A five-minute clock was counting down. Fallon鈥檚 challenge was to lift Thor鈥檚 hammer before time ran out. MrBeast watched from outside the box, and Chris Hemsworth arrived as Thor to smash the glass and save the day.

The setup was ridiculous by design. Dyer and his team had started with a simple question: What kind of challenge could bring together MrBeast鈥檚 oversized videos, Hemsworth鈥檚 history as Thor and Fallon鈥檚 willingness to play along?

For Dyer, the segment worked because it did more than copy something popular online. It gave 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� its own way into the joke.

鈥淲e never really did trendy content just because everyone else was doing it,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淲hat is our spin on it? What is our story? How can we subvert people鈥檚 expectations?鈥�

Dyer has been asking versions of those questions since his time at Elon. He arrived on campus already interested in broadcast, having focused his college search on communications programs. As a broadcast and new media major, he learned how an idea moved from a script to a finished piece.

Professors Staci Saltz and Thomas Nelson gave him room to work across writing, videography, photography, editing and directing. In the studio and in the field, he learned how to build a project 鈥渟oup to nuts.鈥�

鈥淭hey really allowed me to flex my creative muscles,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 learned all aspects of media production and strategy. That was pretty formative for me.鈥�

He graduated in 2011 as digital video was beginning to change the television business. Dyer started in digital operations at TV Land, then moved to Comedy Central, producing online content for programs including 鈥淪outh Park,鈥� 鈥淜ey & Peele鈥� and 鈥淣athan For You.鈥�

The platforms were still developing their identities as places to watch video, which gave Dyer room to test ideas and learn what worked. He credits his early progress to an eagerness to take on assignments beyond his job description.

鈥淚 never said no to an opportunity,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 had a drive to continue to push the envelope, learn more and become better every day.鈥�

In 2015, he joined the team building the digital presence of 鈥淭he Daily Show鈥� as Trevor Noah became host. The group had the chance to establish a new voice, try original formats and respond to the news with the speed of an online newsroom.

One of those formats was 鈥淏etween the Scenes,鈥� which captured Noah talking with the studio audience during commercial breaks. Dyer helped launch and produce the digital series, and the team won a 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding short-form variety series.

The series grew from a culture in which writers, producers, correspondents and members of the digital team could all shape an idea. Dyer remembers Trevor Noah telling the staff that a good idea could come from anyone, whether it came from an intern, a writer or a producer.

鈥淎 great idea really can come from anywhere and anyone,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淪hare, bounce things off each other and engage with your team. Through collaboration, the best ideas will come.鈥�

That lesson followed him to 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� in 2021. Dyer joined as head of digital while the show was still navigating pandemic-era production and remote guests. As performers and live audiences returned to Studio 6B, he began expanding the show鈥檚 digital originals, videos made specifically for people watching online rather than repackaged television clips.

His team worked with nearly every part of the show. They collaborated with writers, segment producers, talent bookers, NBC press, marketing, and the larger staff and crew at the show to turn an appearance into something that could connect beyond the television broadcast.

Dyer approached each idea 鈥渇an first.鈥� Before the cameras rolled, he wanted the team to understand the audience, the guest and the platform where the video would land. A TikTok video should feel natural on TikTok, he said, but it should still sound and look like 鈥淭he Tonight Show.鈥�

During Dyer鈥檚 tenure, he said, the show鈥檚 following across digital platforms grew from just over 50 million to more than 100 million. The show generated 50 billion views during his five years there. He points to those numbers as a team accomplishment, shared by Fallon and the people working across the production.

Leading that growth also changed how Dyer viewed his own role. He began paying closer attention to what each person on his team could become instead of limiting people to the jobs they had been hired to do. Delegating decisions and tasks gave younger producers room to grow and freed him to keep learning.

By the time he left the show in February 2026, Dyer felt confident that the team could continue without him. That made the timing right for another shift.

He joined Ampersand, the production company founded by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, as head of digital programming and development. The move has taken him from building digital extensions of established television programs to developing series from their earliest ideas. His current work includes 鈥淐elebrity Substitute鈥�, a YouTube series where some of the world鈥檚 most recognizable stars step in as teachers for unsuspecting public school students.

Dyer sees that move as part of television鈥檚 future. A series no longer needs to begin with a network time slot and find an online audience later. It can start on YouTube and reach viewers directly, without asking them to change their habits.

鈥淎 show is only good if people watch it,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 want to meet people where they already are.鈥�

The screens and platforms keep changing. His reason for making the work has remained simple: to give people something that brings them joy or laughter.

For Elon students hoping to enter the industry, Dyer鈥檚 advice is equally direct. Do not wait for perfect equipment, the perfect idea or the most recognizable company name. He remembers carrying a BlackBerry as a student; today, students have a 4K camera in their pockets and an immediate way to share what they make.

鈥淛ust start making things,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淪tart creating. You鈥檝e got to start somewhere. Make things that you鈥檙e passionate about, and let your passion guide you.鈥�

鈥淚 was ashamed. I was embarrassed. I kept everything to myself,鈥� Henze said.

In May 2023, a call that appeared to come from the Wells Fargo fraud department set off a three-week scheme. The people on the phone claimed Henze鈥檚 identity had been tied to money laundering, then posed as federal officials offering to help. They sent badges, letters and other documents that looked real.

By the time Henze understood what was happening, the scammers had emptied her savings, retirement and investment accounts, maxed out her credit cards and stolen more than $250,000.

Henze now speaks openly about the scam, works with groups that support financial education and talks with other victims. She is also an education and outreach specialist at 鈥榮torytelling with data,鈥� where she builds partnerships and programs for students and educators.

Her Elon experience still shows up in that work. Henze majored in human service studies, joined the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program and still calls mentors she met on campus. She recently spoke with Today at Elon about the path from Menlo Park, California, to Elon, the career she built after graduation and why telling the hardest part of her story has become part of her recovery.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Q: You grew up in Menlo Park, California. What brought you across the country to Elon, and what shaped your experience once you arrived?

A: I was looking at smaller liberal arts colleges, but I wasn鈥檛 necessarily looking to go far from home. A neighbor who had moved from North Carolina told us she had heard Elon was a great school. My mom and I visited during my junior year of high school, and I immediately fell in love with it. There was a particular energy I had not felt on other campuses. The tour, eating in the dining hall, seeing a residence hall and meeting students all felt thoughtful and welcoming. I knew pretty quickly that Elon was the right choice for me.

I majored in human service studies with minors in business administration and leadership studies. I was also an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow and served on New Student Orientation Head Staff.

Two mentors stand out. Professor Chris Leupold taught my first psychology class, which was also my first class at Elon. I took several more classes with him, and we still talk frequently. He has been a mentor throughout my career. Rex Waters, former dean of student development and led the Leadership Fellows program, was also tremendously influential.

Elon gave me more than book learning. Leadership, communication and long-term professional development were built into the experience, and that has stayed with me.

Q: How did those experiences guide the career you built after graduating in 2012?

A: Elon Career Services connected me with SPX Corporation at a career fair. I joined its human resources rotational program in Charlotte in June 2012, one month after graduating.

Human resources brought together the things I cared about in psychology, social work and human services with the business side of an organization. After several years in HR, I moved into organizational effectiveness, change management and strategy work. In 2023, I started my own consulting business and worked with nonprofits, small businesses and universities. One of my favorite projects brought me back to Elon to work alongside the university鈥檚 Human Resources team.

Today, I work for 鈥榮torytelling with data,鈥� where I build education partnerships and programs. Leadership Fellows helped me develop the curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset I still use to understand what people need, create a solution, try it and adjust when it does not work the first time.

Q: What happened in May 2023, and what helped you decide to share it publicly?

A: It started with a phone call. My caller ID said 鈥淲ells Fargo Fraud,鈥� and I banked with Wells Fargo, so I answered. The caller told me there was suspicious activity connected to my account and that the transfers were tied to money laundering. Then I was transferred to someone who claimed to be with the Federal Trade Commission.

I panicked. I thought someone had stolen my Social Security number and that I could be blamed for a crime. Over the next three weeks, the scammers walked me through gift-card purchases, wire transfers and bitcoin transactions. They told me I was securing my money. In reality, I emptied my bank accounts, my 401(k) and my investment accounts. I also maxed out my credit cards.

It is easy to look back and ask why anyone would do those things. In the moment, these people knew how to keep me afraid and earn my trust. They already had personal information about me. When I questioned them, they sent what looked like official badges and signed letters. Every skeptical question had a believable answer.

They stole more than $250,000. That money represented years of work. I had been saving since I started working as a teenager, and I began contributing to my 401(k) as soon as I got my first job after Elon.

At first, I did not tell people because I felt ashamed and embarrassed. Part of healing was accepting that it was not my fault. I cannot change what happened, but I can share what I learned. If my story helps one person pause before acting, or helps another victim feel less alone, then speaking about it matters.

Q: What do people misunderstand about scams like this, and what have you learned from other victims?

A: People still picture an obvious phishing email or a call that sounds suspicious right away. Those scams exist, but criminals can also spoof a familiar phone number, find personal information online and create documents that look legitimate. They create urgency because panic makes it harder to slow down and question what you are hearing.

Since I began sharing my story, people have contacted me about their own experiences. Some lost $500. Others lost $5,000 or much more. The amounts are different, but the shame and isolation can feel the same.

Those conversations have helped me heal. I have also spoken with Wisconsin law enforcement officers about how they can support fraud victims and volunteered with SecureFutures, a Milwaukee nonprofit that teaches financial skills to young people. Knowing that I might help someone recognize a scam or simply remind a victim that they are not alone brings me a lot of joy.

Q: What changes would you like to see for people recovering from fraud?

A: Victims need practical support right away. I was employed and still had a mortgage, bills and groceries to pay after losing everything. Friends and family helped me, but not everyone has that kind of support system.

I would also like to see a simpler reporting process. I had to repeat my story and submit the same documents about seven times to different agencies. Each report took hours, and each retelling brought me back into the trauma. I understand that agencies have different responsibilities. I still hope they can make the process easier for people who are already overwhelmed.

Q: What can readers do now to protect themselves?

A: First, slow down. Scammers want you to panic and act before you talk to anyone else. Caller ID is not proof of who is calling. Hang up, then contact the bank, company or government agency through its official app, website or the number on the back of your card. Talk with someone you trust before moving money or sharing information. A bank or government agency will not tell you to buy gift cards or move money to 鈥減rotect鈥� it.

Use a strong, different password for each account and turn on multifactor authentication wherever it is offered. Never give an unexpected caller a verification code. I also encourage people to request an IRS Identity Protection PIN, which adds protection against someone filing a federal tax return with your Social Security number.

A few extra minutes can prevent years of stress and recovery.

Q: What do you want current Elon students and recent graduates to carry with them?

A: Life is not always going to follow your plan. Challenges will come, and you get to decide what you do with them. You can learn, build resilience and use what happened to help other people.

There is a Latin phrase I live by now: amor fati, or 鈥渓ove of fate.鈥� To me, it means trusting that whatever life brings can shape what comes next. You cannot control everything that happens to you. You can control how you respond.

People who experience identity theft can report it and build a recovery plan at . The Federal Trade Commission accepts fraud reports at , and the FBI鈥檚 Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts reports at . The IRS explains how to request an . Learn more about teen financial education and volunteer opportunities at . Henze also created a with additional information for protecting yourself and responding to fraud.

Three Elon Los Angeles area alumnae attended the world premiere of their grant-funded films at the sold-out inaugural 福利亚洲国产精品 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

Julie Boyd 鈥�15, Bex Evans 鈥�16 and Mirai 鈥�07 were recipients of $3,000 each through the 2025-26 福利亚洲国产精品 Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall.

Grant recipients were selected through a review and ranking process by a selection committee comprised of industry leaders, including several Elon alumni. The selection committee was co-chaired by Jordan Roman 鈥�15.

To view photos from the festival, .

Production of the three short films 鈥� Boyd鈥檚 鈥淭he Life and Times of,鈥� Evans鈥檚 鈥淪hadow Dusk鈥� and Mirai鈥檚 鈥�#StopAsianKate鈥� 鈥� took place in the spring and included opportunities for spring 2026 福利亚洲国产精品 Los Angeles students to participate in and observe the production process.

In addition to the screenings of the three films, the festival included a panel discussion with Elon alumni Lindsey Emerson, vice president of streaming, global strategy & operations at Paramount Skydance and Alex Stevenson, account lead at Creative Artists Agency. They each offered perspective and advice to both current students and alumni about creating job opportunities and career growth in a shifting industry landscape.

A meet-and–connect reception on one of the studio鈥檚 back lot streets followed the festival screening program.

Unique alumni engagement opportunities for Elon Los Angeles students are at the core of the 福利亚洲国产精品 Los Angeles experience. Based in the heart of historic Hollywood, applications are now being accepted for students to participate in the spring 2027 and National Campus Programs Los Angeles experience that also features specific LA-focused academic courses, site-based internships and community service.

In fact, he spent much of his college search focused on a different path. But after encouragement from an aunt who worked in higher education, Cooper visited Elon and quickly realized he had discovered something he hadn’t expected.

“It was far greater than what I wanted,” Cooper said. “I thought I knew what was best for me, but Elon introduced me to possibilities that were completely outside my scope of understanding.”

More than two decades later, that willingness to embrace the unexpected has taken Cooper around the world. The broadcast communications graduate has built a career as a vocal coach, creative strategist and entrepreneur, working alongside artists such as Beyonc茅, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Jon Batiste and Kehlani. Today, he coaches performers on Broadway productions around the globe, advises international entertainment companies and leads several ventures focused on artist development and creative strategy.

Yet Cooper believes the foundation for that success began in the classrooms of Elon.

As a broadcast communications major with minors in business and Japanese, Cooper immersed himself in disciplines that challenged him to think differently. He originally planned to move to Japan after graduation, becoming fluent in the language and preparing for an international teaching opportunity. Although those plans never surfaced, the experience shaped the way he approached the world.

“Language gave me the confidence to speak to anyone from any culture,” Cooper said. “Business taught me how to navigate opportunities and communications taught me how to articulate my thoughts. Those three things changed my life.”

Cooper often found himself as the only African American student in many of his classes. Rather than seeing that as a limitation, he credits professors with pushing him to develop his voice and perspective.

“They would ask me, ‘Nick, what’s your perspective?'” he said. “What they didn’t know was they were helping me build resilience and teaching me how to articulate who I was.”

Those conversations became some of the most important lessons of his college experience.

“It wasn’t about what I knew,” Cooper said. “It was about learning how to communicate with people who didn’t necessarily think like me.”

Outside the classroom, Elon’s emphasis on hands-on learning provided opportunities to put those skills into practice. Cooper hosted programming on ESTV and explored interests in media, performance and leadership while developing the communication skills that would later become central to his career.

“Elon gave me an agnostic toolbox,” Cooper said. “It prepared me to go into any room and communicate effectively. More importantly, it taught me how to write. There’s nothing I can’t write.”

After graduation, Cooper entered the entertainment industry, initially pursuing opportunities as a performer and creative professional. Over time, he discovered a talent for helping artists unlock their potential, leading him into vocal coaching and artist development.

His client list eventually grew to include some of the biggest names in music and entertainment. However, Cooper said his defining career moment had nothing to do with celebrities.

“The breakthrough wasn’t working with famous people,” he said. “The breakthrough was looking in the mirror and knowing who I was.”

That lesson became especially important when he was first asked to work with Beyonc茅. Before the session, Cooper was warned that she would quickly decide whether he was the right fit. Instead of feeling intimidated, he focused on what he could offer.

“She didn’t show up for me to cower in front of her,” Cooper said. “She showed up because I had something that could help her.”

That mindset has guided his career ever since.

Whether coaching Grammy-winning artists, mentoring Broadway performers or advising global entertainment organizations, Cooper approaches every relationship the same way: helping people discover what they are capable of becoming.

Among those he has worked closely with is Grammy and Academy Award-winning musician Jon Batiste. Cooper describes their relationship as one built not only on music, but on personal growth and purpose.

“It starts as music,” Cooper said. “Then it becomes a lesson in life, a lesson in business and eventually a friendship.”

Today, Cooper continues expanding that philosophy through multiple ventures, including Creative Village, a mentorship and development platform designed to provide emerging artists with access to the same guidance and resources often reserved for industry insiders.

“I wanted to create opportunities for people who wouldn’t normally have access to them,” Cooper said. “My goal is to help people maximize their potential while they’re alive.”

As he reflects on his journey, Cooper sees a direct connection between the uncertainty he experienced as a student and the success he enjoys today.

“There were many times at Elon when I didn’t know what was next,” he said. “But that uncertainty forced me to develop curiosity.”

For Cooper, curiosity remains one of the most valuable traits a person can cultivate.

“When I look back at Elon, it created the framework for my success,” he said. “More importantly, it created the curiosity that still drives everything I do.”

For current students hoping to build careers of their own, Cooper offers simple advice: don’t wait for someone else to validate your potential.

“Don’t wait for the world to say yes to what you can say yes to first,” he said.

Although she was initially drawn to acting, she came to understand that a fulfilling career doesn鈥檛 have to follow a single path.

鈥淚 intentionally explored different paths to discover where my skills could have the greatest impact. My journey has included talent management, radio, entertainment journalism, event production, casting and acting,鈥� said Austin.

In a way, Elon found her. Alumnus Royall Spence 鈥�42 (for whom Spence Pavilion is named) was a beloved member of Austin鈥檚 extended family and is the real reason she looked into the school.

鈥淗e always spoke so fondly of his experience at Elon and that was why it was one of the first schools I seriously considered,鈥� she said.

The Raleigh native pictured herself at a smaller university where she could get to know her classmates and feel connected. She explained. 鈥淲hen I visited Elon, it just felt right. It had the close-knit community I was looking for, along with strong academics and opportunities to get involved from day one.鈥�

She was torn between two passions, communications and theatre, but Elon had strong programs for both. After touring the facilities and speaking with faculty, she knew Elon was the place for her.

As a student, Austin majored in media arts and entertainment with a focus on broadcast journalism, and she minored in theatre arts. Outside of the classroom, she hosted a radio show on WSOE 89.3, Elon鈥檚 student-run radio station. She also hosted two television shows and participated in Elon in LA, studied abroad in London and immersed herself in other opportunities that allowed her to tell stories and connect with people.

鈥淥ne of my favorite parts of WSOE was finding and booking guests to interview. I鈥檇 track people down on Facebook and through other creative channels, and more often than not, they were happy to help a student journalist,鈥� she said.

One opportunity at Elon that greatly impacted Austin鈥檚 career was her experience with Elon in LA. She credits this program with introducing her to new places, perspectives, and for giving her the confidence to pursue an entertainment career.

鈥淒uring the program, I interned with a talent management company representing film and television actors. Through that experience, I visited production sets, attended industry meetings and got a firsthand look at how Hollywood operates. For someone who had dreamed about working in entertainment since childhood, it was eye-opening,鈥� said Austin.

Following graduation, she moved to Los Angeles almost immediately to build her career.

鈥淟ike many young people pursuing creative industries, I took a variety of jobs while figuring out where I fit best. Each experience taught me something valuable and ultimately helped shape the career I鈥檝e built,鈥� she explained.

She started her career working behind the scenes at press junkets for major studio films and eventually transitioned from helping reporters to becoming one herself. Later, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars. There she worked on screenings, events and public programming, and she attended Academy Award ceremonies.

In 2020, she returned to the Southeast to be closer to family and to pursue opportunities in the region鈥檚 rapidly growing entertainment industry.

鈥淚 joined Fincannon & Associates Casting, where I worked on projects including 鈥極uter Banks鈥�, 鈥楾he Summer I Turned Pretty鈥�, 鈥楾he Righteous Gemstones鈥�, 鈥楾he Walking Dead鈥� and other major productions filming throughout the Southeast,鈥� said Austin.

One of her favorite memories from her work was her first major press junket interview with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.

鈥淒uring the introduction, the production assistant announced me as 鈥楯enny Austin from CBS Sacramento,鈥� and Will Ferrell immediately joked, 鈥楯enny Sacramento from Austin.鈥� It instantly broke the ice and put my nerves at ease. Moments like that reminded me that even some of the biggest stars in the world are often just people having fun,鈥� Austin said.

She鈥檚 also interviewed other big-name celebrities, like Zoe Saldana, Kate Hudson, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans and Shay Mitchell.

Most recently, she took on a new endeavor, launching an interview platform highlighting entertainment professionals in the Southeast alongside her friend and former Fincannon & Associates colleague, Kimberly Wistedt. They鈥檝e titled the platform . While it鈥檚 still a new project and they鈥檝e already landed some big interviews with celebrities, such as rapper T.I., they are hopeful for what the future holds.

Austin speaks fondly of the variety of work she鈥檚 been able to do, but she says that the most rewarding part of her journey has been the relationships she has made. Some of her closest friends today are people she met at Elon, and professionally, relationships have been equally important to her growth.

鈥淣early every major opportunity I鈥檝e had, from entertainment reporting and casting to launching The Peach Tea, has come through connections, mentorships and friendships developed over time,鈥� she explained.

She credits Elon鈥檚 experiential learning opportunities for giving her the practical experience, confidence and willingness to take risks and build these relationships.

鈥淓lon in LA was the first time I realized that all of these jobs I鈥檇 dreamed about were held by real people, and that maybe one day I could be one of them,鈥� she said.

It also gave her the confidence she needed to go after her dreams. The challenge, she said, was 鈥渞ealizing that I didn鈥檛 have to fit into one neat box. I could be an actress, a reporter, a casting professional, a filmmaker and an entrepreneur all at the same time. Once I stopped trying to force myself into a single lane, my career started making a lot more sense. Sometimes your path only makes sense when you look back and connect the dots.鈥�

Austin encourages Elon students to find what makes them happy and pursue it wholeheartedly, and to pay attention to the people who light up when good things happen for you, saying that these are the relationships that are most special.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I love most about Elon. It encourages students to explore broadly, take chances and embrace experiences that may not seem connected at the time,鈥� she said. “Looking back, those experiences ended up creating my story. My career hasn鈥檛 followed a straight line, but every experience has led to the next, and I wouldn鈥檛 have it any other way.鈥�

“I was in this place of, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do?'” she said.

She remembers a moment of doubt during her final year when Professor Emeritus Rich Landesberg provided the “tough love” she needed to move forward.

“He kept saying, ‘Just pick. You鈥檙e going to be fine. No matter what, you鈥檙e going to land on your feet.’ I really needed that at the time,” Polk said.

That foundation was built primarily within the School of Communications, where Polk, a broadcast communications major, found a safe space to test her leadership skills. She points to a producing class taught by Assistant Professor Ray Johnson as a key turning point where the details of the profession finally clicked. Johnson tasked her with being the executive producer for the class, a role that involved managing her peers and overseeing a project from concept to delivery.

“It was so much work, but I loved it,” she said. “You just realize how many people are leaning on you.”

She credits Johnson鈥檚 ability to “put on a show” in the classroom as a major inspiration for her own leadership style, teaching her that engagement and enthusiasm are just as important as technical skills.

“He was so good at his job… I think about him often,” she said.

Upon graduation, Polk鈥檚 preparation was put to the test when she was accepted into the prestigious NBC Page Program in New York City. Moving from the college environment of Elon to the fast-paced world of NBC required a quick adjustment. She rotated through high-stakes assignments, including “The Today Show,” the US Open, and Syfy publicity, a journey that required her to adapt to a more rigorous schedule, one that demanded the fundamental discipline of the network.

“I used to be a very late person,” she admitted. “But I got it out of my system because of the Page Program. Elon prepared me for the presence, how to present yourself well and dress the part, but the Page Program taught me the discipline.”

Her trajectory eventually led her to Los Angeles and the Hallmark Channel for 12 years, where she rose to the position of vice president of development and programming. In this role, she oversaw the production of up to 30 projects annually, yet she never lost sight of the “human-centric” focus she cultivated at Elon. Polk made it a priority to increase diversity and inclusion within the network鈥檚 programming, working to amplify diverse voices to ensure that Hallmark鈥檚 signature films reflected a broader range of the human experience. She describes herself as a kindness-first connector, a philosophy that has allowed her to attract top-tier talent and build lasting relationships with writers and agents across the industry.

Now, as she leads Simply Believe Creative, Polk is focused on catalyzing original romantic comedies and holiday films for the modern streaming market. Even from her home in California, she remains deeply connected to the campus where her journey began. She notes with a smile that she still sees familiar faces in the Elon news, including former classmates who have returned to the university in leadership roles.

Her advice to the next generation of Phoenix is a reflection of her own resilient path.

“Go after the things that scare you and push right through the fear to do them anyway,” she said.

“Take on as many projects as you can, but do them to the absolute best of your ability. Stay curious… the yeses always come,” she said.

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

As Sofia聽Galazzi聽鈥�19 first navigated her university opportunities, she was looking for a place where she聽wouldn鈥檛聽just be a number. Coming from the聽vibrant聽city of聽Piacenza, where she spent the first two years of her dual-degree program at Universit脿 Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the oaks of North Carolina offered exactly the cozy environment she needed.

鈥淚 was looking for a place where I could feel welcomed,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved the fact that Elon was smaller. I thought the engagement with the students聽and the professors聽would be higher. I really wanted to be taken care of during the time I was going to spend there.鈥�

That personal attention quickly translated into a professional advantage. While European universities often focus heavily on traditional exams and theory,聽Galazzi聽found that Elon鈥檚 college culture was obsessed with the world of work. She spent her days doing weekly assignments, leading group projects, and standing up in front of her peers to deliver presentations; aspects she said shaped her personality as much as her resume.

鈥淭he university really prepares you,鈥� she said. 鈥淒oing those presentations and working with other people gave me the confidence to stand up and speak in front of others. In Europe,聽it鈥檚聽mostly just you and the book. At Elon,聽it鈥檚聽about the people.鈥�

After graduating in 2019,聽Galazzi鈥檚聽path took her into the high-fashion聽world of Milan. She spent聽nearly four聽years working in merchandising and data analysis for luxury giants Gucci and Zegna, where she managed KPIs and sales planning. But even as she navigated the private sector, she felt a pull toward public service. She eventually made the pivot to Brussels, joining the European Commission through its prestigious “Blue Book” traineeship program before rising to her current role as a Budget Officer.

Today,聽Galazzi聽works within the Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG). Her daily life involves defining and implementing the annual EU budget, a role that requires her to work across different languages,聽cultures聽and legal systems.

鈥淭he European Commission is a very international environment,鈥澛燝alazzi聽said. 鈥淐oming from a dual degree, where I was already used to moving countries and adapting to new environments, it was much easier for me to step into this role. Elon鈥檚 global community prepared me to work with people from all over the world.鈥�

Despite the high-stakes nature of her work in Brussels,聽Galazzi聽remains聽a major advocate for the Elon network. She is particularly passionate about encouraging current students to look beyond the U.S. and Italy for opportunities. She notes that the European Commission offers a massive traineeship program twice a year. While it鈥檚聽mostly for EU citizens, there are spots specifically reserved for non-EU nationals, including Americans.

鈥淚 don’t think Americans know very well how the European聽Union聽works, and Europeans don鈥檛 always know how the U.S. works,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f someone has ambitions in the public sector or political affairs, this is such a good opportunity to bridge that gap.鈥�

When reflecting on why Elon alumni seem to thrive in these high-pressure global roles,聽Galazzi聽points back to that聽initial cozy feeling. She believes that because Elon makes students feel like they belong, they leave campus with the confidence to take on big responsibilities early.

Her advice for the next generation of Phoenix, especially those currently navigating the Dual Degree program, is to lean into the discomfort of being in a new place.

鈥淕et to know the people and the culture as much as you can,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛聽just stick with people from your own country. If I could go back to my 18-year-old self,聽I鈥檇聽tell her:聽don鈥檛聽be afraid. Everything will work out if you stay curious.鈥�

Doug Williams ’13 has a specific rule about writing news copy: You can only use the phrase “only time will tell” if your story is about clocks. It’s a piece of advice he received from Professor Emeritus Richard Landesberg, and he uses it subconsciously every morning behind the anchor desk for CBS New York.

Whether he is recapping a local strike or reporting from a war zone, those lessons from his professors remain the backbone of his daily scripts.

“I realistically use those teachings with every single script I write,” Williams said. “Everything is copy. Everyone has a story.”

Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department, vividly remembers that drive.

“Several things stood out about Doug when he was my student,” Hatcher said. “He was naturally curious and asked good questions. He was also smart and a go-getter. When he was assigned stories in my Media Writing class, he had an instinct for finding people… and getting good quotes.”

For many, the Jane and Brian Williams Studio in McEwen is a landmark of the university鈥檚 state-of-the-art facilities. For Doug, it is a reminder of why his parents “bought into” the Elon experience. Though neither attended the university, they were impressed by the real-world training Doug received as a broadcast journalism major. They were blown away that he was already writing, shooting and editing as an undergraduate.

“I think the ‘legacy’ was made possible by the professors I learned from and the education I left with,” Williams said. “It was a way for my parents to express their gratitude for that, while paying it forward”.

Hatcher notes that Williams’ composure was evident even during a study abroad trip.

“He has a calm demeanor that sets other people at ease,” Hatcher said. “When he traveled with me on a Winter Term study abroad, I never worried about him getting left behind. He absorbed the material quickly and made the most of his time.”

Initially, Williams believed his future was set in stone; in a 2017 interview, he intending to stick strictly to sports. However, after seven years at SNY, a period he describes as “magic,” he began to feel the risk of becoming too comfortable.

Following the advice of his mentor and former boss, Curt Gowdy Jr., Williams decided to diversify his skillset. The transition was a “humbling leap” that didn’t immediately lead to a new desk. Williams spent a year navigating the “crickets” of the job market, an experience that forced him to build his networking muscle from scratch.

During this time, he embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, taking overnight shifts and freelancing for MLB Network Radio, CBS Sports Radio and WFAN. He credits these grueling live radio sessions with making his current TV ad-libbing feel easy by comparison.

Since starting at CBS New York in January 2023, Williams has found a new sense of purpose in local journalism. While he traded clubhouse interviews for the unpredictable world of breaking news, the move was put to its highest test in late 2023 when he spent . This assignment remains his most challenging to date, leaving him with a profound perspective on his own luck and a professional hope to be called for such vital reporting again.

Today, the “magic” of his career has evolved from the baseball diamond to the grit of the morning news cycle. He now reports on high-stakes human interest stories, from the to sensitive criminal investigations.

“The job shatters the walls of your comfort zone every day,” Williams said, noting that the lack of routine is exactly what he now loves about the role.

Professor Hatcher, a print journalist by trade, isn’t surprised by Doug’s success in the transition.

“I stress accuracy, context, fairness, self-editing, and completeness… I’m not surprised Doug puts those qualities into practice as he writes news copy, primarily because he’s a consummate professional.”

While his professional excellence is expected, Williams continues to surprise the industry through his dedication to his alma mater. Hatcher emphasizes that Williams’ willingness to mentor current students and network with majors has a “huge impact on elevating the Journalism Department.”

Throughout his rise in the New York market, Williams has navigated the unique pressure that comes with a famous last name. It was a challenge his parents prepared him for early on, advising him that he would often have to “destroy assumptions” people might have about his path.

“People will assume you’re going to be a certain type of person before they meet you,” Williams said, echoing his parents’ guidance. “It’s up to you to surprise them.”

While he credits his family for that foundation, Doug has made that mission his own, focusing on his unique craft to ensure his work, not his name, defines his reputation in the newsroom.

Now a father to a one-year-old son, Williams’ current advice to students is focused on balance. He warns that while fun doesn’t disappear after graduation, it stops happening by accident.

“Fun is now something I have to put on my calendar,” he said.

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: elon.edu/u/advancement/alumni-in-action-feedback/.

As Nikki Sanz 鈥�18 first stepped onto Elon鈥檚 campus, she found a stage. A student who succeeded on a busy schedule, Sanz spent her four years leaning into the culture of involvement that represents the Elon experience. She found that the university鈥檚 environment encouraged students to take initiative from the very start.

“Most Elon students just love to get involved,” Sanz said. “I was able to jump right into those opportunities starting in my freshman year”.

Today, that same spirit of initiative has led Sanz to the front of the music and tech world. As the founder and CEO of , a professional career platform designed specifically for the live event industry, she was recently recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work in turning the industry into a modernized community.

Majoring in sport and event management, along with a double minor in business administration and leadership studies, Sanz used Elon as a sandbox to test her ideas. The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow balanced academics with leadership roles in Alpha Xi Delta and the LEAD program, where she served as a tier captain mentoring new students.

Shaina Dabbs, associate professor of sport management, said that Sanz鈥檚 internal drive was evident early on.

鈥淣ikki consistently showed a strong eagerness to be involved and fully engaged,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淪he brought a genuine passion for the details and the process, understanding that executing the small things well is what elevates the overall outcome. Her internal drive to excel set her apart, and she developed a system that allowed her to successfully manage multiple roles and responsibilities without compromising quality.鈥�

Sanz credits the Elon environment for giving her the room to experiment and create. Whether she was working with Elonthon or performing her own music around town, she was building the foundation for her future career in event production.

鈥淚 brought music to Oak House,鈥� Sanz said. 鈥淚 asked Phil [the owner] if I could do an open mic one night… I did it about once a month, and then he got bands to come and play. And so, the fun fact is, I started music there.鈥�

After graduation, Sanz鈥檚 career took her into the heart of the touring world, working with industry giants like Live Nation and the CMA Awards. She spent years on the road as a production professional for major artists, including Eric Church and George Strait. It was during these high-pressure tours that she noticed an opportunity, as there was no center for the thousands of “gig” workers who make live events possible.

鈥淪port and live events are becoming increasingly complex and commercialized, and relying on informal hiring practices is no longer sustainable,鈥� Dabbs explained. 鈥淧latforms like Giggs help standardize the way talent is sourced, evaluated and deployed, much like analytics transformed player evaluation. When opportunities are only 鈥榳ord-of-mouth,鈥� they limit access and opportunity for highly qualified people who may not 鈥榢now鈥� the right person.鈥�

Sanz spoke very highly of her senior-year experience in Dabbs’ Event and Venue Management course, where students were tasked with running an event without a ‘how-to’ guide. According to Dabbs, this learning by doing model is intentional.

鈥淭he point is to place students in situations where there isn鈥檛 a script, because the live event and sport industry rarely provides one,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淭his experiential approach builds professional resilience and shifts students鈥� mindset to see challenges as opportunities to lead and create solutions. It equips them with the confidence, adaptability and problem-solving skills needed to navigate an industry that is constantly evolving, and to shape it, rather than simply react to it.鈥�

Despite her success in Nashville and her global ambitions for Giggs, Sanz remains rooted in the lessons she learned as a student leader. Her advice for current Phoenix looking to break into the industry is to be open to the different paths the “gig” world offers.

鈥淚f you really want to work in sports or concerts, you can move,鈥� she said, encouraging students to explore the various sectors of the industry to find where they fit best.

Reflecting on her own journey from Phoenix to tech founder, Sanz emphasizes that there is no single “right” way to enter the industry.

鈥淭he impact that I want this to have on the industry is that there’s a way in, there’s actually a path,鈥� she said.

For Dabbs, Sanz鈥檚 trajectory serves as a blueprint for the next generation of sport management students.

鈥淣ikki鈥檚 journey shows students that they do not have to accept the industry as it is. They can change it,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淗er story highlights that leadership is about impact, not title, and that success comes from trusting yourself, building inclusive networks and being willing to act.鈥�

This spirit of leadership earned her a spot among Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award winners. 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.

Sanz encourages students to use their time at Elon to explore the size of the field, whether your interest is in concerts, TV or corporate trade shows; the goal is to find a professional community where you can truly thrive.

As she continues to change the traditional hiring process, her mission remains to head in the same direction of inclusivity she felt on her first day at Elon by ensuring every professional in the live event space has a way to be seen.

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:

鈥淲hen I was a student, there weren鈥檛 a huge number of local alumni that I was able to connect with,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited that this is a way I can highlight that staying in the community is an option.鈥�

For Jensen Roll 鈥�16, the path to building a business began long before he ever stepped onto a construction site. His path started with service, leadership and a long-standing connection to North Carolina. Both of his parents were born and raised in North Carolina, and summers spent visiting grandparents made it feel like a second home. So, when he began looking at colleges, North Carolina topped his list. Elon stood out almost immediately.

鈥淚 discovered Elon while looking at multiple schools and immediately fell in love with the service opportunities, the Leadership Fellows program and the deep commitment to study abroad,鈥� he said.

The Leadership Fellows program was the primary motivation for his enrollment; he was accepted into the program before receiving his acceptance to the university.

Once on campus, Roll leaned into innovation. He designed a custom major in social entrepreneurship that bridged the gap between the business school, environmental studies and the humanities. He helped bring the University Innovation Fellowship program to Elon. This experience introduced him to design thinking and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley, including visits to Google and Stanford University.

Because his self-designed major didn’t fit into a standard study abroad box, Roll worked with Angela Llewellyn, now assistant provost for academic excellence and integrity, to create a bespoke program. This journey took him to San Francisco and eventually to Cape Town, South Africa, for six months. It was there, while attending Jubilee Church through a connection from Emma Burress (then overseeing study abroad students), that he met his future wife, Mtende. After a year and a half of long-distance dating, she moved to North Carolina and today they are 50-50 partners in life and business.

While Jensen oversees the construction side as a licensed general contractor, Mtende is a licensed realtor who manages the investment and real estate side of their ventures.

鈥淲e co-own all of our companies together. Both of us have a very entrepreneurial and creative spirit,鈥� he explained, stating that their shared vision is the backbone of their company culture.

He credits a wide network of mentors for pushing him to think differently. In addition to Leon Williams, former director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE), he points to Gary Palin, former executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, for challenging him to “be” an entrepreneur rather than just study it. He also highlights the influence of Steve Moore, a retired faculty member in environmental studies who shaped his views on urban sustainability. His growth was further guided by Phil Miller, a former lecturer in human services studies; Rex Waters, former dean of student development; and Steven Mencarini, former director of the Center for Leadership.

鈥淭he ability to work one-on-one with professors and attend national conferences gave me the confidence to launch initiatives like H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Eat),鈥� he said.

Perhaps the most significant application of this “Triple Bottom Line” education, focusing on people, profit, and planet, is a current project Roll is particularly proud of: building seven tiny homes for Benevolence Farm. The project provides housing for women and non-binary individuals transitioning out of incarceration.

鈥淎s a construction company, not every project we take on has that opportunity to provide that triple bottom line in a meaningful way,鈥� Roll said. 鈥淭his is going to increase their capacity to serve that population.鈥�

What鈥檚 been most rewarding, he said, is watching that impact accumulate.

鈥淐onstruction is unique because the results are tangible and lasting,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ears later, you can drive by something you worked on and see how it鈥檚 become part of someone鈥檚 life.鈥�

He credits Elon with giving him the freedom to experiment early, without the pressure of getting everything right.

鈥淓lon was the ultimate sandbox,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was a place to try things, take risks and even fail safely.鈥�

He notes that while he didn’t graduate with a construction management degree, the problem-solving and systems-building skills he learned at Elon translated perfectly to the industry.

鈥淲hat I spent four years learning at Elon had much more to do with the problem-solving, the engaged learning, the building of systems,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat is what we are doing in the real world.鈥�

His advice to current students interested in entrepreneurship mirrors that mindset.

鈥淪tart now,鈥� he said. 鈥淪pend time with business owners. Read. Build something. Use your four years to experiment while you still have that safety net. The best way to learn is by doing.鈥�

Looking ahead, Roll is eager to take on larger, more complex and more creative projects. He thrives on unique builds and clients with distinct design visions. At the same time, he sees affordable housing as an area where his background in both entrepreneurship and service naturally converges.

鈥淥ur goal is to build a community that we want to live in,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he company is so closely aligned with the things that we care about.鈥�

From building a tiny house as a student to shaping the built environment of his community, Roll鈥檚 journey highlights the combination of service and entrepreneurship, a foundation strengthened at Elon and carried forward through every project he takes on.