Faculty & Staff Posts | Today at Elon | ľĂľĂČČ /u/news Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:41:52 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Elon Academy welcomes largest cohort in program history and kicks off the 2026 Summer Academy /u/news/2026/06/10/elon-academy-welcomes-largest-cohort-in-program-history-and-kicks-off-the-2026-summer-academy/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 15:02:00 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049886 Through a redesigned recruitment and selection process focused on deepening family engagement, strengthening partnerships, and expanding opportunities for students across Alamance County, Elon Academy welcomed the largest incoming cohort in program history, who will begin their Elon Academy journey this summer through immersive campus experiences, mentorship, and academic enrichment.

This spring, members of the Elon Academy team traveled to schools across Alamance County to celebrate the milestone moment with 30 ninth-grade students: their admission into Elon Academy’s newest cohort. Gathered alongside family members, teachers, counselors, and school advocates who had supported them throughout their educational journeys, students learned they had been selected to join the largest incoming class in Elon Academy’s nearly 20-year history.

The celebrations marked the culmination of a redesigned recruitment and selection process that emphasized accessibility, family engagement, collaboration, and student-centered experiences. As Elon Academy enters its twentieth year, the expanded cohort reflects both the program’s continued growth and its enduring commitment to creating pathways to college access and success for students across Alamance County.

The scholar surprise celebration with Elon Academy staff, current scholars and Elon Academy Supporters

Led by Assistant Director Briston Whitt, Elon Academy’s revised recruitment and selection model introduced several significant enhancements, including a streamlined application process, redesigned group interview experiences, expanded family engagement opportunities, and increased collaboration with school, university, and community partners.

“Every aspect of the process was designed to create a more meaningful experience for students and families while ensuring we were able to identify Scholars who would really benefit from and thrive in the Elon Academy community,” said Whitt. “We wanted students and their families to feel seen, supported, and connected to the program from their very first interaction with us.”

The recruitment cycle began with intentional collaboration between Elon Academy and its network of school-based advocates. Serving as liaisons between the Elon Academy program and local schools, advocates provided valuable insight into the unique needs of their school communities and helped connect prospective students and families with information, resources and opportunities to learn more about the program.

Building on those partnerships, Elon Academy launched an extensive outreach effort that included school presentations, family information sessions, community events, social media campaigns and direct outreach to students throughout the Alamance-Burlington School System. The team also participated in events such as the ABSS Options Fair and school-based orientation programs, helping students and families begin exploring college access opportunities early in their high school careers.

The result was a strong and diverse applicant pool representing schools from across Alamance County.

ľĂľĂČČ advancing in the selection process submitted an essay and teacher recommendation, before participating in a redesigned group interview experience hosted for the first time ever on ľĂľĂČČ’s campus. Over three days, prospective scholars engaged in collaborative activities designed to assess communication, critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills while giving students an opportunity to experience Elon firsthand.

The campus-based format also created new opportunities for family engagement. While students participated in interviews and activities, family members were invited to remain on campus for programming focused on student success, wellbeing, and navigating the college preparation journey. Families learned more about the program’s expectations and connected with Elon Academy staff in a welcoming and supportive environment.

The redesigned model also expanded participation from university and community partners. Faculty and staff members, Elon Academy student leaders, College Scholars, and supporters joined the process as evaluators, providing prospective Scholars with meaningful interactions while gaining a firsthand understanding of the intentionality behind the selection process. Following the group interview phase, finalists participated in individual interviews conducted at their schools to complete the selection process.

The result was the selection of 30 exceptional students who will comprise the Phi Cohort, officially making it the largest incoming class in Elon Academy history.

“Expanding to 30 Scholars represents more than a larger cohort size,” said Director Emily Wiersma. “It represents more students, more families, and more futures that will be impacted through the power of education, mentorship and opportunity. As we approach our twentieth year, it is exciting to see Elon Academy continuing to grow while remaining deeply committed to the mission that has guided us from the beginning.”

Alt text: ľĂľĂČČ and Elon Academy staff gather in a school library to celebrate student achievements. Several students hold personalized recognition certificates while standing around a display of cupcakes, balloons, and an Elon Academy sign, creating a festive atmosphere.
The scholar surprise celebration with Elon Academy staff, current scholars and Elon Academy Supporters

In early May, the newest scholars and their families returned to campus for New Scholar Orientation, an immersive introduction to Elon Academy and ľĂľĂČČ. Throughout the day, students participated in community-building activities, learned about program expectations, explored campus, connected with peers, and began building relationships that will support them throughout their Elon Academy journey.

Families participated in their own programming focused on building connections, learning about available resources and hearing directly from current Scholars and families about their experiences in the program. The orientation concluded with Elon Academy’s traditional Honors Ceremony, during which current Elon Academy College Scholars led students in formally committing themselves to the values and expectations of the program and received honor coins commemorating their official welcome into the Elon Academy family.

While orientation marked an important milestone, the Phi Cohort’s journey is just beginning.

Next week, scholars will return to campus for Summer Academy, one of Elon Academy’s signature experiences. During the program, students will live in residence halls, participate in academic enrichment opportunities, build relationships with mentors and peers and gain firsthand experience navigating a college environment. For many scholars, Summer Academy serves as the moment when Elon Academy truly comes to life – transforming a group of newly admitted students into a supportive community united by shared goals, aspirations, and opportunity.

Members of the Elon community will have several opportunities to engage with the newest cohort throughout the summer, including the annual Elon Academy Ice Cream Social. This beloved tradition brings together scholars, families, alumni, faculty, staff, donors and community supporters to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter and welcome the Phi Cohort into the broader Elon Academy community. Interested guests can .

As Elon Academy enters its twentieth year, the Phi Cohort represents more than a record-breaking class size. These 30 students embody the promise, potential, and perseverance that have defined Elon Academy since its founding. Their journey is just beginning, and the Elon community is invited to join in celebrating, supporting, and welcoming the newest generation of Elon Academy Scholars.

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John Walz named inaugural dean of ľĂľĂČČ’s School of Engineering and Computing  /u/news/2026/06/09/john-walz-named-inaugural-dean-of-elon-universitys-school-of-engineering-and-computing/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:30:14 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049764 A former president of the  and longtime leader in engineering and technology education has been named the inaugural dean of ľĂľĂČČ’s new School of Engineering and Computing.

Dr. John Walz will join the Elon University administration on June 30, 2026, after nearly a decade helming a private university recognized for its emphasis on experiential learning, strong industry partnerships and workforce preparation.

Walz’s appointment follows a national search and comes as Elon debuts an academic division that will leverage the university’s nationally ranked approach to ľĂľĂČČ ľĂľĂČČ and its emphasis on engaged, experiential learning in pursuit of human transformation.

“John Walz is an accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success, engaged learning, innovative program development and strong connections between higher education and industry,” Provost Rebecca Kohn said. “His experience leading engineering programs, combined with his collaborative leadership style and strategic vision, make him exceptionally well suited to guide the School of Engineering and Computing during this important moment in its history.”

John Walz is an accomplished academic leader whose career reflects a deep commitment to student success, engaged learning, innovative program development and strong connections between higher education and industry.

– Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Rebecca Kohn

Walz will provide leadership for the School of Engineering and Computing’s academic programs, strategic planning, fundraising and external partnerships while helping advance the university’s goals for innovation, engaged learning and student success.

When the school formally opens for the 2026 Fall Semester, anchoring the university’s Innovation Quad in the heart of campus, it will include 20 full-time faculty and three full-time staff positions with more than 300 ľĂľĂČČ students.

Engineering is among the university’s most rapidly expanding academic areas, reflecting both national demand and student interest. Elon’s existing ABET-accredited engineering program offers programs in biomedical, computer, mechanical, and environmental, as well as dual-degree pathways.  The school will include computer science and cybersecurity majors and a minor in game design.

ľĂľĂČČ President Connie Ledoux Book said Walz’s background aligns with Elon’s vision for the new school.

“The launch of the School of Engineering and Computing represents an exciting step forward for ľĂľĂČČ,” Book said. “Dr. Walz brings a rare combination of academic leadership, industry engagement and commitment to student-centered education. His leadership building engineering programs, supporting faculty excellence and preparing graduates for meaningful careers will position the school for continued growth and distinction.”

Walz has spent more than three decades as a faculty member, researcher and academic administrator. During his tenure as president of Milwaukee School of Engineering, he led the development of a comprehensive strategic plan, launched the institution’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign, expanded academic offerings in computer science and artificial intelligence, strengthened student retention initiatives and oversaw significant investments in academic facilities and student success programs.

Under his leadership, Milwaukee School of Engineering achieved record ľĂľĂČČ enrollment, increased student diversity, expanded industry partnerships and raised more than $150 million in philanthropic support for capital projects and academic initiatives.

Before becoming president, Walz served as dean of the , where he led efforts to establish a common first-year engineering program, expanded student success resources and strengthened relationships with industry partners. Earlier leadership roles at Virginia Tech and Yale University included overseeing faculty recruitment, program growth and research initiatives while maintaining active ľĂľĂČČ and scholarship responsibilities.

Throughout his career, Walz has emphasized strategic planning, student retention, faculty support and partnerships with industry and community organizations. He has also championed initiatives that broaden participation in engineering and technology fields and expand pathways for students to connect classroom learning with professional experiences.

Dr. John Walz

Walz said the opportunity to help shape a new school at Elon was particularly appealing because of the university’s emphasis on engaged learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. He also expressed gratitude to Book, Kohn and members of the search committee for the opportunity.

“I am deeply honored and excited to be selected as the inaugural dean of the School of Engineering and Computing,” Walz said. “I have long admired Elon’s commitment to engaged learning and believe it provides an ideal environment for educating the next generation of engineers and computer scientists.

“The combination of Elon’s strengths in the liberal arts and its investment in engineering and computing creates a unique opportunity to prepare graduates with both the technical expertise and leadership skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, globally connected world.”

Walz earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in chemical engineering at Tulane University before completing a Doctor of Philosophy in chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. He and his wife, Moira, have three daughters.

About ľĂľĂČČ

ľĂľĂČČ is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, and ethical citizens and leaders.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff who prioritize ľĂľĂČČ and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 ľĂľĂČČ majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in ľĂľĂČČ ľĂľĂČČ by U.S. News & World Report.

Elon’s academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; the School of Engineering and Computing; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2025, ľĂľĂČČ and Queens University of Charlotte announced plans to merge institutions. Final approval from the U.S. Department of Education is anticipated by 2028.

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London bridges Elon relationships /u/news/2026/06/04/london-bridges-elon-relationships/ Thu, 04 Jun 2026 14:16:38 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049571 This story was originally published in the February issue of The Leaflet, Elon’s quarterly printed newsletter.


(Clockwise from top left) Jenny Gonzalez, Jackie Allred, Lisa Williams, Lauren Feeley and Hannah Southern pose for a picture on a glass floor at the Tower Bridge.

“What’s something neat that happened to you today?” asked Lauren Feeley G’26. She was reflecting on a common conversation starter she had with fellow colleagues participating in the London Experience for Elon employees during the 2026 Winter Term. “And how much did we get rained on?!”

Feeley is a program assistant for student involvement and one of 22 participants in the most recent London Experience, a weeklong visit to England from Jan. 10-17, designed to give Elon employees who have limited international travel experience an opportunity for global engagement. Feeley said that the dreary January weather in London did not detract from a remarkable city with colleagues she now calls friends.

“This kind of experience shines a real big spotlight for every single person on the importance of being connected to other people on campus,” said Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt, who facilitated the program for 2026.

He added that the London Experience is a distinctive feature to working at Elon — an opportunity to support students as global citizens by offering employees a similar experience.

Jackie Allred ’94 serves as an administrative assistant for student life and was among those who traveled to London in January.

“From sun up to sun down, we never stopped,” she said. “If there was something we could be doing, we were doing it.”

Allred said she felt like she shared these experiences with good friends rather than colleagues, a connection reflected in moments like sitting in the choir loft during mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral with a small group from Elon.

Allred and Feeley both shared the importance of “having friendly faces to names” across campus and the ability to pick up the phone when their work aligns. They also both have a deepened appreciation for students when they have international experiences — from the enrichment of global and cultural engagement to things like jet lag and fatigue from a long trip in a different time zone.

“The experience has broadened and strengthened my networks here at Elon,” added Allred.

A bakery reminded participants of home.

The group saw much of London and also ventured out to Cambridge. Employees saw staples like the Tower of London, the London Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. They were given access to the war room made famous by Winston Churchill, visited the Hampton Court Palace and participated in guided tours across the city.

Dexter Chambers, a floor tech for the university, said he wouldn’t have had the same experience in London if he had traveled there on his own.

Dexter Chamber pauses during a run for a selfie.

“The guide, the itinerary, everything was impressive, and that was a joy,” he said. Chambers made the most of the sites and foods that England offers and saw much of the city by foot with a small group of others, including one day that he estimates he ran four miles.

Chambers recalls calling his son and a number of his friends during his runs to share his excitement and disbelief of the places in London he was visiting. Now back at Elon, he continues this excitement when he sees participants on campus, who, he says he loves to wave to and reminisce on the shared
experience.

Feeley is finishing her Master of Arts in Higher Education degree from Elon this spring and joined the London Experience, in part, to satisfy her international study away experience.

“Because such a large population of our students here at Elon have some sort of study away experience, it’s really meaningful for me to have my own,” she said. “Elon places such an emphasis on students being global citizens that it’s important that faculty and staff model that as well.”

Jenny Gonzalez poses by a telephone booth.

Jenny Gonzalez, Elon’s assistant director of interior design, said the program underscores Elon’s commitment to global education for the entire campus community, not only for students. “One of the best parts is getting to know people from across campus and build connections,” Gonzalez said.

The application for the 2027 experience will open soon and be advertised through email. “If you’re considering applying for this experience, do not hesitate, just apply and be open to the experience,” Allred said. “Do everything you possibly can during the experience.”

The program is offered to Elon employees for a fee of $350, which includes passport, airfare, lodging, certain ground transportation, admission to various attractions and occasional group meals. Previous participants have generally incurred additional expenses for souvenirs, personal meals, and a tube pass as it suited them.

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Mid Level Professionals Institute 2026–27 cohort launches leadership journey at summer retreat /u/news/2026/06/03/mid-level-professionals-institute-2026-27-cohort-launches-leadership-journey-at-summer-retreat/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:36:58 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049544 Thirty-four ľĂľĂČČ employees gathered June 2–3 at The Inn at Elon to officially launch the Mid-Level Professionals Institute (MLPI) 2026–27 program year during the cohort’s annual Summer Retreat.

2026-27 MLPI participants during their retreat at the Inn at Elon

Designed to support the growth and development of emerging and established leaders across the university, MLPI brings together professionals from a wide range of departments and divisions to engage in leadership development, networking, and collaborative learning. This year’s cohort includes 27 members of the Elon community representing diverse functional areas across campus.

The program is co-coordinated by Nita Skillman and Vicki Blocker, with facilitation support provided by Charlotte Williams, David Stout, Kelly Reimer, Laura Igaune Hill and Laura Kappert. Throughout the two-day retreat, participants began building relationships, exploring leadership concepts, and establishing a foundation for the year ahead.

Retreat programming featured several campus leaders and subject matter experts. Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career development for graduate school in the Student Professional Development Center, led a session titled Strengths as a Leader, helping participants explore how individual talents can enhance leadership effectiveness and team performance. Rochelle Stojnic, director of the Office of Professional Development, provided an introduction to the office and highlighted opportunities for continued professional growth across the university. Jim Piatt, senior vice president for advancement and external affairs, concluded the retreat presentations with Elon “from a 50,000-foot view,” offering participants a broad perspective on the university’s history, strategic priorities, and future direction.

Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career development for the graduate school in the Student Professional Development Center, presents during the MLPI retreat the Inn at Elon.

Throughout the program year, participants will engage with six core competencies that serve as the foundation of the MLPI experience: inclusive excellence, leadership, building meaningful relationships and mentoring networks, skills development for higher education professionals, wellness and well-being, and understanding university decision-making and culture. These competencies are designed to help participants strengthen their leadership capacity while expanding their understanding of the institution and their impact within it.

As the cohort begins its year-long journey, participants are encouraged to challenge themselves, build meaningful connections, and embrace opportunities for growth that will enhance both their professional development and contributions to the Elon community.

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Merricks & Bitting publish reflective writing rubric in Journal of College Science Teaching /u/news/2026/06/03/merricks-bitting-publish-reflective-writing-rubric-in-journal-of-college-science-ľĂľĂČČ/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 18:27:07 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049533
Jessica Merricks (left) and Kelsey Bitting (right)

Jessica Merricks, associate professor of biology, and Kelsey Bitting, assistant professor of environmental studies, recently published the article “” in the Journal of College Science Teaching.

Reflection as a process helps students better understand themselves with respect to content and experiences they encounter in required science courses taken to fulfill distribution requirements, making that content more meaningful and more likely to shape students’ thinking and engagement in science-related topics as citizens. However, students may not arrive in the science classroom with the skills and habits of mind that lead to transformative insights via the reflective process, and tracking that skill development can allow instructors to tailor instruction about reflection according to students’ current understanding and practice. Nonetheless, Merricks and Bitting discovered that existing reflective writing instruments lacked the nuance to detect subtle shifts in students’ development across units in a single semester.

Using a dataset of students’ end-of-unit reflections in an introductory-level environmental science course serving mostly non-majors, Merricks and Bitting developed a refined rubric that recognized and codified incremental differences in student reflective thinking along the path to reflective writing. This analysis revealed that students frequently expressed personal connections to content and noted shifts in their perspective, even as they were still working to master the details of related scientific concepts.

The authors believe this instrument can help science instructors communicate about the goals and levels of reflection to students and allow them to recognize and encourage increasing reflective depth in student work across the progress of a single semester.

Support was provided by Elon’s Center for Writing Excellence via a CWE Pedagogy Grant to Merricks in 2021 and a writing residency completed by Merricks in 2023.

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Phoenix Card Services director recognized nationally for leadership and service /u/news/2026/06/03/phoenix-card-services-director-recognized-nationally-for-leadership-and-service/ Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:09:57 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049511 Janet Rauhe, director of Phoenix Card Services at ľĂľĂČČ, has been awarded the 2026 J. Paul Melanson Award by the National Association of ľĂľĂČČ Card Users (NACCU). The award was presented on April 22 during the NACCU Annual Conference in Covington, Kentucky.

The J. Paul Melanson Award is NACCU’s highest honor, recognizing individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to the campus card industry and to the professionals who support it.

At Elon, Rauhe has spent decades guiding the growth of the Phoenix Card program, overseeing its development from an early implementation into a comprehensive system. What began as a functional tool has evolved under her leadership into a core part of the campus experience, supporting everything from accessing residence halls and campus facilities, dining and retail transactions, event participation, library services and more.

Her work has helped create a system that operates reliably and often behind the scenes, allowing students, faculty and staff to move through their day with ease. That consistency reflects both technical expertise and a steady, thoughtful approach to building systems that serve people well.

“Janet’s leadership is defined by a commitment to continuous learning and collaboration,” said Christopher Waters, associate vice president of Information Technology and chief information pfficer. “Through her engagement with colleagues across higher education and her active presence on campus, she brings forward ideas that strengthen and evolve the systems we rely on.”

Waters continued, “She doesn’t stand still; she listens, learns and adapts, always with a focus on serving our community well. This recognition reflects both her influence within the profession and the meaningful impact of her work at Elon.”

Beyond Elon, Rauhe has contributed to the broader campus card community for nearly 30 years through NACCU. Her service has included committee work, mentoring, conference leadership and time on the Board of Directors, including a term as Board President.

Colleagues across the industry recognize her for her leadership, expertise, generosity, humility and commitment to supporting others. These qualities are consistent markers that shape both her work at Elon and her impact nationwide.

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Geoffrey Claussen authors article on musar ľĂľĂČČs amid mass violence /u/news/2026/06/01/geoffrey-claussen-authors-article-on-musar-ľĂľĂČČs-amid-mass-violence/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:34:42 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049043 An article by Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies, Lori and Eric Sklut Professor in Jewish Studies, and chair of the Department of Religious Studies, was published in the journal CrossCurrents.

The article is titled “Kindness, Compassion, Love, and Generosity at a Time of Mass Killing: The Musar Teachings of Rabbi Amy Eilberg.”

In the article, Claussen analyzes the musar (virtue/character-focused) ľĂľĂČČs of Rabbi Amy Eilberg, the first woman ordained as a rabbi within Conservative Judaism. He focuses on how Eilberg’s work has emphasized kindness, compassion, love and generosity and how her writing has developed in response to extreme violence and suffering in Israel/Palestine since Oct. 7, 2023.

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Elon Law Flex Program leader joins Mecklenburg Bar Foundation board /u/news/2026/06/01/elon-law-flex-program-leader-joins-mecklenburg-bar-foundation-board/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:25:31 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049142 Emma Butterworth, staff director of Elon Law’s Flex Program in Charlotte, has been named to a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the .

directory portrait of Emma Butterworth
Flex Program Staff Director Emma Butterworth

The foundation is the charitable arm of the Mecklenburg Bar Association, dedicated to service, access to justice and community engagement in the Charlotte region.

The appointment reflects Elon Law’s growing engagement with Charlotte’s legal community and the law school’s emphasis on service and experiential learning through its existing part-time Flex Program and proposed full-time, 2.5-year J.D. program, which plans to enroll its first class in fall 2027.

Since the launch of the Flex Program in 2024, Butterworth has helped cultivate partnerships between Elon Law and nonprofit organizations across the Charlotte area, connecting students with volunteer opportunities, nonprofit organizations and community service initiatives. Those efforts have included collaborations with organizations such as Safe Alliance, Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the Guardian ad Litem Program, as well as campus supply drives and events hosted by area agencies.

Many of those organizations have also met with Flex Program students during weekly Evening Docket events, providing students the opportunity to meet with and learn from legal professionals in the community.

Dean Zak Kramer said Butterworth has played an important role in establishing the Flex Program’s presence and growing the law school’s presence in Charlotte.

“Emma has invested herself in the life of the Flex Program and the Charlotte community,” Kramer said. “She has made a real difference for Elon Law, our students, and our neighbors in Charlotte.”

Vice Dean and Professor of Law Alan D. Woodlief said Butterworth’s appointment reflects both her commitment to community engagement and Elon Law’s broader mission in Charlotte.

“The Mecklenburg Bar Foundation does important work throughout the Charlotte area, and Emma has been deeply committed to connecting our students with opportunities to serve and learn,” Woodlief said. “Her leadership has strengthened Elon Law’s ties to Charlotte’s legal and nonprofit communities, and advanced our students’ professional lives.”

Butterworth said the role aligns closely with Elon Law’s mission and will create additional ways for students to engage with the legal profession in Charlotte.

“I’m honored to serve alongside members of the Mecklenburg Bar Association in support of the Foundation’s mission of giving back to the Charlotte community,” Butterworth said. “The Charlotte legal community has warmly welcomed both the Flex Program and me personally, and that support has created opportunities for meaningful partnerships and collaboration. I look forward to continuing to build connections with local nonprofits while expanding opportunities for our students to engage in service and professional development.”

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Monteith publishes research about queer polyamorous marriage in a Christian boarding school /u/news/2026/06/01/monteith-publishes-research-about-queer-polyamorous-marriage-in-a-christian-boarding-school/ Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:23:29 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049155 Andrew Monteith in a blue shirt in front of the Alamance Building fountain
Associate Professor of Religious Studies Andrew Monteith

In 2023, Associate Professor of Religious Studies Andrew Monteith was at the Chicago Historical Society, hoping to find material related to the eugenics movement in the records of the Juvenile Psychopathic Institute. Much to his surprise, one of the folders contained nearly 150 pages of autobiographical text addressing sex between men in the 1910s-20s, authored by an inmate at Pontiac Prison. Homosexuality was illegal in this era, and in the late 1920s the Chicago police ran sting operations against gay men. “Henry” was caught in one of these raids.

Appearing in the most recent edition of QTR: Trans and Queer Studies in Religion, Monteith’s article focuses on a critical section of Henry’s autobiography in which Henry explains a polyamorous marriage with two other boys at a Christian boarding school. Henry’s strict, religious parents boarded him at the Todd Seminary for Boys in Woodstock, Illinois, hoping the experience would “straighten him out.” Single-sex institutions (schools, prisons, etc.) have often had generative spaces for queer relationships, and boys at Todd Seminary were no different. Henry found a romantic triad with “Will” and “Junior,” although Junior’s role in the marriage leaned asexual.

Monteith employs religious studies methodologies to make sense of the wedding. Rather than assuming the ceremony was satire simply because of the boys’ age, Monteith points to Henry’s own description of the wedding as serious business. The ritual objects involved—particularly a homemade wedding license that named all three boys—helped them define and validate their union. Henry’s account is tragic, however, since graduation meant separation, and Henry was never able to recover another union like it. The irony is that for someone with Henry’s personality, the Christian boarding school offered a more stable environment for queer romance than the more freewheeling life of gay Chicago did.

Henry’s imprisonment took a psychological toll, and his autobiography expresses ambivalence about his sexual orientation. On one hand, he defends his queer marriage as beautiful, but on the other, he explains that he wishes to undergo conversion therapy at an asylum. After leaving Pontiac Prison, Henry married a woman and raised multiple children.

The full open-access article can be found online:

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ľĂľĂČČ safety & services available during summer break /u/news/2026/05/28/campus-safety-services-available-during-summer-break/ Thu, 28 May 2026 19:50:48 +0000 /u/news/?p=1049002 With the conclusion of the 2025-2026 academic year, many offices, programs and facilities are shifting their hours for the summer to adjust to having fewer students on campus and fewer events planned.

Emergency and Crisis Response

  • As a reminder, ľĂľĂČČ Safety & Police will operate as normal, 24-hours per day, and can be reached at 336-278-5555.  They can also assist with connections to the Student Life on-call administrators, who are available 24/7 throughout the summer.
  • SAFEline is always available at 336-278-3333 for confidential support with sexual and relationship violence response – it can also be a confidential resource to access on-call violence responders.
  • For urgent mental health needs, the Counselor On-Call is available at 336-278-2222.
  • For any life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

TimelyCare Virtual Medical and Mental Health Care – available all summer

  • Telemedicine and telemental health services through TimelyCare will be available to all Elon students, regardless of whether they are enrolled in summer classes, as long as they are in the United States.
  • Information is available on the TimelyCare page of the Division of Student Life website, and can also be accessed through the appointments pages of the Counseling Services and Student Health Services websites.

ľĂľĂČČ services available during Summer Break

Below are the hours for student service operations during Summer Break.

Belk Library

  • Belk Library will be open 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, through Thursday, May 28.
  • Summer hours begin Saturday, June 1, and are as follows:
    • Mondays – Thursdays: 8 a.m.  – 9 p.m.
    • Fridays: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Sundays: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Visit the for current library hours.

ľĂľĂČČ Bookstore

  • Starting Tuesday, May 26, the bookstore will be open weekdays from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. It will be closed on Sundays and holidays coinciding with university closures.
  • Visit the for information about hours or online shopping.

ľĂľĂČČ Recreation

  • Koury will be closed for an operations reset on Thursday, May 21, starting at 2 p.m., and will reopen on Monday, June 1, at 11 a.m. Summer hours for ľĂľĂČČ Recreation facilities are the following:
    • Koury Center
      • Mondays – Fridays:  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Driving Range
      • Mondays – Fridays: noon – 7 p.m.
      • Saturdays and Sundays: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
      • Last bucket at 6 p.m.
  • Visit the ľĂľĂČČ Recreation website for more information.

Counseling Services

  • No clinical appointments are available Monday, May 26, through Friday, May 30. Starting Monday, June 2, hours will include the following:
    • Administrative Office Hours: weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Clinical Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. –  4 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Closed weekends and holidays
  • Call 336-278-7280 during administrative office hours or visit the Counseling Services website to schedule an appointment.
  • Important updates on available services and online scheduling are available on the Counseling Services website.
  • On-demand mental health support is available 24/7 throughout the summer using TimelyCare’s “TalkNow” service. For information about how to access the service, visit TalkNow on the Counseling Services website.

Elon Dining

  • Starting Tuesday, May 26, Lakeside Dining Hall will be open weekdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It will be closed on most weekends and holidays coinciding with university closures.
  • Additional hours may be available based on the camps and conference schedule.
  • Menus and hours are always available .

Elon Express and ľĂľĂČČ Transportation

  • All Elon Express routes will stop service at the end of Wednesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. Elon Express will resume routes in August with the start of the Fall semester.
  • Elon Express schedules and routes and E-Ride Services are available online.

Moseley Center

  • Starting Tuesday, May 26, the Moseley Center’s hours of operation are as follows:
    • Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
    • Closed on Sundays
  • Irazu Coffee will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – noon.
  • Updated building hours of operation are available on the Moseley Center website.

Mail Services

  • Weekdays: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Closed weekends and holidays coinciding with University closures
  • If you are in Elon for the summer (June & July) and would like to continue receiving mail and packages, you MUST complete the Summer Address Notification Form in .
  • Visit the Summer Mail page for more information. This only applies to returning students, not students who have graduated.

Student Health Services

  • Starting Tuesday, May 26, 2026:
    • Appointments with a provider are available every Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and every other Wednesday beginning June 3 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the office and in Francis Center for SHS grads only from 12:40–4:30 p.m.
    • Closed weekends and holidays.
    • Administrative staff will be available by phone Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; closed for lunch from noon – 1 p.m.
  • Call 336-278-7230 during operational hours to schedule an appointment or make an appointment online through the PhoenixHealth portal (instructions online).
  • TimelyCare medical telehealth service is available 24/7 throughout the summer.
  • For information about how to access the service, visit the appointments page of the Student Health Services website.
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