The Chandlers remain impressed by Elon鈥檚 commitment to sound strategic planning and doing what鈥檚 best for students. It鈥檚 what inspired the couple鈥檚 gift to Slattery Center, the university鈥檚 new hub for health and wellness that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to succeed on campus and throughout their lives.

Scheduled to open later this year, Slattery Center is located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs. The center is part of the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative to serve students, faculty and staff.

鈥淚t adds value and is beneficial when you can provide a place where students can go to be in community, exercise, receive counseling and focus on their well-being,鈥� said Bob Chandler, former executive vice president of Chandler Concrete Co. 鈥淭his facility shows that the university is aware of the challenges students face and how to help them in all aspects of their health.鈥�

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

The couple鈥檚 gift will also endow the Chandler Family Global Experience Fund, strengthening Elon鈥檚 commitment to provide each of the university鈥檚 17 varsity teams with a global experience every four years.

鈥淕lobal experiences are a cornerstone of an Elon education, and thanks to Bob and Amy Chandler, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the world while sharing their sport across cultures,鈥� said Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics. 鈥淏ob and Amy are truly special people who value the holistic development of our student-athletes and their generosity will be felt for generations. I am deeply grateful for their many years of dedication to this university and for the profound difference they make in the lives of our student-athletes.鈥�

鈥淥ur family has been sports fans for as long as I can remember. We love the energy and excitement athletics brings to campus and the opportunities it provides to students,鈥� Bob Chandler said.

鈥淓lon is a national leader in global study, and we are thrilled to help provide this experience for student-athletes,” he added. “It鈥檚 essential that students have the opportunity to witness other cultures and encounter the differences and similarities of the people there. It provides tremendous growth for a person and a deeper understanding of the world.鈥�

The Chandler family is among Elon鈥檚 most generous and devoted donors, helping to shape one of the finest learning environments in the nation through their gifts to Belk Library, Rhodes Stadium, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, Gerald L. Francis Center, Alumni Field House, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Schar Center, The Inn at Elon and Innovation Quad.

Bob Chandler鈥檚 parents, Tom and Lynn Chandler, also endowed the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Tom Chandler was the chairman and former CEO of Chandler Concrete, which he founded in 1973, and he served on Elon鈥檚 Board of Trustees for more than two decades before being elected Life Trustee in 2021. In 2023, Tom Chandler received the Elon Medallion, the university鈥檚 highest honor.

鈥淓lon鈥檚 trajectory shows remarkable advancement,鈥� Bob Chandler said. 鈥淓lon has a vision of what鈥檚 to come and how to keep the university moving forward. It is a vibrant and thriving university that is gratifying for the students, faculty and community.鈥�

The university鈥檚 influence extends far beyond the campus.

鈥淭he impact that Elon has on Alamance County and the region is significant, and we feel it鈥檚 important for our family to support the university,鈥� Bob said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a community that we are proud to be part of.鈥�

The gift from alumna and Trustee Kerrii Brown Anderson 鈥�79 will name the Connie Ledoux Book Courtyard at Slattery Center, which will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and throughout every stage of their lives.

Scheduled to open in fall 2026, Slattery Center is located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

Anderson praised Book for her commitment to Slattery Center, which is a key component of Elon鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative.

鈥淧resident Book is so committed to student success, both emotionally, physically and academically,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淭his garden represents a serene place where students can gather and enjoy spending time together. I could not think of a better idea than to call this 鈥楥onnie鈥檚 Courtyard.鈥欌��

The courtyard will be located on the west side of Slattery Center, facing Innovation Quad and Richard W. Sankey Hall. The space will include tables and chairs for students, faculty and staff to gather and a lush garden featuring a variety of flowering trees and shrubs.

鈥淚 am deeply humbled and grateful to Kerrii Anderson for this generous and thoughtful gift and for her many years of distinguished service on the Board of Trustees,鈥� Book said. 鈥淜errii鈥檚 steadfast support of key institutional priorities like HealthEU and Slattery Center has strengthened Elon鈥檚 national reputation for engaged, student-centered learning.鈥�

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

鈥淗ealthEU demonstrates our commitment as a university in doing what鈥檚 right and in the best interest of our students to be successful long term,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淭o Connie鈥檚 credit, she recognizes that the total success for students includes a great foundation, both mentally, physically and academically.鈥�

Anderson noted Book鈥檚 record of leadership at Elon, including her 16-year tenure as a faculty member and administrative leader, helping to build the university鈥檚 national reputation for excellence in engaged teaching and learning. In 2015, Book was named the first female provost and chief academic officer at The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, before returning to Elon in 2018 to serve as the university鈥檚 ninth president.

鈥淚 owe Connie such a debt of gratitude for participating in the presidential search process and for the last eight years of leadership as president,鈥� Anderson said.

Together with her husband Doug, Kerrii Anderson is among Elon鈥檚 most generous donors, making gifts to The Inn at Elon, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center and Numen Lumen Pavilion. In 2017, Anderson made a generous gift to endow the Kerrii Brown Anderson Odyssey Scholarship to assist talented students with significant financial need. Her gift to Slattery Center will also deepen funding for her Odyssey Scholarship.

Anderson has been a member of Elon鈥檚 Board of Trustees since 2008 and previously served as board chair. She received the university鈥檚 Alumna of the Year award in 2000 and currently serves on the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Anderson has also been a devoted donor to Elon Day, the university鈥檚 largest day of giving.

Those who knew Allison Keill remember her passion for education and mentoring and how she touched the lives of every student she encountered in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.

That legacy will live on in the Allison E. Keill Memorial Global Engagement Endowed Scholarship that has been established by Keill鈥檚 husband, Chad Esposito, of Burlington, North Carolina, along with gifts from dozens of friends and family members who have come together to honor her memory.

Keill, 50, served as director of the Curriculum Resources Center and associate librarian in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education before passing away March 25, 2026.

鈥淎llison brought light and love to all in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education,鈥� said Dean Ann Bullock. 鈥淗er genuine, welcoming spirit and boundless sense of adventure make this scholarship聽a fitting tribute to an educator who impacted lives far beyond the classroom.鈥�

The scholarship will assist students with financial need in the Watts Williams School of Education who are pursuing study abroad or Study USA opportunities.

Esposito remembers his wife as a woman of extraordinary grace, strength and heart who loved her family deeply.

鈥淎llison was selfless and giving in every sense of the word鈥攁lways putting others before herself and offering love, comfort and kindness so freely to everyone fortunate enough to know her,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he had a way of making people feel seen, cared for and important, and her beautiful smile could light up even the darkest room. Allison聽will be remembered for her positivity, intelligence, resilience and unwavering spirit.鈥�

Keill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2024 yet refused to let the disease define her, Esposito said.

鈥淓ven in the face of unimaginable hardship, Allison remained inspiring, strong, thoughtful and full of love,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he met life鈥檚 challenges with courage and dignity, and she taught those around her what it truly means to live with purpose, gratitude and grace. Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her heart into every moment spent with them. She also understood deeply that nothing in this life is guaranteed, and because of that, she embraced each moment with love, laughter and intention.鈥�

Esposito hopes the scholarship will inspire students to embrace education and global exploration.

鈥淓ndowing this scholarship ensures that Allison鈥檚 legacy continues in a way that reflects who she was鈥攁 compassionate educator, an inspiring mentor and someone who saw the world as a classroom without borders,鈥� he said. 鈥淎llison had a genuine love of learning, not only through books and teaching, but through experiencing the world firsthand. She believed that understanding different cultures and perspectives made people better educators, better thinkers and better human beings.鈥�

Born in Summit, New Jersey, Keill grew up in Westport, Connecticut, and Brunswick County, North Carolina. After graduating high school from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, she earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree from UNC-Greensboro, and a master鈥檚 degree in library science from East Carolina University.

Make a Gift

Anyone interested in donating to the scholarship may contact Brian Baker, associate vice president of university advancement, at (336) 278-7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

A generous gift from Elon Trustee Bill Slattery and his wife Tish Slattery P鈥�24 P鈥�28 will name the university鈥檚 new center for health and wellness and also create 14 additional scholarships in the Odyssey Program to assist talented students with significant financial need.

Elon President Connie Ledoux Book and the Board of Trustees announced the Slatterys鈥� gift at the board鈥檚 spring meeting April 10-11. Book thanked the Slattery family for their generosity and leadership in supporting a center that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and throughout every stage of their lives.

鈥淭he Elon community is deeply honored to name the HealthEU Center in recognition of the Slattery family,鈥� Book said. 鈥淭his extraordinary investment from Bill and Tish Slattery will help Elon meet its mission to transform the mind, body and spirit of every student, and prepare healthy graduates ready to share their gifts with the world.鈥�

The ability to address the health and well-being of students early in their lives inspired the Slatterys to make their gift.

鈥淢y career at the intersection of science and investment often requires decades to witness the outcomes of success,鈥� Bill Slattery said. 鈥淗ealthEU is an opportunity to intervene with our students at an early age and engage in these activities in a more structured, thoughtful way, and hopefully reduce some of their adversities in life.鈥�

鈥淚 believe social media has impacted students greatly, and institutions like Elon that provide centers like HealthEU will be at an advantage going forward,鈥� Tish Slattery said. 鈥淗ealth and wellness encompass so much more than just the physical aspect. I鈥檓 incredibly grateful that we鈥檙e able to impact Elon with this gift.鈥�

Slattery Center is a central component to the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, Slattery Center will be located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

The Slatterys鈥� gift will also endow the William and Tish Slattery Odyssey Program Scholarship, funding 14 new scholarships in the program that gives bright, passionate students with high financial need and/or no family history of college attendance access to Elon鈥檚 nationally recognized engaged learning programs.

These new investments bring the total number of Odyssey Program scholarships to nearly 300, more than halfway to the university鈥檚 goal of having a total of 400 Odyssey Scholarships, or 100 scholars per class, as called for in the Boldly Elon strategic plan. Housed in Elon鈥檚 Center for Access and Success, the Odyssey Program is nationally recognized as a model for need- and merit-based initiatives, with a nearly 100% first-to-second-year student retention rate and an 87% graduation rate, well above the national average.

The Slatterys have been impressed by the educational experience Elon delivers to students. Their daughter Madelyn graduated in 2024, and their son James is an Elon sophomore.

鈥淚鈥檝e been very happy to see the school excel at its academic responsibility in education while equally addressing students鈥� needs as people at the social level,鈥� Bill said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a pleasant, inviting and warm place that cares for its students.鈥�

鈥淔rom the moment you step foot on Elon鈥檚 campus, you feel a great sense of community,鈥� Tish said. 鈥淭he close relationships that students have with their professors makes Elon stand out among its peers.鈥�

Bill Slattery is a partner at Deerfield Management Company,聽Therapeutics. Prior to joining Deerfield in 2000, Slattery served as a senior healthcare analyst for 10 years at Amerindo Investment Advisors in New York, where he oversaw biotechnology investments. He has also held various positions in research, including those at National Medical Enterprises, Johnson & Johnson, and HMSS. He is the former chair of Red Door Community, which supports those impacted by cancer and their families.

Bill was elected to Elon鈥檚 Board of Trustees in 2024. Tish is a member of the Slattery聽Family Foundation and served in administration at Amerindo Investment Advisors. Recently, Tish was named chair of the Miss Hall鈥檚 School Arts Advisory Council. The couple reside in Rye, New York.

William Rudd Jr. 鈥�50 and James Robertson 鈥�50 understood the value of friendship better than most people. After all, theirs lasted close to 80 years.

To honor his father and that friendship, Rudd鈥檚 son, Bill Rudd III, made a $100,000 gift to Elon鈥檚 HealthEU Center. In recognition of the gift, a plaque will be installed on the landing between the second and third floors of Dalton L. McMichael Sr. Science Center with the following inscription: 鈥淚n honor of William G. Rudd Jr., and James E. Robertson, distinguished members of the Class of 1950, for their nearly 80 years as classmates, fellow WWII veterans, business partners and lifelong friends.鈥�

The named space features a comfortable sitting area and plenty of natural light that Bill hopes will inspire students to gather and begin their own lifelong friendships. Rudd and Robertson studied the sciences at Elon, with Rudd majoring in pre-med and Robertson biology.

鈥淚 thought there needs to be a way to honor my father鈥檚 life, especially knowing that he and James had such a long friendship,鈥� Bill said. 鈥淣owadays, things are so transitory, including interactions between people, but you can鈥檛 put a value on 80 years of friendship.鈥�

Bill Rudd Jr. grew up in the small rural community of Monticello in Guilford County, North Carolina, where he spent many hours working the family鈥檚 75-acre tobacco farm. Robertson was raised about 30 miles north in Leaksville, North Carolina, near the town of Eden in Rockingham County. Both men grew up during the Depression, which made them resilient and appreciate what little money they had.

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 one of the things that bound them together, the modest circumstances in which they were born and lived,鈥� Bill said.

The two met on Elon鈥檚 campus following their military service in World War II. Drafted in 1944, Rudd served in the Army鈥檚 87th Infantry Division and fought in France during the Battle of the Bulge. Robertson enlisted in the Army Air Corp as a high school senior and served stateside as a radio operator. Both enrolled at Elon through the GI Bill and bonded over their shared military service, small-town roots and interest in science. When they weren鈥檛 studying, they passed the time playing cards and hanging out on campus. If they wanted to go anywhere, they had to hitchhike since neither had a car.

Following graduation, the two men returned to their hometowns, with Rudd working at Sears in Greensboro, while Robertson went to work at Duke Energy at the Dan River Station in Eden. Before long, Rudd joined his best friend at the utility company, where they worked together for nearly four decades.

鈥淚t was his first step in getting away from home and was a chance for him to see the world,鈥� Bill recalled. 鈥淗e did not want to live on a tobacco farm.鈥�

In 1952, while still working at Duke Energy, Robertson opened his own business, Rockingham Insurance Agency, in an 800-square-foot brick building in Eden. His father had a successful career in insurance and Robertson wanted to continue that legacy. Rudd agreed to join Robertson as co-owner, proving that best friends can be successful business partners. They quickly developed a reputation for honesty among their clients and regularly drew on each other鈥檚 strengths to grow their business, including Robertson鈥檚 mastery of numbers.

鈥淭hey both worked hard and treated people with dignity,鈥� Bill said. 鈥淭hey never abused the responsibility they had for selling and serving insurance.鈥�

鈥淭hey were able to communicate with each other in a way that they respected each other and were there for each other in the good and the bad times,鈥� added James鈥� son, George Robertson. 鈥淟ife is tough and you have to be there for each other and they were.鈥�

Both men were also loyal donors to Elon and visited campus as often as they could. Together they amassed nearly 60 years of annual giving to their university, primarily for scholarships, as a way of thanking Elon for their education.

Rudd and Robertson remained close, even after Rudd entered assisted living. Though his memory was fading, Rudd never forgot his best friend when he came to visit. Rudd passed away on October 3, 2023, and Robertson died four months later.

During a recent visit to campus, Bill Rudd reflected on how happy he was to continue his father鈥檚 legacy and that of his best friend.

鈥淚 feel a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment that carries on beyond their deaths,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n some ways, Elon has helped me to become who I am today, and I am forever grateful for that.鈥�

福利亚洲国产精品 the HealthEU Center

The new HealthEU Center will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to thrive on campus and beyond.

The center is a key component of the Boldly Elon strategic plan and Elon鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Currently under construction, the center is located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs, and scheduled to open in Fall 2026.

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make聽an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

Inspired by her Elon education, Joan Danieley聽鈥�82 has established a professorship that will focus on complex issues surrounding family histories and reconciliation.

The Joan Danieley Distinguished Professorship will support a faculty scholar in any field of study whose teaching and research explore family histories and how individuals and societies navigate issues of reconciliation.

The fields of study may include, but are not limited to, history, psychology, sociology, human service studies, English and communications. Topics of reconciliation may include the legacy of slavery, the aftermath of Nazi Germany, displacement of Native Americans, internment of Japanese Americans and the contemporary political divide.

Danieley, who is the niece of the late Elon President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley 鈥�46, is passionate about the lessons society and individuals can learn from exploring issues of identity, ancestry and cultural heritage.

Danieley was deeply moved after watching the PBS documentary series, 鈥淔inding Your Roots,鈥� hosted by renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. The series explores the ancestry of celebrities and other well-known individuals from diverse backgrounds, some of whom have discovered family connections to slavery and the Holocaust. By taking viewers deep into the past, Gates seeks to demonstrate our common humanity.

鈥淎s I watched 鈥楩inding Your Roots,鈥� I was stunned by how family history and reconciling our pasts impacts us today,鈥� Danieley said. 鈥淎ll these years later, the impact is palpable and the reconciliation continues.鈥�

Danieley recalled learning about her own family history after reading the book, 鈥淪huttle & Plow: A History of Alamance County, North Carolina,鈥� written by Elon Professor Emerita Carole W. Troxler and William Vincent. Danieley said the book 鈥渃ompletely changed my life.鈥�

鈥淚n that book, they wrote about slavery and that my great-great-grandfather, Henry Hubbard Danieley, was rabidly anti-slavery,鈥� she said.聽鈥淏ut my great-grandmother鈥檚 family owned lots of slaves. We are all a mixture of contradictions upon which we layer the values we choose as our personal values.鈥�

Elon鈥檚 values inspired Danieley to make her estate gift to establish the professorship, which she hopes will encourage meaningful discussions among students and faculty.

鈥淓lon鈥檚 commitment to diversity, integrity, collaboration and respect for differences aligned with my values,鈥� she said.聽鈥淧utting Elon in my will acknowledges Elon鈥檚 effect on who I became and who I strive to be.鈥�

The Danieley family’s roots run deep at Elon. Earl Danieley was one of North Carolina鈥檚 strongest advocates for higher education. Beloved by generations of students and alumni who knew him as 鈥淒r. D,鈥� Earl Danieley grew up on a farm in Alamance County, North Carolina, not far from the Elon campus. He earned his degree in chemistry in 1946 and later that year joined the Elon faculty to teach chemistry, beginning a remarkable career that spanned 70 years. In 1957, at age 32, Danieley was named the sixth president of then-Elon College and guided the college to a new level of quality during his 16-year term, making improvements in academic standards and faculty credentials. He retired from the presidency in 1973 and returned to the classroom to teach, later serving in a variety of administrative positions. He passed away in 2016 at age 92.

鈥淢y ancestors agreed on their love for 福利亚洲国产精品 and its influence on its students and community,鈥� Joan Danieley said.聽鈥淚t was there that I began to get clarity on my values and the willingness to discuss these complex issues.聽I hope my donation will further this conversation and ultimately improve the reconciliation among diverse communities with differing histories, social norms and how we came into being.鈥�

Provost Rebecca Kohn thanked Danieley for investing in faculty scholars and student learning.

鈥淭he entire Elon community is indebted to Joan Danieley for recognizing the importance of investing in life-changing teacher-scholar-mentors who play an essential role in preparing students for success on campus and beyond,鈥� Kohn said.

鈥淭his gift is a powerful example of how philanthropy can advance rigorous scholarship, while also creating space for courageous, necessary conversations,鈥� said Leanna Giles 鈥�02, associate director of planned giving.

Danieley, a retired health care executive, earned her Elon degree in physical education and health from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education in 1982 and earned master鈥檚 and law degrees from Tulane University.

鈥淟eaving a legacy of love and reconciliation is how I want to be remembered,鈥� she said.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 as simple as that.鈥�

Make An Impact

To learn how you can make an impact at Elon through your estate, contact Leanna Giles 鈥�02, associate director of planned giving, at (336) 278-5798 or lgiles@elon.edu.

鈥淥ur dining philosophy is rooted in the belief that food should nourish, energize and support long-term health, while celebrating flavor, culture and sustainability,鈥� said Mary Thorton, founder and president of Harvest Table Culinary Group. 鈥淏y supporting the HealthEU Center, we can continue advancing these values and create meaningful experiences that promote well-being.鈥�

In recognition of the company鈥檚 gift, the demonstration kitchen and adjoining classroom on the third floor of the HealthEU Center will be named the Harvest Table Culinary Group Classroom and Kitchen. Teaching Kitchens encourage faculty, staff and student organizations to partner with Elon Dining鈥檚 chefs and dietitian to create enriching learning experiences while learning valuable skills concerning healthy eating and meal preparation.

鈥淭he Teaching Kitchen program we co-developed with 福利亚洲国产精品 is a hallmark of the Elon Dining experience and a source of great pride for us,鈥� Thorton said. 鈥淗aving a dedicated space within the HealthEU Center to host teaching kitchens will be transformative for this program.鈥�

Harvest Table Culinary Group provides for the entire campus community. The company focuses on chef-driven, authentic and locally sourced food that emphasizes clean ingredients, community connection and well-being through partnerships with local farms and chefs.

鈥湼＠侵薰� is a founding partner of Harvest Table Culinary Group, and we are thrilled to have a long-term, collaborative relationship,鈥� Thorton said. 鈥淥ur shared values鈥攕tudent-centered learning, global engagement and experiential education鈥攎ake this partnership truly special. We are deeply committed to the success of the Boldly Elon (strategic plan) and proud to support the university in every way possible.鈥�

The HealthEU Center is a central component of Boldly Elon and the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Currently under construction, the center is located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs, and scheduled to open in Fall 2026. Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $23 million to the project.

鈥淭he Elon community is grateful to Harvest Table Culinary Group for their generous support of the HealthEU Center,鈥� said Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer. 鈥淏y providing healthy and nutritious meals to our campus, Harvest Table plays an essential role in our commitment to the health and well-being of students, faculty and staff.鈥�

Make An Impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

Elon parents Neil and Jennifer Wizel P鈥�28, of Houston, have contributed $100,000 to the HealthEU Center. The couple praised Elon鈥檚 decision to make students鈥� health and well-being a top institutional priority, along with their academic and career preparation, and to help them form meaningful relationships. The couple’s daughter Grace 鈥�28 is a sophomore.

鈥淐ollege students today face unique challenges鈥攖hey are digital natives, buoyed by the benefits of technology and social media, and simultaneously threatened by the relentless culture of comparison and living in an age where real-life relationships often take a back seat,鈥� Jennifer Wizel said. 鈥淭hey are also living on the heels of a pandemic, with a fluid and unpredictable economy and a divisiveness in society that sometimes feel intractable. Having institutional support for their health and well-being is a gift beyond measure.鈥�

The HealthEU Center is a key component of the university鈥檚 Boldly Elon strategic plan and HealthEU聽initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story facility will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research and engagement spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, including an aquatics center and climbing/bouldering walls, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, with space for individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the center is designed to impact every student as they learn essential skills and practices to thrive on campus and throughout each stage of their lives.

While it was bittersweet sending Grace to college, the Wizels said they are enjoying watching her become more independent and make friends on campus.

鈥淲e feel tremendous affection, pride and excitement that Grace is spending these years at Elon, cultivating a deeper awareness about who she is, what she values and how to move through the world with curiosity, agency and purpose,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淪he will be challenged at Elon, supported and made to feel welcome and whole in her journey.鈥�

The couple鈥檚 gift will also establish the Wizel Family Elon Engagement Scholarship to make an Elon education possible for promising incoming students eager to participate in the university鈥檚 nationally recognized engaged learning programs, including undergraduate research, study abroad or Study USA, internships, service learning or leadership development.

Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $22.4 million to the center, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2026 within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

The comprehensive nature of the HealthEU Center and thoughtful design also inspired a generous gift from Parents Council members Armins and Cynthia Rusis P鈥�28, of New London, New Hampshire. The couple are also members of the President鈥檚 Parents Leadership Council.

鈥淏y integrating fitness and wellness into the college experience, the center will help students establish habits that contribute to lifelong health,鈥� Cynthia said. 鈥淲ithout a healthy balance between academics, recreation, and physical and mental resilience, it becomes significantly harder to thrive in today鈥檚 demanding and competitive world.鈥�

The couple said they are 鈥渁bsolutely thrilled鈥� with their daughter Lily鈥檚 Elon experience.

鈥淭he university offers an incredible range of opportunities, both academically, socially and through extracurricular involvement,鈥� Cynthia said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e deeply grateful for all that Elon provides and are proud to support the school and its mission.鈥�

Their gift will also create the Rusis Family Elon Engagement Scholarship.

The Cannon Foundation has continued its loyal and generous support of the university, contributing $100,000 to the center. Since 2000, the foundation has made gifts to some of Elon鈥檚 key facilities, including the Ernest A. Koury Sr. Business Center, R.N. Ellington Health Center, Physician Assistant Studies program, Inman Admissions Welcome Center and Koenigsberger Learning Center.

鈥淭he Cannon Foundation provided funding for this opportunity because it supports the total student,鈥� said Suzanne聽Philemon, executive director of the foundation. 鈥淲e want students to be successful and feel that these areas help make for a healthy, well-rounded human being. Our college and university students are our state鈥檚 future, and health and well-being are critical elements to their success.鈥�

The foundation鈥檚 gift will also endow The Cannon Foundation Elon Engagement Scholarship to assist students pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing degree in the university鈥檚 School of Health Sciences, with preference for students from Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

How to Make an Impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

Debra Del Vecchio knew there was something special about Elon when she first stepped onto campus in fall 2017, when her son Cristian 鈥�22 enrolled. That affinity only grew stronger when her daughter Angelica 鈥�24 joined the Elon community a few years later.

鈥淲hat I admire most about Elon is its deep sense of commitment,鈥� said Del Vecchio, of Oyster Bay, New York. 鈥淭he university is proactive, always thinking ahead to ensure students are supported, not just academically, but emotionally, socially and physically. The new HealthEU facility is a perfect example of this. It will be a state-of-the-art space, but more than that, I鈥檓 confident it will be a warm and welcoming hub of well-being at the heart of campus life.鈥�

In recognition of her gift, the main entrance to the HealthEU Center will be named Del Vecchio Commons, a spacious area that will welcome all visitors to the center and serve as an inviting gathering spot for students, faculty and staff. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the center will be located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

The gift will also endow the Del Vecchio Family Internship as part of the Women of Elon (WE) initiative. This initiative seeks to inspire alumnae, parents and friends to increase philanthropic support for students by raising $2.5 million by 2026 to make internships possible for students with financial need. Del Vecchio is a member of the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Finally, the gift will provide additional funding for the Odyssey聽Scholarships previously endowed by the Del Vecchio family, in honor of Cristian and Angelica, to make an Elon education possible for talented students with significant financial need.

鈥淭he Elon community is grateful to Debra Del Vecchio for her inspired leadership and engagement as a trustee and for generously supporting scholarships, health and wellness and other top university priorities,鈥� said James B. Piatt, Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs. 鈥淲e are a stronger institution because of devoted partners like Debra Del Vecchio.鈥�

The HealthEU Center is a central component to the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the HealthEU Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices to flourish on campus and throughout each stage of their lives. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $22.4 million to the project.

Del Vecchio is one of Elon鈥檚 most generous donors, making gifts to support scholarships, Elon鈥檚 Greatest Needs, Catholic Campus Ministry and, along with Cristian, expansion of the university鈥檚 golf training facilities on South Campus.

鈥淚 know firsthand the difference this community can make in a student鈥檚 life,鈥� Del Vecchio said. 鈥淎nd I know that countless others will graduate from Elon carrying that same sense of gratitude, confidence and care that my own children did. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 proud to support Elon and why I believe in what the HealthEU Center represents for this generation and those to come.鈥�

How to make an impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

To support the Women of Elon initiative, contact Emily Majmudar, director of development, at聽emajmudar@elon.edu or 336.520.5395.

Ilene and Andy Cantos P鈥�25 of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, made their estate gift to support Elon Hillel in perpetuity because of the powerful impact the organization had on their daughter, Kylie Cantos 鈥�25, who served as a peer mentor and executive board member with Hillel.

鈥淗illel provided Kylie with a warm, welcoming community where she felt a sense of belonging and identity,鈥� Ilene Cantos said. 鈥淚t was more than just a student organization鈥攊t became a home away from home for her.鈥�

The couple鈥檚 gift is one of the largest made to Elon Hillel, a dynamic student-run and student-centered organization that engages approximately 800 Jewish students (undergraduate and graduate) on campus, along with non-Jewish students. Hillel hosts a variety of activities and services throughout the academic year, including bagel brunches, weekly Shabbat dinners,聽Hanukkah parties, movie nights, Israeli cooking classes and get out the vote projects, among other activities. The organization is located in the Sklut Hillel Center, which opened in 2013 and is named for Elon parents Lori and Eric Sklut P鈥�14 of Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Cantos family was impressed by how deeply Hillel and Jewish Life staff invest in each student鈥檚 well-being and personal growth, including Hillel鈥檚 鈥淪oupWorks鈥� program that provides chicken soup and check-ins for students when they鈥檙e ill.

鈥淭here鈥檚 always someone looking out for the students, and that level of care really matters,鈥� Ilene said. 鈥淲e believe that every student deserves to have access to the same kind of supportive, inspiring and growth-focused community. That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e proud to support Elon and to be champions of its Jewish Life program.鈥�

Betsy聽Polk聽Joseph, senior director of Jewish Life at Elon, thanked the Cantos family for their generosity and deep engagement with the university and Hillel.

鈥淭hroughout Kylie鈥檚 four years at Elon, Ilene and Andy Cantos led the way as volunteers, champions, philanthropists and advocates for Elon,鈥� she said. 鈥淭heir legacy gift demonstrates that their generous commitment is lifelong and will inspire donors now and far into the future.鈥�

The couple served on Elon鈥檚 Jewish Life Advisory Council (JLAC), which gave them a front-row seat to the value of Jewish Life and Hillel to students鈥� academic, social and professional growth.

鈥淪erving on JLAC and staying engaged with Elon has deepened our appreciation for the university鈥檚 commitment to cultivating a vibrant, inclusive environment,鈥� Andy Cantos said. 鈥淛ewish life, and especially Hillel, is a key part of that. It doesn鈥檛 just enrich student life鈥攊t helps transform it.鈥�

Organizations like Hillel make it easy for students to get involved and stay engaged throughout their entire Elon experience, Ilene said.

鈥淲hether they鈥檙e leading a program, participating in a fellowship, working a paid internship or just showing up to a Shabbat dinner, they鈥檙e gaining confidence, skills and connections that will last long after graduation,鈥� she said.

The Cantos family was also pleased with Kylie鈥檚 overall Elon experience, which allowed her to grow personally and professionally as a Change Maker Scholar in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, vice president of philanthropy with Alpha Chi Omega sorority and as an executive board member of the Pre-Health Society.聽Kylie earned her undergraduate degree in psychology.

鈥淜ylie had access to incredible facilities and was constantly challenged academically while also being encouraged to get involved outside the classroom,鈥� Ilene said. 鈥淲atching our daughter thrive at Elon has been a gift, and we鈥檙e proud to continue supporting this incredible community.鈥�

鈥淓lon is grateful to the Cantos family for generously supporting Hillel through their estate, which will help secure the future of this outstanding organization and make a meaningful impact on generations of students,鈥� said John Gardner 鈥�01, senior director of development.

Visit Elon鈥檚 website for more information on how you can make a difference with student learning through estate gifts.

福利亚洲国产精品 Elon Hillel

Hillel is open to all Jewish students from all backgrounds, identities and levels of observance, as well as to non-Jewish students. The organization seeks to build a welcoming, inclusive community that provides empowering Jewish experiences for students and embraces the diversity of Jewish traditions and identities.

The Sklut Hillel Center is a popular gathering place for students, whether they鈥檙e looking for a fridge full of food, a place to hang out or study, a way to meet other students, or somewhere to celebrate a Jewish holiday. Elon Jewish Life also advocates for the Jewish community on campus and prepares students for life beyond college through access to summer jobs and internships.