A five-minute clock was counting down. Fallon鈥檚 challenge was to lift Thor鈥檚 hammer before time ran out. MrBeast watched from outside the box, and Chris Hemsworth arrived as Thor to smash the glass and save the day.

The setup was ridiculous by design. Dyer and his team had started with a simple question: What kind of challenge could bring together MrBeast鈥檚 oversized videos, Hemsworth鈥檚 history as Thor and Fallon鈥檚 willingness to play along?

For Dyer, the segment worked because it did more than copy something popular online. It gave 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� its own way into the joke.

鈥淲e never really did trendy content just because everyone else was doing it,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淲hat is our spin on it? What is our story? How can we subvert people鈥檚 expectations?鈥�

Dyer has been asking versions of those questions since his time at Elon. He arrived on campus already interested in broadcast, having focused his college search on communications programs. As a broadcast and new media major, he learned how an idea moved from a script to a finished piece.

Professors Staci Saltz and Thomas Nelson gave him room to work across writing, videography, photography, editing and directing. In the studio and in the field, he learned how to build a project 鈥渟oup to nuts.鈥�

鈥淭hey really allowed me to flex my creative muscles,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 learned all aspects of media production and strategy. That was pretty formative for me.鈥�

He graduated in 2011 as digital video was beginning to change the television business. Dyer started in digital operations at TV Land, then moved to Comedy Central, producing online content for programs including 鈥淪outh Park,鈥� 鈥淜ey & Peele鈥� and 鈥淣athan For You.鈥�

The platforms were still developing their identities as places to watch video, which gave Dyer room to test ideas and learn what worked. He credits his early progress to an eagerness to take on assignments beyond his job description.

鈥淚 never said no to an opportunity,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 had a drive to continue to push the envelope, learn more and become better every day.鈥�

In 2015, he joined the team building the digital presence of 鈥淭he Daily Show鈥� as Trevor Noah became host. The group had the chance to establish a new voice, try original formats and respond to the news with the speed of an online newsroom.

One of those formats was 鈥淏etween the Scenes,鈥� which captured Noah talking with the studio audience during commercial breaks. Dyer helped launch and produce the digital series, and the team won a 2017 Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding short-form variety series.

The series grew from a culture in which writers, producers, correspondents and members of the digital team could all shape an idea. Dyer remembers Trevor Noah telling the staff that a good idea could come from anyone, whether it came from an intern, a writer or a producer.

鈥淎 great idea really can come from anywhere and anyone,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淪hare, bounce things off each other and engage with your team. Through collaboration, the best ideas will come.鈥�

That lesson followed him to 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� in 2021. Dyer joined as head of digital while the show was still navigating pandemic-era production and remote guests. As performers and live audiences returned to Studio 6B, he began expanding the show鈥檚 digital originals, videos made specifically for people watching online rather than repackaged television clips.

His team worked with nearly every part of the show. They collaborated with writers, segment producers, talent bookers, NBC press, marketing, and the larger staff and crew at the show to turn an appearance into something that could connect beyond the television broadcast.

Dyer approached each idea 鈥渇an first.鈥� Before the cameras rolled, he wanted the team to understand the audience, the guest and the platform where the video would land. A TikTok video should feel natural on TikTok, he said, but it should still sound and look like 鈥淭he Tonight Show.鈥�

During Dyer鈥檚 tenure, he said, the show鈥檚 following across digital platforms grew from just over 50 million to more than 100 million. The show generated 50 billion views during his five years there. He points to those numbers as a team accomplishment, shared by Fallon and the people working across the production.

Leading that growth also changed how Dyer viewed his own role. He began paying closer attention to what each person on his team could become instead of limiting people to the jobs they had been hired to do. Delegating decisions and tasks gave younger producers room to grow and freed him to keep learning.

By the time he left the show in February 2026, Dyer felt confident that the team could continue without him. That made the timing right for another shift.

He joined Ampersand, the production company founded by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, as head of digital programming and development. The move has taken him from building digital extensions of established television programs to developing series from their earliest ideas. His current work includes 鈥淐elebrity Substitute鈥�, a YouTube series where some of the world鈥檚 most recognizable stars step in as teachers for unsuspecting public school students.

Dyer sees that move as part of television鈥檚 future. A series no longer needs to begin with a network time slot and find an online audience later. It can start on YouTube and reach viewers directly, without asking them to change their habits.

鈥淎 show is only good if people watch it,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淚 want to meet people where they already are.鈥�

The screens and platforms keep changing. His reason for making the work has remained simple: to give people something that brings them joy or laughter.

For Elon students hoping to enter the industry, Dyer鈥檚 advice is equally direct. Do not wait for perfect equipment, the perfect idea or the most recognizable company name. He remembers carrying a BlackBerry as a student; today, students have a 4K camera in their pockets and an immediate way to share what they make.

鈥淛ust start making things,鈥� Dyer said. 鈥淪tart creating. You鈥檝e got to start somewhere. Make things that you鈥檙e passionate about, and let your passion guide you.鈥�

What began as a joke 鈥� a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department 鈥� spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of 鈥淐rime & Parody,鈥� a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, 鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds 鈥� eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court 鈥� the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film鈥檚 narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

鈥�’Crime & Parody鈥� is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,鈥� said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.鈥�

The film鈥檚 balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more 鈥� a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

鈥淭his felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,鈥� they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting 鈥淐hildren of the Underground,鈥� a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche鈥檚 documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking 鈥� and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

鈥淐rime & Parody鈥� has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man鈥檚 arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

Emmanuel Tobe 鈥�21 always knew he wanted to major in communications, but the success that came after his graduation was something he never saw coming.

鈥淲hen I was in high school, I was looking at schools, knowing that I wanted to go into communications,鈥� Tobe said. 鈥淚 started out as a journalism major because, in high school and middle school, the only career option I knew of in communications was journalism. It wasn’t until I got to Elon and started taking some more classes that I was able to see the different levels of communication and the large number of fields and work that you can do in communications.”

After getting into Elon and experiencing all the majors and fields the university offered, Tobe switched to a double major in media analytics and cinema and television arts, with a minor in political science. Tobe got involved with campus organizations from the start. During his first year, he joined Elon Phoenix Weekly, and by his second year, he and his roommate were producing.

鈥淏eing involved in Phoenix Weekly gave me a lot of confidence,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are a couple of things I did there that I’m really proud of. For one, we strapped the camera to the back of a golf cart for an interview. We also did some really fun stuff, like when we traveled to South Carolina and did a feature on kids who were BMX bikers. We also interviewed David Stern, who’s the commissioner of the NBA.”

鈥淚’m really thankful to Max Negin (the advisor of Phoenix Weekly) for letting us make mistakes and letting us learn from them. I think that it’s so easy to stay in a lane, but I think that is a disservice to both yourself and also to whatever you’re creating,鈥� said Tobe.

Tobe says it’s important to get involved on campus early on and look for the smaller campus and off-campus organizations to offer your聽expertise.

鈥淥ne thing that I also recommend is utilizing the community,鈥澛爃e said. 鈥淚 think that a lot of people聽underestimate the connection that Elon and Burlington have. I worked at Ace Speedway, a racetrack 40 minutes from campus. I was the communications intern,聽and I did that for a summer,聽and it was聽a great聽experience that not many Elon students know about.鈥�

Tobe was a communications fellow and credits the program for allowing him to explore multiple fields in communications and meet industry professionals.

鈥淭o be a freshman and to get the chance to go to a bunch of advertising agencies and hear from account directors and producers and listen to them talk was so cool,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the time, I wasn’t planning on working at an agency, but things shifted and moved, and now I am working at an agency. I never expected going to those agencies to be as beneficial as it was, but I think that’s the cool thing about being exposed to a lot of different things as a communications fellow.鈥�

Immediately after college, Tobe was thrust into the professional world with a three-week internship for the Tokyo Olympics, which faced a lot of adversity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, he began working for the NBA in broadcast operations.

One of his top experiences while working for the NBA was being able to work out of Las Vegas.

鈥淚 was able to go to Las Vegas and help out with the summer league tournament, which was incredible,鈥� he said. 鈥淚’d never been to Las Vegas, and my dad actually came out as well. So it was really cool to be out there and have him there as well. He was really excited!鈥�

Tobe does warn that some challenges can come from working for a legacy company like the NBA, such as how it can be easy to feel like 鈥渁nother cog in the machine.鈥�

While Tobe has also started his own company, Ecsetera, the effort is on hold for now. He is currently working for Droga5, an award-winning advertising agency based in New York City. His favorite work to date with the company is working on a video for a charity called HT40.

鈥淲e had a video for the NHL, and it was for this charity called HT40, which was founded by these two parents whose son was a high school hockey player who unfortunately committed suicide,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he thing they wanted to get out of the video was that hockey is this very masculine sport where people are, a lot of times, afraid to be who they are, or they are afraid to reach out and say they need help or need someone, but that doesn鈥檛 have to be the case.”

The agency聽created a video for this charity with the NHL that had high schoolers and then a couple of NHL professional players singing “Lean On Me” while skating on the ice. Tobe says the message was that, if you need someone to lean on, there are people around you, and there’s no struggle you have to go through on your own.

Tobe also worked on the for this year鈥檚 Super Bowl, which starred Guy Fieri and aired during the game’s second quarter. The ad centers on Guy Fieri becoming 鈥淛ustaguy,鈥� a boring version of himself. After using Bosch appliances, 鈥淛ustaguy鈥� transforms back into his exciting counterpart, Guy Fieri. The ad was a major success, even winning the 鈥淩eaders鈥� Choice Best Ad鈥� award from Ad Age.

鈥淚 was responsible for producing some of the digital banners and social media for the campaign,” said Tobe. “It was an incredible experience and gave me such insight into how large campaigns are made and what happens when people work together to accomplish a goal.鈥�

Tobe says working in advertising is different from how it used to be, but it makes the field exciting.

鈥淲e can fast forward, we can skip, we can go on a streaming service, we can pull out our phones and look at something else,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause of how technology and the media have changed and evolved with us while growing up, we are a generation that must be really advertised to and marketed in creative, cool ways.”

Tobe has taken the lifelong learner approach when it comes to his career. His advice to recent graduates is to stop stressing about titles and roles you see on LinkedIn, what he called “LinkedIn watching.” He says聽that everyone is on their own path, and it鈥檚 important not to get distracted by others and to be true to yourself.

Are you enjoying our Alumni in Action series? Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online.

Live sports may be the last true mass audience in media 鈥� and the future of how fans watch them is rapidly changing. That was the focus of the 2026 Sport Management Symposium, where award-winning sports writer and broadcaster Seth Davis headlined a conversation about the evolving business of live sports.

Held Feb. 25, in Turner Theatre, the annual symposium explored how live sports continue to adjust across broadcast, cable and streaming platforms 鈥� and what those changes mean for leagues, networks and fans. Davis joined the symposium virtually after a blizzard in the Northeast disrupted his broadcast schedule.

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In a wide-ranging conversation with Assistant Professor Bill Squadron, Davis offered students an unfiltered look at how disruption 鈥� from digital media to NIL to legalized sports betting 鈥� is transforming the industry.

Davis reflected on two major inflection points that transformed sports media during his career: the rise of the internet and the advent of the iPhone and social media. He described how legacy media companies were slow to adapt to digital distribution models, fundamentally altering the economics of journalism. Yet despite rapid technological change 鈥� and the emergence of artificial intelligence 鈥� Davis emphasized that the fundamentals of storytelling endure.

鈥淭here is still an appetite, particularly in the world of sports, for compelling programming and good storytelling,鈥� he said.

He also addressed the growing challenge of misinformation and AI-generated content, noting that journalism has never been more important as audiences navigate an increasingly fragmented information ecosystem.

Turning to college athletics, Davis described the NIL and transfer portal era as a 鈥渕ass disruption,鈥� shaped by long-standing legal vulnerabilities in the NCAA model. He discussed how expanded athlete compensation and annual free agency have made programs more transactional, complicating roster stability and culture-building while also increasing athletes鈥� earning power and freedom.

Davis also addressed the normalization of legalized sports betting and its impact on media coverage. Once referenced subtly during broadcasts, betting lines and odds are now openly discussed, creating new revenue streams while raising new ethical and regulatory questions for leagues and media companies alike.

Throughout the conversation, Davis returned to a central theme for students preparing to enter the industry: adaptability matters, but strong reporting is essential. In a media landscape crowded with podcasts and commentary, he urged aspiring professionals to focus on credibility and expertise.

鈥淏ecome a good reporter, become an expert, develop your sources, develop your traction in the space, and you got a chance to stand out and move forward,鈥� Davis said.

The symposium continued with two expert panels that examined the industry from league, network and technology perspectives.

The first panel, 鈥淟eague TV Rights Strategy in a Shifting Media Landscape,鈥� featured Tyler McBride of the Atlantic Coast Conference, sports media consultant John Kosner and Sports Business Journal reporter Austin Karp. The discussion centered on the delicate balance leagues must strike between revenue and reach as traditional cable subscriptions decline and streaming platforms multiply.

The panelists emphasized that media rights negotiations are no longer solely about dollars. Exposure, demographic reach and production quality now play critical roles in determining the right partner.

Framing live sports as the industry鈥檚 last true mass audience driver, Kosner made the stakes clear: 鈥淵ou can’t be in the advertising business going forward, if you’re not big in sports,鈥� he said.

The group also examined the growing influence of technology companies in the sports rights marketplace. While legacy networks once relied heavily on subscriber bundles, streaming platforms operate under different economic models, with advertising and global scale driving long-term strategy. Panelists noted that must-have properties 鈥� such as the NFL, NBA and major college football 鈥� continue to command escalating fees, while mid-tier and regional properties face growing pressure in an increasingly selective marketplace.

The second panel, 鈥淭ech Companies, Streaming and Sports Content,鈥� shifted the focus to distribution, content creation and the changing nature of sports media careers. Media executive and journalist Michele Steele, former Amazon Prime Video sports strategy executive Michael Morris and Elon alumnus Alex Day 鈥�16 shared perspectives from traditional broadcast, streaming and digital-first content environments.

Panelists explored how streaming platforms and social media have lowered barriers to entry while simultaneously increasing competition. Steele described the ongoing shift away from linear television, noting that sports remain one of the few forms of content that consistently drive live audiences. Morris provided insight into how tech companies evaluate sports rights as part of broader entertainment and advertising strategies.

Day,聽a rising voice in New York sports media, offered a firsthand account of building a career at the intersection of social media, brand partnerships and live sports coverage, explaining that content creators are increasingly operating as independent media brands.

鈥淭here鈥檚 not a great barrier to entry right now, so you have to come up with some creative ideas to do it a little bit differently, get people engaged,鈥� Day said, encouraging students to differentiate themselves in a crowded digital landscape.

Led by Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career services for graduate school, the workshop encouraged participants to tap into their creativity and reflect deeply on their aspirations. Through hands-on vision board exercises and meaningful networking opportunities, attendees were guided to envision clear paths toward their futures and build lasting relationships to support their journeys.

鈥淥ur goal was to create a space where our Elon alumnae and interns could reflect, dream and reconnect鈥攚ith themselves and with one another. Vision boarding becomes more than an activity; it was a way to affirm our shared journeys and imagine what鈥檚 possible,” said Lumpkin. “There鈥檚 real neuroscience behind it, too: when we visualize our goals with clarity and purpose, we activate the brain in ways that make those goals more achievable. That鈥檚 the power of intentionality.”

The interactive session created a welcoming environment where alumnae shared insights from their own career paths while student interns articulated their dreams and goals. This聽collaborative exchange empowered interns with practical advice and alumnae with fresh perspectives.

“The聽Women of Elon vision board event proved to be a great way to bring together current students and alumni in NYC. I had a lovely time speaking to all of the women around the room about who they are and their vision for themselves in the future,” said JeNaye Alston ’18.

By setting intentional goals and visually mapping out their aspirations, participants left the workshop feeling energized and equipped to navigate the next steps in their personal and professional lives. The event highlighted the power of community and the importance of envisioning a purposeful future.

鈥淚t was a lovely and creative way to meet other Elon community members, converse over a craft, and take a break from constant screens to reconnect to my goals and dreams,鈥� said Lauren Fisher ’17.

WE Envision鈥檚 success in New York showcased the importance of meaningful networking opportunities between Elon students and alumni. Event attendees were encouraged to connect on LinkedIn to continue to support each other’s professional growth.

The event will take place on Wednesday, April 30, at Cipriani 42nd Street. A reception including a hosted bar and hors d鈥檕euvres will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a program featuring remarks by President Connie Ledoux Book. Current alumni donors are invited to attend the Cheers to Elon celebration with food and extended bar service, photo booth and fun music!聽Make a gift聽of a minimum of your class year (ex: $20.21) to your choice of designation to join the alumni after party.

Evening for Elon in New York with President Connie Ledoux Book
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
6:30 p.m.聽Hosted reception with hors d鈥檕euvres
7:30 p.m.聽Program with remarks by President Connie L. Book
8:00 p.m.聽Cheers to Elon celebration for alumni donors

Cipriani 42nd Street
110 E 42nd St.
New York, NY 10017

Business attire
Cocktail reception with hors d鈥檕euvres

Register at聽 or contact聽advancement@elon.edu.

Alex Day 鈥�16聽found Elon almost coincidental. During one trip to North Carolina for a high school baseball tournament, Day decided to take a tour around Elon鈥檚 campus.

Instantly, he made Elon his top choice due to the beauty of the campus and his strong interest in the School of Communications. Once Day arrived at Elon, he became involved in multiple student organizations, playing for and coaching the club baseball team and working for Elon Phoenix Weekly and Elon Local News (now known as ENN), as well as majoring in broadcast journalism.

Day does admit to a few bumps in his transition post-graduation.

“I was the only one in my friend group without a job at graduation, but that changed later that summer when I got hired to be a production assistant for Duke鈥檚 Blue Devil Network in Durham,” Day said.

It was his foot in the door and he was able to create digital content with the basketball, football, baseball, volleyball and field hockey teams on a daily basis.

“It was an Elon alum, Nolan Elingburg 鈥�11 G鈥�12, who hired me, and I鈥檓 still grateful for the opportunity he gave me,鈥� Day said.

Day went on to work at Duke for nine months before ultimately landing his dream job working for the New York Yankees. He ended up working there for over three years, winning two New York Emmys during his tenure.

However, Day鈥檚 stint at the Yankees ended during the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淚 got furloughed in August 2020. It was expected, but definitely a bummer, and I had a hard time finding a new job during COVID.鈥�

But Day used this time to create a new opportunity for himself.

鈥淚 pivoted. Most of my reels were from Elon, so I decided to put my production skills to good use and start creating my own content for a page I called ‘No Huddle Sports.’ After months of limited traction, everything changed in January 2021,” Day said.

He put out a series of videos on TikTok giving rapid-fire sports takes, and it took off. Over the next several months, he continued putting out content every single day, rapidly building a following mostly on TikTok. Later that summer, the sports media startup Overtime reached out about him being a sports content creator on their site.

“And I鈥檝e been at OT for over two years now,鈥� Day said.

Since working at Overtime, Day has done a variety of projects. While he was originally hired to do sports betting, Day took a different approach looking to highlight the fan experience.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 celebrating the highs of winning, to voicing frustration with the general manager, to just having the conversations two people would have about their favorite team at a bar, I鈥檝e tried to capture that over my past two years at Overtime,鈥� he said.

Day has also captured the fan experience, including 鈥渕an on the street鈥� interviews with fans, interviews with athletes and celebrities, game-day vlogs, player storytelling and more. Since beginning at Overtime, Day鈥檚 role has evolved into not just making social content but also studio hosting and play-by-play broadcasts for “Overtime Elite” on Amazon Video.

When asked about his favorite projects at Overtime so far, Day says, 鈥淚 always love interviewing fans because there鈥檚 a level of unfiltered dialogue that you can rarely get with athletes, but it鈥檚 been incredible getting to banter with some top athletes too. Ones that stick out to me are Jayson Tatum, Rob Gronkowski, DK Metcalf, CC Sabathia, JJ Watt, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Micah Parsons.鈥�

Along with some favorite stories and interviews, Day said that one of the most rewarding parts of his journey so far has been that his current career has come out of a professional and personal crossroads.

Not only has personal dedication and determination helped Day succeed, but he also said that many of the experiences at Elon have helped him reach his goals in his current role.

鈥淭hree things come to my mind. One was a project in Rich Landesberg鈥檚 class to just go and find a story. I remember walking into a tattoo shop in Burlington with my friend Brianna McClelland saying, ‘Here goes nothing,’ and it being a huge success. That taught me to be curious and to always keep your eyes and ears open,” Day said.

“Two was doing a semester abroad. It鈥檚 easy to interact with the same people every day on campus, but talking to strangers from different cultures is something I do every day today. Lastly, is being a player-coach on the club baseball team. Being a leader amongst your peers isn鈥檛 just pressure, but it鈥檚 difficult. It鈥檚 not fun having tough conversations with friends when something goes wrong. That experience helped me maybe more than any other in the workplace,鈥� he added.

For students interested in sports or social media creator roles, Day highlights the importance of storytelling.

鈥淲hether it鈥檚 your story or telling other people鈥檚 stories, be engaging and concise. When I create a video, I think, ‘Is this entertaining or educational?’ If it鈥檚 not one of those two, the success rate goes down. Lastly, be persistent and consistent. I told myself I鈥檇 put out one video a day Monday-Friday when I got furloughed. I stuck with that even when I wasn鈥檛 finding any success. You have to stick with it.鈥�

Overall, Day has had a variety of job experiences post-Elon. All of which were cultivated by an Elon education, experiences and relationships that highlight the legacy of Elon graduates. Day is an example to current students to pursue their dreams with the Elon community cheering them on.

During the past summer, the sport management major鈥檚 main focus was on special projects, supporting her supervisor, Melanie McHugh 鈥�18, MLB鈥檚 manager of marketing special projects. Additionally, the Elon senior also assisted with internal communications and vendor projects. Cappellett is particularly proud of her contributions to the MLB Moments campaign, an initiative that offers fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to participate in the All-Star Game and MLB Draft festivities.

鈥淔ollowing my MLB internship, I feel more confident in myself and my abilities, and I owe a lot of it to my team at MLB and everything they did for me. I cannot thank them enough,鈥� Cappellett said. 鈥淢elanie manages a lot of different projects at Major League Baseball, and she guided me through her day-to-day work. I was able to learn and grow from everything she does with each project, and it was truly amazing to be a part of.鈥�

Cappellett said her experience interning in MLB offices reinforced her desire to work professionally in the sport industry. She credits the MLB staff for creating an environment for her and her fellow interns to feel comfortable, valued and supported.

They are 鈥渟ome of the kindest, hardworking, intelligent, and funny people I have ever met, and they made every single one of my days this summer one to remember,鈥� she said of her MLB colleagues. 鈥淭hey allowed me to gain so much knowledge and experience, and have set the standard for corporate culture for me.

鈥淓veryone at MLB was incredibly welcoming and enlightening and truly couldn鈥檛 have made me more excited to go into the workforce,鈥� Cappellett added.

鈥婣s part of the Department of Sport Management鈥檚 internship requirement, students gain real-world experience each summer with organizations across the sport industry. The internships are often completed with professional sports teams, league offices, media companies, college athletic departments, communications agencies and non-profit organizations.

This summer-long experience working in the sport industry has immense value, explained Assistant Professor Mark Cryan.

鈥淭he internship is one of the most important parts of the sport management major and Emilia鈥檚 experience is a great example of that,鈥� the professor said. 鈥淚nternships like Emilia鈥檚 give a student high-level professional experience and a chance to develop relationships with people in the industry. Emilia, of course, did an outstanding job at her internship. As a result, she has people inside Major League Baseball who know what a great employee she would be if given a chance to work there.鈥�

While still early in his career, Elon alumnus Emmanuel Morgan 鈥�19 has accomplished a great deal as a professional journalist covering the National Football League, America鈥檚 most-beloved sport. The New York Times reporter has chronicled 鈥撀爄n person 鈥撀爏everal of the NFL鈥檚 biggest headlines during the past year, including the Super Bowl, Damar Hamlin鈥檚 in-game cardiac arrest, and Aaron Rodgers鈥� recent Achilles injury.

The journalism major鈥檚 reporting also garnered national acclaim at last month鈥檚 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Birmingham, Alabama, where he received the in national sports coverage. Titled 鈥溾�� his September 2022 article explores how roughly 18 percent of players on active NFL rosters wear their hair dreadlocked or braided, and how many of those players see the hairstyles as a way to express themselves and nod to Black culture.

Winning such an award is no easy feat, and Morgan takes great pride in the honor. The Elon graduate also finds great satisfaction sharing untold stories and, more importantly, underreported perspectives.

鈥淚t’s always an honor to get recognized by your peers, so it is humbling for the story to receive this award,鈥� Morgan said. 鈥淚 have been fortunate that I have been involved with NABJ as an organization since college, and the connections I鈥檝e made through the association have been incredibly helpful during the early part of my career. I鈥檓 thrilled to still be connected to NABJ now and to have them recognizing my work.鈥�

Investigating how NFL players express their identities through their hair was a topic that resonated with Morgan.

鈥淚 grew up in Charlotte when Cam Newton was the most famous athlete in the city, and when he made his comeback to the Panthers in 2021, his hair had grown substantially since his first stint with the team,鈥� Morgan said.

The change in Newton鈥檚 appearance sparked conversation and Morgan began to wonder if the longer locks required a special helmet, a subject he began to investigate.

鈥淥nce I found out that there wasn’t a typical helmet for deadlocked players, we pivoted the focus of the story to how players with dreads take care of them during the season and what the hairstyle means to them,鈥� he said.

Over the course of several months, Morgan continued to gather information and talk with players across the league. 鈥淚 spent the majority of the next summer going to different NFL training camps and setting up phone interviews to talk to players about it, and it’s one of the most fun stories I have worked on,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 also have dreads, so I felt like I could relate to the players I interviewed and their answers, and it helped spark a free-flowing conversation with many of them.鈥�

Morgan is making his own headlines this month as The New York Times recently . While his first two years at The Times focused on the NFL and combat sports, he will now concentrate on pop culture news and the intersection of sports and culture.

鈥淚 will be focused on news that pops up related to movies, music, pop culture, etc., but I will also pitch my own ideas,鈥� he said.

The former Elon News Networks executive editor sees an ever-increasing connection between sports and culture, which will provide ample material to cover. 鈥淭here are a lot of possibilities when looking at sports through the lens of how athletes are becoming celebrities, musicians, artists and actors,鈥� he said. 鈥淟eagues are becoming media entities. They are defining a lot about the country’s culture. And games have become cultural events.鈥�

But Morgan鈥檚 shift away from full-time sports coverage won鈥檛 be a seismic change for the young reporter. Prior to joining The Times, Morgan worked at The Los Angeles Times for two years, primarily covering the Los Angeles Rams and the Chargers. He also reported for its Metro and Business desks, and contributed to coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant and racial justice protests after the murder of George Floyd.

鈥淥bviously, any time you do something new there will be some nerves attached to it,鈥� Morgan said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 looking forward to stretching myself and trying something different while still having a tether to things I’m interested in and a support group around me. I’ve grown a lot during my time at The New York Times and there’s still room for me to do so, and I’m excited to do it with a group of stellar reporters and editors.鈥�

Since the recent addition of this space, the regional alumni center has been home to a series of events for alumni and students, including orientation for Elon students participating in a capstone course this summer, a leadership and planning meeting with the Elon Latinx and Hispanic Alumni Network (ELHAN) and an admissions information session for prospective students.

Beyond the new space, the center has also hosted several events for students and alumni, such as outings to Broadway shows, joint meals to learn about the city’s culture and cheering on the New York City Football Club. This summer鈥檚 events have served the dual purpose of creating community and connection for Elon students, alumni and prospective families while also introducing current students completing their capstone course to the diversity that exists in the global microcosm that is New York City.

Under Boldly Elon鈥檚 Connect theme, the Office of University Advancement worked collaboratively with the Global Education Center, the Student Professional Development Center and other offices to establish Elon鈥檚 Regional Alumni Center in New York City. The regional center will help Elon better support its New York community by serving alumni through professional development, networking opportunities and internships. The center will also serve as a hub for StudyUSA and serving prospective families acting somewhat as a satellite admissions headquarters in the city. Through its visioning, planning and implementation, the NYC Regional Center was created to serve as a hub for lifelong learning and professional education.

On May 29, Elon students participating in the 鈥溾�� Core Capstone course began their summer with an orientation led by the Global Education Center. While also completing their internships, this course is designed to help students understand the diversity and complexity of humanity and their role in the global community as they begin to live as global citizens.

鈥淭he great part about teaching a course in NYC this summer is that students can get into the city as they do their research,” said Naeemah Clark, professor of the Core Capstone course.

The students have a final project where they are using podcasts as a form of public scholarship. To gather information, students visited the Historical Society, The American Indian Museum and The Museum of the Moving Image.

“These places not only provide information, but also inspire them to think about how to approach their podcasts. At the same time, they are immersed in a city that offers global cultures a few steps away from their apartment,鈥� Clark added.

The program’s orientation was jam-packed as students learned how to navigate the city, visited the Empire State Building, and got a tour and history lesson of several of New York’s most iconic landmarks and neighborhoods.

Associate Director of Alumni Engagement Rachaele Henderson led a tour of the WorkHouse space for students and alumni, who also participated in a scavenger hunt.

Students were also able to have a one-on-one meeting with Brooke Buffington, assistant vice president of Elon’s Student Profession Development Center, to discuss their career aspirations, gain networking tips and prepare for upcoming interviews.

These meetings helped solidify strong internships for all 17 students in the Core Capstone course.

鈥淚t was exciting to hear more about students鈥� goals for their internship. These internships will help the students learn more about who they are as future professionals and guide them in determining what careers they want to pursue in the future,鈥� Buffington said.

Throughout the summer, students will have multiple opportunities to network in meaningful ways with Elon alumni living in New York City and discuss being a working professional in the city.

On Monday, June 5, students met with Kanree Wright 鈥�14 at Lagos near Times Square for Nigerian food. During this meeting, Wright shared her experience as a first-generation migrant from Liberia and shared her experience as an Elon alumna living in the city.

On Sunday, June 4, students and Alumni gathered to watch the Broadway show 鈥淭he Thanksgiving Play.鈥� This show, coupled with an in-class discussion, prompted students to think about what responsibility we hold to research and tell the real history of a minoritized population; the one that is often hard to tell and even harder to hear.

Students and alumni also had the opportunity to try their hands in the kitchen at the De Gustibus Cooking School on the eighth floor of the famous Macy’s Herald Square on 34th Street. This cooking class gave a unique opportunity for students to get to know alumni while co-creating a component of the meal they were about to share together.

鈥淭he conversations I had with Elon Alumni from NYC have been very delightful, nice, and educational. I was able to learn a lot from them while getting to know them as people at the same time,鈥� Bonnie Buffoe-Bonnie 鈥�25 said.

Lauren Ludlow ’13 said, 鈥淭he cooking class with Elon was an incredible experience. Having lived in New York for 10 years, I loved getting to connect with students who are exploring entering the workforce in NYC. It offers a fresh perspective and a nice reflection point on how far I鈥檝e come living in NYC. I loved getting to experience a cooking class with old and new friends from Elon.鈥�

The New York City alumni chapter has been a champion for the Regional Center hosting events in tandem and inviting students to find ways to socialize and make connections in N.Y.C. On Wednesday, May 31, Alumni from across the city came together to cheer on the New York City Football Club as they played at Yankee Stadium. Thanks to Elon Alumnus Matt Browne 鈥�16, those in attendance with Elon were able to enjoy half-time on the field of Yankee Stadium 鈥� complete with a complimentary NYCFC scarf.

On Friday, June 2, Elon Latinx/Hispanic Alumni Network leadership met at WorkHouse and were given a tour of the space. Immediately after, they began to brainstorm how the space could be utilized to host events that promote their visibility in New York City. Vanessa Truelove G鈥�24, NYC Regional Fellow, supported the partnership of the Elon Latinx Hispanic Alumni Network and the Regional Center initiative by identifying and creating a Pride gathering for Elon Alumni in New York at the Strike A Pose!: A Madonna Pride Party at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn on Saturday, June 24.

鈥淲e are excited to continue some of this great work throughout the summer and into the Fall. The partnership and collaboration across campus and New York City will have lasting effects for the students learning here this summer,鈥� Henderson said.

On Friday, July 14, the class will get to tour the Sesame Workshop with Alonzo Cee ’18. This visit will focus on Sesame Workshops, the non-profit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and how they help the children of today grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. On Tuesday, July 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., students and Alumni will gather for Networking NYC 鈥� our second annual Regional Center event focused on helping students build interviewing and networking skills with the help of alumni in NYC.

If you are an alum in the area, we invite you to come visit us this summer at WorkHouse NYC. You can also stay up to date with events by following us on , and connecting with us on . If you have any questions about what the regional center is up to, feel free to email Vanessa Truelove vtruelove@elon.edu.