The nine-day journey brought together 26 travelers for an immersive experience through coastal and central Italy, blending cultural exploration and historic sites with the fun that comes from shared experiences.

鈥淚t was truly a special Elon experience that included bonding with new friends, journeys to locations off the beaten paths and immersion into the local culture,” said聽LA Sarmiere 鈥�93 P’27.

A global classroom

Led by retired Professor Barbara Gordon, the program marked a new chapter in alumni engagement 鈥� extending the university鈥檚 tradition of experiential learning beyond campus and across generations of graduates.

鈥淭his experience demonstrated the power of lifelong learning and connection can happen anywhere,鈥� said Kendra Haskins, senior director of Alumni Engagement. 鈥淥ur Elon community is full of curiosity and the explorer spirit. What a perfect mix for travel!鈥�

A journey through Italy鈥檚 landscapes and culture

The group began their travels in Turin before heading into the UNESCO-recognized Langhe region, where they enjoyed a winery visit. Along the Italian Riviera, alumni explored the picturesque villages of Cinque Terre, traveling between the colorful coastal towns and taking in sweeping views of the Mediterranean.

In Tuscany, the group settled into a countryside village for several days, where they experienced the art, architecture and cultural legacy of the Italian Renaissance.

鈥淚 had an absolute blast. This was my first time in Italy and being able to fully immerse myself in the culture while seeing places beyond the major tourist spots was incredible. The balance of being guided by local experts, learning about the history and culture, while also having time to explore independently is what truly made this a standout adventure,鈥� shared Frederick Evans 鈥�20.

A new chapter in alumni engagement

As the inaugural travel experience, this Italian adventure was the first in an announced series of educational travel experiences for alumni, family and friends.

Upcoming journeys include:

A Spotlight on Paris
Sept. 30 鈥� October 6, 2026

Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park
July 2-9, 2027

Christmas on the Danube
December 4-12, 2027

Be a traveler, not a tourist with Elon!
Read more about upcoming travel with Elon Alumni on their website: /u/alumni/travel/

The Elon Alumni Board (EAB) acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

Katie Corrigan 鈥�02

Katie is a Vice President at MKI Global Partners, an advisory firm focused on how policy, politics and regulation shape financial markets and corporate transactions.聽She graduated from Elon in 2002 and values the strong community and network it continues to provide. Her younger sister is also an Elon alum, Class of 2003.

Katie lives in South Burlington, VT, with her husband, Dan, and their two sons, James (12) and Thomas (9). Outside of work, she enjoys taking full advantage of Vermont鈥檚 seasons, from lake days in the summer to skiing and hiking with her family.

Lauren Ludlow 鈥�13

Lauren is the founder of聽, a New York鈥揵ased consultancy helping brands and creators build influencer marketing programs that drive long-term growth. She has partnered with leading CPG and retail brands including Sephora, P&G Beauty, Nike, Meta, and No7 Beauty Company.

She is also the co-founder of聽, a community and networking event series built on the belief that meaningful connection drives better ideas, stronger businesses, and a more collaborative beauty industry. Lauren previously served on the New York Elon Alumni Board for four years.

New members鈥� first meeting with the full board was held on Friday, Oct. 10 as part of Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.

Whitney Butcher 鈥�09 L鈥�12
Whitney is a practicing attorney with more than ten years of experience in complex civil litigation. She is a partner with the multi-state law firm Ketterer, Browne & Associates, PLLC. While at Elon, Whitney was a member of the Women’s Tennis Team and while at Elon Law, was a part of the moot court board and argued at national competitions her 2L and 3L years.

Whitney lives in Raleigh with her husband, Nick, and her handsome goldendoodle, Shep.

Stephen Dahlem 鈥�07
Stephen is the president and founder of Steele Commercial and Steele Property Management of Raleigh, NC.聽 Together with Steele Residential, the three companies provide comprehensive real estate solutions throughout the great Triangle area.

Stephen earned his BA from Elon and has a MBA from UNC鈥檚 Kenan-Flagler Business School.聽 In his free time, Stephen serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for the Triangle Area Office Building Association (TRAOBA). He can otherwise be found on the tennis or pickleball courts or enjoying a glass of wine with friends and family.

Kristyn Green 鈥�95 P鈥�29
Kristyn was born and raised in South Jersey. She graduated from Elon in 1995, with a degree in History and Philosophy and went on to get her Certification in Business Management from The Wharton School in 2004. Her career has been focused on technology services, and she is currently the Global Lead for Customer Feedback and Reporting at EY LLP where she has been for over 25 years.

Kristyn lives in New Jersey with her family and her daughter, Sara, is currently a freshman at Elon.

Scott Rehnert 鈥�12
Scott earned his BA in Business Administration (Management and Economics) from Elon and is a member of the Sigma Iota Epsilon Management Fraternity. He is currently a Manager on the Business Solutions team at Audax Group, where he drives operational efficiency and manages CRM platforms across the firm. He previously spent more than five years on Audax Group鈥檚 Investor Relations team, supporting fundraising, client communications, and strategic relationship management.

He and his wife, Kate (also a 2012 alum), live in Wellesley, MA with their two daughters, Reese (3) and Blair (1), and their dogs, Watson and Millie.

Peter Walpole 鈥�15
Peter graduated with a degree in media arts and entertainment. Following a decade-long PR agency experience at Golin, he joined the networking and cybersecurity company Infoblox to lead their social media and digital strategy. As part of his commitment to serving students and young people, Peter has been an adjunct professor for the City College of New York Branding + Integrated Communications master鈥檚 program since 2022.

Peter lives with his wife Sarah in Brooklyn, NY, and can usually be found picking up litter around his beloved Bushwick neighborhood.

Launched on Sept. 16, 2024, the platform set ambitious year-one goals of 500 submitted questions and 1,100 alumni responses. Ahead of the deadline, students and alumni had submitted more than聽500 questions, and alumni had delivered over聽1,350 responses.

The initiative was designed to make alumni expertise more accessible to current students and alumni, offering real-world insights into majors, careers, locations and life after Elon. With alumni representing diverse industries and global locations, the responses have created a living knowledge network for the Elon community.

One student shared, 鈥淓lon Q&A is such a unique and useful tool to connect with alumni and gain career advice! It was great to hear from this person. It gave me hope and opened my eyes to many different opportunities.鈥�

The success of Elon Q&A demonstrates the strength of Elon鈥檚 alumni network and their ongoing commitment to mentoring and supporting current students and their fellow alumni. Alumni participation has been enthusiastic, with many sharing that responding to questions has been a meaningful way to give back to the university.

鈥淚t was wonderful connecting with a soon-to-be Elon grad,” one alumnus shared. “I value finding ways to remain engaged with the Elon community, and this was a great way to do so. I wish Elon Q&A was around when I was graduating!鈥�

As Elon Q&A moves into its second year, organizers plan to expand outreach to ensure even more students and alumni engage with the platform. With such strong momentum, the future looks bright for this growing hub of connection.

Have Questions? Ask Alumni!听痴颈蝉颈迟

The platform, which launched in September 2024, was honored with the NACE Technology Excellence Award 鈥� College Honorable Mention, distinguishing Elon Q&A as a model for institutions seeking to leverage artificial intelligence and alumni engagement in support of student success.

Elon Q&A allows students and alumni to submit career-related questions through an intuitive AI-powered interface, which then connects them with relevant insights and experiences shared by Elon alumni. Since its debut, the platform has seen strong adoption across campus and among the alumni community, offering an easy, accessible way to foster meaningful connections and mentorship.

鈥淲e are thrilled that Elon Q&A has resonated so deeply with our community,鈥� said Kendra Haskins, senior director of alumni engagement. 鈥淭his recognition from NACE affirms the value of creating innovative tools that strengthen the Elon Network and empower students and alumni in their career journeys.鈥�

The development of Elon Q&A was rooted in a shared vision between the SPDC and the Office of Alumni Engagement to better connect students and alumni in ways that are scalable, personalized, and impactful. Through the platform, users have explored topics ranging from internship and job search strategies to industry-specific guidance to what life is like in a particular city.

鈥淭he Elon community is stronger because of this new tool and program that allows for connections to be brokered between alumni and students. The partnership between the Alumni Engagement and Student Professional Development teams is a model for others to learn from,鈥� shared John Barnhill 鈥�92, associate vice president for University Advancement and strategic initiatives.

The NACE Awards recognize institutions and individuals that demonstrate excellence in the field of career services and university relations. This year鈥檚 award winners were selected for their outstanding achievements in innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact.

For more information on Elon Q&A or to explore the platform, visit .

New members鈥� first meeting with the full board will be on Friday, May 2 as part of Alumni Awards Weekend.

Beth Clingaman 鈥�95
Beth is the Vice President of Foundation and Community Engagement at Trilogy Health Services, a senior living community with locations in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Prior to this role, she served as Vice President for Advancement at Sacred Heart Schools Louisville, a private K-12 school for women.

Beth received her bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Elon. Since graduating, she served as a member of her Reunion Committees for both her 20th and 25th reunions and has been an Elon Day volunteer several times. Beth and her husband, Michael, reside in Louisville, Kentucky and have two children.

Stephanie Marken 鈥�08
Stephanie is a senior partner at Gallup leading its U.S. custom research division, which includes research programs Gallup performs on behalf of foundations, agencies, corporations and higher education institutions. Prior to joining Gallup, she was a researcher in the education division at Westat, a research firm specializing in complex social science studies for the federal government, state agencies and foundations.

Stephanie received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Elon and her master’s degree in survey research from the University of Connecticut. She has served as an Elon volunteer in several capacities including as a Peer Agent and currently as a member of the President鈥檚 Round Table. Elon recognized her with a Top 10 Under 10 award in 2018. Stephanie and her husband, Brett Laduzinsky, reside in Alexandria, Virginia.

The afternoon kicked off with a one-hour sports clinic, where girls aged 12 and under learned valuable skills from members of the Elon women鈥檚 teams. Student-athletes from softball, basketball, track & field, volleyball, and soccer led interactive sessions focused on fundamentals, teamwork, and confidence-building. Participants rotated through each sport, gaining hands-on experience while forming meaningful connections with collegiate athletes who serve as role models both on and off the field.

While the young athletes were immersed in the clinic, their parents attended a workshop led by Cara Lucia, associate professor of sport management. The session explored the impact of youth sports on personal development, strategies for advocating for young athletes,and best practices for parents looking to coach youth teams.

Following the clinic and workshop, all participants gathered in Schar Center to cheer on the Elon women鈥檚 basketball team as they faced Monmouth.

鈥淲e celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day to highlight the importance of empowering the next generation of female athletes, coaches, and leaders within sport to create a culture of support and inclusion in sports,” said Mary DeFriest, assistant athletics director of marketing and fan engagement. “When young girls see strong females in roles within sport, it sparks confidence and curiosity 鈥� encouraging them to dream bigger and have confidence in their abilities.鈥�

The event also underscored the collaborative spirit of the greater university. Women of Elon, an initiative dedicated to engaging and connecting all women members of the Elon community including alumni, parents and students, that collaborated with athletics to organize the celebration. Kendra Haskins, senior director of alumni engagement, expressed the group鈥檚 enthusiasm for the day.

鈥淲omen of Elon were thrilled to partner with Elon Athletics to create this opportunity to inspire women of all ages: the girls with a connection to Elon’s incredible athletes and our volunteers and community members with the opportunity to impact the next generation.”

NGWSD at 福利亚洲国产精品 was more than just a celebration鈥攊t was a testament to the power of mentorship, representation and the impact of sports on shaping confident and resilient young women. As participants left Schar Center, many were already looking forward to next year鈥檚 event, eager to continue building a culture of empowerment and inclusion in athletics.

For more information about Women of Elon, visit /u/advancement/women-of-elon.

The EAB acts as a key link between the University administration and the alumni body. On an individual basis and collectively as a Board, the EAB provides advice, counsel and perspective to staff and leadership on a wide range of strategic issues facing the University.

David Henkel 鈥�03

David and his wife Jessica 鈥�03 met their first year on the Service Learning聽Community floor at Elon. They currently reside in Davidson, North Carolina with their four children. David serves clients as a Private Wealth Advisor with Raymond James and Pinnacle Asset Management. He is active in his church, Grace Covenant, and he and Jessica serve as co-leaders of the church鈥檚 foster and adoptive group. 聽They have been fortunate enough to be able to adopt their youngest daughter and serve as a foster family to children. David is active with F3 men鈥檚 group. He enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and trips to the North Carolina mountains.聽

Byron Hicks 鈥�87

Byron serves as both the executive state director of the NC Small Business and聽Technology Development Center (SBTDC) and the assistant vice chancellor of Business and Technology Extension Programs in the Office of External Affairs, Partnerships, and Economic Development at NC State University. He also serves as the chair of the UNC System鈥檚 Economic Transformation Council and is on the Board of the NCWorks Commission as well as Vice-Chair of the national association America鈥檚 Small Business Development Centers. Additionally, he holds several certifications and awards including Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP), General Contractor鈥檚 license, 2015 NC SBTDC State Star and 2019 SBA Collaborative & Partnership Award. Byron has been married to his wife, Lori, for 20 years and they live in Wake Forest, NC. They have four daughters and two grandchildren.

Anne 鈥淥z鈥� Staley 鈥�74

Oz credits a number of things with making her time at Elon meaningful, from taking part in one of the first Winter Term study abroad trips to London to being a part of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Since retiring from a career in sales that spanned more than 30 years, she has spent more time both playing and watching tennis. She established the Anne Dechert Staley ’74 Women’s Tennis Scholarship to support students who share her passion for the sport. Oz now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with her husband, John. She is an avid traveler, fly fisherwoman, gardener and Pickleball player and is involved in community volunteer work. She served as co-chair of her 45th Reunion and is currently the co-chair for her 50th reunion that she is celebrating this year.

Ryan Vet 鈥�13

Ryan got his business marketing degree at Elon and met the love of his life, Jessica 鈥�14. They currently live in Durham where Ryan is actively involved in his church as an elder and teaches Sunday school. He is also a trained sommelier, completing coursework from both the Court of the Master Sommeliers as well as the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Ryan started early as an entrepreneur, launching a multi-national marketing firm that specialized in working with non-profit organizations at age 14. The year after graduating from Elon, he and a partner opened The Oak House in Elon. Since then, he has risen to executive leadership roles at multiple companies as well as hold advisory board roles in several companies and non-profits. Ryan shares his experiences with others as an international speaker and an author. His writings can be seen in聽Forbes, Dental Economics, books and in many other publications. He has also been聽featured in USA Today, FinancialTimes, ABC, CBS, NBC, and more.