This August,聽福利亚洲国产精品 hosted university and college educators from across the region and around the world for the聽22nd Annual Teaching and Learning Conference. A free, hybrid event sponsored jointly by the聽Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning (颁础罢尝),听Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT), and the Office of the Provost.

Nearly 70聽educators attended the conference on Elon鈥檚 campus, including faculty from Queens University of Charlotte,聽providing an opportunity for educators聽to connect and exchange ideas. Hundreds more聽participated聽virtually from聽institutions across the country and beyond.

Rather than simply streaming the in-person conference, the fully hybrid format offered distinct programming for virtual and on-campus participants throughout the day. The two groups came together聽virtually for聽the聽conference鈥檚聽keynote, while other sessions were designed specifically for each mode of participation.

This year’s conference, themed “Teaching for Tomorrow: Building Transferable Skills and Lifelong Learners,” encouraged attendees to reflect on how today’s teaching practices shape students’ abilities to adapt, think critically and thrive in the future.聽Presentation submissions聽addressed聽one of聽four related sub-themes: Technology and the Future of Learning, Foundations for the Future, Building Transferable Skills for Tomorrow, and Teaching Innovations.

The聽keynote聽address聽was given聽by聽director for curriculum transformation initiatives at聽,聽titled “Boldness by Design: Reimagining our University from the Classroom Out.” McGowan聽shared聽how universities might move from preserving tradition to designing new models, structures, and pathways toward the learning outcomes they聽seek聽for students, drawing on her experience leading institution-wide educational transformation initiatives.

Following the keynote, McGowan and Jill McSweeney, assistant director of CATL, led an in-person workshop for on-campus attendees, “Envisioning Structures of the Possible,” which invited participants to imagine a new, fully experiential core curriculum requirement for the year 2032. The workshop asked educators to consider experiential learning as a holistic, emergent and relational response to the complexities of higher education today.

Throughout the day, presenters shared research, practices, and teaching strategies aligned with the conference鈥檚 themes, creating opportunities for both virtual and in-person participants to connect with colleagues and exchange ideas about the future of teaching and learning.

The Teaching and Learning Conference is held annually at Elon and聽remains聽free for registrants.聽Information about the 2026 conference schedule, past conferences and future calls for proposals is available on the CATL and TLT websites.

Across three Digital Learning Days (DLD) offerings in June and July, 74 faculty members from disciplines across Elon worked in their migrated courses, explored the university’s new learning management system and began adapting their content and course design for the academic year ahead.

“Our goal for Digital Learning Days was to empower faculty with guidance and space to work through this transition with confidence,” said Dhvani Toprani, assistant director of Learning Design and Support within Teaching and Learning Technologies. “We wanted them to leave with a deeper understanding of Canvas and ideas for using it to create meaningful, student-centered learning experiences.”

Throughout the day, faculty applied what they were learning directly to their own courses, making progress on the work they could continue building on after the session and becoming more familiar with the platform along the way.

In anonymous feedback collected after DLD, one participant described that shift:
“I walked in feeling only marginally familiar with Canvas and definitely unprepared to build my courses. I am leaving today feeling much more comfortable, confident, and (dare I say) even excited to finish building and customizing my courses.”

Designing with students in mind

Throughout DLD, faculty considered how course organization, visual design, assessment and instructional choices shape the student experience.
Instructional Technologists Becky Kloepfer, Kendra Nanton and Tristan Daniels guided faculty through strategies for creating consistent, accessible and approachable courses. Sessions gave participants opportunities to apply those ideas in different ways, from using Adobe Express to develop course visuals to exploring Canvas Course Analytics to better understand student activity and engagement.

Faculty also spent time working through assessment in the new learning management system, including Canvas Quizzes, migrating question banks from Moodle and addressing common migration challenges.

Student perspectives were part of that work as well. TLT student employees Alana Driver and Jose Besednjak Izquierdo supported DLD, contributing their perspectives as faculty considered how students will navigate and experience their courses in Canvas.

By the end of the sessions, faculty had made progress on the courses they will teach this fall while developing greater familiarity with the new learning management system. That work will continue as faculty gain experience with Canvas and further develop their courses throughout the semester. Overall, feedback from participants appreciated the blended focus on structured instruction, work time, and having the space to ask individual questions.

As Elon begins its first semester in Canvas, DLD reflects TLT’s broader approach to the transition: creating opportunities for faculty to learn, experiment and seek support while keeping teaching and the student experience at the center.

The transition planning phase reflects a clear institutional decision and does not聽represent聽an immediate change to how courses are taught or delivered. Moodle will remain fully supported;聽no Spring 2026 courses are affected,听补苍诲 no action is聽required聽from faculty or staff at this time.

Why now?

Over the聽fall semester, Teaching and Learning Technologies, in partnership with academic and IT colleagues, conducted a comprehensive review of the university鈥檚 learning management system. That process included open forums,聽surveys听补苍诲 structured feedback from more than 125聽faculty and staff members and more than 400聽undergraduate and graduate students.

The evaluation highlighted聽the importance of聽adopting聽a learning management system to support聽current and聽evolving approaches to learning and engagement.

Beginning the transition planning now allows the university to move forward deliberately, ensuring the transition is well supported and aligned with Elon鈥檚 broader commitment to engaged learning and student success.

Why Canvas?

Canvas was selected following a careful review of faculty and student input,聽market聽analysis听补苍诲 platform capabilities.

鈥淭his decision was guided by the needs and hopes of our faculty and students,鈥澛爏aid Rebecca Kohn, provost听补苍诲 vice president of academic affairs.聽鈥淥ur community asked for a system that is reliable and flexible; one that can adapt to diverse approaches to teaching and learning. Canvas聽emerged聽as the platform that best aligns with those priorities as we look ahead.鈥�

What this means and what鈥檚 next

As planning moves forward, a few key points may be helpful to keep in mind:

• Moodle聽remains聽fully supported聽through the transition.
• No action is required聽from聽LMS users聽at this time.
• No change will be made to how courses are taught or delivered for Spring 2026.

Teaching and Learning Technologies will lead the transition聽process in close partnership with academic and IT colleagues. TLT will coordinate training, support and future communications, ensuring faculty,聽staff听补苍诲 students聽have clarity and guidance well in advance of any changes.

As details take shape, including a clearer transition timeline and answers to聽frequently聽asked questions, TLT will share updates with the campus community.聽Additional聽information is expected before March.

鈥淭ransitioning to a modern, user-friendly platform like Canvas supports engaged learning and student success,鈥� said Kelly Reimer, senior director of Teaching and Learning Technologies. 鈥淥ur goal during this early phase聽of work聽is to establish a strong foundation for both the technical transition and how we will support faculty and students in ways that minimize聽disruption聽to teaching and learning.鈥�

Faculty engagement & Next Steps

Faculty involvement聽remains聽central as the transition planning continues. Opportunities for faculty engagement, support and training will be communicated by Teaching and Learning Technologies as plans are refined.

鈥淎s a member of the LMS evaluation project team, I was grateful for the聽quantity and聽depth聽of feedback we received from colleagues and students,鈥� said Eric Bauer, faculty fellow for technology and assistant professor of biology. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to see how聽my colleagues creatively use the many new tools within Canvas to make their classes even more engaging and easy for students to聽navigate听补苍诲聽look forward to exploring with them the possibilities of the new LMS.鈥�

The transition to Canvas will be implemented over time, with ongoing communication and support as the university moves through the next academic year.

That鈥檚 been the focus of Eric Bauer鈥檚 first year as faculty fellow for technology: listening to faculty, amplifying their perspectives and helping align IT services with academic needs.

An assistant professor of biology, Bauer stepped into the three-year faculty fellowship in August 2024. He serves as a liaison between faculty and the Office of Information Technology (IT), offering insight into how technology can enhance teaching, learning and student success.

鈥淔aculty and IT bring different strengths to the table, but we鈥檙e working toward the same goal: supporting students,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淭his role has helped me see the overlap and find new ways to collaborate more intentionally.鈥�

Since his appointment, Bauer has conducted over two dozen one-on-one interviews with faculty in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences. His goal: understand how instructors are using technology, where challenges emerge and how IT can better support their work. He鈥檚 now expanding those conversations to include the Schools of Communications, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, and the School of Health Sciences, creating a broader picture of instructional technology across campus.

鈥淭he goal isn鈥檛 to offer immediate answers,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about surfacing perspectives that can help IT better understand where technology is meeting faculty needs and where there鈥檚 room to grow.鈥�

A focus on student learning and emerging technology

While faculty conversations remain at the heart of Bauer鈥檚 work, he鈥檚 also exploring how emerging tools鈥攑articularly AI鈥攃an extend academic support for students.

He is in the early stages of collaborating with Learning Assistance, investigating how technologies like generative AI could help students build foundational skills like time management, study strategies and information literacy.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen how much students struggle with basic academic habits, especially in their first year,鈥� Bauer said. 鈥淚f we can use tools like AI to help them strengthen those habits early on, it could have a real impact on their academic experience.鈥�

Bauer is also in conversation with Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) and other IT teams about the evolving role of AI in platforms like Moodle 4.5. While Teaching and Learning Technologies has chosen not to enable Moodle鈥檚 generative AI features at this time, Bauer sees value in how TLT is taking a thoughtful approach to ensure alignment with Elon鈥檚 AI Principles.

His exploration of generative AI aligns with this intentional approach, as he seeks to better understand which tools support learning and where guidance can help faculty integrate them mindfully.

As with all of his work, the focus is not on chasing new tools, but on identifying which technologies solve real problems and align with Elon鈥檚 values and teaching goals.

A connector between faculty and IT

Bauer鈥檚 experience as an educator and researcher informs his approach to the fellowship, as does his prior use of instructional technologies such as 3D printing, Microsoft 365 and adaptive testing platforms.

Through his role, he鈥檚 gained a deeper appreciation for the scope of IT鈥檚 work and what goes into maintaining the digital infrastructure that faculty rely on every day.

The scale and complexity of IT work has been eye-opening. Most faculty only interact with tools like Moodle or Microsoft Teams, but there鈥檚 an entire infrastructure running behind the scenes. Learning more about that has deepened my appreciation for the role IT plays in our work.

Eric Bauer, assistant professor of biology and faculty fellow for technology

鈥淓ric brings a grounding perspective,鈥� said Kelly Reimer, senior director of teaching and learning technologies. 鈥淗e asks the kinds of questions that connect tools to real teaching challenges. That鈥檚 what we were looking for: someone who could help bridge strategy with everyday practice.鈥�

That bridge works both ways. Bauer is helping IT teams understand faculty workflows and needs while helping faculty better understand how IT systems are built, maintained and rolled out across campus.

Looking ahead

Bauer joins a line of previous faculty fellows for technology, including Kyle Altman, associate professor of physics, who helped lead Elon鈥檚 transition to hybrid teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other former fellows include:

• Todd Lee, professor of mathematics;
• Antonio Izzo, associate professor of biology
• Randy Piland, senior lecturer in communication design.

Moving forward, Bauer will continue his outreach across academic schools, contribute to professional development programming, and support conversations around responsible, student-centered technology use.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a genuine sense of collaboration across IT teams,” Bauer said. “They鈥檝e been incredibly welcoming and open to conversation. I鈥檓 excited to keep learning鈥攁nd to keep building connections that help us all do our work more effectively.鈥�

Faculty members who are interested in connecting with Bauer about classroom technology, digital tools, or instructional support are encouraged to reach out to him. He welcomes conversations with colleagues from all disciplines and perspectives.

What to Expect

To implement these updates:

• May 29 (2鈥�8 a.m.): Moodle will be temporarily unavailable while the upgrade is in progress.
• May 29 (8 a.m.鈥�5 p.m.): Moodle will be available, but intermittent disruptions may occur during final testing.
• May 30: Moodle 4.5 will be fully launched, allowing all users to explore its new features.

What鈥檚 Changing in Moodle 4.5?

Moodle 4.5 introduces several refinements that enhance usability and streamline workflows, including:

• Improved course organization 鈥� A more intuitive layout and better tools for structuring content.
• Modernized text editor 鈥� A feature-rich, user-friendly, more accessible interface similar to Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
• Assessment & grading enhancements 鈥� More flexibility with bulk actions, question re-grading and quiz organization.
• Refined navigation 鈥� Updates designed to make workflows more efficient and improve overall ease of use.

Additionally, Moodle 4.5 is a Long-Term Support version, designed for long-term reliability and backed by extended expert support, with a focus on stability and security rather than frequent feature rollouts.

鈥淭his upgrade is more than new features; it enhances functionalities to support intuitive course organization,鈥� said Dhvani Toprani, assistant director of Learning Design and Support in Teaching and Learning Technologies. 鈥淲e recognize that change is challenging, so before and after the upgrade, our team is prepared and eager to guide and support our instructors through this transition with 听补苍诲 .鈥�

Support and Resources

To ensure a seamless transition, Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) is providing:

• 聽before and after the upgrade (as well as before the start of fall classes) to help instructors become comfortable with the new features.
• , a dedicated space for video tutorials and highlights, feature overviews and FAQs to explore at one鈥檚 convenience.
• 聽for personalized support in adjusting course materials.

While Moodle 4.5 includes AI-based text and image generation features for students to submit and instructors to create assignments, TLT has chosen not to enable these AI tools at this time while their impact is being carefully evaluated. Information Technology is taking a thoughtful approach to integrating AI in Moodle, ensuring alignment with and preparing internal guidance before these features are launched.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited about the changes coming with Moodle 4.5,鈥� said Kelly Reimer, senior director of Teaching and Learning Technologies. 鈥淭his upgrade supports a smoother, more intuitive experience for our faculty, staff and students, and it鈥檚 one of many ways we鈥檙e working to align our digital tools with the evolving needs of teaching and learning at Elon.鈥�

Throughout June, July, and August, Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) will provide ongoing support, including one-on-one and group consultations, as well as additional training, to help faculty and staff prepare for the next academic term.

鈥淭he TLT team has been attentive to building support resources and providing opportunities for engagement to learn the new features,鈥� Toprani added. 鈥淲e鈥檙e eager to engage with our community to ensure a seamless transition.鈥�

Faculty and staff can visit the , , or . For any immediate concerns, TLT is available to assist with the transition and answer any questions.

Assistant Professor Mustafa Akben begins his new administrative role on July 1, 2024, following a competitive internal search.

Akben will lead the integration of artificial intelligence across Elon鈥檚 academic and administrative departments, building on six core principles the university helped establish last year to guide higher education institutions with a rapidly evolving and groundbreaking technology.

“Dr. Akben鈥檚 commitment to ethical AI practices and his proven ability to translate complex AI concepts into transformative educational experiences make him uniquely qualified to advance our strategic goals in Boldly Elon,鈥� said 福利亚洲国产精品 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淗is leadership will mark a significant step in Elon鈥檚 commitment to serving as a global model for integrating AI into post-secondary education.鈥�

Akben鈥檚 responsibilities as director of artificial intelligence integration include collaborating with faculty and staff members on:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive AI strategy to enhance curriculum, teaching, research, and administrative processes
• Serving as a strategic partner to integrate AI technologies that promote ethical use and operational excellence across campus divisions
• Leading the integration of Elon’s AI principles to enhance educational outcomes, promote digital inclusion, and ensure ethical research and teaching practices
• Engaging with national and international AI experts and organizations to position Elon as a leader in ethical AI integration
• Facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations to embed AI in ways that respect Elon鈥檚 Generative AI Statement and align with the institution’s mission
• Documenting and advocating for AI best practices at Elon, shaping policies that ensure responsible AI application across the university

鈥淚 envision Elon as a thriving community where AI helps administrative functions and academic excellence, all while preserving human relationships across and beyond our campus, a trait that defines Elon’s identity,鈥� Akben said. 鈥淚 am excited to work across departments to find solutions that facilitate processes and create fresh, innovative, and welcoming experiences by partnering with faculty, staff, and students.

鈥淢ore importantly, I am committed to fostering an open dialogue on AI that incorporates diverse perspectives and insights, which is essential to developing a responsible and inclusive approach to artificial intelligence.鈥�

I envision Elon as a thriving community where AI helps administrative functions and academic excellence, all while preserving human relationships across and beyond our campus, a trait that defines Elon’s identity.

– Assistant Professor Mustafa Akben

Akben brings a wealth of expertise in deep learning, generative AI, and the ethical application of artificial intelligence. His primary research in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business has focused on how AI can transform human cognition and workplace behaviors. Akben鈥檚 professional journey includes significant achievements such as twice winning the SIOP Machine Learning and AI Competition and publishing influential research on the role of AI in management and organizational behavior.

In coordination with colleagues over the past year, he also has helped organize multiple AI literacy workshops, conduct university-wide research, draft a white paper, and provide strategic insights to university leadership.

鈥淭he depth of Dr. Akben鈥檚 knowledge about artificial intelligence and the ways in which it influences our present as well as its capacity to affect our future is matched only by his enthusiasm for student learning,鈥� said Rebecca Kohn, 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 provost and vice president of academic affairs. 鈥淚 am inspired by his forward thinking pursuit of curricular innovation and potential efficiencies that will be made possible by emerging technologies that will remain a part of our lives.鈥�

Akben holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Temple University and has developed a range of AI-enhanced teaching tools and methodologies.

Members of the Search Committee for the Director of Artificial Intelligence Integration

• Pat Donohue, Co-Chair, Deputy Chief Information Officer
• Paula Rosinski, Co-Chair, Professor of English and Director of Writing Across the University
• Haya Ajjan, Associate Dean of the Love School of Business and Gordon Professor of Entrepreneurship
• Jeff Carpenter, Professor of Education and Director of Teaching Fellows Program
• Ryan Mattfeld, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
• Antoinette Polito, Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
• Kelli Shuman, AVP for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
• Eric Townsend, Assistant Vice President for Academic Communications
• Shannon Zenner, Assistant Professor of Communication Design

As usual, the staff from the Maker Hub made the festivities even more exciting with additional fun, like people walking around with Cheerwine-flavored nitrogen ice cream, laughter from students playing Super Mario Kart and designing their custom tee shirts, and curious conversations between guests and dozens of innovative makers.

鈥淭he energy from Maker Takeover was exciting. You could truly feel the enthusiasm from everyone,鈥� said Dan Reis, senior instructional technologist and manager of the Maker Hub. 鈥淭he Maker Hub Student Consultants loved showing off their projects to their friends. They talk about the Maker Hub all the time, so finally exhibiting their projects to the people who are important in their lives is really meaningful.鈥�

Owen Crider 鈥�26 is one of these students. He is a Cinema and Television Arts major on the Saws Team at the Downtown Maker Hub, and he has spent months making a unique instrument.

鈥淚 love playing the banjo, and I wanted a version that I could beat up, paint, and not take too seriously, so I made this Guitanjagon,鈥� Crider said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a guitar because of its acoustic body composition, a banjo because of the strings, and it鈥檚 my favorite shape 鈥� hexagonal. I used the Maker Hub鈥檚 saws and laser engraver to cut and design the instrument, I learned new and simple ways to paint, and I鈥檓 excited to use all these new skills for future projects.鈥�

The 2023-2024 Kickbox recipients also displayed the projects they researched, prototyped, built, and revised throughout the spring.

First-year Computer Science major Murilo Lopes 鈥�27 utilized the Kickbox program and the Maker Hub鈥檚 resources to combine artificial intelligence, computer science, and world languages to make a robot that can teach American Sign Language.

鈥淩ight now, we鈥檝e completed the first step and have the initial prototype for the hand, showing off the hardware, the flexibility, and how it moves,鈥� Lopes said. 鈥淓ventually, we鈥檒l combine it with machine learning to see if the person interacting with the robot is signing correctly; if they are, they鈥檒l move on to the next stage, but if not, they can try again or try a different word. There are lots of opportunities for us to build on the foundation we鈥檙e laying.鈥�

Two senior students, Sofia Balance 鈥�24 and Emma Farrell 鈥�24, teamed up to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams, starting with stylized hats. 鈥淲e realized there was a lack of diversity in the hat market, and we wanted to do something for women that鈥檚 unique, dynamic, and sophisticated,鈥� Balance said.

鈥淥ne of my professors, Ben Hannam, recommended Kickbox, and I thought it would be awesome since it offers funding, is a guided process, and is a perfect option to start a process for something bigger,鈥� Farrell said. 鈥淲e tried reaching out to third-party vendors for help, but we ended up doing all the work ourselves, designing, making, and applying heat-activated vinyl, which we could only do because of the Maker Hub.鈥�

Visit the Maker Hub website for more information about the Hub鈥檚 happenings, the Kickbox program and project updates, and more. For a closer look, follow the Maker Hub on Instagram or visit one of their two locations in the Colonnades E building or downtown above Pandora鈥檚 Pies.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to launch and pilot Poll Everywhere here at Elon because it鈥檚 an opportunity to connect with each other deeper and more efficiently,鈥� said Dhvani Toprani, assistant director of learning design and support at Elon. 鈥淲hether instructors want to further engage students in class, staff members and student leaders strive for clearer understandings from various audiences, or students aim to upgrade class presentations, Poll Everywhere aims to support and reinforce numerous endeavors.鈥�

All faculty and staff members can now access a Poll Everywhere enterprise聽presenter license via their Elon email. Students can also聽access an enterprise license but will initially be added as participants by default. They can request a presenter account by contacting Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT).

TLT is hosting a virtual training session on Jan. 16 to explain the various ways faculty, staff, and students can utilize Poll Everywhere most effectively to find further success in their teaching and working environments. Interested participants , and more聽training sessions are expected this February. A聽pilot program focused on testing the platform is planned for聽the spring semester.

Additionally, all faculty and staff are invited to join the Poll Everywhere User Group, a collective effort to increase campus participation and support educational technology initiatives. During the pilot phase, the user group will drive the decision-making process for acquiring and integrating an enterprise license beyond the pilot phase. Faculty and staff interested in participating in the User Group can indicate their interest , and a TLT staff member will reach out with more information.

To get started, users should go to and enter their Elon email ID. Click on “Log in with 福利亚洲国产精品” and follow the steps to log in via the university鈥檚 single sign-on page.

Eating nitrogen ice cream, learning to lasso a wooden steer and playing retro arcade games are just a few of the recreational events Elon students, faculty and staff could partake in at this year鈥檚 Maker Takeover. The event showcased projects that students have been working on for months in the Maker Hub.

鈥淭his couldn鈥檛 have been possible without the help of the students,鈥� said Dan Reis, senior instruction technologist and co-founder of the Maker Hub. 鈥淚鈥檓 not the only one who鈥檚 excited. I think the student staff are so excited to actually see it and be here, so I get to share that excitement with them.鈥�

Maker Takeover is the Maker Hub鈥檚 largest annual celebration that brings students, staff, and faculty together to showcase their creative projects.

Reis said with this being the second in-person Maker Takeover event since the听颁翱痴滨顿-19 pandemic, students and faculty at the Maker Hub are beginning to get back into the routine and spirit of the annual event. Reis hopes that the event will serve as a reminder for students to continue creating whatever it is that they鈥檙e passionate about.

鈥淚 hope they鈥檙e proud of what they made, and I hope it encourages them to keep exploring and keep digging into those ideas,鈥� Reis said.

Walt Pierce 鈥�24, a statistics major, saw the Maker Hub as a place to tap into his interest in geography in a creative way. Pierce聽created a 3D-printed topographic map of the United States mounted in a wooden frame, and painted with biome and water features.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥楾his seems like a fun project, why not,鈥欌�� Pierce explained. 鈥淚t was right at the skill level where it wasn鈥檛 too much, but also fun. I鈥檝e been working on it for probably two months now.鈥�

Pierce said that working on this project has made him understand the importance of patience. On a technical process such as a project in the Maker Hub, something as similar as being patient in the 3D printing process can make the difference in a product not turning out exactly the way it was supposed to.

鈥淪ome of the prints took two hours, while others took ten hours,鈥� Pierce claimed. 鈥淥ne of them I printed five times, because it kept on not working, so it was definitely a process of trial and error.鈥�

Along with the numerous student creations, the event had various recreational activities, including a student-created escape room, 鈥淲elcome to Camp Elon,鈥� retro-arcade games, mini-corn hole, a power tool petting zoo and ice cream made with liquid nitrogen by Elon Dining.

For the Maker Takeover, Jay Bennett 鈥�23 created wood-carved pronoun pins. Bennett’s journey into the Maker Hub began with simple sketches in ProCreate that were then transferred onto the wood-carved pins. Created with a gothic sense of design, Bennett believes that this style is a shared aesthetic in the punk/metal scene that other members of the LGBTQIA community are a part of and appreciate. A lot of time, creativity, and design thinking went into the formation of these pins.

鈥淚 had the day off yesterday, so I spent ten hours in the Maker Hub,鈥� Bennett said. 鈥淚t sounds belaboring, but I enjoy it.鈥�

After graduation, Bennett plans to live in either Chapel Hill or Durham and hopes to return to the Maker Hub over the summer.

鈥淚鈥檓 bummed because I鈥檓 a senior and I鈥檓 graduating,鈥� Bennett explained. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think we lose access to the Maker Hub, fortunately, so I can still come back and steal some hours in there.鈥�

Be sure to visit the Maker Hub website for more information about the Maker Takeover event, the Kick Box program and more!

As part of its end-of-the-year awards ceremony, the School of Communications celebrated several faculty and staff for their outstanding contributions during the past academic year. This year鈥檚 event, held April 20 in Turner Theatre, was highlighted by the inaugural presentation of the school鈥檚 Excellence in Diversity Award, as well as heartfelt farewells shared with retiring colleagues Glenn Scott and Jeff James.

Kenn Gaither, interim dean of the School of Communications, presented the following awards at the conclusion of the 90-minute ceremony. 鈥淭oday, we recognize our faculty and staff members who are all outstanding. But each year there are those who rise a bit above,鈥� Gaither said in his introduction.

Photos are available on the school鈥檚 .

Excellence in Leadership Award
Kelly Furnas

The award recognizes a member of the School of Communications who richly contributes to the betterment and reputation of the school and the discipline.

In his introduction, Gaither commended Furnas鈥� work in scholastic journalism that has elevated Elon and left an indelible mark on countless aspiring journalists.

鈥淜elly is a leader in and out of the classroom,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淗e is a highly regarded and well-liked colleague, and in the classroom he has few peers.鈥�

Students consistently rate Furnas on teaching evaluations among the highest in the school. And his impact is felt in numerous places, teaching Media Writing, Multimedia Journalism, Editing and Design, Web and Mobile Communications or one of his many other courses.

According to Gaither, colleagues rave about Furnas鈥� ability to help students 鈥渃hart their own course but (he) helps them remain on track.鈥� Another colleague called Furnas the 鈥減ersonification of what a leader should be.鈥�

In recent years, Furnas has partnered with Instructor in Journalism Colin Donohue to successfully launch the school鈥檚 Emerging Journalists Program, an immersive experience for high school students interested in journalism. He also serves as an adviser for Elon鈥檚 chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and faculty mentor of Elon News Network. Under Kelly鈥檚 leadership and mentorship, ENN won 58 statewide, regional and national awards in 2022.

Additionally, Furnas鈥� list of service is significant. He is treasurer of the national Student Press Law Center and serves as global engagement director for the Journalism Education Association. He judges competitions and teaches and presents at conferences across the state and elsewhere. In fact, he is director of contests for JEA China.

鈥淜elly Furnas is the consummate professional and ultimate teacher-scholar-mentor,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淗e leads with exemplary work ethic, raw talent, and an unwavering commitment to our students and his profession. Everything he touches and does is marked by quality.鈥�

Excellence in Scholarship Award
Jenny Jiang

This award recognizes a faculty member whose scholarly and creative work is of high quality and brings distinction to Elon.

Gaither marveled at Jiang鈥檚 strong record as a teacher, noting her creativity and accessibility, and added that she is a 鈥減rolific researcher.鈥�

In 2022, she published three first-author, peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, had two presentations at the AEJMC annual conference, and won a top paper award. She also served as editor for the special issues of Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, and Frontiers in Communication, while also serving as an associate editor for the Journal of Contemporary East Asia.

In collaboration with Associate Professor Brian Walsh, she received a grant from Elon for an open educational resource textbook titled, 鈥淢edia Analytics with R.鈥� The book introduces communication students to R, a free software package for statistical computing and graphics. The book is nearing completion.

鈥淗er bleeding-edge work is firmly positioned in the seemingly boundless universe of communications in the digital age, and of note is her collaborative spirit,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淚n addition to working with colleagues and other researchers across the globe to build disciplinary knowledge, she works with our students.鈥�

Jiang collaborated with Ashleigh Afromsky 鈥�22 and Professor Qian Xu to examine the job descriptions of nearly 35,000 positions related to media analytics following the COVID-19 pandemic. Their findings were published in the March edition of Journalism & Mass Communication Educator.

鈥淛enny Jiang鈥檚 work has impact and represents high quality by any measure,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淗er scholarly visibility and prominence advance Elon and our students in meaningful ways, and she is a most deserving winner of the 2023 Award for Excellence in Scholarship.鈥�

Excellence in Teaching Award
David Bockino

The award recognizes a faculty member who is outstanding in the classroom, current in the discipline, a quality academic adviser, and committed to student learning at the highest level.

In his introduction, Gaither commended Bockino鈥檚 contributions as both an associate professor in the Sport Management Department, as well as director of the Communications Fellows program, which has enjoyed continual growth and success.

鈥淟ooking at David Bockino through the lens, we see a gifted teacher who brings his professional experience into the classroom and continually challenges students in innovative ways,鈥� the dean said.

Gaither said he admires Bockino鈥檚 鈥渢ireless work ethic,鈥� noting that he planned four separate Communications Fellows trips during the 2021-22 academic year. This included two trips to Florida, as well as excursions to Atlanta and Washington, D.C. 鈥淧lanning one experience 鈥� let alone several 鈥撀爄s a tremendous undertaking,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淵et, Dave did it with aplomb and wanted to ensure all our Fellows, including those affected by COVID, had an experience. This drive and motivation for our students is also embedded in his teaching.鈥�

As a teacher, Bockino has been lauded for his versatility. In the past year alone, he has taught in the Communications Core, Media Analytics program, and Sport Management Department. During Winter Term, he also led 19 students to Argentina and Uruguay for his Through the Lens of ESPN course.

According to Gaither, colleagues celebrate Bockino鈥檚 ability to teach introductory courses and upper-level courses effectively, challenging students with rigorous coursework, all while showing empathy for them when they need his help.

Excellence in Diversity Award
Karen Lindsey

The award recognizes a faculty member who provides exceptional leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion and enhances DEI initiatives across the school through action-oriented outcomes.

In his remarks, Gaither commended the school for its DEI work, but charged that 鈥渨e must continue to do more.鈥� With that in mind, he applauded Lindsey鈥檚 continued commitment to DEI work, noting that she frequently attends seminars on challenging and important topics such as race and racial equity and gender pronouns. She is a member of the university鈥檚 Advancing Equity Requirement, or AER, committee and was a co-architect of the school鈥檚 new COM 2000 Inclusive Communications course, where she focused on the course title, content and student learning outcomes.

Lindsey has been active on campus and is a highly sought after speaker for insights into leadership, public relations, corporate communications and DEI. She was a keynote speaker for the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows Forum, a featured speaker at the Elon 2022 Black Solidarity Forum, and at regional and national Public Relations Society of American functions.

Along with Professor Lee Bush, Lindsey recently secured a contract with the Routledge鈥揟aylor & Francis Group for a book tentatively titled, 鈥淒iversity, Equity and Inclusion in Strategic Communications: Becoming Culturally Proficient Communicators.鈥�

Lindsey is also a Leadership Education Scholar at Elon and renowned as a dynamic teacher. 鈥淗er classrooms are known for spirited discussions, where high academic standards meet high student engagement,鈥� Gaither said.

Outstanding Staff Member Award
Happy Kerns

The award recognizes a staff member of the School of Communications who contributes to the betterment and reputation of the school and its initiatives.

Following the dean鈥檚 introduction of Happy Kerns, the Turner Theatre audience erupted in applause celebrating her immeasurable contributions to the school, faculty, staff and students.

Gaither called Kerns 鈥渟imply indispensable to the School of Communications,鈥� acknowledging that 鈥渟he exemplifies what the spirit of our school is and ought to be.鈥�

From handling payments to managing finances to organizing school events and activities, Kerns oversees numerous projects, tasks and responsibilities.

鈥淵ou will not find a better colleague,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淵ou will not find a more respected professional at Elon. You will not find a better person to work with than Happy Kerns. She is a rock of stability and truly lives up to her nickname.鈥�

Special Recognitions

At the conclusion of the awards ceremony, Gaither celebrated the upcoming retirements of Jeff James and Glenn Scott, two long-time fixtures of the School of Communications.

Dean’s Award for Exemplary Service
Jeff James

While James, the university鈥檚 chief engineer, is housed in Teaching and Learning Technologies, he lives in the School of Communications.

In his 22 years at Elon, James has helped guide the tremendous growth in the School of Communications, overseeing changes in the school鈥檚 television studios and control rooms. He was recognized as Staff Member of the Year in 2017 and played a critical, behind-the-scenes role in the studios going to HD in 2011.

In addition, James served on the School of Communications鈥� Technology Committee for many years and has played a key role in the planning, renovation, and implementation of the control rooms and studios when McEwen was renovated and Schar Hall was built. He helped to develop the plans for the renovated television studios, including the addition of a second control room.

鈥淛eff鈥檚 tireless work on the back end made the front end look good,鈥� Gaither said. 鈥淲hether conducting research, exploring new equipment and technical options, identifying needs, working with vendors, training student engineers and others on these new facilities, and ensuring that the new facilities were operational, James was instrumental in making Elon, well, Elon.鈥�

Additionally, he has supervised numerous student staff who have 鈥渆ntered the industry armed with practical skills, technological acumen, the problem-solving mindset and Elon values Jeff espouses,鈥� Gaither added.

Retirement Recognition
Glenn Scott

In his farewell to Scott, Gaither congratulated the professor for 19 years of exemplary service and for setting the 鈥済old standard鈥� for a teacher-scholar-mentor.

At Elon, Scott used his two decades of experience as a reporter, editor and columnist to educate and instruct students in immeasurable ways. He served as faculty adviser to The Pendulum, spent two years as faculty-in-residence in Elon鈥檚 Global Neighborhood, coordinated the school鈥檚 involvement with the Pulitzer Center Campus Consortium, and taught courses ranging from Reporting for the Public Good to Sports Information to the Great Ideas senior seminar.

鈥淚 could spend another 30 minutes listing all the contributions Glenn has made to the school, our students, and the university,鈥� Gaither said.

The dean added, 鈥淲hat I鈥檒l miss most about Glenn is not his stellar professionalism or extraordinary talent. It鈥檚 his character. He is a throwback, not as a journalist but as a person. His integrity and comportment elevate those around him. He has served as a backbone for the school through his leadership, visibility and selfless commitment to our students.鈥�