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.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 feel like my career trajectory post-graduation is the norm for an MBA graduate,鈥� Dudash said. 鈥淚 had to do some soul searching and pursued something different that aligns with my values.鈥�

Before enrolling in 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 MBA program, Dudash worked at Duke Regional Hospital as communications manager, serving as the only communicator on site for the entire hospital and supporting more than 2,000 employees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped support emergency preparedness efforts, including a command center that operated for months, and later supported community vaccination clinics.

鈥淚 learned so much throughout that experience,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 saw the best of the best and the worst of the worst and saw health care workers give their all.鈥�

As the pandemic unfolded, mentors encouraged her to return to school. A nurse manager would ask her regularly, 鈥淲hen are you going back to school?鈥� Dudash also had two mentors who recommended Elon鈥檚 MBA program.

鈥淪he would say, 鈥業t鈥檚 never a good time to go back to school,鈥欌�� Dudash said. 鈥淭hey encouraged me to take the step.鈥�

For Dudash, the MBA offered the flexibility to build leadership skills while keeping her options open.

鈥淚 can apply it across industries,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to strengthen my leadership skills and get a broader view of how organizations operate.鈥�

She started the program in September 2020, a decade after graduating from the University of Florida with a journalism degree. Returning to school felt like a significant transition.

鈥淚 remember being nervous,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was 10 years out of school and didn鈥檛 know how it would feel to be a student again.鈥�

Rather than rushing through, Dudash took one class at a time and completed the program over four years, graduating in May 2024.

鈥淚 wanted to fully immerse myself in each course and build relationships with my classmates and professors,鈥� she said.

She also described the program as a place where she could participate fully and grow, especially in courses that challenged students to share ideas and respond to feedback.

鈥淚t opened up my confidence in pursuing new ideas,鈥� she said. 鈥淵our ideas are valid.鈥�

As graduation approached, Dudash began thinking more intentionally about what kind of work would be fulfilling.

That summer became an opportunity to reflect. Dudash leaned into theater, a longtime passion through improv, including teaching improv comedy and pursuing operations work in the arts nonprofit space.

This past year, she balanced roles between Durham arts nonprofit Mettlesome Theater and nationally recognized DPAC (Durham Performing Arts Center) while also serving as chair of the Meals on Wheels Durham board.

But most recently, she was appointed Mettlesome Theater鈥檚 first full-time operations director.

鈥淢y Elon MBA gave me the confidence to say, 鈥業 want to help with this, and I want to pursue this,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淢y dream job was to be an operations director or executive director of an arts nonprofit, and the program gave me the high-level perspective to lead that work.鈥�

When Christine Cotton G鈥�02 asked her son why he kept requesting extra sandwiches for lunch, his response revealed a problem she didn鈥檛 know existed in her own community.

鈥淎t first, I thought he was just a hungry middle schooler,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淏ut when I asked, I learned he was sharing them with a friend who didn鈥檛 have enough food. That was the moment I knew I had to do something.鈥�

Wanting to make a difference, Cotton and two friends asked neighbors to leave cans of tuna on their porches for pickup. The response was immediate and overwhelming. 鈥淲e realized that everyone wants to help,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey just don鈥檛 always know how.鈥�

That simple idea grew into PORCH Communities, a hunger relief nonprofit that now reaches across the country.

The model is easy to replicate: once a month, neighbors leave requested items on their porches, volunteers collect them and deliver directly to local pantries.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so simple, but it鈥檚 effective,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not creating new pantries. We鈥檙e strengthening the ones that already exist.鈥�

As PORCH began to expand, Cotton drew on her Elon MBA to guide its growth. 鈥淢y MBA gave me the strategic thinking skills to scale,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 can look at our finances, fundraising and marketing, and know how to manage them because of my time at Elon. It gave me the confidence to walk into any room and know I can lead.鈥�

Those lessons continue to shape her leadership more than two decades later.

鈥淲hat I learned at Elon shows up in my work every day,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淚t is the foundation of how I lead PORCH now.鈥�

The results of that approach show in the numbers.

In 2024, PORCH launched 27 new chapters, engaged more than 18,000 volunteer hours and donated over 1 million pounds of food. That impact reached 242 pantries, schools and partners across 13 states, adding up to $2.43 million in hunger relief last year and more than $15 million since the first porch pickup.

鈥淲e can鈥檛 solve poverty,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淏ut we can disrupt the cycle of hunger. A child who has enough to eat can focus in school, and that changes everything.鈥�

Cotton said what excites her most is watching others take ownership of the mission. 鈥淭he most rewarding part for me has been seeing how many people step up once they are given the tools,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t shows what鈥檚 possible when neighbors come together.鈥�

Community voices

• 鈥淧ORCH has been unfailing in keeping Mother Hubbard鈥檚 Cupboard going. The steady donations from local chapters have truly kept us off 鈥榣ife support.鈥欌�� 鈥� Roxann Lansdowne, Mother Hubbard鈥檚 Cupboard, Wilmington, N.C.
• 鈥淭hanks to our PORCH partners, we receive regular donations that keep our shelves stocked year-round. That consistency helps us manage both our workload and our budget, which ultimately means we can feed more families. This has never been more important, as we鈥檙e serving far more clients than even a year ago.鈥� 鈥� Sara Haggar, Holly Springs Food Cupboard, Holly Springs, N.C.
• 鈥淧ORCH has made it possible for us to put healthy food on more tables. Their generosity stretches our resources and strengthens our ability to serve our community.鈥� 鈥� Mike Claxton, The Lord鈥檚 Food Pantry, Shallotte, N.C.
• 鈥淲e joined PORCH to give back to our community, but in the end, we鈥檙e the ones who benefit. From the people we鈥檝e met to the inspiring volunteers we work alongside, the experience has been truly rewarding.鈥� 鈥� Dian Lissoos, Volunteer Chapter Leader, PORCH Indy, Indianapolis

The same son whose kindness helped spark PORCH also chose 福利亚洲国产精品. Matthew Cotton 鈥�18 grew up walking around Lake Mary Nell and feeding the ducks with his parents, and when it came time for college, he wanted that same sense of community.

He graduated with a business degree, plus a minor in sport management, and now works with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. 鈥淢atthew spent years watching PORCH grow, and now he鈥檚 carrying forward that same commitment to service in his own career,鈥� she said.

As PORCH looks to the future, Cotton hopes to double the number of neighborhoods involved while keeping the grassroots feel that has defined the organization since its earliest days.

鈥淲e want to put a PORCH in every community,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he idea started with a few sandwiches, but it has grown into something much bigger. That is the power of neighbors helping neighbors.鈥�

Cotton asks everyone to consider starting a PORCH where they live. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing what happens when a few cans from a few neighbors come together,鈥� Cotton said. 鈥淕etting started is simple, and once it begins, the ripple effect is powerful鈥攆amilies are fed, neighbors are connected, and communities are transformed.鈥�

.

For the , which included evaluations of on-campus and online MBA programs, The Princeton Review analyzed administrator surveys from 390 business schools and feedback from 34,700 students, weighing more than鈥�60 data points that cover academics, experiential learning, career services and student satisfaction.

鈥淥ur MBA program is built for individuals who aspire to lead with purpose, apply data fluency in every decision and make an immediate impact within their organizations,鈥� said Haya Ajjan, dean of the Love School of Business. 鈥淭his acknowledgement affirms the dedication of our faculty and staff and the drive, curiosity and professionalism our students bring to every aspect of their learning.鈥�

Student testimonials praised the MBA program for the accessibility of faculty as well as the 鈥渢op-notch鈥� and 鈥渁mazing鈥� administration who 鈥渁ll work very well together and make you feel at home.鈥�

More about the Elon MBA from The Princeton Review:

The professors are 鈥渙pen with their time and always willing to meet outside of class,鈥� and most of them 鈥渉ave over twenty years experience in their fields.鈥� Professors bring this 鈥渞eal business experience鈥� to class, and courses themselves are 鈥渓argely current event and real world driven.鈥� Professors 鈥渙ffer challenging work but are also always there to help.鈥�

福利亚洲国产精品 the MBA Program

福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Martha and Spencer Love School of Business prepares students for dynamic careers unlike anywhere else. The Master of Business Administration program develops functional expertise and leadership skills that empower graduates to inspire others and achieve lifelong success. Students benefit from one鈥憃n鈥憃ne mentorship with faculty and staff, who guide them in defining individualized career paths. The program offers full鈥� and part鈥憈ime options to accommodate a range of personal and professional commitments.

Applications are reviewed year鈥憆ound for fall, winter and spring start terms. For information, visit the Elon MBA website or contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at gradadm@elon.edu.

She circulates halls and common areas, smiling and waving at familiar faces, sparking new relationships with her easy humor and boisterous laugh. She welcomes them in, counsels them, hears and advocates for them. Elon’s inaugural director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional programs recognizes the simple fact: We all want to belong. And she has the magic touch to foster that belonging.

鈥淒r. Buggs truly has a way with people. When you see her in the halls, there is rarely a time when she doesn鈥檛 stop to talk to a student, professor or staff member. She isn鈥檛 just talking to make light conversation, but cares about all the interactions she has,鈥� said Gianna Landrum L鈥�25, an Elon Law Diversity Fellow 鈥� a program Buggs established to enhance inclusive excellence at the law school and in the legal profession. 鈥淚鈥檓 in awe of her ability to connect with those whose identities she does not share because she makes the effort to learn.鈥�

This month, Buggs was recognized with a . The annual awards honor professionals who champion inclusive excellence in workplaces, across the community and beyond. She will join other honorees and their guests at a June 12 reception at the N.C. A&T University Student Center ballroom and be featured in a June 27 special issue.

To those who鈥檝e worked closely with Buggs 鈥� in the Division of Inclusive Excellence, at Elon Law, the School of Health Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Love School of Business 鈥� Buggs’ recognition is no surprise.

鈥淟ak茅 is a wonderful resource and provides valuable support for Elon鈥檚 graduate students,鈥� said Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs. 鈥淪he creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across 福利亚洲国产精品, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.鈥�

She creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across 福利亚洲国产精品, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn

Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education, said Buggs鈥� effective advocacy for graduate and professional students allowed the university to be more conscious of their needs, 鈥減ositioning Elon to make decisions that enable them to flourish.鈥� Williams was a 2021 Leader in Diversity honoree.

鈥淟ak茅 exudes genuine warmth and empathy, which are powerful tools for engaging those whom she encounters. In turn, people are quick to trust her in guiding their decisions and accessing the many resources 福利亚洲国产精品 offers,鈥� Williams said.

Passionate advocacy, unwavering support

To hear Buggs tell it, there鈥檚 no secret to what she does.

鈥淓verybody can do this work. You don鈥檛 need a title,鈥� she reflected recently. 鈥淲e change the whole experience for our students when each of us is invested in their well-being and belonging.鈥�

Listening goes a long way. Buggs watches for areas where students may struggle, attends to the challenges they face entering professional life or preparing for a career change, and searches for ways to support them in and out of the classroom. She is especially cognizant of obstacles students from marginalized communities may face as they pursue advancement in their careers.

Beneath her warm exterior lies a passionate commitment to changing and challenging systems. Students discover this when they seek mentorship in profoundly difficult and traumatic experiences. Buggs not only supports them, but elevates critical issues for transformational conversations among faculty, staff and students that lead to reconciliation and growth.

She inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile.

Zac Ormond G鈥�23, assistant professor of physical therapy

In her teaching, she encourages interdisciplinary work that centers inclusive excellence across professions and is 鈥渃ommitted to providing classroom experiences that are inclusive by design and in application.鈥�

Students feel that support and gain valuable insights from her guidance.

Zac Ormond G鈥�23 first met Buggs as a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program on the school of Health Science鈥檚 Diversity Committee. Later chairing that committee, Buggs 鈥渉elped me refine my leadership skills, and her example showed me what it means to lead with both conviction and compassion,鈥� he said. Now an assistant professor of physical therapy in Elon鈥檚 program and a Northwestern University Sports Division 1 Fellow, he continues to seek her wisdom.

鈥淪he inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile,鈥� Ormond said.

Since arriving at Elon in 2021, some of Buggs鈥� achievements include:

• Creating opportunity for Elon鈥檚 graduate students to participate in affinity celebrations around commencement ceremonies, including Lavender Graduation and 隆Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight.
• Initiating programs for graduate and professional students interested in building skills in inclusion and belonging, including Elon Law鈥檚 Diversity Fellows Program and the School of Health Sciences鈥� Student DEI Committee.

• Innovating and contributing to professional identity workshops that aid graduate and professional students in establishing themselves within their chosen fields, such as Acorn to Oak at Elon Law and Confronting Bias in the Clinical Learning Environment at the School of Health Sciences.
• Working with students, faculty and staff to establish the Elon Law Professional Closet for access to business attire for interviews and early careers, as well as prayer rooms for various faiths and a lactation room for new mothers.
• Spearheading book clubs that spark reflection and discussion among students around timely subjects and diverse perspectives of the world.
• Developing and teaching courses that investigate how society grapples with different identities and how individuals can effect change.
• Creating social events and networking activities that create community among graduate students that include game nights, cultural outings and meetings with President Connie Ledoux Book.

What others say about Buggs鈥� impact on the Elon community:

鈥淟ak茅 is a passionate advocate for students, with a deep commitment to creating the types of inclusive environments that are essential for the success and thriving of all students. The graduate student population at Elon is spread across multiple academic programs with very different schedules and student needs. Lak茅 offers a common touchpoint for all of them in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.鈥� 鈥� Jon Dooley, vice president for student life and associate professor of education

鈥淲ithin the first week of her arrival at Elon, Lak茅 took on the charge to increase visibility and services for graduate and professional students. As a faculty advisor to the School of Health Sciences鈥� Student Diversity Committee, she helps them create meaningful events for supporting and educating healthcare students in the care of diverse patients and colleagues.鈥� 鈥揗elissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education

鈥淟ak茅 has a huge capacity to bring people in and bring people together. She loves people, loves to see them thrive and be successful, and that motivates her. She challenges students to recognize their own agency and power to make change.鈥� 鈥� Stacie Dooley, Elon Law assistant dean of career and student development

鈥淪he builds trust and relationships by making herself available, being her authentic self and empowering students to use their voice. I have seen her give solid counsel to students who were struggling or who needed direction. The nature of her position as a student affairs professional rather than their program chair or advisor gives her the opportunity to be a true safe space for students.鈥� 鈥� Kim Stokes, associate professor of physician assistant studies and department chair/program director for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

As Kevin Trapani is quick to note, there’s a certain paradox to life in 2025: global poverty and rates of disease are declining, educational access is expanding, and technology has made communication instant and knowledge more accessible than at any point in human history.

That doesn’t include advancements in medicine, clean energy, and global cooperation.

So then why is there a rise in loneliness, anxiety, division, and despair? What explains the growing violence, political instability, and economic uncertainty now taking a toll on many people? And what’s to be done?

“Well, if you鈥檝e earned an advanced degree in education, I want you to teach character,” Trapani told candidates for master’s degrees who celebrated their 福利亚洲国产精品 graduation on May 21, 2025. “And, if you鈥檝e earned an advanced degree in business, I want you to teach鈥� character.”

福利亚洲国产精品 conferred graduate degrees on 85 students representing five programs at 福利亚洲国产精品 – the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Education in Innovation, and Master of Arts in Higher Education programs – inside an Alumni Gym filled with family, friends, and classmates.

In delivering the Commencement address, Trapani – a retired insurance executive and entrepreneur, executive-in-residence in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the father of three 福利亚洲国产精品 alumni – suggested practices聽“that can anchor you in a chaotic world.”

• Belief: 鈥淣ow let me be clear: Belief doesn鈥檛 require religion. But it does require intention. It requires the choice to say, 鈥楾his is what I stand for. This is what I will sacrifice for. This is who I will be when no one is watching.鈥櫬� Belief is not abstract. It informs our choices. It shapes how we live. It gives us the courage to keep going in tough times. And today, in a world that too often confuses distraction with direction, belief is more necessary than ever.”
• Belonging: 鈥淭o bring people together, to find and build purpose-centered community, give of yourself. Spend your time, talent and treasure on the essential issues of human need: Feed the hungry. House the homeless. Care for children. Welcome the stranger. In that work, you鈥檒l meet people who will challenge and shape you 鈥� and who will come to love you and give your life meaning.鈥�
• Behavior: 鈥淚鈥檓 asking you 鈥� I鈥檓 expecting you 鈥� to change the world. I know you can only lead from where you stand 鈥� but you must lead. Your privilege is power and know this: power is not a bludgeon. It鈥檚 a blessing. Not something you use to dominate, but something that demands that you give. …聽Find a powerful partner and build a family. Practice your faith. Support your schools. Find and speak the truth 鈥� not just the trending soundbite. Sit with someone and really listen. Don鈥檛 choose the easy way. Do hard things. Beautiful things. Love one another. Because that鈥檚 where meaning lives.鈥�

Trapani has been an executive-in-residence at 福利亚洲国产精品 since 2022 and lectures on topics related to innovation, ethical leadership and stakeholder capitalism. Before his corporate retirement in 2024, he was co-founder, president and CEO of The Redwoods Group, the largest insurance provider dedicated to protecting youth-serving organizations in the country by working to prevent the sexual abuse of children in institutional settings, drowning prevention, transportation, and elevation risk safety

A 1979 Duke University graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science, Trapani is a member and past chair of the Advisory Committee for Duke University鈥檚 Fuqua School of Business Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.

He has also been the social entrepreneur in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chair of the board of North Carolina Public Radio, chair of the board of the United Way of the Greater Triangle (N.C.) and chair of the North Carolina Workforce Development Commission.

鈥淵ou. Are. Elon,鈥� Trapani reminded graduates. 鈥淭hose three words carry weight more than a diploma, a title, or a r茅sum茅 ever will because to be Elon means you鈥檝e been formed in a community that believes in purpose and that values knowledge, yes 鈥� but also character 鈥� and that believes we are not simply here to succeed, but to serve.鈥�

The evening Commencement celebration also featured remarks by 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book, Provost Rebecca Kohn, and Micaela Acosta G鈥�25, a candidate for the Master of Education from Argentina who delivered a message of appreciation on behalf of her classmates.

Acosta reminded her classmates that they stood on a bridge between two worlds: 鈥渢he world that shaped us and the world we are about to shape.鈥� 聽Commencement, she said, is a time to ignite courage for what lies ahead.

Among the many important lessons learned while enrolled in graduate studies, she added, there was one most meaningful to her.

鈥淲e never stop learning,鈥� Acosta said. 鈥淚n education, we are not simply teaching content or following a curriculum. We are shaping lives. We are inspiring futures. We are making an impact that might only reveal itself years from now when a student recognizes us at the grocery store, even if we don’t recognize them. And that, truly, is the power of education.

鈥淭oday is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, 鈥榃e are ready.鈥� Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies 鈥� it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

Today is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, 鈥榃e are ready.鈥� Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies 鈥� it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

– Micaela Acosta G’25

鈥淎s we step forward into the world, into classrooms, organizations, businesses, and communities, may we remember that success is not just measured in titles or accolades, but in the lives we touch, the hope we plant, and the courage we inspire.鈥�

Book concluded the ceremony with a charge to graduates to be resilient and steadfast “like the mighty oak for which Elon is named.”聽The strengths and skills gained at 福利亚洲国产精品 should be used to make a difference in the world.

鈥淎s we envision each of you launching into what’s next in the exciting career path ahead, carry Elon and our values with you always,鈥� Book said. 鈥淗onesty: be truthful in your work and in your relationships. Integrity: be trustworthy, fair, and ethical. 鈥㏑esponsibility: be accountable for your actions. Respect: be simple, and value the dignity of each person.

鈥淯se Elon’s values when you encounter the inevitable hard choices. Lean on them and each other when you need to reason things out. Remember, we are forever bound together by these values: you, me, your classmates, faculty, and staff. You are lifelong members of the Elon family.

鈥淐ongratulations, Class of 2025, and long live Elon!鈥�

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting

Nick Amatulli
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Juliet Baudoin
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Cailin Daigle
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Kelly Degnan
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Emma Flynn
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Wise Halverson
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Anna Hamner
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Josh Hazlett
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Blake Kessel
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Tabitha Knedeisen
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Vincent Ruggiero
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Charlotte Scully
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Allison Silvernale
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Juliet Walker
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics

Ananya Agrawal
B.A., Assumption University

Alan Allred
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Robert Barcello
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Craig Brandstetter
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Nicholas Buchholz
B.A., Fordham University

Juan Callejo-Ropero
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Adam Cheifetz
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Mackenzie Deming
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Yadira Fernandez-Delgado
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Annie Grantais
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Cece Guyader
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Narjis Jebali
B.S., SKEMA Business School

Jazlyn Jefferson
B.S., Hampton University

Mikayla Jones
B.A., Catawba College

Charline Kergueris
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Madeline Ludwig
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Mariana Martinez
B.B.A., Christian University

Will McCoy
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Simone Royal George
M.Ed., Washington University

Annabelle Schall Faucheux
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Victor Stromsten
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Liz Sulley
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Madison Synowiec
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

James Thomas Tegler Jr.
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Dylan Tucker
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Candidates for the Master of Business Administration

John Acebu
B.A., Xavier University

Addie Ackley
B.S., West Virginia University
M.S., West Virginia University
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Jaclyn Burke
B.S., University of South Carolina
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Davis Cheek
B.S.B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Cuyler Field
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Robert Floyd
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Sarah Fuller
B.A., High Point University
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Kendra Haskins
B.A., Duke University

Tarah Holland
B.S., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Steven Lawrence Losiewicz
B.B.A., Greensboro College

Emily Lyons
B.S., Western Carolina University

Brooke McCormick
B.A., Monmouth College
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Aaron Mellette
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Eduardo Mendes Flores
B.A., Texas A&M University
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Ayo Onasanya
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品
J.D., 福利亚洲国产精品

Moni Pao
B.S., North Carolina State University

William McGeachy Roberson
B.A., Davidson College

William Rock
B.S., Trident University

Ryan Xavier JaNeil Sanders
B.S., 福利亚洲国产精品

Patrick Schwartz
B.S., University of Hartford

Jon Seaton
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Edith Sanchez Smith
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Sean Walker
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Daniel Warren
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Aaron Whetstone
B.S., Clemson University

Katie Wolfe
B.B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education

Emma Rose Varner Calhoun
B.A., Duke University

Seth Lawrence Lasher
B.S., Kentucky Wesleyan College

Logan Montana Morral
B.A., York College of Pennsylvania

Cassandra McLean North
B.A., Roger Williams University

Rebecca Emily Osborne
B.A., North Carolina State University

Asmaa Zaitoun
B.S., University of Jordan
M.A., University of Jordan

Candidates for the Master of Education

Micaela Acosta
Bachelor鈥檚, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca

Huanhuan Cai
B.A., Southwest University of Political Science and Law

Rocio Castillo Garcia
Bachelor鈥檚, Escuela Normal Particular Autorizada in Queretaro

Erika Conde Garcia
Bachelor鈥檚, Universidad Del Valle

Hailey Firmin
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Lu Li
B.A., Tonghua Normal University

Rebecca McLamb
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Ana Gabriela Pe帽aranda
Bachelor鈥檚, Universidad de Cuenca

Yuli Andrea Peralta Verano
Bachelor鈥檚, Institucion Universitaria Colombo Americana

Zo毛 Rein
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Matthew R. Trez
B.A., 福利亚洲国产精品

Nan Ye
Bachelor鈥檚, Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang

Qianhan Yi
Bachelor鈥檚, China West Normal University

Yuqi Yuan
Bachelor鈥檚, Yunnan Normal University,
Foreign Languages College in Kunming

Led by Brittany Mercado, associate professor of management and chair of the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, and Robert Moorman, the Frank S. Holt, Jr. Professor of Business Leadership and professor of organizational behavior, the nine-day experience took students from the streets of Seoul to the industrial city of Pohang.

The program provided an up-close look at how tradition and technology coexist in one of Asia鈥檚 most dynamic economies.

鈥淓very experience challenged me to look beyond familiar corporate models,鈥� said Madeline Ludwig 鈥�23 G鈥�25, an MSBA student from Nashville, Tennessee. 鈥淔rom the moment we touched down, I realized how deeply cultural values like respect and teamwork influence business operations here.鈥�

Students began to see a recurring theme during site visits.

鈥淚 was amazed by how ancient customs fit seamlessly with high-tech innovation,鈥� said Liz Sulley 鈥�25 G鈥�25, an MSBA student from Staten Island, New York. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an approach I鈥檇 love to bring into my future career, where tradition and progress can complement each other.鈥�

In between company tours, the cohort also met with individuals who fled North Korea through Freedom Speakers International. Hearing firsthand accounts of resilience and reinvention provided new perspectives on societal challenges.

鈥淭heir stories highlighted incredible perseverance,鈥� Sulley said. 鈥淚t also brought home the region鈥檚 humanitarian issues鈥攕omething that rarely surfaces in day-to-day business discussions.鈥�

Beyond formal meetings, cultural immersion added depth to what students learned in conference rooms. Ludwig and her cohort enjoyed late-night karaoke sessions and sampling puffer fish as steps in understanding Korean approaches to collaboration and problem-solving.

鈥淒iving into everyday customs gave me a richer sense of how Koreans work together,鈥� Ludwig said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I鈥檒l carry with me in any team environment.鈥�

Site visits included:

• Posco Steel in Pohang
• Wells Fargo Korea
• Samjeong KPMG
• EY Korea
• SV Investment
• Ringle AI Tutors

For many, witnessing South Korea鈥檚 rapid economic development, less than a century after devastation offered lessons in adaptability and a broader global awareness.

鈥淪eeing how they rebuilt and continue to innovate reminded me that business success is deeply tied to resilience,鈥� Ludwig said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better classroom than the world itself.鈥�

Both students encouraged peers to seek out global study opportunities.

鈥淪tudying abroad isn鈥檛 just about adding passport stamps; it鈥檚 about transforming your perspective,鈥� Sulley said. 鈥淚f you get the chance, go. You鈥檒l grow in ways you never imagined.鈥�

This is the first known test of the incidence of an incivility spiral due to communications enacted through ICT. According to the authors, there is special cause for concern given the often-impersonal nature of ICT use (and abuse) in organizations. Individuals may feel emboldened by the distance and perceived safety ICT mediation affords and may be less likely to moderate their online interactions with colleagues. Absent the physical intimacy and non-verbal signals that face-to-face interactions provide, individuals may be more likely to perpetuate incivility in ICT interactions even if there is no implicit intent to harm others.

The primary finding was that ICT incivility in the workplace has the potential to spiral, insofar as incivility victims are likely to become incivility perpetrators in the future. The research shows how technology-mediated communication can influence workplace relationships and behaviors, impacting overall workplace culture. By understanding the dynamics of incivility perpetuation through ICT, managers and organizational leaders can work toward promoting respectful and positive interactions in both virtual and physical work spaces.

ICT use is ubiquitous in organizations and maintaining high standards for civil discourse through the varied communication media may help organizations enhance collaboration, support employee emotional well-being, and deepen organizational commitment. Additionally, civil online interactions may help organizations avoid an escalation of other deviant behaviors in the future.

In online ICT interactions, the research team generally found that “what goes around, comes around.”

A selection of 24 photos from the year offers a look at what the Elon community accomplished in 2024.

Among the notable news from 2024:

• The accolades continued to pour in for 福利亚洲国产精品. In addition to a #1 ranking for undergraduate teaching, U.S. News and World Report also ranked Elon #1 for learning communities and first-year experiences, and Elon was ranked in the top 12 in all eight U.S. News and World Report categories of 鈥減rograms that enhance student experience.鈥� The Princetown Review聽listed Elon Law in its 2024 guidebook of 鈥淭he Best 168 Law Schools鈥� and named Elon鈥檚 MBA program as one of the 鈥淏est Business Schools for 2024.鈥�
• Elon welcomed several new and familiar faces to university leadership. Hilton Kelly began his role as dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Associate Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Haya Ajjan was named the next dean of the school. Anu R盲is盲nen became the inaugural director of HealthEU Initiatives and Professor of Management Mustafa Akben was named Elon鈥檚 first director of artificial intelligence integration.
• Elon broke its record for study abroad participation with a 94% participation rate among doctoral institutions, according to the 2022-23 Institute of International Education鈥檚 Open Doors Report.
• In March, Elon launched the Imagining the Digital Future Center, expanding upon the work during the past 20 years of The Imagining the Internet Center with scholar-in-residence Lee Rainie, with the Pew Research Center, now at Elon as the new center鈥檚 director.
• A new partnership with Novant Health will allow students in Elon鈥檚 Physician Assistant Studies program to undertake hands-on clinical education in the Charlotte metro area.
• Elon and eight other colleges and universities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania joined forces to bring an innovative, large-scale solar facility online in western Kentucky. The project is a significant step in Elon鈥檚 journey to carbon neutrality by 2037.
• Several new facilities opened on campus including a new EcoVillage at Loy Farm and the East Neighborhood Commons. Final renovations were also completed at the Gerald L. Francis Center to include skills labs, classrooms, student study spaces and an interprofessional lab.
• The Elon Medallion, the university鈥檚 highest honor for service, was awarded to four: Trustee Noel Allen 鈥�69 in April and three former university leaders in August: Provost Emeritx Steven House, former Senior Associate Athletics Director Kyle Wills and former Vice President for Access and Success Jean Rattigan-Rohr.
• Elon announced a $3 million fundraising campaign to expand and enhance training and practice facilities for the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 golf teams, creating one of the golf facilities in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) and college golf.
• Elon said farewell to the Class of 2024 with actor Ginna Claire Mason 鈥�13, formerly Glinda in Broadway鈥檚 鈥淲icked,鈥� delivering the 2024 commencement address, encouraging graduates to 鈥渄ream big, keep going and sing out.鈥�
• Elon鈥檚 17^th annual Night of the Phoenix event set a new record, raising $521,923 for Elon Athletics.
• The university welcomed several speakers to campus through the Elon Speaker Series including authors Herb Frazier, Bernard Powers and Marjory Wentworth; Habitat for Humanity CEO Jonathan Reckford; Hall of Fame baseball manager Tony La Russa; former presidential advisor David Gergen and his son Christopher Gergen; environmental activist and author Leah Thomas; Havard professor and bestselling author Arthur Brooks and retired Adm.聽Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint chiefs of staff, who delivered the inaugural Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship.

鈥淚 grew up literally and figuratively in the outdoors,鈥� Lindberg says. 鈥淧lanting my tree after graduating in 2004 from undergraduate studies was impactful, and getting the opportunity to do so again after receiving my MBA almost 15 years later was something I very much looked forward to.鈥�

Like his two oaks, Lindberg’s career is also thriving. This fall, he was promoted to head of development operations at G1 Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to creating cutting-edge cancer treatments. This career advancement inspired him to reflect on his time at Elon.

As a double major in accounting and business administration, Lindberg took advantage of Elon鈥檚 cross-curricular approach. From dissecting cadavers to participating in a black box theater production, Lindberg tried it all. This, paired with the diverse people he met at Elon, provided Lindberg with a dynamic understanding of the world.

鈥淸But] what Elon provided more than anything was a foundation of interpersonal skills intermixed with basic technical and educational abilities that positioned me to be able to insert myself into a variety of environments where I could quickly and easily become comfortable,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like to think of my time at Elon as when I 鈥榣earned how to learn.鈥欌��

These experiences and Lindberg鈥檚 professional aspirations compelled him to return to campus for an MBA in 2015. Lindberg continued to progress in the life sciences with the help of his master鈥檚 degree and was recruited to G1 Therapeutics in 2022.

鈥淭he most rewarding part of the G1 story has been seeing the growth in the number of patients that are receiving our product,鈥� he says. 鈥淜nowing that patients are waiting inspires us to bring our very best each and every day.鈥�

Even as his career advances, Lindberg remains involved with his alma mater through the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business Graduate Alumni Board.

鈥淚t has been great to be engaged with the University at a different level 鈥� seeing the passion and ambition shared by the leaders of the LSB to continue to develop a thriving program is truly inspiring,” said Lindberg.

His experiences with Elon over the past two decades have proven to him the value of an Elon education.

鈥淲hat truly helps Elon alumni stand out is that they are exceptionally well rounded, aware of the world around them, and generally more dynamic,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think this is a byproduct of the engaged learning practices on campus. I鈥檝e heard the same from many past colleagues and business leaders.鈥�

In addition to taking advantage of all Elon has to offer, Lindberg advises current students to follow where their passions lead. 鈥淒o your best to get as deep and wide of a basic foundational understanding,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hen, aggressively pursue whatever provides you with the most motivation and excitement.鈥�

鈥淵ou鈥檙e one thousand times better regretting having done something than not having the courage to say yes to something,鈥� he adds. 鈥淭his is the time to think big, explore, pursue passions and take chances.鈥�