鈥淧art of the reason I picked Elon is that I had spent my whole life in Massachusetts,鈥� Honan said. “I was really excited to go somewhere new, meet new people, build new bridges, and most importantly, I was excited to be a part of the Elon community.鈥�

Working alongside his Elon College Fellow mentor, Laura Roselle, former professor of political science and policy studies, Honan completed his application for the Lumen Prize. His focus was to combine his passion for writing and knowledge of political science to explore how presidents use storytelling to shape policy outcomes.

鈥淚 remember sitting in her office, and we were talking through my project. I was there for an hour and a half, and at some point, I stopped and said to her, 鈥楾his is really fun, I really like this.鈥欌�� Honan said. 鈥淔or me, that was the moment that it clicked that I wanted to work in politics. I really enjoy thinking, writing and reading about politics. It certainly was the moment that sparked my intellectual curiosity in politics as a career.鈥�

Both a Lumen Scholar and an Elon College Fellow scholarship recipient, Honan built a successful start in his career at Elon. He studied abroad in London for Winter Term and did a semester at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He held leadership positions in Elon鈥檚 Model UN team and was also the president of the former politics forum club.

Most notably, he was an intern in the Office of the President for former President Leo Lambert. As an executive intern in the president鈥檚 office, he worked closely with Lambert and Jeff Stein, who, at the time, was chief of staff to the president.

鈥淭hey had me working on communications. This was one of the first jobs I had where I was doing communications for a senior leader. In many ways, now, looking back, that was one of those moments where I was doing the career path that I wanted,鈥� Honan said.

This experience led him to advance his career and intern for David Gergen, who was a professor at Harvard Kennedy School and a CNN Senior Political Analyst.

鈥淢ost importantly, David Gergen was from North Carolina and was a huge Elon fan. He was also the chair of the board for Elon Law. I had met him through a few different Elon and Massachusetts connections. I ended up interning for him for two summers, and when I graduated, he hired me full-time, where I worked for him for three years,鈥� explained Honan.

Honan worked alongside Gergen full-time during the 2016 election cycle. His work included booking Gergen’s television hits, writing talking points, doing research and writing memos for Gergen.

“Working with him and being around him made me realize, not only did I like this work broadly as a career, but I wanted to be someone who was actually in these jobs that he had done,” Honan said. “I wanted to serve in government, I wanted to work on campaigns, and work for people that I cared about and believed in.鈥�

Honan finished his two-year master’s in public policy program at Harvard Kennedy School, graduating in 2020, during the first two months of COVID-19.

鈥淲hen I graduated, I told everyone I knew who was working on the campaign for then-Vice President Joe Biden, that I wanted to help and was willing to do anything and go anywhere,鈥� he said.

This drive to work for what he believes in led him to work on the Democratic Convention in Wilmington, Delaware.

鈥淚 was on the team that worked to help run COVID-19 testing centers, which at the time was a completely new thing. It allowed me to help with the convention, meet incredible people, and help build the momentum towards Joe Biden鈥檚 ultimately successful election in November 2020,” he said.

Honan then moved to Washington and spent two years as the Communications Director for a nonprofit called 鈥榃ith Honor鈥�, which works to advance veterans’ affairs issues in Congress.

It was around the time of the midterm elections in 2022 when he suddenly got a call to come into the White House and continue his work on COVID-19 operations. This was a perfect way for Honan to get his foot in the door and start working toward his dream position in the White House.

His hard work in COVID-19 operations eventually earned him a spot on the White House鈥檚 communications team, which Honan stated was 鈥渨hat I had always dreamed of and doing what I wanted to do when I attended Elon.鈥�

During the last year of the administration, Honan was the chief of staff to the White House communications director, the director of message planning and special assistant to the president.

鈥淚n those roles, I got to work with an incredible team of people who were supporting the president鈥檚 communications, and I had the job of a lifetime. If you had asked me what I wanted to do at Elon, it would have been that job,鈥� he expressed.

When reflecting on what choices he made at Elon that helped him get where he is today, Honan said, 鈥淎t Elon, I was surrounded by professors, staff and classmates who challenged me and made me smarter. They had my back and helped me figure out how to pursue the career and the life that I wanted. I just think back, and I鈥檓 so grateful for people like Laura Roselle and Heidi Frontani.鈥�

After his successes at the White House, Honan returned home to Boston to fill the role of deputy chief of communications for the City of Boston.

鈥淓veryone said to me, Mayor Michelle Wu is an incredible person to work for, and working for a mayor in a place that you love is one of the most rewarding jobs you could have in politics. Both of those things are 100% true,” he said. 鈥淚t is so special to live in the city of Boston and get to work on the issues that the people on my street, the people in my neighborhood and the people I take the train with every day really care about, and it impacts their lives. One of the coolest things about local government is that you鈥檙e working on problems that can immediately change people鈥檚 lives.鈥�

This tangible and fulfilling work Honan is doing for his city has led him to extend a helping hand to others interested in politics as a career.

鈥淚 have incredible mentors who helped me get here. I am trying to spend as much time as I can mentoring other people. Politics is a tough business to get into, and you can鈥檛 just apply on LinkedIn, so I鈥檝e helped people figure out how to get in the door because that’s what many good people did for me,鈥� he said. “I would not have any of the career success I’ve had without the people at Elon. To me, it feels like it’s my duty to pay it forward and continue that legacy.”

That sense of duty keeps Elon close to his heart no matter where his career takes him. Every Elon student he mentors, every alum he runs into in the professional world, pulls him right back.

“I’m immediately brought back, and I remember why it was so special and why the people who went there are so special,” said Honan.

The excitement, the community, the sense of purpose he first felt walking through the bricks and under the oaks, never went away. It grew into something bigger, something he now carries with him everywhere he goes, and something he’s committed to passing on.

Maddie Hewgley 鈥�26 is using her undergraduate research to explore a complex and timely question: Why are states continuing to pass Second Amendment Preservation Act laws even after courts have ruled them unconstitutional?

When Hewgley, a political science and music theatre major, Lumen Scholar and Elon College Fellow, began researching legislation from her home state of Missouri, she did not expect it to open the door to a much broader national conversation about federalism, state power and policy diffusion. She will present her findings during the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) on April 28.

Her research project, 鈥淏ullets & Bills,鈥� explores how and why the Second Amendment Preservation Act continues to be adopted at the state level, despite the federal court deeming it unconstitutional.

The Second Amendment Preservation Act aims to prevent states from enforcing federal gun laws that are not mirrored at the state level.

鈥淭hese are laws that states are passing that attempt to nullify federal gun laws if there is not a state equivalent,鈥欌�� Hewgley said. 鈥淲hat surprised me most is that states continue to pass them even after federal courts ruled they violate the supremacy clause of the United States Constitution. Civilians can even sue law enforcement for enforcing this federal policy.鈥�

Missouri became the first state to pass this law in 2021, sparking similar legislation in 14 additional states. Hewgley鈥檚 research focuses on understanding what is driving these laws.

鈥淢y main question is not just what these laws are, it鈥檚 how and why they are continuing to proliferate despite legal challenges,鈥� Hewgley said.

For Hewgley, this topic is not just academic, it鈥檚 personal.

鈥淚 lost loved ones to gun violence when I was younger,鈥� Hewgley said. 鈥淚 felt really helpless. This research feels like a way to take initiative on something that is much larger than myself.鈥�

That experience led her to participate in gun violence activism and motivated her to conduct this research. She emphasizes that her research is not intended to advocate for one side of the debate, but to understand the mechanisms behind these laws.

Her findings show how states have adapted their strategies over time. Missouri鈥檚 original law included aggressive enforcement mechanisms and was struck down; states like South Carolina have passed revised versions with softer language or attached them to broader legislation to avoid legal scrutiny.

鈥淪tates want to send a message or align themselves politically, but they are learning from earlier failures and adjusting their approach,鈥� Hewgley said.

To analyze this trend, Hewgley has studied the theory of policy diffusion, which examines how and why policies spread between states. Her work explores whether states are motivated by emulation, learning, competition or coercion.

鈥淚 think states influence each other,鈥� Hewgley said. 鈥淢issouri isn鈥檛 usually a policy innovator, so the fact that they were the first to pass this and others are following is really interesting.鈥�

Her research also examines external influences, such as advocacy groups and political shifts at the national level, and how they drive some of this legislation.

Hewgley has studied documents, legislation and conducted a content analysis to build her research. One of her surprising findings was that many residents in Missouri were unaware this law existed, despite its significant implications.

鈥淭hat finding made me question whether these laws are really meant to have an impact or if they are more symbolic,鈥� Hewgley said.

Ultimately, Hewgley hopes her research encourages people to look beyond this law and consider larger questions about the balance of federalism in the United States.

鈥淭his is not just about gun rights; it鈥檚 about how states and the federal government interact and how that applies to so many other issues, from abortion to marijuana laws,鈥� Hewgley said.

Hewgley鈥檚 research was mentored by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy.

鈥淲hen I met with Dr. Bono-Lunn, I knew before I left her office that she was who I wanted to be by mentor because I came to her with two research ideas, one that was pretty fleshed out and the other was a headline about Missouri鈥檚 Second Amendment Preservation Act, which I was exceptionally interested in pursuing, but I did not have a research question,鈥� Hewgley said. 鈥淪he encouraged me to pursue a research idea that I was excited about, and now three years later I am pursuing that research. She allows me to follow whatever thread I find and has taught me that a good researcher stays curious and flexible at every stage of the process.鈥�

As she prepares to present her research, Hewgley reflected on how far she鈥檚 come.

鈥淚f you had told me as a first-year student that I鈥檇 be researching something this complex, I wouldn鈥檛 have believed you,鈥� said. 鈥淣ow, I feel like I can really contribute to the conversation and it鈥檚 made me feel like I鈥檝e made an impact.鈥�

Autumn Parish 鈥�28 found her place in the African Diaspora Living-Learning Community, located on the fourth floor of Jackson Hall in the Global Neighborhood. On that hall during her first year, she discovered best friends and built the foundation of her Elon experience.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important where you live,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淵ou have to feel at home when you鈥檙e not home.鈥�

While the African Diaspora LLC is her safe space on campus, the human service studies major is deeply involved in campus life. Parish serves as a member of the Student Government Association, a SMART mentor, an Elon College Fellow, a fall 2025 initiate of Alpha Kappa Alapa Sorority, Inc., a Renaissance Scholar and secretary for the National Council of Negro Women.

She also works as a student coordinator for the Black Student Success team, helping plan events centered on the Black community at Elon.

鈥淚 find planning events fulfilling because it lets students know that their community is here,鈥� Parish said.

Mentorship

Mentorship is woven into the culture at Elon. Professors, staff and students alike step into mentorship roles, helping others navigate their college experience.

Parish serves as a SMART mentor, which feels natural. She鈥檇 always tried to be a positive role model for her younger siblings back home, and she now extends that same energy to first-year students finding their footing at Elon.

Sandra Reid, a professor of human service studies and Parish鈥檚 research adviser, inspires Parish鈥檚 approach to mentoring. Reid first made an impression at an admissions event when she led a mock class that ultimately swayed Parish鈥檚 decision to choose Elon.

鈥淚 know I can be successful in a small classroom environment where professors don鈥檛 see me as a number, but they know who I am,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淭hey know my name, and they care about my well-being.鈥�

Now working alongside Reid for her research, Parish continues to grow academically and personally.

鈥淎utumn is a caring, inquisitive and highly focused research student who consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to learning,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淪he soaks up new information and engages thoughtfully with complex material, applying strong critical thinking skills to her work.鈥�

The culture of mentorship at Elon has been one of the university鈥檚 defining characteristics.

鈥淚 love when people help me help the world,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淚 love that it鈥檚 part of the culture. The professors want you to succeed. The advisers want you to succeed. Even someone who doesn鈥檛 even know who you are, they want to see you succeed.鈥�

History in the Making

For Parish, Black History Month is about understanding where you come from and honoring those who paved the way.

Growing up, her parents emphasized that the opportunities she has today exist because of sacrifices made by generations before her.

鈥淎nd just to think that was only a couple of generations away 鈥� my grandparents protested,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淭hey showed us how important it was and the sacrifices they made for the opportunity for me to get a scholarship at a school I didn鈥檛 even think I could go to.鈥�

That perspective shapes how she approaches her work on campus. Parish believes history is not confined to the past. It is unfolding every day.

鈥淏lack history is happening all the time, and you are living Black history because everything that you do is history in the making,鈥� she said.

Parish views her involvement at Elon as preparation for a life centered on service and impact. The sense of belonging she found in her first year and the mentors who guided her continue to shape how she shows up for others.

鈥淓verything that you do makes an impact on future things to come,鈥� Parish said. 鈥淓very decision you make can make a positive impact if you let it.鈥�

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 福利亚洲国产精品 is sharing stories through Today at Elon that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, Elon is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

The Department of Performing Art’s production from Feb. 13-15, 2026, featured an immersive sound design developed through collaboration between Associate Professor Michael Smith, Production Manager Rick Earl and music production and recording arts student Brandon Cericola 鈥�26.

The project blends Smith鈥檚 sabbatical research in immersive audio with Cericola’s interest in sound design for film and television, where immersive sound is increasingly common. The result was a student production that expanded beyond a traditional theatrical sound system.

鈥淭he traditional audio for musicals is augmented by eight surround speakers placed in the audience, some for sound effects, others to bring the performance out into the space more, to surround the audience with vocals,鈥� Earl said.

The production used the department鈥檚 existing equipment, along with additional loudspeakers, to create the sound effect. The show used 80 inputs and 38 outputs, with updated software to help automate immersive sound effects. While some immersive systems require major hardware investments, the team developed manual techniques to adapt the live performance within available resources.

鈥淭he nature of the show is more rock-oriented, and maybe more intimate than some musicals, and takes place in a city, which by nature is an immersive environment,鈥� Earl said. “The stars aligned 鈥� the right student, the recent research, experiences and the desire of all of us to do something like this.鈥�

Cericola had significant creative ownership of the design. Aside from the required elements, much of what the audience heard was his creation. Earl and Smith worked with Cericola over the summer to build a small immersive setup, allowing him to record musicians, experiment with mixing and refining before scaling the systems for McCrary Theatre.

鈥淎 lot of what you hear is Brandon鈥檚 creation,鈥� Earl said. 鈥淟arge-scale system implementation like this takes strong project management skills, leadership and mentoring skills, documentation, flexibility, time management, and the ability to know when something isn鈥檛 going to work and find an alternative.

鈥淔rom an audience perspective, I think it will bring them into the 鈥榳orld鈥� that is 鈥楻ENT鈥� and enhance their experience,鈥� Earl said.

For Cericola, the production represents the combination of the experiences he has had while at Elon.

鈥淭his has been the most challenging project I have taken on at Elon, and it is a combination of many skills I have learned here,鈥� Cericola said. “To hear the show come to life during rehearsal was exciting and satisfying. It is evidence of my education and time at Elon.鈥�

Cericola drew on coursework in the Music Production and Recording Arts program, leadership experiences, work study roles with the Office of Cultural and Special Programs and immersive audio research developed as an Elon College Fellow. He also attended the NAMM Show, an international music industry trade show, where he connected with manufacturers, sound designers and an engineer to discuss immersive audio approaches and set-ups.

For Smith, the production marks a full-circle moment following his sabbatical research.

鈥淭he research I did on my sabbatical was my main leaping point for trying to do immersive audio on the McCrary stage,鈥� Smith said. “After hearing Brandon鈥檚 and Rick鈥檚 setup over the summer, I knew the next step would have to be producing a live musical with a similar setup.鈥�

During his sabbatical, Smith built a scaled-down immersive theatre that was later expanded and installed in Roberts Studio Theatre. The 25-speaker system allows each speaker to be individually assigned and controlled, creating a unique learning space for students.

“It is the only theatre in this area that has an immersive audio system for students to do their sound design work on,鈥� Smith said.

Earl, Smith and Cericola made decisions as a team to ensure the project remained manageable and cost-effective. They said the collaboration shows what is possible when research, creativity and student passions intersect.

鈥淲ithout all three of us working together, something like this wouldn鈥檛 have been possible,鈥� Smith said. “Now we realize what possibilities we have for future performances, not just in the Department of Performing Arts but for Cultural event programs as well.鈥�

Nearly 300 aspiring Elon College Fellows participated in academic sessions, program receptions, group simulations and interviews during Fellows Weekend. Led by the Office of Admissions, the annual Fellows Weekend invites to campus high school seniors in contention for the university鈥檚 signature fellows and scholarship programs.

鈥淭alking with prospective Elon College Fellows was incredibly energizing,鈥� said Associate Professor Renay Aumiller, director of the Elon College Fellows program. 鈥淪tudents brought such thoughtfulness, curiosity and openness to every conversation, and it was clear how deeply they were already thinking about learning, collaboration and purpose. Those moments of dialogue and connection are always my favorite part of Fellows Weekend.鈥�

The Elon College Fellows program is a four-year academic and professional program for students who are passionately committed to exploring the breadth, depth and connections within Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

There are three branches of the Elon College Fellows program for the 60 students selected for the cohort: Arts and Humanities Fellows, Mathematical and Natural Sciences Fellows and Social Sciences Fellows. Among other requirements, Fellows must intend to major in one of the many fields within鈥疎lon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and rank in the top 15% of their high school class.

Aumiller said she was struck by both enthusiasm and depth of engagement displayed by students throughout Fellows Weekend, which took place Feb. 6-7, 2026. The weekend also provided an opportunity for prospective families to connect with faculty, staff and current Elon students in the Elon College Fellows program.

鈥淚 left the weekend feeling inspired,鈥� Aumiller said. “The energy was vibrant, focused and genuinely curious. Students were asking thoughtful questions, listening closely and engaging with one another in meaningful ways. There was a real sense of excitement about learning and being part of something larger than themselves.

“It was a joy to meet so many students and their families and to share the values of the Elon College Fellows program with them,鈥� she added. 鈥淭he level of engagement, warmth and enthusiasm throughout the weekend made it a special experience for all of us involved.鈥�

At this conference, three Elon students and two faculty attended and presented.

Student Accomplishments:

• Kelly Donovan 鈥�26, a double major in applied mathematics and statistics, a Lumen Scholar and College Fellow, presented her Lumen project titled 鈥淣ovel Deep-Sea Coral Imputation Technique: Filling in Missing Data to Further Coral Conservation鈥� in a poster session. Her research is mentored by Assistant Professor of Statistics Nic Bussberg.

• Lisa Kranec ’28,聽a double major in engineering and applied mathematics, presented her recent project in a poster session titled, 鈥� Mathematical Modeling of Cardiac Macrophages in COVID-19.鈥� Her research team聽is mentored by Associate Professor Hwayeon Ryu and their work has been supported by the聽聽(under Ryu).

• Pagnapech Ngoun ’26,聽an engineering major, presented her collaborative research in an oral session titled, 鈥� Mathematical Modeling of COVID-19 Reveals Immune Cell Dysfunction.鈥澛燞er research represents recent findings based on a new mathematical model聽that accounts for the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the human immune system. Her research team聽is mentored by Associate Professor Hwayeon Ryu and their work has been supported by the聽聽(under Ryu).

Faculty Accomplishments:

• Visiting Assistant Professor of Mathematics and Statistics Keta Henderson gave an invited talk on her collaborative work titled “Analysis of trade-off between dispersal and patch intrinsic growth for a landscape ecological model” in a session “Women in Mathematical Biology”.聽Henderson also served as a moderator and co-organizer for the Association of Women in Mathematics Panel: “Shattering the Myths鈥擧iring Women in Mathematics.” In addition, she participated in a professional development session focused on teaching multivariable calculus using CalcPlot3D and 3D printing. She plans to incorporate these strategies into her MTH 2520 Multivariable Calculus and Analytic Geometry in Spring 2026.

• Associate Professor of Mathematics Hwayeon Ryu聽co-organized a special session titled “Women in Mathematical Biology,” in which a total of 16 invited speakers presented a variety of life science questions through the lens of mathematical modeling聽to understand complex system dynamics. The goal was to highlight the new developments or advancements along with the diverse group of researchers who drive innovation.聽In this session, Ryu presented her recently published paper, 鈥�,鈥� partially supported by聽福利亚洲国产精品 Faculty Research & Development Full-Year, Full-Pay Sabbatical Award with Financial Assistance.

“I had a very fulfilling time while at JMM. Althe l presentations I was able to attend, all conversations I had with professors from different programs, and all pieces of feedback I received on my poster were very enriching. I’m very grateful I was able to attend the conference and I’m excited to hopefully attend in the future,” said Donovan ’26.

Rafting through the Grand Canyon two years ago, Braetan Peters 鈥�26 was taken by the beauty of the cliffs and valleys, but something else was also on her mind: her cell phone.

鈥淭he trip lasted eight days, and five days were actually water rafting throughout the canyon. So, we covered over 130 miles, and it was intense camping. And during that time, I did not have access to my cell phone, so I constantly felt the need to reach down and go 鈥極h, where’s my cell phone?鈥�”

So, when it came time to find a topic for her Elon College Fellows research, Peters decided to explore the addictive factor of cell phones and how peoples’ behavior changes after not having access to the devices for extended periods.

鈥淭hat experience in the Canyon really propelled this research forward,鈥� said Peters, who is from Annville, Pennsylvania.

Elon College Fellows is a four-year academic and professional program in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, for students who are passionately committed to exploring the breadth, depth and connections within the arts and sciences.

Right now, Peters is in the process of gathering survey data. Over the summer, she partnered with Hatch River Expeditions, a family-owned rafting company in Northern Arizona. The company sent out Peters鈥� information to its clients, asking if they鈥檇 like to participate. Once confirmed, Peters surveyed people before their rafting trip and then followed up after.

鈥淕rand Canyon is probably one of the last places left where your phone can鈥檛 constantly get internet. We hope we can help her get what she needs,鈥� said Steve Hatch, owner of Hatch River Expeditions. 鈥淣ot very many people in the world get access to the Grand Canyon the way we do. Whenever we can, we like to use that access to help people.鈥�

In addition to survey results from Grand Canyon rafters, Peters will also survey students on Winter Term study abroad trips to Tanzania and New Zealand, where their cell phone use will be minimal.

A biology major with a neuroscience minor, Peters is currently on a pre-med track, so she says, getting experience with this kind of research will be helpful for her future. Undergraduate research is one of the five Elon Experiences, along with study abroad, service, leadership, internships and research. Students are required to complete at least two of the experiences before they graduate. With undergraduate research, students pair up with a faculty member as their mentor. Mat Gendle, professor of psychology, is serving as Peters鈥� mentor.

鈥淚t’s been super helpful to have someone to guide me through this process since it’s my first time,鈥� said Peters, who has also been an Elon Women鈥檚 cross country and track and field student athlete for the past three years.聽 鈥淚 chose Mat Gendle because of his enthusiasm to work with me on this. This isn’t something that he has done previously, but he has knowledge in the neuroscience area.鈥�

Peters is working on a manuscript for the project and hopes to submit it for publication after graduating.

Titled 鈥淎 Qualitative Study of Parent-Reported Biopsychosocial Challenges Among North American Families with Adopted Children Living with Perinatally-Acquired HIV,鈥� the article applies a biopsychosocial framework to better understand the complex realities these families face. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 22 adoptive caregivers, the research highlights that, while HIV is now a manageable medical condition thanks to effective antiretroviral treatment, families often grapple with significant psychological and social challenges.

Among the most pressing issues were early childhood trauma, racial discrimination and HIV-related stigma. Parents reported difficulties navigating disclosure in schools and communities, particularly when trying to advocate for their children without compromising their privacy. Many participants also emphasized the need for trauma-informed care and increased cultural sensitivity among healthcare and educational professionals.

鈥淧arents described a reality in which HIV wasn鈥檛 the biggest challenge鈥攊t was the surrounding stigma, racism, and the long-term effects of trauma,鈥� said Fair. 鈥淭his research calls for holistic support systems that reflect the lived experiences of adoptive families.鈥�

The study was supported by Elon College Fellows and Undergraduate Research Programs. Wolgin, who plans to attend law school in the fall, served as a co-author on the project.

In June, Bogart studied abroad in Rome, Italy as she worked on a feminist translation and re-vision of Virgil鈥檚 鈥淎eneid,鈥� the Latin epic poem that tells the story of Aeneas, a Trojan who fled the fall of Troy and went to Italy.

鈥淭he work I鈥檓 doing this summer is rooted in my being in Rome,鈥� said Bogart, who is also minoring in women, gender and sexuality studies. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking at writing in place and the aspect of writing in the place in which the original author of an ancient text, like the 鈥楢eneid,鈥� was written as I tell it in my own way.鈥�

Last summer, Bogart translated more than 1,000 words of the nearly 10,000-word poem for her work, which focuses on retelling the stories of characters Dido, the queen of Carthage, and her sister Anna. Bogart鈥檚 interest in the 鈥淎eneid,鈥� and the characters, began after taking Latin in high school.

鈥淲e were studying book four, which is the big Dido chapter and it鈥檚 a tragedy in a lot of ways because Dido does die in the end and her sister is left with the great repercussions of everything that had built up in the book,鈥� Bogart said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a younger sister myself and I see a lot of my own relationship with my sibling reflected in Dido and Anna.鈥�

While Bogart, who is also an Elon College Fellow, is doing this work as a Lumen Scholar, Elon鈥檚 highest undergraduate research award, she will present during the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) presentation on July 24 in the Snow Atrium of Schar Hall.

SURE provides an opportunity for students to work with faculty and gain meaningful research experience over the summer, without the pressure of other courses during a typical semester. Students apply for the opportunity, which usually takes place during the summer before the junior or senior year.

鈥淏ecause this has been a new aspect of my Lumen research, it has been so fascinating to be able to do this,鈥� Bogart said. 鈥淚 feel very fortunate that I can be here and do this work and receive a stipend from Elon. I feel like a very lucky undergraduate student to experience this and I鈥檓 excited to share my work at the poster session.鈥�

Undergraduate research and global engagement are two of the five Elon Experiences. Students are expected to complete at least two of the experiences before graduating. Bogart is also working closely with her faculty mentors from both majors: Kristina Meinking, professor of classical languages, and Margaret Chapman, senior lecturer in English.

鈥淥nce I started talking about my interest in classical, feminist retelling in Virgil鈥檚 鈥淎eneid鈥� and the Dido and Anna characters, there was a pretty instant connection where they both were so truly interested in the interdisciplinary work I was seeking between classics and creative writing,鈥� said Bogart. 鈥淭here鈥檚 just this great match of energy when discussing what I鈥檝e been learning and seeing with them.鈥�

Olivia Kogan ’24 works at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism聽as an , a year-long program designed for recent college graduates who demonstrate a strong commitment to Judaism, social justice and public policy.

The RAC is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to Jewish social justice聽and represents the Reform Jewish movement, the largest and most diverse Jewish denomination in North America, which encompasses 825 congregations, 2000 rabbis and 1.8 million Reform Jews.

鈥淚 support the work of the organization through attending congressional meetings, coalitions, engaging with the White House, the cabinet offices and state and local officials,鈥� Kogan said. 鈥淚 also lead our legislative advocacy on gun violence prevention, racial justice, criminal justice, death penalty, health care and Native American Indigenous People’s rights.鈥�

In her role, Kogan staffs the Commission on Social Action Task Force on transgender rights, where she is currently authoring and developing a comprehensive toolkit to equip congregations and communities with resources for inclusion, advocacy and policy engagement around transgender rights.

鈥淚 think the most challenging part is that policy is continuously changing. Most of the work in a faith-based organization, there’s a limited amount that we can say or do,鈥� said Kogan. 鈥淚 want to make the most amount of change, but right now that’s really difficult.鈥�

Kogan works with the organization to host social justice seminars and weekends for high school students, which is how she discovered the organization for which she now works.

鈥淚 participated in twice when I was in 9th and 10th grade. I had the ability to come to Washington and learn about social justice areas with a culminating experience lobbying my congressional representatives,鈥� said Kogan,聽who grew up in聽Huntington Valley, Pa. 鈥淚 knew when graduating that I wanted to come back to the organization that inspired my social justice advocacy.鈥�

Kogan said she is still very early into her career but has already had an ‘I made it’ moment when she met former Vice President Kamala Harris. Since Kogan manages the organization’s racial justice work, she was invited to attend the annual breakfast for Martin Luther King Jr., where racial justice leaders came together to celebrate the progress that has been made while also acknowledging all the work that has to follow.

鈥淲e did not know former Vice President Harris was attending the event and then the host made an announcement introducing her,鈥� Kogan said. 鈥淪he had the best mindset and created a positive reminder that we all need moral courage in this moment.鈥�

Kogan majored in human service studies with minors in poverty and social justice policy studies and Jewish studies. She was deeply involved in Jewish life at Elon, including Elon Hillel as an engagement intern and her work on planning Shabbat services and social justice initiatives.

Kogan was also an Elon College Fellow and completed a thesis project on the experiences of Jewish summer camp counselors being able to support the socio-emotional needs of non-white campers. Her project explored how formal and informal DEI training and resources influence and shape the counselor experience.
鈥淟ast year I was walking through Elon鈥檚 annual SURF Day presentations when I happened upon Olivia Kogan,鈥� said Betsy Polk Joseph, director of Jewish life. 鈥淥livia was surrounded by a crowd of students, administrators and faculty who were hanging on her every word as she shared findings from her research.鈥�

Kogan credits Elon with providing her the opportunity to grow and pursue leadership positions that allowed her to explore her Jewish identity in new ways. She plans to pursue a Master of Social Work and potentially attend law school to establish a comprehensive social service hub where individuals can access social services and legal needs all in one place.