Losing a parent changes everything. How you see the world. How you build relationships. How you understand risk, love and time.

Aidan Steinbach ’23 knows this all too well. He was just seven years old when his mother died. A respected scholar and professor of public health, Michelle Mayer dedicated her life to bringing quality healthcare to communities in need before her life was cut short by a rare autoimmune disease that she battled for more than 12 years. She was 39 years old.

To honor her memory, Steinbach made a $2 million estate gift to create the Michelle Mayer Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will assist students who have experienced the death of a parent or guardian, with first preference given to entrepreneurship majors in Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, where Steinbach earned his degree in management in 2023.

Endowing the scholarship is Steinbach’s way of paying tribute to his mother—who helped fund his Elon education—and helping future generations of students grappling with the same kind of loss he experienced.

“My Mom was Wonder Woman,” Steinbach said. “That’s who your mom is when you’re seven years old. She’s the person who protects you, clothes and feeds you, and teaches you right from wrong. I miss her every day.”

Mayer was also someone who valued education and ensured Steinbach and his older sister Amelia had the chance to go to college.

“My Mom wasn’t wealthy. She didn’t leave behind real estate or investments or anything you’d call an estate,” Steinbach said. “What she left was a life insurance policy that helped pay for my Elon education. I got to go to school debt-free because my mother died. I’ve sat with that fact for most of my life. It’s not something you ever fully resolve. You just learn to carry it.”

Michelle Lynn Mayer died October 11, 2008, at the Duke Hospice Inpatient Care Facility in Durham, North Carolina, after battling scleroderma, part of a group of chronic autoimmune disorders marked by hardening and tightening of the skin. Scleroderma can also damage the lungs, heart, kidneys, digestive track, muscles and joints, and other internal organs.

It was a struggle Mayer chronicled in her blog, “Diary of a Dying Mom,” where she wrote essays on parenting, living and dying to help families facing the challenges of terminal illnesses.

“I deal with the topic of death head-on in an unflinching way,” Mayer wrote in one entry. “I believe that, as a culture, we shy away from anything surrounding death and, consequently, deprive ourselves of all the lessons inherent in the dying and grieving process. We ignore the reality that death is as much a part of life as birth.”

A Philadelphia native, Mayer graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania (1990) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a minor in economics from the Wharton School of Business, before earning her master’s degree in public health education (1992) and a doctorate in health policy and administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1997). During her doctoral program, Mayer also served as a health economics consultant for the World Bank in Washington, D.C., and in Nairobi, Kenya.

In 1997, Mayer married Dr. William J. Steinbach after the two met as graduate students at UNC.

The couple (and later their young children) briefly lived in California during Dr. Steinbach’s medical residency. During this time, Mayer worked as a clinical research associate in the Department of Pediatrics at Stanford University and as research director of the Children’s Health Initiative at the Lucile S. Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California. The family then moved back to the Triangle in 2001, and Mayer served as a research fellow at the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research and a research assistant professor in the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill, until stepping down in 2007 due to her illness.

In the family’s Durham neighborhood, Mayer started a group for families with young children, which was a vital source of support for her family during her illness. Mayer also regularly volunteered at her children’s school, even after the disease had curtailed many of her daily activities. Throughout her ordeal, Mayer remained passionate about improving access to quality healthcare for underserved communities, supporting women and families, and promoting awareness of scleroderma.

Steinbach is grateful to his mother for giving him the gift of education. He is equally grateful to Elon for providing him with an outstanding experience, including participation in the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program and Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which prepared him for success. Steinbach, who lives in San Francisco, is a banker at Erebor and also runs his own consulting firm, working with companies backed by Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator and others.

Steinbach hopes the scholarship will encourage students to follow their dreams, knowing someone is willing to invest in their success.

“My mother inspired me to be a better person. I hope this scholarship inspires others to be better as well, and, in turn, to own that obligation as they go out into the world,” he said. “Elon gave me a chance during a stretch of my life when the odds weren’t obviously in my favor. The scholarship is my attempt to extend that same chance to someone else who didn’t ask for what happened to them, but is still here trying to figure out what comes next.”

“Aidan’s desire to honor his mother’s legacy while creating opportunity for others is a wonderful example of the power of philanthropy to change lives,” said Leanna Giles ’02, associate director of planned giving. “He didn’t just want to honor her memory—he wanted to transform something painful into possibility for someone else. For that, the Elon community is grateful.”

Make An Impact

To learn how you can make an impact at Elon through your estate, contact Leanna Giles ’02, associate director of planned giving, at (336) 278-5798 or lgiles@elon.edu.

Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation’s past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

“As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,” said Jason Husser, director of the �þ��� Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. “We found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.”

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only “fair” or “poor.”

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country’s long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation’s democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation’s semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the �þ��� Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at: www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the �þ��� Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

About the �þ��� Poll

Established in 2000, the �þ��� Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by �þ��� and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The �þ��� Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The Elon Poll’s voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

Academic honors for the 2026 sall semester are now online, with students and parents invited to download customized news releases to send to hometown newspapers.

The President’s List is composed of students with no grade below an A-minus in a minimum of 12 semester hours. The Dean’s List is composed of students with no grade below a B-minus and a grade point average of at least 3.50 in a minimum of 12 semester hours.

The �þ��� News Bureau encourages students and families to submit the announcement to local newspapers. Some newspapers welcome photos to accompany the announcement.

All questions about the criteria for the President’s List and Dean’s List and an individual student’s qualifications for the honors should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (336) 278-6677 during normal business hours. There is often a delay in the reporting of grades for some students studying abroad, and the lists will be updated once all grades are received.

If you find a factual error or a misspelled name in your release, please contact Eric Townsend in the Office of University Communications at etownsend4@elon.edu.

Members of the Class of 2026 and their parents can now download customized news releases for distribution to hometown media outlets that publish information on academic achievements. News releases can also easily be shared through social media platforms Facebook and LinkedIn.

The university encourages submissions to local newspapers, which often announce college graduations in their community sections.

President’s List and Dean’s List honorees also have news releases available for download.

�þ��� and parents may contact Eric Townsend in the Office of University Communications at etownsend4@elon.edu if corrections to the news release need to be made before sending to local media.

Eric Sklut P’14, an entrepreneur and longtime community leader in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Amy Muntner P’24, a retail and strategy executive based in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, will bring extensive experience in business, innovation and civic engagement to the university’s governing body.

The �þ��� Board of Trustees has ultimate fiduciary responsibility for the institution, providing oversight of its mission, strategic direction and long-term sustainability.

Sklut is the founder of Perfection Automotive, a Charlotte-based company known for producing custom trim components for high-end vehicles. His development of the BumperPlugs product line grew from an entrepreneurial solution to a gap in the luxury automotive market and has since become a widely used product among car enthusiasts.

In addition to his business success, Sklut has demonstrated decades of philanthropic leadership across the Charlotte region. He has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including and the , and has led major fundraising campaigns supporting community initiatives.

His efforts have helped generate more than $70 million for charitable organizations, including a recent campaign exceeding $23 million for a regional hunger relief initiative.

Sklut previously served on Elon’s Board of Trustees from 2015 to 2023 and has maintained a deep and sustained commitment to the university. He and his wife, Lori, have been transformative supporters of Jewish life and Jewish Studies at Elon, including naming the Sklut Hillel Center and establishing endowed faculty and scholarship support.

Their son, Mason, is a 2014 graduate of �þ���.

Muntner brings a global perspective shaped by a career in consulting, consumer products and retail strategy. She began her career with Andersen Consulting before joining , where she advised major international corporations. Her additional leadership positions have included Executive roles with Toys “R” Us and , where she led brand and business strategy initiatives.

Her work has spanned multiple international markets, including Asia and Europe, and has focused on strategic growth, partnerships and product development. At Sesame Workshop, she played a key role in cross-functional efforts to expand the organization’s reach and impact through new character development and brand initiatives, including the introduction of the popular

Muntner’s connection to Elon grew through her daughter Lucy’s enrollment as a member of the Class of 2024. She and her husband, Kevin, are members of the university’s 1889 Society and have supported scholarships, Hillel and university priorities through philanthropic giving.

Their broader civic engagement includes support for international relief organizations, and education and community well-being in Scotland, Hong Kong and the United States.

About �þ���

�þ��� is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are �þ��� and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 80 �þ��� majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in �þ��� �þ��� 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; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

For the second consecutive year, the university is the only North Carolina private school featured by the magazine in its list of “25 Best Drama Schools in the World.” The University of North Carolina School of the Arts and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill also made the list.

The publication said it consulted with educators and industry insiders to determine the best schools for an acting degree. It also weighed overall training, cost, facilities, alumni success, industry connections and more.

The 16 students accepted to the �þ��� musical theater program go through a rigorous training process, which begins with classes in acting, voice and dance, and then allows students to explore individualized paths, including taking part in student-driven cabaret performances. Seniors also take part in a two-semester course on professional readiness and artistic identity, which includes bringing in casting directors and talent representation, with many students gaining representation or jobs out of this process. To that point, Campy Rodriguez, a current student in the senior class, is on Broadway in Aladdin, in addition to such alum as Taylor Trensch, who recently led the off-Broadway production of Bat Boy. Tuition and fees are close to $51,000.

�þ���’s Department of Performing Arts offers seven degree programs: Acting, Arts Administration, Dance Performance & Choreography, Dance Science, Drama and Theatre Studies, Music Theatre and Theatrical Design and Technology. Four programs require an audition or interview.

About �þ���

�þ��� is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are �þ��� and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 �þ��� majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in �þ��� �þ��� 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; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

This work represents an important step forward in the planned merger, which is awaiting a vote from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. That accreditation approval is the first step in a two-step federal approval process before Elon assumes operational oversight of Queens.

As the approval process continues, Elon and Queens are planning to align a number of administrative and operational functions through shared services, beginning June 30. The goal of the shared services model is to strengthen the financial and operational foundation of the future combined institution while ensuring that students continue to receive strong support throughout the transition.

“This next stage is about building the foundation for a stronger future,” said Jeff Stein, chief integration officer and executive vice president. “Leaders from both institutions are working collaboratively and deliberately, and drawing on the strengths, talents and traditions of Elon and Queens to design shared functions that serve students well and position the combined institution for long-term success.”

The shared services model will bring together teams in areas such as admissions and financial aid, advancement, career services, communications and marketing, finance, human resources, information technology, academic advising, facilities, library services, study abroad and other key administrative functions. These areas support the daily operations of both campuses and play an important role in the student experience. Leaders have emphasized that the design process is not simply about combining existing structures, but about creating stronger teams and practices that reflect the best of both institutions.

The merger also builds on Elon’s growing presence in Charlotte, including the expansion of Elon Law and future graduate programs. Queens’ deep roots in the city, distinctive �þ��� experience, Division I athletics program and legacy of civic engagement will remain important parts of the combined institution’s future. Athletics programs at Elon and Queens will continue to operate as distinct and separate Division I programs.

For employees, the transition will include direct communication, HR support and detailed information about next steps. Queens employees whose roles are part of the shared services areas will transition to �þ��� employment at the end of June and continue in similar roles. Queens employees who transition will move to Elon’s benefits program.

A small number of positions will not continue as part of the shared services structure. Employees in those roles are receiving direct support, including information about open positions at Elon in which they are eligible to apply and career transition resources.

The transition plan also includes onboarding, professional development and culture-building opportunities designed to help newly integrated teams build relationships and establish shared practices. Planned supports include department retreats, leadership workshops, employee resources, buddy programs and ongoing opportunities for feedback and questions.

Throughout the process, Queens will continue to have dedicated leadership guiding campus operations, helping ensure continuity for students, employees and the Charlotte community while federal approvals are pending.

For Elon and Queens, this stage of the work is both practical and forward-looking. It is about aligning systems and teams, but also about shaping a shared future grounded in student success, institutional strength and a commitment to Charlotte.

“The promise of this merger is not only that two institutions will come together,” Stein said. “It is that, together, we can create something stronger — an institution with deeper resources, broader opportunities and an enduring commitment to the students and communities we serve.”

Beginning this fall, Queens will align its �þ��� academic calendar with Elon’s �þ��� calendar. The most notable change will be the reintroduction of Winter Term at Queens, a short, intensive session in January that allows students to focus on a single course or study abroad experience.

“J-Term gave Queens students something rare — three weeks each January alongside our closest friends to discover who we were through service, career exploration, and international travel,” said Queens alumna Staci McBride ’92. “We forged lifelong memories while living our motto, ‘Not to be served, but to serve.’ I am thrilled that this transformative tradition will now be part of the student experience again, and I can’t wait to see the lasting bonds and impact it will have on their lives.”

A highlight for many students is the intentional opportunity to study abroad in January. Both institutions have thriving study abroad programs, from Elon’s nationally ranked participation rate to .

“J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester,” said Nick Gozik, dean of global education at Elon. “Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.”

For LMA Alexander, executive director of the Pulliam Center for International Education at Queens, this new term brings fresh possibilities for JBIP. “The John Belk International Program is a cornerstone of the Queens �þ��� experience,” she said. “Queens has a long tradition of dynamic, multi-disciplinary faculty-led programs, and the addition of J-term will create new opportunities for innovative programming in collaboration with our Elon colleagues.”

In another integration move designed to expand opportunity for students, the two institutions have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize a priority-admission pathway for Queens �þ���s to Elon’s School of Law. Both teams are actively working to share more details with students in the coming weeks.

J-Term gives students the opportunity to engage deeply in a single course, often in a global context, and to complement their learning in ways that are not possible during a traditional semester. Expanding this approach to Queens creates a meaningful opportunity as the two institutions come together.

– Nick Gozik, dean of global education at �þ���

Evidenced through the service and experiential learning emphasized on both campuses, Queens and Elon share a commitment to civic engagement. This core belief will come to life through the Deliberative Citizenship Network (DCN), which recently invited both schools to join its inaugural cohort.

“The DCN highlights some norms or expectations that surround effective dialogues,” said Naeemah Clark, associate provost for academic inclusive excellence at Elon. “Active listening, empathic and ethical discourse, and evidence-based argumentation are essential elements that are at the heart of a liberal arts education.”

Margaret Commins, chair of the political science, international studies and sociology department, shared, “We’re excited about the opportunity to work with a national cohort to learn best practices for integrating deliberation into the curriculum and co-curriculum, and for working with our Elon colleagues to develop creative campus and cross-campus programming in this area.”

The DCN program will bring together two faculty members, one staff member, and 10 students from each participating school. The program will teach best practices and innovative ideas that can be woven into and beyond the classroom. “�þ��� who can demonstrate these skills will be better learners and leaders in their post-graduation lives,” Clark added.

The Elon team will be led by Dillan Bono-Lunn, assistant professor of political science and public policy and faculty fellow for civic engagement; Bob Frigo, assistant dean of campus life and director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life; and Andrew Moffa, assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

The DCN participants won’t be the only ones working together this summer. With an expected June vote on the merger by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, many administrative departments at Queens are preparing to integrate effective July 1, 2026, officially becoming employees of Elon.

The first phase of integration brings new employee benefits — along with understandable questions from staff. To help ease the transition, Jeff Stein and Pamela Davies, co-chairs of the integration team, are holding coffee chats — open hours where any Queens employee can sign up to learn more about the process and ask their questions. The plan is to extend these coffee chats to Elon employees as well.

“Mergers are hard work,” Stein said. “Yet it’s been exciting to see how collaborations across Queens and Elon have already produced new opportunities and pathways for students — an early signal of what becomes possible when we work together to build what students need next.”

Visiting �þ��� in the next academic year:

• David Brooks, bestselling author, staff writer for The Atlantic and longtime New York Times columnist – Sept. 25, 2026
• Hanif Abdurraqib, author and cultural critic (Common Reading Lecture) – Sept. 29, 2026
• Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, Medal of Honor recipient and author – Nov. 11, 2026
• Danielle Coke Balfour, artist, author and social justice advocate – Jan. 13, 2027
• Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback and philanthropist – March 9, 2027
• Heather Cox Richardson, historian and bestselling author – April 6, 2027

All programs are free to �þ��� students, faculty and staff with ID. Venues will be announced closer to the dates of the programs. Tickets for the public for Fall Convocation go on sale starting in August. Admission: $15 via .

�þ���’s Cultural Calendar for Fall 2026 will be available later this year with additional speakers and a wide range of musical, theatrical, artistic and other intellectual and creative events.

About the 2026-2027 Speakers at �þ���

David Brooks

Sept. 25, 2026

Fall Convocation

3:30 p.m.

A bestselling author and longtime New York Times columnist, Brooks is a leading observer of American culture, politics and civic life. He serves as a staff writer at The Atlantic, a commentator on PBS NewsHour and a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs. Over decades in journalism, his columns have become some of the most widely read in the nation, offering insight into political dynamics, social trends and the challenges facing modern democracy.

Brooks is the author of multiple bestselling books, including “How to Know a Person,” “The Second Mountain,” “The Road to Character” and “The Social Animal,” which explore moral development, human connection and the search for meaning. His work emphasizes the importance of community, empathy and the cultivation of both inner character and outward relationships as essential to a flourishing society.

Hanif Abdurraqib

Sept. 29, 2026

Common Reading Lecture

7:30 p.m.

An acclaimed essayist, poet and cultural critic, Abdurraqib is widely recognized for his lyrical and deeply personal writing that explores music, identity and the intersections of culture and lived experience. His work blends criticism with memoir, offering readers a nuanced perspective on art, belonging and the forces that shape contemporary life.

Abdurraqib is the author of several award-winning books and is known for his ability to connect cultural analysis with broader questions about race, community and memory. “There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension” was selected as Elon’s Common Reading for 2026-27.

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter

Nov. 11, 2026

Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship

11 a.m.

A United States Marine and the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, Carpenter is recognized for extraordinary heroism during his service in Afghanistan. In 2010, he sustained life-threatening injuries after throwing himself on a grenade to protect a fellow Marine, an act of valor that led to years of recovery and more than 40 surgeries.

Following his recovery, Carpenter set and achieved ambitious personal goals, including completing a college degree, running a marathon and traveling internationally. He is the author of the memoir “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For,” which chronicles his journey of resilience and purpose. Today, he speaks widely about leadership, perseverance and finding meaning in adversity, encouraging others to overcome challenges and pursue lives of impact.

Danielle Coke Balfour

Jan. 13, 2027

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address

12 p.m.

An artist, entrepreneur and author, Balfour is the founder of Oh Happy Dani, an illustration-based educational platform that uses visual storytelling to make complex ideas about racial justice and advocacy accessible to broad audiences. Through her work, she has built a community of hundreds of thousands who engage with her content on social media and beyond.

Her creative approach to “artivism” combines design, storytelling and education to inspire individuals to take meaningful action in their own communities. She is the author of “A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well” and a companion workbook that encourages reflection and everyday advocacy. Through partnerships with major brands and speaking engagements across the country, she promotes a message of hope, empathy and sustained engagement in social change.

Tim Tebow

March 9, 2027

Baird Lecture

7 p.m.

A Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion, Tebow gained national prominence as a quarterback at the University of Florida before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He later played professional baseball and has become a prominent sports analyst, author and motivational speaker.

Tebow is a seven-time New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, an organization that serves vulnerable populations in more than 70 countries through initiatives focused on faith, health and human dignity. Through his speaking and philanthropic efforts, Tebow encourages audiences to pursue their passions, lead with integrity and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Heather Cox Richardson

April 6, 2027

James P. Elder Lecture

6:30 p.m.

A professor of history at Boston College, Richardson is a leading scholar of American political history with expertise in the Civil War, Reconstruction and the evolution of the Republican Party. Her work examines the intersections of politics, economics and social change, helping audiences better understand the forces shaping the nation’s past and present.

She is the author of several award-winning books, including the bestselling “Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America,” which explores the nation’s ongoing struggle to uphold its own ideals. Richardson also writes “Letters from an American,” a nightly newsletter that reaches millions of readers with analysis of current events in historical context. She hosts two video series, “Journey to American Democracy” and “American Conversations,” both of which are available on YouTube and Facebook. Her articles and reviews have been published in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Guardian, among others.

The introductory meeting, to be held via Zoom on April 24, will focus on relationship-building and information sharing between the two student government associations. Conversations will include a discussion of how both associations are structured, how often they meet, and how they represent student interests on their campuses.

Leaders will also exchange perspectives on campus traditions, highlighting the events and experiences that define student life at each university. The discussion is expected to begin the process of identifying opportunities for honoring and sharing those traditions across both communities.

The meeting is serves as an early step in aligning student leadership efforts.
Michael Swartz ’27, president of �þ���’s Student Government Association, and Jessica Paredes ’27, president of Queens University’s Student Government Association, answered questions this week in the lead-up to their first meeting.

The duo described their expectations ahead of the conversation and the role of student leadership in shaping what comes next for students on both campuses as the merger progresses.

Describe the role you envision for your Student Government Association as both universities begin to merge operations over the next several months.  

Michael Swartz: I see SGA as being an important bridge between the decisions happening at the highest levels of the university and Elon students. �þ��� sometimes feel a little uninformed, and at both institutions, SGA can be a part of that solution, as well as sharing with administrators and faculty what students think.

Jessica Paredes: The role I envision for Queens University’s Student Government Association is to reflect our motto of “Not to be served, but to serve.” I want to help lay the foundation of service so that when we progress in our relationship with Elon, it goes beyond our campuses into our cities.

Can you share some of the ideas you’ve heard from classmates when they’ve talked about the merger that excite you as a student leader?  

�������������: One of the things that I’ve heard from my peers that really excited me is the possibility of being able to take classes on either campus. I think this is an awesome idea that can allow for even more networking, career and friendship opportunities for both Queens and Elon students. Another idea that is exciting is being able to cheer for Elon’s football team! Through organized field trips to Elon’s campus, Queens students can support a team they have close ties to!

Michael: There’s a lot of curiosity I hear from friends and peers. They’re thinking about locations and spaces and potentially taking classes at a different location or pursuing their degree in a place that might make more sense, whether that be in Charlotte for Elon students, or for Queens students in Charlotte to come to Elon. Having options, I think, is a new, valuable asset.

What opportunities for collaboration between the SGAs do you already see that you want to explore first?  

Michael: It makes sense to not plan any huge steps this first year. We’ll want to start a little smaller and think about how we can interact via Zoom, like we’re doing Friday, and really meet the people that are spearheading the change on our campuses. Going from there, hosting retreats together and getting connected in person as soon as possible is a great idea.

�������������: Between Queens University’s SGA and Elon’s SGA, I foresee collaborative opportunities such as creating new traditions, whether that is taking regularly scheduled trips to each other’s institutions, hosting joint listening sessions for all students and inviting each other to participate in select board of trustee meetings so that they are hearing from both student populations.

What are the most important qualities or traits of your campus culture that may be important for the other SGA to understand when you work together?

�Ѿ����󲹱��: A lot of things at Elon are relationship-driven. I’m thinking about our small class sizes. That’s probably not unique to Elon, but it’s something that is so defining about the student experience here, having those connections. Understanding how involved students are in a lot of different things is also important. Many students don’t have one passion or place where they spend all their time. They’re involved in many activities and in diverse parts of campus.

�������������: Queens is unique in the connections it has with its community and throughout the city of Charlotte. I think it’s very crucial to understand that Queens is career readiness driven. Our SGAs can discuss what our jobs are when it comes to connecting Elon students to Charlotte, and Charlotte to Elon.

Define ‘success’ in the context of collaboration. Where do you want your SGAs to be a year from now? 

Michael: For me, success means things feeling more normal than they do now, and this merger not being something that’s happening to students, but something that they’re a part of. I think that collaboration a year from now will also feel more natural.

�������������: Success to me looks like being on the same page, and everyone feels their ideas have been heard or even acted on! I want Queens University’s SGA to be in a space where our student body feels confidence and pride in being a part of our mission. I hope the same thing goes for Elon.

A fun question to end the interview: What might surprise your SGA counterpart to learn about you? 

�������������: I am a very open book and have built connections with most of the people in our SGA. However, I think a surprising thing about me is that I am always learning from them. The President title bears a lot of weight, but if it weren’t for the Senate showing up and giving new perspectives, my job would be way less fun.

�Ѿ����󲹱��: I’ve been on the Queens campus more times than I can count because my mom went there as a student and she currently works there in their advancement department. I spent my childhood traveling from Davidson, North Carolina, to Charlotte, hanging out around Queens and seeing it grow in its own way before I had any idea at all I was going to end up at Elon. I used to say that I didn’t want to go to a school where my mom works. It’s funny that, one way or another, that happened.