The Women of Elon is an intergenerational network that connects members of the Elon community on campus and across the globe.

鈥淲hen this initiative launched two years ago, the name Women of Elon was intentionally chosen to bring together everyone in the Elon community. But we also recognized the power within the acronym 鈥榃E.鈥� WE represents the collective power of women 鈥� how we can lead, learn, and thrive together,鈥� said Michelle Wideman 鈥�00, co-chair of the Women of Elon Advisory Council.

Held on March 13 and 14, the WEekend began with a kickoff discussion on authenticity featuring Kathie Niven 鈥�89, president and CEO of Biscuitville, in conversation with Elon Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Alexis Franzese P鈥�29.

Saturday鈥檚 programming included breakout sessions covering topics such as mastering LinkedIn, the power of female friendships, managing finances, utilizing soft skills, aging and living fully, protecting your personal brand and using artificial intelligence. A women鈥檚 health panel moderated by Dr. Terry Le, university physician, explored the physical, mental and emotional aspects of women鈥檚 wellness.

Health and wellness were a major focus of the luncheon fireside chat between President Connie Ledoux Book and nutrition expert Joy Bauer of the TODAY show. Bauer, a featured expert on NBC News Daily and a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 14 books, shared practical advice about nutrition and healthy living.

Speaking to the audience in LaRose Digital Theatre, Bauer encouraged attendees to adopt her 鈥�90/10鈥� approach to food 鈥� prioritizing healthy choices most of the time while allowing room for enjoyment.

鈥淎 lot of people, especially women, they carry a lot of food baggage, and when you allow yourself this percentage or fraction (鈥�) it鈥檚 very liberating,鈥� she said.

Recognizing the range of ages in attendance and reinforcing the Women of Elon’s intergenerational focus, Bauer emphasized that health and nutrition evolve.

鈥淥ur bodies are not static,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut I wouldn鈥檛 say they betray us; they are evolving. Have a conversation with it and figure out what you can do to feel better is the name of the game.鈥�

During a Q&A session, Bauer addressed audience questions on topics including the increased presence of protein in food products, planning healthy meals, the rise of GLP-1 medications, supplements and ways to reduce plastic use in the kitchen. She also encouraged attendees to look beyond sensational headlines and social media trends when it comes to nutrition advice.

鈥淕et your blood checked annually and then personalize your nutrition according to that, because your body is not TikTok,鈥� she said. 鈥淐harismatic people and influencers on Instagram and TikTok and all these other social platforms, they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on with your insides, but your physician does, and your blood work does.鈥�

Beyond the programming, the WEekend also highlighted the Women of Elon鈥檚 ongoing work to support students. One key initiative focuses on increasing the number of students who receive need-based internship support. While 88% of Elon students complete at least one internship, 43% of those internships are unpaid.

Recent support has helped advance that goal. A $250,000 gift from former Elon trustee Bill Herbert 鈥�68 and his wife Marsha helped the Women of Elon surpass their $2.5 million fundraising goal three months ahead of schedule, bringing the total raised for internship support to $2,679,610.

鈥淲hile the Herbert family鈥檚 gift helped push us past the goal, it was the collective power of Women of Elon that made this possible,鈥� said Priscilla Awkard 鈥�95, co-chair of the Women of Elon advisory council.

To see highlights from the聽weekend,聽.

, 鈥淲E Talk: Inside Careers in Communications & Entertainment,鈥� moderated by Nneka聽Enurah聽鈥�11聽on聽April 2.

Explore聽how to get involved聽by visiting the聽Women of Elon website.

Already, the fund has raised over $2.1 million toward their $2.5 million Spring 2026聽goal. Elon鈥檚 goal is to raise the endowed funds necessary to make internships 100% accessible for any student who wants or needs one. And with help, Elon can further the impact, helping students like senior Nailah Ware.

Ware completed a transformative internship experience in Los Angeles with event technology company ShowPro, courtesy of the innumerable Elon donors who believe in experiences like hers. At ShowPro, Ware assisted with high-profile events like the TikTok Summit, a physics and astronomy convention at Hudson Loft, and Netflix Summer Break (NSB).

鈥淢y favorite project was NSB, where I learned to fly line array speakers, mic performers and collaborate with the stage manager in a fast-paced, professional environment,鈥� Ware says. 鈥淭hese experiences helped me build both technical and interpersonal skills and confirmed my passion for becoming an Audiovisual Technician.鈥�

Laurie Johnson P鈥�17 is among those donors invested in Ware鈥檚 success. A co-chair of the WE Advisory Council, Johnson and husband Rich Johnson 鈥�87 P鈥�17 endowed a need-based internship scholarship in support of current and future Elon students.

鈥淚 believe internships are invaluable for students because internships provide practical experience in a real working environment,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淚 also believe that internships help students build confidence in their chosen field and in their skills related to that field. Lastly, internships can help a student build a cadre of professional relationships which continue to support them and their career goals.鈥�

The minimum gift commitment to establish an endowed internship fund at Elon is $50,000. This can be paid over five years and generates approximately $2,250 in annual support. During this initiative, women are encouraged to gather a group of friends and pool their resources to create a collective endowed internship fund. For more information about making an endowed gift, please contact Emily Majmudar, director of development. Online tax year-end gifts must be made by midnight on Dec. 31. Read more about other ways of giving here.

For donors wanting to support the effort but not at the endowment level, . These gifts go directly to supporting Elon interns with current needs.

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The Women of Elon (鈥淲E鈥�) are a diverse network of alumnae, parents and friends dedicated to providing transformational support for Elon students. Together, we will grow an inclusive culture of philanthropy and expand our impact on campus and beyond.

Debra Del Vecchio knew there was something special about Elon when she first stepped onto campus in fall 2017, when her son Cristian 鈥�22 enrolled. That affinity only grew stronger when her daughter Angelica 鈥�24 joined the Elon community a few years later.

鈥淲hat I admire most about Elon is its deep sense of commitment,鈥� said Del Vecchio, of Oyster Bay, New York. 鈥淭he university is proactive, always thinking ahead to ensure students are supported, not just academically, but emotionally, socially and physically. The new HealthEU facility is a perfect example of this. It will be a state-of-the-art space, but more than that, I鈥檓 confident it will be a warm and welcoming hub of well-being at the heart of campus life.鈥�

In recognition of her gift, the main entrance to the HealthEU Center will be named Del Vecchio Commons, a spacious area that will welcome all visitors to the center and serve as an inviting gathering spot for students, faculty and staff. Scheduled to open in fall 2026, the center will be located within Elon鈥檚 Innovation Quad, home to the university鈥檚 engineering and other STEM programs.

The gift will also endow the Del Vecchio Family Internship as part of the Women of Elon (WE) initiative. This initiative seeks to inspire alumnae, parents and friends to increase philanthropic support for students by raising $2.5 million by 2026 to make internships possible for students with financial need. Del Vecchio is a member of the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Finally, the gift will provide additional funding for the Odyssey聽Scholarships previously endowed by the Del Vecchio family, in honor of Cristian and Angelica, to make an Elon education possible for talented students with significant financial need.

鈥淭he Elon community is grateful to Debra Del Vecchio for her inspired leadership and engagement as a trustee and for generously supporting scholarships, health and wellness and other top university priorities,鈥� said James B. Piatt, Jr., senior vice president for university advancement and external affairs. 鈥淲e are a stronger institution because of devoted partners like Debra Del Vecchio.鈥�

The HealthEU Center is a central component to the university鈥檚 broader HealthEU initiative that focuses on six dimensions of health and wellness: community, emotional, purpose, financial, physical and social. The three-story center will feature new classrooms, student-faculty research spaces, multiple floors for wellness and fitness activities, and the Mark and Kim Tyson Counseling Center, which will provide individual and group therapy, as well as workshops and outreach programs.

Through coursework as well as workshops and training programs focused on health and wellness, the HealthEU Center will impact all students as they progress through their education and learn essential skills and practices to flourish on campus and throughout each stage of their lives. The center is a key priority of the Boldly Elon strategic plan that will guide the university to 2030.

Elon has set a $25 million fundraising goal to make the HealthEU Center a reality. To date, donors have contributed $22.4 million to the project.

Del Vecchio is one of Elon鈥檚 most generous donors, making gifts to support scholarships, Elon鈥檚 Greatest Needs, Catholic Campus Ministry and, along with Cristian, expansion of the university鈥檚 golf training facilities on South Campus.

鈥淚 know firsthand the difference this community can make in a student鈥檚 life,鈥� Del Vecchio said. 鈥淎nd I know that countless others will graduate from Elon carrying that same sense of gratitude, confidence and care that my own children did. That鈥檚 why I鈥檓 proud to support Elon and why I believe in what the HealthEU Center represents for this generation and those to come.鈥�

How to make an impact

Many naming opportunities remain in the HealthEU Center, beginning at $50,000. Gift commitments may be made in full or with a pledge over five years. To find out how you can make an impact with your gift, contact Brian Baker, associate vice president for university advancement, at 336.278.7453 or bbaker7@elon.edu.

To support the Women of Elon initiative, contact Emily Majmudar, director of development, at聽emajmudar@elon.edu or 336.520.5395.

鈥淓lon changed the trajectory of my life,鈥� Dickinson said. 鈥淚t was obvious that the faculty cared so much. They really wanted me to be successful and gave me what I needed to be successful. I wanted to give back to a place that changed my life, and internship experiences can really change students鈥� lives.鈥�

It was Dickinson鈥檚 campus visit that encouraged her to attend Elon. 鈥淚t was rainy when I came and my parents were worried I wouldn鈥檛 like Elon,鈥� she recalled. 鈥淏ut it was just something I felt when I was on campus. I knew I would like it; it just felt different. I love that I still get the same feeling when I go back to visit.鈥�

Dickinson majored in business administration and was a very active member of her sorority, Phi Mu, while she was a student at Elon. She also worked as a student assistant for the Teaching Fellows program from when it launched her sophomore year through her senior year. She appreciated the perspective that this experience gave her, especially since she was not an education major. As an alumna, Dickinson has served on the Elon Alumni Board since 2023.

Over the summers and breaks while she was a student, Dickinson would work in local business offices. While it felt like an internship, there was not a focused effort on encouraging students to complete internships like is present on campus today.

鈥淚nternships are almost a requirement to set students up for success today,鈥� Dickinson said. 鈥淚 hope that internships become so common at Elon that it is like signing up for a class 鈥� just an expectation that students will complete one before graduation.鈥� She is grateful that this gift will provide more Elon students with access to these critical experiences.

The Women of Elon initiative is a collective effort led by alumnae, parents, and friends of the university who are committed to addressing the most pressing needs of Elon students. Through 2026, this initiative aims to raise $2.5 million to support students with financial need who are pursuing internship experiences. To date, more than $780,000 has been raised in both endowed and annual funds in support of this goal. Blended gifts like Dickinson鈥檚 provide both immediate and long-term support to ensure access to internships for Elon students.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to give our time, our talents and our treasure to the next generation,鈥� Dickinson shared. 鈥淭o give back in this way is so fulfilling to me, and I hope that many others also want to impact Elon students in this way.鈥�

Make an Impact

For more information on the Women of Elon initiative, please contact Jill Stratton 鈥�13 G鈥�17, director of strategic initiatives for University Advancement, at jstratton2@elon.edu.

The afternoon kicked off with a one-hour sports clinic, where girls aged 12 and under learned valuable skills from members of the Elon women鈥檚 teams. Student-athletes from softball, basketball, track & field, volleyball, and soccer led interactive sessions focused on fundamentals, teamwork, and confidence-building. Participants rotated through each sport, gaining hands-on experience while forming meaningful connections with collegiate athletes who serve as role models both on and off the field.

While the young athletes were immersed in the clinic, their parents attended a workshop led by Cara Lucia, associate professor of sport management. The session explored the impact of youth sports on personal development, strategies for advocating for young athletes,and best practices for parents looking to coach youth teams.

Following the clinic and workshop, all participants gathered in Schar Center to cheer on the Elon women鈥檚 basketball team as they faced Monmouth.

鈥淲e celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day to highlight the importance of empowering the next generation of female athletes, coaches, and leaders within sport to create a culture of support and inclusion in sports,” said Mary DeFriest, assistant athletics director of marketing and fan engagement. “When young girls see strong females in roles within sport, it sparks confidence and curiosity 鈥� encouraging them to dream bigger and have confidence in their abilities.鈥�

The event also underscored the collaborative spirit of the greater university. Women of Elon, an initiative dedicated to engaging and connecting all women members of the Elon community including alumni, parents and students, that collaborated with athletics to organize the celebration. Kendra Haskins, senior director of alumni engagement, expressed the group鈥檚 enthusiasm for the day.

鈥淲omen of Elon were thrilled to partner with Elon Athletics to create this opportunity to inspire women of all ages: the girls with a connection to Elon’s incredible athletes and our volunteers and community members with the opportunity to impact the next generation.”

NGWSD at 福利亚洲国产精品 was more than just a celebration鈥攊t was a testament to the power of mentorship, representation and the impact of sports on shaping confident and resilient young women. As participants left Schar Center, many were already looking forward to next year鈥檚 event, eager to continue building a culture of empowerment and inclusion in athletics.

For more information about Women of Elon, visit /u/advancement/women-of-elon.

Michelle hopes that this endowed fund will empower students to foster curiosity without the financial pressure that often comes with affording an unpaid internship.

鈥淭he financial piece can be a huge obstacle,鈥� said Giaquinto Joubran. 鈥淚 was lucky to have the financial support from internships, which allowed me to explore without having to overthink it. I want to make sure other students can have that same opportunity.鈥�

The Women of Elon initiative is a collective effort led by a network of passionate alumnae, parents and friends of the university. This network is committed to addressing the most pressing needs of Elon students, starting with prioritizing support in securing internships.聽Michelle believes internship experiences are crucial for professional growth.

Michelle was initially drawn to Elon because of a scholarship from the聽Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows.聽While at Elon, she grew both personally and professionally and attributes her professional path to mentorships, club involvement and opportunities at the university.聽As an accounting major, Michelle聽 found value in the content of her classes and served as president of the Accounting Society. She was also a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society and the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.

Michelle also says Elon gave her the chance to learn about her interests. Through hands-on experiences, she was exposed to different industries, from government to banking. Ultimately, she realized that neither of those paths was for her, but she remained thankful for the experience of trying them out through internships.

鈥淚t is okay to try something and realize it isn鈥檛 for you, as long as you keep trying until you find your passion,” she said.

Michelle chose to contribute through the Women of Elon initiative because she believes 鈥渞eal-world experience is priceless.鈥� Her decision reflects her commitment to providing current students with similar opportunities to those she had, particularly those who may face financial barriers to pursuing internships. She emphasizes the value of showing up, being present, making connections and taking risks in order to grow both personally and professionally in a balanced way. As an alumna, Michelle felt a responsibility to give back to the university that helped launch her career path.

鈥淓lon was the stepping stone to get out and be a professional,鈥� she said. 鈥淓lon helped place me into a position to be able to give back. The university would not be what it is today without alumni support.鈥�

Looking ahead, Michelle is excited to see the impact of the Women of Elon initiative, which aims to ensure that 100% of students have access to internships.

鈥淚 hope it encourages them to reach out to the people they meet, make connections and get out of their comfort zone,鈥� she said.

The Women of Elon initiative aims to raise $2.5 million by 2026. Michelle’s commitment is helping ensure that internships remain accessible to all students, shaping their futures and careers. Through her generous gift, Michelle is not just supporting the next generation of Elon students鈥攕he is creating a legacy of empowerment, mentorship, and opportunity.

Make An Impact

To find out how you can make an impact with your gift through the Women of Elon, contact Jill Stratton, director of strategic initiatives for University Advancement, at 336-278-7445 or jstratton2@elon.edu.

She wasted no time getting involved in the community she sought out.

鈥淲hile at Elon, I was a student ambassador, copy editor for The Pendulum newspaper, an executive board member of the Black Cultural Society (now the Black Student Union), a DJ for WSOE and a member of the Elon Gospel Choir. I can’t sing, but they took me anyway,鈥� Newton said. 鈥淚 also pledged Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. my senior year.鈥� She loved campus traditions like the Black Excellence Awards dinner, which always brought her family to campus.

Newton was also a broadcast communications major, practically living in the McEwen Communications Building and editing labs.

鈥淥ne of the most challenging, yet rewarding, classes at Elon was a communications writing course,鈥� she said. 鈥淓very day, we were assigned a different newspaper to read, and then we were quizzed on any content from our reading. Little did I know, staying on top of news and current events would become a necessity for my professional career.鈥�

Even with all this experience, Newton鈥檚 post-grad transition was not ideal. Since she graduated during the financial crisis, jobs were hard to come by, and uncertainty was high. However, her unexpected time living at home and working a seasonal job at Kings Dominion did not last long.

鈥淲ithin three months, I moved to Washington, D.C., started a job at WTOP News, and enrolled in graduate school at Trinity Washington University,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ooking back on it, I鈥檓 so glad I went home for those three months. That鈥檚 time I鈥檒l never get back with my family, and I鈥檓 thankful for it now.鈥�

After receiving her master鈥檚 in communications and working in local news for eight years, Newton was ready to venture into national news. She joined C-SPAN in 2015 as a media relations specialist, where she鈥檚 responsible for getting the word out to journalists, Capitol Hill press secretaries and the public about all matters C-SPAN. This position has proved fruitful for Newton.

鈥淭he most rewarding parts of my career are the people I鈥檝e had the opportunity to meet and the places I鈥檝e had the opportunity to go,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ith C-SPAN, I鈥檝e been in rooms I鈥檝e dreamt of and traveled to many cities and towns around the country, some for the first time.鈥�

Those travels included the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention this summer. There, Newton was responsible for recording video testimonials from attendees for C-SPAN鈥檚 Voices 2024 campaign.

鈥淐-SPAN鈥檚 skybox was full each night with special guests from cable affiliates and reporters to former C-SPAN employees and interns,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 enjoyed meeting so many new people and reconnecting with others I hadn鈥檛 seen in years.鈥�

Newton鈥檚 career has not been without its challenges, the greatest being the long days.

鈥淣ews is constant, and although I have normal working hours, anything can happen at any time which requires my team鈥檚 attention,” she said.

Luckily, she was well prepared for her career, thanks to Elon.

鈥淲riting and public speaking are major components of my job, which I did a lot of at Elon,” said Newton. “Much of the skill-based knowledge that I learned in my communications classes I am still using today.鈥�

She recommends that current students similarly take advantage of the core Elon Experiences.

鈥淒o an internship and go the extra mile,鈥� she advised. 鈥淚 interned at BET the summer after my freshman and sophomore years. Then, the summer after my junior year, I stayed on campus and did the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience program. Having both of those on my resume and stellar professional references helped me land my first job in news.鈥�

Attendees participated in two rounds of breakout sessions. Morning breakout sessions on Friday, March 15, focused on personal and professional development while afternoon breakout sessions focused on community engagement and philanthropy. Attendees enjoyed learning and growing together through these sessions led by Elon alumnae, parents, friends, faculty and staff.

Grace Ackermann 鈥�24 enjoyed the comradery she experienced when attending the breakout sessions as well as the opportunity to learn from Elon graduates. 鈥淚 enjoyed hearing about the career journeys of Elon alumni,鈥� she shared. “I鈥檓 at the point in my life that I鈥檓 constantly thinking about my future and it鈥檚 always refreshing to hear about the success of women that have come before me and the variety of fields they excel in. I also love to be in a space where women are uplifting and discussing their shared experiences. The journey of womanhood looks different for everyone, but there are moments when we share similar challenges, discriminations, and rewards and to be in a room surrounded by people who understand those experiences is powerful. I felt seen.鈥�

Weekend attendees also heard from three Elon students about how their internship experiences set them up for professional success. In a panel moderated by Robin Porter, director of Internships for the Love School of Business, Chloe Higgins 鈥�24, Kaitlyn Michaud 鈥�24 and Victory Moore 鈥�25, discussed their recent internships and how they will use what they learned in their future careers.

Michaud, a student-athlete on the women鈥檚 lacrosse team, shared that she would not have been able to complete her internship without the stipend support she received. Senior Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt concluded the panel discussion by sharing why financial support for internships is critical for Elon students. He shared that approximately 88 percent of Elon students complete at least one internship prior to graduation, and about 40 percent of those experiences are unpaid. Piatt said it is Elon鈥檚 goal to raise the funds needed to eliminate the dinner table conversations about whether a student can accept their dream internship due to financial burdens.

Highlighting the series of events was a keynote chat between Book and Joyner-Kersee. Book facilitated the conversation with questions asked by event attendees, centering on Joyner-Kersee鈥檚 historic Olympic career and her philanthropy. Joyner-Kersee shared how her passion for providing children with accessible after-school programs, safe recreational spaces and adults to champion their dreams led to the 1988 founding of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in her hometown of East St. Louis, Illinois. In 2022, the foundation partnered with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and University of Illinois Extension to create the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN), with the goal of providing quality youth and community programs in STEM, agriculture, food production, nutrition, and physical activity in East St. Louis and beyond.

The Women of Elon Weekend formally launched the Women of Elon initiative, an effort to engage more women in the life of the university through philanthropy, volunteer leadership and events. The initiative seeks to raise $2.5 million by 2026 to support internship experiences for Elon students with the most need. At the weekend, co-chairs Priscilla Awkard 鈥�95, Laurie Johnson P鈥�17 and Michelle Wideman 鈥�00 announced that more than $515,000 has already been raised toward this goal. Trustees Kerrii Anderson 鈥�79 and Vicky Hunt serve as honorary co-chairs of this initiative with an additional 24 alumnae, parents and friends sitting on the Women of Elon Advisory Council.

The next Women of Elon event is a free webinar titled 鈥淧hilanthropy Redefined,鈥� featuring Awkard, Johnson and Wideman discussing how this group is redefining philanthropy to be more inclusive and more impactful at Elon and beyond. . The Women of Elon Weekend will be a biennial event moving forward, with the next summit taking place in spring 2026. Visit the Women of Elon website for more information.

She recounted to a room full of more than 100 participants in Elon’s inaugural Women of Elon Weekend on Friday, March 15, that she like other top athletes was feeling invincible and tough leading up to that moment, but that even the toughest shed tears of appreciation during such a meaningful milestone.

“All of these tears of joy start coming out because I am so grateful and thankful for the people who helped me get there,” Joyner-Kersee told the crowd.

Joyner-Kersee’s conversation on Friday with President Connie Ledoux Book was a highlight of the two-day Women of Elon Weekend event that brought together dozens of women to connect more deeply with the Elon community and foster personal and professional growth. The conference extends Elon’s efforts to engage women in philanthropy and was organized by the Women of Elon Advisory Council, which includes a diverse network of alumnae, parents and friends of the university.

Across the two days, participants connected with one another in networking events and breakout sessions with topics including building networks, inclusive leadership and practices, harnessing the science of happiness for well-being and growth, and other topics.

At Friday’s keynote luncheon, Kebbler McGhee Williams ’98, member and secretary of the Elon Board of Trustees, explained that Elon hosted its first women’s philanthropy event in May 2017 and that since then, the engagement of women in philanthropic efforts at Elon have grown. Out of that growth came a desire to host more events specifically for women, which led to the creation of the Women of Elon Weekend, which had the theme of “Celebrating our Impact and Transforming Student Lives.”

“It is important to measure our impact and to celebrate the short-term wins as well as the longer-term gains, to remember the years and years of impact that philanthropy has had on Elon’s overall success as a university and specifically how philanthropy has transformed so many of Elon students’ lives,” Williams said.

She counts her own among those lives changed by Elon and philanthropy, and she recounted how she was able to attend Elon as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. “I have gone on to receive two additional degrees from two other universities since my graduation from Elon, and it is my education and my experience at Elon that has made me who I am today. I cannot possibly pay back the philanthropic efforts that supported my education here, but I can definitely pay it forward.”

During her discussion with President Book, Joyner-Kersee likewise credited the investment of others in her for the success she saw as an athlete and the impact she has been able to make as a philanthropist. Through the , she has founded and continues to expand a youth center in her hometown of East St. Louis that is changing the lives of scores of young people.

Joyner-Kersee said her mother was a guiding force as she was developing as a student and an athlete and was critical in helping her understand the power of an education. “She helped me and poured into me everything she could,” she said. “I never forgot that as I moved into a position where I could do the same thing for someone else.”

Drawing from questions suggested by those in the crowd, Book asked Joyner-Kersee to offer advice for young people today who are trying to perform and achieve at a high level. “You have to get out of your own way,” Joyner-Kersee said. “You have to trust. Faith is a part of everything I do. When you run into difficult situations and circumstances, it’s easy to abandon all you know. … I am a believer in focusing on the things I can control and not worrying about the things I cannot.”

Joyner-Kersee shared that she experienced racism and sexism as an athlete, some of which was designed to distract her from being able to achieve what she wanted to achieve and knew it was within her to achieve. Talking recently with a young athlete about dealing with negativity, Joyner-Kersee said she shared with the girl that it’s best to think of those people as the clowns at the carnival that are just trying to distract you. “People are going to say things to really stop you from focusing on what you need to do,” Joyner-Kersee. “Those are the clowns trying to distract you from getting to the top, from getting to where you want to be.”

It was as a student-athlete in high school that Joyner-Kersee said she really started to learn about the importance of giving back. Her coaches reiterated the importance of sharing what you have and what you know with others, she said. “They taught me that whatever we were learning at the next level, come back and share it with the next generation,” she said.

More than a decade ago, Joyner-Kersee formed a partnership that leased 60 acres of land in the St. Louis area that was used to grow a variety of produce including corn, soybeans and radishes. The agricultural venture offered an opportunity to help provide fresh produce in an area that was underserved and provided students served by her community center in East St. Louis the opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship and agriculture. That initial effort has now led to a new effort to adjacent to the community center in collaboration with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “It’s very important for our students to know where food comes from,” Joyner-Kersee said.

She is continuing the expand the capacity of her foundation to serve young people in a variety of ways 鈥� academically, athletically, civically. “I want them to be great human beings,” Joyner-Kersee said. “If you’re a great person, you’ll do great things in life.”

福利亚洲国产精品 will hold the first Women of Elon Weekend on March 14-15. The conference focuses on personal and professional development and will feature keynote speaker Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who Sports Illustrated the Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century.

Taking place on Elon’s campus with events and lodging at The Inn at Elon, the inaugural summit is designed to provide attendees with a front-row seat to the intentional celebration of the impact of women within the Elon community. Participants will have the opportunity to connect more deeply with the Elon community and foster personal and professional growth while reaching new heights in their respective journeys.

This conference stems from 福利亚洲国产精品鈥檚 efforts toward engaging women in philanthropy. At the heart of this transformative initiative is the Women of Elon Advisory Council. Comprising a diverse network of alumnae, parents, and friends, this council is dedicated to providing transformational support for Elon students. Their vision is to become a driving force behind an inclusive culture of philanthropy, expanding their impact on campus and beyond.

The dream shared by the Women of Elon Advisory Council is ambitious and impactful. The goal is to raise funds to support internship experiences for all Elon students, ensuring that opportunities for growth and professional development are accessible to every student, regardless of need. The council is co-chaired by Priscilla Awkard 鈥�95, Laurie Johnson P鈥�17 and Michelle Wideman 鈥�00. The honorary co-chairs for this initiative are Kerrii Anderson 鈥�79 and Vicky Hunt.

Other members of the council include:

• Erica Ayala ’08
• Allison Breeding ’99
• Liz Coakley ’07
• Debra Del Vecchio P’22 P’24
• Edrea Edwards P’18
• Jean Egan P’24
• Nneka Enurah ’11
• Kathryn Harsh P’18 P’22
• Akilah Weaver Hill 鈥�00
• Pat House
• Amy Maguire P’25
• Kelly Marion ’14
• Shelby McKay ’13
• Stef Meyers ’09
• Jaimie Morais ’99
• Jennifer Nassour P’26
• Kendra Neary ’04
• Dana Neves ’95 P’27
• Jenn Nowalk ’99
• Tracey Nugent ’84 P’15
• Kelli Palmer ’98
• Kara Pickler聽 ’06
• Jill Rose ’00
• Kristen Yntema ’95

Save the date! Women of Elon Weekend attendees will be among the first to learn about Elon’s new efforts to transform student lives through the collective impact of the Women of Elon. Elon encourages interested individuals to save the date for this transformative weekend. Those eager to participate can put their names on the list to receive the registration link once it is launched.

Reach out to advancement@elon.edu聽with any questions.