Beginning in Fall 2026, Elon will launch a��Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling��(CMHC) at both the university’s main campus and Charlotte national campus to address the growing need for licensed mental health counselors in the region and across the country.

At the CMHC event, attendees will:

• Hear from the CMHC Program Director about program structure, clinical training and professional pathways
• Connect with faculty members and connect with fellow students
• Participate in small group tours of the Charlotte campus facilities
• Engage with Graduate Admissions staff for guidance on next steps or program resources

The PA program in Charlotte will be the Queen City’s first, with the university expecting��its inaugural class in January 2027.

During the PA event, attendees will:

• Hear directly from the Charlotte PA faculty/staff about curriculum, clinical experiences, and program outcomes
• Connect with��faculty members and gain insight into the student experience
• Participate in small group tours of the Charlotte campus facilities
• Connect with Graduate Admissions staff to discuss the application process and next steps

Please register by July 12. Registration for the PA Open House is full.

Location:
51������ Charlotte
330 W Tremont Ave
Charlotte, NC 28203
United States

Complimentary parking is available in the surface lot adjacent to the campus, but please refrain from parking in spots labeled Ava Parking as these are designated for residents of the neighboring apartments. Overflow paid parking is available on Doggett Street and Tremont Avenue as well as at the Design Center Garage located at 269 Doggett Street.

The entrance to Elon Charlotte is located on the side of the building facing the apartments, towards the end of the walkway near the steps. Look for the Elon sign to indicate the correct entrance. Once inside, please proceed through the double glass doors and take a right into the social hub.

The article, “,” continues the Rivera-Serrano Lab’s work exploring the potential of reoviruses as cancer-targeting agents. The study examined a panel of genetically distinct reoviruses across three epithelial cancer cell models. The work found that different reovirus strains showed cell line-dependent patterns of infectivity and cancer cell killing, with some reassortant viruses showing enhanced activity compared with parental strains. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of reovirus-based cancer-targeting approaches may depend not only on viral genetics, but also on the specific cancer cell context.

Reoviruses are being studied as potential oncolytic agents, or viruses that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells. While much of the field has focused on one prototype strain, the Elon study highlights the importance of exploring broader reovirus genetic diversity. Because reoviruses contain segmented genomes, different strains can exchange genome segments through a process known as reassortment, generating viruses with new combinations of traits that may influence infection, replication and cytotoxicity.

The article reinforces the value of comparative screens in cancer virotherapy research. The study found that viral infectivity and cancer cell killing did not always fully overlap, suggesting that efficient infection alone does not necessarily predict how strongly a virus will reduce cancer cell viability. Instead, the findings point to a more complex relationship among viral entry, replication, antiviral responses and cell death pathways.

The project builds on ongoing research in Rivera-Serrano’s laboratory, where undergraduate students use cell biology, virology and immunology approaches to understand how viral genetics influence cancer cell susceptibility. Hutchinson, the article’s first author and Nursing major, contributed to experimental work and data analysis as part of his mentored research experience in the lab for three semesters and participation in Elon’s 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Experience.

Carter, who performed research as a visiting high school student in the summer of 2025, contributed to data analysis, highlighting the lab’s broader commitment to expanding access to biomedical research experiences beyond the undergraduate level. Dagli, who recently co-authored a related study in Virus Genes on reovirus reassortants with enhanced activity against fibrosarcoma cells, also contributed to the current work as part of the lab’s continuing effort to evaluate how viral genetic diversity shapes oncolytic potential.

In an inaugural collaboration, first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students from 51������ recently joined with second-year Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) students from Rowan Cabarrus Community College (RCCC) for an intensive, hands-on learning activity.

The session was facilitated by Elon faculty members Melissa Scales and Megan Kim, alongside Program Director Anna Marie Prado and RCCC Director of Clinical Education Karey M. Martin.

A Peer-led approach

The session was uniquely structured to allow the second-year PTA students to take the lead, leveraging their clinical rotation experience to mentor the first-year DPT students. The activity focused on Range of Motion (ROM) goniometric measurements of three target areas: the knee, ankle, and shoulder.
The RCCC students initiated the learning by leading small-group discussions and providing handouts on foundational ROM concepts, normal ranges, and potential reasons why a patient may present with abnormal ROM. Following these presentations, the Elon DPT students acted as clinicians, using their goniometers to measure the ROM of the PTA students, who served as the “patients.”

Synthesizing theory and practice

This activity went beyond simple measurement. After recording their results, the groups compared data and discussed discrepancies, exploring alternative positioning and various goniometric techniques. The PTA students provided critical feedback on the DPT students’ hand placement and technique, fostering an environment of mutual respect.
A vital component of the day involved discussing intervention ideas to increase ROM. Students explored how a Physical Therapist’s Plan of Care��provides the framework for a PTA to use their clinical judgment to choose and progress interventions, as well as when a PTA should consult the supervising PT.

One DPT student reflected on the value of this exchange, stating: “I enjoyed the opportunity to collaborate intraprofessionally (sic) with other students and hear new perspectives about clinical scenarios.”

Building the future of the profession

The timing of this collaboration was particularly impactful. While the Elon DPT students are preparing for their first clinical rotations in January, the RCCC PTA students are set to graduate in Dec. 2026.

This means that when the DPT students head into the clinic early next year, they may find themselves working alongside and learning from these newly licensed PTAs.The engagement between the groups was high, highlighted by a serendipitous moment when a PTA student discovered he had just finished a rotation at the exact site where an Elon student is headed in January.

By learning with, from, and about each other, these future professionals are gaining a deeper understanding of their respective scopes of practice. This connection is essential for fulfilling accreditation standards for intraprofessional education and ensuring the highest quality of collaborative patient care.

To kick off��the summer,��Beyond��12 welcomed��50��rising sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students to 51������ for a hands-on exploration of career��pathways and��interests.��Throughout two days, students traveled across��campus,��participated��in interactive learning experiences, and engaged with 51������ faculty, staff, and community��members��representing��a variety of professional fields.

Each session��offered��a unique��learning��experience for the students.��During an introduction to cinema and television arts led by Bryan Baker, director of technology, operations and multimedia projects in the School of Communications, students explored the university’s live television studio and��viewed��student made��productions. Participants also gained hands-on��experience��such as with Elon’s Interprofessional Simulation Center, where Nita Skillman, director of the ISC, and Bethany Fearnow, simulation coordinator, introduced students to��using��healthcare simulation technology.��In addition to exploring��careers, students were able to��observe��different facilities on��Elon’s��campus. During a sports management session led by Jenn Strawley, director of athletics, participants stepped into the world of collegiate athletics with a visit to the Schar Center, where they��got a behind the scenes look at Elon Athletics.

“Spending time with the Beyond 12 program was such a rewarding experience. I appreciated��their curiosity and loved their questions,” said��Strawley.��“I hope that hearing about my journey and learning about career pathways in college athletics opened their minds to new possibilities and inspired them to continue to dream.”

Students also had the opportunity to engage in thoughtful conversations with presenters, asking questions, and gaining deeper insight into different fields.

“I spoke with the students about what finance, corporate finance, and investment really are, and I was genuinely surprised by how interested they were,” said Feng Dong, director of the Reed Finance Center. “Many asked great questions, and even the teachers were engaged. Beyond 12 gives students an early, hands-on look at fields they may not have considered,��exactly the kind of exposure that can shape where they go next.”

The program had an equally��meaningful impact on��the��presenters��involved. Dr. Janine A. Scott, founder of��TriUnity��Healthcare Inc., shared her story of overcoming adversity and creating positive change through her work in healthcare, and found herself thinking about the impact of programs such as Beyond 12.

“I really enjoyed myself during my interaction with both the students and staff,” Scott said. “Just hearing what they were doing prior to coming to our session made me wish I was a student again and able to participate.”

Through experiences like these,��Beyond��12��is��helping��students recognize��a wide range of��opportunities��within their reach.

“I remarked to someone that I wish I had the opportunity to attend a program like this back in my day.��I��truly believe��that exposure and representation��matters, and that is exactly what these students gained from being part of the Beyond 12 program,” said Scott.

Following the summer session,��participating��students from Turrentine Middle School and Broadview Middle School will��attend��monthly Beyond 12 sessions throughout the academic year, where they��will continue��to focus on career readiness and��developing essential life skills.��Beyond 12 programming is made possible through the generous support of NC Glaxo Smith Kline.

Alongside this infographic, these stories highlight some of the positive impact across campus through community partnerships during the past academic year:

• Elon receives Carnegie classification for community engagement
• Elon recognized for advancing nonpartisan student civic engagement
• Elon creates community through Special Olympics and Elon Athletics partnership
• Turning service into impact: How an Elon alumna is bringing Alamance County together
• Literary Journalism class engages Town of Elon mayor in civic dialogue
• Writing for Impact students secure funding for local nonprofit
• Showing up, growing together: Inside KING/PINK Academy’s power of mentorship
• Students reflect on service, community and connection during Fall Break
• New HealthEU course encourages students to go ‘beyond the Elon bubble’
• Elon empowers staff to make an impact in the community through paid volunteer leave

Second-year DPT student Catherine Sheehan received the ACSM Biomechanics Interest Group Student Research Award, recognizing the quality and impact of her group’s research contributions. The award highlighted Elon’s continued commitment to student-led scholarship and research excellence.

The annual ACSM conference, one of the world’s leading meetings for sports medicine and exercise science professionals, brought together researchers, clinicians, educators and students from across the globe. Elon DPT’s delegation included 11 second-year DPT students who presented findings from projects completed as part of a research course.

All six accepted abstracts featured DPT students as lead authors and presenters. Elon’s contributions included five poster presentations and one platform presentation.

The following abstracts were presented by Elon DPT students and faculty:

Relationship Between Tandem Gait Performance and Specific Physical Performance Measures Among Division I Athletes
Authors: Maci Yeager, Jennifer White, Kyra Batterham, Srikant Vallabhajosula and Jack Magill
Presenter: Maci Yeager

Cognitive Function in Athletes After Concussion and During Recovery
Authors: Carlos Guerra, Stephen P. Bailey, Rachel Rajczak, Emanuel Martinez, Caroline J. Ketcham and Eric Hall
Presenter: Carlos Guerra

Coefficient of Variance: An Alternative Criterion for Return-to-Sport After ACL Reconstruction Compared with Limb Symmetry
Authors: Graeme Pratt, Raajan Patel, Jaylen Dowell, Aidan Gallagher, Gary Johnson, MaryKay Hannah and Jack Magill
Presenters: Graeme Pratt, Raajan Patel and Jaylen Dowell

Performance Consistency, Quantified by the Coefficient of Variance, Demonstrates Strong Association with Hop Performance Compared with Limb Symmetry Index
Authors: Anna Longsdorf, Brittany Staves, Virginia Reep, Mary Kay Hannah, Aidan Gallagher, Gary Johnson and Jack Magill
Presenters: Anna Longsdorf, Brittany Staves and Virginia Reep

Changes in Cognitive Function Following Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Stephen P. Bailey, Alex Boller, Katie Utley and James Godfrey
Presenter: James Godfrey

The Effect of Dual Tasking on Forward and Backward Gait in Older Adults
Authors: Catherine Sheehan, Karley O’Connell, Sandhra Shibu, Molly Boda, Bill Andrews and Srikant Vallabhajosula
Presenters: Catherine Sheehan, Karley O’Connell and Sandhra Shibu

The strong showing at ACSM 2026 reflects the Elon DPT program’s emphasis on integrating research into clinical education and providing students with opportunities to disseminate their work on a national stage. The presentations addressed topics including athletic performance, concussion recovery, return-to-sport assessment following ACL reconstruction, cardiac rehabilitation and mobility in older adults.

“When you are someone who naturally wants to help others, like you do in the PA profession, you’re drawn to finding the need and fixing it. We’re trying to help in the best way we can,” Lytton said. “You don’t take on a title to do this; it simply comes from the heart, and it comes from an intention to be good for others. It’s very rewarding to have the benefit of knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.”

The��AAPA is the national organization that advocates for all PAs and provides tools to improve PA practice and patient care. The Humanitarian Service��award��recognizes��a PA or group of PAs that��demonstrates��clear, lasting dedication to expanding access to care for vulnerable and underserved populations, and/or populations in crisis.��Lytton, who works in pain management in Alaska, is the president of the Alaska Academy of PAs and has made significant efforts to address the state’s opioid crisis.

“I see a lot of opioid addiction and chronic opioid dependency from high use opioid levels, but unfortunately, even in Alaska today, there are very high levels of opioid use disorder. It was very evident when I arrived in 2020, in the heart of the pandemic,” she said. “You see the escalating death rate nationally, and also here in Alaska, and that really prompted my heart to do something.”

Lytton partnered with Project HOPE, a global health and humanitarian organization, leading a 12-member team to create 1,200 Narcan kits, helping to save over 300 lives. According to Lytton, two individuals specifically credited kits from their distribution site with saving a neighbor and a family member.

In addition to responding to the opioid crisis, Lytton has worked to improve access to healthcare services for Alaskans who face persistent barriers to care.��She is��a volunteer��with Remote Area Medical,��a nonprofit organization that provides mobile medical clinics delivering free dental, vision, and medical care to underserved and uninsured individuals��in Alaska. Lytton supported��screenings��for��more than 700 uninsured Alaskans.

As Chair of the Associate Board of Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society of Alaska,��Lytton has played a key role in advancing cancer awareness and support across Alaska.��Through coordinated events and sponsorship initiatives, she��has��helped raise��more��than��$100,000 for cancer patients. She��serves��on the Serve Alaska Board, supporting AmeriCorps programs in rural and urban communities, ensuring funding reaches vulnerable youth and families.

Her path to Elon started while she was working as a nurse assistant in North Carolina. When she expressed a desire to become a PA, a patient encouraged her to apply soon, and she took the advice. Lytton applied to eight schools, and Elon jumped at the opportunity to interview her for its inaugural Physician Assistant Studies cohort.

“You just felt alive on campus, and I knew in my heart this is where I wanted to come,” she said. “The PA profession is the right balance for me because I ultimately wanted to have a family of my own, I wanted to provide care to patients, and I wanted to be able to change specialties and have that versatility.”

Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies program continues to grow. The 2026 cohort was the largest in the program’s history. Elon doubled the size of its physician assistant class from 38 to 76 students, growing its capacity to prepare clinicians for communities across North Carolina and the Southeast. A PA program on the university’s Charlotte campus is expected to launch in January 2027.

“I am so grateful to Elon because they truly invested a lot in us. They gave us opportunities to not only do volunteer work in the community but also invest in the community,” she said. “My learning experience started like a seed, and it blossomed over the years.”

The Health Professionals Scholarship Program also provided Lytton with a financial path to her goals. The HPSP award pays a participant’s school tuition and required fees as well as a monthly stipend to help with living expenses and an annual book stipend for instructional materials.

HPSP recipients incur an active-duty service obligation based on the number of years of scholarship support received. Following graduation and commissioning, recipients are assigned to a military installation where they serve as active-duty officers until their service commitment is fulfilled.

Lytton says her military service, along with her family, faith and Elon’s commitment to service learning, helped instill values that have guided her throughout her PA career.

“Leadership begins with recognizing where help is needed and stepping forward to serve. I would advise anyone seeking to become a leader in their profession to look for unmet needs in their community and work to address them,”��Lytton said. “Even if the job seems somewhat small, the skills that you learn from community service and from community coming together and collaborating, they will foster in you this confidence that you take into your profession and become a natural part of who you are.”

The competition gave students the chance to showcase their point-of-care ultrasound skills, compete with other students, and learn from ultrasound experts across a variety of medical specialties.

The team was comprised of students��Aria Keyser G’27, Varenna Minshull G’26, Trevor Minshull G’26, Sukriti Rai G’26, James Whitham G’26 and Chris Gentilella G’27.

Students��Varenna Minshull ’26, Trina Phan ’26 and Brooke Hall ’27 also competed in a “Challenge Bowl” competition and entered the second round.

Related Articles

• The Month in Photos: April 2026
• The Month in Photos: March 2026
• The Month in Photos: February 2026

As the 2025-26 academic year drew to a close, May was marked by celebration, reflection and new beginnings across 51������. From Commencement festivities and awards ceremonies to end-of-year traditions, performances, and moments of community, the month showcased the accomplishments and experiences that defined another successful year on campus. These photos highlight some of the memorable scenes and milestones that made May a special month at Elon.

Engineering excellence

Students in Elon’s Department of Engineering��put their classroom learning into practice through six capstone projects showcased May 8 in Founders Hall as part of the Engineering Senior Design course.

Coolin’ on the Commons

51������’s Black Student Union held Coolin’ on the Commons in May, which featured live music, games and fun.

‘Elon will never leave you.’

The Class of 2026 gathered Under the Oaks on May 19 for Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate, a time for reflection on the light students will take into the world. During the event, Jana Lynn Patterson,��associate vice-president for student life, dean of student health & well-being, and assistant professor, reminded graduates about the importance of the relationships they’ve built at Elon. Patterson will retire from the university this summer after 40 years.

Think critically, lead empathetically

Candidates from graduate-level programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and Martha and Spencer Love School of Business received their diplomas during a joint Commencement ceremony on May 20 in Alumni Gym.

In her address, journalist and author Katherine Blunt ’15 acknowledged a challenging reality – that today’s graduates are leaving institutions of higher learning across the country and embarking on professional journeys in a world where artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how people work, learn and think.

But she reminded the graduates that��while many people may be tempted by the path of least resistance, Elon cultivates leaders who are deeply rooted in collaboration, communication and, most importantly, the ability to think critically.

Celebrating community

Ahead of and during Commencement Week, Elon held a variety of affinity celebrations celebrating and engaging graduates who share common identities, passions and connections that exist throughout various affinities. Those include Lavender Celebration, , Celebremos: Graduates Take Flight and Donning of the Kente.

‘Be-possible-ists’

During the 136th Commencement Ceremonies in Schar Center on May 22, President Connie Ledoux Book asked the Class of 2026 to look back on their��New Student Convocation in 2022,��1,371 days prior.

During their first year, the Class of 2026 all read the Common Reading book��“Factfulness” by Hans Rosling. In his book, Rosling described the word “possible-ist:” someone who looks honestly at the world’s problems and still believes, based on evidence, that things can get better, and that they are getting better. Book asked the graduates to be “possible-ists” as they enter the world.

Elon celebrated graduates in two ceremonies — the morning event for the School of Communications and the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the afternoon event for Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the School of Health Sciences.

On a Friday afternoon, the Gerald Francis Center was transformed from a quiet space of rigorous study into a lively hub of global play. The SHS Student Diversity Committee hosted its Cultural Game Night on May 22, inviting students, faculty, and staff to “play something new and meet someone new” while celebrating the unique diversity of the School of Health Sciences.

The event was well attended, drawing a diverse crowd that included students from three separate Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Studies cohorts, the PT resident, and

multiple faculty and staff members.

As one student remarked, “It is nice to be in the (Francis Center) and get to do something other than study with other students that I only get to pass in the halls.”

The festivities were fueled by a generous donation of popcorn from Regal Cinema in Greensboro, secured by DPTE Program Assistant Angie Reid. Attendees snacked as they navigated a world of games, ranging from high-tech favorites like Japan’s Mario Kart to traditional staples like Africa’s Mancala. While a four-person Mancala board, Connect 4, and Uno saw constant action, the competitive spirit of the afternoon reached its peak during a custom Kahoot trivia challenge.

The Kahoot tested participants’ knowledge of cultural dress, traditions, and holiday celebrations from around the globe. Second year student Maci Yaeger claimed victory. Her winning edge? A quick-thinking identification of the Dirndl, a traditional female German outfit.

Beyond the competition, the event provided a space for meaningful reflection. Rousing games of Spades��and Dominoes were preceded by a heartfelt discussion regarding the cultural lineage of these games. Participants shared stories of how these traditions were passed down through generations, often learned at grandparents’ kitchen tables, and kept alive within family circles. This “drop-in” afternoon bridged the gap between academic life and personal heritage, proving that the SHS community is defined by much more than just its curriculum.

As the school year continues, the SHS Student Diversity Committee remains committed to fostering this spirit of inclusion. In June 2026, the committee will celebrate Juneteenth and Pride Month.