Elon faculty and staff members gathered in Alumni Gym for the event, which also included recognition of employees for years-of-service milestones and special recognitions of faculty and staff members who are retiring this academic year. Thirty-one employees who were recognized for 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service have served a collective 2,810 years at Elon.

Elon President Connie Ledoux Book opened the ceremony with highlights and successes from the 2025-26 academic year and encouraged the audience to pause and take pride in their work.

鈥淭hank you for the work you’ve done to strengthen our community and our mission and thank you for all you do to ensure that students succeed when they choose Elon,鈥� said Book.

During the ceremony, Book also announced the appointment of Katy Rouse, professor of economics, as the trustee chair for excellence in undergraduate teaching for 2026-2029. This three-year chair was developed by the Board of Trustees in 2023 to honor a faculty member who exemplifies Elon’s teacher-scholar-mentor model and contributes to the broader scholarship of teaching and learning. Rouse was praised for her impact on student learning and mentoring both in and beyond the classroom and for advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning through publications in leading economics education journals.

The ceremony concluded with a celebration of faculty and staff who were honored with awards from the university this year: Associate Professor and Chair of English Scott Proudfit, Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy Ryan Johnson, Associate Professor of Geography Sandy Marshall and Associate Teaching Professor of Human Service Studies Sandra Reid.

Daniels-Danieley Excellence in Teaching Award

Associate Professor and Chair of English Scott Proudfit

Described as a mentor and teacher who 鈥減ersuades his students to be incisive and critical thinkers,鈥� Scott Proudfit, associate professor and chair of English, is the 54th recipient of the Daniels-Danieley Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was established by President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley 鈥�46 and his wife, Verona Daniels Danieley, in honor of their parents.

Megan Isaac, professor of English, and Rosemary Haskell, professor of English, said in their joint nomination, 鈥淥ur decision to elect Scott to the position of chair two years ago was not rooted in his organizational skills, kindness, or vision (although he has all of those qualities), but because he models and supports our central mission-teaching.鈥�

Dinidu Karunanayake, assistant professor of English, praised the 鈥淪cott-standard,鈥� which he says undoubtedly enriches and emboldens Elon core values. 鈥淪cott is an exemplary embodiment of the teacher-scholar-mentor model,鈥� said Karunanayake in his nomination letter. 鈥淗is ability to effortlessly (and synchronously) straddle many paths as a tireless and gifted teacher, top-notch researcher, big-hearted mentor, daring advisor, generous colleague and above all, a truly remarkable human being puts him at the height of the teaching profession.”

In addition to teaching core English courses, Proudfit redeveloped the drama curriculum through courses exploring dramatic styles, literary theory and contemporary social themes. The courses are now core components of the English major and the drama & theatre studies major and are routine choices for students in acting, arts administration and theatrical design & technology majors.

The award was presented by Book, who, in her prepared speech, said, 鈥淭his combination of rigor and care is a hallmark of an Elon education 鈥� rooted in relationships shaped by intellectual curiosity, and leaving a legacy long after graduation. And boy, does [Proudfit] have it!鈥�

鈥淪cott’s energy and love for the literature that he teaches is apparent in every second of his lessons, and it rubs off on his students. The discussions that he leads are student-centered, each one opening with one or two students bringing in prepared questions to kick off the day. 鈥�

鈥撀燗nnaliese Jaffe 鈥�18, high school English teacher and former student

Upon receiving the award, Proudfit told the crowd that he worries those who distrust higher education may have never had a good relationship with a teacher.

鈥淚t鈥檚 too bad,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ecause for me, the relationship between a teacher and a student is one of the most central relationships for a good life.鈥�

And, he noted, 鈥淚 have been lucky enough to have these kinds of relationships with students over and over again at Elon.”

Proudfit ended his speech by naming former students who shaped his Elon experience.

Proudfit earned a Ph.D. in English from Northwestern University in 2008, where his major field of study was drama in English. He earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and theater, cum laude, from Columbia University in 1993 and joined 福利亚洲国产精品 in 2010. Before completing his doctorate, Proudfit worked with theater groups in Los Angeles and New York, covered theater scenes in both cities as an editor for Back Stage and Back Stage West and worked as an assistant editor for a division of Marvel Comics. He has served as associate editor and co-editor on multiple publications and published multiple essays. Proudfit is the recipient of the Inspirational Ally Award (2017) and the Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award (2019).

Distinguished Scholar Award

Associate Professor and Chair of Philosophy Ryan Johnson

Described as an 鈥渦nstoppable force when it comes to research publications,鈥� Ryan Johnson produces the equivalent of 5.4 peer-reviewed articles or book chapters per year 鈥撀爋ver three times the amount of scholarship expected by a philosopher at an R1 institution. Johnson, associate professor and chair of philosophy, is the 27th recipient of the of the Distinguished Scholar Award, Elon鈥檚 top faculty research award, which recognizes a faculty member whose research has earned peer commendation and respect and who has made significant contributions to his or her field of study.

When Johnson arrived at Elon in 2015, his research brought together 20th-century French philosophy and ancient Hellenistic thought, of which he has several publications. Soon after, he grappled with what it meant to be a white man in the American South and began seeing his subject position and scholarship through new eyes.

鈥淎ll of this traced back to lessons I learned from my former teacher, George Yancy,鈥� said Johnson. 鈥淪oon I realized how canonical European philosophers, especially Hegel and Nietzsche, must reckon with challenges posed by thinkers such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Audre Lorde.鈥�

Johnson鈥檚 research focuses on continental philosophy, African American philosophy and the history of philosophy, with particular attention to questions of race, liberation, democracy and the relationship between philosophy and everyday life. His scholarship explores thinkers including Hegel, Deleuze and the Stoics while examining how philosophical ideas shape contemporary political, cultural and ethical questions.

Rebecca E. Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs and professor of biology, who presented the award, described Johnson as a model of sustained intellectual engagement whose work 鈥渉as defined major segments of the discussions in current literature,鈥� noting that聽research is not insulated from teaching 鈥撀爄t is deeply integrated with it.

Addressing the crowd, Johnson expressed gratitude to his wife and colleagues. He alluded to the uniqueness of his research and said Elon is the only place he can imagine himself doing this work.

In a nomination letter, Thomas Nail, professor and chair of philosophy at Denver University, said that he continues to be impressed by Johnson鈥檚 work due to his originality and enthusiasm for new and experimental directions in research and teaching.

鈥淚 can honestly say with no hesitation that I do not know anyone else in our field who is as adventurous and forward looking as Ryan.鈥�

鈥撀燭homas Nail, professor and chair of philosophy at Denver University聽

Johnson has published nine books, with three others in various states of completion. He has also contributed 24 peer-reviewed journal articles, 15 book chapters and edited a special issue of a professional journal, in addition to 58 conference presentations. Johnson is the author or co-author of several books, including Phenomenology of Black Spirit (2022), Deleuze, A Stoic (2020) and The Deleuze-Lucretius Encounter (2017), and has edited multiple scholarly collections in philosophy.

Stephen Bloch-Schulman, professor of philosophy at Elon, said about Johnson, 鈥淗e recognizes and deepens the ways that scholarship, university service and teaching are necessarily interwoven practices that, for him, are united by the twin ethical demands of living life as a philosopher and creating community and connections around fighting racism.鈥�

Praising Johnson for his ongoing engagement to learn more about the African American philosophical tradition and the ways he inspires his students to think intensively and critically to the history of philosophy, Stephen C. Ferguson, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at North Carolina State University said, “By combining a creative impulse with a historically grounded approach to intellectual thought, Ryan鈥檚 work provides a window into what it means to be a great interdisciplinary scholar and thinker.鈥�

Johnson earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Duquesne University in 2014 and joined 福利亚洲国产精品 in 2015. He served as an associate professor and chair of philosophy at Elon. He is the recipient of the Excellence in Scholarship Award (2020), four Faculty Research and Development Summer Research Fellowships and external awards including a National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Stipend and the John William Miller Fellowship.

Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award

Associate Professor of Geography Sandy Marshall

Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography, has built a career at Elon defined by a sustained commitment to student mentoring, undergraduate research and community-engaged learning. Since joining the university in 2017, he has mentored students across disciplines and guided research exploring global regions, migration and lived experiences, helping students connect academic work with complex social and cultural contexts.

Marshall received the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award, which was endowed in 2020 by Provost Emeritus Steven House and Patricia House to honor faculty and staff who excel in student mentoring and reflect Elon鈥檚 national recognition as a leader in engaged, experiential learning.

Marshall鈥檚 mentorship has shaped students who have gone on to careers in public service, law and global development, including a public defense attorney, a Harvard- and Yale-trained criminal justice attorney and a global development consultant who has worked with the United Nations and USAID. His mentees have also earned competitive achievements such as Fulbright fellowships, Critical Language Scholarships and publication in academic journals.

Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of English Deandra Little presented the award, saying about Marshall, 鈥淪tudent and alumni representatives consistently describe this awardee as a strong mentor whose guidance has shaped their academic path and broadened their understanding of what meaningful mentorship can look like, and whose mentoring persists long after graduation.”

Marshall encouraged the audience to surround themselves with people who see potential in them beyond what they themselves can see. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檝e tried to do for my students, and that鈥檚 what so many of you have done for me,鈥� he shared.

Amy Allocco, professor of religious studies, and Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society and professor of religious studies, praised Marshall鈥檚 mentoring approach, writing that 鈥渉is patience, kindness and generosity with his time has helped several students find success and feel proud of the work that they had completed by graduation.鈥� They noted that his mentorship is 鈥渄eep, context-sensitive, and enduring,鈥� often continuing long after students graduate.

Students echoed that impact in their nomination letters.聽Nicole Plante 鈥�20, now a JD candidate at Yale Law School, wrote that 鈥渇rom the very beginning of our work together, Dr. Marshall served as an amazing resource who gave me a lot of autonomy and encouraged me to take the lead of my project.鈥�

“Dr. Marshall pushed me to go further and put myself in situations that not only stretched my intellectual capacity, but also my moral convictions and future aspirations.鈥�
鈥撀燭aylor Garner 鈥�20, global development strategist

Kylee Marie Smith 鈥�21, assistant public defender for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Florida, described the lasting influence of that mentorship, writing, 鈥淚n my almost five years since graduating from Elon, I have continuously realized that my road always leads back to Dr. Marshall and the foundations, skills and knowledge that he taught me.鈥�

Marshall鈥檚 commitment to students extends beyond the classroom and across the globe. Alyssa Carney 鈥�26, who is double-majoring in international & global studies and history, noted that during her semester abroad, 鈥淒r. Marshall went so far as to travel from North Carolina to Sevilla during his own spring break to meet with me, check in on my research progress and provide guidance while I was in the field.” She added that his mentorship is defined by 鈥渉is belief in his students鈥� potential鈥� and his ability to create a space where 鈥渃uriosity, critical thinking, and genuine exchange thrive.鈥�

In addition to mentoring undergraduate researchers, Marshall has served as interim director of the Multifaith Scholars program and as faculty director in the Global Neighborhood, where he fosters student development through advising, programming and community-building. In 2020, he co-founded the Power and Place Collaborative, partnering with local nonprofits and municipal entities to engage students in oral history and storytelling projects that connect academic inquiry with community experience.

Across these roles, Marshall鈥檚 mentorship emphasizes long-term growth, global engagement and meaningful relationships.

Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility

Associate Teaching Professor of Human Service Studies Sandra Reid 鈥�85

Sandra Reid 鈥�85, senior lecturer in human service studies, is the 24th recipient of the Periclean Award for Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility, which recognizes a member of Elon鈥檚 faculty or staff whose service to the broader community exemplifies the ideals of Project Pericles, a national initiative that advocates for preparing students for socially responsible citizenship.

Through decades of work in juvenile justice, social work and higher education, Reid has built a career defined by civic engagement, community leadership and social responsibility. Her work reflects a deep commitment to helping students become engaged citizens and leaders in their communities.

At Elon, Reid teaches courses including Juvenile Justice and The Black Family, helping students examine systemic inequalities through civic engagement and social justice frameworks. She also teaches interdisciplinary programs including Poverty and Social Justice and African and African American Studies.

Reid also leads 鈥淒isarming Justice,鈥� a Winter Term study away program in Alabama where students visit historic Civil Rights Movement sites and engage in conversations about systemic inequities that persist today.

Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence and professor of cinema and television arts, presented the award. She described Periclean awardees as 鈥渟mart service-minded leaders鈥� who use their experiences to leave the world better than they found it.

鈥淧ericlean awardees empower others to be engaged citizens and leaders in their communities 鈥� the personification of that ideal is Sandra Reid.鈥�

鈥� Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence and professor of cinema and television arts

Reid expressed surprise and gratitude for the recognition, telling the audience, 鈥淚 never imagined that I’d be back here teaching after being in juvenile justice, but it’s been one of the best things that I’ve done.鈥�

Faculty members in the Department of Human Service Studies praised Reid鈥檚 鈥済ift for facilitating what she calls 鈥榗ourageous conversations鈥� about justice, equity and difference鈥� in their nomination letter. They wrote that Reid encourages students to engage difficult topics thoughtfully and recognize that 鈥渓earning 鈥� and social justice work 鈥� is an ongoing process.鈥�

Beyond the classroom, Reid mentors students through programs including the Elon Academy, Renaissance Scholars and the Elon chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her community leadership includes chairing the Alamance County Community Services Agency, training law enforcement in cultural competency and community engagement, and serving on the Alamance County Coalition of Remembrance, helping memorialize local lynching victims.

Reid鈥檚 work in juvenile justice, education and community leadership has shaped generations of students pursuing careers in public service, advocacy and social change.

Six rising juniors have been named members of the tenth class of Multifaith Scholars, a two-year fellows program for juniors and seniors that offers a closely mentored, experientially rich and intellectually rigorous educational opportunity for students with significant potential.

After a highly selective application and interview process, students are awarded $5,000 annually to support research and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multi-religious societies. Students who show great potential as academically curious and socially engaged leaders committed to their own ongoing development and the enhancement of their local and global communities are selected each spring.

鈥淚 am delighted to welcome these six impressive rising juniors into the Multifaith Scholars program and look forward to supporting their compelling projects over the next two years,鈥� said Amy Allocco, director of the Multifaith Scholars program. 鈥淭heir research interests include music and Christian religious experience, linguistic anthropology and the vocabulary of faith, religious diversity in clinical settings, gender and religious roles in Asian art, the intersection of biomedicine and traditional healing practices and the history of Black churches here in Alamance County.鈥�

In addition to pursuing their faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects and undertaking academic coursework in religious studies and interreligious studies, the scholars will extend the program鈥檚 ongoing community partnership with the Burlington Masjid. Through the partnership, scholars teach English classes, participate in youth and social events with the local Muslim community, join community garden workdays, volunteer with the food pantry and take part in potlucks and iftar meals during Ramadan.

鈥淚t is wonderful to welcome such a strong class with such diverse academic interests,鈥� reflected Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture, and Society, which supports the Multifaith Scholars program. 鈥淎s we approach the tenth anniversary of the MFS, it is gratifying to see so many clear signs of the program’s maturity and significance: our largest class ever, the inclusion of seven new faculty mentors, and students majoring in three disciplines never before represented in MFS.鈥�

The 2026-2028 Multifaith Scholars

Addison Anderson

Majors: History, Sociology

Minors: Museum Studies, Public History, and Interreligious Studies

Mentor:聽Amanda Kleintop (History and Geography)

Project Title: History and Memory of Alamance County鈥檚 Black Churches

Proposed Research: Examine the relationship between Alamance County African American churches and local politics in North Carolina from Reconstruction through 1900.

Blair Berenson

Major: Anthropology

Minors: Jewish Studies, Sociology, Philosophy and Interreligious Studies

Mentors:聽Amy Allocco (Religious Studies) and Devin Proctor (Sociology & Anthropology)

Project Title: An Anthropological Approach to Cross-Generational Shifts in Hindu and Jewish Perspectives of Faith in the US

Proposed Research: Conduct fieldwork in Jewish and Hindu communities in Atlanta to understand how different generations articulate the concept of faith.

Katie Castelo

Major: Biochemistry

Minors: Neuroscience, Spanish, and Interreligious Studies

Mentor:聽Cathy Quay (Nursing)

Project Title: Bridging Faith and Medicine: Improving Cultural Awareness of Religious Practices in the Healthcare System

Proposed Research: Explore the healthcare industry鈥檚 approach to death and ways it can be more open to diverse religious practices.

Faith Elliott

Major: Neuroscience

Minors: Expressive Arts and Interreligious Studies

Mentors:聽Lynn Huber (Religious Studies) and Morgan Patrick (Music Theory)

Project Title: Neurotheology: An Interdisciplinary Study into Sacred Music and Feelings of Well-Being

Proposed Research: Examine the historical significance of music and understand and measure the behavioral impact associated with an emotional, transcendent spiritual experience and the well-being that results from listening.

Mariama Jalloh

Major: Public Health

Minors: Biology and Interreligious Studies

Mentor:聽Sandra Darfour-Oduro (Public Health)

Project Title: Faith, Healers, and Health: How Religious Beliefs and Community Trust Shape Healthcare Decisions in West African Communities

Proposed Research: Examine how religious leaders and traditional healers influence healthcare decisions in communities in Ghana, and how public health programs can partner with these practitioners to improve health education outcomes.

Ryleigh Rouse

Majors: Art History, Religious Studies

Minors: Museum Studies and Public History and Asian Studies

Mentor:聽Kirstin Ringelberg (Art History)

Project Title: Religion鈥檚 Impact on Japanese Women: Through an Art Historical Lens

Proposed Research: Employ art as a lens to examine how religion shaped gender perceptions and Japanese women鈥檚 roles.

Since his 2023 arrival at Elon, Kelly has hosted a 鈥榣istening tour鈥� and spent time with each department to hear directly from faculty and staff about what they value. Kelly said that common themes soon emerged from those conversations and the new statement reflects dozens of discussions.

Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences new vision statement reads: 鈥淭he Heart of an Elon Education: Ignite Curiosity, Engage Challenges, Transform Worlds.鈥�

The mission statement then declares:

鈥淯pholding the centrality of the liberal arts, we explore and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge for inquiry, creativity, discovery and problem solving in a complex and changing world.鈥�

The statement lists core values that include accessibility, belonging, critical thinking, diversity, equity and inclusion, integrity, intellectual curiosity, problem-posing and respect for human dignity.

Community Reflections

• 鈥淭here were several opportunities for different groups, departments, branches, interdisciplinary programs, to discuss versions on the table. It was in those conversations where we might learn how a word or phrase was heard within and across disciplines; where we found convergence, deeper awareness, and respect. The both-and of this process modeled what we value and genuinely captures our shared identity as Elon College.鈥� – Caroline Ketcham, associate dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of exercise science
• 鈥淚t was always important to us that this wasn鈥檛 a process where faculty were just asked to weigh in at the end, after the real decisions had already been made. From start to finish, it was grounded in listening to what faculty across the college say we do well and what values they believe guide our shared work. Our task wasn鈥檛 to invent a mission, vision and values, but to clearly articulate what faculty are already living and leading with. I think that鈥檚 why faculty can so readily see themselves and their departments represented in the final statements.鈥� – David Buck, associate dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and an associate professor of psychology
• 鈥淗aving shared goals and articulated values helps everyone in the college feel connected as a community, value each other鈥檚 work and prioritize our energies on initiatives that matter to us.鈥� – Shannon Duvall, interim associate dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of computer science
• 鈥淚 appreciated the collaborative nature of it all, not just between the dean鈥檚 office and department chairs, but also extending to faculty members across Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. It really did involve all of us. What particularly stood out to me were the conversations in our chairs鈥� meetings with the dean where we came to agreements on core values. It鈥檚 inspiring to see that distinctly different types of disciplines uphold the same core values.鈥� – Joel Karty, chair of the Department of Chemistry and 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Sydney F. & Kathleen E. Jackson Professor of chemistry
• 鈥淚 appreciated being part of a process that felt genuinely collaborative. Our participation was not merely symbolic. It felt meaningful, and I experienced the dean鈥檚 office as truly listening. The process itself was also inspirational, and I feel bolstered in leading my own department through similar work. It was powerful to see such a broad, collective effort take shape into something tangible.鈥� – Samantha DiRosa, chair of the Department of Art and a professor of art and environmental studies
• 鈥淭he process of creating a new vision statement, mission statement and core values for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences was both thoughtful and deeply collaborative. Over many months, department chairs worked together to reflect on what makes us distinctive and how best to express those qualities in guiding statements. The process intentionally sought input from across departments, ensuring that everyone in the college had the opportunity to contribute their perspectives. Personally, the time spent reflecting with fellow chairs on what makes each of our departments special fostered a deeper sense of shared purpose and collective commitment.鈥� – Carrie Eaves, chair of the Department of Political Science and Public Policy and associate professor of political science and public policy

Kelly said he was pleased the final language resonated with the faculty in the college.

鈥淭he true measure of a successful attempt to lead a group or an organization towards a renewed vision, mission and core values is whether the words and sentiments 鈥榮ound like us鈥�,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen I heard that some faculty believed my presentation of our vision, mission and core values at our spring faculty meeting 鈥榮ound like us,鈥� I knew that our work together in small and large group settings was a huge success. It means that stakeholders were heard and that the words resonate so much so that the tune or melody is familiar. The vision, mission and core values reflect truly who we are and where we are going with much intention.鈥�

Community Conversations & Civic Engagement

Deliberative Dialogue 鈥� America鈥檚 250: What鈥檚 Next America?

Monday, Feb. 23, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside 212

As America marks its 250th year, this dialogue invites reflection on our shared past and the opportunity for diverse voices to share space and ideas to develop a collective vision for the next 250. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Political Engagement Work Group

Better Together: Breaking Bread, Building Bridges

Feb. 24 鈥� May 5, every other Tuesday, 12:30-1:45 p.m.

Join us at Better Together this spring for connection and conversation. This time together invites us to live fully in the present and reflect on what makes this moment meaningful. Share stories, explore diverse perspectives, and build community. .

Dr. Habiba Sarabi: Education Rights of Afghan Women

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Alumni Gym

Join a conversation with Dr. Habiba Sarabi on the global impact of Afghanistan鈥檚 ban on women鈥檚 education and the fight for educational rights and gender equality. Dr. Sarabi, an Afghan politician, women鈥檚 rights activist, and medical doctor made history as the first woman to be appointed a provincial governor in Afghanistan, leading Bamyan Province. She previously served as Minister of Women鈥檚 Affairs and Minister of Culture and Education, where she focused on expanding education, protecting the environment and advancing the rights of women.

State of the Union Address Watch Party

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 8-10:30 p.m., Moseley 105

Join us for pizza and a live viewing of President Trump鈥檚 first State of the Union address of his second term. Come watch, discuss and stay informed. Sponsored by Elon Votes!

Love Your Body, Berry Much

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m. 鈥� 1:30 p.m., Lakeside Entrance

Stop by for coconut-lime strawberries and a strawberry mocktail, courtesy of Elon Dining, while also learning tips for mindful eating. Swing through, grab a treat and discover ways to build healthier habits. Visit the for more information.

Cynthia Miller-Idriss 鈥� 鈥淢an Up: Understanding Misogyny to Prevent Extremism

Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Lecture

Thursday, Feb. 26, 4:30 p.m., Numen Lumen Pavilion, McBride Gathering Space

Extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss examines how misogyny 鈥� online and off 鈥� fuels the rise in far-right and mass violence, and offers strategies for interruption and prevention rooted in everyday life. The Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Lecture honors Lauren, who was set to join Elon’s Class of 2015 before her murder by a former boyfriend in July 2011. Established in her memory, the fund educates the Elon community on healthy relationships and building a culture free from violence. Visit the Spring Cultural Calendar for more information about upcoming events this semester.

Adventure Time with Elon Outdoors!

Adventures in Leadership Summer Staff Positions Available

Applications are now open for summer Adventures in Leadership staff positions, where you鈥檒l guide incoming first-year students through exciting outdoor experiences. Earn potential internship credit and build leadership skills. Apply today on the Elon Job Network!

Elon Challenge

The Elon Challenge is a great way to help classes, teams, organizations, corporations or cohorts grow through building authentic relationships, learning how to manage resources, developing creative thinking, and applying knowledge in new ways. Visit the Elon Challenge website to review the options, gather your group, and complete the interest form to schedule a customized, no-cost experience.

Last Chance to Become an Orientation Leader

Application Deadline is Friday, Feb. 27

The Orientation Leader application is still live. As an OL, you are an integral part of the orientation process. You will play a pivotal role in the transition of all the new students to Elon, serving as a guide and mentor to new students throughout their transition. by this Friday, Feb. 27.

For 36 years, from 1970 until his retirement in 2006, Sullivan was a cornerstone of Elon鈥檚 academic community, an intellectual and spiritual guide to countless students and an embodiment of the university’s highest ideals.

鈥淒r. Sullivan lovingly shaped 福利亚洲国产精品 and its academic programs through a career that was thoroughly infused with intellectual and spiritual light,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淗e will forever be remembered as one of the greatest faculty members in Elon鈥檚 history and his influence endures, like ripples in a pond, through the lives of all he touched.鈥�

President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert said Sullivan, 鈥渉ad a powerful voice that lifted up the most cherished values of the institution. Whether the forum was a meeting of the faculty or the Board of Trustees, John鈥檚 wisdom guided us. I always valued his quiet counsel to me.鈥�

A Life of Service and Scholarship

John Sullivan grew up in Newport, Rhode Island, and his intellectual and spiritual journey began in the Catholic priesthood. Ordained in 1963, he studied in Rome during the transformative period of the Second Vatican Council, earning a doctorate in ecclesiastical law from the Pontifical Lateran University. This immersion in one of the great moments of religious reform would shape his lifelong interest in the intersection of wisdom traditions, ethics and lived experience.

After leaving the priesthood, Sullivan earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, bringing to his academic work the same depth of commitment and spiritual inquiry that had characterized his earlier vocation. When he joined Elon’s faculty in 1970, he brought with him a rare combination of scholarly rigor, pastoral care and philosophical depth that defined his career.

An Extraordinary Educator

Sullivan’s reputation as one of Elon’s most respected teachers was established early and endured throughout his career. In 1979 he received the Daniels-Danieley Award for Excellence in Teaching, the university’s highest honor for teaching achievement鈥攁 testament to his extraordinary gifts in the classroom. His students found in him not just an instructor, but a guide who could illuminate the great questions of human existence with clarity, compassion and wisdom.

For 18 years, Sullivan chaired the Department of Philosophy, shaping not only individual students but the intellectual culture of the university itself. He was instrumental in developing Elon’s interdisciplinary Honors Program, was a member of the general studies committee that helped revise Elon’s curriculum in 1994, and served as the first coordinator of the Asian-Pacific Studies Program. His influence extended to the university’s governance as well, serving on the 1998 presidential search committee and on Southern Association of Schools and Colleges reaccreditation self-study steering committees across two decades.

Sullivan led Elon鈥檚 participation in the Carnegie Academy for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to exploring and advancing the art of teaching itself. His selection by the Board of Trustees in 2002 as Elon’s first Distinguished University Professor鈥攁n honor bestowed on full professors who have made distinguished contributions to teaching, scholarship and the university community鈥攔epresented the culmination of a career dedicated to academic excellence.

A Voice in Times of Crisis

Perhaps no moment better captured Sullivan’s role in the Elon community than the day after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When Elon students, faculty and staff gathered in Alumni Gym to process their grief and fear, Sullivan was chosen to speak alongside President Lambert and President Emeritus Earl Danieley.

With characteristic insight, Sullivan noted the irony that he had learned of the disaster just as he was about to lead his class in studying Dante’s “Divine Comedy.”

“I said to my students: Today, we are in the dark wood,” he told the gathering. “Today, we are at the gateway to Hell. There it is on the screen. The Manhattan skyline, its twin towers collapsed; clouds of smoke muffling screams of horror.”

But Sullivan did not leave his community in despair. Drawing on Dante’s journey from darkness to light, he reminded those assembled of humanity’s capacity for both evil and good, and offered words that would resonate for years to come: “The simple truth is this: Hate is never overcome by hate. Strange as it seems to so-called realists of any age, hate is only overcome by love.” He concluded with Dante’s own words, invoking “the love that moves the sun and other stars.”

It was quintessential Sullivan鈥攍earned, profound, pastoral and ultimately hopeful, offering both philosophical depth and practical wisdom in equal measure.

A Commencement 20 Years in the Making

In May 2002, Sullivan finally delivered the Commencement address he had been preparing for over two decades. Since 1980, he had served as Elon’s backup Commencement speaker, revising and refining his speech each year in case he was needed. He would sit quietly in the faculty section in his academic regalia, his speech folded inside a book, waiting for a moment that never came鈥攗ntil 2002.

When the scheduled speaker, astronaut Mae Jemison, withdrew due to a family illness, Sullivan’s moment arrived. His unusual role as America’s most patient backup speaker caught national attention. The Wall Street Journal ran a front-page story, chronicling Sullivan’s 22-year wait and Elon’s meticulous contingency planning for commencement. The story noted that the 65-year-old religious scholar was “the unofficial dean of the nation’s standby commencement speakers.”

Sullivan maintained an air of mystery about his speeches over the years, refusing to share them even with his wife, Gregg. “It’s the one thing in our marriage we haven’t shared,” he told the Journal. “I always think, maybe the speaker’s plane will be late, or he’ll keel over on the platform, and I’ll come rushing up to save the day, like in the old movies.”

The story also received coverage on CNN and NBC network news, bringing national recognition to both Sullivan and Elon’s thorough preparation for all contingencies.

When Sullivan finally stood at the podium on May 25, 2002, at Elon’s 112th Commencement exercises, he was characteristically humble about the moment. “I’m honored,” he said. “But this is not about me. It’s about graduation鈥攖hese students who have completed their career here and are going on to new things. We are just their cheerleaders.”

Beyond Elon: Teaching and Healing

Sullivan’s influence extended far beyond Elon’s campus. In 1987, he co-founded the School of Philosophy and Healing in Action (SOPHIA), a program at the Traditional Acupuncture Institute in Columbia, Maryland (later Tai Sophia Institute in Laurel, Maryland). The program taught healing principles based on ancient Chinese philosophy and wisdom traditions, reflecting Sullivan’s belief that philosophy was not merely an academic exercise but a path to living more fully and helping others do the same.

Following his retirement from Elon in 2006, Sullivan became principal designer and a faculty member in an innovative master’s program in transformative leadership at Tai Sophia Institute. This program for adult learners applied the lessons of nature and the great wisdom traditions to everyday life, embodying Sullivan’s conviction that education should transform as well as inform.

The Elder as Teacher: A New Chapter

Retirement did not mean withdrawal from teaching for Sullivan. Instead, it marked a new chapter in which he explored and embodied what he called “the gifts of later life.” In 2007, he participated in a continuing education program for residents of Blakey Hall, a retirement community near Elon’s campus, teaching courses alongside other retired faculty members. He found in this work a different kind of fulfillment.

“When you are in your work life, you have a lot of interactions with colleagues on a day-by-day basis,” Sullivan reflected in 2012. “When you retire, that’s hard to replace.” But teaching adult learners, he discovered, offered its own rewards: “You invariably receive more than you give. There is a different sense of what learning can be; you’re freer鈥攜ou’re now learning for your own deepening, not for a diploma.”

In 2011, Sullivan became chair of the executive board for LIFE@Elon, a university-sponsored program offering learning opportunities to people ages 50 and older. As he explained, the program’s purpose was “to help Elon community members, alumni and friends remain vital in mind and heart.”

“I like being with adult learners,” Sullivan said. “I think they bring so much. Being in touch with people who are older but still vital gives me hope.”

A Philosophy of Aging

Sullivan’s retirement years were marked by deep reflection on the meaning and purpose of life’s later stages. In 2009, he published “The Spiral of the Seasons: Welcoming the Gifts of Later Life,” a poetic meditation that challenged conventional views of retirement and aging. Drawing on the four stages of life from ancient Indian philosophy, Sullivan likened a human lifetime to the four seasons: in spring we are students, in summer we are householders, in autumn we are forest dwellers, and in winter we are invited to become sages.

“Our culture is very much at home in the first half of life,” Sullivan observed. “We are at home in doing, in striving, in achieving. The quest is toward fame and fortune.” But the transition to life’s second half, he maintained, involves simplifying and returning to a fuller relationship with the natural world鈥攚hat he called “release from striving” and “release from identifying with power and prestige and possessions.”

Sullivan identified three essential tasks of an elder: keeping the little things little and the big things big, encouraging creativity, and blessing the young. Writing from what he called “the perspective of one wanting to enter the arc of descent in conscious, peaceful and joyful ways,” he offered both a philosophy and a practice for aging with grace and purpose.

“I am exploring the opportunities of this phase myself,” he wrote. “I am delighted to have the companionship of fellow explorers.”

A Lasting Legacy

John Sullivan was awarded the Elon Medallion, Elon鈥檚 highest honor, in 2008. In 2013 the Board of Trustees named a residence hall in The Oaks neighborhood in his honor. But perhaps his greatest honor can be found in the lives of thousands of students whose lives he touched and transformed. They learned from him not just philosophy, but how to live philosophically鈥攈ow to ask deep questions, to seek wisdom in multiple traditions, to meet darkness with light and to overcome hate with love.

Sullivan and his late wife, Gregg Winn Sullivan, established the Sullivan-Winn Endowed Scholarship to assist students studying philosophy or the humanities. He was a loyal donor to Elon, with 52 years of giving, including gifts to the endowed scholarship and the Elon Academy.

In a career spanning four decades at Elon and continuing long beyond his retirement from the university, Sullivan exemplified the role of teacher-scholar: learned but humble, rigorous but compassionate, intellectually demanding but pastorally caring. He taught that education was not merely about acquiring knowledge but about becoming more fully human, and that the examined life was indeed worth living.

A memorial service for Sullivan will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Elon.

Fulbright grantees are not just funded to teach or research鈥攖hey are expected to serve as valuable cultural ambassadors in their respective host countries, both representing the United States and learning about their new communities.

Fulbright grants are awarded on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. As semifinalists, these Elon students and alumni have been recommended鈥痓y鈥痶he National Screening Committee of the Institute of International Education鈥痜or final consideration by review panels in their respective host countries. Semifinalists will be鈥痭otified of their final award status this spring, beginning in late March, barring any delays or disruptions at the federal level.

This year鈥檚 Fulbright semifinalists are:

Azul Bellot ’26

• Psychology and Sociolinguistics
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain

Jo Bogart ’26

• Creative Writing and Classical Studies
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to the United Kingdom

Anya Brati膰 ’26

• International & Global Studies and Public Policy
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Vietnam

Rony Dahdal ’26

• Computer Science, Math, and Philosophy
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to Sweden

Jubitza Figueroa ’21

• Political Science
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain

Alex Fleischmann ’26

• Psychology
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to South Korea

Rebecca Lovasco ’26

• Psychology
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright study/research grant to Taiwan

Caroline Mitchell ’26

• Middle Grades Math and Special Education
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Bulgaria

Molly Moylan ’26

• Biochemistry
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain

Madison Powers ’25

• Journalism
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to Spain

Aryanna Vindas ’25

• Dance Performance & Choreography
• Semifinalist for a Fulbright English teaching assistantship to South Korea

Elon students and alumni interested in the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office. To begin the Fulbright application process, please visit the Fulbright Application Process page to register for one of the following virtual Fulbright information sessions during the spring semester:

• Wednesday, March 11 at 4 p.m.
• Thursday, April 9 at 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 21 at 12 p.m.

Four 福利亚洲国产精品 juniors were inducted last spring into Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest and most prestigious honor society, a testament to their academic achievement and an honor that typically occurs during a student鈥檚 senior year.

Mira Fitch 鈥�26, Daisy Martinez-Jimenez 鈥�26, Sara Fritz 鈥�26 and Rony Dahdal 鈥�26 were selected for early induction based on their academic excellence across a broad liberal arts and sciences curriculum, intellectual maturity, scholarly potential, and accomplishments beyond their major fields.

Early induction also provides opportunities for scholarships and fellowships offered through Phi Beta Kappa, leadership positions within the chapter, and expanded professional and academic networks.

鈥淲hen evaluating juniors for Phi Beta Kappa induction, we are not solely interested in those who meet the eligibility requirements 鈥� we are interested in those who have gone above and beyond to demonstrate 鈥榖readth and depth鈥� in their commitment to the liberal arts and sciences,鈥� said Anthony Rizzuto, associate professor of chemistry and president of Elon鈥檚 Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. 鈥淭hat means junior inductees typically have multiple majors and minors across Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences departments, conducted undergraduate research and have completed far beyond the math and foreign language coursework necessary to just make them eligible.鈥�

Sixty-one 福利亚洲国产精品 students overall were inducted in April into Phi Beta Kappa, which has established over 290 chapters at colleges and universities in the United States. Each year, the top 10% of arts and sciences graduates at these institutions are invited for membership.

鈥淭hese four students serve as role models on campus, showing what it means to balance intellectual curiosity, academic integrity and service,鈥� Rizzuto said. 鈥淭heir distinction also brings visibility to the university when they pursue fellowships, graduate programs, or other opportunities that highlight the strength of our community.鈥�

Mira Fitch 鈥�26

Fitch, a political science and statistics major from Lewisville, North Carolina, and a Lumen Prize recipient, said she was surprised and honored to learn of her induction as a junior.

鈥淚t is wonderful that Phi Beta Kappa recognizes intellectual curiosity and desire for learning beyond one’s major, even as a junior,鈥� Fitch said. 鈥淩ecognition through Phi Beta Kappa feels like an honor for my hard work and dedication to my education. A liberal arts education has been essential to my academic journey. I have a wide variety of intellectual interests and access to in-depth learning about all my interests has only deepened my curiosity.鈥�

Fitch said that she has had several meaningful experiences during her time at Elon, including conducting legal research for her Lumen Prize on juvenile transfer 鈥� the process through which youth are tried as adults in the criminal court system 鈥� and analyzing the factors that contribute to those decisions. She also studied aboard and sang in the university choir at Deustuko Unibertsitatea in Spain. After graduation, she plans to attend law school.

Daisy Martinez-Jimenez 鈥�26

Martinez-Jimenez, a public policy and economics major from Burlington, North Carolina, described her induction as a great achievement that allowed her to reflect on her academic journey at Elon.

鈥淎fter I learned I would be recognized a year early, it made me pause and think about the effort and my success in navigating academics, even with courses I was initially nervous about,鈥� said Martinez-Jimenez, a member of the Odyssey Program and recipient of the Douglas and Edna Truitt Noiles 鈥�44 Scholarship. 鈥淚 have immense gratitude for my professors who have helped me with this achievement.

鈥淔rom the Department of Political Science and Public Policy, to the Department of Economics, I have found so many professors that serve as my mentors, who have pushed me towards new opportunities and who encourage me when I am doubtful.鈥�

After graduation, Martinez-Jimenez plans to pursue a career in policy research, analysis and advocacy at a nonprofit before earning a master’s degree in public policy or economics.

Sara Fritz 鈥�26

Fritz, an international and global studies and economics major from West Hartford, Connecticut, said that Phi Beta Kappa will help her with her career endeavors after graduation.

鈥淎 liberal arts education was always important to me since no one truly knows what they can excel in until they try it,鈥� Fritz said. 鈥淐oming to college, I didn’t know what I wanted to major in and through our liberal arts education, I was able to figure out I had many interests, and I could explore all of them. Phi Beta Kappa represents a support system with Elon professors that I know believe in me academically and personally.鈥�

She shared that she has made many impactful relationships with her professors while at Elon and Phi Beta Kappa has allowed her to meet more faculty within Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences.

鈥淎t the chapter meeting this fall, I gained insight into what Phi Beta Kappa really values, which is sponsoring education and promoting excellence,鈥� Fritz said. 鈥淭his also allowed me to meet more professors and create connections with them. I have enjoyed taking classes with every one of my professors I have had, and I owe where I end up to each one of them.鈥�

Fritz said she hopes to work for a nonprofit as a sustainable economic developer following graduation or receive a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Thailand.

Rony Dahdal 鈥�26

Dahdal, a triple major in computer science, mathematics and philosophy, from Wake Forest, North Carolina and a Goldwater Scholar and Lumen Scholar, was grateful for the opportunity to be inducted into the chapter as a junior as it was a reminder of the continued support from his mentors at Elon.

鈥淚 recall the induction ceremony, and how, now more than ever, the pursuit of knowledge is one of the fundamental ways we can improve the well-being of others,鈥� Dahdal said. 鈥淢y recognition by Phi Beta Kappa was, and still is, an encouraging push to continue working towards my future as a researcher.鈥�

He noted that the liberal arts exposed him to a variety of subjects at a high-level and allowed him to ask big questions within a diverse set of academic perspectives.

鈥淧hi Beta Kappa鈥檚 mission to honor and promote the importance of the liberal arts is aligned with the 鈥榝ully lived life鈥� they advocate for,鈥� Dahdal said. “It was inspiring to be a part of Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. The honor has helped remind me of the importance within learning and unique truth-seeking that has led to pursue research in the first place.鈥�

After graduation, Dahdal plans to pursue a Ph.D. focused on applied and reliable reasoning agents in fields such as smart healthcare and assisted agriculture.

All programs in the series 鈥淎bolition as Presence in Higher Education and Beyond鈥� are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, Nov. 4

A 鈥�snack-and-learn鈥� on mandated reporting will feature investigator and strategist Margaux Lander of at 12:30 p.m. in Lindner Hall 206. The discussion aims to understand the current models of mandated reporting with Emancipate NC, an organization that supports people as they free themselves from mass incarceration and structural discrimination. Lander will share strategies to navigate the mandated reporting system while reducing harm and supporting families.

Wednesday, Nov. 12

The series concludes with the annual Reynolds Lecture on Political Theologies of Criminalization, Political Spiritualities of Abolition at 6:30 p.m. in the McBride Gathering Space featuring a conversation with author Andrew Krinks on the religion of criminalization and the religion of abolition from his book 鈥淲hite Property, Black Trespass.鈥�

Assistant Professor Maria Mejia, who is currently teaching a philosophy senior seminar on abolition, helped organize the 2025 series with Assistant Professor Archie Crowley in the Department of English and Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop in the Department of History and Geography.

鈥淎bolition does not just mean getting rid of harmful systems. It also means building lifegiving practices, structures, and communities that help us flourish while reducing and transforming harm,鈥� Mejia said. 鈥淲e hope this series will nourish connections between the Elon community and abolitionist organizers through which we can redefine safety and foster well-bring for all.鈥�

The series is sponsored by the Elon Fund for Excellence, Turner Theatre, the Division of Inclusive Excellence, Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean鈥檚 Office, the Title IX Office, and the departments of English, philosophy, and public health, as well as the Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies and American Studies programs, the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture & Society, and the Gender & LGBTQIA Center.

Previous activities in the fall series included a 鈥渟nack-and-learn鈥� led by Assistant Professor Amanda Kleintop; a session titled 鈥淭hinking Like an Abolitionist to End Sexual Violence in Higher Education鈥� by visiting scholars Chris Linder and Nadeeka Karunaratne; and a documentary screening of 鈥淥ne Million Experiments鈥� followed by a panel discussion with directors Daniel Kisslinger and Damon Williams of Respair Production & Media, along with local organizers Mona Evans of Benevolence Farms, Amanda Wallace of Operation Stop CPS, and Associate Professor Stephanie Baker.

She presented the work of the Diocesan Commission for the Defense of Nature (CODIDENA), an organization that advocates for the restoration of the identity and spirituality of the Xinka Indigenous people of Central America while protecting nature against extractivist mega-projects. Lemus talked in detail about the case of the peaceful resistance to the Escobal mining project, and their everyday struggles against the government and the mining corporations.

During the talk, she shared the values of her community to protect the earth and how they recognize themselves as Xinka by recovering their language and their culture. She also expressed the difficult reality faced by her community in rural areas as well as the challenges faced by organizers advocating for the Xinka land rights. The talk explored how they were able to stop the development of the mining project after three years of struggle, based on the Indigenous and Tribal People Convention, an international agreement acknowledged by the International Labour Organization, in which indigenous people must be consulted in case of any project affecting their population. In this case, after consulting with the Xinka people, they decided to reject the mining project given the multiple threats to their health and the environment.

Lemus also showed her grassroots initiative with young scientists in the Xinka community to address water contamination issues provoked by mining operations. This project not only capacitates the new generations, but also advocates for an intergenerational collective growth of the whole Xinka people. As a result of this initiative, community members created a system for measuring the degree of contamination in the water, empowering communities to defend themselves in their fight for environmental justice.

Over 50people attended the event. Students from peace and conflict studies, Latin American studies, as well as from different Spanish courses, the Core Curriculum, and philosophy classes learned about the complexity of current environmental struggles in Guatemala. After the talk, students asked several questions regarding the role of the Guatemalan government in this conflict and the recognition of the Xinka identity, engaging in a very fruitful dialogue about the importance of advocating for indigenous rights and environmental justice in peaceful demonstrations. The conference was conducted in Spanish with interpretation performed by Emily Rhyne from the organization Witness for Peace.

Lemus also participated in a roundtable discussion in Spanish with other human rights activists at El Centro. The roundtable focused on Guatemalan history and cultural diversity, generating a constructive dialogue among students learning about Latin American indigenous identities. The speakers talked about the work of their organizations at the local, national and global level, emphasizing the need to construct strong networks of solidarity. Students from the Spanish program engaged in a vivid conversation during the event, learning about the intercultural richness of Central America and the political relevance of the region in relation with the U.S. government today.

This visit was co-organized by the Peace and Conflict Studies program and the Latin American Studies program, and it was sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures; El Centro; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; International and Global Studies; Isabella Cannon Global Education Center; Women鈥檚, Gender, and Sexualities Studies; the Department of Philosophy; and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

On Sept. 24-25, 2025, Chen-L贸pez’s two-day visit invited students to reflect on their understanding of Latin American identity and migration as he shared his innovative research on the representation of Chinese communities in Latin American literature, cinema, and visual arts, which is a topic that opened new perspectives for students and community members across multiple disciplines.

Chen-L贸pez’s keynote address, “Affective Mapping: Tracing the Chinese Diaspora in Latin American Literature, Cinema, and Visual Arts,” examined how Chinese identity and history are portrayed in creative works throughout different Latin American countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina. His work traces how emotional responses to Chinatowns and Chinese neighborhoods have evolved over time and explores how the very concepts of “China” and “Chineseness” have shifted in response to changing geopolitical dynamics.

The visit extended far beyond a single lecture. Chen-L贸pez engaged directly with students in various courses in the classrooms and in El Centro, including “Human Migrations”, “Medical Spanish”, “Growing Up in the Spanish Speaking World”, “In Search of Identity, Innovation and Social Protest Theater”, and COR1100. He also met with student members from the Latin American Studies program, the Spanish Club, and the Chinese Club during a community breakfast, fostering cross-cultural dialogue.

For many students, the presentations sparked revelations about migration patterns they had never considered. Anette Cruz 鈥�28, reflected on how the experience transformed their perspective

“Previously when thinking about migration to Latin American countries it never really came to my head to think about countries like China,” said Cruz. “When I would think about migration, I聽would think it was mostly within Latin American regions. But after learning about the impact Chinese migration has had on countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Argentina, it really made me think about the significance of it. I was able to see that through symbolism shown to me in Mexican readings, Argentinian movies and Costa Rican paintings, and to me I found that very interesting because again, I feel as if I would have overlooked that if I was presented with it. Overall Chinese diaspora in Latin American countries shown through historical contexts and symbolism in art is something new that I learned today, something that has opened my eyes a little more when talking about migration to Latin American countries.鈥�

Chen-L贸pez’s interdisciplinary approach demonstrated how overlooked communities have shaped Latin American culture in profound ways. By examining representations of “China” and “Chineseness” in Latin American art, literature, and film, he sparked a dialogue among students and the broader 福利亚洲国产精品 community on the importance of interdisciplinary research and looking beyond dominant narratives to discover the multiple histories of a society.

The Latin American Research Series is presented by Latin American Studies and sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures; Peace and Conflict Studies; El Centro; International and Global Studies; Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Isabella Cannon Global Education Center; the Department of Philosophy; and Global Films and Cultures.