Students and alumni in Washington, D.C., visited American University’s School of Public Affairs, where they learned about graduate education, careers in public service, and the many opportunities available through advanced study in law, business, and public and international service.

In New York City, students and alums were welcomed by Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business for an evening exploring graduate programs across multiple disciplines, including social service and the humanities. A highlight of both programs was the meaningful engagement with Elon alumni living and working in the city, who shared candid reflections about the transition from college to career, pursuing graduate education, and building fulfilling professional lives. Together, the university partners and alumni provided students with both practical information and authentic perspectives that encouraged them to imagine new possibilities for life after Elon.

The experiences reflect Elon’s commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose through intentional collaboration across campus. By bringing together the career expertise of the Student Professional Development Center, the immersive learning opportunities offered through Study USA and National Campus Programs, and the lifelong connections fostered by Alumni Engagement, students were able to explore graduate education while strengthening their professional networks and broadening their vision for the future.

Engle, who graduated from Elon in 2022 and currently serves as company manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company, said the Washington, D.C. community has embraced theatre and arts culture.

鈥淚 think that when a lot of people think of DC, they think of Capitol Hill and politicians and different lobbying organizations or aid organizations, things that are more visible from the outside perspective and how DC is represented in media,鈥� Engle said. 鈥淏ut DC as a whole has been so welcoming as a theater community; we’re very lucky to have some incredible regional theaters.鈥�

Faculty Director for Study USA D.C., and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Joel Shelton, echoed Engle, noting that theater is just one part of the arts culture in D.C.

鈥淚 think the most important context is that Washington, D.C., is often thought of as a place where politics happens, but culture in the capital is a really fundamental aspect of community here,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淭here are so many different manifestations of popular culture in the city, whether that be art, literature, or museums, and especially theater, because, of course, Washington, D.C. is not New York, and it’s not Los Angeles.鈥�

Shelton also said choosing to attend Othello was to show students both the political and artistic parts of the play.

鈥淭o me, when we were dreaming of this course, I thought that Othello was a wonderful place to see the linkages between political meaning and cultural production in Washington,鈥� Shelton said. 鈥淪o you have the arts and culture, but also a play that is deeply political and deeply concerned with contemporary questions around race, gender, power, identity.鈥�

Engle, who earned a degree in arts administration, said that the program introduced her to students with different experiences.

鈥淭he program is made up of people who have life experiences and a lot to teach, and you’re coming together with students who are not taking all of the same classes with you, but have different experiences within the school,鈥� Engle said.

Elon junior Kallie Latham, who has a background in dance, said being in the theater had a sense of reminiscence.

鈥淭his program has a lot of people with different musical theater interests. We all felt pretty happy and nostalgic,鈥� Latham said.

Latham said the tour gave her a sense of understanding when watching Othello later in the day.

鈥淚t’s even better because I think we get to understand the acting and the theater production that goes into all of it, and how all the settings and the background were changing,鈥� Latham said. 鈥淭hat was really cool.鈥�

Engle also highlighted the out-of-the-classroom experiences Elon offers to its students.

鈥淭hey encourage you to join clubs and travel abroad and to experience the world outside the classroom as well.鈥� Engle said. 鈥淚 think that ties into the really cool nature of moving beyond the classroom and then into the professional world, and so much of what you do comes down to the relationships you build, and the way you’re able to engage with the world around you.鈥�

Students interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.

Thirteen students are taking part in the inaugural聽Elon faculty-led聽program. Alumni networking is聽an important component聽of this cohort experience. In addition to meeting alumni,聽students take a core聽seminar course called聽Capital Connections: Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.聽taught by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science and public policy.

Students also聽live in an apartment complex聽in the vibrant聽NoMa neighborhood, complete an internship,聽and聽participate聽in enrichment activities聽to get to know the city better. Students聽will聽tour聽the US Capitol,聽learn the history of the city through walking tours, attend聽a聽Nationals聽game, see聽a聽play聽at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and more.

鈥淚t聽is聽always special to connect with former students and to see them thriving in the lives they lead after graduation, but聽it鈥檚聽especially meaningful that our alumni take the time to connect with and to mentor聽current students,鈥� Shelton said. “This is especially important in Washington, D.C., where relationships make all the difference in an increasingly competitive internship and employment environment.聽I鈥檓聽very grateful聽to our alumni for the enthusiasm with which they have supported the launch of Elon鈥檚 “Capital Connections鈥� program in the district.

D.C. Alumni Chapter President Gabby Vance 鈥�18,聽organized聽the event with fellow chapter members.

鈥淭he Pizza Party聽remains聽one of聽my聽favorite events organized by the D.C. chapter because it brings together two important parts of the Elon community,鈥� Vance said. “Alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights about life after graduation, while students gain a first-hand look at what it鈥檚 like to live and work in Washington, D.C., while building valuable professional connections.聽It鈥檚聽always rewarding to see these relationships take shape, and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.鈥�

Molly Bauer 鈥�19, a former Communications Fellow, spent聽the fall of her junior year聽studying in聽D.C.

“It was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥� said Bauer, who moved to D.C. when she graduated and says she has experienced how strong the alumni network is in the city, and聽has聽enjoyed聽maintaining聽relationships with聽her peers.

鈥淣ow that Elon has its own program聽in D.C.,聽I鈥檓聽excited to stay even more connected to Elon by fostering connections with current students, faculty and staff as well,鈥� Bauer said. “The Study USA program聽in D.C. will make our already-strong Elon network in D.C. even stronger. At the event, it was great getting to chat with current students, something I聽haven鈥檛聽done since I graduated, and it was awesome reconnecting with faculty and staff after several years!”

Are you聽an alumnus聽living in D.C.? Join us for the next student/alumni networking night on

Applications for聽the聽Study USA D.C. summer聽2027 program聽open Sept. 1. Contact the director of Study USA, Anna Smith聽asmith273@elon.edu,聽if聽you鈥檇聽like to learn more.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New 2025 graduates attended the event along with seasoned alumni who have been coming to DC Chapter events for years.

“Our annual student interns and alumni networking dinner has quickly become a chapter tradition,” said Kristen Burke ’18, president of the DC Alumni Chapter. “Each summer, it’s a joy to meet a new group of student interns who are eager to learn and connect. I hope that the students can picture themselves returning to DC as alumni and being a part of our community. Until then, I am grateful for the opportunity to foster meaningful relationships that can last well beyond the summer.”

Follow the chapter鈥檚 Instagram account @elonindc for updates. Stay on top of all future alumni events around the country, including the National Campus locations online.

Applications for the spring and summer 2025 Study USA programs at Elon open on Oct. 1.

Open to all majors, Study USA programs give students the opportunity to experience life in a major city while earning Elon credit and satisfying two Experiential Learning Requirements.

These programs include specialized, immersive, and career-focused academic鈥痯rogramming鈥痑nd internship opportunities. Students take part in a variety of historical and cultural enrichment activities and meet local alumni through networking opportunities. Housing is included.

Meet and greet events

Students interested in learning more are encouraged to attend an upcoming meet and greet event to ask questions and meet staff from the Global Education Center, National Campus Programs, Student Professional Development Center, faculty who teach in the programs and former program participants.

October 21, 3-5 p.m., Irazu: Elon in Charlotte

October 22, 3-5 p.m., Irazu: Elon in New York City

October 23, 3-5 p.m., Snow Atrium in Schar Hall: Elon in Los Angeles

If you are unable to attend a meet and greet and want more information on course offerings, program details and application instructions, visit the Study USA website.聽Feel free to email the GEC at global@elon.edu with any questions. Students are encouraged to apply before the November 15 Early Action deadline as enrollment is limited.