Speaking during Elon Law鈥檚 Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture on Wednesday, May 6, at Greensboro鈥檚 Proximity Hotel, Kantor discussed her reporting on the Supreme Court, including extensive behind-the-scenes investigations of the Court鈥檚 internal processes and the justices themselves.

This spring, she and colleague Adam Liptak examining the Supreme Court鈥檚 growing use of its emergency or 鈥渟hadow docket,鈥� through which consequential rulings are often issued rapidly and with limited explanation or legal reasoning. At a moment of declining trust in institutions and the judiciary itself, Kantor warned that the practice can bypass some of the traditional safeguards associated with judicial deliberation and further erode public confidence in the court.

鈥淛udges write opinions as an act of transparency and humility and faith,鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淎n opinion says to the public: 鈥榊ou may disagree with this decision. It may put your brother in jail. It may mean the end of your business. But I want you to know that I鈥檓 being sincere, and that I diligently worked through the law to come to this conclusion.鈥欌��

Kantor鈥檚 lecture series appearance featured an extended conversation with Professor Catherine Ross Dunham, a charter member of Elon Law鈥檚 faculty whose scholarship focuses on civil procedure and complex litigation.

Kantor earned international recognition for her work with colleague Megan Twohey in exposing decades of sexual abuse allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. That reporting helped ignite the global #MeToo movement. Kantor and Twohey won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2018, and their work was later published in later adapted into an acclaimed film. Her other work has focused on technology and the modern workplace, leading to changes at companies like Amazon and Starbucks, and the Obamas鈥� life inside the White House. Most recently, she joined the New York Times鈥� Supreme Court team.

Investigating the Supreme Court

鈥淚nvestigative journalism is about taking secrets that are in the public interest and putting them into sunlight,鈥� Kantor said.

She described her reporting on the Court 鈥� in her words, 鈥渙ne of the most secretive institutions in American life鈥� 鈥� as seeking to better understand how power operates within one of the nation鈥檚 least transparent institutions, including questions surrounding internal negotiations among justices, the role of clerks and the long-term effects of lifetime appointments.

鈥淗ow much do they bargain with one another? What role do clerks play? How does power really flow?鈥� Kantor asked. 鈥淲hat does it mean to hold power at that level for 20 or 30 years? How do people age in those jobs?鈥�

At the same time, she acknowledged the tension between transparency and judicial independence, arguing that 鈥渏udges need room to think, to deliberate, to change their minds.”

She emphasized that she isn鈥檛 interested in exposing pending Court decisions because that 聽鈥渨ould interfere with the judicial process.”

鈥淚鈥檓 not trying to know everything about the Supreme Court,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I still think there are important questions worth answering.鈥�

Privacy, secrecy and institutional power

Kantor repeatedly turned to the distinction between privacy and secrecy 鈥� a theme connecting both her Weinstein reporting and her more recent investigations into the Supreme Court.

鈥淲hat I learned from the Weinstein investigation is that there鈥檚 a difference between privacy and secrecy,鈥� Kantor said, referencing the nondisclosure agreements now required of Supreme Court staff and the stifling secrecy of settlement agreements in Weinstein鈥檚 case.

鈥淰ictims deserved privacy,鈥� Kantor said of the Weinstein investigation. 鈥淏ut was the system benefiting from blanket secrecy that enabled predation? No. Legal culture is very invested in confidentiality, but confidentiality can run amok in ways that deprive the public of enough information to understand what is happening.鈥�

She warned that excessive confidentiality inside powerful institutions 鈥� including courts, workplaces and corporations 鈥� can ultimately weaken public understanding and democratic trust.

鈥淛ournalism is one of democracy鈥檚 valves,鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淚 would rather us have rigorous coverage of the Supreme Court that leads to productive debate than a thousand other things, including the really disruptive political violence we鈥檙e seeing across the (political) spectrum.鈥�

Resisting political caricatures

The conversation explored the dangers of reducing Supreme Court justices to simplistic political caricatures. Kantor pointed to Justice Amy Coney Barrett as an example of a jurist who was immediately misunderstood by both the political right and left when she was appointed in October 2020.

Kantor described Barrett as 鈥減erhaps the most independent of the Republican-appointed justices,鈥� adding that even some of Barrett鈥檚 ideological critics view her as intellectually serious and institutionally minded.

鈥淪he鈥檚 very conservative,鈥� Kantor said, 鈥渂ut she has this independent streak. She wants to be trusted by a broad swath of Americans. She does not want to be pigeonholed.鈥�

Starting a meaningful career

Kantor also reflected on questions of professional purpose and career-building, themes explored in her new book, Drawing on her workplace reporting and conversations with students navigating political uncertainty, economic anxiety and rapid technological change, Kantor encouraged young professionals to identify their talents, develop a craft and identify a societal need their craft addresses.

When evaluating early-career opportunities, Kantor said she encourages young professionals to focus less on prestige and more on growth, mentorship and intellectual curiosity. Taking calculated risks to gain experience and further develop craft will pay off.

鈥淎re you learning?鈥� Kantor said. 鈥淎nd are you working for good people?鈥�

Earlier in the day, Kantor met with Elon Law students, faculty and staff for a smaller discussion centered on identifying purpose and launching meaningful careers in a challenging time.

福利亚洲国产精品 Elon Law鈥檚 Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series

The Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series presented by The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation is an integral part of Elon Law鈥檚 commitment to learning, lawyering and leadership. Endowed through a generous gift from The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greensboro, N.C., the series brings accomplished leaders from a variety of disciplines to 福利亚洲国产精品 to share their experiences and perspectives with students and faculty.

For Maelah Proctor 鈥�26, that reminder has shaped her path from uncertainty to leadership. Now she has become a voice for others on campus.

Her confidence did not always come naturally. Over time, she came to understand that she holds her leadership roles because her skills, perspective and voice are needed in those spaces.

Throughout her time at Elon, she has intentionally stepped into spaces where students need to be heard, amplifying voices, advocating for equity, and building community as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Athletic Council representative for the cheerleading team.

As she reflects on her Elon journey, she points to the people who shaped her path and the purpose that continues to guide her work.

The power of community

Proctor鈥檚 confidence did not grow in isolation but through community.

What began as attendance at a Black Student Union event soon evolved into leadership, first serving as vice president for Black Excellence and now as president.

For Proctor, a political science and policy studies major from Charlotte, North Carolina, belonging is deeply connected to visibility. If you don’t see yourself in the community that you’re supposed to represent, she said, it’s hard to feel a part of that community

That understanding now shapes how she leads, ensuring other Black students can find the same affirmation and space that once grounded her. 鈥淏SU made me feel comfortable and gave me the confidence to continue here,鈥� Proctor said. 鈥淏ecause sometimes going to Elon and not seeing a lot of people who look like you can be very alienating.鈥�

In addition to finding belonging within the Black Student Union, she has also built community as a Leadership Fellow, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a cheerleader.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to find community in different spaces on campus, and each one has shaped me in a different way,鈥� Proctor said.

Each role has strengthened her confidence and deepened her understanding of what it means to lead with intention.

Mentorship as momentum

Proctor recalls meeting Simone Royal 鈥�17 G鈥�25, associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, at her first BSU brunch.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know anyone, so I sat with Simone because she was a staff member and it felt less intimidating,鈥� Proctor said.

A simple conversation evolved into mentorship.鈥淪he has been someone I could go to with questions, someone who helped me navigate things when I didn鈥檛 have all the answers,鈥� Proctor said.

Throughout their relationship, Royal has witnessed Proctor鈥檚 growth firsthand.

鈥淪he has not only stepped up to be the leader that the organization needs, but she鈥檚 learned how to extend her leadership skills to others 鈥� how to prepare other students to be the best of themselves as well,鈥� Royal said.

Through Royal鈥檚 example, Proctor learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about ensuring others feel heard.

Refusing to shrink

As Proctor deepened her leadership on campus, she became more aware of navigating hyper-visibility and invisibility.

鈥淪ometimes it feels like you’re the only person in the room that looks different,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou’re holding a certain perspective that might be an outlier.鈥�

She once tried to soften her presence to avoid stereotypes. Over time, she realized shrinking herself served no one. Proctor has chosen to lean into her voice.

鈥淪he is a tireless advocate for the community that she serves,鈥� said Abdul-Malik Harrison 鈥�21, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethicity and Diversity Education. 鈥淲hen she has a vision, she wants it enacted. She is the epitome of, 鈥榠f you want it bad enough, you can get it done鈥�.鈥�

Rather than simply demanding space, Proctor works to create it.

As Proctor looks ahead to law school and life beyond Elon, she hopes to continue advocating for equity and expanding access through public service and policy work. Her experiences navigating visibility, representation and leadership on campus have only deepened her desire to pursue law school as a tool for systemic change.

For now, her message remains clear: take up as much space as you want.

鈥淏e unashamed in who you are,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he second you stop letting other people鈥檚 opinions, stereotypes or perceptions limit you is the second you鈥檙e free to pursue what you want to pursue.鈥�

Proctor said her time at Elon serves as proof that when a student chooses to step forward, their voice does more than fill a room 鈥� it amplifies others. And that amplification, she said, is what creates lasting change.

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.

A North Carolina native, Gergen was a principled leader, political commentator and advocate for democracy whose influence spanned seven decades.

To Elon, he brought insightful commentary at public engagements as a frequent keynote speaker and delivering the Commencement address to the Class of 2016. Behind the scenes, he offered guidance and counsel to university leaders charged with carrying out the university鈥檚 mission and vision.

鈥淒avid Gergen served as a steadfast leader with a lifetime of distinguished service rooted in North Carolina,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淎t 福利亚洲国产精品, he was a mentor, teacher, and thought partner for over 25 years. From chairing the Elon Law Advisory Board to delivering Commencement addresses that challenged graduates to serve the common good, David modeled public service.

鈥淲e are a better university and country because of the light he brought to the world.鈥�

Born in Durham, North Carolina, Gergen earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies at Yale University in 1963 and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1967. He also served in the U.S. Navy for three-and-a-half years.

While interning in Gov. Terry Sanford鈥檚 office, he became involved in civil rights efforts, a cause he remained dedicated to throughout his life. His national political career began in 1971 as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon, later serving as director of communications for Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and as a counselor to President Bill Clinton.

His journalism career included roles as editor and editor-at-large for U.S. News & World Report, and political analyst for CNN and ABC. He also contributed to NPR, CBS, The New York Times, and Newsweek.

鈥淥ur country has lost a truly great American,鈥� said President Emeritus Leo Lambert. 鈥淒avid was such a thoughtful and fair and deeply kind person, and those individuals are rare in politics today. He, to me, has always been the model of the kind of person that belongs in public life. He worked to get things done for the betterment of the nation, always valuing our country鈥檚 ideals and constitution. It鈥檚 very sad, at this moment, to see how very far we have strayed from a standard David Gergen set for civility, leadership, and character.鈥�

During Lambert鈥檚 presidency, Gergen became a regular fixture at Elon, first headlining a Winter Term Symposium in 2001 around the future of presidential politics, then in 2003 interviewing legendary journalist Walter Cronkite before an audience of 2,900 at the Convocation for Honors. In 2004, he became the inaugural Isabella Cannon Visiting Professor for Leadership.

That same year, Lambert approached Gergen with an early vision for Elon Law.

鈥淒avid鈥檚 help in launching the law school was irreplaceable.,鈥� Lambert reflected. 鈥淚 remember early conversations with him around the dining room table at Maynard House when the law school was just an idea. As he put it, the nation didn鈥檛 need just another law school, it needed 鈥榓 law school with a difference,鈥� one law seeking to innovate new approaches to legal education.鈥�

Gergen鈥檚 far-reaching reputation, along with an advisory board that included two former governors, three former chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and other legal luminaries added 鈥渁 sense of legitimacy鈥� to the Elon Law vision, Lambert said. 鈥湼＠侵薰� was able to leverage that legitimacy to quickly recruit exceptional students who now serve as lawyer leaders in their own communities, a testament to the vision David helped craft for Elon Law.

鈥淎nd in true David fashion, with the heart of a public servant, he mentored our law students with wisdom and lessons that will carry through the ages, sometimes drawn from his own personal experiences of adversity and resilience. 福利亚洲国产精品 owes him a great deal.鈥�

In 2009, delivering the Commencement address to the school鈥檚 charter class, Gergen eloquently described his vision for the law school and why he felt compelled to support it. 鈥淎s one who has been involved in trying to work with the next generation, to prepare a fresh generation of leaders for this country, public leaders, which I think we so much need, that vision had enormous appeal to me,鈥� said Gergen, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate from 福利亚洲国产精品 at the same ceremony.

Gergen remained instrumental in guiding Elon Law through its first 20 years, building support for its mission of legal leadership and public service, and establishing it as the preeminent law school for experiential learning and practical skills. Chairing the Advisory Board, Gergen led efforts to establish Elon Law鈥檚 differentiators as the first law school in the nation to offer a 2.5-year J.D. and to guarantee that all Elon Law students benefit from in a full-time residency-in-practice during their second year of study. Gergen engaged with students in his work with the law school, reminding them of values they should uphold.

Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer marveled at Gergen鈥檚 immeasurable influence on the school, its alumni and current students: 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be Elon Law without David Gergen.

鈥淔rom the beginning of our law school, David has been a constant source of wisdom and support,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淎 model citizen, David lived a life devoted to family, service, leadership and, above all, decency. Our charge at Elon Law is to produce lawyers who will follow David鈥檚 lead to make a difference in our world.鈥�

Gergen remained active and dedicated to 福利亚洲国产精品 until his death. In 2023, he attended the opening of Elon鈥檚 Charlotte campus and launch of the Elon Law Flex Program.

In September 2024, Elon established the David R. Gergen Distinguished Professorship in Public Service, to preserve Gergen鈥檚 legacy for generations of future 福利亚洲国产精品 students and faculty through funding to support work with students who share a passion for public service.

In March 2024, at his last public campus appearance, he and his son, Christopher Gergen, led a conversation around political polarization and the leadership needed to move America forward.

鈥淲e need people to hear the call to service,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need more heroes. It鈥檚 important to have heroes.鈥�

A look back at David Gergen鈥檚 influence and service to Elon and the community:

Gergen鈥檚 first speaking engagement at Elon was in 2001, headlining a Winter Term symposium, 鈥淚naugurating the Millennium: The First 100 Days of the 21st Century Presidency,鈥� held nine days before the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

In April 2003, Gergen interviewed legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite before an audience of 2,900 in Koury Center at Elon鈥檚 Convocation for Honors. In 2004, Gergen was Elon鈥檚 inaugural Isabella Cannon Visiting Professor of Leadership, delivering three public lectures on campus and meeting with classes.

In 2005, he accepted the invitation to chair Elon Law鈥檚 Advisory Board and remained in the role until September 2024. He helped shape the founding faculty and establish the law school鈥檚 mission to develop lawyer-leaders who use their skills to improve their communities. He cultivated a lasting partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro. 鈥淟eadership will set Elon apart from other law schools,鈥� he said. Through his leadership and connections, Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor delivered the law school鈥檚 inaugural address in a ceremony dedicating the law school.

Gergen delivered the first Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture in September 2007, held at Elon Law. 鈥淭he leader鈥檚 role is to become a leader of leaders, to make sure they鈥檙e leading,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淵our role is to bring the best out of them. More and more people are beginning to understand that leadership is not a top-down kind of 鈥榙o this, do this, do this.鈥� Leadership today is much more about drawing the best out of people who are in your group.鈥�

In 2009, he delivered the Commencement address to Elon Law鈥檚 inaugural class. 鈥淎ll of you now have shown us your wisdom, your courage, your service to others and your dedication to leadership. You have those qualities deep within you. You have proven that to all of us. What we ask of you now is to remember who you are and remember to give back,鈥� Gergen said.

Participating in a panel discussion for the 2011 Convocation for Honors moderated by NBC鈥檚 Brian Williams, Gergen called on Elon students to be inspired by global movements for freedom and democracy. 鈥淵ou can be the leaders of today 鈥� Remember, it takes a long time to get hard work done,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to commit yourself 鈥� to make this the work of a lifetime.鈥�

Gergen reunited with Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor at Elon Law in 2012 to deliver keynote addresses at the Conference on Law and Leadership, co-hosted by Elon Law and the Center for Creative Leadership. 鈥淲e have to believe that the leaders of this country put the country first,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淚n so many ways, the people I looked up to were lawyers. For so many of my generation, the majesty of the law is what we believed in.鈥�

Gergen delivered the Commencement address for the Class of 2016, calling on graduates to combat political extremism. 鈥淢ay I plead with you: Please don鈥檛 stay on the sidelines as America struggles to find the best path forward. Come off the bench and get into the arena. 鈥� Find common ground, work hard to respect the views of others. You will get knocked down and there will be severe disappointments. Embrace the fact that change is hard. But know this: if you pour your heart and soul into rebuilding a better state and nation, you will look back one day and find an inner satisfaction, a pride that you answered the call to service and leadership.鈥�

In September 2024, 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Book and 福利亚洲国产精品 President Emeritus Leo Lambert hosted a celebration for Gergen, surrounded by his family, and announced the David R. Gergen Distinguished Professorship in Public Service. The professorship will preserve Gergen鈥檚 legacy for generations of future 福利亚洲国产精品 students and faculty through funding to support work with students who share a passion for public service.

The Charlotte Business Journal will honor Colleen Forcina Molner L鈥�13 with its 40 Under 40 Award in recognition of her advocacy and contributions to the community.

A May 8 award ceremony will gather Molner with other distinguished young leaders making a difference in Charlotte and the region. The program will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Westin Charlotte hotel. .

The 鈥渞ising stars in their respective career fields and emerging leaders in the local community,鈥� the news organization said. The journal received more than 150 nominations for this year鈥檚 awards.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an honor to be among this group. I know some of the honorees, and I鈥檝e admired and been inspired by them,鈥� Molner said. 鈥淕rowing up in Charlotte and now raising a family here makes this even more meaningful. I want to be a model for my daughters, so that they know that they can achieve anything they want to.鈥�

Molner earned her juris doctor from 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law and holds a bachelor of arts in communication from North Carolina State University. She is a partner at Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm and is one of a limited number of attorneys certified by the North Carolina State Bar as a specialist in immigration law. Molner specializes in employment-based immigration, representing employers and employees in work visas and green cards, with a focus on healthcare, assisting hospitals, healthcare systems and agencies in securing immigration solutions for professionals.

She is an active member of the Mecklenburg Bar Association and is dedicated to working pro-bono cases, particularly those involving foreign nationals serving in the military and victims of domestic violence. She has recently represented Afghan nationals who served at the U.S. Embassy and was inducted into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.

Molner says Elon Law provided a foundation in practical skills that allowed her to adjust quickly to the professional demands of lawyering. She interned with the Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm as a student.

鈥淎s a lawyer, you have a professional responsibility to the community and you are in a position to help folks who might otherwise not get the help they need,鈥� Molner said.

Joines鈥檚 record of advocacy and service to those around her dates to high school where she led a community service club that established a clothing closet for classmates in need. In college at Clemson University, she mentored freshmen as a resident assistant, and she spent years on a marine conservation research team that taught children about protecting their environment.

It was natural for the South Carolina native to find service and leadership opportunities at Elon Law as co-director of the Elon Law Mentors and editor-in-chief of the Elon Law Review, among other activities.

So if you鈥檙e looking for an advocate, a leader, or simply a friend in whom to confide, you鈥檒l be pressed to find someone as accessible as Joines, a new graduate of 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law and recipient of its David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism bestowed at Commencement for the Class of 2024.

鈥淚 had no idea!鈥� Joines said of the award announcement on Dec. 13, 2024. 鈥淚 had my own thoughts as to who might receive it. There are several students in my class who are more than deserving of the award. I heard 鈥楨lon Law Review鈥� and thought, 鈥榟uh, maybe it鈥檚 me?鈥� Then I heard 鈥榚ditor-in-chief.鈥�

鈥淚 made eye contact with Dean Zak Kramer, who started to grin, and I realized people had been sneaky!鈥�

In announcing the selection, Assistant Professor Rosa Newman-Ruffin described Joines as聽鈥渁 kind and empathetic listener鈥� who 鈥渢reats everyone with kindness and respect鈥� and carries herself with 鈥減rofessionalism and humility.鈥�

Elon Law students are nominated for the award by their peers, professors, or staff. Honorees are chosen by a faculty and staff committee based on law school activities that represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism.

The award is named in honor of David Gergen, a former adviser to four United States presidents and founding director of the Center for Public Leadership and at the Harvard Kennedy School. Gergen served as one of the country鈥檚 preeminent political commentators and recently concluded his tenure as the inaugural chair of Elon Law鈥檚 Board of Advisors.

鈥淗er many nominators see her as a model for once and future lawyers,鈥� Newman-Ruffin said. 鈥淎s one put it, 鈥楽he is the exact type of lawyer people should seek, and I hope to be as amazing as she is.鈥欌��

鈥淗er many nominators see her as a model for once and future lawyers. As one put it, 鈥楽he is the exact type of lawyer people should seek, and I hope to be as amazing as she is.鈥欌��

– Assistant Professor Rosa Newman-Ruffin

In addition to her involvement with the Elon Law Review and the Elon Law Mentors program, Joines served on the Moot Court Board and as a teaching assistant in Torts. Award nominators had taken note. Excerpts from multiple nominations include:

• 鈥淎shley cares about other people. She is constantly praising and giving credit . . . to other students for their achievements. She likes to direct attention to and celebrate her colleagues.鈥�
• She is 鈥渢he kind of person who will drop everything to help someone else. She is constantly building others up through words of affirmation, providing resources, or making networking connections.鈥�
• 鈥淪he always puts others first and does everything in her power to help all those around her.鈥�
• 鈥淚f Elon were a person, it would be Ashley Joines.鈥�

While Joines sits for the North Carolina Bar Exam in February, she has already started work as a judicial law clerk for , a jurist for whom she has twice interned since March 2024.

Her professional experiences as a law student don鈥檛 end there. Joines also completed:

• A residency-in-practice the Hon. Joi Elizabeth Peake of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• A summer associate position with the Atlanta-based law firm of which has offices across the United States
• A summer law clerk opportunity with the

What does leadership mean to Joines, a fan of true-crime TV, historical fiction and dystopian novels, and Clemson Tigers football? It鈥檚 how you show others they can succeed. It鈥檚 how you teach others not to self-eliminate themselves from opportunities they may wish to pursue. It鈥檚 also how you model those same practices to everyone around you.

And mentoring is key to leadership, she adds.

鈥淲hile I want to pursue a career in litigation, I hope to continue mentoring students,鈥� Joines said. 鈥淭here is something very beneficial when alumni and working professionals mentor law students. I also wouldn鈥檛 be surprised if I end up teaching one day, should I have the opportunity 鈥� being a professor, in my opinion, would be a great way for me to combine my interests in mentoring students and legal scholarship.鈥�

福利亚洲国产精品 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive full-time curriculum in Greensboro offers a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 1,700 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 470 students and the law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, reaching No. 4 in the nation in 2024. Elon Law was also among those schools highlighted in 2023 by Bloomberg Law for its innovative approach to student development.

The Elon Law Flex Program, an in-person, part-time law program for working professionals launched in Fall 2024 in Charlotte鈥檚 South End neighborhood.

• Adviser to four presidents (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Clinton)
• Founding director of the
• Political analyst for CNN
• Chief editor of U.S. News & World Report
• Bestselling author
• Native North Carolinian with a deep love for his home state

Gergen has also been a loyal friend and unwavering advocate for 福利亚洲国产精品.

Since his earliest visit to campus a quarter century ago, Gergen has delivered two Commencement addresses, served as the first Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership and inaugural chair of the 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law Board of Advisors, and contributed his voice to countless programs that have promoted leadership, service, and civility in public life.

鈥淒avid is certainly one of our nation鈥檚 most steadfast and principled leaders over his lifetime of distinguished service,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淏eyond what David has done for our country, here at Elon, we owe him a very special debt of gratitude. What began as a speaking engagement at Elon, way back in 2000, led to a relationship that has had such a profound impact on our university.鈥�

Book鈥檚 remarks were part of a Sept. 12, 2024, celebration that coincided with Gergen鈥檚 final campus visit as chair of the 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law advisory board.

With dozens of board colleagues, university administrators, law students and graduates, and family by his side, an evening banquet at The Inn at Elon included the announcement of a professorship that will preserve Gergen鈥檚 campus legacy for generations of future 福利亚洲国产精品 students and faculty.

Recipients of the newly established David R. Gergen Distinguished Professorship in Public Service will receive a salary supplement and a fund to support their work working with students who share a passion for public service.

鈥淭his professorship ensures your inspired legacy will carry forward here at Elon,鈥� Book said when announcing the new professorship on behalf of the 福利亚洲国产精品 Board of Trustees. 鈥淭hank you for your unmatched service. Thank you for your vision for Elon Law. This is indeed a law school with a difference and we are proud to say that difference is due in large part to the leadership of David Gergen.鈥�

Throughout Gergen鈥檚 two decades chairing the advisory board, Elon Law has:

• Adopted a seven-trimester, 2.5-year curriculum that graduates students a half year earlier than traditional law school calendars
• Launched the part-time Elon Law Flex Program in Charlotte for working professionals
• Received accolades from the American Bar Association聽for excellence in legal professionalism education
• Climbed to #4 in the nation in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 annual rankings for practical training

Elon Law’s top award for one member of each graduating class also bears his name. The David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism has been bestowed since 2009 on law graduates聽whose activities represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism.

Gergen, in brief remarks following the announcement of the professorship, emphasized the importance of public service. He expressed hope in younger generations who will soon assume mantles of leadership.

鈥淏uilding the community. Having a sense of purpose. Learning to work with each other. Learning to let the other guy take credit. There are so many things that need to be done to make an effective leader,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e do need heroes.鈥�

The evening celebration included reflections from President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert. It was Lambert and Elon Trustee Bobby Long who approached Gergen two decades ago with their idea to establish the 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law.

鈥淒avid Gergen is the embodiment of what the public is craving in civic leadership today,鈥� Lambert said. 鈥淭here are a lot of smart people with prestigious degrees in public life today who are missing some of the essential characteristics of great leaders that David Gergen possesses in abundance.

鈥淗e is kind. He is optimistic. He is principled and lives out the American ideals of justice and equality. He is a good listener and brings in the opinions of others. He is fair and diplomatic. He has a wonderful sense of humor. I have never seen him resort to name calling, rudeness, or ugly behavior. He models humility.

鈥淚n sum, David is the kind of person you can point to and tell your children and grandchildren, 鈥楤e a leader like David Gergen.鈥欌��

Elon Law Advisory Board Leadership Updates

, a retired trial attorney from Womble Bond Dickinson in Winston-Salem, succeeded David Gergen as chair of the 福利亚洲国产精品 Board of Advisors beginning with the board鈥檚 fall meeting on September 13, 2024.

Gregg鈥檚 distinguished career included successful litigation of cases at all levels of state and federal courts including class actions, and medical malpractice, wrongful death, civil rights and complex product liability claims. At Womble Bond Dickinson, she held numerous leadership roles and was active in the Winston-Salem community through the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association.

The Board of Advisors also celebrated two longtime members who concluded their service at the end of the board鈥檚 fall meeting on 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 main campus.

and , were honored for their longtime service and contributions to the growth of 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law.

Exum was among the charter members of the Board of Advisors when the first students enrolled at Elon Law in 2006. Lancaster had served on the board since 2013.

It took only seconds for Courtney Latourrette L鈥�24, a Leadership Fellow and admissions ambassador at 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law, to realize she鈥檇 been tricked.

The oversized check with her name on it was the first clue. The second clue: Applause and cheers from Elon Law leaders who quickly surrounded her as she walked into the school鈥檚 administrative suite thinking that she was about to lead an admissions tour.

That鈥檚 what admissions office supervisors told her she鈥檇 be doing on the afternoon of April 17, 2024. Instead of a tour, Latourrette discovered in a surprise presentation that tuition for her final trimester at Elon Law will be fully covered up to $25,000 with a

AccessLex Institute is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for expanded access and affordability to law school. Its MAX by AccessLex庐 is offered at 188 law schools and has been used by more than 80,000 students since inception.

鈥淥ur MAX program helps law students learn about finances along their journey through law school,鈥� said Morgan Cutright, regional director for the Midsouth in the . 鈥淎 lot of times, one thing that鈥檚 missing in legal education is the financial component. This is our way of giving back and incentivizing students to engage with MAX content.鈥�

AccessLex holds scholarship drawings several times per year with nine random grand prize winners each April 鈥� six who receive up to $25,000 and three who receive up to $40,000. This spring marked the second time in as many years that an Elon Law student鈥檚 name was drawn. AccessLex surprised Daphne Myers L鈥�23 with news of her award during a virtual meeting in April 2022.

A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Latourrette currently serves as co-director of the Elon Law Pro Bono Board and president of Elon Law鈥檚 chapter of the Innocence Project. She also works as a student representative for AccessLex.

鈥淚 feel so grateful and am so excited. I love AccessLex,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty sure this is a dream – I鈥檓 still waiting for Ashton Kutcher to pop out!鈥�

Moore, who died in 2017, earned widespread respect for his valiant displays of courage during the Vietnam War and would later be depicted by Mel Gibson in the film 鈥淲e Were Soldiers.鈥� He was revered for his philosophy of never leaving a soldier behind on the battlefield and his determination to 鈥渘ever give up.鈥�

And Schultz? The commitment to his product and a dedication to his employees is what most impresses La Russa, who鈥檚 looked to create a similar culture in every clubhouse he鈥檚 led throughout an exemplary coaching career.

鈥淚f there’s one thing that anybody is interested in taking from my experiences, it’s the value of relationships and the fact that you have to create them and develop them,鈥� La Russa shared with his audience on April 10, 2024, during an 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law Distinguished Leadership Lecture. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not enough to be smart.鈥�

鈥淚 can’t tell you how hard we worked at building relationships,鈥� said La Russa, who listed respect, trust, and an authentic desire to care about players as foundational to relationships. 鈥淚t’s a tough way to lead because you do it every day. Every day you consider what’s happened with your guys.鈥�

With equal parts wit and wisdom, La Russa enlightened hundreds of audience members inside the with stories from an exemplary career that included three World Series championships, four manager of the year awards, and countless players named to all-star teams and the baseball Hall of Fame.

La Russa鈥檚 baseball Hall of Fame accomplishments also include:

• Second all-time in career regular season (2,884) and postseason (70) wins
• Six league championships and 15 postseason appearances
• A 4-2 record in All-Star games
• Second manager to win a World Series in each league and win three consecutive division titles in each league
• 聽First manager to win multiple pennants in both leagues

La Russa鈥檚 professional baseball career started in 1963 with the Kansas City A鈥檚 when he became Major League Baseball鈥檚 first 18-year-old shortstop to start a game. His remaining 15 years as a player, often interrupted by injuries, were spent at the minor league level with occasional major league stops.

Encouraged by a mother who valued reading and education, La Russa worked on his college degree during the off seasons, and he later enrolled at Florida State University for law school where he took classes over the winter before returning to baseball every spring. He passed the Florida bar exam but opted to continue a budding managerial career where attributes of law school led to coaching success.

鈥淚 felt as time went on that those law school introductions to pressure, competition, detail and preparation became a foundation of our philosophy,鈥� La Russa told program moderator

On August 4, 1979, at only 34 years old, La Russa was promoted from a managerial role in the minor leagues to manage the Chicago White Sox. It was the start of a remarkable run that included leadership roles with the Oakland A鈥檚 and the St. Louis Cardinals that ended in 2011 following his third World Series Championship.

Post-retirement, La Russa accepted special assignments for MLB Commissioner Bud Selig (2012-2014) and front office responsibilities with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2014-2017), the Boston Red Sox (2018-2019), and the Los Angeles Angels (2020). He returned to manage the Chicago White Sox in 2021, and by leading Chicago that year to a Central Division championship, he became the first person to ever manage a team into postseason play in five separate decades.

Outside of baseball, La Russa and his family support charitable causes and communities, often promoting educational initiatives for children, and providing homes for animals at risk of being destroyed. La Russa has recently concentrated on assisting military veterans by matching them with emotional support and service dogs and providing medical care for the life of the companion animal.

Earlier in the day, La Russa met with Elon Law students for a roundtable classroom conversation where he answered questions about his law school experiences and more. He also autographed books, posed for photos, and offered encouragement in their continued pursuit of excellence.

福利亚洲国产精品 Elon Law鈥檚 Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series

The Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series presented by The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation is an integral part of Elon Law鈥檚 commitment to learning, lawyering and leadership. Endowed through a generous gift from The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation of Greensboro, N.C., the series brings accomplished leaders from a variety of disciplines to 福利亚洲国产精品 to share their experiences and perspectives with students and faculty.

福利亚洲国产精品 the 福利亚洲国产精品 Speaker Series

The 福利亚洲国产精品 Speaker Series welcomes distinguished thought leaders and change-makers who are actively taking on society鈥檚 most pressing issues. Their bold ideas inspire our own intellectual curiosity and challenge us to make a difference in the world. The 2023-2024 Speaker Series, presented by WUNC North Carolina Public Radio, thematically explores 鈥淐reating Together.鈥�

The Hon. Cheri Beasley, who in 2019 became the first African-American woman to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, will teach courses on appellate practice over the next year while delivering a public lecture and contributing to professional development opportunities for students and faculty alike.

鈥淐hief Justice Beasley鈥檚 state and national leadership as a judge and her commitment to civic engagement make her an ideal professor for Elon Law students,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淟ike the law students, I also look forward to learning from her deep knowledge of the law and judicial process during future campus conversations.鈥�

A year after her 2005 retirement form the bench, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor presided over the dedication of 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 new School of Law when the school opened its doors to its charter class. A lecture in her name was instituted at Elon in 2007, with Professor A.E. Dick Howard of the University of Virginia delivering the first and second Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Lectures at Elon in Fall 2007 and Fall 2008.

During this period, Elon School of Law Advisory Board members Bobby Long, also an 福利亚洲国产精品 trustee, and the Hon. Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, former U.S. Ambassador to Finland and the first female Red Cross chairperson, joined forces to endow the Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professorship at Elon Law.

The endowed professorship brings to Elon Law distinguished legal figures whose contributions to society reflect the tenets and values of the first woman confirmed to the Supreme Court of the United States.

鈥淚 am honored to be Elon鈥檚 inaugural Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor Professor of Law,鈥� Beasley said. 鈥淲e know what a maverick and trailblazer Justice O鈥機onnor was to this nation. We know how actively engaged she was in the early days of the School of Law and how much she really believed in the ability of Elon Law to cultivate leaders.

鈥淲e also know that she was literally one of a kind as the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and what a model she was for our nation, particularly for women lawyers, in a way that helps all students to believe in their fullest potential.鈥�

Beasley served as a public defender in Cumberland County before she began her judicial career in 1999 as a North Carolina District Court judge. She was elected in 2008 to serve as an associate judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and, four years later, was appointed to the Supreme Court of North Carolina, subsequently winning election to the position in 2014.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Beasley to serve as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court following the 2019 resignation of Chief Justice Mark Martin. At the time, Beasley was only the fourth African-American woman in the country鈥檚 history to serve as chief justice of any state鈥檚 highest court.

Beasley also has served in several leadership roles in the North Carolina Bar Association, as a member of the N.C. Bar Foundation Endowment Committee, and as a member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee for Legal Aid and Indigent Defense.

Beasley holds a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University, a J.D. from The University of Tennessee College of Law, and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Douglass College of Rutgers University.

She holds honorary doctorates from Fayetteville State University and North Carolina Central University, and she is the recipient of the聽Distinguished Alumni Award from both The University of Tennessee Knoxville and Rutgers University.

Beasley has been inducted into The Douglass Society, the highest honor bestowed by Douglass College of Rutgers University, and聽is the recipient of multiple other awards and honors including the Fayetteville State University Chancellor鈥檚 Medallion, the North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys鈥� Gwyneth B. Davis Award, and The University of Tennessee Knoxville Trailblazer Award. She is also an inductee into the Rutgers University African-American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame.

鈥淲e are so lucky to have Chief Justice Beasley join our law school community,鈥� said Elon Law Dean Zak Kramer. 鈥淎t every step of her career, Chief Justice Beasley has made service the foundation of her work. I can鈥檛 think of a better person to guide our students as they prepare to enter the legal profession.鈥�

North Carolina鈥檚 2022 Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate recently concluded service as a Fall 2023 Resident Fellow of the Institute of Politics at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. She has since joined the Raleigh office of as a shareholder in addition to her appointment at 福利亚洲国产精品.

鈥淚’m really excited about being a part of the Elon Law family,鈥� Beasley said. 鈥淓lon Law students really have the whole world ahead of them. There are a wealth of opportunities available, and I鈥檓 excited about working together on leadership development and watching them succeed.

鈥淭his is going to be a fruitful relationship and I look forward to being a part of the community.鈥�

福利亚洲国产精品 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required, full-time residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school鈥檚 distinctive curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which provides exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina, has graduated more than 1,500 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 440 students and the law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine鈥檚 鈥淏est Schools for Practical Training鈥� rankings, reaching #5 in the nation in 2023.

The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study for working professionals in Charlotte, N.C., will begin in Fall 2024 following programmatic and campus approvals by the American Bar Association and SACSCOC, respectively.

鈥溾�楲ook at the damage you鈥檙e doing!鈥欌�� Hepler fussed at him one Sunday morning. Nowadays? 鈥淗e definitely doesn鈥檛 litter anymore,鈥� she says with a grin. 鈥淗e stopped!鈥�

Michael Hardy took note of his young daughter鈥檚 advocacy. The two were soon watching presidential debates between George W. Bush and Al Gore as they researched jobs where people 鈥渃an make a difference.鈥� Her father would be the first person Hepler called when she learned she鈥檇 been accepted to law school.

Two decades, three degrees, and four children later, Hepler is now on the cusp of starting a legal career with the Guilford County District Attorney鈥檚 office having earned the highest honor bestowed on a member of each graduating class from 福利亚洲国产精品 School of Law.

Hepler, a first-generation college student born and raised in rural North Carolina, received the David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism at December鈥檚 Commencement for Elon Law鈥檚 Class of 2023. In announcing the selection, Associate Dean Wendy Scott described Hepler as 鈥渢he very model of a modern multitasker鈥� who 鈥渉as dedicated every moment of her free time to making our community a better place.鈥�

Elon Law students are nominated for the award by their peers, professors, or staff. Honorees are chosen by a faculty and staff committee based on law school activities that represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism.

The award is named in honor of David Gergen, a former adviser to four United States presidents and founding director of the Center for Public Leadership and at the Harvard Kennedy School. Gergen is one of the country鈥檚 preeminent political commentators and has chaired Elon Law鈥檚 Board of Advisors since the law school opened.

Among Hepler鈥檚 service activities and achievements at Elon Law:

• Co-director of the Pro Bono Board
• Co-director of the Parents Attending Law School student group
• Academic Fellow
• Teaching Assistant
• Research Assistant
• Elon Law Mentor
• Member of the Innocence Project and the Criminal Law Society
• Member of the Elon Law Academic Environment Group

Classmates who nominated Hepler for the award praised the generosity of her time and the impact she has made on the law school community. Excerpts from nearly a dozen separate nominations include:

• 鈥淪am made my experience at Elon so meaningful, and I know there are so many people who can say the same.鈥�
• 鈥淭hrough her work with the Pro Bono Board she clearly embodies how a lawyer is here to serve and better the lives of others. She leads her peers by encouraging them through tough times and championing them during good.鈥�
• 鈥淪he seems to be a face of the school and has made me and many others feel very welcome 鈥� to know that she is on our team is comforting.鈥�
• 鈥淎nyone would be lucky to have Sam as their attorney, friend, or mentor. Sam exemplifies everything Elon hopes their students will be and more.鈥�

Hepler鈥檚 academic adviser, Professor Tom Molony, praised her for the values she embraces and the personality she brought to the classroom. Molony volunteered for a May 2022 鈥淧ie Your Professor鈥� fundraiser for Elon Law鈥檚 Pro Bono Board because of Hepler鈥檚 persistence.

鈥淪am is a really dedicated person and really driven to help people,鈥� Molony said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a real joy to have in class, and she鈥檚 committed to service and to her family. To juggle all the things she had going on is remarkable, and she鈥檇 do it with a smile. I鈥檓 proud of Sam. She deserves this award.鈥�

Hepler next sits for the North Carolina Bar Exam in February and begins work afterward as a prosecutor in Greensboro. Over the past year, she completed a residency-in-practice, springtime internship, and paid summer placement with the Guilford County District Attorney鈥檚 Office, facilitating plea agreements and taking part in multiple trials where she鈥檇 often help secure guilty verdicts.

It made sense this fall to pursue a career opportunity in an office where she鈥檚 already established trust with future colleagues.

Of course, for many of those who nominated her for the award, what stood out was Hepler鈥檚 ability to balance the demands of coursework with the needs of four children she and her husband are raising. Their youngest was born just weeks before Hepler started law classes.

How鈥檇 she do it?

鈥淚 will say this until I鈥檓 blue in the face: a mother鈥檚 mindset is 鈥榶ou have to do it, so you just do it,鈥欌�� Hepler reflects. 鈥淭here are things you have to get done, that you have to make it happen, so if you want something bad enough, you push yourself until you get what you want.鈥�