Students and alumni in Washington, D.C., visited American University’s School of Public Affairs, where they learned about graduate education, careers in public service, and the many opportunities available through advanced study in law, business, and public and international service.

In New York City, students and alums were welcomed by Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business for an evening exploring graduate programs across multiple disciplines, including social service and the humanities. A highlight of both programs was the meaningful engagement with ������Ƶ alumni living and working in the city, who shared candid reflections about the transition from college to career, pursuing graduate education, and building fulfilling professional lives. Together, the university partners and alumni provided students with both practical information and authentic perspectives that encouraged them to imagine new possibilities for life after ������Ƶ.

The experiences reflect ������Ƶ’s commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose through intentional collaboration across campus. By bringing together the career expertise of the Student Professional Development Center, the immersive learning opportunities offered through Study USA and National Campus Programs, and the lifelong connections fostered by Alumni Engagement, students were able to explore graduate education while strengthening their professional networks and broadening their vision for the future.

The “Never Be at a Loss for Words” workshop idea was created through a partnership between ������Ƶ and The Groundlings, an industry improv training leader in Los Angeles. The workshop was led by actor, improv performer and The Groundlings improv coach Andres Parada. Parada has spent many years teaching actors critical communication skills that prepare them for anything that comes up in an audition, in a live performance or on a film set. Actors Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph and Lisa Kudrow are among the many well-known alumni of The Groundlings.

Now, ������Ƶ LA students have learned how to apply those techniques to benefit them along both their career and personal journeys ahead.

������Ƶ Los Angeles, offered by ������Ƶ’s �����Ի���National Campus Programs, offers spring and summer immersive experiences for students that feature academic courses taught by instructors who are working professionals in their fields and on-site experiential learning at internship sites across the city. The ������Ƶ LA experience also includes alumni engagement, community service and unique professional development opportunities.

Based in historic Hollywood, applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Over the past two decades, the ������Ƶ 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’s book: “Ocean Superheroes.”

“The 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,” 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 “friendly shark tank.” Past judges have been former Apple CEO John Sculley, filmmaker Luca Martínez, and Sylvia Earle, the first chief scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Raymond McGee’s childhood hero. Raymond McGee works with Earle on global conservation, and she helped inspire the organization and book.

“I wrote ‘Ocean Superheroes’ because it was the book I wish I had when I was a kid,” Raymond McGee said. “The 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.”

Her educational journey has also included that same “purpose.” After graduating from ������Ƶ with a degree in sport management, she earned a master’s degree in non-profit management and public policy from New York University and, a year ago, earned another master’s degree from The Wharton School of Business’s first global MBA program.

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

“Our 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,” Raymond McGee said. “I chose ������Ƶ 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 ������Ƶ so special to me, and it’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career.”

“Ocean Superheroes” 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—sports 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.”

Los Angeles has been serving as one of the key U.S. locations for the FIFA World Cup 2026; Skladan’s work responsibilities have brought her to LA for the duration of the games this summer.

Students and alumni guests had the opportunity to learn about her impressive career in sports so far and her journeyposition to her current . “It is wonderful to be back at ������Ƶ LA’s home base at The Preserve, in the same space where my classes were held and from where I began the journey to launch my post-graduation professional career,” Skladan told the gathered group.

Each semester, ������Ƶ Los Angeles brings together alumni and students for conversations that benefit emerging young professionals in a wide variety of career fields. The program offers an exciting, immersive and robust spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through ������Ƶ’s �����Ի� National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

Engle, who graduated from ������Ƶ in 2022 and currently serves as company manager at Shakespeare Theatre Company, said the Washington, D.C. community has embraced theatre and arts culture.

“I think that when a lot of people think of DC, they think of Capitol Hill and politicians and different lobbying organizations or aid organizations, things that are more visible from the outside perspective and how DC is represented in media,” Engle said. “But DC as a whole has been so welcoming as a theater community; we’re very lucky to have some incredible regional theaters.”

Faculty Director for Study USA D.C., and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy, Joel Shelton, echoed Engle, noting that theater is just one part of the arts culture in D.C.

“I think the most important context is that Washington, D.C., is often thought of as a place where politics happens, but culture in the capital is a really fundamental aspect of community here,” Shelton said. “There are so many different manifestations of popular culture in the city, whether that be art, literature, or museums, and especially theater, because, of course, Washington, D.C. is not New York, and it’s not Los Angeles.”

Shelton also said choosing to attend Othello was to show students both the political and artistic parts of the play.

“To me, when we were dreaming of this course, I thought that Othello was a wonderful place to see the linkages between political meaning and cultural production in Washington,” Shelton said. “So you have the arts and culture, but also a play that is deeply political and deeply concerned with contemporary questions around race, gender, power, identity.”

Engle, who earned a degree in arts administration, said that the program introduced her to students with different experiences.

“The program is made up of people who have life experiences and a lot to teach, and you’re coming together with students who are not taking all of the same classes with you, but have different experiences within the school,” Engle said.

������Ƶ junior Kallie Latham, who has a background in dance, said being in the theater had a sense of reminiscence.

“This program has a lot of people with different musical theater interests. We all felt pretty happy and nostalgic,” Latham said.

Latham said the tour gave her a sense of understanding when watching Othello later in the day.

“It’s even better because I think we get to understand the acting and the theater production that goes into all of it, and how all the settings and the background were changing,” Latham said. “That was really cool.”

Engle also highlighted the out-of-the-classroom experiences ������Ƶ offers to its students.

“They encourage you to join clubs and travel abroad and to experience the world outside the classroom as well.” Engle said. “I think that ties into the really cool nature of moving beyond the classroom and then into the professional world, and so much of what you do comes down to the relationships you build, and the way you’re able to engage with the world around you.”

Students interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.

From production, post-production, content creation, producing, writing, directing and performing, the panel offered a wide range of information to students of diverse majors who are in Los Angeles this summer for a unique core capstone course, experiential learning, alumni engagement and community service.

Zaman, who works at the post-production house Picture Shop, shared the excitement of being in the middle of the artistry of post-production. Among Picture Shop’s most recent projects was providing color correction work on Steven Spielberg’s current film “Disclosure Day.” She is also a first-time site supervisor, mentoring summer student Hammond Sherouse at a first-time ������Ƶ Los Angeles Picture Shop internship.

Campisano, who served as a selection committee member for the first ������Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition last fall, spoke about the wide range of professional creative opportunities that await students who return to Los Angeles after graduation. Campisano is an award-winning filmmaker who often turns to the ������Ƶ Los Angeles alumni community when staffing and casting projects.

Kestlinger is a Physical Production Manager for television and feature films at SK Global Entertainment. Seawright, an actor, model, and entertainment and brand marketing specialist, currently performs at Disneyland Resort.

������Ƶ Los Angeles offers an exciting, immersive spring semester and summer program experience in the heart of historic Hollywood through ������Ƶ’s and National Campus Programs. Applications are now being accepted for the spring 2027 semester.

On Friday, June 12, students enrolled in the Study USA Washington, D.C. “Capital Connections” program had the opportunity to visit the United States Capitol, where they learned more about Congress and the architectural history of the Capitol Building on a special tour organized by Jacob Stoken ’22, policy aid to House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. After the tour, Stoken sat down with students in the leader’s office in the Capitol for an extended Q&A session, where he shared insights about getting started as a Congressional staffer and provided an inside perspective on how Congress operates day-to-day. After the Q&A, students traveled with Stoken to the Rayburn House Office Building for additional conversation.

Joel Shelton, faculty director for Study USA, Washington, D.C. and associate professor of political science and public policy, and Tom Kerr, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Policy, joined students at the Capitol.

“I am exceedingly grateful to alumni like Jacob for supporting the ‘Capital Connections’ program in its first year,” Shelton said. “I’ve known Jacob since he was a student in my Philosophy, Politics, and Economics capstone course, and it is especially meaningful to see him thriving in Washington and to experience how generously he is mentoring the next generation of ������Ƶ students.”

The visit to the Capitol is part of the innovative curriculum for “Capital Connections:

Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.,” is a place-based capstone seminar in the ������Ƶ Core Curriculum that integrates classroom learning and direct engagement with D.C.’s institutions, cultural sites, and neighborhoods. Now in the fourth week of the nine-week program, students are busy interning in public and private sector institutions across the D.C. metro area, engaging with alumni, and attending special events and programming around Juneteenth and the upcoming 250th Independence Day celebration. This weekend, students will attend the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s widely acclaimed production of Othello and will join a special tour of Klein Theatre led by Company Manager Morgan Engle ’22.

Students interested in this experience for summer 2027 may begin applying on Sept. 1. For more information about the program, contact Anna Smith, director of Study USA.

Thirteen students are taking part in the inaugural ������Ƶ faculty-led program. Alumni networking is an important component of this cohort experience. In addition to meeting alumni, students take a core seminar course called Capital Connections: Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C. taught by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science and public policy.

Students also live in an apartment complex in the vibrant NoMa neighborhood, complete an internship,�����Ի���participate in enrichment activities to get to know the city better. Students will tour the US Capitol, learn the history of the city through walking tours, attend a Nationals game, see a play at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and more.

“It is always special to connect with former students and to see them thriving in the lives they lead after graduation, but it’s especially meaningful that our alumni take the time to connect with and to mentor current students,” Shelton said. “This is especially important in Washington, D.C., where relationships make all the difference in an increasingly competitive internship and employment environment. I’m very grateful to our alumni for the enthusiasm with which they have supported the launch of ������Ƶ’s “Capital Connections” program in the district.

D.C. Alumni Chapter President Gabby Vance ’18, organized the event with fellow chapter members.

“The Pizza Party remains one of my favorite events organized by the D.C. chapter because it brings together two important parts of the ������Ƶ community,” Vance said. “Alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights about life after graduation, while students gain a first-hand look at what it’s like to live and work in Washington, D.C., while building valuable professional connections. It’s always rewarding to see these relationships take shape, and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.”

Molly Bauer ’19, a former Communications Fellow, spent the fall of her junior year studying in D.C.

“It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Bauer, who moved to D.C. when she graduated and says she has experienced how strong the alumni network is in the city, and has enjoyed maintaining relationships with her peers.

“Now that ������Ƶ has its own program in D.C., I’m excited to stay even more connected to ������Ƶ by fostering connections with current students, faculty and staff as well,” Bauer said. “The Study USA program in D.C. will make our already-strong ������Ƶ network in D.C. even stronger. At the event, it was great getting to chat with current students, something I haven’t done since I graduated, and it was awesome reconnecting with faculty and staff after several years!”

Are you an alumnus living in D.C.? Join us for the next student/alumni networking night on

Applications for the Study USA D.C. summer 2027 program open Sept. 1. Contact the director of Study USA, Anna Smith asmith273@elon.edu, if you’d like to learn more.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Laing will spend a month in South Korea where she’ll visit 14 higher education institutions throughout the country to learn about the current trends in South Korean higher education and how these institutions view campus-wide internationalization, and also to learn more about international student mobility for students from (and to) South Korea. Friedland will spend his time as a Fulbright Scholar in Budapest, Hungary, where he will be teaching about the information economy, social media, and privacy and writing a book on comparative media law.

Fulbright U.S. Scholars are accomplished faculty, researchers, administrators and established professionals who teach or conduct research in partnership with institutions around the world. Through these affiliations, they expand their professional networks and often seed future research, innovation and institutional partnerships. When they return home to their campuses, labs, and classrooms, Fulbright Scholars share their experiences and insights, becoming champions of international collaboration. Many go on to host visiting scholars and inspire colleagues and students to pursue transformative opportunities abroad.

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 as a bold investment in global peace and American prosperity through educational and cultural exchange. Fulbright provides opportunities for exceptional Americans and participants from 160 countries and locations to study, teach and conduct research abroad. For eight decades, Fulbrighters have been leaders at the forefront of discovery and innovation, conducting cutting edge research, advancing critical industries, and preparing future generations with new skills and perspectives.

In the United States, the Institute of International Education implements the Fulbright U.S. Student and U.S. Scholar Programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of State. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit . Learn more about .

Tickets are now on sale for the inaugural ������Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Festival on Wednesday evening, July 22, at 6:30 p.m., at the historic Sony Pictures Studios lot, in Culver City, California.

The festival will feature the world premieres of short films from three ������Ƶ Los Angeles area alumna who were recipients of last fall’s ������Ƶ Los Angeles Alumni Short Film Grant Competition funds.

Julia Boyd ’15, Bex Evans ’16 and Mirai ‘07 each received grants of $3,000 for the production of their original short films. Their projects were selected for funding from among numerous submissions received. A selection committee comprised of industry professionals and ������Ƶ alumni reviewed, ranked and voted on all of the submissions received; Boyd, Evans and Mirai’s projects were the three top selections from this process.

The short film festival will also feature a conversation with ������Ƶ alumni Lindsey Emerson, vice president of streaming, global strategy & operations at Paramount Skydance and Alex Stevenson, account lead at Creative Artists Agency, about the current state of the entertainment industry and the impact these shifts are having on students transitioning from college to the professional world, as well as how current working professionals might navigate the new landscape for new opportunities.

A reception will follow the festival presentation with the opportunity for current ������Ƶ Los Angeles summer students to connect with ������Ƶ alumni and other industry professionals.

Limited availability tickets for the film festival are $25 each, with 100% of all ticket revenue designated to support next year’s grant competition.

For information and ticket purchases, and for contributions to the grant competition fund, please visit the .