’s post-grad journey was a testament to her grit and determination. She had completed a summer with Elon in LA in her junior year and ended up falling in love with the city, so just one week after graduation, she decided to move to Los Angeles with little to no plan.

She ended up finding success in LA working in production assistant roles, which she describes as the “project management” precursor to her current career. Once LA no longer fit her lifestyle, a tip from a friend who worked in rental properties convinced her to look into real estate. She eventually took his advice and pivoted to the housing market, and today, she operates under her own LLC, working directly with clients to help make their dreams come true.

Despite the shift from TV to real estate, Pereyra still utilizes the lessons learned at Elon. She frequently recalls a lesson from former Elon faculty member Paul Castro, who taught that storytelling is about having a simple plot with complex characters. In Pereyra’s world, the “plot” is the sale, but the “characters” are the people navigating major life changes. This perspective was never more vital than when she handled her most personal transaction to date, selling her parents’ home.

“That transaction encompassed every challenge all at once. The deal fell through twice with two different buyers. And then the third buyer, almost fell through,鈥� she said.

Real estate, she emphasized, can be especially challenging.

鈥淵ou’ve got to be extremely careful and cautious with timing, protecting your client鈥檚 money, protecting their efforts and protecting their emotions,” she explained. 鈥淭he most complex clients are the ones who may be up against the wall, where they don’t have a choice on whether to sell.”

鈥淚 believe that I have become immensely emotionally mature and intelligent through this process because of the different personalities and characteristics that I’m able to adapt to regularly.鈥�

Now, Pereyra is paying it forward through her seminars. Inspired by a networking event, she realized she had a unique ability to deliver a message based on her own life observations. Her workshop, which explores how self-sabotage can be any professional’s “biggest villain,” has expanded from her initial idea of teaching to real estate agents to now working with professionals in every industry.

Pereyra was honored to be chosen as one of Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni. Right now, she is focused on her career and hoping all the hard work she put in early on will continue to pay off.

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon
Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional
achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade
who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their
communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

鈥淚nvestment banking is highly analytical, but it鈥檚 also equally strategic and creative,鈥� Goldstein said. 鈥淏ecause what we鈥檙e doing is we鈥檙e telling a story. And whoever can tell the most convincing story is the one who ultimately is going to win the business.鈥�

Goldstein鈥檚 own story is one of intentional pivots and calculated risks, beginning with a life-changing decision to transfer to 福利亚洲国产精品 in the spring of 2015.

鈥淲hat drew me to Elon was the fact that you could join the business school right away,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 also learned during my tour of the school that there was a very strong network Elon had built within the tri-state area, specifically in New York. And since I wanted to pursue a career in finance, I felt like Elon and the business school would be a great place to pursue that goal.鈥�

The impact of the Elon faculty was felt almost instantly. Drawn in by professors who were mentors, Goldstein pivoted from a singular focus on accounting to a double major in accounting and finance. He credits the university’s curriculum with shaping him into a well-balanced professional, providing the foundation necessary to navigate the high-pressure environment of a global investment firm. The Elon curriculum has made Goldstein a strong advocate for liberal arts programs, as he saw firsthand the importance of being exposed to many different topics and studies.

Goldstein did more than attend classes; he shaped campus culture. Through the Student Government Association, he partnered with former president Kyle Porto to secure funding for the Elon Ball, and as Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) President, he spearheaded initiatives balancing academic rigor with service. His commitment to philanthropy was brought out in his own fraternity, Sigma Chi, where he helped raise thousands for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and $1,000 for the Children鈥檚 Miracle Network at Duke Children’s Hospital via Elonthon.

Beyond Greek life, he founded the Business Industry and Discussion Club, a forum for students to digest global news from a wide range of perspectives from The Economist, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, and NYT Dealbook. This early interest in the “story” behind the numbers would eventually become a cornerstone of his professional success.

Today, Goldstein serves as vice president of investment banking at Guggenheim Securities. While he enjoys working on those headline-breaking type transactions, he also finds a unique satisfaction in the smaller deals where he can take a more hands-on leadership role.

He credits his rapid rise from senior analyst to vice president to the “intensely collaborative” and “strong mentorship culture” at Guggenheim.

鈥淚 think one of the things that makes Guggenheim such an amazing place to work is that everybody is willing to be as helpful as possible. Throughout my time here, I found everybody is always willing to take the time to explain things to me, to help me grow individually and professionally,鈥� he said.

Goldstein remains deeply connected to Elon and even recently helped establish the Goldstein Family Endowed Scholarship for transfer students in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Goldstein has also been selected as one of the Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award Recipients for 2026, a recognition he views with immense gratitude.

His advice to students looking to pursue investment banking is to start networking now.

鈥淏uild your network very early on, starting even in your freshman year. Your network is like a garden, and you need to continue to water that garden in order for it to grow and to flourish over time,” he said.

By focusing on storytelling and relationship-building, Goldstein has transformed his Elon education into a blueprint for success at one of the world’s premier financial firms.

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:聽

鈥淎s soon as I finished moving in, I walked over to the McEwen Communications Building and met a guy named Joe Bruno and a woman named Julie Morse, and not 72 hours later, I was in a car on my way to Charlotte, as part of Elon Local News鈥� (Elon News Network) Democratic National Convention coverage,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淪ure, I was carrying a tripod around the streets of Charlotte for one of the senior reporters, but I was there. And that was just the beginning.鈥�

That “beginning” launched a trajectory that would take him from the student-run newsroom of Elon Local News to the heart of the nation’s capital as a reporter for NBC News. Today, Grumbach is a key player in the network鈥檚 reporting, covering everything from the Supreme Court to the criminal trials of some of the most important people in American politics.

Grumbach credits his success to the immersive, high-pressure environment of Elon Local News.

鈥淲e took ourselves very seriously at Elon Local News. Some might say too seriously,鈥� he said. “But we did that, because we loved it. We loved learning, we loved reporting, we loved breaking news, and we loved the people we did all of that with.鈥�

Over the next four years, Grumbach traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Des Moines, Iowa; from Concord, New Hampshire, to Jo茫o Pessoa, Brazil, reporting on everything from North Carolina鈥檚 controversial bathroom bill to the future of the internet.

Reflecting on the fast-paced newsroom environment at Elon, Grumbach sees how directly those experiences translated to his career today.

鈥淲hether it was 1 a.m. in the edit suites finishing a piece for the morning show, or 5:59 p.m. in the control room trying to load all of the video into the system, the adrenaline kept you going,鈥� he explained. 鈥淎fter graduating, I realized that same feeling crosses the stage with you.鈥�

The hustle and dedication he developed at Elon Local News carried over to national television, where, as Grumbach puts it, 鈥渢he show goes on the air at its scheduled time, whether or not you鈥檙e ready.鈥�

He points to specific mentors, like Professor of Journalism Janna Anderson, whose Reporting for the Public Good class pushed students to find, write and submit stories within hours.

鈥淚t was a fast, exhilarating, stressful experience鈥攂ut so is real-life journalism,鈥� he said.

Grumbach also credits recently retired professor Richard Landesberg, along with faculty members Anthony Hatcher and Staci Saltz, as key influences in shaping him into the journalist he is today. Grumbach knew Elon was the school for him after his first tour, led by a family friend.

鈥淚 picked Elon because of the incredible broadcast journalism program,鈥� he said. 鈥淔rom top to bottom, there is no School of Communication like Elon鈥檚. Professors don鈥檛 just know about broadcasting鈥攖hey鈥檝e worked in broadcasting.鈥�

That foundation helped Grumbach transition seamlessly from the classroom to a career at one of the biggest broadcast news organizations in the country.

鈥淎t NBC News, millions of viewers and readers rely on you for fast, accurate, and digestible information,鈥� he explained. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to learn those core tenets through Elon Local News and in the classroom was invaluable.鈥�

Since joining NBC News, Grumbach has been on the front lines of history. He has traveled to 41 states and Canada, covering Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the 2020 campaign trail, and as part of the NBC News White House team covering the G-20 Leaders鈥� Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the trail, his daily life often resembled a one鈥憁an production crew.

鈥淚 did it all with a camera, tripod, LiveU satellite backpack, luggage and two phones in my pocket,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 shot video, logged video, broke news, walked backwards following the candidate in a parade鈥攁nd that was just before lunch.鈥�

One of Grumbach鈥檚 proudest professional moments came during the 2024 Hunter Biden gun charges trial. Inside a federal courthouse where phones and computers were prohibited, Grumbach needed a creative way to beat the competition in reporting the verdict.

鈥淚n the media room of the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, there are windows that look down to the street below,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he nice thing about windows is that they work both ways.鈥�

Grumbach and his team devised a plan using color鈥慶oded pieces of paper labeled 鈥淕鈥� for 鈥淕uilty鈥� and “N” for 鈥淣ot Guilty.鈥� As the verdict was read, Grumbach held up the papers for each count. By the time the judge finished, three pieces of paper read 鈥淕.鈥� NBC News beat every other television network to the story.

鈥淭he other networks may still be trying to get out of that building,鈥� he jokes.

Grumbach notes that some of the hardest moments in his job come while covering high鈥憈ension events such as protests. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness as conditions can change quickly.

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful NBC News takes our safety and security in the field seriously and doesn鈥檛 take any chances,鈥� he said.

On the technical side, large crowds such as those at protests present additional challenges.

“When tens of thousands of people are streaming, tweeting and texting at the same time, it can be difficult to get a quality live signal,” Grumbach said. That requires creativity and ingenuity.鈥�

Despite the intensity of his career, Grumbach says one of his favorite parts of the job has been connecting with people on the ground.

鈥淲hat I found most interesting, particularly from covering candidates on the campaign trail, is that from Nevada to Iowa to South Carolina to Vermont, the answers from voters weren鈥檛 all that different,鈥� he said. That realization has reinforced his commitment to reporting the truth and helping connect people across the country.

Despite his national success, Grumbach remains deeply connected to his roots. He was recently selected as one of Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni, a recognition he views with immense gratitude. For him, the “Elon bubble” never truly burst; it just expanded. He now lives and works with fellow alumni and had nearly two dozen of them attend his wedding.

Looking ahead to the next decade in a rapidly changing media landscape, Grumbach鈥檚 goal remains simple鈥攖o keep the public informed.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing I love more than explaining breaking news to colleagues and viewers鈥攆rom the latest lawsuit filed to a complicated Supreme Court decision,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to tell people something that could truly impact their lives, and making sure that information is easy to understand and fact鈥慴ased, will always be important.鈥�

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

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

鈥淏ack in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew 福利亚洲国产精品 had one of the best schools for communications in the country.鈥�

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,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y 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鈥檚 help, she secured exactly what she鈥檇 hoped for.

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

鈥淚 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!,鈥� she explained. 鈥淥ne 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.鈥�

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

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

Moeller聽credits聽her continued success聽to聽strong relationships with her coworkers,聽interviewees, and聽former hosts,聽always聽keeping in聽contact聽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聽biggest聽pop聽culture stages as a top moment.

“I聽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,聽like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,聽and聽Leslie Mann,聽to name a few.鈥�

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

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

Moeller鈥檚聽journey聽at聽E! News was marked by steady growth聽in聽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聽opportunity.

“One聽meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell,聽who at the time was聽hosting 鈥楾he Talk.鈥� 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聽September,聽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,鈥澛爏aid Moeller.

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

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

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

鈥淭his business,聽especially聽out聽in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it鈥檚 how good you do that聽is what聽keeps you there,鈥� she聽explained.

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

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

At 福利亚洲国产精品, she majored in聽environmental and聽ecological聽science and minored in聽statistics,聽laying聽the foundation for her career in public service.

鈥淚 found Elon while I was touring colleges in the South, and if I’m honest, what initially captivated me was the beautiful campus,鈥� says聽Nighswander. 鈥淚t was quaint, but not too small, and I聽immediately聽felt comfortable there. I also learned that they offered the environmental science program I was interested in, as well as plenty of extracurricular activities, so it was聽a pretty easy聽choice.鈥�

Once on campus, Nighswander immersed herself in student life and began shaping her sense of self, playing on the women鈥檚 rugby club聽team聽and working as a referee for Elon鈥檚 Campus Recreation intramurals program all four years.

Beyond extracurricular involvement, Elon also nurtured her academic and professional growth.

鈥淚 received a scholarship through the Elon College Fellows program, which gave me financial aid as well as a program that really helped me succeed at Elon,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he program itself was fairly rigorous, and I credit the academic standards and research requirements for starting me on the path that got me into graduate school and ultimately, my career at the EPA.鈥�

Through the Elon College Fellows program, she spent her junior and senior years conducting undergraduate research on聽wetland聽ecology, an experience that sparked her passion for聽environmental聽research.

She continued her education at the University of Florida, earning her master鈥檚 degree while discovering a new passion for CrossFit and the聽strong sense聽of community it fostered. After graduating in 2019, she moved back to Washington, D.C., to live with her parents and begin her job search. When COVID-19 upended those plans, she adapted, taking on side gigs and consulting work while also teaching CrossFit once gyms reopened.

鈥淚 met some members聽at CrossFit聽who worked at the EPA. I had told them聽that聽I聽really wanted to work there, and they sent me a few positions that were hiring,鈥� she said.聽鈥淭he positions were in the Office of Pesticide Programs,聽which聽I聽wasn’t聽sure I was qualified for since I had聽very little聽knowledge about pesticides,鈥� she explained. 鈥淲hen I interviewed, I聽leveraged聽my experience with statistics, entomology, and data analytics, and was lucky enough to get hired and start working there by the end of 2020.鈥�

Today, her work at the EPA聽remains聽fast-paced, with priorities shifting quickly and requiring constant adaptability. 鈥淚 work in pesticide regulation, and more specifically, I manage both public and proprietary pesticide usage data and analyze said data as part of assessing the benefits and risks of a given pesticide active ingredient,鈥� Nighswander said.

Her time at Elon continues to influence her professional approach.

“My experience conducting research at Elon helped me a lot. It helped refine my skills in developing and testing hypotheses, technical聽writing and public speaking,” she said.

She is especially energized by projects that blend science and technology.

鈥淢y favorite project currently is using a mapping software called ArcGIS to develop Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs) to protect endangered species from pesticide exposure,” Nighswander said.

Her career as a public servant has been聽complex, but she explains that it also makes her work rewarding.

鈥淲hat gets me to work every day is knowing that I am working to help protect human health and the environment. I have always wanted to have a successful career where I can still balance my love for the environment.聽At聽the聽same time,聽I聽also聽must聽make members of the industry, the聽general public, and environmental groups happy, which is聽very challenging,鈥� she explained.

The past year has brought聽additional聽demands amid broad changes across the federal workforce. Even so, she feels grateful to remain in her role and grounded in the purpose behind her work to safeguard the environment.

Looking back, Nighswander offers simple but powerful advice to her younger self: 鈥淜now that you have all the tools you need to be successful. You聽don’t聽have to be the smartest kid in the class or the loudest voice. Just trust your instincts, love yourself, and聽you’ll聽find your way.鈥�

She approaches the future with the same openness. 鈥淚 have no idea where I will be in my future, and I kind of love that,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here聽was a period last year where every week, I was worried if I would still have a job. A year later, I am still here, serving the public, and I am grateful for that. I trust myself enough to know when it is time to move on and make a change, and I am sure that time will come, but for now, I am enjoying the work that I do.聽The uncertainty, while scary at times, can be the most beautiful part of life.鈥�

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

While much of the marketing world is obsessed with algorithms, Weickert focuses on the “science and soul” of human interaction. Her work aims to combat the modern “loneliness epidemic” by creating spaces that foster psychological safety,聽trust and a genuine sense of belonging.

“In today鈥檚 world, people aren鈥檛 buying the product anymore,” Weickert explains. “They are buying identity and how a brand makes them feel. That鈥檚 the future of experiential.”

Her聽expertise聽has earned her聽a spot on聽the聽2024聽Women We Admire鈥檚 Top 50 Women Leaders in North Carolina, a testament to her influence聽on the up-and-coming industry.

鈥淭here鈥檚聽not a ton of experiential representation in our state, so it was nice to put our agency and our industry on the聽map,鈥澛爏he聽said.

Weickert鈥檚聽reach extends globally聽as well聽through her work with the World Experience Organization, where she collaborates with fellow creators to design experiences that聽connect聽people.

鈥淓xperiences are the best form of ads and will be the only channel that matters in a world that is being inundated with AI, mistrust, a loneliness epidemic and a聽polycrisis,鈥� she聽said.

Her聽rise to the top of the experiential marketing world began with a deep-seated curiosity about聽the human聽experience. Her career started in聽traditional聽advertising,聽where聽she quickly became exposed to the greater marketing ecosystem. Seeing聽all聽the many聽facets聽of marketing allowed her to find聽her true聽calling in experiential聽work.

鈥淭here was something soulful about聽experiential聽marketing;聽it was much deeper than a human being exposed to a digital ad on the聽screen,聽and I聽was drawn to聽that,鈥� she said.聽鈥淚 felt instantly connected to this idea of using brand stories as a powerful tool to create聽connection聽and belonging amongst strangers.鈥�

Weickert鈥檚聽career was heavily influenced by her聽experience聽at Elon.聽She credits her classes at Elon聽for helping聽her thrive in her current role.

鈥淢y Business Communications class and my Public Speaking class both taught me how to effectively communicate with others in a concise yet compelling way, with lessons that I still use in my current role today,鈥� she said.

Winter Term ended up being one of the most meaningful parts of her experience at Elon, especially due to one class centered on Woodstock.

鈥淢y Winter Term class聽explored the music surrounding the Woodstock era, both the cultural and artistic influences that聽led up聽to it and the ones that emerged in its wake,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat struck me most about the class was how deeply it invited us to reflect on the creative act itself. It聽taught me the biggest聽lesson above all: to always engage in experiences that leave you inspired, stay curious about the human experience, and expand your world into new realms of thinking.”

That mindset has stuck with her, and she now makes a point to seek out experiences that spark inspiration and bring those insights into her everyday work. Her work as head of strategy at聽XD Agency聽involves working with her team to discover聽鈥渉ow people make sense of the world and turn it into category-shifting advantages for brands,鈥澛爏he explains.

Her job聽also聽consists of聽constant travel and high-pressure environments. For Weickert,聽she聽maintains聽a level head聽with a聽disciplined sense of gratitude, reminding herself how lucky she is to聽feel tired from a long week of聽traveling the world聽and how fortunate she is to meet unexpected聽people聽around the globe.聽She also looks to stay聽present聽through聽mid-day meditation or simply appreciating the聽moments.

Weickert points to one standout project as her favorite: Camp聽Poosh聽at聽the聽2025聽Coachella聽Festival,聽created for Kourtney Kardashian Barker鈥檚 brand聽Poosh.

The team transformed a massive Palm Desert estate into something entirely immersive, blending 鈥渃olor, texture, sound, nostalgia, and ritual鈥� to create a space that tapped into what people crave most: novelty,聽belonging, and pleasure.聽What made the event especially memorable for Weickert was its carefully crafted sensory journey, which Weickert was a main part of creating.聽Guests flowed through an environment filled with contrasts,聽moving between workout classes, cold plunges, sound baths, DJ sets, and late-night celebrations that blurred self-care with nightlife.

鈥淭he brain loves contrast, so we leaned into it,鈥� she explained, highlighting how each moment was designed to keep energy and engagement high. That philosophy culminated in a surprise performance by Heidi Montag, which, 鈥渢urned the entire house electric.鈥� The result was a perfectly balanced experience: 鈥渨ellness that didn鈥檛 feel preachy鈥� and 鈥渋ndulgence that didn鈥檛 feel guilty,鈥� capturing what she calls a seamless blend聽of inscape and聽escape.

Her advice for those聽following in her footsteps?聽Put down the聽phone and聽connect with others.

“The only way you can understand what it means to be human is by exposing yourself to things that fundamentally make us human,” she said.

Weickert emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time outdoors to stay grounded. As algorithms increasingly shape our digital lives, it is essential to nurture a curiosity for the physical world, enabling us to become better communicators.

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.

Emmanuel Tobe 鈥�21 always knew he wanted to major in communications, but the success that came after his graduation was something he never saw coming.

鈥淲hen I was in high school, I was looking at schools, knowing that I wanted to go into communications,鈥� Tobe said. 鈥淚 started out as a journalism major because, in high school and middle school, the only career option I knew of in communications was journalism. It wasn’t until I got to Elon and started taking some more classes that I was able to see the different levels of communication and the large number of fields and work that you can do in communications.”

After getting into Elon and experiencing all the majors and fields the university offered, Tobe switched to a double major in media analytics and cinema and television arts, with a minor in political science. Tobe got involved with campus organizations from the start. During his first year, he joined Elon Phoenix Weekly, and by his second year, he and his roommate were producing.

鈥淏eing involved in Phoenix Weekly gave me a lot of confidence,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a couple of things I did there that I’m really proud of. For one, we strapped the camera to the back of a golf cart for an interview. We also did some really fun stuff, like when we traveled to South Carolina and did a feature on kids who were BMX bikers. We also interviewed David Stern, who’s the commissioner of the NBA.”

鈥淚’m really thankful to Max Negin (the advisor of Phoenix Weekly) for letting us make mistakes and letting us learn from them. I think that it’s so easy to stay in a lane, but I think that is a disservice to both yourself and also to whatever you’re creating,鈥� said Tobe.

Tobe says it’s important to get involved on campus early on and look for the smaller campus and off-campus organizations to offer your聽expertise.

鈥淥ne thing that I also recommend is utilizing the community,鈥澛爃e said. 鈥淚 think that a lot of people聽underestimate the connection that Elon and Burlington have. I worked at Ace Speedway, a racetrack 40 minutes from campus. I was the communications intern,聽and I did that for a summer,聽and it was聽a great聽experience that not many Elon students know about.鈥�

Tobe was a communications fellow and credits the program for allowing him to explore multiple fields in communications and meet industry professionals.

鈥淭o be a freshman and to get the chance to go to a bunch of advertising agencies and hear from account directors and producers and listen to them talk was so cool,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the time, I wasn’t planning on working at an agency, but things shifted and moved, and now I am working at an agency. I never expected going to those agencies to be as beneficial as it was, but I think that’s the cool thing about being exposed to a lot of different things as a communications fellow.鈥�

Immediately after college, Tobe was thrust into the professional world with a three-week internship for the Tokyo Olympics, which faced a lot of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, he began working for the NBA in broadcast operations.

One of his top experiences while working for the NBA was being able to work out of Las Vegas.

鈥淚 was able to go to Las Vegas and help out with the summer league tournament, which was incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淚’d never been to Las Vegas, and my dad actually came out as well. So it was really cool to be out there and have him there as well. He was really excited!鈥�

Tobe does warn that some challenges can come from working for a legacy company like the NBA, such as how it can be easy to feel like 鈥渁nother cog in the machine.鈥�

While Tobe has also started his own company, Ecsetera, the effort is on hold for now. He is currently working for Droga5, an award-winning advertising agency based in New York City. His favorite work to date with the company is working on a video for a charity called HT40.

鈥淲e had a video for the NHL, and it was for this charity called HT40, which was founded by these two parents whose son was a high school hockey player who unfortunately committed suicide,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he thing they wanted to get out of the video was that hockey is this very masculine sport where people are, a lot of times, afraid to be who they are, or they are afraid to reach out and say they need help or need someone, but that doesn鈥檛 have to be the case.”

The agency聽created a video for this charity with the NHL that had high schoolers and then a couple of NHL professional players singing “Lean On Me” while skating on the ice. Tobe says the message was that, if you need someone to lean on, there are people around you, and there’s no struggle you have to go through on your own.

Tobe also worked on the for this year鈥檚 Super Bowl, which starred Guy Fieri and aired during the game’s second quarter. The ad centers on Guy Fieri becoming 鈥淛ustaguy,鈥� a boring version of himself. After using Bosch appliances, 鈥淛ustaguy鈥� transforms back into his exciting counterpart, Guy Fieri. The ad was a major success, even winning the 鈥淩eaders鈥� Choice Best Ad鈥� award from Ad Age.

鈥淚 was responsible for producing some of the digital banners and social media for the campaign,” said Tobe. “It was an incredible experience and gave me such insight into how large campaigns are made and what happens when people work together to accomplish a goal.鈥�

Tobe says working in advertising is different from how it used to be, but it makes the field exciting.

鈥淲e can fast forward, we can skip, we can go on a streaming service, we can pull out our phones and look at something else,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of how technology and the media have changed and evolved with us while growing up, we are a generation that must be really advertised to and marketed in creative, cool ways.”

Tobe has taken the lifelong learner approach when it comes to his career. His advice to recent graduates is to stop stressing about titles and roles you see on LinkedIn, what he called “LinkedIn watching.” He says聽that everyone is on their own path, and it鈥檚 important not to get distracted by others and to be true to yourself.

Are you enjoying our Alumni in Action series? 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.

Della Marie Vickers McKinnon 鈥�62聽remains聽deeply rooted in 福利亚洲国产精品,聽a place that defines her family’s legacy and her upbringing.

鈥淣ot only did my grandparents, my parents, my husband, and I attend Elon, but also my brother, his wife (who was a librarian for over 30 years at the college), and their two boys,鈥� McKinnon explained.

Growing up in the town of Elon,聽she聽saw the college not just as an institution, but as her neighborhood, her聽backyard and聽her daily reality.聽Her neighbors were聽often聽professors and staff of the college.聽The people who taught classes during the day were the same people she would聽see on her street later that night.

She watched the university evolve from her back window,聽witnessing聽its transformation over the years.聽One example is the聽property behind her house that was once used as the college farm, which later聽became聽a place that housed different families聽as the university expanded.

McKinnon was a part of Elon life and tradition from聽a very early聽age.

鈥淚 was in the College May Day as a flower girl when I was very young,鈥� McKinnon recalled.

May Day is the celebration of the return to spring,聽and at Elon,聽the festival was always held on the first Saturday in May and consisted of dancing and聽other entertainment.

鈥淭here was a court selected by the student body which had a May King and May Queen along with their attendants and escorts,聽and they would ask different children in the community to be younger attendants,鈥� she shareed.

When McKinnon looks back on those聽who shaped聽some聽of these聽early memories growing up, she notes the influence of聽professors at Elon, particularly the late president emeritus, Dr. J. Earl Danieley.聽In her younger years, she babysat Danieley鈥檚 son when Danieley was聽still聽a chemistry professor聽at聽the university.聽He聽later became president of Elon聽and聽held聽that position during聽McKinnon鈥檚聽time as a student at Elon.

Her聽Elon聽experiences聽were聽very different聽from most聽because聽of her close connections to campus聽from聽a young age.聽She recalls聽even small memories like going to watch movies on Saturday nights with her mother聽in聽Whitley Auditorium.

Elon has聽seen聽many changes throughout the聽years,聽and聽McKinnon聽was there for all of聽it.聽But聽of聽those early years, she聽holds fond memories of the way Elon once was.

鈥淭he Elon Community Church met in Whitley Auditorium for聽church,聽and I attended Sunday School in classrooms in the Mooney Building.聽My boyfriend and I would go downtown to Garrison鈥檚 Soda Shop on the days we聽didn鈥檛聽have chapel and buy a Coke in the small bottle for 10 cents.聽The Student Union was聽also聽in聽the聽Mooney Building,聽and we would gather there between classes, and on the weekends, my sorority would have social occasions聽with our fraternity brothers,鈥� she recalls.

McKinnon鈥檚 family is forever woven into the very fabric of Elon’s history.

鈥淚 learned from my mom, Gladys Simpson Vickers, that her dad, Henry Simpson, helped finish building the wall around the campus and was one of the students in the聽very聽first graduating class,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y聽great-grandmother聽on my mom鈥檚 side聽and聽her whole family moved聽from Graham to build a house on the west side of the campus so that my grandmother, Mary Crawford, could go to Elon. It came full circle that when I became a student at Elon, that same聽house was then the聽Student Health Center.鈥�

But it was her father, Earl Wright Vickers, Sr., who solidified Elon’s continued influence in聽McKinnon鈥檚聽life.聽Her father dedicated much of his time to the town of Elon and the college, forever leaving his mark. He served as a member of the Board of Aldermen for Elon College, held the position of Town Clerk for several years and also聽worked as Deputy Sheriff for聽a period of time. But at the time聽of his passing, he聽was employed as聽the聽superintendent of the聽college聽power plant.

鈥淓arly in the 1940鈥檚, Elon was designated as the location of the 325th College Training Detachment of the Army Air Corps,聽and since the college did not have a lot of finances, someone from Virginia offered to give the college a station wagon to provide transportation for the recruiters,鈥澛爏he聽said. 鈥淢y dad offered to go to Virginia after work to obtain the vehicle and drive it back.聽聽He was on the way to Virginia when a truck hit聽the vehicle.聽聽He was the only one聽who聽died聽in the accident. After my father鈥檚 accident, Elon came to my mother and told her that聽her聽children鈥檚 education would be taken care of by the college. They honored that for my brother聽and me.鈥�

During her first year as a student at Elon,聽McKinnon had聽the benefit of her former ties to the town and college that most of her peers did not have,聽and where she lived on campus was no different.

鈥淏oth my mother and聽her聽sister had lived in West Dormitory,聽and when I decided to stay on campus my first聽year, I also lived聽in West,鈥� she聽said. 鈥淲e even lived on the same floor, but at opposite ends of the聽same聽hall some 30 years later!鈥�

Elon was there for so many important moments of聽her聽life, even the聽naming聽of her own daughter.

鈥淲e could not decide on a name until we were on campus at the O鈥橩elly Monument,聽and聽both聽my husband and I聽agreed on Kelly as her name,鈥� says聽McKinnon.

Five generations of her family have attended Elon, each聽leaving their mark on聽the campus聽and the surrounding community. Today,聽McKinnon聽is proud to be聽an聽alum聽of Elon.

鈥淚 am especially proud of the latest visionary investment聽in聽the聽Robert鈥檚 Academy for children with dyslexia,鈥� she聽said. 鈥淚 cherish the lifelong friends made while at Elon. I聽have enjoyed聽going back to聽ball聽games, homecomings, and聽participating聽on聽committees. I am so proud of Elon and the school it has become.鈥�

Are you enjoying our Alumni in Action series? Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell,聽maybe even聽yourself? Please feel free to online.

鈥淭his, this is it,鈥� he said to his dad, solidifying his decision then and there.

Elon was the only school he applied to and what followed was a college journey filled with creativity, experimentation and initiative that would ultimately shape his path into one of the fastest-paced and influential spaces in media.

While at Elon, Buckley made an effort to stand out, helping to co-create 鈥淲IN Stuff,鈥� a campus game show born out of ingenuity and a couple of borrowed laptops.

鈥淲e were essentially running PowerPoint on 12 laptops and had someone behind the wall hitting the space bar to advance the graphics,鈥� he recalls.

The project became a crash course in running a show, live coordination and producing content under pressure, all skills that would prove invaluable years later in the newsroom. 鈥淲IN Stuff鈥� still airs today on campus and is a testament to all the hard work Buckley put into the program.

That hands-on, do-it-yourself energy never left Buckley. Today, he is a senior writer for 鈥淓rin Burnett OutFront鈥� at CNN, where he crafts the show鈥檚 nightly monologue 鈥� Erin鈥檚 take on the top story of the day. One of his proudest achievements was when he was a part of the Emmy award-winning team recognized for Outstanding Breaking News Coverage during the Israeli conflict.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e flying by the seat of your pants, but that鈥檚 what I love about TV news鈥� creating news as it unfolds,” says Buckley about breaking news coverage. 鈥淭he coverage on the Israeli conflict was especially challenging, requiring live updates to the script, with rockets flashing across the screen and the control room shouting, 鈥業鈥檝e got something new!”

He recalls updating the copy moments before everything aired. But, he says it鈥檚 in this fast-paced and adrenaline-fueled environment of breaking news that he truly excels.

Buckley didn鈥檛 stop at the writer鈥檚 desk. He saw an opportunity where there was a void鈥� CNN鈥檚 lack of presence on TikTok. On his own time, without institutional backing, he launched a TikTok account for 鈥淓rin Burnett OutFront鈥� that racked up thousands of followers in just a year. 鈥淚t was important that people who don鈥檛 watch CNN on television still see our work,鈥� he says.

One TikTok that did immensely well, the first to make over one million views for them, was coincidentally one of his favorite stories to date. The California wildfires had picked up pace in the news, and many people were already devastated by the damage, losing their homes and belongings. In the video, Erin Burnett returns to one of the homes, owned by a fireman and his wife, that was destroyed. Upon arrival, the fireman begins sifting through the debris, looking for anything remaining. Suddenly, the fireman miraculously pulls out a wedding ring from the rubble and runs to show his wife, and they both break down in tears.

The control room where Buckley and the other staff were sitting broke down in tears as well, so touched by the emotional event 鈥� a brief glimpse of something good amidst heartbreak and tragedy. Buckley recalls feeling inspired and fortunate to have been able to witness such a moving event.

Even with his many successes, Buckley remains humble about the challenges he鈥檚 faced. Producing segments on unfamiliar topics, like economic policy, requires a sharp learning curve, and the added task of making that content digestible for everyday viewers can be demanding. But he embraces it all, crediting CNN鈥檚 global reach and his team’s dedication to the success of the show.

As for the future, Buckley is all in: 鈥淣ews will always be important,鈥� he says.

Whether it lives on cable or flourishes through new digital channels, Buckley remains optimistic about CNN鈥檚 future.

His advice to the next generation of storytellers is simple but powerful: 鈥淏e versatile. You need to be the person who can write, produce, and also clip that moment for TikTok. Don鈥檛 be afraid to try everything.鈥�

The guests started the night mingling to the tune of smooth jazz at an event reception before being ushered to their seats to watch a video showcasing the connections alumni continue to foster with their alma mater. Kelsey McCabe 鈥�16, New York City alumni chapter president took the stage to share her love for the university as well as congratulate the New York chapter on the community they鈥檝e built.

鈥淭his year we鈥檝e thrown some of our classic happy hours, amped up Women of Elon activities even more, including the Central Park Walk scheduled for May 17, and have increased our social media presence,鈥� said McCabe.

After thanking the guests for their generosity towards the current students, she introduced President Connie Ledoux Book to the stage.

President Book began her university update by thanking Joan and Trustee Ed Doherty P’07 as it was their generosity that helped Elon plant the roots of this gathering in New York years ago.

鈥淭hese evenings have a certain rhythm to them,” said Book. “The energy is warm and the conversations easy. There鈥檚 always this sense that we already know each other because at some point in our lives, we were shaped by the same place. That place on the bricks, in the classrooms, in the late nights and early mornings of our own becoming.鈥�

Book pivoted to speak on Boldly Elon the university’s strategic plan for 2030. She noted that the plan has already driven significant improvements, resulting in Elon being ranked #1 nationally for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

鈥淭he nation鈥檚 best faculty are at Elon鈥攁head of Brown, Princeton, and others. That distinction speaks to the core of who we are: a university that puts students first鈥攁nd backs that promise up every day, in every classroom, in every interaction,鈥� said Book.

Her remarks also covered the improvement across campus. Elon鈥檚 Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, which was ranked #38 overall and in the top 25 among private colleges and universities in the nation by Poets&Quants’, is welcoming Haya Ajjan as the new dean of the school in June.

In the School of Communications, Elon has added a new major in digital content management. Finally, in the arts, Elon is one of the top 10 most-represented colleges on Broadway. That kind of recognition Book reflects is not just by talent but brought on by a community where artists are deeply supported鈥攁nd prepared to perform.

Attendees also learned that the Eco-Village is thriving as a living-learning community developed with a sustainable design and a leader in the university鈥檚 sustainability efforts. On the heels of the Eco-Village, Elon launched a new Sustainability Master Plan, doubling down on efforts to be carbon neutral by 2037 leaving the community a cleaner, healthier place for all.

Book wrapped up by touching on HealthEU the second largest capital project in Elon鈥檚 history, a campus-wide center for wellness before introducing Stephanie Ainsworth 鈥�21 and Reagan Ogle 鈥�18 to the stage.

Stephanie Ainsworth 鈥�21 and Reagan Ogle 鈥�18 performed their rendition of 鈥淕et Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again鈥� originally sung by Barbra Streisand and featuring Judy Garland.

Jim Piatt, senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs, provided closing remarks, focusing on growing stronger together, ending the night with the well-known song, 鈥淣ew York, New York.”