“I was in this place of, ‘Oh my God, what am I going to do?'” she said.

She remembers a moment of doubt during her final year when Professor Emeritus Rich Landesberg provided the “tough love” she needed to move forward.

“He kept saying, ‘Just pick. You鈥檙e going to be fine. No matter what, you鈥檙e going to land on your feet.’ I really needed that at the time,” Polk said.

That foundation was built primarily within the School of Communications, where Polk, a broadcast communications major, found a safe space to test her leadership skills. She points to a producing class taught by Assistant Professor Ray Johnson as a key turning point where the details of the profession finally clicked. Johnson tasked her with being the executive producer for the class, a role that involved managing her peers and overseeing a project from concept to delivery.

“It was so much work, but I loved it,” she said. “You just realize how many people are leaning on you.”

She credits Johnson鈥檚 ability to “put on a show” in the classroom as a major inspiration for her own leadership style, teaching her that engagement and enthusiasm are just as important as technical skills.

“He was so good at his job… I think about him often,” she said.

Upon graduation, Polk鈥檚 preparation was put to the test when she was accepted into the prestigious NBC Page Program in New York City. Moving from the college environment of Elon to the fast-paced world of NBC required a quick adjustment. She rotated through high-stakes assignments, including “The Today Show,” the US Open, and Syfy publicity, a journey that required her to adapt to a more rigorous schedule, one that demanded the fundamental discipline of the network.

“I used to be a very late person,” she admitted. “But I got it out of my system because of the Page Program. Elon prepared me for the presence, how to present yourself well and dress the part, but the Page Program taught me the discipline.”

Her trajectory eventually led her to Los Angeles and the Hallmark Channel for 12 years, where she rose to the position of vice president of development and programming. In this role, she oversaw the production of up to 30 projects annually, yet she never lost sight of the “human-centric” focus she cultivated at Elon. Polk made it a priority to increase diversity and inclusion within the network鈥檚 programming, working to amplify diverse voices to ensure that Hallmark鈥檚 signature films reflected a broader range of the human experience. She describes herself as a kindness-first connector, a philosophy that has allowed her to attract top-tier talent and build lasting relationships with writers and agents across the industry.

Now, as she leads Simply Believe Creative, Polk is focused on catalyzing original romantic comedies and holiday films for the modern streaming market. Even from her home in California, she remains deeply connected to the campus where her journey began. She notes with a smile that she still sees familiar faces in the Elon news, including former classmates who have returned to the university in leadership roles.

Her advice to the next generation of Phoenix is a reflection of her own resilient path.

“Go after the things that scare you and push right through the fear to do them anyway,” she said.

“Take on as many projects as you can, but do them to the absolute best of your ability. Stay curious… the yeses always come,” she said.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online:

Doug Williams ’13 has a specific rule about writing news copy: You can only use the phrase “only time will tell” if your story is about clocks. It’s a piece of advice he received from Professor Emeritus Richard Landesberg, and he uses it subconsciously every morning behind the anchor desk for CBS New York.

Whether he is recapping a local strike or reporting from a war zone, those lessons from his professors remain the backbone of his daily scripts.

“I realistically use those teachings with every single script I write,” Williams said. “Everything is copy. Everyone has a story.”

Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department, vividly remembers that drive.

“Several things stood out about Doug when he was my student,” Hatcher said. “He was naturally curious and asked good questions. He was also smart and a go-getter. When he was assigned stories in my Media Writing class, he had an instinct for finding people… and getting good quotes.”

For many, the Jane and Brian Williams Studio in McEwen is a landmark of the university鈥檚 state-of-the-art facilities. For Doug, it is a reminder of why his parents “bought into” the Elon experience. Though neither attended the university, they were impressed by the real-world training Doug received as a broadcast journalism major. They were blown away that he was already writing, shooting and editing as an undergraduate.

“I think the ‘legacy’ was made possible by the professors I learned from and the education I left with,” Williams said. “It was a way for my parents to express their gratitude for that, while paying it forward”.

Hatcher notes that Williams’ composure was evident even during a study abroad trip.

“He has a calm demeanor that sets other people at ease,” Hatcher said. “When he traveled with me on a Winter Term study abroad, I never worried about him getting left behind. He absorbed the material quickly and made the most of his time.”

Initially, Williams believed his future was set in stone; in a 2017 interview, he intending to stick strictly to sports. However, after seven years at SNY, a period he describes as “magic,” he began to feel the risk of becoming too comfortable.

Following the advice of his mentor and former boss, Curt Gowdy Jr., Williams decided to diversify his skillset. The transition was a “humbling leap” that didn’t immediately lead to a new desk. Williams spent a year navigating the “crickets” of the job market, an experience that forced him to build his networking muscle from scratch.

During this time, he embraced an entrepreneurial spirit, taking overnight shifts and freelancing for MLB Network Radio, CBS Sports Radio and WFAN. He credits these grueling live radio sessions with making his current TV ad-libbing feel easy by comparison.

Since starting at CBS New York in January 2023, Williams has found a new sense of purpose in local journalism. While he traded clubhouse interviews for the unpredictable world of breaking news, the move was put to its highest test in late 2023 when he spent . This assignment remains his most challenging to date, leaving him with a profound perspective on his own luck and a professional hope to be called for such vital reporting again.

Today, the “magic” of his career has evolved from the baseball diamond to the grit of the morning news cycle. He now reports on high-stakes human interest stories, from the to sensitive criminal investigations.

“The job shatters the walls of your comfort zone every day,” Williams said, noting that the lack of routine is exactly what he now loves about the role.

Professor Hatcher, a print journalist by trade, isn’t surprised by Doug’s success in the transition.

“I stress accuracy, context, fairness, self-editing, and completeness… I’m not surprised Doug puts those qualities into practice as he writes news copy, primarily because he’s a consummate professional.”

While his professional excellence is expected, Williams continues to surprise the industry through his dedication to his alma mater. Hatcher emphasizes that Williams’ willingness to mentor current students and network with majors has a “huge impact on elevating the Journalism Department.”

Throughout his rise in the New York market, Williams has navigated the unique pressure that comes with a famous last name. It was a challenge his parents prepared him for early on, advising him that he would often have to “destroy assumptions” people might have about his path.

“People will assume you’re going to be a certain type of person before they meet you,” Williams said, echoing his parents’ guidance. “It’s up to you to surprise them.”

While he credits his family for that foundation, Doug has made that mission his own, focusing on his unique craft to ensure his work, not his name, defines his reputation in the newsroom.

Now a father to a one-year-old son, Williams’ current advice to students is focused on balance. He warns that while fun doesn’t disappear after graduation, it stops happening by accident.

“Fun is now something I have to put on my calendar,” he said.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online: elon.edu/u/advancement/alumni-in-action-feedback/.

As Nikki Sanz 鈥�18 first stepped onto Elon鈥檚 campus, she found a stage. A student who succeeded on a busy schedule, Sanz spent her four years leaning into the culture of involvement that represents the Elon experience. She found that the university鈥檚 environment encouraged students to take initiative from the very start.

“Most Elon students just love to get involved,” Sanz said. “I was able to jump right into those opportunities starting in my freshman year”.

Today, that same spirit of initiative has led Sanz to the front of the music and tech world. As the founder and CEO of , a professional career platform designed specifically for the live event industry, she was recently recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for her work in turning the industry into a modernized community.

Majoring in sport and event management, along with a double minor in business administration and leadership studies, Sanz used Elon as a sandbox to test her ideas. The Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow balanced academics with leadership roles in Alpha Xi Delta and the LEAD program, where she served as a tier captain mentoring new students.

Shaina Dabbs, associate professor of sport management, said that Sanz鈥檚 internal drive was evident early on.

鈥淣ikki consistently showed a strong eagerness to be involved and fully engaged,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淪he brought a genuine passion for the details and the process, understanding that executing the small things well is what elevates the overall outcome. Her internal drive to excel set her apart, and she developed a system that allowed her to successfully manage multiple roles and responsibilities without compromising quality.鈥�

Sanz credits the Elon environment for giving her the room to experiment and create. Whether she was working with Elonthon or performing her own music around town, she was building the foundation for her future career in event production.

鈥淚 brought music to Oak House,鈥� Sanz said. 鈥淚 asked Phil [the owner] if I could do an open mic one night… I did it about once a month, and then he got bands to come and play. And so, the fun fact is, I started music there.鈥�

After graduation, Sanz鈥檚 career took her into the heart of the touring world, working with industry giants like Live Nation and the CMA Awards. She spent years on the road as a production professional for major artists, including Eric Church and George Strait. It was during these high-pressure tours that she noticed an opportunity, as there was no center for the thousands of “gig” workers who make live events possible.

鈥淪port and live events are becoming increasingly complex and commercialized, and relying on informal hiring practices is no longer sustainable,鈥� Dabbs explained. 鈥淧latforms like Giggs help standardize the way talent is sourced, evaluated and deployed, much like analytics transformed player evaluation. When opportunities are only 鈥榳ord-of-mouth,鈥� they limit access and opportunity for highly qualified people who may not 鈥榢now鈥� the right person.鈥�

Sanz spoke very highly of her senior-year experience in Dabbs’ Event and Venue Management course, where students were tasked with running an event without a ‘how-to’ guide. According to Dabbs, this learning by doing model is intentional.

鈥淭he point is to place students in situations where there isn鈥檛 a script, because the live event and sport industry rarely provides one,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淭his experiential approach builds professional resilience and shifts students鈥� mindset to see challenges as opportunities to lead and create solutions. It equips them with the confidence, adaptability and problem-solving skills needed to navigate an industry that is constantly evolving, and to shape it, rather than simply react to it.鈥�

Despite her success in Nashville and her global ambitions for Giggs, Sanz remains rooted in the lessons she learned as a student leader. Her advice for current Phoenix looking to break into the industry is to be open to the different paths the “gig” world offers.

鈥淚f you really want to work in sports or concerts, you can move,鈥� she said, encouraging students to explore the various sectors of the industry to find where they fit best.

Reflecting on her own journey from Phoenix to tech founder, Sanz emphasizes that there is no single “right” way to enter the industry.

鈥淭he impact that I want this to have on the industry is that there’s a way in, there’s actually a path,鈥� she said.

For Dabbs, Sanz鈥檚 trajectory serves as a blueprint for the next generation of sport management students.

鈥淣ikki鈥檚 journey shows students that they do not have to accept the industry as it is. They can change it,鈥� Dabbs said. 鈥淗er story highlights that leadership is about impact, not title, and that success comes from trusting yourself, building inclusive networks and being willing to act.鈥�

This spirit of leadership earned her a spot among Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award winners. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Sanz encourages students to use their time at Elon to explore the size of the field, whether your interest is in concerts, TV or corporate trade shows; the goal is to find a professional community where you can truly thrive.

As she continues to change the traditional hiring process, her mission remains to head in the same direction of inclusivity she felt on her first day at Elon by ensuring every professional in the live event space has a way to be seen.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to share your feedback or those stories online:

鈥淎s soon as I finished moving in, I walked over to the McEwen Communications Building and met a guy named Joe Bruno and a woman named Julie Morse, and not 72 hours later, I was in a car on my way to Charlotte, as part of Elon Local News鈥� (Elon News Network) Democratic National Convention coverage,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淪ure, I was carrying a tripod around the streets of Charlotte for one of the senior reporters, but I was there. And that was just the beginning.鈥�

That “beginning” launched a trajectory that would take him from the student-run newsroom of Elon Local News to the heart of the nation’s capital as a reporter for NBC News. Today, Grumbach is a key player in the network鈥檚 reporting, covering everything from the Supreme Court to the criminal trials of some of the most important people in American politics.

Grumbach credits his success to the immersive, high-pressure environment of Elon Local News.

鈥淲e took ourselves very seriously at Elon Local News. Some might say too seriously,鈥� he said. “But we did that, because we loved it. We loved learning, we loved reporting, we loved breaking news, and we loved the people we did all of that with.鈥�

Over the next four years, Grumbach traveled from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Des Moines, Iowa; from Concord, New Hampshire, to Jo茫o Pessoa, Brazil, reporting on everything from North Carolina鈥檚 controversial bathroom bill to the future of the internet.

Reflecting on the fast-paced newsroom environment at Elon, Grumbach sees how directly those experiences translated to his career today.

鈥淲hether it was 1 a.m. in the edit suites finishing a piece for the morning show, or 5:59 p.m. in the control room trying to load all of the video into the system, the adrenaline kept you going,鈥� he explained. 鈥淎fter graduating, I realized that same feeling crosses the stage with you.鈥�

The hustle and dedication he developed at Elon Local News carried over to national television, where, as Grumbach puts it, 鈥渢he show goes on the air at its scheduled time, whether or not you鈥檙e ready.鈥�

He points to specific mentors, like Professor of Journalism Janna Anderson, whose Reporting for the Public Good class pushed students to find, write and submit stories within hours.

鈥淚t was a fast, exhilarating, stressful experience鈥攂ut so is real-life journalism,鈥� he said.

Grumbach also credits recently retired professor Richard Landesberg, along with faculty members Anthony Hatcher and Staci Saltz, as key influences in shaping him into the journalist he is today. Grumbach knew Elon was the school for him after his first tour, led by a family friend.

鈥淚 picked Elon because of the incredible broadcast journalism program,鈥� he said. 鈥淔rom top to bottom, there is no School of Communication like Elon鈥檚. Professors don鈥檛 just know about broadcasting鈥攖hey鈥檝e worked in broadcasting.鈥�

That foundation helped Grumbach transition seamlessly from the classroom to a career at one of the biggest broadcast news organizations in the country.

鈥淎t NBC News, millions of viewers and readers rely on you for fast, accurate, and digestible information,鈥� he explained. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to learn those core tenets through Elon Local News and in the classroom was invaluable.鈥�

Since joining NBC News, Grumbach has been on the front lines of history. He has traveled to 41 states and Canada, covering Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the 2020 campaign trail, and as part of the NBC News White House team covering the G-20 Leaders鈥� Summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

On the trail, his daily life often resembled a one鈥憁an production crew.

鈥淚 did it all with a camera, tripod, LiveU satellite backpack, luggage and two phones in my pocket,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 shot video, logged video, broke news, walked backwards following the candidate in a parade鈥攁nd that was just before lunch.鈥�

One of Grumbach鈥檚 proudest professional moments came during the 2024 Hunter Biden gun charges trial. Inside a federal courthouse where phones and computers were prohibited, Grumbach needed a creative way to beat the competition in reporting the verdict.

鈥淚n the media room of the federal courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, there are windows that look down to the street below,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he nice thing about windows is that they work both ways.鈥�

Grumbach and his team devised a plan using color鈥慶oded pieces of paper labeled 鈥淕鈥� for 鈥淕uilty鈥� and “N” for 鈥淣ot Guilty.鈥� As the verdict was read, Grumbach held up the papers for each count. By the time the judge finished, three pieces of paper read 鈥淕.鈥� NBC News beat every other television network to the story.

鈥淭he other networks may still be trying to get out of that building,鈥� he jokes.

Grumbach notes that some of the hardest moments in his job come while covering high鈥憈ension events such as protests. He emphasizes the importance of situational awareness as conditions can change quickly.

鈥淚鈥檓 thankful NBC News takes our safety and security in the field seriously and doesn鈥檛 take any chances,鈥� he said.

On the technical side, large crowds such as those at protests present additional challenges.

“When tens of thousands of people are streaming, tweeting and texting at the same time, it can be difficult to get a quality live signal,” Grumbach said. That requires creativity and ingenuity.鈥�

Despite the intensity of his career, Grumbach says one of his favorite parts of the job has been connecting with people on the ground.

鈥淲hat I found most interesting, particularly from covering candidates on the campaign trail, is that from Nevada to Iowa to South Carolina to Vermont, the answers from voters weren鈥檛 all that different,鈥� he said. That realization has reinforced his commitment to reporting the truth and helping connect people across the country.

Despite his national success, Grumbach remains deeply connected to his roots. He was recently selected as one of Elon鈥檚 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni, a recognition he views with immense gratitude. For him, the “Elon bubble” never truly burst; it just expanded. He now lives and works with fellow alumni and had nearly two dozen of them attend his wedding.

Looking ahead to the next decade in a rapidly changing media landscape, Grumbach鈥檚 goal remains simple鈥攖o keep the public informed.

鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing I love more than explaining breaking news to colleagues and viewers鈥攆rom the latest lawsuit filed to a complicated Supreme Court decision,鈥� he said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to tell people something that could truly impact their lives, and making sure that information is easy to understand and fact鈥慴ased, will always be important.鈥�

Since 2011, 福利亚洲国产精品 has honored 10 recipients each year with the Elon Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award, recognizing their significant professional achievements. This award celebrates accomplished alumni from the last decade who not only excel in their careers but also actively contribute to their communities and serve as dedicated alumni role models.

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell? Please share your feedback or those stories online:

She Built This City鈥檚 mission is to provide industry-disruptive programming that sparks interest and builds pathways to lucrative careers in the skilled trades for youth, women and marginalized communities.聽In her role, Faustin聽has launched key initiatives聽for the聽organization,聽including Adult Workforce Development, and expanded youth programming through partnerships with local government and community organizations.

Faustin聽received undergraduate聽degrees in聽corporate聽communications and Spanish from 福利亚洲国产精品,聽before getting her聽master鈥檚 in business administration from聽the university聽in 2010.聽In 2016,聽she received her master鈥檚 in聽educational leadership and administration from Queens University, as well as a certification in聽nonprofit/public/organizational management from Duke University聽in 2022, and a聽certification in Diversity,聽Equity聽and Inclusion 鈥� Building a Diverse Workplace from Cornell University聽in 2023.

In 2023,聽Faustin聽was recognized聽with the Charlotte Business Journal鈥檚 Power 100聽award,聽and 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 Distinguished Alumni Service Award.聽In 2024, she聽received聽Atrium Health鈥檚 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Growing the Dream Award.
Faustin is also聽president-elect for the 福利亚洲国产精品 Alumni Board, and founder and managing聽director of聽Stay Ready Consulting Solutions.

Her聽impact will be featured in the Most Admired CEO Special聽Section published in the June 19 issue of the Charlotte Business Journal.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moeller has made a name for聽herself as a five-time Emmy-nominated senior producer at E! Entertainment聽Television,聽who now聽works聽as a producer at Entertainment Tonight.

鈥淏ack in high school, I used to watch all the red carpets and read all the entertainment magazines,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to work in entertainment television, and I knew 福利亚洲国产精品 had one of the best schools for communications in the country.鈥�

Recognizing that Elon was the perfect fit for her academic and personal aspirations, it became clear that she had to attend. Upon arriving at the school, Moeller dove right into her classes and even picked up a minor she had never considered.

“I majored in broadcast communications and minored in theater arts because I was told the Theatre Arts minor would be helpful with an on-camera presence,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y junior year in 2007, I studied abroad in London, and I now credit an entire career in entertainment news, due to Elon helping me acquire an internship abroad.”

Moeller remembers Elon asking her to choose her top three companies she would want to work for in London, and E! Entertainment was her first pick. With Elon鈥檚 help, she secured exactly what she鈥檇 hoped for.

The initial internship with E! during her London study abroad changed her trajectory for the better.

鈥淚 kept in touch with the London office, so when I did Elon’s inaugural ‘Elon in LA’ program in the summer of 2008, I was able to land my second internship at E!,鈥� she explained. 鈥淥ne week after graduation in 2009, I moved back to LA without a job. I hustled and kept in touch with the E! team, getting my first paying gig with them in 2010, working in the international department, all thanks to my first internship in London.鈥�

Moeller聽made the聽switch聽from聽the聽international聽department聽to聽the聽domestic department at E! News and then rose through the ranks, from intern to senior producer.聽Over聽her聽15聽years at聽E!聽News,聽she聽was nominated for five Emmy Awards,聽and聽interviewed people聽like聽Steve Carell,聽Charlize Theron and聽50 Cent. She also had the聽privilege聽of聽working聽on聽the聽red carpet at the聽Oscars and Golden Globes.

鈥淚 think one thing聽that’s聽gotten me far in this business is realizing celebrities are聽just normal聽people too, and they want to be treated that way,鈥� she explained.聽聽鈥淲hen working with and writing scripts for celebs and hosts,聽I’ve聽always had success connecting with them on a personal level and not treating them like royalty.聽聽They will always feel more comfortable around people who treat them normally聽and聽give them honest feedback, good or bad.鈥�

Moeller聽credits聽her continued success聽to聽strong relationships with her coworkers,聽interviewees, and聽former hosts,聽always聽keeping in聽contact聽with them even after some of their shows had ended.

When reflecting on her favorite experiences so far in her career, she recalls being able to work on one of the聽biggest聽pop聽culture stages as a top moment.

“I聽recently worked the Golden Globes red carpet this year with our host Keltie Knight, and it was my first time doing a major awards show red carpet; we were positioned right at the limo drop where we saw all the celebs exiting their cars,聽like George and Amal Clooney, Julia Roberts,聽and聽Leslie Mann,聽to name a few.鈥�

This聽unforgettable聽experience solidified for聽her聽that she was in the right career.
Another memorable project was producing live coverage for聽Kobe Bryant’s memorial service in 2020, outside of the Staples聽Center.

鈥淚t was just me, my host Will聽Marfuggi, and聽a cameraman. We were reporting live from downtown LA, getting footage and statements of the fans showing up to mourn his death.聽聽It was a surreal experience to be in the presence of that historic moment,鈥� she said.

Moeller鈥檚聽journey聽at聽E! News was marked by steady growth聽in聽leadership, as she took on a variety of roles throughout her time at the company. When E! News was cancelled in September 2025, she unexpectedly lost her job. However, the strong professional relationships she had built over the years quickly became a source of support and聽opportunity.

“One聽meaningful connection I made along the way was with Jerry O’Connell,聽who at the time was聽hosting 鈥楾he Talk.鈥� After our interview, he followed me on Instagram and has been a huge supporter of my career ever since. When E! News was cancelled in聽September,聽we went out to lunch to talk through opportunities and strategies. He even reposted my Instagram announcement when I shared that I had landed a new job at Entertainment Tonight,鈥澛爏aid Moeller.

Building on her professional network, she transitioned from a freelance role at Entertainment Tonight in October to a full-time position聽in January of this year. She credits this milestone to her connections and a pivotal, “game-changing” internship in London.

Elon鈥檚聽top-notch聽curriculum and amazing professors helped聽her聽feel聽prepared聽for the real聽world, knowing she聽could succeed outside the classroom.聽Elon鈥檚 study abroad center helped many students,聽including聽Moeller, afford transformative international experiences. Opening doors to life-changing internships and meaningful global connections while abroad.

Moeller聽has come a long way聽through聽courage and perseverance,聽and now she works聽for a nine-time Emmy Award-winning nationwide聽show.

鈥淭his business,聽especially聽out聽in LA, is 100% about who you know, but it鈥檚 how good you do that聽is what聽keeps you there,鈥� she聽explained.

鈥淢y main advice is to take the internships, do the study abroad, make the connections, and always聽keep in contact with people and never burn bridges,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou never know who’s聽going to聽end up where and who can help you down the line. And when聽you’re聽on top, know that it can always change in an instant, so always be kind to the people below you,聽as聽one day you may be working for them.鈥�

Do you know an alum who has an interesting story to tell, maybe even yourself? Please feel free to聽share your feedback or those stories online.

They stood poised with their hands raised, breathing steady, before their fists began to fly. Jab, cross, right hook, left upper cut.

They noticed the sensations in their body as childhood memories raced through their mind, allowing themself to feel every feeling that remained with them from a time when they didn鈥檛 have a voice. With every punch, they stepped closer to regaining their power, closer to a deeper understanding of their full self.

Danielle Martinelli-Taylor 鈥�12 says the physical movement often allows clients to recognize and begin healing younger parts of themselves that were never fully seen or supported. 鈥淭hrough the movement, through fighting back against that, they were able to trust themself more.鈥�

A licensed professional counselor, Martinelli-Taylor centers her Denver practice, Animo Counseling and Coaching, on healing the whole person. Among the approaches she uses is somatic boxing, a method that connects mind and body to help clients process trauma and strengthen their overall well-being.

鈥淲e鈥檙e interconnected beings,鈥� she says. 鈥淥ur bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.鈥�

A Non-Linear Path

Martinelli-Taylor鈥檚 journey toward counseling wasn鈥檛 straightforward, but every step helped develop the empathy, critical thinking and global perspective that shapes her work. The Massachusetts native wasn鈥檛 familiar with Elon before stumbling upon it while touring colleges along the East Coast. She was immediately drawn to its arts and sciences foundation, small class sizes and study abroad program.

She enrolled Early Decision, planning to study education, but soon found that teaching wasn鈥檛 her passion. She did, however, have a knack for fostering strong one-on-one connections, and she found other ways to build those skills through a strategic communications major and religious studies minor.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of psychology in strategic communications, learning what are people鈥檚 needs, what do they want, why do they do what they do. I loved that aspect,鈥� Martinell-Taylor says. 鈥淭hen my religious studies minor was just a window to the world of what other people believe, why they believe it and how that directs their decisions, hopes and dreams.鈥�

But it was her semester abroad in London that influenced her most, broadening her worldview and clarifying what she did and didn鈥檛 want to pursue post-graduation. She interned for a fashion supplier on Oxford Street but didn鈥檛 feel a strong connection to the work. She loved London, though, and wanted to use her communications skills in service of something she cared about deeply.

After graduating, she returned to London for two years, working with an international mission organization that supported churches and other spiritual communities. Martinelli-Taylor spent much of her time connecting with South Asian women, children and teens and found their conversations about life and struggle deeply meaningful. On weekends, she volunteered with a nonprofit fighting human trafficking, a cause that first sparked her interest through an Elon course examining slavery in the Bible, in American history and in modern times. Again and again, she found herself drawn to work that offered support to people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

鈥淚 was hearing people鈥檚 trauma, hearing really difficult life journeys and feeling this pull,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淚f people have gone through these really awful things, forced into things they had no control over, how do I step into that world?鈥�

That realization ignited Martinelli-Taylor鈥檚 calling to be a counselor. She moved back to the U.S. and earned her master鈥檚 degree in clinical mental health counseling from Denver Seminary in 2019. Her communications, religious studies and study abroad experience from her time at Elon remained foundational as she forged this new path.

L.D. Russell, senior lecturer emeritus of religious studies at Elon, remembers Martinelli-Taylor as open-minded, eager to learn and deeply committed to helping others. Her unique counseling approach feels like a natural extension of that spirit. 鈥淥ne of the truest values of an Elon education,鈥� he says, 鈥渋s gaining a clearer sense of how others live and move through the world, and how our own gifts can be used to foster the public good.鈥�

The Mind-Body Connection

After obtaining her master鈥檚 degree, Martinelli-Taylor again used her skills to support human trafficking victims, providing counseling to survivors with complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. She later moved to a group practice, helping clients with a broader range of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and grief.

In graduate school, she began to learn how physical movement, education and preventative work can help set clients up for a healthier life and resiliency amid difficult challenges. That idea coupled with her own personal experience with boxing prompted her to try bilateral boxing as a technique with some clients at the group practice. 鈥淚t was starting to help people break out of dissociation and get into their body,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淲e used it as a tool when they felt stuck or overwhelmed with talk therapy.鈥�

As she saw the approach resonate with more clients, Martinelli-Taylor set out to develop it further and open her own practice. Drawing on her strategic communications background, she built the foundation for her business while consulting with counselors who use somatic therapies that link breath, body and mental health. In 2024 she founded Animo Counseling and Coaching, where she offers treatments such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and her own style of somatic boxing therapy.

Animo means 鈥渕ind鈥� in Latin, 鈥渟oul鈥� and 鈥渃ourage鈥� in Italian and 鈥渆ncouragement鈥� in Spanish. 鈥淭he practice reflects that intentionality, that purposefulness,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t represents the embodiment of the brain and body鈥檚 role in learning about yourself.鈥�

Our bodies hold just as much of our story as our minds do, and healing happens when we learn how to listen to both.聽鈥� Danielle Martinelli-Taylor ’12

Martinelli-Taylor first teaches her clients the basics of non-contact boxing, using the bilateral movements of boxing but no sparring, just hitting boxing gloves to mitts as the whole body engages. She focuses on proper form and breathwork, guiding clients to concentrate on each motion. The practice becomes a type of moving meditation, stimulating both sides of the body and both hemispheres of the brain.

For many clients, the approach offers another avenue for healing, especially for those who may not feel ready to talk through difficult experiences right away. By focusing on the rhythm of movement and breath, clients begin to notice what their bodies and minds are holding, and shift it out.

Once clients feel comfortable with the technique, she introduces strategies for building courage, managing stress and emotions, and processing difficult memories. The approach encourages people to tune in to the physical sensations that often accompany mental health struggles, opening the door to more holistic healing. Movement and breathwork, Martinelli-Taylor says, can help move through distress, regulate mood and ground the body to allow clients to face and work through deeper challenges.

In addition to continuing to grow her practice, Martinelli-Taylor hopes to conduct larger studies on the impact of somatic boxing on mental health. And while she is there to support her clients in the 鈥渞ing鈥� when they need it, she doesn鈥檛 expect them to rely on a coach forever. Her goal is to help people build the awareness and tools to continue the work on their own 鈥� to trust their bodies, their instincts and their capacity to heal.

鈥淚 want them to feel like they鈥檙e equipped to learn and grow,鈥� Martinelli-Taylor says. 鈥淭hey can take this work, try it out in the world and know that they鈥檙e resilient.鈥�

In her role,聽McKay oversees聽academic support, development,聽health care聽administration, inclusion and belonging and leadership for student-athletes.聽She champions community service by organizing聽student-athlete programs during聽the ACC鈥檚 Unity Tours.

The聽Unity Tour聽is a聽conference-wide,聽immersive learning experience聽focused on聽unity, social聽responsibility,聽and civic engagement.聽McKay and her team have introduced over聽300聽student-athletes,聽coaches聽and administrators to聽different聽Unity Tour聽experiences in Washington, D.C., Charleston, South Carolina, and Selma, Alabama.

McKay graduated with a degree in sport and event management from Elon聽University聽before getting her master鈥檚聽in higher education/student affairs聽and聽doctorate in higher education/higher education administration from聽The George聽Washington University.

In 2019, she gave the keynote address at the聽Department of Sport Management senior banquet and awards ceremony, and has served as聽an Elon Career Mentor,聽mentor to Elon鈥檚聽Women Influencers in Sport program and as a member of the Women of Elon Advisory Council.

In December, as Anderson presented the agency鈥檚 Gold Bear Award 鈥� a peer-driven recognition celebrating employees who best represent the company鈥檚 culture and values 鈥� he lauded Young鈥檚 willingness to take on 鈥渕assive responsibilities,鈥� commending her ability to 鈥渆ffortlessly power through high-pressure projects.鈥�

鈥淪he’s the person everyone turns to for answers and support, uplifting every team she touches and quietly cleaning up problems that aren’t even hers to solve,鈥� Anderson told audience members.

As he concluded and Young鈥檚 name flashed across the massive screen behind him, the room erupted in applause 鈥� a moment captured in a video Young shared on her LinkedIn page.

The award capped off a standout year for Young, who serves as an assistant producer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the global network of agencies responsible for one of the world鈥檚 most iconic brands, Apple. Her year included work on major Apple-related projects such as the Mac for Students campaign, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Dua Lipa鈥檚 鈥淪hot on iPhone鈥� tour and Apple TV rebranding efforts.

Reflecting on that work, Young said the experience has been both challenging and rewarding.

鈥淚 am so incredibly grateful for these experiences and the amazing, incredibly talented teams behind them,鈥� she said, noting how meaningful it was to be part of such high-profile, creatively ambitious work.

Young鈥檚 path to TBWA\Media Arts Lab began at Elon, where a DEI in Hollywood class helped shape her professional direction. Encouraged by former Elon faculty members J. McMerty and Rachel Ramist, she applied for and landed an internship with the Television Academy. That experience, along with her participation in the Elon in LA program, led her to move to Los Angeles after graduation. Once on the West Coast, she first worked as a personal assistant, then as a production coordinator at a social media marketing company.

As Young began thinking about her next step, a recruiter from TBWA\Media Arts Lab contacted her about a production coordinator role in the agency鈥檚 broadcast production department. During interviews, she learned that her internships 鈥� especially with the Television Academy and RadicalMedia 鈥� helped her stand out. She was offered the position and later moved into her current role, where she supports lead producers to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.

As part of her work, Young organizes security plans, tracks creative assets, coordinates meetings with production companies, and supports communication among producers in editorial, finishing and mix. Her goal, she said, is to make sure every project has what it needs to succeed.

Working at a global creative agency has reshaped how Young views storytelling. She said she was surprised by how much care goes into even the shortest pieces of content. Creative teams analyze work frame by frame, fixing even the smallest details before releasing it into the world. Seeing that process firsthand has made her more aware of the thought, precision and responsibility behind creative work.

When she learned she had received the Gold Bear Award, Young said she felt grateful more than anything else. 鈥淚 consider myself lucky to work with the teams I have,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he whole production team is a bunch of rockstars, not to mention our creative department and account teams. To be recognized by them makes me feel like I am doing something right.鈥�

As she reflects on her journey from Elon to one of the world鈥檚 most influential creative agencies, Young emphasizes the importance of attitude, effort and openness to opportunity. Her advice to current Elon students is simple: say yes often and show that you are willing to work. Some of the best projects, she said, come from teams who are fully committed to making something great 鈥� and who bring a positive attitude, even when things get stressful.

鈥淲hat I鈥檝e found in internships and entry-level roles is that folks who show that they are passionate and team-oriented seem to do well,鈥� Young said. 鈥淲hen I first started at MAL, the people who stood out to me, who had clearly left their mark on the agency, were those who were team players, focused on supporting others and achieving the best final result.鈥�