The Chandlers remain impressed by Elon鈥檚 commitment to sound strategic planning and doing what鈥檚 best for students. It鈥檚 what inspired the couple鈥檚 gift to Slattery Center, the university鈥檚 new hub for health and wellness that will integrate academics, wellness, campus recreation and fitness programs to ensure students gain the skills they need to succeed on campus and throughout their lives.

Scheduled to open later this year, Slattery Center is located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs. The center is part of the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative to serve students, faculty and staff.

鈥淚t adds value and is beneficial when you can provide a place where students can go to be in community, exercise, receive counseling and focus on their well-being,鈥� said Bob Chandler, former executive vice president of Chandler Concrete Co. 鈥淭his facility shows that the university is aware of the challenges students face and how to help them in all aspects of their health.鈥�

The HealthEU initiative focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story Slattery Center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework, as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, Slattery Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices related to wellness and well-being. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

The couple鈥檚 gift will also endow the Chandler Family Global Experience Fund, strengthening Elon鈥檚 commitment to provide each of the university鈥檚 17 varsity teams with a global experience every four years.

鈥淕lobal experiences are a cornerstone of an Elon education, and thanks to Bob and Amy Chandler, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the world while sharing their sport across cultures,鈥� said Jennifer Strawley, director of athletics. 鈥淏ob and Amy are truly special people who value the holistic development of our student-athletes and their generosity will be felt for generations. I am deeply grateful for their many years of dedication to this university and for the profound difference they make in the lives of our student-athletes.鈥�

鈥淥ur family has been sports fans for as long as I can remember. We love the energy and excitement athletics brings to campus and the opportunities it provides to students,鈥� Bob Chandler said.

鈥淓lon is a national leader in global study, and we are thrilled to help provide this experience for student-athletes,” he added. “It鈥檚 essential that students have the opportunity to witness other cultures and encounter the differences and similarities of the people there. It provides tremendous growth for a person and a deeper understanding of the world.鈥�

The Chandler family is among Elon鈥檚 most generous and devoted donors, helping to shape one of the finest learning environments in the nation through their gifts to Belk Library, Rhodes Stadium, Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center, Gerald L. Francis Center, Alumni Field House, Richard W. Sankey Hall, Schar Center, The Inn at Elon and Innovation Quad.

Bob Chandler鈥檚 parents, Tom and Lynn Chandler, also endowed the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Tom Chandler was the chairman and former CEO of Chandler Concrete, which he founded in 1973, and he served on Elon鈥檚 Board of Trustees for more than two decades before being elected Life Trustee in 2021. In 2023, Tom Chandler received the Elon Medallion, the university鈥檚 highest honor.

鈥淓lon鈥檚 trajectory shows remarkable advancement,鈥� Bob Chandler said. 鈥淓lon has a vision of what鈥檚 to come and how to keep the university moving forward. It is a vibrant and thriving university that is gratifying for the students, faculty and community.鈥�

The university鈥檚 influence extends far beyond the campus.

鈥淭he impact that Elon has on Alamance County and the region is significant, and we feel it鈥檚 important for our family to support the university,鈥� Bob said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a community that we are proud to be part of.鈥�

Despite the wet weather, families, friends, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate graduates who were encouraged not only to pursue success, but also to embrace failure as an essential part of growth.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick P鈥�16, an Elon trustee and accomplished Wall Street strategist, delivered the Commencement address, reminding graduates that quitting is the 鈥渙nly true definition of failure鈥� and urging them not to let fear guide their decisions.

鈥淧undits have a way of forecasting disaster every spring just as college graduates step into the world. My advice is simple: ignore them,鈥� she said. 鈥淭echnology will not be the ruin of us all; it opens far more doors than it closes. You are the future of the workforce, and that should excite you.鈥�

The paths to success

Chadwick reflected on her own unconventional path, emphasizing that there is no 鈥渕agic potion鈥� for success. She shared how she grew up in a religious sect, which she later described as a cult, and was forced out at 17 years old.

鈥淔earful of the world, and in my na茂vet茅, I turned to a single phrase for guidance: 鈥楩ailure is not an option,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淲hat I hadn鈥檛 realized is that no one is immune from mistakes or failures. Those two words, dreaded by so many, are part of the learning process.鈥�

Technology will not be the ruin of us all; it opens far more doors than it closes. You are the future of the workforce, and that should excite you.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick P鈥�16

She also spoke about her son, Elon alumnus Jim Chadwick 鈥�16, who had planned to launch a gaming company after graduation. After spending a year pursuing that dream, he realized it was not the future he had envisioned and eventually transitioned into private finance.

鈥淩emember to take something of value from every employment experience before moving on to the next one,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 like to think of a career path as a circular stairway, where each success leads to a new challenge winding slowly upward toward your dreams.鈥�

Elon celebrated graduates in two ceremonies 鈥� the morning event for the School of Communications and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the afternoon event for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences.

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, 福利亚洲国产精品’s chaplain and dean of mulfifaith engagement, opened each ceremony with the invocation.

鈥淎s these graduates step into what comes next, grant them wisdom beyond knowledge, courage beyond fear and compassion deep enough to serve a world that is in need,鈥� Boswell said. 鈥淢ay they use their gifts not only for personal success, but for healing, for justice, for truth and for the flourishing of others.鈥�

Corinne Wilson 鈥�26 performed the Star-Spangled Banner, and led the singing of the alma mater, while Mindy Monroe 鈥�26 and Malia Horst 鈥�26 gave a special musical performance of 鈥淔or Good,鈥� from the musical 鈥淲icked.鈥�

The Elon magic

Graduates reflected on the experiences that shaped their time at Elon, including the university鈥檚 commitment to undergraduate teaching. In 2025, for the fifth year in a row, Elon topped a 鈥淏est Undergraduate Teaching鈥� list published by U.S. News & World Report.

“Professors can actually invest in you because of the class sizes being so small,” said Robbie Simpson 鈥�26, an Elon native who earned a degree in exercise science. “I really appreciate that because professors get to take their time to understand you, get to know you and invest because they have a personal connection to you, so it makes them it more valuable to them.”

The strong relationships with faculty were an important part of Honors Fellow Diego Hernandez’s 鈥�26 Elon experience.

“The time that the professors have taken out of their day and their lives to support us as students, that’s one of the best things I got from Elon,” said Hernandez, who earned a degree in engineering. “That’s something that I’m going to take with me.”

The myriad of involvement opportunities was also essential for graduates.

Autumn Goyette 鈥�26, who earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in聽accounting through the Love School of Business Accelerated 3+1 Dual Degree Program, says her time working for Residence Life and in the Love School of Business Dean鈥檚 Office has made an impact on her time at Elon. She will soon be moving to Virginia to work for Ernst & Young.

鈥淚’m just so grateful for everything that Elon gave me and brought to me,鈥� said Goyette, who is from Pittsburg, North Carolina. 鈥淭his place is my home and has been my home for four years.鈥�

Decked out in various graduation cords, Ella Allen 鈥�26, a Teaching Fellow who earned a mathematics degree with teacher licensure from Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, was heavily involved on campus, including as an orientation leader and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Next, Allen will be pursuing her Master’s of Higher Education at Elon. She noted that the people and support she received at Elon were invaluable.

Lilly Ikle 鈥�26 of Baltimore, Maryland, earned a聽cinema & television arts聽degree from the School of Communications. She says the time has flown by and she feels like she was 鈥渄ropped off yesterday.鈥� Ikle initially came to Elon for its nationally recognized musical theatre program and for Elon鈥檚 ability to work with students with learning disabilities.

鈥淢y major really helped me get that creative outlet that I wanted in musical theater, but it also gave me the practical side of work I wanted to do in the future,鈥� said Ikle, who plans to move to Nashville after graduation to pursue music. 鈥淢y major gave me a creative outlet, let me get kind of that artsy side out of me, but also taught me things that I can bring into the real world.鈥�

The Class of 2026 includes many stand-out stories:

• After a trip to Ecuador, Bernardo Vargas-Lopez 鈥�26, who earned a degree in聽sport management, and Juan Daniel Chiriboga 鈥�26, who earned a degree in聽entrepreneurship & innovation, built聽YAPA, a plant-based energy drink shaped by friendship, curiosity and mentorship.
• Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26, who earned a degree in聽elementary education, came to Elon through three of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education鈥檚 primary scholarship programs: Alamance Scholars, NC Teaching Fellows and, post-graduation, Teach for Alamance.
• Jonathan Weaver 鈥�26 originally intended to go into finance, but through exploration and faculty mentorship, switched his major to biology, and is now going to dental school at The Ohio State University.
• Being waitlisted for one program allowed Allie Schult 鈥�26 to realize her true passion for nursing.聽She now has a post-graduate position at Children鈥檚 Healthcare of Atlanta.
• Rony Dahdal 鈥�26, a Goldwater Scholar and Lumen Scholar, earned a degree in聽computer science, mathematics and philosophy聽and did three different undergraduate research projects while at Elon. The first was helping to create a mathematical model of complex equations that predict how the human immune system responds to COVID-19; another was developing an autonomous robotic arm to monitor and tend to crops by training the 3D machine-learning model to understand plant anatomy, and a third was developing a method to gather medical vital signs.

All of these students were helped by what student commencement speaker Ruby Radis 鈥�26聽of Chicago called the 鈥淓lon magic.鈥� Radis, who earned a degree in聽human service studies,聽delivered the 鈥淢essage of Appreciation鈥� on Friday.

鈥淔rom the moment I stepped onto this beautiful brick-covered campus, one truth became clear: there is magic here,” Radis said. “That Elon magic builds a community where students know their neighbors, teachers and coworkers.聽Rather
than a quick hello, connections are founded on respect.”

Radis emphasized that Elon helped “emphasize the value of human difference,” and her fellow graduates should take that forward with them.

“Using those lessons, we can work together to uplift each other, amplify voices often left unheard and sprinkle a little of our very own Elon magic on everyone we meet,” Radis said.

That Elon magic builds a community where students know their neighbors, teachers and coworkers.聽Rather聽than a quick hello, connections are founded on respect.

Ruby Radis 鈥�26

Be possible-ists

In her charge to the graduates, Elon President Connie Ledoux Book asked the Class of 2026 to look back on their New Student Convocation in 2022,聽1,371 days prior.

“That morning, we placed an acorn in your hand, and I asked you to do something simple, and yet profound: To grow deep roots, and to reach high. Today, I look out at you, and I see what’s grown,” Book said.

During their first year, the Class of 2026 all read the Common Reading book聽鈥淔actfulness鈥� by Hans Rosling. In his book, Rosling described the word 鈥減ossible-ist:鈥� someone who looks honestly at the world鈥檚 problems and still believes, based on evidence, that things can get better, and that they are getting better.

鈥淐lass of 2026, through your Elon journey,聽you have grown into聽these聽possible-ists,鈥� she said.聽鈥淵ou have learned to hold complexity without losing hope, to see what’s broken without losing your willingness to build, to zoom out and recognize progress, and to keep moving forward.聽That is the Elon way, and the world needs聽more of聽it.鈥�

View the full undergraduate commencement program online.

Patrick Murphy G鈥�01

Assistant vice president for financial aid

Patrick Murphy joined Elon at the beginning of 1994 as bursar for Elon College to find a career that would, as he put it, add positivity to his day. Retiring at the end of the month, Murphy has served in a myriad of roles at Elon, including director of financial aid, senior associate dean and director of financial aid and assistant vice president for financial aid.

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Greg Zaiser, vice president for enrollment, credited Murphy with quietly and deliberately supporting Elon鈥檚 growth from a regional college to national and international distinction.

鈥淲hat I know now is because of Pat鈥檚 patience, accessibility and strong desire for success,鈥� added Zaiser.

After retirement, Murphy looks forward to spending more time with his wife and his five grandchildren, who are all under the age of six. He says his favorite memory at Elon was picking up astronaut and former senator John Glenn and his wife from the airport and guiding them across campus to multiple events.

鈥淚 will miss the people I work with,鈥� he said. 鈥淓lon has been the only place I worked where my friends are also people I work with.鈥�

Beth McCain

Assistant teaching professor of accounting

Beth McCain joined Elon in 2016 teaching part-time as an adjunct after teaching at a community college. She was hired permanently in 2021 as a lecturer and also served as the director of the Master of Science accounting program. She retired on December 31, 2025.

While at Elon, McCain led January Term study abroad courses to Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam and was the inaugural faculty member for the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business study abroad program in Singapore.

At the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Catherine Chiang, professor of accounting and chair of the department of accounting, described McCain as one of the most dedicated and student-centered educators she had the privilege of knowing. 鈥淵our decade of service has shaped careers, strengthened our programs and raised the standards for what it means to be an Elon educator,鈥� said Chiang.

McCain returned the compliments to her department chair and gave a shoutout to Linda Poulson, who gave McCain 鈥渁 chance鈥� and also to her husband, who was in attendance.

Now retired, McCain is volunteering for Guilford County Animal Services in Greensboro and taking a French course at Elon in preparation for a three-month trip to France in the fall. Reflecting on her time at Elon, McCain said, 鈥淚 will greatly miss the amazing faculty and staff that I worked with as well as relationships that I developed with my students over the years.鈥�

Linda Niedziela

Associate professor of biology and chair of the Department of Biology

Linda Niedziela joined Elon in 2001 excited to teach courses in genetics and biotechnology. She was attracted to the university鈥檚 strengths in undergraduate education and undergraduate research. She will retire at the end of May after serving in a myriad of roles, including biology department chair, assistant professor, associate professor, director of the science branch of Elon College Fellows and the Japheth E. Rawls chair for undergraduate research in science.

Niedziela said she will miss what she calls the 鈥渄aily therapy sessions.鈥� She shared that every day during the semester, whoever is able will meet for lunch on the first floor of McMichael and discuss wide-ranging topics, including teaching tips, research reports, personal stories about families and pets and anything else that is on the mind of lunch attendees.

She said, 鈥淚 will miss the wonderful faculty and staff colleagues in the biology department who have become like family to me.鈥�

After retirement, Niedziela and her husband, Carl, an adjunct assistant professor of biology at Elon, who will also be retiring, will travel with their dogs in an airstream travel trailer and spend time in their woodworking shop. She will also be devoting more time training and competing with her Shetland sheepdog in performance dog sports.

Anthony Hatcher

Professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department

Anthony Hatcher joined Elon in 2002 and has served as associate professor of journalism, full professor of journalism and the inaugural chair of the Department of Journalism.

Hatcher said he did not have a passport until he joined Elon in his early 40鈥檚. 鈥淪ince 2004, I have taken students to Hong Kong, South Africa and multiple European countries,鈥� he reflected. Hatcher also created a religion and media course in his first year, which he taught every year since.

One of those colleagues, Harlen Makemson, professor of communication design, praised Hatcher at the Faculty/Staff Luncheon for Hatcher鈥檚 empathy and humanity during what he described as a time of upheaval in the media world, brought on by new technologies. 鈥淎nd while it’s true that Anthony Hatcher serves on virtually every major standing committee at Elon, it’s his humanity, his warmth and his care, that is his most impactful service to his university.鈥�

鈥淚 will miss being with students, and I will miss seeing my colleagues 鈥撀爉y friends 鈥撀燿aily or weekly,鈥� said Hatcher. During the ceremony, he added, 鈥淚 hope in addition to teaching all those wonderful students I鈥檝e had over the past nearly quarter century, I hope in some small way, I made their lives a little better because God knows they helped me be better.

After retirement, Hatcher looks forward to biking, hiking, travel and spending time with his granddaughter. 鈥淲riting will be part of retirement as well, since I can鈥檛 sing or paint,鈥� he added.

Robert Moorman

Frank S. Holt, Jr. professor of business leadership and professor of organizational behavior

Robert Moorman joined Elon as the Frank Holt Jr professor of business leadership in 2011, a title he held throughout his time at Elon. Retiring in May, Moorman has also served as the department chair for the Department of Management, Entrepreneurship and International Business.

During the Faculty, Staff Awards Luncheon, Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and professor of management information systems, shared that Moorman has a gift few others do 鈥撀爐he ability to ask the types of questions that 鈥渕ake you stop walking, look around at where you actually are and suddenly see it鈥 question that stays with you for the rest of your life.鈥� Ajjan offered Moorman a golf club afterwards in the spirit of his retirement.

During the ceremony, Moorman shared that education is so much more than reading books and looking at stats. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really about the relationships we have,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s the relationships with our students and the utter joy of seeing people cycle through during this really important time of their lives, you know, touching you and stepping in and stepping out and then seeing them grow as they go.鈥�

Moorman said his favorite memories are those involving friendships with colleagues and partnerships with students. 鈥淚 have fond memories of a few colleagues congregating in my office talking about the joys and frustrations of the day,鈥� he said.聽 鈥淚 also have fond memories of holding classes that just seemed to 鈥榳ork鈥� that day and then talking with students afterward about how they continued thinking about our discussions.鈥�

After retiring at the end of this month, Moorman looks forward to what he calls unstructured adventure. 鈥淚 am looking forward to a time of boredom that then grows into something new, unplanned and adventurous. What fun!鈥�

Charity Johansson

Professor of physical therapy education and chair of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department.

In 1999, Charity Johnsson joined what would become the Doctor of Physical Therapy program as one of its first faculty. She retired in December 2025 after decades of service in which she held positions of associate professor, full professor, faculty administrative fellow, interim associate department chair, interim department chair and program director, department chair and program director and university parliamentarian.

Johansson said she is already missing the 鈥渄aily exchanges with colleagues whose brilliant minds and genuinely kind hearts鈥� have shaped her over nearly three decades. Likewise, she will miss the students, and their 鈥渋nfectious enthusiasm, their compassion and the joy of watching them transform in ways they hadn鈥檛 even imagined possible.鈥�

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Crystal Ramsey praised Johansson as a 鈥渃ornerstone of the Elon academic community, whose legacy is defined not just by the position she has held, but by the enduring way she has nurtured the hearts, minds and professional identities of future healthcare providers.鈥� Ramsey is an associate professor of physical therapy education and a former student of Johansson鈥檚.

At the ceremony, Johansson reflected on the retirement of Gerry Francis, who served as professor emeritus of mathematics and provost emeritus.

鈥淕erry Francis told me he doesn鈥檛 miss the work, but he really misses the people 鈥� and I get that,” she said.

She also said it was a privilege working with so many in the Elon community who have encouraged her, challenged her and made her laugh to help her be a better a human. 鈥�Fred Rubeck, you鈥檙e among those,鈥� Johansson added, honoring the late professor of performing arts and chair of the Department of Performing Arts.

Now retired, Johansson said she is enjoying time outdoors with family and close friends, planning travel and trying new ventures, including fiction writing.

Marcia Dodson

Program assistant for the Station at Mill Point Neighborhood

Marcia Dodson joined Elon in 2015 and is the proud mother of three sons who graduated from Elon. She will be retiring at the end of May and has served as a service desk analyst for facilities management, program assistant in the Danieley Neighborhood and Station at Mill Point.

A favorite memory of Dodson鈥檚 while at Elon is joining the London Experience for staff, where she built relationships with colleagues she had not yet had the opportunity to meet while working at Elon. 鈥淲hat an awesome experience!鈥� she reflected.

After retirement, Dodson looks forward to being a traveling grandparent with her husband.

Rosemary Haskell

Professor of English

Rosemary Haskell joined Elon in 1985 and will be retiring in August. She has held the roles of temporary instructor and assistant, associate and later, full professor of English.

Haskell said she will most miss her kind and interesting colleagues, as well as the 鈥渆nergizing power of the new class of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first-years each August.鈥�

One of Haskell鈥檚 favorite memories at Elon is during the transition of the Fighting Christians to the Phoenix. She enjoyed the papier-mache birds and eggs in trees around campus that offered a clue to the new mascot.

After retirement, Haskell said she plans to spend time with her family and do some home improvement work.

Cheryl Riley

Custodian

Cheryl Riley joined Elon in 2013 as a custodian and will retire at the end of May. 鈥淚 will miss the people I work with,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I look forward to spending time with my grandkids.鈥�

Linda Dunn

Adjunct assistant professor of Peace and Conflict Studies

Linda Dunn joined Elon in 1998 as the director of the Alamance County Dispute Settlement Center, where she trained a group of students and returned to train several faculty members in mediation skills, who later became volunteer mediators for the center. Dunn鈥檚 official start date on record is 2001, when she taught a two-credit mediation and conflict resolution skills course as part of a new minor called Nonviolent Studies. She retired at the end of December, 2025.

Federico Pous spoke on behalf of Dunn during the Faculty/Staff Awards luncheon, praising Dunn鈥檚 ability to teach hands-on peaceful conflict resolution skills and strategies across different social backgrounds.

鈥淟inda’s way of teaching and interacting with students, staff and professors, makes you feel that you are equal to her in the same community space,鈥� he shared.

鈥淚 will miss the students and their passion the things I teach,鈥� said Dunn. Two of her students attended the luncheon.

After retirement, she plans to attend cultural events on campus and potentially assist in future facilitated discussions on campus. She will also continue to volunteer as a mediator at the Alamance County District court, continue restorative circle skills and mediation and training skills with Restorative Justice Durham and the Orange County District County District court.

鈥淚 will continue to be an activist for restorative justice and peacemaking organizations as we navigate the chaos and violence in our world,鈥� she added.

Elizabeth Bailey

Assistant teaching professor of exercise science

Elizabeth Bailey began her career at Elon in 2004 and, enjoying the vibe of the community, wanted to be 鈥減art of it all.鈥� She started as a lecturer for the required wellness course, lectured for the School of Education before joining Exercise Science.

Retiring at the end of Spring semester, Bailey said she will most miss her colleagues and all the 鈥渇riends among the faculty and staff鈥� she has made while at Elon.

鈥淚 will also miss the opportunities to continue to learn that are available at Elon, whether it be through taking classes or participating in workshops or going abroad,鈥� she added. She said, while at Elon, he has learned a lot.

Bailey said her retirement plans continue to evolve, and she still intends to exercise classes and do some research on the side.

Kim Giles, 鈥�11 G鈥�16

Associate director of communications for the Student Professional Development Center

Since her first role in 1995, Kim Giles has served in various roles at the university, including data entry in admissions and accounting, budget clerk in the physical plant, program assistant for Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics, and assistant director of communications in the Student Professional Development Center.

Giles retired during the summer of 2025. She said she cherishes the opportunity to earn an MBA at Elon along with her daughter. She said about the experience, 鈥渨hat an unforgettable experience that was in crossing the stage along with my daughter to get our MBA鈥檚 together 鈥撀爄t was quite surreal.鈥�

Giles also reflected on traveling with peers and faculty to Vietnam and Singapore, the many evolutions of Staff Appreciation Day, and being honored as the staff member of the year 鈥撀燼n experience she said she will cherish forever.

Since retiring, Giles has taken nine cruises and has done kayaking, camping and gardening. She looks forward to continuing to spend time with family.

Sharon Moss LaRocco

University accompanist and instructor in music

Sharon Moss LaRocco was recognized at the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon by Hallie Hogan, associate professor of music. LaRocco joined the Elon Music Department in 1988 as a pianist for musical theater productions, music ensembles and student recitals.

Hogan shared, 鈥淎lthough she kept a very low profile, there was never any doubt about this, because she never missed a beat, much less a note, and maintained high quality for every performance she gave,” Hogan said.

She shared that students developed a strong admiration for LaRocco鈥檚 talent and a deep love for her kind and understanding nature.

Beyond Elon, Sharon has devoted herself to advocating for people with autism, through her work as a leader in the Office of Society of North Carolina, notably promoting autism awareness for the Native American communities of Western North Carolina.

At the awards ceremony, LaRocco shared that one of her favorite memories was the construction of Rhodes Stadium, which signaled to her the emergence of a marching band.

鈥淲ho doesn鈥檛 love a marching band?鈥� asked LaRocco to the audience. 鈥淎nd the spirit and the energy it creates walking through the campus, en route to the games.鈥�

Jana Lynn Patterson

Associate vice president for Student Life/dean of student health & well-being/assistant professor

During the Faculty/Staff Awards Luncheon, Jon Dooley, vice president for Student Life and associate professor of education, described Patterson as someone who is consistent in how she shows up for others, patient when a young leader makes a mistake, honest with students and colleagues even when it is hard and someone who not only believes in others, and one who helps others believe in themselves.

鈥淪he supported students in college through tragedy, advised student organizations, and celebrated their success,鈥� said Dooley. 鈥淪he has created spaces of welcome and belonging, and met the students in their darkest hours, helping them piece together on plans to move forward.鈥�

Patterson was also recognized for her 40 years of service and held back tears while addressing the audience. A first-generation student from Hope Mills, North Carolina, Patterson said her parents could have never dreamed where she is today.

鈥淭o my staff and colleagues, you are the A-Team,鈥� she shared. “But to everyone in this community, I want you to know that every day has been an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this community and to have worked with you.鈥�

Also retiring

Retiring staff members will be recognized on May 29 as part of Staff Appreciation Day.

• Joan Barnatt
• Mona DeVries
• Chris Dockrill, head women’s golf coach
• Sharon Hodge
• John Chinnici, community service officer
• David “DD” Donohue, painter
• Kelly Elliston
• Gloria Graves, custodian
• William “Tom” Hall, telecommunications technician
• Rhonda Kosusko, associate director of career services, education and Elon
• Katherine Rodriguez, assistant director for application processing
• Michelle Stephens, custodian
• Ed Williams, service desk analyst
• Donna Wood , electronic services/ acquisitions librarian

Journalist and author Katherine Blunt 鈥�15 acknowledges a challenging reality 鈥� that today鈥檚 graduates are leaving institutions of higher learning across the country and embarking on professional journeys in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn and think. But she left the students at 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Graduate Program Commencement ceremony on May 20 with reason to feel hopeful amid so much uncertainty.

While many people may be tempted by the path of least resistance, Elon cultivates leaders who are deeply rooted in collaboration, communication and, most importantly, the ability to think critically.

鈥淎s scholars, we have a responsibility to challenge AI鈥檚 assumptions in the same way we鈥檝e learned to challenge our own,鈥� Blunt said, 鈥渢o treat it as a debate partner or research assistant, to find new ways to augment our thinking, not replace the process.鈥�

Elon conferred graduate degrees on students from five master鈥檚-level programs – Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Higher Education and Master of Education in Innovation 鈥� during a joint ceremony in Alumni Gym, where they were surrounded by the loved ones and faculty and staff mentors who championed their education.

Think about what it took to get here. The value in every paper you wrote or project you tackled came not just from the final product, but the mental strength and confidence you built in the process. You didn鈥檛 skip the struggle. You embraced the chance to grow.

Katherine Blunt ’15

In her introduction of Blunt, Dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Ann Bullock pointed out that Blunt鈥檚 work is highly relevant to every graduate from both the School of Education and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business. Her in-depth reporting on artificial intelligence provides essential knowledge as teachers strive to prepare students to think critically about AI-generated content and digital information. And for those in business, Blunt鈥檚 coverage of corporate accountability, energy infrastructure and the explosive growth of AI-driven industries aids in understanding the forces reshaping markets, supply chains and organizational strategy.

Blunt reminded graduates in both fields that AI doesn鈥檛 think but rather repeats what has already been said and mimics opinions. Asking it to form opinions and conclusions on our behalf, she said, removes the friction that comes with processing information and generating ideas ourselves.

鈥淭hat satisfaction is what I hope you feel today,鈥� Blunt said. 鈥淭hink about what it took to get here. The value in every paper you wrote or project you tackled came not just from the final product, but the mental strength and confidence you built in the process. You didn鈥檛 skip the struggle. You embraced the chance to grow.鈥�

Blunt was a Lumen Scholar and news editor of The Pendulum student newspaper at Elon before graduating in 2015 with a degree in journalism and history. She reported first for the San Antonio Express-News and then the Houston Chronicle prior to joining the Wall Street Journal in 2018, covering power, renewable energy and utilities. Her coverage with colleagues of Pacific Gas and Electric was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and earned top journalism honors including a Gerald Loeb Award.

Blunt is the author of 鈥淐alifornia Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric 鈥� and What It Means for America鈥檚 Power Grid,鈥� a national bestseller and the 2022 Golden Poppy Award winner for nonfiction. She is now based in San Francisco, reporting for the Journal on Google and how artificial intelligence is reshaping search, along with related stories such as the rapid data-center buildout and its implications for the power grid.

During her Commencement address, Blunt told graduates that their Elon degrees and the relationships they built with professors put them at a distinct advantage in their careers.

鈥淚f you are in business, you are prepared to be the strategist who understands the importance of relationships among colleagues, customers and competitors. If you are in education, you are prepared to be the mentor who understands that learning is as emotional as it is logical.

鈥淎lgorithms can sort, count and summarize. But only you have empathy, a strong moral compass and the ability to tell a great story. Go do what only humans can do: Act with care, take risks and trust the intuition that comes from living in an imperfect world. Our schools and businesses will be better for it.鈥�

The master鈥檚 candidates also heard from Yates May 鈥�23 L鈥�25 G鈥�26, a triple Elon graduate who delivered the Message of Appreciation. A Burlington native with a family full of proud Elon alumni, May began taking Elon classes while still in high school through a dual-enrollment program and went on to double major in strategic communications and journalism, earned her law degree in December and received her MBA during the May 20 ceremony.

She recently asked about 20 current students and alumni to share one word that encapsulates what Elon means to them, and many shared the same word she would choose herself 鈥� home. She wondered why Elon felt like home to so many people she spoke with across different fields and experiences.

鈥淚 think the answer starts with this 鈥� at Elon, we are not anonymous,鈥� May said. 鈥淧eople know when you don鈥檛 show up. Professors, they check in. And friends, they notice. In a world that at times can feel so disconnected, this type of connection and care is rare.鈥�

May reflected on how Elon not only teaches students to think critically, but to invest in one another. Elon constantly encourages its students to grow while still making them feel supported, she said, pushing them beyond their comfort zone and reminding them that they don鈥檛 have to face moments of uncertainty alone.

鈥淭hat support system is what allowed so many of us to become the people that we are today,鈥� May said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 important because soon, each of us will scatter across different cities, different states, different countries, classrooms, courtrooms, newsrooms, businesses, communities all over the world. But when we leave behind Elon, Elon does not leave us. We carry it with us. We carry Elon in the way that we lead, in the way that we treat people, in the way that we show up for others.鈥�

President Connie Ledoux Book closed the ceremony by charging the graduates to be resilient and steadfast like the oak trees for which Elon is named in their next endeavors. As she presented the students with a sapling in recognition of their growth throughout their Elon education, she reminded them that oaks symbolize the strength of Elon鈥檚 community 鈥� strength that now resides in each of them.

鈥淢y hope is that each time you see an acorn or an oak tree,鈥� Book said, 鈥測ou are reminded of the personal leadership you have developed during your studies at Elon 鈥� strengths and skills that I鈥檓 counting on you to use to make a positive difference in our world.鈥�

View the complete list of graduates from the spring 2026 Graduate Program Commencement ceremony.

She will also tell you Edison, New Jersey, her hometown, has a tower honoring Thomas Edison. She has visited once.

鈥淚t was electric,鈥� Carlsen joked.

That quick humor is part of what makes Carlsen easy to talk to. But underneath the wit is a student-athlete with a clear sense of purpose, a sharp analytical mind and a deep interest in work that keeps people at the center.

Carlsen came to 福利亚洲国产精品 with one season of volleyball eligibility, a public health background and a question she was still working through: What comes next?

The answer, as it turned out, involved a familiar coach, a new team and a graduate program that helped her see how data could support the kind of mission-driven work she had always cared about.

Carlsen, a Master of Science in Business Analytics student, earned undergraduate degrees in public health and environmental science from Johns Hopkins University. She had spent much of her academic and professional experience drawn to work with a clear purpose, especially in public health and environmental science.

鈥淲hat stayed consistent for me was wanting to do work that felt mission-driven,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淚 wanted to be part of work that had a clear purpose and could make a meaningful difference for people.鈥�

After completing her undergraduate degree, Carlsen was considering her next step when she reconnected with Matt Troy, who had coached her at Johns Hopkins and was named Elon鈥檚 head volleyball coach in December 2024.

Carlsen still had one year of athletic eligibility remaining after an injury earlier in her college career, and Troy saw an opportunity for her to help shape a new chapter for Elon volleyball.

For Carlsen, the possibility of coming to Elon was about more than playing one more season.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to continue my education eventually, but I wanted it to feel purposeful,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淭he MSBA program felt like something I could fully invest in.鈥�

Carlsen said the one-year structure, technical focus and support for students from different academic backgrounds made the program feel like the right fit. She saw it as a way to build the skills she wanted while staying connected to work that keeps people at the center.

鈥淗opkins gave me a strong foundation,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淎t Elon, I saw an opportunity to build on that with technical skills that would help me become a stronger employee and decision-maker.鈥�

Carlsen found that Elon鈥檚 MSBA curriculum paired technical skills with practical application. In one trimester, she studied Python and Tableau in Assistant Professor Long Xia鈥檚 data visualization course while also taking 鈥淏usiness for the Greater Good鈥� with Associate Professor Elena Kennedy.

For Carlsen, the pairing helped her understand analytics as more than numbers or software. It was also about how information is shared, understood and used.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e getting the technical foundations,鈥� Carlsen said, 鈥渂ut also learning how to translate those findings in a way that is ethical and makes sense to other stakeholders.鈥�

That connection became clearer through her internship with Cone Health, where she worked on patient experience projects. The role helped her see how health care organizations can use data to identify gaps in care, understand patient experiences and make more informed decisions.

鈥淚 got to work on a whole bunch of different projects and figure out how every part of health care touches patient experience,鈥� Carlsen said.

The experience helped confirm the direction she hopes to pursue after graduation.

鈥淚deally, it would be a role that is people-centric, but also uses analytics to make decisions and hopefully make their lives better,鈥� Carlsen said.

Carlsen鈥檚 Elon experience also helped her understand leadership in a new way.

In a course taught by Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Carlsen examined her own leadership style, practiced negotiation and worked through real-world scenarios involving conflict, influence and decision-making.

The timing was meaningful. She was coming off her final collegiate volleyball season and beginning to think about how the leadership skills she had built as an athlete could translate into professional settings.

鈥淚t was a class based on identifying your own leadership strategies and the way that you lead,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淚t was very tangible.鈥�

Carlsen said Mercado brought leadership concepts to life by creating a discussion-based environment where students could connect course material to their own experiences.

鈥淵ou can lecture all day long about leadership,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淏ut what made the class meaningful was the way she shared real examples and encouraged us to think about how leadership shows up in our own lives.鈥�

Carlsen had spent more than a decade learning those lessons on the volleyball court.

She began playing around age 11 after watching her older sister play. She was drawn to the communication, shared responsibility and constant movement of the sport.

鈥淭here are six of you on the court. Everyone is touching the ball at some point,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淓verything is a team effort.鈥�

At Johns Hopkins, Carlsen competed on a successful Division III team that regularly reached the NCAA tournament, including a Final Four appearance during her senior season. At Elon, she stepped into something different: a new team, a new coaching staff

For Carlsen, coming to Elon was never about stepping into an established program. It was about being invited into one.

“Coach Troy gave me an opportunity I will always be grateful for,” Carlsen said. “I got to come here, work alongside an incredible group of players and help build something we could all be proud of. And I got to do it while getting an education that genuinely changed how I think. I couldn’t have asked for more than that.”

One of Carlsen鈥檚 favorite Elon volleyball memories came at Towson, the CAA leader that entered the weekend on an 18-match winning streak.

After dropping the opening match of the weekend, the Elon team came back the next day with nothing to lose and everything to gain.

“When you’re building something new, there’s a freedom to it. Every match is a chance to show people, and yourself, what you’re capable of,鈥� she said.

The Phoenix pushed Towson to five sets and won the final set 17-15, snapping the Tigers鈥� winning streak and giving Elon its first win over Towson since 2022.

鈥淚t felt really good to beat someone that hadn鈥檛 been beaten in a long time,鈥� Carlsen said.

That same mix of grit, humor and initiative carried through her graduate year. Carlsen moved to Elon knowing Coach Troy and almost no one else. The cohort structure of the MSBA program helped change that. Students took classes together, worked through the same challenges and built friendships through the intensity of a one-year graduate program.

A January study abroad experience in Madrid and Milan became a turning point for the cohort. The group visited companies, learned about international business practices and spent enough time together outside the classroom to become more than classmates.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going out to dinner, you鈥檙e exploring a city, you鈥檙e in it together,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淭hat was the point where we were all like, 鈥榃hy not be friends?鈥欌��

The trip also gave Carlsen a broader view of how culture shapes business. In Spain, the group met with a U.S. commercial diplomat who discussed adapting to a more relationship-driven business culture. In Italy, students learned about the significance of 鈥淢ade in Italy鈥� goods and the role of craftsmanship, pace and cultural identity in business.

For a student interested in how decisions are made, the experience reinforced that analytics does not exist in a vacuum. Data helps people make choices, but those choices are always shaped by context.

Carlsen also found support through the Porter Family Professional Development Center, especially from Amanda Traugutt, senior associate director of career services 鈥� Love School of Business.

Carlsen reached out shortly after moving to Elon, bringing what she described as 鈥渁 ton of really big ideas鈥� about life after graduation. Traugutt helped her narrow them down, polish application materials and think more intentionally about possible career paths.

鈥淪he will walk with you where you are, but a few steps ahead to help lead you in the right direction,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 your biggest cheerleader.鈥�

As graduation approaches, Carlsen is looking forward to sharing the moment with the people who understand what the year required. The MSBA program is fast, intense and, for Carlsen, layered with practices, lifts, games, travel, classes and an internship.

Her advice to future students is simple: take initiative.

鈥淭he best things that have come up for me have been direct products or byproducts of taking initiative,鈥� Carlsen said.

That includes building relationships with professors, using career resources, connecting with classmates, and paying attention to the opportunities that appear along the way.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 come in with a business background,鈥� Carlsen said. 鈥淏ut I am leaving more confident in my ability to hold my ground in conversations about business and analytics.鈥�

In the midst of finals week, inside a second-floor conference room in Schar Hall overlooking the Historic Neighborhood, 福利亚洲国产精品 seniors presented communications campaigns for one of the world鈥檚 most recognizable digital brands: TikTok.

The May 15 presentations marked the culmination of a semester-long partnership between students in Professor Lee Bush鈥檚 Strategic Campaigns course, TikTok and Elon alumna Julia Denick 鈥�15, a brand partnerships manager in media and entertainment for the company. A second class taught by Bush shared its presentations remotely with Denick via Zoom a few days later.

Throughout the semester, students were challenged to think beyond TikTok鈥檚 identity as an entertainment platform and instead position it as a powerful marketing tool capable of driving discovery, engagement and purchasing decisions for brands and small businesses. For students, the project offered an opportunity to tackle the kind of real-world strategic communications challenge they may encounter after graduation.

鈥淓lon gave me so much,鈥� said Denick, explaining her decision to partner with current students. 鈥淭his felt like a small way to give some of that back. I also remember being in their shoes and how much I would have loved working on a project like this.鈥�

A 2015 graduate of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Denick now works with NBCUniversal and other major media partners, helping brands develop creative and data-driven campaigns on TikTok.

鈥淚鈥檓 responsible for building strategic partnerships with NBCU and helping them drive business results on TikTok,鈥� Denick said. 鈥淢uch of that work is blending creativity and data 鈥� advising on media strategy, measurement, creative and building custom campaigns around their biggest tentpole moments.鈥�

Bush explained that the partnership challenged students to look beyond their everyday use of the platform and consider how brands strategically connect with audiences through TikTok.

鈥淪tudents are, of course, prolific users of TikTok,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淭his was a great opportunity for them to experience the platform from a different perspective 鈥撀爐hat of a business or brand manager who needs to reach their customers through the platform.鈥�

Bush said the project reflected the experiential learning focus that defines the Strategic Campaigns course, which serves as the capstone experience for strategic communications majors.

鈥淲e are so grateful to Julia for agreeing to be the client for not just one, but two Strategic Campaigns classes and for flying in from New York to see student presentations in person,鈥� Bush said. 鈥淲hat a thrilling culminating experience for our graduating strategic communications seniors.鈥�

For Tori Tyson 鈥�26, one of those graduating seniors, the class project highlighted both the strategic thinking and collaboration required to develop a successful campaign.

鈥淥ur assignment was to work with TikTok to create a strategic campaign that repositioned the platform as more than just an entertainment app,鈥� Tyson said.

Tyson noted that one of the most rewarding aspects of the semester was working alongside classmates who each brought different ideas and strengths to the campaign process.

鈥淓veryone on our team brought different strengths, perspectives and ideas to the table, which made the project more creative and well-rounded overall,鈥� Tyson said. 鈥淭eamwork played a huge role in our campaign, especially when it came to brainstorming, problem-solving and refining our ideas into one cohesive strategy.鈥�

She also credited Bush with encouraging students to think creatively while maintaining a professional approach to client work.

鈥淧rofessor Bush created an environment that encouraged collaboration and pushed us to think more strategically and creatively throughout the semester,鈥� Tyson said. 鈥淪he gave us the confidence to take risks with our ideas while still guiding us in a professional and supportive way.鈥�

The experience also challenged students to narrow broad research and ideas into focused, achievable strategies.

鈥淭ikTok is such a fast-moving platform with so many opportunities,鈥� Tyson said, 鈥渟o it took a lot of collaboration and problem-solving to create a campaign that was both creative and strategic.鈥�

For Denick, the project reinforced the value of experiential learning opportunities before graduation and offered a meaningful way to give back to her alma mater.

鈥淕roup projects don鈥檛 end after college 鈥� life is one big group project,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd what better prep for post-grad than the real thing.鈥�

Related Articles

• Commencement 2026: Kate Cooper 鈥�26 unlocks her path from Elon to real estate
• Commencement 2026: Allie Schult 鈥�26 embodies the 鈥榟eart and future of nursing鈥�
• Commencement 2026: Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26 advances through Alamance-Elon education pipeline
• Commencement 2026: Jonathan Weaver 鈥�26 found dream career path through Elon involvement
• At Elon, a little something extra leads to a new venture

福利亚洲国产精品 will celebrate more than 1,500 graduates during two ceremonies on Friday, May 22, in Schar Center as part of the university鈥檚 136th Commencement Exercises.

Patricia Walsh Chadwick P鈥�16 will deliver the commencement address to the Class of 2026, drawing from her accomplished career in finance and a life marked by diverse personal and professional experiences.

鈥淎s an Elon parent, I have watched with admiration as first President Lambert, and now President Book, have propelled 福利亚洲国产精品 to new heights in both scholastic excellence and expanded degree programs,鈥� Chadwick said. 鈥淭he Class of 2026 faced the challenge of spending part of high school under the duress of the COVID pandemic and remote learning, and their graduation from 福利亚洲国产精品 exemplifies their commitment to excellence.鈥�

Ruby Radis 鈥�26, a human service studies major from Chicago, Illinois, has been selected to deliver the 鈥淢essage of Appreciation.鈥澛�Her address will center on the 鈥渕agic鈥� of the relationships students build at Elon: 鈥淚 believe in the way that Elon fosters relationships unlike any other place I鈥檝e been,鈥� said Radis.

The 9 a.m. ceremony will honor graduates from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Communications. The 2:30 p.m. ceremony will recognize graduates from Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; and the School of Health Sciences.

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education, Master of Education in Innovation, Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and Master of Business Administration will participate in a separate graduate ceremony on May 20 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Gym. Journalist and author Katie Blunt 鈥�15 will deliver the address during the evening ceremony.

More information on Elon’s 136th Commencement is available online.

Related Articles

• Commencement 2026: Kate Cooper 鈥�26 unlocks her path from Elon to real estate
• Commencement 2026: Allie Schult 鈥�26 embodies the 鈥榟eart and future of nursing鈥�
• Commencement 2026: Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26 advances through Alamance-Elon education pipeline
• Commencement 2026: Jonathan Weaver 鈥�26 found dream career path through Elon involvement

What started as a conversation between friends in 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 dining hall has grown into a startup venture with roots in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Bernardo Vargas-Lopez 鈥�26, a sport management major from Austin, Texas, and Juan Daniel Chiriboga 鈥�26, an entrepreneurship major from Quito, Ecuador, are developing , a plant-based energy drink inspired by guayusa, a leaf long used by Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The idea first took shape after the two friends traveled to Ecuador during Thanksgiving break in 2024 and visited the Amazon rainforest.

鈥淲e came back from visiting the Amazon forest and were just talking through the trip,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when the idea came out. What if we took one of those plants and built a drink around it?鈥�

From that early conversation, the idea quickly became something more serious. The two students began researching the beverage industry, speaking with community members in Ecuador, gathering feedback from mentors and testing whether the concept could become a real business.

For Chiriboga and Vargas-Lopez, YAPA has become more than a passion project. It has also become a way to explore how entrepreneurship can connect product development, cultural learning and long-term impact.

Building a business from the ground up

As they began shaping the company, the pair focused on a growing interest in cleaner, more transparent beverage options.

鈥淚 think the issue we were looking at was the energy drink industry and what a lot of those products contain,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淲e saw people looking more for clean-label, natural ingredients and more transparency in what they consume.鈥�

That focus helped define YAPA鈥檚 early direction. The students describe the drink as plant-based and made without preservatives, with an emphasis on ingredient transparency and product quality.

The company鈥檚 name also reflects that approach. In Ecuador, 鈥測apa鈥� refers to a small extra that someone gives you, something unexpected and added with generosity. The students say that the idea shaped both the brand name and the kind of experience they hope to create.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little extra you were not expecting,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭hat is what we want the product to feel like.鈥�

Turning that idea into a business, however, has required far more than product vision. The students have spent months navigating sourcing, formulation, packaging, shipping and compliance, all while balancing the demands of college life.

鈥淭he biggest thing is persistence,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e could have stopped a long time ago, but we just kept going.鈥�

They also made an early decision to prioritize product quality, even when that meant making tougher financial choices.

鈥淲e decided there were a few strategic points where we would not go for lower quality,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淪tarting from ingredients and sourcing, we were not going to sacrifice what the product stands for.鈥�

Learning through mentorship and hands-on experience

Both students say their experience in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business helped them approach the company with more confidence and curiosity.

They pointed to classroom experiences and faculty connections as central to how they approached building the company, often working closely with professors including Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship, Elena Kennedy, associate professor of entrepreneurship, and Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship.

鈥淭he ability to communicate clearly with people who know a lot more than we do has been huge,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭he Love School of Business does an amazing job of making professors approachable.鈥�

That accessibility changed how they engaged with their coursework and mentors.

鈥淭here are professors that I鈥檝e ended up talking to just because I saw them in the hallway,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l come up to you, ask what you鈥檙e working on and start giving advice. You don鈥檛 feel intimidated asking questions.鈥�

As the idea for YAPA developed, those conversations became more intentional.

鈥淲e started staying after class and asking more specific questions,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭he professors would connect what we were learning directly to what we were building.鈥�

Faculty feedback also helped refine the venture as it evolved.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 need people to just cheerlead,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e need people who will tell us what worked, what didn鈥檛 and how to improve. That鈥檚 what has really helped us move forward.鈥�

Their time studying abroad also played a role in shaping the venture, even as they were in different parts of the world.

鈥淗e was in Australia, and I was in Japan,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 really work on operations, so the only thing we could do was talk to people.鈥�

Instead of slowing progress, that shift pushed them to focus on learning.

鈥淲e talked to people in the jungle, we talked to people at big companies and we talked to mentors in finance,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淲e were just trying to understand everything we could.鈥�

鈥淲e were sponges during that time,鈥� Chiriboga added. 鈥淲e just gathered as much information as we could.鈥�

Those conversations helped them return with a clearer sense of direction.

鈥淲hen we came back, we had a better idea of what worked, what didn鈥檛 and what problems we needed to solve,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said.

Friendship at the center

At the heart of YAPA is not only a product idea, but also a partnership built on trust.

The two met during their first year at Elon and became close friends before ever becoming business partners, something they say has made navigating the ups and downs of building a company more manageable.

鈥淚f I cannot do something right now, I know Juan Daniel can do it, and vice versa,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淭hat trust was built before the business.鈥�

That foundation has shaped how they approach both their work and their time as students.

鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten really good at knowing when to talk business and when not to,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 not working time, we try to focus on being friends and being present with other people.鈥�

Living together has only strengthened that balance, allowing them to stay in sync while also setting boundaries.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not always 50-50 all the time,鈥� Vargas-Lopez said. 鈥淏ut we know we鈥檙e in this together, and that makes it easier to handle everything that comes up.鈥�

For Chiriboga, the partnership is one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more grateful that my best friend is also my business partner,鈥� he said.

As they prepare to graduate, both say some of the biggest milestones are still ahead.

鈥淭he biggest one is getting the cans,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when it becomes real, when you can actually hold the product and take that first sip.鈥�

Even so, the process has already reshaped how they think about risk, learning and what it means to build something from scratch.

For other students considering a venture of their own, their advice is simple.

鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to start,鈥� Chiriboga said. 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 believe in yourself, no one else will.鈥�

Vargas-Lopez added that one of the most valuable lessons has been staying open to what others know.

鈥淯se your resources,鈥� he said. 鈥淎sk questions. Learn from every conversation. We haven鈥檛 had a single meeting where we didn鈥檛 learn something.鈥�

Related Articles

• Commencement 2026: Allie Schult 鈥�26 embodies the 鈥榟eart and future of nursing鈥�
• Commencement 2026: Kaitlyn Lewis 鈥�26 advances through Alamance-Elon education pipeline
• Commencement 2026: Jonathan Weaver 鈥�26 found dream career path through Elon involvement
• At Elon, a little something extra leads to a new venture

Coming to Elon wasn鈥檛 a leap into the unknown for Kate Cooper 鈥�26. It was a path already shaped in part by her sisters鈥� experiences. What she built from there, though, became entirely her own.

Her sisters鈥� time at Elon introduced her to the value of small class sizes and close relationships with faculty, where conversations extend beyond the classroom and often lead to new opportunities. But it was her acceptance into the Business Fellows program that made her decision clear.

鈥淥nce I got into the Business Fellows program, that鈥檚 what really sealed the deal for me,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淚 knew I鈥檇 have access to alumni networks, career opportunities and experiential learning.鈥�

Cooper, a finance major from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, found her direction through real estate, drawn to the field鈥檚 ability to shape how people live, work and connect with their communities.

鈥淚 like real estate for its ability to shape the way people live, work and play,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淭here is something really special about seeing how decisions about a property can improve the experience of the people and communities around it.鈥�

That interest came into focus through hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom. A real estate conference in New York City became a turning point.

During the trip, Cooper toured properties, connected with industry professionals and began building relationships that would shape her next steps in real estate.

One of those connections eventually led to an internship with Rose Associates, a property management and investment firm focused on luxury apartment properties in New York City and surrounding markets. She continued working with the firm during her senior year and will join Rose Associates full-time after graduation.

Cooper鈥檚 path into real estate also took shape in the classroom. An economics course with Steve DeLoach pushed her to think differently early in her Elon experience, while principles of finance with Kate Upton gave her a stronger foundation in the field. In real estate modeling, Cooper connected that preparation directly to her career goals, learning Argus, an industry software platform she later became certified in.

Margarita Kaprielyan, associate dean and faculty advisor for the Real Estate Club, became one of Cooper鈥檚 most influential mentors.

鈥淧rofessor Kaprielyan has been one of the most influential mentors in my Elon experience,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淪he was always looking out for opportunities that could help me grow and helping me think through what came next.鈥�

Leadership became another defining part of her time at Elon. Cooper served as president of both the Real Estate Club and Women in Sales, creating opportunities for students to connect with alumni and explore career paths.

In the Real Estate Club, she developed a comprehensive resource guide for students interested in real estate, outlining certifications, modeling tools and ways to gain experience beyond the classroom.

鈥淚 wanted to put myself in uncomfortable positions so I could grow,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing in those leadership roles helped me figure out my style, but it also gave me the chance to help students who were once in my shoes.鈥�

Her Elon experience also extended beyond the United States. Through the Business Fellows program, Cooper traveled to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking her first time abroad. She later studied in London, where she completed an internship connected to the real estate and events industry while taking courses across the city.

鈥淪tudying abroad expanded my worldview and changed the way I think about how I want to live my life,鈥� Cooper said. 鈥淚 was learning through the city, through my internship and through the people around me. That kind of experience teaches you things you can鈥檛 always get from a classroom alone.鈥�

For Cooper, those connections, both on campus and through Elon鈥檚 alumni network, have been central to her success.

鈥淲e have such an amazing alumni network,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople are always willing to help if you reach out.鈥�

As she prepares for life after graduation, Cooper reflects on an experience shaped by mentorship, initiative and a willingness to step into new opportunities.

鈥淢y advice is to take advantage of everything Elon offers,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are so many opportunities here, but you have to go after them.鈥�

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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