**

Dear Faculty, Staff, New Students, and Families,

Since yesterday afternoon, the weather forecast has become considerably more favorable. We are pleased to confirm that New Student Convocation will be held Under the Oaks at 9 a.m. this morning as previously scheduled. Students will convene in Alumni Gym at 8 a.m. 

With yesterday’s rainfall, turf Under the Oaks may still be wet and soggy – sensible footwear is advised.

All Orientation activities will take place as originally scheduled: 

• Following New Student Convocation, students proceed directly to Young Commons to meet their orientation leaders.
• Family members of first-year students will go to their student’s ������Ƶ 1010 meeting room to meet with Academic Advisors and ������Ƶ 1010 Peer Educators.
• Family members of transfer students will head to LaRose Digital Theatre in Koury Business Center for Transfer Orientation.
• ������Ƶ Bridge Families will meet with the academic coordinator in McKinnon Hall in the Moseley Student Center.

Please consult the printed schedule in New Student Orientation packets or on the New Student Orientation website for more details regarding event times and locations for Orientation activities today.

—

Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life
jdooley4@elon.edu

FRIDAY MESSAGE: The following message was emailed on Aug. 21, 2026, to ������Ƶ faculty, staff, and the Class of 2030.

**

Dear students, faculty, staff, and families of new students,

We are monitoring the possibility of rain for tomorrow (Saturday, August 22) and this message includes important information should weather impact New Student Convocation and other Orientation events for new students and families.  Please monitor Today at ������Ƶ, official ������Ƶ social media, and your email for potential adjustments to schedules on Saturday due to weather.

We will make every attempt to hold New Student Convocation outside Under the Oaks on Saturday. However, if weather conditions make it impossible to hold New Student Convocation outdoors, here is what you need to know:

Confirmation of the location for New Student Convocation will be announced at 6 a.m. on Saturday.

• ������Ƶ will confirm the location of New Student Convocation by email, on Today at ������Ƶ and via social media. You can also text MOVEIN26 to the number 226-787 for real-time schedule changes due to weather. Since the forecast remains unpredictable, a decision likely won’t be made before Saturday morning. Remember to stay tuned to one or more of the information sources listed above.

Under the rain plan, New Student Convocation would be held in Schar Center and would be a ticketed event.

• Doors at the Schar Center would open at 8:00 a.m. for students and family members. Students should proceed directly to Schar Center and be seated by 8:30 a.m. The ceremony would begin at 9 a.m. As a reminder, there is a clear bag policy for the Schar Center and umbrellas are among the prohibited items.
• Each student received one ticket for themselves and two tickets for family members in the Orientation check-in packets during move-in.  Students, please remember to give your family members their two tickets today. Due to venue capacity, reprints or additional tickets are not available.
• Faculty members participating in New Student Convocation should arrive at the Gill Room in the Schar Center by 8:30 a.m. Note the parking information below and plan extra time for arrival.

Limited parking will be available at Schar Center. Parking would be available in other campus lots, with shuttles running to Schar Center.����

• Parking will be available at Schar Center, but the use of the Schar Center parking lot for Move-In Day on Friday means portions will be blocked off. Accessible parking would be available by Schar Center in Hunt Lot A.
• serving numerous visitor parking lots across campus.

The Great Hall in Sato Commons will host additional guests as an overflow location.

• Additional family members wishing to view New Student Convocation on campus can head to the Great Hall in Sato Commons. Doors will open in the Great Hall at 8:15 a.m. The ceremony will be livestreamed to screens in the Great Hall.

If the rain plan is implemented, here is what you need to know about other event changes following New Student Convocation:

Students would meet with their Orientation Leaders in the Schar Center concourse. Family members should remain at their seats in the Schar Center.

• After the conclusion of New Student Convocation, students should locate their Orientation Leader on the concourse. Orientation Leaders will be ordered by group number along the entire concourse. These sessions will begin at 10:15 a.m. and will be followed by an 11:30 a.m. session with Academic Advisors and ������Ƶ 1010 Peer Educators, as originally scheduled.

There would be one joint Family Advising Information session to be held in Schar Center.

• In the rain plan, the family meeting with ������Ƶ 1010 instructors will not occur. Family members will remain in Schar Center following the ceremony for a joint advising session rather than going to the campus location they had previously been assigned. This session will begin at 10:30 a.m.

The Parents/Family College Coffee would be held in Schar Center after the Family Advising Session.����

• Family members will move to the Schar Center concourse following the advising session for a special College Coffee gathering.

The Family Send-off Picnic would be moved indoors.

• Students and family members with tickets to the picnic can head to McEwen Dining Hall, Lakeside Dining Hall, Clohan Hall and the first floor of Moseley Center for their meals. Additional indoor seating will be available in Koury Athletic Center, Alumni Gym, Moseley Center and other campus buildings. Covered outdoor seating will also be available at Phi Beta Kappa Commons and the Koury Athletic Center’s West Lawn.

We wanted to communicate this rain plan to you in advance to help ensure a successful weekend regardless of potential weather disruptions. Please check email, Today at ������Ƶ, and official ������Ƶ social media on Saturday morning for additional information and details.

–
Dr. Jon Dooley
Vice President for Student Life
jdooley4@elon.edu

The 2026 North Carolina Political Landscape Report finds that the identities most widely embraced across the state are rooted in work, community, place and shared civic values—not political movements or ideological labels. By examining how North Carolinians identify themselves across 30 political, economic, cultural and lifestyle identities, the report paints a more nuanced portrait of the state’s electorate than traditional measures of party affiliation alone.

“Winning coalitions of voters are often built by group attachments beyond party labels alone,” said Jason Husser, director of the ������Ƶ Poll and professor of political science and public policy. “Outcomes in North Carolina elections are driven not only by whether the state has more Democrats or more Republicans, but also whether politicians can move those who identify with groups like working class, progressives or Second Amendment advocates. We measured the scope of some of the largest politically relevant group identities in North Carolina to offer insight into why some ideas stick in the state and others struggle.”

The broad middle is larger than the ideological edges.

Across the state, the identities most commonly selected are remarkably broad. More than three-quarters of respondents identify as working class (77%), while nearly as many identify as anti-racist (74%) and proud North Carolinian (74%). Majorities also identify as middle class (68%), religious (58%), Second Amendment advocates (58%), country people (56%), Constitutionalists (52%), environmentalists (51%) and beach people (51%).

By comparison, identities associated with ideological movements or political brands are embraced by substantially fewer North Carolinians. Only about one-third identify with MAGA (34%) or democratic socialism (29%), while even fewer identify as libertarian (20%), politically homeless (26%), anti-establishment (32%) or prepper (19%).

Taken together, the findings suggest that the political identities receiving the greatest public attention represent a smaller share of the electorate than the broader identities that unite many North Carolinians.

Republicans, Democrats and Independents have much in common

The report identifies substantial overlap among the state’s partisan groups.

Three of the top identities for Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike are working class, proud North Carolinian, and anti-racist. Middle-class identity also ranks among the most common across all three groups. These shared identities appear despite well-publicized partisan disagreements and suggest a broader common foundation than political discourse often reflects.

An anti-racist identity ranks among the ten most common choices for Republicans (66%), Independents (75%) and Democrats (80%). Likewise, large majorities across party lines identify as working class and as proud North Carolinians.

“It’s easy to fall into stereotypical thinking about Democrats and Republicans as monolithic and totally distinct from one another. However, we find enough overlap of group identities within North Carolina that suggest people with different political preferences often share many of the same ways of understanding themselves,” Husser said.

Similarly, the way voters in different parties describe themselves also offers potential for common ground. For example, while Democrats are much more likely to consider themselves “environmentalists” than Republicans (64% to 39%), the related label “conservationist” was chosen by 48% of Democrats and 54% of Republicans.

It’s easy to fall into stereotypical thinking about Democrats and Republicans as monolithic and totally distinct from one another.

– Professor Jason Husser, director of the ������Ƶ Poll

The differences remain meaningful

Where Republicans and Democrats diverge is in the identities associated with organized political movements and cultural priorities.

Republicans are substantially more likely to identify as Second Amendment advocates, religious, MAGA, Constitutionalists, country people, and MAHA supporters. Democrats are more likely to identify as progressives, social justice advocates, feminists, environmentalists, LGBTQ rights advocates, and democratic socialists.

Independents present a different profile. Their most common identities emphasize community and lifestyle rather than partisan ideology, including working class, anti-racist, proud North Carolinian, middle class, Second Amendment advocate, religious, environmentalist and conservationist. Unlike Republicans and Democrats, no overt political movement appears among Independents’ ten most common identities.

Views of government are similarly nuanced

The report finds that North Carolinians resist simple ideological categorization. While six in ten favor a larger government providing more services and 57% support providing more assistance to people in need even if it means higher taxes, only 17% say they trust the federal government to do what is right most or all of the time. At the same time, two-thirds believe the American economic system favors a select few rather than being generally fair.

The report is based on an online survey of 800 North Carolina adults created by the ������Ƶ Poll and fielded by YouGov between July 23 and July 31, 2026. The survey has a margin of error of ±4.24%. The full report, topline results and methodology are available at elon.edu/elonpoll.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at: www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the ������Ƶ Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered through online panels. Between July 23 and July 31, 2026, YouGov interviewed 861 North Carolina adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 800 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 registered voters in this survey (adjusted for weights) is +/-4.42%.

About the ������Ƶ Poll

Established in 2000, the ������Ƶ 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 policymaking through the better understanding of citizens’ opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by ������Ƶ and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The ������Ƶ Poll is a charter member of the , a program created by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The ������Ƶ 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 who conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

Stephen “Steve” Marquis will lead physical education activities, Cammie Berrier will inspire students with art lessons, Heather Pike will introduce students to dance, and Lara Davis will share her lifelong passion for music, expanding the range of learning experiences available to third- and fourth-grade students during the academy’s inaugural year.

The Roberts Academy uses the multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction and welcomes its first students in a temporary location on West Trollinger Avenue for the start of classes on August 18.

The academy will expand to grades 1-6 once a new building opens for the 2028-29 academic year on East Haggard Avenue near the university’s Danieley Neighborhood. Each classroom eventually will be capped at 12 students.

Roberts Academy at ������Ƶ is the most recent of four university-based private schools established through transformational gifts from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida. Similar academies exist at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College.

Roberts Academy at ������Ƶ Enrichment Educators for 2026-27

Stephen “Steve” Marquis

With three decades of experience as a physical education teacher and coach, Steve Marquis has focused his career on helping students develop physical fitness while understanding the connections among exercise, nutrition and healthy lifestyles.

A graduate of Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, Marquis most recently taught at Kiser Middle School in Greensboro after spending nearly two decades at East Chapel Hill High School.

Marquis also brings extensive coaching experience to Roberts Academy. He served as head varsity cross country coach at East Chapel Hill High School from 2006 to 2020 and head varsity track coach from 2006 to 2017, along with coaching basketball. His work as a coach has been recognized with multiple Coach of the Year honors.

“As a young child, I was fortunate to have many positive role models who taught me the importance of physical activity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” Marquis said. “Their influence shaped my belief that physical activity plays a vital role in a child’s growth and development.

“Physical activity improves attention, memory, and muscular development while reducing the risk of many health problems. Most importantly, it supports a child’s mental and emotional well-being. I want my students to understand that overall health includes physical, mental, and emotional wellness, and that caring for each of these areas helps them lead happier, healthier lives.”

Cammie Berrier

Cammie Berrier brings more than two decades of experience teaching art in Guilford County Schools along with extensive experience introducing children to art through museums, galleries and summer programs.

A magna cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Berrier earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art education with a minor in English. She spent more than a decade as the art specialist at E.P. Pearce Elementary School in Greensboro following earlier service as an art specialist at 11 Guilford County elementary schools.

During her career in Guilford County Schools, Berrier held leadership roles among elementary art educators and mentored student teachers from UNCG. Student artwork produced under her instruction was selected for exhibitions at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in Raleigh.

Since 2019, Berrier has continued working with children and the arts through Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, where she serves as a docent and summer art camp instructor. In that role, she develops curricula for weeklong camps for elementary-aged children and leads museum tours.

“I believe the arts are absolutely vital to the development of children,” Berrier said. “Over the years I have taught visual art, I have seen students grow in confidence, creativity and joy in the art-making process. For many students, it is a rare chance to relax, to try new things without fear of failure, and to process and express their emotions. Through considering the work of other artists, students gain an appreciation of other cultures and discover unique ways of seeing the world.”

Heather Pike

An experienced dance educator whose work has focused extensively on inclusive instruction, Heather Pike brings to Roberts Academy more than two decades of experience teaching dance to children with a wide range of abilities.

Pike earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance education from East Carolina University and a Master of Arts in dance education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where her graduate research focused on inclusive dance education.

She works in various capacities as a teaching artist, designing curricula and teaching dance residencies in the community. This includes her work as lead teaching artist with Arts Together in partnership with Access/VSA in Wake County, where she teaches dance residencies in public pre-kindergarten settings.

In addition, through her role as an artist in residence with The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, Pike has taught dance for students with profound disabilities in Orange County Public Schools. She has also worked through the United Arts Council’s Artists in Schools program to lead dance workshops and residencies that integrate dance with literacy instruction for students with different learning styles in elementary schools.

Pike previously served as a lead teaching artist for Carolina Ballet’s educational outreach programs that brought dance to Title I pre-kindergarten classrooms and elementary students through dance and literature integration. While working as a teaching artist, she has been on faculty at Barriskill Dance Theatre School teaching pre-ballet through advanced ballet for several years.

Pike more recently has served as a guest lecturer in ������Ƶ’s Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, sharing expertise in dance pedagogy and integration with students studying special education and children’s literature.

“I am passionate about creating inclusive, accessible dance spaces for exploration of artistic expression and communication,” Pike said. “By sharing the joy of movement with my students, I believe integrating dance into everyday learning is a powerful way to strengthen self-awareness and build relationships with others. Dance not only gives students a creative outlet for moving their bodies, but it also provides access to kinesthetic learning and an opportunity to strengthen social-emotional skills.”

Lara Davis

Lara Davis is the owner and founder of Kidstunes Music & Movement program, which serves thousands of children from birth through prekindergarten in dozens of childcare centers throughout central North Carolina.

Davis attended the University of North Florida as a National Merit Scholar and holds a bachelor’s degree in music education, her Level 3 Certification with ECMMA, and has worked as a music educator with young children for over 25 years.

Davis began playing the piano at age 5. She also sings, plays recorder, ukulele, some guitar and percussion. Her background and experience include many years as both performer & accompanist for the renowned UNF Jazz Choir and Chamber Singers, extensive work with music and children in various settings from birth through middle school, varying exceptionalities classrooms, churches, and as director of numerous all-school musical & special event productions.

She has incorporated her experience and research into the very heart of the Kidstunes program, composing original music, continually updating the curriculum & resources, marketing and expanding their services, and personally mentoring each Instructor. Davis is a regular presenter at both national and regional conferences for various organizations in the fields of early childhood and music education, and her in-service training workshops are accredited by the NC Division of Child Development.

“Music has been a passion throughout years of teaching children from infancy through middle school, in public and private schools as well as individual settings,” Davis said. “I have watched countless children who struggle in other academic or behavioral areas truly thrive through music, and I’ve often seen their increased involvement in music translate into growth in other areas such as math, focus, confidence, and self-discipline.

“Most importantly, music gives children a powerful way to express themselves, trust their creativity, experience joy, and find emotional release through listening, moving, playing, and creating. To me, that is the true gift of music. It meets children where they are and gives them another way to discover what they are capable of.”

A recent graduate of Queens University of Charlotte has been elected to serve as a youth trustee for ������Ƶ, bringing to the role his record of student leadership on campus with a commitment to service across the community.

will serve a three-year term as Youth Trustee, joining Elizabeth “Liz” Kwon L’23 and Rafi Dahdal ’24 G’24 in youth leadership roles for the university’s governing body.

The Board of Trustees has ultimate corporate and fiduciary responsibility for ������Ƶ. It oversees ������Ƶ’s long-term health and strategic direction, educational policy, finances and operations, and overall advancement of the university’s mission.

As a Presidential Fellow in the Office of the President at Queens, Omari supported executive leadership through institutional research, governance analysis for the Board of Trustees, strategic benchmarking of peer institutions, coordinated executive-level events, and board communications.

Omari, who described his youth trustee appointment as “truly an honor,” also served as senior class president, a four-term international representative in the Student Government Association, president of the iBelong Mentoring Program and co-president of the Health Equity Alliance.

Additional leadership roles include service on the Student Alumni Council, the Data Analytics Student Association executive board and as an admissions ambassador. In recognition of his achievements, , the most prestigious undergraduate award bestowed at Queens.

Originally from Accra, Ghana, Omari attended Ghana National College before coming to the United States in 2021 through the AFS Intercultural YES exchange program and spending a year at Charlotte Country Day School. He later enrolled at Queens University of Charlotte as an international student and Presidential Scholar, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in data analytics and minors in finance and mathematics. He begins working in September as an AI & Data Associate Consultant with Ernst & Young in New York City.”

With experience spanning data, artificial intelligence, institutional governance and student leadership, Omari said he looks forward to joining the ������Ƶ Board of Trustees as a youth trustee and contributing his recent student perspective informed by academic achievement, public service and cross-campus leadership.

“My role as a youth trustee presents an opportunity to help shape a historic moment for both institutions,” Omari said. “I’m excited to contribute a recent student perspective to conversations about how the traditions of both institutions might be honored while creating a stronger future together.”

About ������Ƶ

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

������Ƶ’s academic divisions include ������Ƶ 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 Engineering and Computing; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

In 2025, ������Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte announced plans to merge, pending final approval from SACSCOC and the U.S. Department of Education by 2028.

Former ������Ƶ trustee Anne Ellington Powell of Burlington, N.C., died June 27 at her home after a long and difficult illness.

Powell was elected to ������Ƶ’s Board of Trustees in 2008 and was a highly involved supporter and longtime friend of the university. She was the wife of ������Ƶ life trustee and former chair of the Board Dr. James B. Powell and the daughter of the late Dr. Robert E. (Bob) Ellington and his wife, Helen Ellington, who served many years as distinguished ������Ƶ staff members.

“We are deeply saddened by Anne’s passing,” said ������Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book. “For decades, she was among ������Ƶ’s most loyal advocates, serving on boards and committees, hosting university events in her home and telling the story of our university wherever she went. She and her family have generously contributed to every dimension of ������Ƶ’s growth, supporting scholarships, academic programs, and facilities – always focused on the student experience and excellence. We will always be grateful for her positive spirit and steadfast support.”

In 1986, the Anne Ellington Powell Master Artist Series was established by a gift by the Powells, bringing internationally renowned performers to ������Ƶ for nearly 20 years. In 1988 the Powells dedicated ������Ƶ’s Jimmy Powell Tennis Center to the memory of their first son, who died in early childhood.

Anne Ellington Powell joined ������Ƶ’s Board of Visitors in 2000. She served on the campaign leadership committee for the Ever ������Ƶ Campaign and was on the executive committee of the ������Ƶ Society. The Koury Business Center, which opened in 2006, includes the James B. and Anne Ellington Powell Lobby in recognition of the couple’s leadership support for the building’s construction.

The Powells have contributed to the R.N. Ellington Health Center, the “It Takes a Village” Project, several scholarship funds and ������Ƶ Athletics. The Powells also provided key funding for the Caroline E. Powell Building, the Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship and the T.E. Powell Endowed Professorship. They are members of two ������Ƶ giving societies, the Order of the Oak and the 1889 Society.

Anne Powell was also active in many Alamance County boards and organizations and supported efforts to increase support for K-12 education.

At the center of Anne’s life was her loving family, including her husband, Jim; their three children John Banks Powell, Ross Powell, M.D., and Helen Powell Bode, M.D.; her mother Helen Ellington; and many other loving relatives. She was a devoted friend to hundreds of people who cherished her.

From

Anne was preceded in death by her beloved son, James “Jimmy” Bobbitt Powell Jr.; her father, Dr. Robert “Bubba” Norwood Ellington; and her sister-in-law, Alison Westmoreland Ellington.

She is survived by her devoted husband of more than 41 years, Dr. James Bobbitt Powell; her mother, Helen Arendell Ellington; her brothers, Robert Norwood Ellington Jr. and Dr. Kenneth Scott Ellington (Linda); her sister, Ruth Helen Ellington; her son, John Banks Powell (Samantha) and their daughters, Maeve Eileen and Clara Banks; her son, Dr. James Rosser Powell; her daughter, Dr. Helen Powell Bode (Paul) and their children, Anne Arendell, John Bridges, and Mary Ellington; her stepdaughter, Daphne Powell Markcrow (Craig) and their children, Anna and Henry; along with countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends.

A Celebration of her life will be held at Front Street United Methodist Church in Burlington on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 12 p.m. A private family burial will precede the service, and the family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Duke’s Tisch Brain Tumor Center (Duke University Medical Center, DUMC 3624, Durham, NC 27710), ������Ƶ Tennis Program (CB #2615, ������Ƶ, NC 27244), or the Brain Aneurysm Foundation (269 Hanover Street, Building #3 Hanover, MA 02339).

The Roberts Academy will use the multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach to reading instruction once it opens in August for third- and fourth-grade students in a temporary location on West Trollinger Avenue.

The academy will expand to grades 1-6 when a new building opens for the 2028-29 academic year on East Haggard Avenue near the university’s Danieley Neighborhood. Each classroom will be capped at 12 students.

“We are excited to have such well-trained, committed teachers join us at Roberts Academy,” said Ann Bullock, dean of the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. “Their dedication to children and their ability to provide an engaged environment for learning will lead to a remarkable growth in confidence for young students.”

The Roberts Academy is also finalizing the recruitment of part-time teachers to provide enrichment instruction in art, music and physical education. The school is led by Acting Director Alicia S. Tate and Tracy Roof, director of business and school operations.

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at ������Ƶ will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple established at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

2026-27 Full-Time Faculty for Roberts Academy at ������Ƶ

Carrie Whitley

With a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in reading education from Appalachian State University, Carrie Whitley brings three years of experience working closely with elementary-aged students in both classroom and tutoring settings.

Throughout her career, Whitley has focused on providing individualized instruction, collecting and analyzing student data, and creating targeted interventions to support diverse learning needs. Her experience in special education at a private school in Raleigh strengthened her ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, to develop meaningful student goals, and to communicate progress with families.

Whitley is Orton-Gillingham trained and has implemented the method with fidelity in both small-group and one-on-one settings. She said she has seen firsthand the impact that explicit, systematic literacy instruction can have on students with dyslexia in developing reading skills, building confidence and instilling a love of learning.

Kaitlyn Leazer ’25

After serving for a year with the Alamance-Burlington School System as teacher of exceptional children, Kaitlyn Leazer brings experience in designing and implementing differentiated instruction, prioritizing strong relationships with families as essential collaborators in each child’s success.

Leazer holds a Bachelor of Arts in elementary and special education and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in innovation from the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. Leazer said she was drawn to the Roberts Academy for its values and evidence-based practices to meet the individual needs of every learner.

In her year with ABSS, Leazer sought to create classrooms where students felt supported through thoughtful differentiation, intentional data collection and Universal Design for Learning. She developed a system for students to track and chart their own IEP goals, fostering both independence and accountability.

Isabella “Bella” Martino ’26

Isabella “Bella” Martino is a recent ������Ƶ graduate with dual licensure in K-6 general education and special education, allowing her to serve students across all domains of learning.

During her work as a student teacher, Martino created structured, predictable learning environments for students with unique behavioral and academic needs. She integrated technology into students’ daily routines, leading to increased engagement and improved behavioral outcomes. Martino works in partnership with families and other service providers to holistically meet the needs of students.

Passionate about providing students equal access to the general education curriculum, Martino points to her efforts to align lesson content with grade-level standards whenever possible. She describes herself as driven by a belief that holding students who learn differently to the same social and emotional expectations as their peers is essential to fostering independence and autonomy.

With a theme of “Breaking Through the Ordinary,” the 2025 Provost’s Report emphasizes the role of innovation in teaching today’s students and creating learning opportunities that lead to human transformation. ������Ƶ’s nearly 500 full-time faculty members exemplify an institutional commitment to the teacher-scholar-mentor model that defines the university’s nationally acclaimed approach to higher education.

Signature features in the report include an in-depth look at the way ������Ƶ:

• Approaches the use of artificial intelligence and leads national conversations of its ethical applications
• Works to establish a School of Engineering and Computing that emphasizes the skills, knowledge and global awareness students need to thrive in their careers
• Serves families of children with dyslexia through a new private elementary school like those supported through philanthropy at Vanderbilt, Mercer, and Florida Southern.

The report also includes shorter profiles drawn from each of ������Ƶ’s six schools/college that represent the innovative spirit faculty and staff bring to the community every day.

“As I reflect on these accomplishments, and on the important work that continues across the university, I am inspired by the talent, dedication, and shared purpose of ������Ƶ’s faculty members, staff members, and students,” said Rebecca Kohn, ������Ƶ’s provost and vice president of academic affairs. “Together, we are strengthening the academic life of the university and creating pathways that will sustain ������Ƶ’s ability to provide a valuable and transformative education for generations into the future.”

The building now serves as a gathering place for Jewish students at ������Ƶ. Decades earlier, it was the home where his recently departed mother, Mary Martin Hamlin, grew up and where countless family memories were made.

On June 4, 2026, members of the Martin family returned to campus to celebrate what would have been Mary Martin Hamlin’s 100th birthday. The gathering included all seven of her nieces and nephews and several of their spouses, along with Karen Martin Yost, 91, the last surviving Martin sister.

The family’s connection to ������Ƶ stretches back more than a century. Leo DeWitt and Annie Raper Martin, both members of ������Ƶ’s Class of 1919, returned to the campus community when Leo joined the faculty as a history professor.

Leo Martin, familiarly known as Dick Martin throughout the community, would later partner with fellow ������Ƶ professor Thomas E. Powell, Jr. to help launch Carolina Biological Supply Company, whose squid logo and early catalog illustrations were drawn by Annie.

During the Great Depression, Leo Martin designed and built a two-story home on the corner of North Antioch and East College Avenues where he and Annie raised daughters Mary, Joanne and Karen. That home remains standing today, though in a different form.

After being acquired by ������Ƶ, the house served as the home of the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life before becoming the Sklut Hillel Center in 2013.

As Hamlin toured the building, memories came flooding back from his visits in the 1960s and 70s. He recalled the smell of canned food once stored in a pantry that no longer exists, the coal kept in the basement to heat the house and the Chinese elms that once shaded the property.

“A lot of this is familiar to me, from the living room and den to the sunroom where my grandfather’s desk was,” he said. “As I walk around now, it’s just wonderful to feel the youthful energy of the students.”

Karen Martin Yost said she enjoyed seeing the architectural details that remain in the house, as well as in her memory and frequently in her dreams—features like the fireplace and mantle, the built-in bookcases, the seventeen steps to the upstairs, and the black and white tiles in her childhood bathroom.

The family’s visit was made possible through arrangements between Betsy Polk Joseph, ������Ƶ’s senior director of Jewish Life, and Hamlin, Mary Martin Hamlin’s only child.

Hamlin said he was struck not only by what remained of the home, but also by how it is being used today. To know that the building serves as a center for Jewish students and that ������Ƶ continues to create spaces that welcome people from a variety of backgrounds reflects values long embraced by his family, he said.

The June gathering included a celebratory lunch, a tour of the house, readings from memoirs written by Mary Martin Hamlin and Karen Martin Yost, and visits to places around campus that shaped Mary’s childhood.

The day concluded at Magnolia Cemetery, where family members gathered at the family plot to share memories of Mary Martin Hamlin, a proud native of ������Ƶ.

Dr. John Walz will join the ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ debuts an academic division that will leverage the university’s nationally ranked approach to undergraduate teaching 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 undergraduate students.

Engineering is among the university’s most rapidly expanding academic areas, reflecting both national demand and student interest. ������Ƶ’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.

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

“The launch of the School of Engineering and Computing represents an exciting step forward for ������Ƶ,” 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 undergraduate 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 teaching 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.

Walz said the opportunity to help shape a new school at ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ’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 ������Ƶ’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 ������Ƶ

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

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

������Ƶ’s academic divisions include ������Ƶ 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, ������Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte announced plans to merge institutions. Final approval from the U.S. Department of Education is anticipated by 2028.

• 136 college acceptances from 38 different universities
• $2.5 million in merit scholarships and grants awarded to scholars
• Seven will join the Class of 2030 this fall at ������Ƶ, three are headed to UNC Chapel Hill, and three more to UNC Charlotte, among other top schools
• Several earned some of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships North Carolina offers, including a Carolina Covenant Scholar at UNC Chapel Hill, an ������Ƶ Teaching Fellow, and a North Carolina Teaching Fellow

And for ������Ƶ President Connie Book, who addressed the 17th class of the ������Ƶ Academy at a recent dinner reception to recognize graduates of the university’s college access and success program, scholarships and college acceptances are more than a reflection of academic achievement. They’re a harbinger of future success.

“These accomplishments, impressive as they are, are only a glimpse of the bright path that lies ahead of you,” Book said. “The ������Ƶ Academy was founded on a simple and powerful belief — that talent and potential exist in every community, and when that talent is matched with opportunity and support, there is no limit to what a young person can achieve. Each of you is living proof of that belief.”

Book was joined by family members, mentors, program alumni and other university leaders on May 28, 2026, in celebration of the Sigma Class during the ������Ƶ Academy’s annual President’s Reception.

The ������Ƶ Academy is an intensive, comprehensive opportunity for academically promising high school students in Alamance County with a financial need and/or no family history of college. The ������Ƶ Academy Summer Academy program includes three consecutive summer residential experiences prior to the sophomore, junior and senior years, as well as year-round Saturday Academy programs for students and families.

As part of the ceremony in the Lakeside Meeting Rooms, Shawn Means, a member of the Alamance Burlington Early College Class of 2026, delivered the Sigma Scholar Speech to his 24 classmates. Means reflected at length on the ways ������Ƶ Academy shaped their development beyond academics.

“When people talk about ������Ƶ Academy, they’d most likely give you a polished answer,” Means said. “They talk about college preparation, leadership, and academic growth. All the things you can put on paper. And they wouldn’t be wrong. But they wouldn’t be telling the whole story.”

Means emphasized how the program transformed participants not only as students but as people. “Now we understand responsibility. Now we understand balance,” he said. “Now we understand that freedom isn’t just given, it’s something you learn how to handle.”

The reception was also the first in the ������Ƶ Academy’s nearly two decades of operation where alumni returned to be honored for their own graduations from college. Four ������Ƶ Academy College Scholars were applauded and presented with certificates commemorating their own recent college graduations.

Reception guests heard from Shiv Patel, a member of the Xi Class that graduated from high school in 2022. Now a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, Patel encouraged members of the Sigma Class to stay true to themselves as they head to college.

“Someone told me that I did college right, and while I appreciated the notion, it’s not that I did college right, it’s that I led with my values,” Patel said. “I wanted the choices I made in college to be choices that reflected who I was and the background I came from. I never wanted to pretend to be someone I was not or do things that went against who I was.”

The program concluded with another first for the ������Ƶ Academy – a presentation of scholarships to four Sigma Class graduates made possible through the philanthropy of those who recognized the power of the academy to change lives.

Mariam Rosales ‘17, a member of the Delta Class and an ������Ƶ graduate who today works in real estate, joined with Julio Santiago to create the awards. Honored in 2026 were:

• Lexie Bennett, River Mill Academy
• Jaime Carranza-Navarrete, Graham High School
• Shawn Means, Alamance Burlington Early College
• Naje Gray, Walter M. Williams High School

The reception was a final opportunity for scholars before leaving high school to be encouraged with support from mentors who have been with them over the past three years.

“As you step into this next chapter, know this: you are ready,” said ������Ƶ Academy Director Emily Wiersma. “You have the tools, the resilience, and the heart to thrive. Life will bring challenges, yes, but it will also bring new mentors, new questions, and new opportunities to grow. Embrace it all. Stay curious. Stay connected to this community. Support from the ������Ƶ Academy does not end here today … most of all, continue to believe in yourself as fiercely as we believe in you.”

������Ƶ Academy Assistant Director of College Success Manny Campos emphasized the same point in closing the program.

“Believe in yourself. Believe that all the struggles you’ve faced prepared you and taught you what you need to succeed,” he said. “Your college acceptances and your college degrees were no mistakes, you did that. Now let’s be real. It may get difficult. Life won’t always be rainbows and butterflies.

“On those days that feel heavy and you feel like giving up, because those days will come, remember everyone here, remember the journey, and remember why you stayed. You did the work and you are more than capable of succeeding.”