Kernodle Center for Civic Life | Today at ��Ƶ | ��Ƶ

Faculty members selected for community-based learning development initiative

Elena Kennedy — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 19:06:56 +0000

The Community-Based Learning Faculty Development initiative strives to help ��Ƶ faculty members learn to utilize the pedagogies of community-based learning and community engagement in their courses. Last academic year, 82 sections of courses incorporated community-based learning pedagogy into their work, engaging 1,440 students in over 44,000 hours of course-linked service in our community. The Kernodle Center for Civic Life, in partnership with the Faculty Fellow for Community-Based Learning, provides year-round faculty development to support this work. Information about upcoming programming can be found on the Kernodle Center Faculty Development Website.

At ��Ƶ, 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 ��Ƶ 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 ��Ƶ 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 ��Ƶ 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 “First-Year Foundations Community Engagement” focused on broadening first-year student community-based learning opportunities. This community of practice is a partnership between the Kernodle Center and the ��Ƶ Core Curriculum with support from Nina Namaste, Assistant Director of First Year Seminars in the ��Ƶ 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.  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  
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 3:30 – 5 p.m., Virtual

This virtual workshop is for faculty and staff at ��Ƶ’s national campuses.
Are you interested in creating a more authentic learning experience in your course by engaging with community partners? Could the learning objectives for your course be enhanced through community engagement? Have you ever wondered how community-based learning works and why reflection is central to that pedagogy? This workshop is appropriate for faculty members who are developing a community-based course, designing a project or assignment that involves community engagement, or are 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 Networking Hour 
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 ��Ƶ faculty, staff, and community partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration, including community-engaged courses. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and a chance to connect with many partner organizations and campus departments. You will leave with valuable connections for future partnerships.

��Ƶ starts the 2026-27 academic year with Planning Week

Avery Craine Powell — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:31:18 +0000

The ��Ƶ community will begin preparing for students to return to campus with Planning Week, a collection of welcome events, orientations and workshops ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.

Below is a selection of events open to the entire ��Ƶ community; more can be found on the official Planning Week website below.

Planning Week 2026

Monday, Aug. 17

Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center; Events start at 8:30 a.m.

Planning Week 2026 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 17, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of ��Ƶ Medallions to Jim Donathan, Don Grady and Mary Thornton. Katy Rouse, professor of economics, will also be named the Trustee Chair for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching. Following these recognitions, President Connie Ledoux Book will delivery her annual Opening Day address.

Since 2011, the ��Ƶ community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County. Donations can be made at the Opening Day breakfast or at campus drop-off locations through Thursday, Aug. 20. Details on donation sites and needed items will be emailed to faculty and staff. This initiative is co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students, Staff Advisory Council, and Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Student Government Association President Anya Bratić rings the bell during Opening Day 2025 on Aug. 18 in Alumni Gym.

Breakout Sessions

Following the president’s address from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the ��Ƶ community, including:

Recommendations from the SOAR Strategic Planning Committee
Building the Innovation Hub: ��Ƶ as a Regional Center for Creativity
Preparing Together for Student Success
Thriving Together: The Sport Collaborative and the Opportunity in Club Sports
Summer at ��Ƶ
Changing the Trajectory – Roberts Academy and the Roberts Center for Dyslexia and Engaged Learning
HealthEU, the Slattery Center, and Our Research Coalitions
Mentoring in Meaningful Relationships Implementation Gallary Walk and Next Steps
Wise Moves During Higher Education Pressures
School of Engineering and Computing

All members of the ��Ƶ community are then invited to a picnic on the Lakeside Patio at noon. Members of ��Ƶ’s schools and colleges will meet from 12:45 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 18

Student Employment Essentials
Moseley 215; 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal of the workshop is to provide staff and faculty with an understanding of student employment policies and processes, to include recruiting, job posting, screening candidates, work agreements, payroll, orientation, onboarding, evaluations and termination. Please contact Kameryn Taylor at ktaylor54@elon.edu for any questions about this workshop.

Championing First-Generation Student Success
Koenigsberger Learning Center Room 127; 2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide participants with an understanding of the first-generation community on campus and how ��Ƶ approached first-generation student success. Participants will identify ways they can incorporate ways to support first-generation college students in their classes and extracurricular opportunities.

Merger and Integration Q&A
LaRose Student Commons 200; 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Merger and Integration Q&A
Turner Theatre 101; 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Embedding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Belk Pavilion 208; 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Inclusive excellence remains a strategy for creating an academic community reflective of well-being and a sense of belonging. In striving for greater levels of student success and employee vitality, initiatives across the university demonstrate partnerships and efforts to infuse inclusive excellence principles in daily work. This session is an opportunity to gain an update on what is happening to foster respect for human differences and to share ideas for ideas for how faculty and staff might make inclusive excellence embedded rather than additive in teaching, mentoring, and service.

Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Sankey Hall 206; 2 to 3 p.m.

Learn more about the Acorn Academy, ��Ƶ’s partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.

��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Books interacts with children at the Acorn Academy.

��Ƶ Campus and Community Resource Fair
Sato Commons Great Hall in the Global Neighborhood, 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Open to all faculty, staff, and student leaders who may already be back on campus, this event is meant to be an interactive tabling fair to highlight what everyone needs to know to provide resources to students. Explore more than 50 departments/tables – whether you have been here for more than a decade or are brand new to ��Ƶ, come learn about resources for students and faculty/staff, take a moment to reconnect with offices on campus, or learn about opportunities for collaboration and partnerships! Refreshments and Raffle.

Thursday, Aug. 20

Working with Accommodations & Accessibility: A Partnership for Access
Sankey 106; 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

This session will highlight how the Office of Academic Accommodations & Accessibility, the Office of Compliance, the Disabilities Advisory Committee, and faculty partners collaborate to support access at ��Ƶ. Presenters will share updates from the past year, including themes from campus listening sessions, revised faculty/staff resources, accessibility and accommodations data, and practical guidance for supporting students and colleagues.

College Coffee – Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse); 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

��Ƶ’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year’s first College Coffee. Come (re)learn about the ERGs on campus and pick up some Phoenix swag to show your school spirit! College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m to 10:20 a.m.

Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
Amazing Admins
API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
Black
Carpool Connections
Catholic
Christian
��Ƶ Alumni
Employees with Children
Jewish
Latinx/Hispanic
LGBTQIA+
Social Media
Staff Advisory Council
Supervisors of Student Employees
Sustainability
Veterans
Women’s Forum
Young Professionals

��Ƶ held the first College Coffee of the 2025-26 academic year on Aug. 26, 2025 on Phi Beta Kappa Commons.

Friday, Aug. 21

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, Aug. 21. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found online.

��Ƶ Orientation Leaders greet new students at East Neighborhood Commons during Move-In Day on Aug. 22, 2025.

Saturday, Aug. 23

New Student Convocation
Under the Oaks (Rain Location: Schar Center); 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students.

��Ƶ held New Student Convocation Under the Oaks on Aug. 23, 2025.

University Directory Photos

All ��Ƶ faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’s online directory. Please make plans to have a new or updated photograph taken. If you are new to ��Ƶ, if your photo is missing from the campus directory, or if your photo is more than three years old, please have a new photo taken by the Office of University Communications. No appointment is necessary, simply just drop in during a session that suits you. The portraits are taken from chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The photo studio is now located in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, close to West Haggard Avenue. Please enter through the external doors in the southwest corner of Alumni Gym, noted by a red star on this map.

Tuesday, August 18: 2 to 4 p.m.

Thursday, August 20: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Campus Alamance internships connect ��Ƶ students with community impact

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:07:13 +0000

Through paid internships with local nonprofits, government agencies and community organizations, ��Ƶ’s Campus Alamance Program is helping students gain professional experience while strengthening the community they call home. Sponsored by the Student Professional Development Center and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, the program connects students with organizations across Alamance County, providing meaningful work experiences that often shape future career paths.

The impact of reading

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

“It’s amazing. I feel like I’m making such a big difference,” said Gregory. “I feel like I’m actually contributing to making Alamance a little bit better.”

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’s efforts to provide supplies to families in need, advance literacy initiatives and redesign its library and children’s area.

“It’s a really cool feeling to give a child a book and see their eyes light up,” Gregory said. “I 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, ‘Look, they’re going to have books. Can I have one?’ It hit me in the feels.”

Campus Alamance intern Lyric Gregory ’28 at the Alamance Partnership for Children on June 25, 2026.

Launched in 2021, Campus Alamance connects ��Ƶ 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.

“I’m already motivated, but it motivated me even more to continue to pursue psychology, because I’m looking at people in this office who still have the same passion as me, and they’re making a difference,” he said.

‘Real time’ experience

Like Gregory, McKenna Blount ’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.

“I’ve had a lot of broad experience in the police department,” said Blount, who is from Raleigh. “They’re super flexible, just letting me have as much experience that I possibly can.”

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.

“I didn’t know how interested I was in the law enforcement aspect of things,” said Blount. “I thought I was more interested in the psychology aspect. It’s really nice to meet people outside of the ‘��Ƶ bubble.’”

McKenna Blount ’27 at the Burlington Police Department

Connecting the community and history

Katie Baylett ’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.

“The internship has helped me know how to work and navigate in a professional environment,” Baylett said. “I took a class at ��Ƶ 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.”

Baylett develops the museum’s social media content calendar, creates photo and video content, updates the museum’s 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.

“My classes at ��Ƶ 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,” she said.

Katie Baylett ’27 at the Alamance Historical Museum

Internships are a central part of the ��Ƶ experience. Through the university’s Experiential Learning Requirement, students must complete two of five ��Ƶ Experiences: internships, service, leadership, undergraduate research or global engagement.

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

“You take the same three roads to get where you need to go as an ��Ƶ student, and I had no idea how much more goes on in Burlington,” Blount said. “This internship has really benefited my professional career development.”

Making an impact: Students contribute more than 88,000 hours of service

kanderson52 — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:15:54 +0000

During the 2025-26 academic year, thousands of students contributed their time and talents to address community needs, strengthen local organizations, and build meaningful partnerships through curricular and co-curricular community engagement. The infographic below highlights the powerful impact that students, faculty, staff, and community partners have made together.

Alongside this infographic, these stories highlight some of the positive impact across campus through community partnerships during the past academic year:

Kernodle Center for Civic Life announces spring 2026 service honor roll

kanderson52 — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 13:12:09 +0000

The Kernodle Center for Civic Life is recognizing over 120 students for its service honor roll, in recognition of the time they spent in partnership with the local community through direct volunteering, indirect volunteering and advocacy work.

The following 120 students contributed 50 or more hours of service through co-curricular opportunities and community-based learning or community-engaged learning courses during the spring 2026 semester:

Lillian Argabrite
Sofia Barnes
Ava Battaglia
Grayce Bechtel
Kate Becksvoort
Metasibya Behailu
Savanna Bell
Rachel Bergman
Sydney Blau
Mary Boyle
Abby Bradbury
Nick Brillo
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Harper Brooks
Keeley Brown
Kaila Burke
Ava Campione
Camille Christeon
Maddie Cook
Sky Covino
Isabelle Cross
Lilly Cyprow
Julia DeGenova
Emma Del Savio
Maggie Dion
Maddy Donner
Paige Douglass
Audrey Drouin-Prou
Emily Ecker
Olivia Evener
Wiley Falter
Jordan Felice
Aidan Fishkind
Cat Gerst
Madelyn Gibson
Anna Grace Gilbert
Cami Glebocki
Mia Glickman
Maddie Goldberg
Daniela Gonzalez
Andrew Gronski
Stella Habashi
Harry Haber
Delaney Hanf
Caitlyn Harris
Ava Heestand
Diego Hernandez
Aileen Humphreys
Ariel Jaklin
Ava Jenkins
Diana Jimenez-Carreno
Cameron Johnson
Lily Karten
Jacob Karty
Abby Kee
Jonathan Kim
Lauren Klappholtz
Veronica Kowalewski
Nick Lachapelle
John Lagarde
Emily Lambert
Will Larkin
DJ Lem
Mari Lilla
Elinoa Loewenthal
Lexi Lopilato
Princess Lorde
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Abigail Lynch
Ramsay Mansuetto
Edward Massey
Marissa May
Lucy McAfee
Paige Melchiorre
Emily Menjivar
Julianna Millett
Caden Minnich
Lindsey Moore
Quincey Moreland
Anna Morelli
Lucy Morris
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Taryn Mularczyk
Gabriel Nagy
Audrey Nott
Sammy Olesen
Mallory Otten
Allyson Parent
Cassidy Parrish
Sadie Paulos
Elise Peele
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Hannah Peterson
Natalie Plamondon
Paige Postufka
Erin Price
Jackson Quispe
Krissy Randolph
Eden Redmond
Ashleigh Ribe
Anna Rodrigues
Graham Rogers
Allie Rooney
Phoebe Safian
Jackie Salas Rodriguez
Olivia Sandercock
Ella Sarluca
Karrie Scales
Carley Sgueglia
Sara Simpson
Maria Skiedzel
Gracyn Speter
Alex Strassberg
Rahv Tupac-Yupanqui
Kara Watral
Emily Wilson
Amanda Winchock
Alina Wolcott
Jordan Wolfe
Hailey Youngman

��Ƶ employees honored during 2026 Staff Appreciation Day

Alexander Saunders (he/him) — Sun, 31 May 2026 15:48:45 +0000

��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book offered opening remarks during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

��Ƶ celebrated the dedication, innovation and service of its staff during Staff Appreciation Day on May 29, honoring individuals and teams whose work exemplifies the university’s mission and values.

“Each of you exemplifies the spirit of ��Ƶ through your passion, innovation and teamwork–all of which has created an environment for excellence in learning, growth and success,” Melissa Clodfelter, associate vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer, shared in her welcoming remarks to hundreds of university staff who had gathered for the celebration inside Schar Center.

The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, ��Ƶ’s chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement and an assistant professor of religious studies, followed with the invocation, where she encouraged staff to recognize and celebrate those who were honored during the ceremony, as well as those whose contributions often go unseen.

“May we recognize the dignity in every role and the value in every contribution,” Boswell said. “And may all of us leave this gathering renewed in purpose, strengthened by community and grateful for the opportunity to contribute our gifts to something larger than ourselves.”

President Connie Ledoux Book provided updates on several university priorities, including progress on the Slattery Center, the university’s new center for health and wellness; the Roberts Academy at ��Ƶ for children with dyslexia; the merger of ��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte; and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification for community and civic engagement.

Book said Staff Appreciation Day is about sharing thanks with colleagues for helping one another accomplish goals. “I really love the strength of this community,” she reflected. “Today is a day for us to pause and take a day of gratitude for us to say ‘thank you.’”

Retirees

Kelly Elliston addresses staff members during the retirement recognition portion of Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Two retirees elected to have someone speak on their behalf as part of the ceremony. Kelly Elliston retired on December 31 as the executive assistant to the president. In a pre-recorded video, Book thanked Elliston for her friendship, commitment, excellence and partnership.

Now retired, Elliston shared that she appreciates drinking coffee on the porch to the sounds of birds singing. She recalled Elizabeth Bowman’s acceptance speech after winning the 2025 professional hourly staff member of the year award, where Bowen described ��Ƶ as a ship with captains, wheels, nuts and bolts. “I’ve been one of those nuts for a really long time!” Elliston said to friendly laughter from the audience.

Julie Myers addresses staff members during the retirement recognition portion of Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Julie Myers, assistant for information technology, was recognized in a prepared video by her supervisor, Pat Donohue, deputy CIO. Donohue said Myers played a key role in budgeting, personnel management, business efficiency, bringing structural, accountability and cost awareness and was so meticulous that she would have backup plans for plans. Myers thanked several staff members in the audience for their time worked together.

Myers encouraged the audience to continue to look forward and not back as they take on new challenges. “That is why the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror,” she shared.

Read the stories of 2025-26 ��Ƶ retirees in the Today at ��Ƶ story.

Phoenix Awards

Four Phoenix Awards are presented each year to recognize outstanding innovation, collaboration and dedication to the university’s mission. Janet Williams, vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer, announced the award winners.

Phoenix Innovation Award

Terrance Copling accepted the Phoenix Innovation Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Terrance Copling was named the 2026 Phoenix Innovation Award winner. The Phoenix Innovation Award is presented to a member of the ��Ƶ staff who has displayed innovation by creating, designing, improving or implementing a new idea or program that benefits the university or the community.

In his role as senior ERP application developer, Copling was recognized for designing a solution to allow ��Ƶ Benefits Hub, powered by PlanSource, to communicate directly with Colleague, a feat that was previously thought not possible. Copling’s innovation has eliminated manual data entry, which reduces errors, improves processing time and creates a smoother and more efficient experience for ��Ƶ employees.

Copling was described as someone who consistently demonstrates an ability to translate complex challenges into thoughtful and effective solutions – which he approaches with humility, patience and a palpable desire to help others succeed.

One nominator said about Copling, “He is the person colleagues turn to when a challenge seems unsolvable because time and again, he proves that with enough creativity and persistence, nothing is out of reach.”

When accepting the award, Copling shared his gratitude for the team effort, within his team and other partners on campus. “I couldn’t do this with you,” he shared.

Phoenix Rising Award

Andrew Moffa accepted the Phoenix Rising Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Andrew Moffa was named the 2026 Phoenix Rising Award winner. The award is presented to one newer member of ��Ƶ’s staff who has consistently displayed excellence in pursuit of ��Ƶ’s mission with an engaged mind in inspired leadership and global citizenship.

Moffa is the assistant director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. He was described as the “mentor people dream of having” and someone who “creates an environment where students feel valued and empowered” in several roles he plays, including advising students in ��Ƶ 101, mentoring members of the ��Ƶ Votes! Team and supporting students who work in the office.

One nominator shared that Moffa “embodies the essence of allyship: showing up consistently, listening deeply and helping students bring their goals and ideas to life.” Students said he is “an amazing support to any student he comes across” and “an open space for us.”

Moffa expressed gratitude towards the Kernodle Center and the Division of Student Life, as well the students he works with. “It comes back to the students that we work with,” he shared. “That’s why I’m here, that’s why I love showing up to work – it wouldn’t be the same without them.”

Phoenix Collaboration Award

(From left to right) Emily Krechel, Janet Williams, Jo-Rae Jennings, Kameryn Taylor and Noah Orr. ��ƵGROW accepted the Phoenix Collaboration Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

The 2026 Phoenix Collaboration Award was presented to ��Ƶ Guided Reflection on Work Student Employment Mentoring Implementation Work Group, led by Alison Doherty, Jo-Rae Jennings, Emily Krechel, Noah Orr and Kameryn Taylor. ��ƵGROW is a framework designed to help students connect what they’re learning in the classroom with the skills they are developing in their campus jobs. Through brief conversations with their supervisors, students reflect on how their work supports their academic, professional and personal growth.

The award is presented to an ��Ƶ staff team or group that has fostered cooperation, collaboration and open communication across two or more departments/offices/centers on campus.

A nominator said about the group, “The team modeled the very competencies it seeks to cultivate in students: communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism and adaptive thinking.”

��ƵGROW was designed to be the fabric of supervision and student employment university-wide. Due to the collaborative efforts, supervisors now have clearer expectations, stronger training and accessible tools to facilitate intentional developmental conversations, and student employees are more likely to recognize transferable skills, articulate growth and connect work to academics and future careers.

Emily Krechel, director of new student programs, addressed the audience with ��ƵGROW members standing near the podium. As chair of the workgroup, she described the team as “the most productive, efficient and collaborative people she has ever had the privilege of working with.”

Phoenix Community Engagement Award

Tammy Hill

Tammy Hill, student health insurance and immunization compliance project manager, was named the 2026 Phoenix Community Engagement Award winner. The award recognizes a member of the ��Ƶ staff who has demonstrated exemplary service to the university, local or global community through their engagement in volunteer organizations.

Hill is a leader within the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation and was described as someone who tirelessly contributes her time, expertise and energy to support cultural preservation, community engagement and organizational leadership.

Hill is profoundly dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of her tribal community’s history, culture and traditions. When she was 55, she pursued a degree in American history to deepen her understanding of Western expansion and the many successes of other tribes in the United States. She has served the OBSN as newsletter editor, a member of the Scholarship Committee and Tribal Secretary on the Tribal Council, and she is self-taught in the skills needed for her current role managing the tribal website, web store and trading post.

One nominator stated, “Whether supporting her tribal community, fostering cultural awareness or strengthening connections within the ��Ƶ community, she leads with humility, integrity and dedication. She demonstrates that service is not simply something she does — it is who she is.”

Hill has been at ��Ƶ for more than two decades and leaves an indelible mark on students and colleagues alike who fondly reflect on her guidance, warmth and genuine care. She was not present at the ceremony and Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for Student Life/dean of Student Health & Well-Being/assistant professor, accepted on her behalf.

Blanche Garrison Memorial Award

Drema Holder accepted the Blanche Garrison Memorial Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Drema Holder was named the 2026 Blanche Garrison Memorial Award recipient. The award was established in memory of the late Blanche Garrison, an ��Ƶ Medallion awardee, who served the university with distinction as a staff member at Maynard House. This award was created through the generosity of President Emeritus Leo Lambert and Laurie Lambert and recognizes a staff member who has contributed significantly to shaping the student experience at ��Ƶ through their everyday commitments and actions to support, encourage and mentor ��Ƶ students.

Holder is the Moseley Center program assistant and was described as the epitome of graciousness and customer service, someone whose authentic kindheartedness, commitment and enthusiasm are vital to keeping her area of campus running effectively and making all who pass through its halls feel welcome.

One nominator shared that Holder “continually puts others before herself, uplifting students and advocating for them to receive the recognition they deserve.” Another nominator added, “If Moseley is the heart of campus, then Drema is the heart of Moseley.”

Holder shared that this is her 48th year in higher education and “all my students and all my coworkers have a special place in my heart.”

Staff Member of the Year Awards

Three Staff Member of the Year Awards are presented annually to university non-teaching staff – one for each of the following categories: facilities management, professional hourly staff and administrative staff. ��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book announced the award winners.

Staff Member of the Year – Professional Hourly

Sharon Holmes accepted the Professional Hourly Staff Member of the Year award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Sharon Holmes was honored as the 2026 professional hourly staff member of the year. Holmes is a program assistant in the Office of Alumni Engagement and described as someone who goes above and beyond to facilitate events, manage student workers and make alumni feel welcome.

Nominators shared that Holmes is a “mom away from home” for student workers and a valued source of support and friendship for her colleagues.” Another team member added, whatever the team needs, she will do without question and with the biggest smile you will ever see.”

She was further described as “the welcoming voice on the phone, the smiling face when alumni stop by her office and the helpful hand when students have questions.”

Upon receiving the award, Holmes shared that working at ��Ƶ is meaningful to her because she is from Alamance County. She expressed her appreciation to her team members, saying, “They are truly a pleasure to be around, to work with and to collaborate with. It’s a joy to support them.”

Staff Member of the Year – Administrative

Ross Wade accepted the Administrative Staff Member of the Year Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Ross Wade was named the 2026 administrative staff member of the year. He is ��Ƶ’s interim associate vice president for the Student Professional Development Center.

Wade was recognized for steering his department through a period of critical transition with “remarkable grace transparency and intentionality.” He is described as having thoughtful, future-focused leadership and lauded for restoring a sense of direction and vigor to the team and introduced policies that have substantially improved workflow efficiency.

One nominator stated that “He leads by example — rolling up his sleeves, staying engaged and demonstrating through his own actions what dedication to this work actually looks like.”

Wade expressed the challenges of stepping into a leadership role during a time of transition for SPDC. “I stumble through it every single day with the grace and the help from the SPDC team,” he shared. “Thank you so much for your patience, kindness and ideas.”

Staff Member of the Year – Facilities Management

Carol Pulliam accepted the Facilities Management Staff Member of the Year Award during Staff Appreciation Day at the Schar Center on May 29, 2026. Photography by Ethan Wu.

Carol Pulliam received the facilities management staff member of the year award. She is the custodian for Sato Commons.

Nominators used an array of sentiments to describe why Pulliam is, as they describe, one of the most important members of her building’s team: exceptionally detail-oriented, proud of her work and orderly. “She ensures every facet of the physical space reflects the excellence for which ��Ƶ is known,” a nominator said.

Pulliam was not only recognized for her immaculate work, but also her willingness to submit FixIt requests and helping students set up research posters.

Another nominator shared that her genuine warmth truly sets her apart. “Her willingness to engage people on the floor in meaningful conversations helps make our floor more connected and caring.”

Addressing her staff peers, she expressed, “thank you, God, and thank you to all the people that made this possible – I love each and every one of you.”

Periclean Scholars welcome the Class of 2029

Amanda Tapler — Tue, 12 May 2026 13:29:36 +0000

The Periclean Scholars Program welcomed 15 rising sophomores who were officially inducted into the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029.

During the next three years, the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029 will work with faculty mentor Vanessa Drew-Branch, associate professor in the Department of Human Service Studies.

During an event on April 30 in Sato Commons, Drew-Branch, welcomed the Class of 2029 by introducing the cohort’s theme of food sovereignty at ��Ƶ and in St. Kitts and Nevis. Drawing connections between local and global food systems, Drew-Branch encouraged Scholars to think critically about issues of food insecurity, food apartheid, justice, dignity and sustainability. She highlighted how colonial legacies, climate change and inequitable systems continue to shape access to healthy and culturally appropriate food while emphasizing the importance of community-centered, sustainable agricultural practices. Through her remarks, students were challenged to approach this work with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to building authentic partnerships rooted in reciprocity and social justice.

The newly inducted members of the Periclean Scholars Class of 2029:

Melanie Alarcon
Katherine Banker
Autumn Boyce
Kimara delRosario
Willow Evans
Travis Greene
Simone Lewis-Abdeen
Mason Marks
Tia Nelson
Jazline Rogel Sanchez
Ally Rotenberg
Kylie Rukavina
Gabriella Shew
Hazel Silverstein
Shukri Siraji
Caleb Slosberg

The Periclean Scholars Program provides students with a distinctive three-year educational experience focused on global engagement, interdisciplinary learning and ethical community partnership. Each cohort studies a specific country or region, collaborating with local and global partners to gain a deeper understanding of complex social challenges and develop sustainable, justice-centered initiatives.

Throughout the program, acholars complete 18 semester hours of coursework during their sophomore, junior, and senior years under the guidance of their faculty mentor. Through these courses and experiential learning opportunities, students explore best practices in community engagement, examine the critical distinction between charity and partnership, and learn to approach social change through collaboration, reciprocity, and long-term relationship building.

As the Periclean Scholars Class of 2026 prepares to graduate, the induction of the Class of 2029 reflects the continued legacy of student leadership, ethical partnership, and community-engaged global learning that defines the program.

��Ƶ students and faculty extend multifaith engagement to the community

Avery Craine Powell — Wed, 06 May 2026 13:56:20 +0000

Campus organizations and programs at ��Ƶ extend multifaith engagement beyond the classroom and into the community, a primary goal of the university’s Multifaith Strategic Plan, which strives to “support opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the academic community.”

“��Ƶ has done incredible work in enfranchising multifaith as an academic as well as a student affairs initiative, aligning and even blending those areas in meaningful ways that enhance the student experience,” said Amy Allocco, director of the Multifaith Scholars Program and a professor of religious studies.

The Multifaith Scholars Program, a two-year program founded in 2016, emphasizes interdisciplinary learning as student scholars undertake original research projects and study in global contexts connected with religious diversity and multireligious societies.

Learning by teaching

The scholars program also includes aspects of community engagement. For example, students help with youth nights, work in the community garden and teach English as a second language at the Burlington Masjid.

“Students are learning how to ethically engage in communities across lines of religious, cultural, and linguistic differences and to engage with cultural humility, like going to a space where you need to learn the appropriate ways of dressing and behaving,” said Sandy Marshall, associate professor of geography, who works with the scholars at the Masjid. “All those types of intercultural learning skills are invaluable for students.”

Alyssa Carney ’26 and ESL students at the Burlington Masjid

The goal of the English language classes, the multifaith scholars say, is to get people from an elementary English level to a place where they can have conversations and take more advanced courses. They held their first graduation from the classes in 2025. Marshall says that over the last several years, the language classes have grown, particularly due to the initiative of scholars like Alyssa Carney ’26, an international & global studies and religious studies double major from Allendale, New Jersey.

Marshall asked Carney to lead the class, which has now grown to 15-25 people per session.

Realizing the extent of the work, Carney leaned on her cohort in the Multifaith Scholars Program to help, noting that it turned into an experience she never expected.

“It’s a vulnerable part of somebody’s life, because I know that isn’t easy for them to come to a bunch of young college students, as older adults, and not know the language and ask for help,” said Carney. “I also love the exchange of all of it. They teach me probably way more than I teach them. I learn not only Arabic words, but also about their lives.”

Owen Hayes ’26, a history major from Holly Springs, North Carolina, minoring in and is one of the Multifaith Scholars helping Carney at the Masjid.

“The most impactful part for me is seeing their improvement and them being happy with themselves, that they are achieving their goals, just being a small part of that,” he said.

Community celebration

Students at the 2025 Eid al-Fitr celebration

��Ƶ’s connection to the Masjid also includes celebratory events like Eid al-Fitr, marking the conclusion of Ramadan, a month during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and gather for nightly meals known as iftars. It includes members of the ��Ƶ community and members of the Burlington Masjid and is part of the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life’s festival series, religious programs that create space not only to mark holidays, but to deepen understanding of culture, meaning, traditions and values.

Behind the festival series are multifaith interns, ��Ƶ students who work to create space, build and cultivate relationships, lead programs and facilitate learning opportunities about religious and spiritual identities and experiences on campus and beyond.

“One of the learning outcomes of the internship is for students to learn to curate spaces for religious and spiritual celebrations that are authentic expressions of those traditions, as well as spaces for education and community building,” said Hillary Zaken, director of multifaith programming and engagement.

Lizeth Torres-Tomas ’27, a political science and sociology double major with minors in and Latin American studies, is one of the multifaith interns who says the program has helped her understand and nurture her own purpose.

“Religion is taboo for a lot of people,” said Torres-Tomas, who is from Hendersonville, North Carolina. “But when we create spaces where people can talk about their faith or uncertainty, we’re contributing to their well-being.”

In the clinic and kitchen

Multifaith community work extends across religions for ��Ƶ students. Students in ��Ƶ’s Department of Nursing can work clinical hours with a nurse in Cone Health’s , which supports people of all faiths and community organizations. Students have completed clinical hours with Freedom’s Hope, Salvation Army and SAFE – Southern Alamance Family Empowerment.

Campus Kitchen, a program through the Kernodle Center for Civic Life was founded in 2011 and focuses on providing meals to Allied Churches of Alamance County. Students work in three shifts: harvesting produce at Loy Farm, cooking the food at Lakeside Dining and then serving the meals at the church. The program provides about 100 meals per week.

��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book and Lillian Argabrite ’26 participate in a Campus Kitchen shift.

Megan DeMarco ’26, a human service studies major from Midland Park, New Jersey, is the director of Campus Kitchen and says the goal is to address food insecurity in areas around college campuses.

“When I did my first Allied Churches shift, it was definitely more of an impact on me seeing the actual people and clientele that were helping,” DeMarco said. “That’s why a big thing that we push is for our volunteers to go to all three shifts.”

Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society, says that ��Ƶ’s multifaith strategic planning and implementation process has achieved a level of integration that helps set a new national standard.

“When an institution can engage students thoughtfully on questions of meaning, purpose, faith and doubt at the same time that it asks them to think critically about religion as a powerful force that impacts history, society, and politics, it is really doing the hard work of training leaders for a future that looks increasingly complex,” Pennington said.

This story is the third in a series of stories focusing on ��Ƶ’s Multifaith Strategic Plan.

Student opportunities grow as ��Ƶ-Queens merger takes shape

Eric Townsend — Mon, 04 May 2026 22:27:34 +0000

As Queens University and ��Ƶ progress in their merger, shared values are taking root through impactful, student-focused initiatives.

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

��Ƶ and Queens University of Charlotte both encourage students to study abroad during their studies as an avenue to broaden global perspectives.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

��Ƶ Charlotte hosts non-profit College Coffee

Ashley Pinney — Mon, 04 May 2026 14:21:04 +0000

On April 24, ��Ƶ Charlotte hosted its largest College Coffee to date. Alumni, non-profit professionals and community partners were invited to the Non-Profit Industry College Coffee to participate in one of ��Ƶ’s oldest traditions.

Attendees connected with members of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Charlotte campus team members to learn more about ��Ƶ’s engagement with area non-profits.

Since ��Ƶ Charlotte was established in the fall of 2023, the campus has worked to learn about the needs of the Charlotte metro area and support the community through student volunteering and donation drives. Associate Director of ��Ƶ Charlotte Karen Neff, partners with Roof Above, a shelter for unhoused men, each semester, and arranges for Study USA Charlotte students to serve dinner there. Human Service Studies practicum students spent part of a winter term volunteering at Beds for Kids, Roof Above, Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation and Gigi’s Playhouse, and heard from representatives from Abara: Beyond Borders and Wayfinders about their organizations.

This past winter, Lavette Shirley, assistant program director for physician assistant studies in Charlotte, led efforts to support the Charlotte Rescue Mission (CRM). CRM serves men and women at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. ��Ƶ donated two large bins of coats, clothing, toothpaste, lotion, soap, shampoo, menstrual pads and other toiletries to the women at this facility. The Women’s Law Association, an ��Ƶ law student organization, also collected women’s hygiene supplies to support Safe Alliance, a nonprofit agency providing hope and healing to those impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Law students have also been active as volunteers in the community, supporting organizations such as the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, Legal Aid, the Mecklenburg Bar Foundation, the North Carolina Bar Foundation, the Mecklenburg Council of Elders and more.

Elena Kennedy, ��Ƶ’s faculty fellow for community-based learning, speaks at the ��Ƶ Charlotte College Coffee event on April 23

Elena Kennedy, ��Ƶ’s faculty fellow for community-based learning, spoke to the group at the event and shared that last year the ��Ƶ community invested over 85,000 service hours in community organizations, about half of which were in the context of community-engaged courses. Other ��Ƶ community members highlighted several opportunities for community organizations to engage with the campus, including partnering with classes, hosting interns, developing tailored lunch and learn sessions for professional development and participating in deliberative dialogues.

Learn more about the work of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Alumni can stay informed of upcoming events in Charlotte through the alumni calendar.

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