The multi-month fellowship offers growth and collective healing for Latine educators and organizers committed to equity. It equips Latine advocates across North Carolina with tools to remove barriers and build a thriving future, honoring identity and lived experience.

Manny Campos, assistant director of college success for the Elon Academy, said he entered the fellowship looking to stay connected to the community that shaped him.

“I wanted to participate in the LatinxEd Fellowship because I wanted to stay rooted in my community. Especially in a space where there aren’t many people who look like me” Campos said. “In turn, I wanted to make my mark and show the work that I am doing. I also wanted to see the work people are doing throughout North Carolina that supports Latine students.”

Through the Elon Academy, Campos supports first-generation and low-income students on their college journey. He shared that the fellowship retreat offered a powerful reminder of his purpose.

“The Fellowship retreat was very grounding and energizing,” he said. “It was so nice to be surrounded by people who care about the Latine community and advocate for those who don’t always have a voice. It served as a reminder of why I do the work that I do.”

Similarly, Stephanie HernĂĄndez Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Arts in Higher Education program and Emerging Professor in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, also completed the fellowship. She learned about it from a colleague and former fellow, Luis Garay, who encouraged her to apply.

Her research focuses on the experiences of students of color in higher education. She saw the fellowship as an opportunity to enhance her advocacy for Latine students in North Carolina.

“For me, it’s important that my work continues to speak back to the communities I am trying to serve,” Hernández Rivera said. “Advocating for Latine students is central to this work.”

She added that the retreat emphasized a shared commitment to collective progress.

“Bringing together Latine people from across the state to consider how we facilitate educational access was a powerful demonstration of community and solidarity. Even as Latine people, we have varied experiences. Our willingness to learn from and with one another is a testament to our desire to understand each other to best serve our students.”

For both fellows, graduation marked more than just a ceremony—it brought pride and momentum. Campos was selected as one of two fellows to speak during the event, where he shared his experiences, key accomplishments, and the impact the Fellowship had on his growth.

“I felt so empowered getting to share my thoughts and my story with others,” Campos said. “This set the stage for what was a successful Fellowship journey. It marked the end of an emotional and thought-provoking adventure I’ll never forget.”

For HernĂĄndez Rivera, the moment was deeply meaningful both personally and professionally.

“It was beautiful and moving to be recognized for the work I have already done to support students as a Puerto Rican woman. I am inspired to continue on that road,” she said.

LatinxEd’s mission is to dismantle barriers to educational access for Latine communities. The group partners with advocates across the state to launch mentorship programs, organize workshops, and host networking events for students. Campos and HernĂĄndez Rivera return to campus with renewed purpose and strengthened skills from the fellowship.

In discussing the nation’s social and political climate surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion, Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Higher Education Program and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor, and Jonathan A. McElderry, dean of Student Inclusive Excellence and assistant professor, reflected on the need for scholarship to include the testimonies of those doing the work in identity-based centers.

“One thing that’s missing from scholarship is the actual stories of people who have worked in those spaces,” McElderry said. “We’ve read about identity-based centers in scholarship, but rarely do you get to hear the actual voices of those who lived it.”

That conversation laid the foundation for the book, serving as a collection that amplifies the voices of practitioners often left out of academic narratives.

The power of collective voice

Across 18 chapters, “Shaking the Table: Survival and Healing Amongst Identity Center Practitioners” lifts the lived experiences of practitioners working across identity-based centers, including Black, Asian American, Latinx, multicultural, women’s, undocumented students, and gender and sexuality centers. Stories explore how professionals navigate grief, burnout, resistance and renewal.

These narratives embody what McElderry calls “the power of the collective and community.”

“We can’t do this alone or in silos,” McElderry said. “The power of the collective and community is what moves the work forward. When we collaborate, students, campuses and communities all grow stronger.”

Echoing McElderry’s perspective, Hernandez Rivera expressed, “We’re part of a larger legacy of people committed to supporting the experiences of historically marginalized groups,” she said. “This project reminds us that we have our own knowledge and assets that sustain those efforts.”

That legacy runs deep for both editors, which is rooted in their shared history and the experiences that first shaped their work.

A full-circle moment

For Hernandez Rivera and McElderry, the book is deeply personal. The idea traces back to their time working together at the University of Missouri during the 2015 campus protests that brought national attention to racial justice in higher education.

“When we were at Mizzou, we didn’t have a voice or agency in what was going on,” McElderry said. “We weren’t allowed to do press or share our experiences. After I transitioned roles in 2016, we published our together as a way to finally give voice to what happened.”

“Shaking the Table” ensures this legacy continues and that the professionals who work in identity spaces can tell their stories.

Reflecting on that time, Hernandez Rivera described working on the book as both poetic and vindicating.

“This feels like a full-circle moment,” she said. “Maybe the space we wanted ten years ago is the space we’re now creating through this project.”

When stories become strength

While “Shaking the Table” highlights practitioners’ experiences, its deeper impact lies in what those stories make possible — connection, healing and truth through storytelling. For McElderry and Hernandez Rivera, storytelling isn’t just reflection, it’s resistance and restoration.

The book’s strength lies in the vulnerability and courage its contributors demonstrate in allowing themselves to be seen. Through storytelling, identity center professionals honor the past, affirm the present and imagine new possibilities.

“Writing this chapter was vulnerable,” Luis Garay, contributor and Elon’s director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, said. “I was sharing parts of my story that aren’t often talked about. That vulnerability was new for me.”

Building on that idea, Hernandez Rivera describes how connection is a driving force behind her decision to tell her story.

“One reason I write the kind of scholarship I do is to create points of connection for people who might otherwise feel isolated,” she said. “Collective storytelling reminds us that what we feel and experience is valid and valuable.”

At its heart, “Shaking the Table” is grounded in collective storytelling. Each chapter challenges silence, reclaims agency and reminds readers that using their voice is itself a radical act.

“People will see the joy and the pain. Many of those in these roles carry a lot they don’t share. The book exposes that quiet endurance. And that’s what makes it powerful.”

A legacy that continues

“Shaking the Table” continues the legacy Hernandez Rivera and McElderry began years ago, ensuring that identity center professionals are seen, heard and valued.

“It’s ironic,” McElderry said. “This book is being released 10 years to the month after the Mizzou protests. It’s a moment to stop and reflect on how much has changed — some for good, some for bad — and how far we’ve come in centering humanity in this work.”

“Shaking the Table” will be released on Nov. 24 and available for .

The work doesn’t end with the final chapter. Hernandez Rivera and McElderry have shared that a second volume is already in the works, as there are still more stories to tell. They continue to advocate for identity center professionals through ongoing scholarship, media and conversation, including an upcoming episode of the podcast, set to release Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Her work focuses on her desire to empower, uplift and heal marginalized communities. These grant funds will provide travel to the ACPA conference, where she will present a pre-convention workshop, developed with a senior scholar, that supports the work of those in identity centers. Additionally, she plans to submit an article to Developments – ACPA’s quarterly online publication – based on her research working with identity center practitioners of Color.

She circulates halls and common areas, smiling and waving at familiar faces, sparking new relationships with her easy humor and boisterous laugh. She welcomes them in, counsels them, hears and advocates for them. Elon’s inaugural director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional programs recognizes the simple fact: We all want to belong. And she has the magic touch to foster that belonging.

“Dr. Buggs truly has a way with people. When you see her in the halls, there is rarely a time when she doesn’t stop to talk to a student, professor or staff member. She isn’t just talking to make light conversation, but cares about all the interactions she has,” said Gianna Landrum L’25, an Elon Law Diversity Fellow — a program Buggs established to enhance inclusive excellence at the law school and in the legal profession. “I’m in awe of her ability to connect with those whose identities she does not share because she makes the effort to learn.”

This month, Buggs was recognized with a . The annual awards honor professionals who champion inclusive excellence in workplaces, across the community and beyond. She will join other honorees and their guests at a June 12 reception at the N.C. A&T University Student Center ballroom and be featured in a June 27 special issue.

To those who’ve worked closely with Buggs — in the Division of Inclusive Excellence, at Elon Law, the School of Health Sciences, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Love School of Business — Buggs’ recognition is no surprise.

“LakĂ© is a wonderful resource and provides valuable support for Elon’s graduate students,” said Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “She creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across 51±ŹÁÏÍű, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.”

She creates an environment where they are welcomed and heard, and we all benefit from her perspectives. Through vital conversations in graduate programs across 51±ŹÁÏÍű, students are prepared to serve the communities and clients they will engage with during their careers.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn

Randy Williams, vice president for inclusive excellence and associate professor of education, said Buggs’ effective advocacy for graduate and professional students allowed the university to be more conscious of their needs, “positioning Elon to make decisions that enable them to flourish.” Williams was a 2021 Leader in Diversity honoree.

“LakĂ© exudes genuine warmth and empathy, which are powerful tools for engaging those whom she encounters. In turn, people are quick to trust her in guiding their decisions and accessing the many resources 51±ŹÁÏÍű offers,” Williams said.

Passionate advocacy, unwavering support

To hear Buggs tell it, there’s no secret to what she does.

“Everybody can do this work. You don’t need a title,” she reflected recently. “We change the whole experience for our students when each of us is invested in their well-being and belonging.”

Listening goes a long way. Buggs watches for areas where students may struggle, attends to the challenges they face entering professional life or preparing for a career change, and searches for ways to support them in and out of the classroom. She is especially cognizant of obstacles students from marginalized communities may face as they pursue advancement in their careers.

Beneath her warm exterior lies a passionate commitment to changing and challenging systems. Students discover this when they seek mentorship in profoundly difficult and traumatic experiences. Buggs not only supports them, but elevates critical issues for transformational conversations among faculty, staff and students that lead to reconciliation and growth.

She inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile.

Zac Ormond G’23, assistant professor of physical therapy

In her teaching, she encourages interdisciplinary work that centers inclusive excellence across professions and is “committed to providing classroom experiences that are inclusive by design and in application.”

Students feel that support and gain valuable insights from her guidance.

Zac Ormond G’23 first met Buggs as a student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program on the school of Health Science’s Diversity Committee. Later chairing that committee, Buggs “helped me refine my leadership skills, and her example showed me what it means to lead with both conviction and compassion,” he said. Now an assistant professor of physical therapy in Elon’s program and a Northwestern University Sports Division 1 Fellow, he continues to seek her wisdom.

“She inspires others to take up this work by modeling what inclusive leadership looks like. Through her example, she makes equity work feel not just necessary, but possible and worthwhile,” Ormond said.

Since arriving at Elon in 2021, some of Buggs’ achievements include:

• Creating opportunity for Elon’s graduate students to participate in affinity celebrations around commencement ceremonies, including Lavender Graduation and ÂĄCelebremos!: Graduates Take Flight.
• Initiating programs for graduate and professional students interested in building skills in inclusion and belonging, including Elon Law’s Diversity Fellows Program and the School of Health Sciences’ Student DEI Committee.

• Innovating and contributing to professional identity workshops that aid graduate and professional students in establishing themselves within their chosen fields, such as Acorn to Oak at Elon Law and Confronting Bias in the Clinical Learning Environment at the School of Health Sciences.
• Working with students, faculty and staff to establish the Elon Law Professional Closet for access to business attire for interviews and early careers, as well as prayer rooms for various faiths and a lactation room for new mothers.
• Spearheading book clubs that spark reflection and discussion among students around timely subjects and diverse perspectives of the world.
• Developing and teaching courses that investigate how society grapples with different identities and how individuals can effect change.
• Creating social events and networking activities that create community among graduate students that include game nights, cultural outings and meetings with President Connie Ledoux Book.

What others say about Buggs’ impact on the Elon community:

“LakĂ© is a passionate advocate for students, with a deep commitment to creating the types of inclusive environments that are essential for the success and thriving of all students. The graduate student population at Elon is spread across multiple academic programs with very different schedules and student needs. LakĂ© offers a common touchpoint for all of them in creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.” – Jon Dooley, vice president for student life and associate professor of education

“Within the first week of her arrival at Elon, LakĂ© took on the charge to increase visibility and services for graduate and professional students. As a faculty advisor to the School of Health Sciences’ Student Diversity Committee, she helps them create meaningful events for supporting and educating healthcare students in the care of diverse patients and colleagues.” –Melissa Scales, associate professor of physical therapy education

“LakĂ© has a huge capacity to bring people in and bring people together. She loves people, loves to see them thrive and be successful, and that motivates her. She challenges students to recognize their own agency and power to make change.” – Stacie Dooley, Elon Law assistant dean of career and student development

“She builds trust and relationships by making herself available, being her authentic self and empowering students to use their voice. I have seen her give solid counsel to students who were struggling or who needed direction. The nature of her position as a student affairs professional rather than their program chair or advisor gives her the opportunity to be a true safe space for students.” – Kim Stokes, associate professor of physician assistant studies and department chair/program director for the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

As Kevin Trapani is quick to note, there’s a certain paradox to life in 2025: global poverty and rates of disease are declining, educational access is expanding, and technology has made communication instant and knowledge more accessible than at any point in human history.

That doesn’t include advancements in medicine, clean energy, and global cooperation.

So then why is there a rise in loneliness, anxiety, division, and despair? What explains the growing violence, political instability, and economic uncertainty now taking a toll on many people? And what’s to be done?

“Well, if you’ve earned an advanced degree in education, I want you to teach character,” Trapani told candidates for master’s degrees who celebrated their 51±ŹÁÏÍű graduation on May 21, 2025. “And, if you’ve earned an advanced degree in business, I want you to teach
 character.”

51±ŹÁÏÍű conferred graduate degrees on 85 students representing five programs at 51±ŹÁÏÍű – the Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Business Analytics, Master of Education in Innovation, and Master of Arts in Higher Education programs – inside an Alumni Gym filled with family, friends, and classmates.

In delivering the Commencement address, Trapani – a retired insurance executive and entrepreneur, executive-in-residence in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, and the father of three 51±ŹÁÏÍű alumni – suggested practices “that can anchor you in a chaotic world.”

• Belief: “Now let me be clear: Belief doesn’t require religion. But it does require intention. It requires the choice to say, ‘This is what I stand for. This is what I will sacrifice for. This is who I will be when no one is watching.’  Belief is not abstract. It informs our choices. It shapes how we live. It gives us the courage to keep going in tough times. And today, in a world that too often confuses distraction with direction, belief is more necessary than ever.”
• Belonging: “To bring people together, to find and build purpose-centered community, give of yourself. Spend your time, talent and treasure on the essential issues of human need: Feed the hungry. House the homeless. Care for children. Welcome the stranger. In that work, you’ll meet people who will challenge and shape you – and who will come to love you and give your life meaning.”
• Behavior: “I’m asking you – I’m expecting you – to change the world. I know you can only lead from where you stand – but you must lead. Your privilege is power and know this: power is not a bludgeon. It’s a blessing. Not something you use to dominate, but something that demands that you give. … Find a powerful partner and build a family. Practice your faith. Support your schools. Find and speak the truth — not just the trending soundbite. Sit with someone and really listen. Don’t choose the easy way. Do hard things. Beautiful things. Love one another. Because that’s where meaning lives.”

Trapani has been an executive-in-residence at 51±ŹÁÏÍű since 2022 and lectures on topics related to innovation, ethical leadership and stakeholder capitalism. Before his corporate retirement in 2024, he was co-founder, president and CEO of The Redwoods Group, the largest insurance provider dedicated to protecting youth-serving organizations in the country by working to prevent the sexual abuse of children in institutional settings, drowning prevention, transportation, and elevation risk safety

A 1979 Duke University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Trapani is a member and past chair of the Advisory Committee for Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.

He has also been the social entrepreneur in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chair of the board of North Carolina Public Radio, chair of the board of the United Way of the Greater Triangle (N.C.) and chair of the North Carolina Workforce Development Commission.

“You. Are. Elon,” Trapani reminded graduates. “Those three words carry weight more than a diploma, a title, or a rĂ©sumĂ© ever will because to be Elon means you’ve been formed in a community that believes in purpose and that values knowledge, yes — but also character — and that believes we are not simply here to succeed, but to serve.”

The evening Commencement celebration also featured remarks by 51±ŹÁÏÍű President Connie Ledoux Book, Provost Rebecca Kohn, and Micaela Acosta G’25, a candidate for the Master of Education from Argentina who delivered a message of appreciation on behalf of her classmates.

Acosta reminded her classmates that they stood on a bridge between two worlds: “the world that shaped us and the world we are about to shape.”  Commencement, she said, is a time to ignite courage for what lies ahead.

Among the many important lessons learned while enrolled in graduate studies, she added, there was one most meaningful to her.

“We never stop learning,” Acosta said. “In education, we are not simply teaching content or following a curriculum. We are shaping lives. We are inspiring futures. We are making an impact that might only reveal itself years from now when a student recognizes us at the grocery store, even if we don’t recognize them. And that, truly, is the power of education.

“Today is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, ‘We are ready.’ Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies – it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

Today is not just a ceremony. It is a declaration that says, ‘We are ready.’ Ready to make mistakes. Ready to take risks. Ready to lead with heart and innovation. Elon has not only taught us new perspectives, methods, and strategies – it has reawakened our belief in the profound impact of what we do.

– Micaela Acosta G’25

“As we step forward into the world, into classrooms, organizations, businesses, and communities, may we remember that success is not just measured in titles or accolades, but in the lives we touch, the hope we plant, and the courage we inspire.”

Book concluded the ceremony with a charge to graduates to be resilient and steadfast “like the mighty oak for which Elon is named.” The strengths and skills gained at 51±ŹÁÏÍű should be used to make a difference in the world.

“As we envision each of you launching into what’s next in the exciting career path ahead, carry Elon and our values with you always,” Book said. “Honesty: be truthful in your work and in your relationships. Integrity: be trustworthy, fair, and ethical. 
Responsibility: be accountable for your actions. Respect: be simple, and value the dignity of each person.

“Use Elon’s values when you encounter the inevitable hard choices. Lean on them and each other when you need to reason things out. Remember, we are forever bound together by these values: you, me, your classmates, faculty, and staff. You are lifelong members of the Elon family.

“Congratulations, Class of 2025, and long live Elon!”

Candidates for the Master of Science in Accounting

Nick Amatulli
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Juliet Baudoin
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Cailin Daigle
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Kelly Degnan
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Emma Flynn
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Wise Halverson
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Anna Hamner
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Josh Hazlett
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Blake Kessel
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Tabitha Knedeisen
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Vincent Ruggiero
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Charlotte Scully
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Allison Silvernale
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Juliet Walker
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Candidates for the Master of Science in Business Analytics

Ananya Agrawal
B.A., Assumption University

Alan Allred
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Robert Barcello
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Craig Brandstetter
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Nicholas Buchholz
B.A., Fordham University

Juan Callejo-Ropero
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Adam Cheifetz
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Mackenzie Deming
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Yadira Fernandez-Delgado
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Annie Grantais
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Cece Guyader
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Narjis Jebali
B.S., SKEMA Business School

Jazlyn Jefferson
B.S., Hampton University

Mikayla Jones
B.A., Catawba College

Charline Kergueris
B.S., NEOMA Business School

Madeline Ludwig
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Mariana Martinez
B.B.A., Christian University

Will McCoy
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Simone Royal George
M.Ed., Washington University

Annabelle Schall Faucheux
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Victor Stromsten
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Liz Sulley
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Madison Synowiec
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

James Thomas Tegler Jr.
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Dylan Tucker
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Candidates for the Master of Business Administration

John Acebu
B.A., Xavier University

Addie Ackley
B.S., West Virginia University
M.S., West Virginia University
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Jaclyn Burke
B.S., University of South Carolina
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Davis Cheek
B.S.B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Cuyler Field
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Robert Floyd
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Sarah Fuller
B.A., High Point University
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Kendra Haskins
B.A., Duke University

Tarah Holland
B.S., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Steven Lawrence Losiewicz
B.B.A., Greensboro College

Emily Lyons
B.S., Western Carolina University

Brooke McCormick
B.A., Monmouth College
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Aaron Mellette
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Eduardo Mendes Flores
B.A., Texas A&M University
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Ayo Onasanya
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű
J.D., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Moni Pao
B.S., North Carolina State University

William McGeachy Roberson
B.A., Davidson College

William Rock
B.S., Trident University

Ryan Xavier JaNeil Sanders
B.S., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Patrick Schwartz
B.S., University of Hartford

Jon Seaton
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Edith Sanchez Smith
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Sean Walker
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Daniel Warren
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Aaron Whetstone
B.S., Clemson University

Katie Wolfe
B.B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Higher Education

Emma Rose Varner Calhoun
B.A., Duke University

Seth Lawrence Lasher
B.S., Kentucky Wesleyan College

Logan Montana Morral
B.A., York College of Pennsylvania

Cassandra McLean North
B.A., Roger Williams University

Rebecca Emily Osborne
B.A., North Carolina State University

Asmaa Zaitoun
B.S., University of Jordan
M.A., University of Jordan

Candidates for the Master of Education

Micaela Acosta
Bachelor’s, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca

Huanhuan Cai
B.A., Southwest University of Political Science and Law

Rocio Castillo Garcia
Bachelor’s, Escuela Normal Particular Autorizada in Queretaro

Erika Conde Garcia
Bachelor’s, Universidad Del Valle

Hailey Firmin
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Lu Li
B.A., Tonghua Normal University

Rebecca McLamb
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Ana Gabriela Peñaranda
Bachelor’s, Universidad de Cuenca

Yuli Andrea Peralta Verano
Bachelor’s, Institucion Universitaria Colombo Americana

Zoë Rein
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Matthew R. Trez
B.A., 51±ŹÁÏÍű

Nan Ye
Bachelor’s, Shenyang Normal University in Shenyang

Qianhan Yi
Bachelor’s, China West Normal University

Yuqi Yuan
Bachelor’s, Yunnan Normal University,
Foreign Languages College in Kunming

“It felt like a full-circle moment,” she said. “It was an incredible opportunity to showcase my skills and reflect on how far I’ve grown.”

This spring, six students from Elon’s Master of Higher Education (MHE) program had the opportunity to present at two of the field’s leading national conferences. The ACPA Convention was held in Long Beach, California in February, followed by the NASPA Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, in March.

For all six students, it was their first time presenting at a national level. They co-presented with MHE faculty member and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, sharing a project rooted in their course “Transition to Adulthood in the Context of College and Culture.” As part of the course, students created visual art projects that reflected their own undergraduate development, using student development theories to interpret and explain their experiences. Their conference presentations invited participants to consider how theory intersects with identity, culture, and personal growth.

Carolina Martinez-Cuin G’26 and Cici Salazar G’26, along with Emma Calhoun G’25 and Logan Morral G’25, attended and presented at ACPA. At NASPA, McMillian and Cass North G’25 represented the program.

Each student brought a unique perspective to the conference sessions and left with a renewed sense of confidence.

“It was powerful being able to speak to a larger audience,” Morral said.

“I feel confident. I feel I can do anything else,” said Salazar. “I feel I can go to another conference and present.”

Calhoun and Martinez-Cuin shared how meaningful the experience felt for them, both personally and professionally. North noted how helpful it was to learn the behind-the-scenes work of putting together a proposal and presenting alongside an experienced faculty member.

Professional development is a core part of the MHE experience. In addition to attending national and local conferences, students participate in webinars, colloquia and guided professional planning with faculty. These opportunities help them prepare for roles across the field of higher education.

As the semester continues, students are already brainstorming ideas for future proposals, with support from faculty mentors.

The goal of the trip was to explore comprehensive internationalization and higher education in the Brazilian context, with a special focus on how students can form collaborative and reciprocal relationships with organizations and institutions.

Their trip, coordinated with CET Academic Programs, included visits to universities such as, Fundação Escola de Sociologia e Política de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo and Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing. Students also visited the Museu da Língua Poruguesa to learn more about the complexities of Portuguese in Brasil, which included understanding how the African diaspora and Arabic culture has influenced Portuguese language, as well as organizations like Casa Sueli Carneiro which uplifts the legacy of activists Sueli Carneiro and the experiences of Black Brazilians.

Cass North, the graduate apprentice in the Global Education Center, shared that many of the organizations they visited in Brazil “work to increase educational access and opportunities to underrepresented people” while also “preserving and uplifting Black memory that has been globally silenced.” The most impactful part of the experience for North was when she was able to connect with students and staff from EDUCAFRO, an organization that works to increase access to education for Black Brazilian students.

Seth Lasher, a student in the Master of Arts in Higher Education program who is the graduate apprentice in the Student Professional Development Center, said that exploring São Paulo, Brazil, and building connections with the communities he interacted with allowed him to learn more about how higher education institutions and organizations in Brazil “navigate issues of access, equity and governance” and “address diversity, inclusion, and systemic challenges.” Lasher shared that seeing these efforts in practice allowed him to think more critically about how different issues and policies shape higher education outcomes globally.

Students also reflected on how they would take what they learned during their trip and integrate it into their work in the United States. Rebecca Osborne, graduate apprentice in New Student Programs, shared that as she was thinking critically, she was “drawing connections between our experiences, the history we are learning, and how broader social systems of oppression.”

Students were further able to draw on the new knowledge and insights gained through their final assignment for the course, a grant proposal focused on collaborative initiatives that facilitate capacity-building and reciprocity between an organization/institution visited in SĂŁo Paulo.

Students presented these proposal ideas to faculty and peers at the Master of Arts in Higher Education Colloquium. Colloquium is a time when Master of Arts in Higher Education students and faculty gather to discuss current issues, trends and best practices in higher education. Within Colloquium, students were able to share about the importance of decolonization in our internationalization efforts, the importance of capacity-building in international partnerships and how to facilitate collaborations that are mutually beneficial. Peers who have yet to partake in the study away experience were able to gain a basic understanding of internationalization and consider how they might build on the knowledge their peers’ shared as they prepare for the Theory and Practice of Global Education course this coming fall.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition. I’m also grateful for the unique opportunity it offers to support the NASPA Foundation, which provides vital scholarships and grants to student affairs professionals nationwide,” Dooley expressed.

Pillars of the Profession recipients have demonstrated significant service to NASPA through regional or national leadership roles, created a lasting impact at their institutions and established lifetime professional distinction in student affairs and higher education.

Dooley has been a transformative leader during his tenure at Elon. Joining the university in 2014 as an assistant vice president for student life and serving as vice president since 2017, he has helped lead significant advancements in the residential campus, health and well-being, inclusive excellence, civic and political engagement, student belonging and divisional excellence. As vice president for student life, he oversees 15 departments dedicated to enhancing student learning and development, fostering mentoring relationships and nurturing a vibrant campus community. His leadership is marked by a deep commitment to students and their success.

Beyond his administrative duties, Dooley also serves as an associate professor of education, having taught courses in the master’s of higher education graduate program and the undergraduate Core Curriculum. Before joining Elon, Dooley served in various leadership roles at Marquette University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“I am proud to join many of my Elon student life colleagues in advancing the field of student affairs through volunteer leadership with professional associations. To have my contributions over the course of my career recognized in this way is incredibly meaningful and motivates me to continue these efforts,” Dooley said.

Dooley has made significant contributions to the profession as a volunteer leader with NASPA. He recently completed multiple terms on the NASPA Region III executive board, helping the region successfully navigate the challenges of the pandemic through his role as treasurer. He was a member of the NASPA Future of Student Affairs Task Force, which issued the in March 2022. Currently, he is a member of the James E. Scott Academy board, a group of accomplished student affairs vice presidents who provide advice and thought leadership to the NASPA President.

Dooley has been active with multiple other professional associations throughout his career, as a volunteer leader, conference presenter and consultant. For the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA), he served as the chair of the NACA Board of Directors and later as chair of the NACA Foundation Board of Trustees. In 2022 he was recognized with NACA’s highest honor, the Founders Award, for contributions to the association during more than three decades of involvement as a student and staff leader.

The is the premier professional organization for student affairs professionals. The association provides professional development, fosters research to address critical challenges and advocates for inclusive and equitable practices. Members of NASPA are united by a shared commitment to advancing higher education and guided by the association’s core principles of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and inquiry, placing students at the heart of its mission.

Dooley will be formally recognized alongside the other Pillars of the Profession during a ceremony at the NASPA Annual Meeting in March 2025, located in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the meantime, Dooley’s nominators will work with the NASPA Foundation Board to raise funds in his honor to further research and scholarship in student affairs. To make a contribution, visit the .

Rissa Trachman – J. Earl Danieley Distinguished Professorship

Rissa Trachman, professor of anthropology, has been honored with the J. Early Danieley Distinguished Professorship.

“Since joining 51±ŹÁÏÍű in 2008, Dr. Trachman has been a dedicated teacher, scholar, and mentor who engages students, including many undergraduate researchers, in meaningful learning experiences in the classroom, the laboratory and through participation in field data collection and analysis,” said Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn, about Trachman.

Kohn noted Trachman’s dedication to students – mentoring several through research projects, dissemination of research findings at professional anthropology and archeology meetings and publications with student co-authors. She has also received the Elon College Excellence in Mentoring Award.

Her research centers on the everyday life of the ancient Maya, specifically those daily activities related to the political, ritual, economic and social aspects of the ancient city of Dos Hombres.

The J. Earl Danieley Distinguished Professorship was created by the university’s board of trustees in 1997 to honor 50 years of service to Elon by the university’s sixth president. Trachman is the fourth faculty member to receive the honor. The professorship is awarded to an outstanding professor in any field.

When Trachman received the call from President Connie Ledoux Book notifying her that she’d be awarded the professorship, she was in Belize doing field school teaching with her longtime mentor from the University of Texas at Austin. She then called her longest mentor at Elon — Anne Bolin, professor of anthropology emeritus.

“I knew immediately the magnitude of the coalescence of events,” said Trachman after receiving the award. “Anne is a friend, my mentor and family here in North Carolina. These are enduring relationships indeed. I’ve been fortunate to have incredible colleagues and many mentors here at Elon past and present and I’m so grateful to have landed in a department, college and an institution that has supported me absolutely, where we focus on students and share the values of the teacher, scholar, mentor.”

Her service to the university includes the Undergraduate Research Program Advisory Committee, the Budget Committee, the Presidential Search Committee, the search committee for recently appointed dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and as the current Academic Council chair.

Trachman earned a bachelor of arts, master of arts and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin.

Qian Xu – A.J. Fletcher Professorship

Qian Xu, professor of strategic communications, has been honored with the A.J. Fletcher Professorship in Communications.

Xu joined Elon in 2010 and her research focuses on the social and psychological effects of online technology as they relate to perception, information seeking and cognition in the context of both computer-mediated communication and human-computer interaction. Her research has been published in more than a dozen journals and she has authored and/or co-authored several book chapters.

“Dr. Xu is the epitome of what an Elon faculty member should be. She is visible in the campus community and active in service. Her research productivity has few peers. She is well-liked and respected. Her commitment to her teaching and her work are infectious. She is the Lumen — a ray of light — upholding the Elon motto of Numen Lumen,” said Kenn Gaither, dean of the School of Communications and previous A.J. Fletcher Professor.

At Elon, Xu has served as the associate director of the Undergraduate Research Program, and editor-in-chief of Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring. She has also served on the graduate council, mentored honors fellows, served on the Elon Strategic Planning Committee and Innovation Council.

“This recognition is not just a reflection of my work but a testament to the incredible support and encouragement I have received from my colleagues within the School of Communications and beyond,” Xu said. “They are not just coworkers, but also mentors, sounding boards and sources of inspiration. Their dedication to excellence pushes me to continuously improve as a teacher, scholar and mentor.”

Prior to Gaither and Xu, Professor David Copeland, who retired in May 2021, served as the A.J. Fletcher Professor for 20 years.

Xu earned a bachelor of arts and masters of arts in journalism from Nanjing University in China in 2005 and 2010, respectively. She earned a doctorate in mass communications from Pennsylvania State University in 2010.

Jeffrey Carpenter – William S. Long Professorship

Professor of Education Jeffrey Carpenter is the recipient of the William S. Long Professorship.

“Dr. Carpenter exemplifies excellence in teaching, scholarship, and mentoring,” said Kohn. “With over 100 publications, he is established as a thought leader in his area of expertise, currently focusing on how professional development and student learning are enhanced by social media.”

Carpenter came to Elon in 2010 where he has served as the director of the Elon Teaching Fellows program since 2014. He has received the 51±ŹÁÏÍű School of Education Scholarship Award twice, the 51±ŹÁÏÍű Distinguished Scholar Award and the Teacher Education Network’s Research Paper Award from the International Society for Technology in Education. Carpenter also serves on the University Curriculum Committee, the Academic Council and the Global Education Curriculum Committee.

“To those of you in this room who have been my colleagues and collaborators, I owe you deep gratitude and I hope you know that I appreciate the energy that you’ve poured into me,” said Carpenter while accepting the award Monday.

Carpenter also gave special recognition to Jennifer Fish, the former associate director of the Teaching Fellows program, who passed away in May.

“I would not be on this stage today if it wasn’t for a collaborator of the past ten years, during my time as Teaching Fellows director, Jennifer Fish,” said Carpenter “I really wish that she was here to see me receive this award because she poured a lot into me and I miss you, Jennifer. Long live Elon.”

Prior to coming to Elon, Carpenter taught English and ESOL in public and private schools in Japan, Honduras, Boston, Virginia and North Carolina. He earned a bachelor of arts from Rice University, a master of education from Harvard University and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Virginia.

The William S. Long Professorship, named for the university’s first president, was first awarded in 1968 to Robert Blake, an English faculty member who held the position until his retirement from the full-time faculty in 2008.

Rod Clare – William J. Story Sr. Professorship

Rod Clare, associate professor of history and chair of Elon’s Department of History, has been awarded the William S. Long Professorship in History, endowed by Hatcher P. Story ’38 and his sister Louise in honor of their father.

Clare has taught at Elon since 2004 and specializes in women’s history, African American history and the U.S. during the early 20^th century. On Monday, Professor of History and Distinguished University Professor Mary Jo Festle noted Clare is always willing to jump in wherever needed. Described as passionate about conducting research and guiding students, Clare has arranged trips with student to archival collections.

“(Rod) is a beloved teacher, with students rushing to sign up for his classes. As an instructor, he exudes warmth and positive energy – while insisting that students realize the complexity of people’s experiences in the past,” said Festle in a pre-recorded message. “Students also appreciate Rod as an advisor. Whether or not a student is his official advisee, Rod’s office door is literally always open, and he stops whatever he’s doing to cheerfully assist any student who drops by.”

Clare earned a bachelor of arts in history from Howard University and a doctorate and master of art in history from Duke University. He was unable to attend the Opening Day event.

Jonathan Poquette – Fletcher Moore Distinguished Emerging Scholar

Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands Jonathan Poquette is the recipient of the Fletcher Moore Distinguished Emerging Scholar award.

Poquette joined Elon in 2019 with the goal of “building the band,” but the COVID-19 pandemic created some challenges. However, it didn’t stop Poquette from continuing his work, developing creative rehearsal tactics, recruitment, alumni engagement and planning. His efforts resulted in a strong and exciting marching back for fall 2022.

“With his positive personality and his energetic drive, Jonathan lifted the Elon band program to new heights, eventually doubling the size of the marching band and delivering a musically proficient wind ensemble that boasts a growing membership beyond 50 students,” said Hallie Hogan, associate professor of music and chair of the Music Department. “He captured the attention of his concert band with creative and relevant interdisciplinary programming featuring world premieres and music by composers from marginalized communities.”

Expanding his work beyond the Elon campus, Poquette has directed ensembles and provided lectures at several high schools and universities. He also created The Elon Contemporary Chamber Ensemble made up of faculty and area musicians.

Poquette thanked his family for their support, noting that his parents drove from Wisconsin to attend the Opening Day ceremony.

“It’s the foundation that you’ve provided that has really helped me become the person I am today, both as an individual and a teacher and scholar,” said Poquette. “My mentors, both here on campus and throughout all of my education, thank you so much for helping me to learn the Elon way so that we could eventually and continue to build the band, because yes, it is a passion of mine. If you haven’t seen me around with the marching band, you will come Friday, because we are eagerly awaiting our performance for Move-In Day.”

Poquette earned a bachelor of music from Southern Illinois University and a master of arts in instrumental conducting from University of Central Missouri. He holds a doctorate in musical arts, conducting from the University of Georgia.

The Fletcher Moore Distinguished Emerging Scholar Professorship was established in 2023 by alumnus Wayne T. Moore ’49 and his wife Elizabeth to support faculty and honor the achievements of Moore’s late brother, Fletcher Moore ‘34. A member of Elon’s music faculty for more than 40 years, Fletcher Moore passed away in 2022. The professorship supports the teaching and research of an emerging scholar in the arts, humanities or social sciences.

Stephanie Hernandez Rivera – Dr. Jo Watts Williams Emerging Professor

Assistant Professor of Education Stephanie Hernandez Rivera is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams Emerging Professorship, in honor of the late Dr. Jo Watts Williams, vice president emerita and professor of education emerita.

The award is given to an outstanding pre-tenure faculty member who demonstrates emerging outstanding teaching, provides evidence of emerging outstanding and impactful scholarship, contributes to the life of the university and has shown evidence of being a goodwill ambassador for the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the university.

“(Hernandez Rivera) builds excellent relationships with her students and challenges them to explore and evaluate higher education from many dimensions, specifically focusing on social justice and diversity aspects of the content,” said Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.

Hernandez Rivera is in her second year as a faculty member at Elon, primarily teaching in the master of higher education program. Students praise her use of guest speakers and her ability to bring students at ease in the classroom when working through challenging course content.

“I would be remiss if I did not thank my incredible students who not only motivate me to be the best educator, but also be the best version of myself,” said Hernandez Rivera during the Opening Day ceremony. “I truly believe my life’s purpose is to be an educator and to create meaningful work that uplifts how marginalized people resist oppressive conditions in education, especially how women of color do it.”

Hernandez Rivera earned a bachelor of arts in women’s and gender studies, early childhood education and psychology from William Patterson University in 2012, a master of arts in women’s and gender studies from Rutgers University in 2014 and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri in 2021. Before coming to Elon, she served as the assistant director of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Kean University and as a visiting professor of instruction at the University of South Florida.

Yidi Wu – Stella S. and John C. O’Briant Developing Professor in History

Yidi Wu, assistant professor of history, was awarded the Stella S. and John C. O’Briant Developing Professorship in History in 2023 but was unable to attend the Opening Day ceremony at that time. President Connie Book presented Wu with the award during Monday’s ceremony.

“Dr. Wu employs new and exciting teaching pedagogies in her classes, utilizing graphic nonfiction and role-playing game scenarios,” said Book. “Students have remarked about Dr. Wu’s innovative pedagogy and her passion for her class subjects.”

Her scholarly interests include student activism, social movements, higher education, documentary film, democracy and authoritarianism. In 2021, Wu was selected as a National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow supporting her research and writing about student protest movements in 1950s China.

The Stella S. and John C. O’Briant Developing Professorship in History was established through a gift from the estate of John Conrad O’Briant ’75 that was made in honor of O’Briant and his mother. Michael Matthews, associate professor of history, was selected as the inaugural recipient of the professorship in 2015.

“I really appreciate the institutional support and recognition,” said Wu. “I appreciate all my colleagues and thank you Elon.”

Wu received her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and her master’s degree and doctorate from the University of California, Irvine.

Cee’s Elon story began unexpectedly. “I found Elon by chance,” he said. “My travel baseball team was playing in a tournament hosted at Elon in the summer of 2012.” At the time Cee was in the process of trying to play Division 1 college baseball before a shoulder injury ended those hopes.

This was the year that began down the path to D1 college baseball – going to showcases, playing in tournaments and talking to coaches. “I ended up injuring my shoulder that next spring, which ended my hopes of playing at that level,” he said.

Even though he met Elon thanks to baseball, Cee remained interested in attending after his injury.

“It seemed like it had a well-rounded education on top of a major, I was interested in, statistics,” he says. “After attending Phoenix Fusion weekend, an admissions weekend for students of diverse backgrounds and identities, I knew it was the school I wanted to attend.”

Cee went on to graduate with a bachelor of science in statistics and a minor in sport management, but he didn’t just excel academically. He also immersed himself in a plethora of extracurricular activities including playing Club Baseball, DJing on campus, joining the , Inc. and advocating within the Black Student Union.

While pursuing a master’s of higher education at Elon, Cee’s trajectory took yet another transformative turn. Guided by mentors and propelled by his own experiences, he found his calling in higher education and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work.

This moment led him through pivotal career shifts, from Auburn University to ultimately landing at Sesame Workshop as Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Sesame Workshop is the non-profit organization behind Sesame Street, the long running children’s educational program.

At Sesame Workshop, Cee is at the forefront of fostering a culture of belonging and equity. His day-to-day involves crafting and leading workshops, managing employee resource groups and curating enriching learning experiences. Drawing on his statistical background, he analyzes data to inform initiatives and policies, ensuring that Sesame Workshop remains a beacon of inclusivity

Reflecting on his journey, Cee acknowledges the challenges of pivoting careers and navigating the complexities of DEI work. “You get to see the best and worst that humanity has to offer, especially with everything happening in our social and political spheres.” he said. “Even through the best of intentions, mistakes are made.”

Even though DEI is not yet baked into professional life, Cee notes that there is joy to be found in seeing colleagues become their authentic selves through DEI work.

“We cannot just envision what this looks like for ourselves, we have to create policies and change culture so that ALL of us can authentically shine as we are,” he said. “Not just inviting people to the ‘party,’ but making sure their voices matter and hold weight.”

Through it all, Cee credits 51±ŹÁÏÍű for providing the fertile ground where his leadership qualities flourished.

“The experiences, classes, jobs and extracurriculars I took on were one of a kind and all played a part in the person I am today,” he said.

“Elon was a very well-rounded experience when you are provided with proper guidance and are given the keys to open the endless doors of opportunities,” he added. “But that is just it, the proper guidance (and maybe a little intuition) is what put me where I am today. It is the people and the community that I surrounded myself with that shaped me to be the inquisitive equity-centered leader that I am today.”

Looking ahead, Cee remains steadfast in his commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and championing equity. Balancing personal aspirations with professional endeavors, he envisions a future where wellness, community and purpose converge harmoniously.

As Cee continues to write his story, he leaves a profound message for future graduates.

“My advice would be to follow your passions and don’t sacrifice your values or who you are for the sake of a job,” he said. “Yes, we all need to earn a livable wage and pay bills, expenses, etc. However, being passionate about your work and balancing work with the other areas of your life is incredibly important. I work to live, not live to work.”