Welcome to 乱伦视频! Welcome first years, welcome back returning students, and welcome families. We are so very glad that you have chosen to be here with us.

This week鈥檚 Torah portion (parshah) is called . Ki Teitzei means 鈥渨hen you go out鈥�. In the parshah, this going out refers to war and is immediately followed by laws governing the taking of captives. The parshah then provides an extensive collection of commandments.

I鈥檓 going to go out on a limb and say that while I imagine that moving into 乱伦视频 may have been a rough or challenging experience for many of you, it probably didn鈥檛 feel like going to war. At the very least, I hope it did not! However, I imagine that going out from the homes and families you have grown up in has also involved taking care of an extensive list of seemingly unconnected details, just like the parshah.

In looking over these detailed commandments, one struck me as essential to thriving here at 乱伦视频. says 鈥淚f you see your brother鈥檚 [or your fellow鈥檚] donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it; you must raise it together.鈥�
At first glance, this verse may not appear to be relevant to our lives. I am unaware of any donkeys or oxen present on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus, although if senior administrators know differently, please let me know! [Correction: apparently have been an issue!] However, if you bear with me, I will show you why this verse still matters for us here today.

The Talmud () 鈥� an ancient collection of commentary on rabbinic law considered authoritative for traditional observance even today 鈥� connects this passage with a similar passage from : 鈥淲hen you see a donkey of your enemy lying under its burden and would refrain from raising it, you must nevertheless help raise it.鈥�

According to traditional rabbinic interpretation (), the verse from Exodus commands us to remove undue burdens from animals, even animals belonging to people who hate us. This command shows us that we should alleviate animal suffering whenever possible.

However, the verse from this week鈥檚 parsha in Deuteronomy is understood to command us to put a load back onto an animal if its load has fallen off. This verse teaches us that we should not just care for the animal, but also for the owner of the animal, honoring their intentions to build a secure life for themselves. The verse also clarifies that we are meant to put the load back onto the animal with the owner. We are meant to care for the economic success and flourishing of our fellows with our fellows.

So why does this matter? These laws in these verses matter in three ways.

First, many of us live our lives carrying heavy emotional burdens. We are not donkeys or oxen, but college life can sometimes be a lot to bear. If the Torah asks us to alleviate animal suffering, how much more so would it want us to assist each other in relieving our own suffering? We at Jewish Life (Betsy, Boaz, Jay, Sarah, Tal, and myself) want you to know that we are here for you and will be here for you whenever you need us.

Second, college is also a time of growth and opportunity. There are some burdens (such as the responsibilities and privileges of adulthood) you will want to take on! Classes, internships, study abroad, leadership experiences, Greek life, clubs 鈥� these are aspects of college life that I know many of you are already excited about! We are also here to help you grow in the ways you want to grow and support your flourishing!

Finally, you may have heard the phrase 鈥� all of the Jewish people are responsible for one another. I believe that forming relationships 鈥� with mentors and with each other 鈥� is the most important part of the college experience. I know that it can sometimes take time to make friends at college and to find your place. It is totally normal to feel anxious about making friends. If you do feel this way, know you鈥檙e not alone!

As you and your families adjust your being in college, I hope all of you gathered here today know that you will always have a home with Jewish Life at 乱伦视频. We鈥檙e here to help you let go of or manage the burdens you don鈥檛 want, take on the burdens you do want, and help you form the relationships with one another that will sustain you through college and beyond. We are so happy that you have chosen to make your home with us. Kol yisrael arevim zeh bazeh. Let us all take care of one another. Shabbat shalom.

At 乱伦视频, community-based learning is fundamentally an academic endeavor in which engagement in projects and activities takes place through reciprocal and mutually beneficial partnerships with the greater community designed to advance the public good. It is an experiential education approach that involves collaborative relationships, guided by the expertise of professors and community-based practitioners, to combine student learning with community needs as an integrated component of a course. The partnerships between 乱伦视频 and communities engage students with entities such as nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies, or locally owned businesses.

This year, 19 faculty members have been selected for four extended faculty development programs: Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars, Community-Based Learning Research Scholars, Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants, and a First-Year Foundations Community Engaged Community of Practice.

Five 乱伦视频 faculty members have been selected as Community-Based Learning Faculty Scholars for 2026-27. Over the course of this academic year, they will meet regularly to learn more about pedagogy and practices, devise ways to incorporate these practices into their teaching, and receive a stipend for their work.Frank Gentry, Assistant Teaching Professor of Management
Meleena Gil, Assistant Professor of English
Lauren Guilmette, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Nina Namaste, Professor of Spanish
Nikita Shepherd, Assistant Professor of History

Three 乱伦视频 faculty members have been selected as Community-Based Learning Research Scholars for 2026-27. Each will work on an independent research project during the academic year and will receive a stipend for their efforts. They are:
Dillan Bono-Lunn, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy
Tony Reyes, Assistant Professor of Human Service Studies
Carol Smith, Professor of Wellness

Three faculty members have been awarded Community-Based Learning Course Development Grants for 2026-28. They will spend the next two years developing, teaching and assessing their community-based learning courses. Additionally, three faculty members were awarded these grants for 2025-27. They are now in the teaching and assessment phases of their grants. These grants are supported by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and funded through a grant from the Frueauff Foundation.

2026-28 Community-Based Learning Course Development Grant recipients:
Donna Boyette, Assistant Professor of Accounting
Smaraki Mohanty, Assistant Professor of Marketing
Bethanny Sudibyo, Assistant Professor of Spanish

2025-27 Community-Based Learning Course Development Grant recipients:
Lisa Buchanan, Associate Professor of Education
Sandra Darfour-Oduro, Assistant Professor of Public Health Studies
Chris Nelson, Assistant Professor of Marketing

Five faculty are engaging in a pilot community of practice entitled 鈥淔irst-Year Foundations Community Engagement鈥� focused on broadening first-year student community-based learning opportunities. This community of practice is a partnership between the Kernodle Center and the 乱伦视频 Core Curriculum with support from Nina Namaste, Assistant Director of First Year Seminars in the 乱伦视频 Core Curriculum, Heather Lindeman, Coordinator of ENG 1100.
Rebecca Bagley, Assistant Professor of Communication Design
Catherine Bowlin, Assistant Teaching Professor of English
Archie Crowley, Assistant Professor of English
Brooks Depro, Associate Professor of Economics
Celia Hameury, Assistant Professor of Engineering

These faculty development programs are mentored by Elena Kennedy, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning.鈥� Applications for the 2027-28 programs will be available next spring. In the meantime, there are two upcoming faculty development opportunities:

Essentials of Community-Based Learning Workshop for National Campuses鈥��
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Virtual

This virtual workshop is for faculty and staff at 乱伦视频鈥檚 national campuses.
Are you interested in creating a more authentic learning experience in your course by engaging with community partners? Could the learning鈥痮bjectives鈥痜or your course be enhanced through community engagement?鈥疕ave you ever wondered how community-based learning works and why reflection is central to that pedagogy? This workshop is鈥痑ppropriate for鈥痜aculty members who are developing a community-based course,鈥痙esigning a project or assignment that involves community鈥痚ngagement, or鈥痑re curious about community-based learning pedagogies in general. The workshop will allow for interaction with experienced faculty, and staff members from the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

Campus-Community鈥疦etworking Hour鈥�
Thursday, Oct. 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

You are invited to join the Kernodle Center for Civic Life for an afternoon of networking that will bring together 乱伦视频 faculty, staff, and community partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration, including community-engaged courses.鈥疎njoy hors d鈥檕euvres and a chance to connect with many partner organizations and campus departments. You will leave with valuable connections for future partnerships.

While relatively new to 乱伦视频, Moses-Brownson has been deeply engaged with NAAHP for many years. Moses-Brownson co-chairs the NAAHP Committee on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, sits on the Regional Board of Directors for SAAHP (the Southeastern Association for Advisors in the Health Professions), is part of the instructional team for the NAAHP Leads: Regional and National Leadership track professional development program, and serves as a liaison between NAAHP and the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) LASOR (Learner Access, Student Opportunities, & Retention) working group.

Since joining 乱伦视频 in 2024, Moses鈥態rownson has helped transform Health Professions Advising through new courses, expanded programming and strategic partnerships that support students and alumni pursuing careers in healthcare. Central to this impact has been a new suite of courses co鈥慸eveloped with Yuko Miyamoto, director of health professions advising and associate professor of biology, and Collier Lumpkin, associate director of career advising for pre-graduate school. Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto created an application preparation course focused on helping students understand timelines, requirements and competencies for health professions programs.

Moses-Brownson and Lumpkin developed a standardized test preparation course designed to support students preparing for exams such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, and LSAT, which focuses on the non-content aspects of test preparation while providing deeply discounted access to high-quality test prep resources. These courses give students structured guidance, peer support and staff expertise as they move from exploring professional careers to actively applying.

Moses鈥態rownson has also prioritized outreach to prospective students and the broader community, reflecting 乱伦视频鈥檚 commitment to access and engagement. In 2026, Health Professions Advising and the Student Professional Development Center co-hosted Health Professions Exploration Day, welcoming local high school students and Union County Schools to campus to learn about a wide range of healthcare careers and see how 乱伦视频 can help them prepare for those futures. The event connected visitors with faculty, advisors, and current students, highlighting both the breadth of health professions and the many academic and co鈥慶urricular paths available at 乱伦视频.

To deepen connections between 乱伦视频 students and health professions programs, Moses鈥態rownson and the SPDC brought a health professions expo to campus, inviting schools and programs to meet directly with students. The expo gave students the chance to ask questions, compare programs, and build relationships with admissions representatives, all while receiving advising support on how to present their experiences and plan next steps. This kind of face鈥憈o鈥慺ace engagement helps students see the full landscape of opportunities, from medicine and dentistry to physician assistant programs, nursing, genetic counseling, nutrition/dietetics, pharmacy and other fields.

Another key initiative has been a partnership with Alamance Community College to offer an EMT course hosted primarily on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus. By making this training more accessible, Health Professions Advising has opened additional pathways for students to gain hands鈥憃n clinical experience and patient contact hours, which are critical components of competitive applications to many health professions programs. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to preparing students not only academically, but also through meaningful, real鈥憌orld exposure to healthcare settings.

On campus, Moses-Brownson has worked to develop new opportunities for students to engage in the transformative experiences that prepare students for the competitive application processes in the health professions. A partnership with Belk Library, specifically with Engineering & Physical Science Librarian and Assistant Librarian Ellen Cline, and Coordinator of Research and Publishing and Associate Librarian Jesse Akman, has provided a pathway for underclassmen who cannot access traditional research opportunities to pursue evidence synthesis research opportunities with mentorship and support from library staff.

Alongside these programs, Moses鈥態rownson has worked to deepen individualized advising and application support for both current students and alumni. Health Professions Advising offers one鈥憃n鈥憃ne appointments, workshops, and resources to help students design an academic plan, understand professional competencies, and prepare strong, reflective applications. Students can meet with Moses鈥態rownson through the 乱伦视频 Job Network using the 鈥淧re鈥慔ealth Advising鈥� appointment types and can connect with Miyamoto by emailing ymiyamoto@elon.edu to schedule advising focused on academic planning and application processes.

Together, Moses鈥態rownson and Miyamoto lead a Health Professions Advising program that supports hundreds of students and alumni as they explore, prepare for, and pursue a wide range of health careers. The NAAHP Outreach/Engagement Award underscores how intentional advising, new courses, campus鈥慶ommunity partnerships, and accessible programming can shape students鈥� pathways to becoming healthcare professionals, both at 乱伦视频 and beyond.

ThriveWell, a culturally tailored nutrition education program supported by a Danone North America grant, was developed from information gathered through focus groups with adults from racial minority communities residing in north Burlington. 乱伦视频 faculty and undergraduate students partnered with the Alamance Dream Center, Inc., to develop and deliver evidence-based nutrition education for the community. The program was intended to improve nutrition knowledge, food skills, healthy eating behaviors, and cardiometabolic health by incorporating identified topics and design elements and delivering them in a familiar environment and language.

The six-week program combined interactive nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, grocery shopping strategies, food label education and healthy lifestyle coaching in a culturally welcoming environment. Undergraduate students played essential roles throughout the program, working alongside faculty to help plan and implement each session while building meaningful relationships with participants.

For Ramirez-Rodriguez and Munguia Yanez, one of the most rewarding aspects of the program was serving as bilingual translators. Their ability to communicate in both English and Spanish helped bridge language barriers, foster trust, and create a welcoming learning environment where participants felt comfortable asking questions, sharing experiences, and engaging in discussions about nutrition and health.

“Students were not only observing but became active members of the education team,” said Nepocatych. “They learned how to communicate science in ways that were culturally meaningful while developing the empathy, confidence and professional skills needed to work with diverse communities.”

Before working with participants, students received faculty mentorship and training in culturally responsive communication, evidence-based nutrition education, community engagement, research ethics and behavior change strategies. Throughout the program, Nepocatych and Bailey provided ongoing guidance, helping students refine their teaching skills, adapt educational materials to participants’ needs, and respond thoughtfully to participants’ questions and experiences.

The experience allowed students to apply knowledge gained in exercise science and nutrition while developing skills that extend well beyond the classroom, including teamwork, leadership, cultural humility, communication and community-based health promotion.

In addition to delivering educational programming, students assisted with health screenings, program logistics, participant support and evaluation activities, contributing to a research initiative examining how culturally tailored nutrition education influences nutrition knowledge, dietary behaviors and cardiometabolic health.

Preliminary findings demonstrated significant improvements in participants’ nutrition knowledge and healthier dietary behaviors, accompanied by encouraging trends in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic health indicators. These findings highlight the potential of culturally tailored nutrition education to support meaningful behavior change and improve community health.

For Nepocatych and Bailey, ThriveWell represents the type of engaged learning that defines an 乱伦视频 education.

“Meaningful learning happens when students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in partnership with the community,” said Bailey. “By working alongside participants, students gain a deeper understanding of the social, cultural and environmental factors that influence health while recognizing the importance of listening, collaboration, and respect.”

The partnership reflects 乱伦视频’s commitment to experiential learning by connecting teaching, scholarship and community engagement. As students worked side by side with faculty and community members, they discovered that improving health involves more than sharing information. They realized it requires building relationships, understanding lived experiences and creating environments where individuals feel empowered to make lasting changes.

Through ThriveWell, 乱伦视频 students not only developed important skills for future work in healthcare and social services, but they also made a meaningful impact on members of the community in which they live.

The Power+Place Collaborative collects oral histories from surrounding Alamance County community members to record, preserve, present and celebrate diverse perspectives. For this project, 乱伦视频 students interviewed eight different storytellers. These diverse storytellers showcased their stories, focusing on the communal impact of food, addressing the disparities in food justice and discussing the structural aspects of our food systems.

Not only did the storytellers highlighted by Power+Place represent a diverse sample of Alamance County, but the screening participants also provided an opportunity for interracial and intergenerational communities to interact. An audience of approximately 90 people, with over 80 residing within Alamance County, listened to these impactful stories and participated in meaningful conversations surrounding the inequalities, effects, and workings of the local food system.

Screening participants were prompted to enter discussions with their group members after each pairing of video stories. From the session focused on the communal impacts of food and food systems, one sample group said, 鈥淔ood facilitates community and interaction between individuals both in the creation of meals and enjoyment of them.鈥�

This idea was shared by several participant groups, with others highlighting how social inequalities, such as financial hardships and lack of governmental support to combat hunger, affect how various communities have relationships with food.

Not only do social inequalities affect communal relationships with food at a broader level, but discussion groups were also prompted to analyze the disconnects within the local Alamance County systems.

In one discussion, participants analyzed the disconnect between corporate and small food companies, saying that the 鈥減rohibitive costs associated with ethical consumption (buying local, organic, etc.) have also hindered inclusivity and accessibility, making it difficult for people that represent different demographics to participate equally in food.鈥�

While these questions prompted analysis of these disconnects at the local level, participants were also prompted to discuss how food systems could be improved to increase inclusivity and equitable access. Participants provided a variety of powerful answers, including ideas on how to promote ethical food consumption, encouraging collective action and larger community efforts to address these issues and advocating for local government intervention.

While the Power+Place Collaborative, in partnership with the Center for Design Thinking, successfully aimed to bring awareness to these food systems, they also achieved a broader goal of increasing community engagement at a broader level. Participants and storytellers from the food and food pathways screening reportedly left the event feeling like they had a better understanding of the food systems in Alamance County, had engaged with diverse perspectives, and felt a stronger connection with the community.

This storytelling initiative continues this fall with a countywide screening and dinner scheduled for Dec. 1, 2026, from 5:30-7:30 PM. Interested community members can register at the following .

If you would like to view a full analysis of the Spring 2026 screening, a report is available online.

Related Articles

• The Month in Photos: June 2026
• The Month in Photos: May 2026
• The Month in Photos: April 2026

While many students are away for the summer, July remained a busy month at 乱伦视频. Student researchers shared the results of projects driven by curiosity and purpose, high school students experienced campus through summer programs and the university continued to welcome visitors for camps and community events. Take a look back at some of the month鈥檚 highlights through the eyes of the staff in University Communications.

乱伦视频 Engage

The Engage program at 乱伦视频 provides an opportunity for incoming students to spend a week on campus before their first semester, learning more about the university and volunteering in the local community. It is聽one of 乱伦视频鈥檚聽First-Year Summer Experience (FSE)聽programs, which聽gives incoming 乱伦视频 students a preview of the university during the summer before their first semester

Adventures in Leadership

Another FSE program, Adventures in Leadership, allows incoming first-year students to explore the outdoors across North Carolina.

A combined College Coffee

乱伦视频 faculty and staff visited Queens University for a day of collaborative learning, professional development and Queens’ first-ever College Coffee event fostering connection and community between both institutions.

Research together

More than 50 乱伦视频 and Queens University of Charlotte students came together for the annual Summer Undergraduate Research Experience presentations on July 23 in Schar Hall.

The largest Odyssey

乱伦视频鈥檚聽Odyssey Program welcomed its largest cohort in history during Odyssey Week, a collection of events that introduces the students to the scholarship program and college life.

Phoenix Summer

乱伦视频 hosted its inaugural Phoenix Summer residential camp this month for rising high school juniors and seniors interested in preparing for the transition to college.

Twenty-six students participated in Phoenix Summer, held July 6-17 on 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus, where they immersed themselves in hands-on, college-style academics while fostering curiosity, community and independence.

Off-the-Court

Seven incoming first-year students explored careers in the sport industry this summer through the Off-the-Court First Year Summer Experience, an immersive program designed to help students discover where they fit in the business of sport before declaring a major.

Led by sport management faculty members Cara Lucia and Khirey Walker, participants toured 乱伦视频 Athletics facilities, connected with alumni in Charlotte, toured Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, and visited organizations such as the Carolina Core Elite Training Center and the Burlington Sock Puppets, gaining firsthand insight into the many career paths within the sport industry.

The impact of reading

For Lyric Gregory 鈥�28, that impact is measured one child, and one book, at a time.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing. I feel like I鈥檓 making such a big difference,鈥� said Gregory. 鈥淚 feel like I鈥檓 actually contributing to making Alamance a little bit better.鈥�

Gregory, a psychology major from Virginia Beach, Virginia, is spending his summer as an intern with Alamance Partnership for Children, a nonprofit organization serving young children and families throughout Alamance County. He supports the organization鈥檚 efforts to provide supplies to families in need, advance literacy initiatives and redesign its library and children鈥檚 area.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really cool feeling to give a child a book and see their eyes light up,鈥� Gregory said. 鈥淚 never thought kids would be so excited to see books. There was this one kid, just seeing the joy on his face when he asked his mom, 鈥楲ook, they鈥檙e going to have books. Can I have one?鈥� It hit me in the feels.鈥�

Launched in 2021, Campus Alamance connects 乱伦视频 students with paid internships throughout Alamance County while helping build a pipeline of talent for local organizations. Since its launch, 97% of participants have reported their internships were valuable to their professional development.

Gregory has long been fascinated by psychology and hopes to become a child therapist. He said the internship has strengthened his passion for helping others.

鈥淚鈥檓 already motivated, but it motivated me even more to continue to pursue psychology, because I鈥檓 looking at people in this office who still have the same passion as me, and they鈥檙e making a difference,鈥� he said.

鈥楻eal time鈥� experience

Like Gregory, McKenna Blount 鈥�27 entered college with an interest in psychology. A psychology major with minors in and criminal justice studies, Blount wanted an internship that combined both fields but initially struggled to find opportunities that fit her interests.

Through the Student Professional Development Center, she connected with the Campus Alamance Program and secured an internship with the Burlington Police Department, where she works with both the Aerial Reconnaissance & Tactical Intelligence Center (ARTIC), and the Crime Scene Investigation unit.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a lot of broad experience in the police department,鈥� said Blount, who is from Raleigh. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e super flexible, just letting me have as much experience that I possibly can.鈥�

In ARTIC, a real-time crime center, Blount assists officers by monitoring camera systems and databases during active investigations. In the Crime Scene Investigation unit, she observes investigators and gains firsthand experience with forensic work.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know how interested I was in the law enforcement aspect of things,鈥� said Blount. 鈥淚 thought I was more interested in the psychology aspect. It鈥檚 really nice to meet people outside of the 鈥樎衣资悠� bubble.鈥欌��

Connecting the community and history

Katie Baylett 鈥�27, a strategic communications major from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, is also gaining hands-on professional experience through Campus Alamance as a social media intern for the Alamance Historical Museum.

鈥淭he internship has helped me know how to work and navigate in a professional environment,鈥� Baylett said. 鈥淚 took a class at 乱伦视频 where we briefly touched on the local history and the textile industry history of Alamance County specifically, but this has really given me hands-on experience and helped me connect with the local community and also just connect with the local history.鈥�

Baylett develops the museum鈥檚 social media content calendar, creates photo and video content, updates the museum鈥檚 website and assists with an email marketing campaign. A key part of her role is translating the work of museum staff into engaging, accessible content for the public.

鈥淢y classes at 乱伦视频 have helped me know how to create a social media calendar and have helped me know how to navigate a wide variety of systems that I am using with my internship,鈥� she said.

Internships are a central part of the 乱伦视频 experience. Through the university鈥檚 Experiential Learning Requirement, students must complete two of five 乱伦视频 Experiences: internships, service, leadership, undergraduate research or global engagement.

For Blount, the internship has also changed how she sees the community surrounding campus.

鈥淵ou take the same three roads to get where you need to go as an 乱伦视频 student, and I had no idea how much more goes on in Burlington,鈥� Blount said. 鈥淭his internship has really benefited my professional career development.鈥�

As they helped parents prepare legal documents designed to ensure their children would continue receiving care and education if the unexpected happened, students found themselves doing something equally important: listening to families navigating uncertainty and providing greater peace of mind.

Organized by 乱伦视频 Law’s Pro Bono Board in partnership with 鈥� an agency that advocates for and serves immigrants in the Triad 鈥� the May 2025 clinic responded to concerns from families who wanted to prepare for the possibility of sudden family separation. Under the supervision of licensed attorneys 鈥� including an 乱伦视频 Law alumna and a faculty member 鈥� students assisted parents in completing powers of attorney that would allow trusted caregivers to make educational and medical decisions for their children if needed.

“It was something concrete we could actually do,” recalled Molly Hohler L’26, who helped organize the clinic through the Pro Bono Board.

Families spoke candidly about their fears as they contemplated possible detention or deportation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Working alongside fellow board leaders Frank Edwards L’25, Adnan Omer L’25, Saniya Pangare L’25 and Cameron Riordan L’25, Hohler organized the clinic with FaithAction International, Professor of Law Andy Haile and attorney Abigail Seymour L’17. Together, they identified a way to use their legal training to meet a community need and serve real clients.

More than a year later, that student-led effort earned statewide recognition. during the association’s Annual Meeting this summer, recognizing an “outstanding law student group whose pro bono project advanced access to justice in North Carolina.

鈥淵ou have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”
鈥� Adnan Omer L’25

The idea grew from conversations with FaithAction International, which identified an urgent community need and contacted the Pro Bono Board. Immigration legal advice was beyond the scope of what students could provide, but powers of attorney offered a meaningful way to serve clients under attorney supervision.

For Adnan Omer L’25 and others, the clinic quickly became much more than a legal exercise.

“People come to you on one of the hardest days of their lives,鈥� said Omer, now an associate attorney with Vrapi Weeks Immigration Attorneys in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 鈥淵ou have that script of what you want to say, and then all of that goes out the window because you recognize the emotions your client is experiencing. It taught us that you have to approach clients with empathy, not just legal answers.”

Seymour L’17, who founded Greensboro-based Camino Law in 2019, was the supervising attorney for the clinic. As a former Pro Bono Board member herself, she understood the value of the experience for students. Throughout the day, she observed, interpreted and worked alongside them during client meetings in the one-day clinic.

“The main purpose of this clinic was to give people a sense of control and preparation,” Seymour said. “Peace of mind to know that if the worst were to happen, they would have a plan.” 乱伦视频 Law students 鈥渨ere wonderful and jumped right in. They didn’t hang back.鈥�

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves. In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”
鈥� Professor of Law Andy Haile

In recommending the clinic for the statewide award, Seymour praised the students’ “extraordinary professionalism, leadership and compassion,” writing to the NCBA that they approached the work “not as an academic exercise, but as a professional responsibility.” The project exemplified “the highest ideals of pro bono service in North Carolina,鈥� she wrote.

Haile, who also supervised students during the clinic, said the experience demonstrated why experiential learning is critical for legal preparation. Some skills can鈥檛 be learned in a classroom.

“The most important lesson is learning to work with clients who are facing significant challenges that we as lawyers may never experience ourselves,” Haile said. “In class, we can debate and discuss these abstract issues of law and policy, but when you see how they affect real people, that makes it a different lesson.”

For Pangare, whose family immigrated to the United States, the project carried special meaning.

“It was an opportunity to help people feel more secure in their homes, their surroundings and their communities,” said Pangare 鈥� now an associate attorney at Hall Booth Smith P.C. in Asheville, North Carolina. “We wanted to help a community we knew felt vulnerable and let them know we were there to support them.”

“We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”
鈥� Molly Hohler L’26

She joined Hohler and Shannon Ward L鈥�26, current Pro Bono Board co-director, in accepting the award on behalf of 乱伦视频 Law during the NCBA Annual Meeting on June 26.

Hohler said that public service has been a throughline in both her personal and professional life. Serving on the Pro Bono Board gives her an opportunity to channel that instinct alongside classmates who share a commitment to service.

“I love working with clients. It gives me new energy,” Hohler said. “We have unique skills as soon-to-be lawyers. The more we can use those skills to help people, the better lawyers we become in the process.”

Over the past two decades, the 乱伦视频 alumna has built a career at the intersection of sports, philanthropy, entrepreneurship and social impact. She began in professional sports, working with the U.S. Golf Open and in hockey before joining the Commissioner’s Office of Major League Baseball. She later helped drive scale and impact for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, served as Chief Operating Officer of the Tory Burch Foundation, and ultimately founded Future Waves, a nonprofit program dedicated to helping children discover the power of nature, entrepreneurship, and active living, and most recently wrote a children鈥檚 book: 鈥淥cean Superheroes.鈥�

鈥淭he whole premise of the book is to remind kids that you can never be too young or too old to get involved with what’s happening in the world,鈥� said McGee.

Raymond McGee started Future Waves because she noticed a gap in getting kids outside and giving them a voice to come up with entrepreneurial solutions in the world. The organization now hosts a program where children identify a problem the planet is facing, and they pitch their ideas to a 鈥渇riendly shark tank.鈥� Past judges have been former Apple CEO John Sculley, filmmaker Luca Mart铆nez, and Sylvia Earle, the first chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Raymond McGee鈥檚 childhood hero. Raymond McGee works with Earle on global conservation, and she helped inspire the organization and book.

鈥淚 wrote 鈥極cean Superheroes鈥� because it was the book I wish I had when I was a kid,鈥� Raymond McGee said. 鈥淭he ocean is full of sea creatures that have superpowers that protect us and keep us healthy. And we also have superpowers that the ocean needs to keep our planet healthy. We’re interconnected and protecting the ocean is a team sport, and we all need to get involved.鈥�

Her educational journey has also included that same 鈥減urpose.鈥� After graduating from 乱伦视频 with a degree in sport management, she earned a master鈥檚 degree in non-profit management and public policy from New York University and, a year ago, earned another master鈥檚 degree from The Wharton School of Business鈥檚 first global MBA program.

At 乱伦视频, her time as an Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow heavily shaped many aspects of her life, including her focus of community. Founded in 1989 by聽Isabella Cannon聽鈥�24, the former Mayor of Raleigh, the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows program is a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to strengthen each student鈥檚 leadership skills and ability to impact themselves, their communities and their world.

鈥淥ur whole mission is to bring kids together so they can develop entrepreneurial solutions to real-world challenges, and so much of what I learned through the Fellows program has shaped the way we design our Future Waves programming,鈥� Raymond McGee said. 鈥淚 chose 乱伦视频 because of the Fellows program, but I also chose it because there was an incredible sense of purpose, optimism and community. From the moment I visited campus, I could feel that students genuinely cared about one another and wanted to make a positive impact. That spirit of collaboration and service is what has always made 乱伦视频 so special to me, and it’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career.鈥�

鈥淥cean Superheroes鈥� is through Tiny Torch Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster. Readers can purchase individual copies or donate books to Title I schools, with 100% of net proceeds supporting Future Waves programs.

For Raymond McGee, the book is one chapter in a lifelong mission to help young people discover their potential. This fall, she’ll return to the two fields that first shaped her career鈥攕ports and entrepreneurship with the opening of Moonlight Graham, a sports boutique in South Florida designed to celebrate the joy of sports, collecting and community.

“I want every child who walks through our doors to see themselves reflected in the sports cards, collectibles and stories we share,” Raymond McGee said. “Whether they’re a baseball fan, a tennis player, a surfer, a dancer, or just discovering a new passion, I want them to feel welcomed, inspired, and connected to a community that encourages them to dream big. I hope that Moonlight Graham becomes more than a store; it becomes a place where families gather, friendships are formed, young people discover new passions, and our community is strengthened through the timeless values that sports teach.”

After two stimulating days of idea sharing and collaborative creation at Duke, the attendees took a shuttle bus to 乱伦视频, where the final day鈥檚 festivities began with an aerial performance by Michelle Spurlock, local business owner of Upside Aerial Arts & Fitness.

鈥淚 think it’s so cool that an educational conference is starting with circus arts,鈥� says Spurlock. 鈥淚t just feels like a special treat to be able to perform here.鈥�

Spurlock says she wanted to focus her performance on joy, connection, and possibility, which best describes the FDHE Convening. She also hosted a partnered yoga session for the conference attendees, full of 鈥渓aughter and playful connections.鈥�

鈥淚 think Danielle’s done an incredible job organizing a lot of different modalities, a lot of different content, but all connected by this theme of human-centered design as a practice, a process, and mindset, so I’m very excited,鈥� says Vivek Rao, co-organizer of the FDHE Convening, Associate Dean for Master’s and Professional Programs at Duke University.

The morning鈥檚 activities continued in 乱伦视频鈥檚 Innovation Hall with Danielle Lake,聽director of the Center for Design Thinking, sharing findings from the Center for Design Thinking鈥檚 most recent study exploring how 乱伦视频 alumni continue to use design thinking processes in their post-grad careers as well as their civic and personal lives after working for the Center for Design Thinking. Not only does the study serve as a culmination of the Center鈥檚 successful work, but it also provides groundbreaking data on the long-term value of design thinking outside the 鈥溌衣资悠� bubble.鈥�

Instead of sharing the findings as just another 鈥渞esearch presentation,鈥� the Center for Design Thinking team created an interactive trivia game testing attendees’ knowledge in the design thinking field that they all study. Additionally, Lake invited five of the alumni interviewed for this study to join in on the dynamic presentation. These alumni included Tyson Glover 鈥�17, Mackenzie Hahn 鈥�20, Kait MacIntyre 鈥�22, Emily Joss 鈥�23, and Chase Soloman 鈥�23.

鈥淎ctually getting a chance to go out into the real world and use some of the skills that we learned right here at 乱伦视频 is a full-circle moment right now,鈥� says Glover.

Soloman says that he has used his skills from his experience at the Center for Design Thinking in his professional, academic, and personal life, ranging from relationship management to structuring his own research.

Not only did the attendees listen to the experiences of these 乱伦视频 alumni, but they playfully engaged in the overall game activity. The room was full of boisterous laughter, surprised gasps and animal noises as the guests took their animal-inspired team names to heart.

Once the prizes for the best three teams were awarded, the attendees were guided on a walk through 乱伦视频鈥檚 campus to continue the day鈥檚 activities inside the Center for Design Thinking.

Inside the Center, guests could choose to attend one of two workshops. The workshop in the main Center space focused on hands-on crafting to prompt a creative avenue to explore the design thinking process. The goal of this 鈥淐reatively Unprompted鈥� exercise, according to the presenter, Sarah Rottenberg, executive director of the Integrated Product Design Master鈥檚 Program at the University of Pennsylvania, was to simulate idea generation without using Artificial Intelligence (AI).

One FDHE attendee, Raja Schaar, Associate Program Director and Associate Professor of Product Design at Drexel University, says she chose the 鈥淐reatively Unprompted鈥� workshop to expand on her love of creating ideas and prototyping with her hands 鈥渢o cultivate ideas and turn them into something else.鈥�

In the next-door Maker Hub space, participants could choose to participate in the 鈥淢aker AI Challenge,鈥� which focused on framing AI usage through a creative lens. The Director of the Maker Hub and Assistant Director of Creative Learning Technologies at 乱伦视频, Dan Reis, describes this workshop as a way for individuals to bring their ideas to life with AI working as a teammate instead of a generator.

鈥淚鈥檓 very curious about broad-based exploration of how AI is being used in education, design, design thinking and teaching design in particular,鈥� says Abbe Don, Interim Director of the Rick and Susan Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity (or The Hive)at Pomona College, on why she chose the Hub鈥檚 AI workshop.

Once the two-group workshops ended, the convening concluded with a creative four-piece puzzle exercise. On the first day of the convening, participants answered four different prompts assigned to each puzzle piece. These prompts were designed to encourage participants to set intentions on the content they wanted to learn and share, as well as the connections they wanted to make and receive. Instead of keeping these pieces with them, each piece was given to other participants. On the last day, participants received all of their original puzzle pieces to reflect on whether they achieved their intentions and goals.

This activity served as an end to a convening dedicated to encouraging attendees to further their knowledge in the design thinking field through play, exploration, and connection with others. Not only was the activity a meaningful experience, but for the Center鈥檚 Danielle Lake, the overall opportunity to host the FDHE Convening was 鈥渁 dream come true.鈥�

鈥淭his year is the start of my eighth year at 乱伦视频, and since the beginning of my time here, one of our goals has been to form a deeper connection with the FDHE community,鈥� said Lake. 鈥淚 have been able to have such a good support system through this creative and fun group of people.鈥�

“This year鈥檚 gathering, hosted by Duke University and 乱伦视频, has been such a wonderful experience, allowing this interdisciplinary group of teacher-scholars to exchange ideas and build meaningful relationships,鈥� says Eugene Korsunskiy, Associate Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth College and Executive Director of the Future of Design in Higher Education. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better convening.鈥�

While this year鈥檚 FDHE Convening served as 鈥渁 chance to show the culmination of our work here at 乱伦视频 and to collaborate with our co-hosts at Duke University,鈥� according to Lake, the Center for Design Thinking will continue to provide 乱伦视频 and the surrounding Alamance County community with opportunities to create, grow and thrive through the design thinking process.