Their chapter, titled , is intended to serve as a comprehensive guide and 鈥渉ow to鈥� resource for academics seeking to engage in partnerships with community organizations in international settings, using the principles of Fair Trade Learning as a lodestar. The abstract for their chapter is as follows:

This chapter explores the complexities and ethical considerations of international community-engaged learning, highlighting the experiences of sustained partnerships between 福利亚洲国产精品 and two international organizations (the Comprehensive Rural Health Project in Jamkhed, India and Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka). Drawing on the Fair Trade Learning (FTL) model, the authors emphasize core principles such as cultural humility, reciprocity, and critical global citizenship, while addressing challenges unique to international contexts including positionality, narrative humility, accessibility and sustainability.

Through practical guidance and case examples, the chapter conveys the importance of co-creating community-engaged learning programs with community partners, prioritizing mutual benefit, and avoiding exploitative or colonialist dynamics. The chapter highlights various assessment tools to measure community impact. By integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals and engaging with students鈥� identities and motivations, this chapter advocates for intentional, transformative community-engaged learning programs that support student, university, organization, and community development and global equity.

Julie Thoman remembers CJ Fleming鈥檚 first baby steps years ago, and the large pink letters with Fleming鈥檚 initials mounted over her crib. In July, the two lifelong friends became colleagues.

Thoman is now an associate director of online communications for Elon, based in Charlotte, where for four years she has maintained the website for Queens.

Fleming is an associate professor of psychology, associate director of undergraduate research, chair of the Department of Human Service Studies and the faculty administrative fellow at Elon. As a fellow, Fleming is supporting the merger of Queens and Elon by reviewing graduate policies, processes and procedures to assure the university grows its graduate degree portfolio strategically and intentionally.

Both Thoman and Fleming lived briefly in New Bern, North Carolina, before their parents鈥� careers took them to Okinawa, Japan, and Morehead City, North Carolina, respectively. Thoman鈥檚 father flew C-130 planes for the U.S. Marine Corps and Fleming鈥檚 father served as an administrator for various North Carolina school systems.

When military assignments and careers separated the young friends, Thoman鈥檚 family letters 鈥� notably their popular Christmas cards 鈥� kept everyone together.

Every year the Thomans created a themed holiday message with a photo and handwritten letters.

鈥淛ulie鈥檚 parents were content creators before content creators were a thing,鈥� Fleming said.

Distance was no barrier for the families to stay in touch long before the days of social media and email.

鈥淐J and I both experienced a 鈥榥omadic鈥� childhood,鈥� Thoman said. 鈥淲hile some childhood friendships continue into adulthood from in-person bonding, we never lost that bond despite our distances.鈥�

The Thomans eventually moved back to North Carolina in 1993. They reside today in Jacksonville, while Fleming鈥檚 parents make their home in Durham. Over the years, the families have enjoyed getting together at cultural and sporting events, among other activities that nurture their friendship.

Individually, Thoman and Fleming regularly text and find time to see each other in person, including a recent show at the Durham Performing Arts Center and a Durham Bulls game.

鈥淥ur parents built a great foundation between CJ and I,鈥� Thoman said.

Fleming said she is excited that the merger will create a blended family. 鈥淛ulie and her family are effectively my family,鈥� she said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a whole school full of Julies that are now a part of Elon鈥檚 blended family, and the opportunity for us to all be a team together is the most exciting part,鈥� said Fleming. 鈥淥ne of the things I love about Queens is that we all know each other,鈥� Thoman said. She said that she always knows who to go to for questions. 鈥淚 love the relationships here and I鈥檓 excited to expand this relationship further with colleagues from Elon.鈥�

The transformative program is designed to support scholars at multiple points in their undergraduate years and early career. Renewable for up to two years, the UGSP provides:

• $20,000 per academic year to support undergraduate education expenses
• A 10-week full-time summer internship at the NIH immediately following the year of scholarship support
• One year of full-time employment with the NIH post-graduation

Because Barnes and Sterling have won the award as juniors, they are eligible to receive up to $40,000 in scholarship support, two paid summer internships (one between their junior and senior years, and another following graduation) and two years of employment upon graduation.

Approximately 15 scholars are selected each year from a nationwide pool of hundreds of applicants, and Elon students have been remarkably successful in this competition in recent years. The federally-funded program was on pause last year, but Samantha Hinton 鈥�25 was selected in 2024, and three seniors鈥擥enesis Tolbert 鈥�24, Christopher D鈥橧nzeo 鈥�24 and Samuel Ramirez 鈥�24鈥�were selected in 2023. The addition of Barnes and Sterling to the list means that Elon has been represented in the three most recent cohorts of this highly selective program.

The next application cycle for the NIH UGSP will open in Spring 2027. Interested students should contact the National and International Fellowships Office to learn more.

Sofia Barnes ’28

Sofia Barnes is a chemistry and psychology double major from Port Washington, New York. At Elon, Barnes has worked under the mentorship of Dan Wright, associate professor of chemistry, on an analysis of toxic metal concentration in medicinal herbs and spices in the United States. The research aims to fill the knowledge gap around potential contamination of medicinal herbs and spices by creating a nationwide catalog outlining the metal accumulation in numerous medical herbs and spices. This experience helped foster Barnes鈥� love of research and pushed her to seek out external opportunities like the NIH UGSP.

Thanks to the robust structure of the award, Barnes will be freer to deepen her research impact at Elon and the NIH.

鈥淭his award will not only give me the opportunity to further my career as a researcher and give me the chance to connect with mentors and peers to help push and encourage me,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t has also provided me with the support to be able to lessen the monetary stress that comes with my undergraduate degree, which allows me to focus more on making the most out of my time in undergrad. It allows me to expand my reach with my post-grad options and where I may go after Elon which before felt more limited.鈥�

In addition to her research, Barnes is active across campus. She is a service ambassador in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, a member of Chi Upsilon Sigma National Latin Sorority Incorporated, a chemistry tutor, and has previously served as a SMART mentor and Peer Educator. Her constellation of Elon mentors includes Andrew Moffa, assistant Director for the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Justin Clar, associate professor of chemistry and director of Elon鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Program, and Dr. Dan Wright, associate professor of chemistry.

Parker Sterling ’28

Parker Sterling is a double major in biology and history with minors in chemistry, neuroscience, and peace & conflict studies from Randleman, North Carolina. As an Elon College Fellow, Sterling is working under the mentorship of Jonathan Su, associate professor of engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering, to test the feasibility of a dual-drug intravaginal ring for menstrual pain. She鈥檚 supplemented her ECF research experience by assisting with data collection and processing in the Elon Physical Therapy Department鈥檚 Glen Raven Biomechanics Lab.

The NIH UGSP will be a critical step in Sterling鈥檚 development as a research scientist. While she remains committed to STEM research on her journey towards medical school, Sterling is equally committed to earning her master鈥檚 in history while working at the NIH. She seeks to understand not only the science, but also the historical and social contexts that have shaped scientific inquiry and advancement.

Sterling is highly engaged on campus outside of her research and academics. She is the Business Lead (and former President) for the Phoenix Racing Team, a physics TA, a senior resident assistant in the Global Neighborhood and a Leadership Ambassador with the Center for Leadership. As a reflection of her wide breadth of involvement, Sterling鈥檚 Elon mentors span disciplines and departments; the list includes Jonathan Su, associate professor of engineering and chair of the Department of Engineering, Andresa Bresler Bezerra, assistant teaching professor of chemistry, Efrain Rivera-Serrano, assistant professor of biology, Amanda Kleintop, assistant professor of history, and Matthew Banks, engineering lab manager and advisor for the Phoenix Racing Team.

Recipients of the annual awards are nominated by their colleagues and selected by the College鈥檚 dean and associate deans.

鈥淓ach of these award recipients demonstrate dedication to their students and colleagues,鈥� said Hilton Kelly, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淚 am so pleased to recognize each of these faculty and staff members for all of their work and contributions to supporting the mission of the College.鈥�

The 2026 College Excellence Award recipients:

Excellence in Teaching Award

Kristen Mazur

Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics

Associate Professor Kristen Mazur builds her classrooms around the idea that students learn best when they are encouraged to take intellectual risks, embrace productive struggles and grow through challenges. She was the leader in the development of Elon鈥檚 Precalculus program and co-creator of the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Assistant Program, helping strengthen pathways into science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. She received the Trevor Evans Award, established by the Mathematical Association of America, for scholarship of an exceptional mathematics article that is accessible to undergraduates which was published in 鈥淢ath Horizons.鈥� Mazur also has multiple publications with undergraduate co-authors.

Excellence in Scholarship

Yanica Faustin

Assistant Professor of Public Health

Assistant Professor Yanica Faustin鈥檚 work focuses on health equity and understanding and dismantling the systemic and structural barriers that shape health and well-being for marginalized communities. Faustin was Elon鈥檚 first recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Scholars for Action award, a national grant supporting groundbreaking scholarship that advances health equity. This award helped position Elon on a national stage in public health research. In addition to peer-reviewed publications, invited presentations and public scholarship, she has built a research program committed to developing future scholars. Faustin has also advanced national conversations around maternal and reproductive health, racial inequities in birth outcomes, severe maternal morbidity and the health experiences of Black communities across the diaspora.

Excellence in Service-Leadership Award

Corey Roberts

Assistant Professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies

Assistant Professor Corey Roberts’ service has been defined by a commitment to collaboration and community engagement. Through leadership of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN) Heritage Language and Learning Working Group, Roberts helped secure multiple grants, develop educational initiatives, organize conferences and workshops and deepens the partnership between 福利亚洲国产精品 and the OBSN. These efforts brought together students, faculty, staff, tribal leaders and community members in meaningful and lasting ways. He helped to lead the creation and installation of a historic marker at The Oaks that includes Yesa:sah铆 language and a land acknowledgment, along with coordinating signage on OBSN tribal grounds. The dedication brought more than 120 members of the Elon and tribal communities together. Roberts also helped organize the Undergraduate Conference on Languages and Cultures, coordinated Polyglot Lunches, co-advises the Native American Student Association and delivered guest lectures that embody language, culture, community and belonging.

Excellence in Mentoring Award

Lauren Guilmette

Associate Professor of Philosophy

Associate Professor Lauren Guilmette has created numerous opportunities for students to connect their academic work with the wider world. From mentoring independent research projects, Honors students, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience scholars and graduate school applicants, to creating programs that connect students with faculty mentors, community partners and scholars across the country, Guilmette bands the horizons of what mentoring can be. As an advisor to the Gender & Sexuality Living Learning Community, Guilmette has cultivated spaces where students find community, leadership opportunities and a sense of belonging. Through partnerships with local organizations, grassroots initiatives, and community leaders, students have been encouraged to see themselves not simply as learners, but as engaged citizens capable of making a difference in the world. She also has a gift for connecting people, students with mentors, students with communities, students with one another and students with a deeper sense of purpose.

Staff Excellence Award

Beth DeFord

Program Assistant for Psychology, Human Service Studies and Public Health

Program Assistant Beth DeFord has spent more than two decades tracking down the right answer, identifying a potential problem before it arises, navigating a complicated process, helping a colleague meet a deadline and working behind the scenes to ensure things run smoothly. Known for approaching tasks with professionalism, precision, kindness and a desire to help others succeed, faculty trust her expertise, students benefit from her support and colleagues rely on her wisdom and institutional knowledge. DeFord supports three academic departments, Psychology, Human Service Studies and Public Health, to provide assistance to faculty, supervise student employees, support hundreds of students and manages a building. One nominator described DeFord as a superhero who manages an enormous workload, yet somehow makes it all look effortless.

Related Articles

• Elon鈥檚 Class of 2030 arrives Aug. 21
• What to know for Elon Move-In Day 2026
• Opening Day 2026: Elon celebrates progress and success while mapping the path ahead

As the Class of 2030 arrives on campus and begins their four years at Elon, current Elon students offer their advice to the incoming class.

福利亚洲国产精品 will welcome more than 1,600 new students for the 2026-27 academic year, with the Class of 2030 moving to campus on Friday, Aug. 21.

Parker Sterling 鈥�28

Major(s): Biology and History
惭颈苍辞谤蝉:听Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Peace and Conflict Studies
Hometown: Randleman, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Phoenix Racing Team (Business Lead), Residence Life (Senior RA), Center for Leadership (Leadership Ambassador), Glen Raven Biomechanics Lab (Lab Assistant)

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because I knew after the first tour that I couldn鈥檛 imagine myself anywhere else. I loved being able to have majors across disciplines, the campus, the dorms and all of the people I met.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew how common it is to gain and lose friends in the first year. Everyone is discovering who they are and who they want to be, so it may take a while to find friends that you can rely on.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“Take every opportunity that presents itself; you never know who you will meet or what doors it will open.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the bonds I鈥檝e built with faculty and staff. I didn鈥檛 have a high school teacher I felt was truly a mentor, but Elon has given me so many people that I feel confident going to for advice.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is the people. I am forever grateful to the amazing friends who have supported me and cared about me to no end. I don鈥檛 want to imagine what college would be like without them.”

Ari Verinder 鈥�28

Major(s): Biology (Concentration: Biotechnology/Molecular Biotechnology)
惭颈苍辞谤蝉:听Chemistry and Food Studies
Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Residence Life, Club Climbing and The Writing Center

Why did you choose Elon?

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known to get more involved in my specific interests on campus sooner. There really is something for everybody at Elon; you just have to find it, get involved, and, best of all, enjoy it!”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

What surprised you most about college?

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“Don’t be afraid to meet new people. Elon is small enough that it’s easy to just stick with who and what you already know, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

-Ari Verinder 鈥�28

Ella Stewart 鈥�27

Major(s): Dance Performance & Choreography, English (Concentration in Creative Writing)
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽Student Union Board (Brand Engagement Chair), New Student Orientation (Student Coordinator), Kappa Delta member and The Writing Center.

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because I knew I wanted to make close connections with my professors and classmates, which made the small class sizes very appealing, and Elon has a strong Performing Arts department, which aligns with my future career goals of being a professional dancer. I also knew I wanted to study abroad and Elon offers so many opportunities to study around the world. Additionally, I was drawn to the College Fellows program, which is a scholarship program where I conduct a research project within my major throughout my time at Elon.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I had known that not every moment of college is going to be absolutely perfect. It’s easy to have high expectations that everything will go smoothly all the time, and while there will be plenty of great experiences and memories, there will also be challenges. It’s completely normal to struggle sometimes, and you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“My biggest piece of advice is to put yourself out there! I made my closest friends at Elon by just inviting myself to hang out with them. It can feel awkward and scary at first to ask people to hang out with you, but it really makes a difference. If there is someone in your class who you think you’d get along with, ask them to lunch or coffee! You can also meet people by getting involved in clubs and organizations, so sign up for what interests you. Getting involved helped me find my place on campus, so be open to trying everything, because that is how you can find your community.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was most surprised by the amount of independence and freedom I suddenly had. It can be hard to adjust to being away from your family and the comfort of home, but you also start learning how to manage your own time and responsibilities. My schedule looked a lot different than it did in high school, and I became the one in charge of how to spend my time. This shift surprised me at first, but overall it helped me grow into my independence and become more confident doing things on my own.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is the people I’ve met through my majors and leadership experiences, especially the mentors who have supported me along the way. The staff and faculty here are so kind and encouraging to each individual student, and their guidance has helped me grow in my academics and in my leadership. Elon has given me a tight-knit community of peers and mentors I can rely on, and I have met so many people who have shaped me into who I am today.”

---

Lealand Oakes 鈥�27

Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Campus Involvement:聽New Student Programs,聽Women’s Club Rugby
Sigma Kappa,聽Elon 1010 Peer Educator,聽Psi Chi and Psychology Honor Society

Why did you choose Elon?

“I chose Elon because they genuinely care about every student, even if they haven’t fully invested in Elon yet. They put so much care into just the admissions process and first-year experience to ensure people feel cared about and seen. Of course, it doesn’t stop there; professors are always there to help and support their students, get to know them beyond the surface level, and truly want to see them succeed.”

What did you wish you knew as a first-year student?

“I wish I knew that sometimes the hard parts of transitioning to college don’t hit you immediately. They look different for everyone and can range anywhere from after the first month has passed to the start of the second semester and beyond. Everyone has their own experiences, so it is important to know your resources on campus and have people you can go to when those bumps in the road happen.”

What advice do you have for the incoming Elon Class of 2030?

“Get out of your room, do new things, be involved. This can look different for everyone, but it’s so helpful for finding your people in this new chapter. I would also say that taking care of yourself is so important. Holistic wellness goes a long way in college. If you are taking care of one aspect of wellness that can bleed into another area. Do things that make you happy, take care of your body and use your resources.”

What surprised you most about college?

“I was surprised that I was still able to get the same support in class and out of class that I had the opportunity to receive in high school. I was worried that as soon as I got to college, everything would be on me. I can say with full confidence that I have not needed to shoulder everything all on my own. Elon has so many resources that cover a wide range of aspects of college life.”

What is your favorite part about Elon?

“My favorite part about Elon is that there are so many people from so many different places. Coming to Elon, I didn’t really know many people, and I am so happy that was the case. It was nerve-racking for sure, but it meant that I have learned so much and met so many people I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”

Olivia Guarino 鈥�26, Ella McGlynn 鈥�26, Anna Grace Gilbert 鈥�27 and Jessica Garcia-Bastida 鈥�27 presented their research at the from July 6-9 in Panam谩 City, Panam谩.聽Attendance at the conference regularly includes over 1,100 attendees and members from various fields such as developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, pediatrics and education.

罢丑别听, which is directed by Perkins, focuses on understanding the acquisition of motor skills in infancy (such as crawling and walking), and how they relate to other cognitive and social skills.

Guarino and Garcia-Bastida presented a poster titled, 鈥�’Can you get the toy?: How walking infants use whole-body problem solving during an object retrieval task.” The two have been working on the project over the past year and have contributed meaningfully to data collection appointments with infants and behavioral video coding and analyses.

Gilbert and McGlynn presented a poster titled, “Take a step!: Links between infant play and mother vocalizations as crawling infants learn to walk鈥� and were co-authors on a symposium presentation titled “Tiny hands, big transitions:聽Analyzing crawling infants鈥櫬爐arget interactions during play as聽they learn to walk,” and presented by Perkins. This work is part of an ongoing collaboration with , who is a professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Gilbert has made meaningful contributions to the project for the past two years and presented preliminary findings at a different international conference in Prague, Czech Republic last year. McGlynn鈥檚 contributions spanned the past year in behavioral video coding and analyses.

Student members of the Infant Development Lab benefitted from networking and professional development opportunities at the conference, including meeting authors whose work they had read for literature reviews, group discussions, and lab meetings, and participating in an Undergraduate Networking Session designed to help researchers and students in making valuable connections for employment and/or graduate study. A notable event was the civic reception, which is usually themed based on the conference location. This year鈥檚 reception was on an outdoor terrace and featured dancers and music in culturally traditional attire.

The group also had opportunities between conference sessions to explore Panam谩 City,

Student travel to the conference was supported by the Undergraduate Research Program and the Department of Psychology, and Perkins鈥� travel was supported by Dean鈥檚 Office of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. Mentored students in the Infant Development Lab come from a variety of diverse backgrounds and go on to graduate and professional programs.

Perkins is an active scholar in developmental psychology and mentoring relationships in higher education. Her research has been published in journals such as “Child Development,” “Infancy,” and “Infant Behavior and Development,”聽 “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology,” the “Journal of First-generation Student Success” and “Perspectives on Undergraduate Research Mentoring.” She is currently working on a co-edited book on mentoring and/as meaningful relationships as a high-impact practice聽published by Routledge, cross-listed in the AAC&U series, and the series on engaged learning and teaching.

The impact of reading

For Lyric Gregory 鈥�28, that impact is measured one child, and one book, at a time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. I feel like I鈥檓 making such a big difference,鈥� said Gregory. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 actually contributing to making Alamance a little bit better.鈥�

Gregory, a psychology major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is spending his summer as an intern with Alamance Partnership for Children, a nonprofit organization serving young children and families throughout Alamance County. He supports the organization鈥檚 efforts to provide supplies to families in need, advance literacy initiatives and redesign its library and children鈥檚 area.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really cool feeling to give a child a book and see their eyes light up,鈥� Gregory said. 鈥淚 never thought kids would be so excited to see books. There was this one kid, just seeing the joy on his face when he asked his mom, 鈥楲ook, they鈥檙e going to have books. Can I have one?鈥� It hit me in the feels.鈥�

Launched in 2021, Campus Alamance connects Elon students with paid internships throughout Alamance County while helping build a pipeline of talent for local organizations. Since its launch, 97% of participants have reported their internships were valuable to their professional development.

Gregory has long been fascinated by psychology and hopes to become a child therapist. He said the internship has strengthened his passion for helping others.

鈥淚鈥檓 already motivated, but it motivated me even more to continue to pursue psychology, because I鈥檓 looking at people in this office who still have the same passion as me, and they鈥檙e making a difference,鈥� he said.

鈥楻eal time鈥� experience

Like Gregory, McKenna Blount 鈥�27 entered college with an interest in psychology. A psychology major with minors in and criminal justice studies, Blount wanted an internship that combined both fields but initially struggled to find opportunities that fit her interests.

Through the Student Professional Development Center, she connected with the Campus Alamance Program and secured an internship with the Burlington Police Department, where she works with both the Aerial Reconnaissance & Tactical Intelligence Center (ARTIC), and the Crime Scene Investigation unit.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of broad experience in the police department,鈥� said Blount, who is from Raleigh. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e super flexible, just letting me have as much experience that I possibly can.鈥�

In ARTIC, a real-time crime center, Blount assists officers by monitoring camera systems and databases during active investigations. In the Crime Scene Investigation unit, she observes investigators and gains firsthand experience with forensic work.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how interested I was in the law enforcement aspect of things,鈥� said Blount. 鈥淚 thought I was more interested in the psychology aspect. It鈥檚 really nice to meet people outside of the 鈥楨lon bubble.鈥欌��

Connecting the community and history

Katie Baylett 鈥�27, a strategic communications major from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is also gaining hands-on professional experience through Campus Alamance as a social media intern for the Alamance Historical Museum.

鈥淭he internship has helped me know how to work and navigate in a professional environment,鈥� Baylett said. 鈥淚 took a class at Elon where we briefly touched on the local history and the textile industry history of Alamance County specifically, but this has really given me hands-on experience and helped me connect with the local community and also just connect with the local history.鈥�

Baylett develops the museum鈥檚 social media content calendar, creates photo and video content, updates the museum鈥檚 website and assists with an email marketing campaign. A key part of her role is translating the work of museum staff into engaging, accessible content for the public.

鈥淢y classes at Elon have helped me know how to create a social media calendar and have helped me know how to navigate a wide variety of systems that I am using with my internship,鈥� she said.

Internships are a central part of the Elon experience. Through the university鈥檚 Experiential Learning Requirement, students must complete two of five Elon Experiences: internships, service, leadership, undergraduate research or global engagement.

For Blount, the internship has also changed how she sees the community surrounding campus.

鈥淵ou take the same three roads to get where you need to go as an Elon student, and I had no idea how much more goes on in Burlington,鈥� Blount said. 鈥淭his internship has really benefited my professional career development.鈥�

Sarah Bunnell, director of Elon’s Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning and associate professor of psychology, and George Talbert, assistant professor of marketing and sales, co-presented “The Power of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning for Individual and Institutional Transformation, in Business Schools and Beyond.” The online session marked the group’s second community event and drew educators from across Europe and beyond.

Bunnell opened by tracing SoTL’s roots to Ernest Boyer’s influential 1990 framework, which expanded the definition of scholarship to include systematic study of student learning. She then expanded on the field’s history to include later contributions from scholars like Elon鈥檚 Peter Felten, assistant provost for teaching and learning, executive director of the Center for Engaged Learning, and professor of history, whose work has helped establish public dissemination, peer review and collaboration as foundational principles of SoTL practice.

Talbert then offered a personal lens, reflecting on his own transition from a senior marketing and sales career into higher education and how engaging with SoTL has reshaped his approach to teaching and student learning. Rather than focusing solely on content delivery and student satisfaction, he described moving toward deeper questions about how students’ thinking develops and whether his teaching approaches achieve their intended learning outcomes. This personal insight was highlighted by event organizers as a 鈥溾��, and its accessibility to faculty across disciplines, not just educational researchers.

Bunnell and Talbert鈥檚 work is an example of meaningful collaboration between faculty across disciplines who center student learning, professional growth, and development of one鈥檚 teaching practice within their work. Their session is a meaningful contribution to the growing international dialogue about SoTL’s role in higher education, which Elon is increasingly recognized as leading. The invitation for the keynote reflects the continued recognition of Elon’s leadership in undergraduate teaching and educational development on the global stage. Following the session, Bunnell and Talbert were invited to remain engaged with the international SoTL community, with plans to continue building on the conversation in future collaborations.

Elon has been repeatedly recognized for the number of its alumni who participate in the Fulbright Program as teachers, graduate students, and researchers and has been named a top-producer of Fulbright students in six separate years. Students and alumni interested in the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office. The deadline to notify the office of your intent to apply for Fulbright in this upcoming cycle is June 1, 2026. Rising seniors are required to work with the National and International Fellowships Office to apply for Fulbright, and alumni are highly encouraged to do so.

Those who received awards this year are:

Azul Bellot 鈥�26

Azul Bellot, a double major in psychology and sociolinguistics with a minor in TESOL, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. She is The Elon Commitment scholar in the Odyssey Program and a student scholar with The Center for Engaged Learning.

Bellot has been preparing for an experience like Fulbright long before she arrived at Elon. Reflecting on her early years, she says, 鈥淕rowing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I was my family鈥檚 translator from a young age. I navigated formal systems, adult conversations, and bureaucratic spaces in both English and Spanish long before I had the language to describe what that experience was doing to me. It gave me a deep understanding of what it means for language to be a gateway, and what it costs when that gateway is closed.鈥�

These formative years laid the groundwork for her time at Elon, where she developed her own independent sociolinguistics major, volunteered as an English tutor for children and adults, and conducted research on meaningful mentoring relationships. To Bellot, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain is 鈥渢he most honest intersection of everything [she鈥檚] been working towards:聽language, identity, education, and community.鈥�

After Fulbright, Bellot plans to pursue more international fellowships before returning to academia to earn her PhD in Applied Linguistics. Her Elon mentors include Archie Crowley, assistant professor of English; Nina Namaste, professor of Spanish; and Sylvia Mu帽oz, assistant dean of students and director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

Anya Brati膰 鈥�26

Anya Brati膰, a double major in international & global Studies and public policy with a minor in public health, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Vietnam. She is an Elon College Fellow, a Periclean Scholar, and the Student Government Association Student Body President.

To Brati膰, Fulbright represents the intersection of her two greatest passions: global engagement and teaching. She found ways to blend these passions during her time at Elon. As a Periclean Scholar, she had the opportunity to study abroad in India to understand what mutually beneficial relationships look like in practice, not just in theory. As a student consultant with the Center for Design Thinking, she developed a love for teaching and facilitation, specifically the challenge of guiding others through the structured process of finding meaningful solutions to 鈥渨icked鈥� problems. Serving as an English teaching assistant will allow her to refine her intercultural and teaching skills while strengthening diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

After Fulbright, Brati膰 is interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy or global social impact. 鈥淪imply put, I want to work at the intersection of people, policy and purpose,鈥� she says. Brati膰鈥檚 constellation of Elon mentors includes Amanda Tapler, associate teaching professor of public health studies; Safia Swimelar, professor of political science and public policy; Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship; and Danielle Lake, director of design thinking and associate professor of human service studies.

Molly Moylan 鈥�26

Biochemistry major Molly Moylan has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain.

At Elon, Moylan took every opportunity to foster and blend her passions for STEM research, teaching and service. As a researcher, Moylan worked with chemistry professor Dan Wright to study trace metals within medicinal herbs and spices. She refined her teaching skills by serving with America Reads, the Village Project, the CityGate Dream Center, and more. Most notably, Moylan found a way to combine her passions by co-founding Imagine Science, a program designed to address declining student engagement in science education by bringing hands-on experiments and activities to local after-school programs.

In Spain, Moylan will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Galicia, a region that is especially interested in promoting students鈥� scientific thinking skills. This Fulbright year will serve as crucial preparation for Moylan as she applies to medical school. The language and cultural skills she will gain in Spain will allow her to better serve Spanish-speaking patients in the future.

Moylan鈥檚 most influential Elon mentor has been Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dan Wright. 鈥淒r. Dan Wright has been instrumental in my success at Elon,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough his continued support, my confidence in both my personal and professional capacities has grown immensely, and I am extremely grateful to have had him as a mentor.鈥�

Madison Powers 鈥�25

Madison Powers, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in journalism and a minor in Spanish, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. At Elon, Powers was a communications fellow and a 2023 Pulitzer reporting fellow. Since graduating, she has served as an editorial intern at Garden & Gun Magazine in Charleston, South Carolina.

Powers has long had her sights set on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. During her undergraduate years, she spent a semester in Sevilla and fostered her dual passions for cross-cultural exchange and global education. Eager to return, she applied for Fulbright in last year鈥檚 application cycle and was named a semifinalist. She remained so committed to the value of a Fulbright experience that she chose to reapply this year, and her hard work and persistence paid off.

Powers will serve as an English teaching assistant in Madrid. She is excited to live and work in a large, diverse city while improving her Spanish language skills and forming connections with her community. Serving in Madrid will also allow her to work closely with students on Global Classrooms/Model UN projects, which are important to the development of their critical thinking and cross-cultural skills.

This Fulbright year will serve as a bridge between Powers鈥� current and future journalistic work. Upon returning to the U.S, she plans to work as a journalist reporting on and working in Spanish-speaking communities. Her Elon mentors include Kelly Furnas, associate teaching professor of journalism; Jan Register, administrative assistant for the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life; and Pablo Celis-Castillo, associate professor of Spanish.

Aryanna Vindas 鈥�25

Aryanna Vindas, a graduate of the class of 2025, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in South Korea. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Asian studies.

Serving as an English teaching assistant in South Korea is a natural extension of the work Vindas began at Elon. She completed a two-year undergraduate research project about Korean Buddhist mindfulness, studied abroad for a semester in South Korea, and undertook a rigorous course of Korean language study. Simultaneously, she developed her teaching skills by serving as a volunteer English teacher, tutoring Spanish, and leading and assisting dance classes.

Because her grant does not begin until January 2027, Vindas has chosen to go above and beyond to prepare. She will spend this summer in South Korea completing intensive language study at Yonsei University in Seoul, which will help her integrate more successfully into her future host community and build more meaningful relationships with her students.

After Fulbright, Vindas plans to enroll in graduate school to continue the research on Buddhist mindfulness she began at Elon. Vindas鈥� Elon mentors include Renay Aumiller, associate professor of dance; the 鈥渨onderful鈥� dance staff; and Pamela Winfield, professor of religious studies and associate director of international & global studies.

In addition to these students, one senior has been named an alternate. Alternates are still in the competition and have the chance to be promoted to finalists (recipients of the grant) up until the official start of the grant period. We will update this story as we continue to hear news of their progress.

Rebecca Lovasco 鈥�26

Rebecca Lovasco, a psychology major with minors in women鈥檚, gender, and sexuality studies and neuroscience, has been selected as an alternate for a Fulbright study/research grant in Taiwan to earn a master鈥檚 degree in Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at Taipei Medical University.

Lovasco is an Elon College Fellow who went on to win the Lumen Prize. Her research, which integrates cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and philosophy of mind, explores how anxiety and depression affect reinforcement learning and conscious visual perception. Outside of her research, Lovasco is proud to have served as a law enforcement crisis counselor with the Campus Alamance program.

Lovasco鈥檚 Elon mentors include Kristina Krasich, assistant professor of psychology; William Schreiber, associate professor of psychology; Kim Epting, professor of psychology; Alexa Darby, professor of psychology; and Jill McSweeney,聽assistant director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning聽and assistant professor of wellness.

Student presenters included Fatmata Bah (mentored by William Schreiber); Gia Cullens, Olivia Guarino; Jessica Garcia-Bastida, Anna Grace Gilbert and Ella McGlynn (mentored by Sabrina Perkins); Kailey Stark and Soriah Rodriguez Smith (mentored by Ilyssa Salomon); and聽Clare聽Petznick and Natalie Peeples (mentored by Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler).

SEPA is the largest psychological organization in the southeastern United States, aiming to advance psychology as a science, a profession, and a means of promoting human welfare.

Students in attendance presented their research as posters or talks on a variety of topics ranging from operant conditioning in harvester ants to infant behavior. Their presentations reflect many of the core disciplines of psychology,聽including聽behavioral neuroscience and聽developmental psychology, as well as the scholarship聽of聽teaching and learning in psychology.

For many students,聽this was the first professional conference they had ever attended. Presenting their聽research聽at a professional conference is an important milestone and the culmination of聽years of聽hard work.

鈥淧resenting at SEPA was a meaningful way to conclude my research experience at Elon,” said Kailey Stark 鈥�26. “Through the Elon College Fellows program, I have had the opportunity to design and carry out a research project with the support of my mentor, Dr. Ilyssa Salomon. As my first professional conference, SEPA gave me the opportunity to present what I have been working on for the last two years, as well as the chance to learn from my peers across the field of psychology.鈥�

Senior psychology students Clare Petznick 鈥�26 (Odyssey Program) and Natalie Peeples 鈥�26 (Honors and Lumen Scholar)聽and their mentor, Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler,聽presented聽three related research studies in a symposium entitled “The Good Childhood: Exploring preschoolers鈥� perspectives through the Mosaic Method.” Each study explored how preschoolers conceptualize聽鈥渁 good childhood,鈥� a Nordic construct emphasizing children鈥檚 rights and freedoms, through multiple modalities of expression including play, drawings, and photovoice. All three studies were conducted during Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) in 2025 and 2026, and two explored cultural differences between the United States and Denmark. Psychology faculty member Sabrina Perkins served as a discussant, integrating her experience with human development in聽multiple cultural contexts with the聽team鈥檚聽research findings.

“Presenting at the SEPA conference allowed me to visualize my research that I have worked so hard on during my undergraduate career,” said Petznick. “The SEPA conference was particularly enjoyable as I was surrounded by other psychology students who share the same passion for research and discovery as I do.聽Presenting at聽a professional conference helped me feel more confident and knowledgeable in my area of research and I was able to learn from the questions the audience asked me.”

Travel for Perkins was supported by a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant from the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning. Elon聽College,聽the College of Arts and Sciences supported Vandermaas-Peeler’s travel. Student travel was supported by聽generous donors who contributed to the Psychology Department Gift Account,聽a group travel grant from the Undergraduate Research Program,聽and funding from聽the聽Honors聽Program, Elon College Fellows,聽and the Lumen Prize at聽福利亚洲国产精品.

Readers who wish to further contribute to supporting Psychology students鈥� research opportunities and professional conference travel may contribute to the Psychology Department Gift Account:聽