Planning Week | Today at Ƶ | Ƶ /u/news Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:57:15 -0400 en-US hourly 1 Faculty, staff recognized for excellence in Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences /u/news/2025/08/22/faculty-staff-recognized-for-excellence-in-elon-college-the-college-of-arts-and-sciences/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 14:45:20 +0000 /u/news/?p=1025359 Winners of the Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, 2025 College Excellence Awards: from left to right: dean Hilton Kelly, Chair of the Department of Human Service Studies & Associate Professor of Psychology CJ Fleming, Associate Professor of Performing Arts Kim Shively, Professor of Italian Samuele Pardini, Program Assistant for Political Science & Public Policy, Philosophy & Religious Studies Morgan Troxler and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Elisha Savchak-Trogdon
Winners of the Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, 2025 College Excellence Awards: from left to right: Dean Hilton Kelly, Chair of the Department of Human Service Studies & Associate Professor of Psychology CJ Fleming, Associate Professor of Performing Arts Kim Shively, Professor of Italian Samuele Pardini, Program Assistant for Political Science & Public Policy, Philosophy & Religious Studies Morgan Troxler and Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Elisha Savchak-Trogdon

Five members of faculty and staff in Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, were honored during Planning Week on Aug. 18, 2025, for their excellence in teaching, scholarship, service-leadership and mentorship.

Recipients of the annual awards are nominated by their colleagues and selected by the College’s dean and associate deans.

“It is an honor to recognize these exceptional faculty and staff,” said Hilton Kelly, dean of Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences. “In their own unique ways, each has demonstrated remarkable dedication to their students, their colleagues and the mission of the College. Their brilliance, creativity and care strengthen our community and create a place where every student feels supported, challenged and inspired to thrive.”

The 2025 College Excellence Award recipients:

Excellence in Teaching Award

Associate Professor Kim Shively
Associate Professor Kim Shively

Kim Shively

Associate Professor of Performing Arts

Associate Professor Kim Shively has led nationally recognized workshops on consent-based pedagogy across North America and Europe, and she is the co-author of “Applied Meisner for the 21st Century Actor” as well as the forthcoming “The Theatre Artist’s Guide to Consent-Based Pedagogy”. This past year, she mentored Honors Fellows, led a service-learning course in arts education and played a key role in shaping Ƶ’s theatre curriculum. Her classes are known for their rigor, care and representation where students can feel seen, respected and empowered. Beyond her work in the classroom, she is the cofounder of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company, which launched its inaugural season this summer with “Hamlet”, where Shively played Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother.

Excellence in Scholarship Award

Professor Samuele Pardini
Professor Samuele Pardini

Samuele Pardini

Professor of Italian

Professor Samuele Pardini’s work explores the intersections of Italian American identity, African American history and American literary modernism — making meaningful contributions to national conversations in the humanities. In 2024, he published “Writing Home: Selected WWII Letters of Leslie A. Fiedler”, a work critics called “literary, biographical, cultural and historical gold.” He submitted new scholarship on Sacco and Vanzetti, W.E.B. Du Bois, and the African American press to American Quarterly and presented it at the National MELUS conference. His work also included multiple essays in The Brooklyn Rail and a keynote address at Morgan State University honoring the centennial of James Baldwin. Beyond publishing, he mentors students, serves on research and curriculum advisory boards and continues to shape emerging fields like Black Mediterranean and comparative diaspora studies.

Excellence in Service-Leadership Award

Chair CJ Fleming
Chair CJ Fleming

CJ Fleming

Chair of the Department of Human Service Studies and Associate Professor of Psychology

The scholarly contributions of Associate Professor CJ Fleming, chair of the Department of Human Service Students, span departments and shape programs that benefit faculty and students throughout the university. She has strengthened Ƶ’s internship and research infrastructure as Faculty Fellow for Internships and associate director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, preparing 37 students to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and co-authoring the Ƶ Statement on Work-Integrated Learning. A champion for equity in experiential learning, she has mentored nationally recognized student researchers, supported faculty in expanding career readiness, and helped shape Ƶ’s National Campus. Drawing on her training as a clinical psychologist, she has provided thoughtful guidance on key student well-being committees.

Excellence in Mentoring Award

Associate Professor Elisha Savchak-Trogdon
Associate Professor Elisha Savchak-Trogdon

Elisha Savchak-Trogdon

Associate Professor of Political Science and Public Policy

For more than a decade, Associate Professor Elisha Savchak-Trogdon has mentored students pursuing careers in pre-law. As the university’s pre-law advisor, she offers strategic, personalized guidance—from first conversations about legal careers to law school acceptances and scholarships—mentoring students across majors, class years, and even after graduation. She leads the Legal Professions Scholars program, designed a course on global legal rights, and now advises the 3+2.5 Accelerated Law Program with Ƶ Law, guiding fast-tracked future lawyers with care and structure. Through panels, programming, and one-on-one advising, she creates a supportive community where students feel prepared, confident, and seen.

Staff Excellence Award

Program Assistant Morgan Troxler
Program Assistant Morgan Troxler

Morgan Troxler

Program Assistant for Political Science & Public Policy, Philosophy & Religious Studies

Since joining the Ƶ community in December, Morgan Troxler has balanced the needs of and contributed additional organization and efficiency to all three departments. Known for completing tasks ahead of schedule and with care and precision, she demonstrates responsiveness and a commitment to faculty and student success. As one department chair noted, their program would be lost without her.

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Six Ƶ faculty members awarded endowed professorships /u/news/2025/08/19/six-elon-university-faculty-members-awarded-endowed-professorships/ Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:48:15 +0000 /u/news/?p=1024688

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Ƶ officially opened the 2025–26 academic year on Aug. 18 with a ceremony that blended tradition, reflection and inspiration, awarding six faculty members with endowed professorships.

President Connie Ledoux Book welcomed faculty and staff to Alumni Gym, expressing excitement for the year ahead and the arrival of the Class of 2029. Book emphasized Ƶ’s commitment to transformational learning and acknowledged reaching the midpoint of the Boldly Ƶ Strategic Plan for 2030.

Boldly Ƶ is about taking informed risk and creating a strategy for headwinds, and the headwinds are here,” said Book. “Our strategy is in motion, and in this second half of Boldy Ƶ, we are entering some of the most challenging and most rewarding work ahead.”

President Connie Ledoux Book opens the Ƶ Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Ringing in the academic year

A woman rings a bell sitting between a wooden holder
Student Government Association President Anya Bratić rings the bell during Opening Day 2025 on Aug. 18 in Alumni Gym.

The ceremony began with the ringing of Ƶ’s historic bell, a tradition that marks the start of each academic year. The bell, which arrived in North Carolina in 1854 atop one of the state’s earliest railroad locomotives, was once housed at Graham College, Ƶ’s predecessor institution. This year, Student Government Association President Anya Bratić, a double major in international and global studies and public health, rang the bell on behalf of the student body.

Rev. Kirsten Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, offered an invocation that called for patience in the face of uncertainty, creativity in moments of challenge and the wisdom of turning the page to a chapter yet written.

The ceremony concluded with a keynote address from Allen E. Gant Jr., CEO of Glen Raven and a member of Ƶ’s Board of Trustees. Gant reflected on leadership, innovation and resilience, drawing from his experience transforming Glen Raven during a time of uncertainty after 2001. He emphasized the importance of embracing change and reminded the audience that the world will be a better place with more Ƶ graduates.

Allen E. Gant Jr., CEO of Glen Raven and a member of Ƶ’s Board of Trustees, delivers the keynote address during the Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Six Endowed Professorships Awarded

Six Ƶ faculty members were honored with endowed professorships during the Opening Day ceremony. Each faculty member was recognized for their passion in their field, commitment to students and service to the university.

Six Ƶ faculty members were awarded endowed professorships during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 18. 2025. Pictured left to right: Cassandra DiRienzo, professor and department chairof economics; Titch Madzima, associate professor and chair of exercise science; Dave Gammon, professor of biology; Nancy Scherich, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics; Lauren Kearns, professor of dance; Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing

Lauren Kearns –Maude Sharpe Powell Professor

Lauren Kearns, professor of dance, was awarded the Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship during Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Lauren Kearns, professor of dance, an internationally recognized choreographer, author and dance scholar, was awarded the Maude Sharpe Powell Professorship. Since joining Ƶ in 2006, Kearns has transformed the university’s dance program, leading the creation of the BFA in Dance Performance & Choreography and co-creating the nationally recognized BS program in Dance Science. She also developed study abroad programs in Israel and Florence, expanding the global reach of Ƶ’s dance curriculum.

Kearns is known for pushing her students to be their very best and is considered a prolific mentor sought out by students for everything from undergraduate research projects to college fellows, honors and Lumen Prize scholars.

“I would be more comfortable performing an interpretive dance for you,” Kearns joked during her remarks. “But as I often remind my students, stepping outside of our comfort zone is an opportunity for growth. So I grow.”

Kearns expressed gratitude to the Powell family and emphasized the importance of embodied experience in her interdisciplinary work, which bridges art and science.

Casey DiRienzo – Sheldon and Christine Gordon Professorship in Entrepreneurship

A woman speaks at the podium with the Ƶ Univesity logo below her and the seal blurred behind her on a black background
Cassandra DiRienzo, professor and department chairof economics, was awarded the Sheldon and Christine Gordon Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship during Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Cassandra DiRienzo, professor and department chairof economics, was honored as the Sheldon and Christine Gordon Endowed Professor in Entrepreneurship. A faculty member at Ƶ since 2002, DiRienzo has led curriculum redesigns, mentored over 50 advisees and published research that bridges economics with social justice. Her work on human trafficking awareness has influenced Ƶ’s business curriculum and garnered international recognition.

DiRienzo’s scholarship has led to invitations for book chapters and journal articles, including a forthcoming contribution to a corruption and gender handbook to be launched at a United Nations conference. Her innovative teaching includes gamified learning platforms and inclusive course design, and she is known for her strategic thinking and compassionate mentorship.

“My research is not mainstream economics,” DiRienzo said. “Yet trafficking awareness is part of our business curriculum, and a stream of trafficking resources research exists in far-reaching outlets. This is only possible because I work at Ƶ.”

She thanked her family, colleagues and co-author Tina Das, and shared her excitement for continuing this work with the support of the professorship.

Titch Madzima – Japheth E. Rawls Professorship for Undergraduate Research in Science

A man speaks at the podium with the Ƶ Univesity logo below her and the seal blurred behind him on a black background
Titch Madzima, associate professor and chair of exercise science, was awarded the Japheth E. Rawls Professorship for Undergraduate Research in Scienceduring Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Titch Madzima, associate professor and chair of exercise science, was awarded the Japheth E. Rawls Professorship for Undergraduate Research in Science. Madzima has mentored more than 40 students, co-led a research seminar on mentoring and contributed to a forthcoming co-edited book. In 2021, his leadership and scholarship earned him the Ƶ College Excellence in Teaching Award.

Madzima’s research in exercise physiology includes collaborative projects on cardiovascular and mental health benefits of West African dance. His students regularly present at top conferences and pursue careers in health care, education and academia. He is also a campus leader, serving on committees such as the Institutional Review Board and the Data Competency Committee.

“This recognition reflects not only my work, but the incredible students, colleagues and mentors who have shaped my journey here at Ƶ,” Madzima said. He credited his wife, Katrina, and colleagues for their support and highlighted Ƶ’s commitment to research and mentorship.

Nancy Scherich – A.L. Hook Emerging Professor in Science and Mathematics

A woman speaks at the podium with the Ƶ Univesity logo below her and the seal blurred behind her on a black background
Nancy Scherich, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, was honored as the A.L. Hook Emerging Professor in Science and Mathematicsduring Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Nancy Scherich, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics, was honored as the A.L. Hook Emerging Professor in Science and Mathematics. Her research in algebra and topology, particularly knot theory and its applications in quantum computing, has led to 10 publications in three years, including four co-authored with Ƶ students.

Scherich’s work has been featured on the cover of the Notices of the American Mathematical Society and she has developed a wide range of math-dance outreach activities, live performances, performative lectures, YouTube videos and published research, using dance as a medium to communicate mathematical ideas to the public.

“I do a lot of non-traditional math and dance work, and I was looking for a home at an institution that would value this,” said Scherich. “I’m so grateful to have found Ƶ, where nontraditional interdisciplinary work is highly valued and recognized and counts as part of my scholarship.”

She thanked her department chair, colleagues, and partner Joel for their support, and expressed appreciation to the Hook family for funding the award.

Smaraki Mohanty – Doherty Emerging Professor for Entrepreneurial Leadership

A woman smiles in front of a black backdrop and the Ƶ seal
Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing, was honored as the Doherty Emerging Professor for Entrepreneurial Leadershipduring Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing, was honored as the Doherty Emerging Professor for Entrepreneurial Leadership. She is a consumer behaviorist whose area of study is perception, where she examines a range of cues addressing issues and matters both topical and contributory. She has published extensively and contributed to faculty development initiatives across campus.

Mohanty’s recent work includes studies that explore brand perceptions created by green energy branding, ways that plural brand names favorably affect attitude towards brands and consumer responses to politically active companies. She has received multiple awards for scholarship and currently serves as a Love-Faculty Excellence Fellow. Her leadership includes founding the Consumer Research Behavioral Lab and mentoring undergraduate research.

“To all my friends, mentors, co-authors and students, thank you for always pushing me and making sure I don’t settle for less,” Mohanty said. She also thanked her family in attendance and those rooting for her back home.

Dave Gammon – T.E. Powell Jr. Professor

A man speaks at the podium with the Ƶ Univesity logo below her and the seal blurred behind him on a black background
Dave Gammon, professor of biology, was awarded the T.E. Powell Jr. Professorship during Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 18, 2025.

Dave Gammon, professor of biology, is known for his work in vocal mimicry and science literacy, received the T.E. Powell Jr. Professorship. Gammon has mentored over 20 students in research and is a prominent advocate for public science education through community events and media outreach.

Gammon is deeply involved in mentoring students in a variety of projects related to how birds learn their songs. He is known for dedicating early mornings walks with students around campus to collect data from the resident bird population and even more hours spent listening to and analyzing recorded bird song.

Since he joined Ƶ in 2006, Gammon has taught science to non-majors in innovative courses like “A Journey through Time” and “Science without Borders.” He coordinates interdisciplinary science courses and organizes Tectonic Plates, a monthly science café. His service includes roles on Academic Council, Promotion and Tenure, and the STEM advisory board.

In his remarks, Gammon spotlighted unnamed colleagues whose courage and community engagement inspired him. “They did it anyway,” he said, referencing their commitment despite challenges. “And I admire that.”

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Ƶ kicks off 2025-26 academic year with Planning Week /u/news/2025/08/15/elon-university-kicks-off-2025-26-academic-year-with-planning-week/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 14:38:03 +0000 /u/news/?p=1024489 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 2025-26 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.

Monday, Aug. 18

Opening Day
Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center
Events start at 8:15 a.m.

Planning Week 2025 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 18, first with a community-wide reception in Alumni Gym followed by the presentation of Ƶ Medallions and named professorships and remarks from President Connie Ledoux Book.

Since 2011, the Ƶ community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County, sponsored by the Student Government Association, Staff Advisory Council and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Faculty and staff can bring supplies to the president’s address or drop them off through Aug. 26 at various locations around campus. More information about specific items and drop-off locations will be emailed to faculty and staff.

Student rings large bell
SGA President Taylor Cote ’25 rings the ceremonial bell at Ƶ’s Opening Day ceremony in Alumni Gym on Aug. 19, 2024

Breakout Sessions

Following the president’s address from 9:45 – 10:30 a.m., a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the Ƶ community, including:

  • Ƶ and enrollment
  • HealthEU
  • Ƶ’s National Campus
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Mentoring
  • The Evolving State of Collegiate Athletics
  • School of Engineering and Computing
  • Sport Collaborative

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 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 19

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Linder 102
1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Join the presenters for an interactive session about Artificial Intelligence at Ƶ. The presenters will share recent updates on campus-wide AI developments, highlight key findings from the annual AI survey, discuss upcoming AI pilot projects, and provide helpful resources to support the community. Following this 30-minute overview, attendees will participate in an open discussion. During this conversation, participants can ask questions, share ideas, and provide feedback to shape Ƶ’s AI roadmap.

Ƶ’s Student Life Five-Year Plan
Sankey 308
2 – 3 p.m.

This session will introduce From Vision to Impact: Student Life’s Five-Year Plan (2025–2030), highlighting the division’s strategic priorities for the years ahead. Presenters will share key focus areas—civic and community engagement, inclusive excellence, integrated health and well-being, leadership development, mentoring and student success, the residential experience, and operational excellence—and discuss how Student Life will partner across campus to deliver a transformative student experience.

Wednesday, Aug. 20

Shared Responsibility, Shared Leadership: Grounding Inclusive Excellence in Our Work
Linder 102
10:45 — 11:45 a.m.
This interactive workshop invites faculty and staff to explore the inclusive excellence connections between Ƶ’s Shared Responsibility Framework and the Shared Equity Leadership (SEL) model. Participants will reflect on their personal and professional development journeys, examine core values that support inclusive excellence, and identify practices to deepen their commitment. Through guided activities and dialogue, attendees will consider how to align intention with action in ways that foster belonging and well-being across campus.

Campus Safety
Linder 208
1:30 — 3 p.m.
Campus Safety and Police is committed to fostering a safe environment for all who live, study, and work here. Though police and security officers patrol the campus 24/7 all year, no security force can always have an officer present before a crime occurs. Faculty and staff are encouraged to attend this session to hear about the latest safety practices implemented by Campus Safety.

Vivvi Childcare and Early Learning Information Session
Oaks 212
2 — 3 p.m.
Learn more about the new Acorn Academy, Ƶ’s partnership with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care on campus.

A photo of an empty child care center
Ƶ has partnered with Vivvi to provide employer-sponsored child care, early learning and summer camps at the new Acorn Academy.

Sustainability Master Plan 2025 Information Session
Linder Hall 102
3 — 4 p.m.
Ƶ launched theSustainability Master Plan 2025in April 2025, which supports the Thrive theme of the Boldly Ƶ strategic plan. The new plan aims to reduce carbon emissions toward Ƶ’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2037 and enhance involvement in sustainability efforts. The eight goals outlined in the plan address academics, dining, engagement, facilities, purchasing, technology, transportation and waste. This engaging session will provide an overview of the plan and help you identify how you can contribute to the plan’s implementation efforts. Attendees are encouraged to review theSMP 2025prior to the session.

Thursday, Aug. 21

College Coffee – Employee Resources Groups
Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain Location: Koury Concourse)
10:15 — 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.

Several students talk to one another with coffee
Students gather during the first College Coffee of the Fall 2024 semester. College Coffee is a weekly tradition every Tuesday during the academic year, allowing students, faculty and staff to gather for food and fellowship.

ERGs and other groups tabling at College Coffee include:

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

Unpacking a Decade of Research: What a Meta-Analysis of 12 Ƶ Studies Reveals About Our Campus Culture
11 a.m. — 12 p.m.

Belk Pavillion
During the 2024-2025 year, the President’s Advisory Council on Inclusive Excellence conducted a meta-analysis of 12 identity and culture-related studies at Ƶ since 2014 in support of Thrive of Boldly Ƶ. This project included examining studies on various topics related to bias, campus climate, global engagement, multifaith, and race. This meta-analysis contains six themes across the 12 studies, areas of institutional growth, and proposed guidance for continuing the trajectory toward creating a campus with high indices of belonging and well-being for all students, faculty, and staff. Attendees will learn about and discuss these findings that may inform colleagues’ teaching and practices in support of the university’s mission.

Friday, Aug. 22

Move-In Day
Students officially return to campus on Friday, August 22. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be foundonline.

Move-In Day 2024 at Ƶ on Aug. 23.

Saturday, Aug. 23

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

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2029 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this. The survey will close on August 16.

The Class of 2028 and incoming transfer students proceed out of Alamance Building to New Student Convocation on Aug. 24.

University Directory Photos

All Ƶ faculty and staff members are encouraged to have their photo included in the university’sonline 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,.

  • Tuesday, August 19: 2 — 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 21: 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
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Faculty, staff recognized for excellence in Ƶ College, the College of Arts & Sciences /u/news/2024/08/22/faculty-staff-recognized-for-excellence-in-elon-college-the-college-of-arts-sciences-2/ Thu, 22 Aug 2024 17:10:16 +0000 /u/news/?p=992275 Seven members of faculty and staff in Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, were celebrated for excellence in teaching, mentoring, scholarship and service-leadership during Planning Week’s fall faculty meeting Monday, Aug. 19.

The awards are given annually, and recipients are nominated by their colleagues and selected by the College’s dean and associate deans.

“It gave me great joy to announce these awards as one of my first official duties of the 2024-25 academic year,” said Dean of Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Hilton Kelly, who joined Ƶ in June. “Standing in front of the room, I could see that my team and I got it right.Faculty and staff were overjoyed for each award recipient.The recognition was great and well-deserved for each, but the reception from their colleagues signaled to me that Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences, will be a wonderfully positive and supportive working environment.”

The 2024 College Excellence Award recipients included:

Excellence in Teaching Award

directory photo of pratheep paranthaman in gray blazer and blue tie
Assistant Professor Pratheep Paranthaman

Pratheep Paranthaman

Assistant Professor of Computer Science

Since joining Ƶ in 2019, Assistant Professor Pratheep Paranthaman has become recognized as an innovator in the classroom who is dedicated to staying on the cutting edge of his fields of game design and user experiences in virtual and augmented reality technologies. As coordinator of Ƶ’s game design minor, he shares his knowledge and experience with students as they design and publish their own games in the program. He is highly responsive to students’ needs, and uses a range of teaching methods, software options and aligns with industry standards to prepare students for life after graduation. Paranthaman’s enthusiasm drives students’ curiosity and passion, and many graduates go on to careers and advanced study in the field. He is also a strong academic adviser to computer science majors and game design minors.

Excellence in Scholarship Award

directory photo of Baris Kesgin in navy blazer and white shirt
Associate Professor Baris Kesgin

Bariş Kesgin

Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies

Associate Professor Bariş Kesgin is a prolific scholar. Since 2021, he has published four articles on topics ranging from Turkish leaders and their foreign policy decision-making style to the operational codes of Pacific Island countries’ leaders in relation to climate change. In the scholarship of teaching, he has published about teaching through games and simulations for international relations courses. Highly regarded in his field, Kesgin has given six invited talks at universities around the world since 2020, 12 conference presentations in the same timeframe, and published several book reviews on subjects of political science and international relations. Kesgin has several works in progress that bridge the lenses of gender and political analysis.

Excellence in Service-Leadership Award

Richard Blackmon

Associate Professor of Engineering

Directory photo of Richard Blackmon in a lavender dress shirt
Associate Professor RIchard Blackmon

Associate Professor Richard Blackmon is a dedicated service-leader for the Department of Engineering and Ƶ’s LGBTQIA community. Blackmon’s involvement guided the engineering degree program to ABET accreditation by assessing courses with an eye toward continuous improvement. He served on the Design Course Sequence Committee to evaluate student outcomes and identify and implement interventions. He is involved with several other department and campus committees at Ƶ, including the Innovation Challenge Committee, Math and Natural Sciences Curriculum Committee, Engineering Advisory Board and as a leader of Ƶ’s LGBTQIA Employee Resource Group. He is also a co-advisor of student organization Out in STEM (oSTEM) and advisor for . Blackmon also is director of Ƶ’s Engineering Dual Degree Program.

Sandra Reid

Senior Lecturer in Human Service Studies

Directory photo of Sandra Reid in black sweater and red jacket
Senior Lecturer Sandra Reid

Called “the epitome of a selfless service-leader for the College and the university,” Senior Lecturer Sandra Reid is involved in initiatives and programs that improve the outcomes of Ƶ students and colleagues at the university. Among many roles, she is campus advisor for the Omicron Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., an advisory board member for the African and African-American Studies and the Criminal Justice Studies minors, as well as the Black student spiritual support group. She is a member of the Black Employees Resource Group. Reid has also served as the internship coordinator for the Poverty and Social Justice minor and co-created the international practicum course in Morocco for the Department of Human Service Studies. In 2023-24, Reid served on Ƶ’s lecturer track review and implementation committee, providing the essential voice of a senior lecturer in the committee’s processes and recommendations. Her service commitment extends beyond Ƶ and into the greater community as a board member of the Alamance County Community Services office and the Alamance County Community Remembrance Coalition.

Excellence in Mentoring Award

Emily Evans

T.E. Powell Jr. Professor and Professor of Physics

Professor Emily Evans consistently mentors undergraduate researchers to successful outcomes that include publication of their work and acceptance into advanced degree programs. As a mentor, she has secured external research funding to support students while mentoring their projects. Evans finds ways to mentor students in and beyond the classroom, and in curricular and non-curricular spaces. She served as the director of the Lumen Prize, creating cohorts of intellectual community while mentoring both students and faculty mentors through the Lumen process. Evans is the kind of teacher-scholar-mentor faculty in the College aspire to become, evident in the many ways she collaborates with students and colleagues.

Virginia Novine-Whittaker

Lecturer in Music

directory photo of virginia novine-whittaker in a purple and black top
Lecturer Virginia Novine-Wittaker

A longstanding, respected and admired music instructor, Lecturer Virginia Novine-Whittaker has for years provided strong mentorship for Ƶ’s student musicians. Many of her students now work in major cities around the country, performing in musicals and saxophone quartets, working in the recording industry, and managing, conducting and performing in jazz ensembles. Her students have a track record of success in earning highly competitive positions in military bands, and several of her saxophone students have won national and international performance competitions. Novine-Whittaker was also instrumental in developing the Ƶ Music Ambassadors program, and has taken Ƶ’s undergraduate musicians across the country to showcase their talent and recruit new students for the music program.

Staff Excellence Award

Melissa McBane in a teal blouse
Melissa McBane

Melissa McBane

Operations and Accounts Specialist for Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences

As operations and accounts specialist for the College, Melissa McBane processes more than 200 contracts a year for contingent faculty and is integrally involved in searches for new permanent faculty and staff in the College. She helped the dean’s office and faculty in the College navigate the new PageUp hiring processes, managing the technological transition with ease. McBane also processes countless check requests and purchase orders within the College each year. She does it all with a positive attitude and eagerness to help colleagues.

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Opening Day 2024 focuses on Ƶ’s ‘story of transformation’ as academic year begins /u/news/2024/08/19/opening-day-2024-focuses-on-elons-story-of-transformation-as-academic-year-begins/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:33:36 +0000 /u/news/?p=991740 Looking to a transformative future at Ƶ, President Connie Ledoux Book turned to the university’s past as she welcomed faculty and staff for Opening Day – the official start of the 2024-25 academic year.

A transformational environment

In her address to the university in Alumni Gym on Monday, Aug. 19, Book acknowledged an important anniversary in Ƶ history – thirty years since the launch of thecore curriculum including the Experiential Learning Requirement and Ƶ 101.

“Remarkably in 1994, Ƶ was described in much the same way as it is today, an institution where students are actively engaged both inside and outside the classroom, immersed in cutting-edge experiential opportunities and empowered to shape their future from day one,” said Book. “What remains constant is that all of this is grounded in a transformational environment where people and relationships are at the heart of Ƶ.”

During Book’s remarks, a video showcased faculty and alumni interviews from 1994 as an example of both Ƶ’s commitment to student success but also the university’s transformation since that time. Book noted Ƶ has now graduated thousands of students thanks to the commitment of faculty and staff. In fall 2024, the university will welcome more than 1,600 new students and 77 transfer students, with the Class of 2028 standing out as the most diverse incoming class in the university’s history.

Boldly Ƶ

Kristin Boswell speaks at podium
Rev. Kristin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, offers an invocation during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 19, 2024.

Opening Day began with Rev. Kristin Boswell, university chaplain and dean of multifaith engagement, offering an invocation, followed by the ringing of the ceremonial bell by Student Government Association President Taylor Cote ’25. Three individuals were awarded the Ƶ Medallion, the university’s highest honor, and a record seven faculty members received endowed professorships.

With Boldy Ƶ, the university’s 10-year strategic plan at a midpoint, Book emphasized the importance of building upon all the lessons learned over the thirty years since 1994.

President Connie Ledoux Book places the Ƶ Medallion on Kyle Wills
President Connie Ledoux Book awards the Ƶ Medallion to Kyle Wills during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 19.

“We also embrace the mindset and action of more deliberately sharing our model of higher education across the nation during a time when the value of higher education is being questioned, and when the work we do to support every community member and the richness of the differences they bring to our campus should be met with unwavering support through their educational journey,” said Book. “Now more than ever, we need to be bold in our efforts to support student success.”

What’s new on campus

With the beginning of the academic year, Book also highlighted several new additions to campus, including the Loy Farm Living-Learning Community EcoVillage, the Mentoring Initiative Design Team’s first workshop, the Ƶ Flex Law Program in Charlotte, new programs in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Businessand upgrades to campus facilities.

As artificial intelligence continues to impact industry and higher education, Ƶ and theAmerican Association of Colleges and Universities have released the first edition of a student guide to navigating college in the artificial intelligence era. The guide, titled “AI-U/v1.0,” was developed with the collaboration and review of faculty, scholars, academic leaders and students at universities around the world.

“I wonder if in 2054, on Opening Day, the community will be in awe of the direction that we set in 2024,” said Book. “Ƶ’s story of transformation and impact is a continuing one, unfolding through the work each of you do every day. Our future and our ability to rise and keep our mission vibrant depend on our ability to tell Ƶ’s story of student impact and transformation in a way that resonates with future students, alumni and stakeholders.”

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Ƶ prepares to welcome back students with Planning Week 2024 /u/news/2024/08/14/elon-prepares-to-welcome-back-students-with-planning-week-2024/ Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:27:53 +0000 /u/news/?p=991203 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 2024-25 academic year.

Monday, August 19

Opening Day
Location: Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center
Events start at 8:15 a.m.

Former SGA President Britt Mobley rings the bell to start Opening Day ceremonies on Aug. 14, 2023, in Alumni Gym.

Planning Week 2024 kicks off with Opening Day on Aug. 19, first with a community-wide reception on the Koury Athletic Center concourse followed by the presentation of Ƶ Medallions and named professorships and remarks from President Connie Book in Alumni Gym.

Since 2011, the Ƶ community has collected school supply items for the children in Alamance County, sponsored by the Student Government Association, Staff Advisory Council and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Faculty and staff can bring supplies to the president’s address or drop them off from Aug. 16-26 at various locations around campus. More information about specific items and drop-off locations is available here.

Following the president’s address at 9:45 a.m., a variety of breakout sessions will be available for all members of the Ƶ community, including:

  • HealthEU
  • National Campus
  • Election Year Engagement
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Mid-Point Review of Boldly Ƶ
  • Mentoring Next Steps
  • The Dynamic NCAA Environment and Setting a Strategic Course
portrait of hilton kelly
Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences will welcome the new Dean Hilton Kelly.

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 1:30 to 4 p.m. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., members of Ƶ College, the College of Arts and Sciences will welcome the new Dean Hilton Kelly on Medallion Plaza. President Book then invites new faculty and staff to a reception at The Inn at Ƶ at 5 p.m.

Tuesday, August 20


Facilitating Conversations about Election 2024 in Class
Location: Oaks 212
1:30 to 3 p.m.

The session, led by new Faculty Fellow for Civic Engagement Dillan Bono-Lunn, will familiarize faculty with campus resources for civic engagement and offer tips for teaching during politically divisive times. The session will help faculty think through approaches to incorporating discussion of theelection, as well as strategies for responding in the moment when these issues arise.

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Location: Linder 102
2 to 3 p.m.

This session will provide an overview of artificial intelligence (AI) work at Ƶ. Presenters will introduce recent advancements in AI and discuss AI’s implications for higher education. The results of the second-year AI readiness survey will be shared. The roadmap for AI, the resources available across campus, and pilot AI programs available for use in teaching and daily work will be introduced. Participants will have time to discuss AI perceptions in small groups and will be invited to share their suggestions about how best to prepare the Ƶ community as we adjust to generative AI in education.

Wednesday, August 21

Campus Safety Discussions
Location: KOBC 101
1:30 to 3 p.m.

New to Planning Week this year will be a discussion on campus safety, open to Ƶ faculty and staff.

Ƶ’s Imagining the Digital Future Center: How it can work with you and for you
Location: Sankey 308
2 to 3 p.m.

The Imagining the Digital Future Center is still new on campus and this session will explain its mission to do research and publish findings that are meant to be distributed widely and have notable public impact. The center hopes to work with faculty to create and publish research and have significant student involvement in the research process. Center Director Lee Rainie will use this session to solicit ideas about how the center can integrate well into campus activities.

Loy Farm Open House
Location: 2635 W. Front Street Burlington, N.C. 27215
4 to 5:30 p.m.

Come explore the new EcoVIllage Living Learning Center, a new residential neighborhood that combines sustainable architecture with small house living. The first phase of this neighborhood consists of six houses that provide unique sustainable design solutions for the twelve students that will be living in this neighborhood during the 2024-25 academic year.

Thursday, August 22


College Coffee – Employee Resource Groups
Location: Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Koury Athletic Center concourse)
10:15 to 10:45 a.m.

Learn about the various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) on campus with the academic year’s first College Coffee, a weekly tradition at Ƶ. College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m.

Two Ƶ students at College Coffee
College Coffee on Phi Beta Kappa commons, August 22, 2023, the first day of classes for Fall 2023.

ERGs at College Coffee include:

  • Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
  • Amazing Admins
  • API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
  • Black
  • Cultivating Emerging Professionals
  • Employees with Children
  • Global Connections
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • Jewish
  • LGBTQIA
  • Remote Employees (meeting virtually @ 8:30 a.m. PST / 11:30 a.m.EST)
  • Supervisors of Student Employees
  • Sustainability
  • Thrive after 55
  • Veterans

Friday, August 23

Move-In Day

Students officially return to campus on Friday, August 23. More information about Move-In Day and New Student Orientation can be found here.

Saturday, August 24

New Student Convocation on the campus of Ƶ, August 19, 2023.

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

New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2028 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out this . The survey will close on August 16.

More Information

Name Tags

As the university starts a new academic year with some new faces, wearing name tags is important and encouraged.

Name tags fornew employees (hired since June 1) will be delivered to each office by Aug. 14. Please pick yours up from your department assistant. Employees who are unable to get to their offices prior to planning week may stop by the name tag table on Monday, Aug. 19, at the reception beginning at 8:15 a.m. in Alumni Gym. After Monday, the assistant in an employee’s area can help with name tags.

Current employees should wear the name tag they were most recently issued.

University Directory Photographs

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 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,

  • Tuesday, Aug. 20: 2 to 4 p.m.
  • Thursday, Aug. 22: 10 a.m. to noon

Once your photo is in the directory, you may download a high-resolution version for your own professional use. To do so, visitwww.elon.edu/directories. Log in at the bottom left, and the editing page will open. Beneath your photo, click the download link to download a high-resolution copy of your portrait to your computer.

Trainings for Active Violence

The Ƶ Campus Safety and Police Department is offering ongoing training to our campus community on Strategies for Active Violence Situations.

Officers of the department are trained to the model of Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE). The CRASE course is designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend strategy and was developed by ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) in 2004. The course provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. Although Ƶ’s officers train to this strategy, they also take the training one step further to teach concepts about prevention within our campus community.

Upon request, an officer will visit your specific office/location to perform an assessment and take photos of your workspace. Information and photos gathered from that assessment are then built into the presentation, so the training is personal and specific to your area.

To request an assessment and training, please reach out to Community Policing Sergeant Joel Thomas at 336-278-5555 orjthomas39@elon.edu.

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Faculty, staff look ahead to new academic year with Planning Week /u/news/2023/08/10/faculty-staff-look-ahead-to-new-academic-year-with-planning-week-starting-aug-14/ Thu, 10 Aug 2023 14:56:49 +0000 /u/news/?p=956408 Planning Week begins Monday, Aug. 14, as Ƶ prepares to welcome more than 6,300 undergraduate students to campus.

Ƶ faculty and staff will start the week by gathering in Alumni Gym on Monday morning for a reception for new faculty and staff, a presentation to honor this year’s Ƶ Medallion recipients, and then an announcement of new professorship selections and then an opening address by President Connie Ledoux Book.

Other events throughout the week include a session on the Boldly Ƶ strategic plan, open houses and tours of locations on campus, meetings of each school at the university, and various faculty and staff receptions. The full list of events and programs can be found on the Planning Week webpage.

Planning Week Highlights

Opening Day

On Monday, Aug. 14, we willofficially kick off the2023-2024 academic year.Events of Planning Week will begin in Ƶ’s Alumni Gymnasium.

We will gather Mondaymorning for a community-widereception at 8:15 a.m.in the concourse of the Koury Athletic Center. This is a great opportunity to greet friends and colleagues, meet new members of our community and congratulate the most recentƵ Medallion, Distinguished University Professorship, Trustee Chair for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and Senior and Emerging Professorship recipients.

Immediately following the reception,presentations to the honorees will take place at 9 a.m., followed by the president’s Opening Address. Be on the lookout for communication from President Book with moreinformationaboutthis exciting ceremony. In addition tothe full schedule available online here, the following new events and updates will also be made during this year’s Planning Week:

  • Strategic Plan Sessions: Meaningful Relationships and Mentoring Beyond the First Year – Community-wide event; Boldly Ƶ
  • Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education (3 sessions offered throughout the week) – Community-wide event; Boldly Ƶ
  • Center for Writing Excellence: Strategies for Designing AI-enhanced Writing Assignments
  • Charting the Course: Navigating the Faculty Handbook and Embracing Shared Governance
  • Data Nexus: Launching the QEP
  • Introduction to Seeking External Grants that Support Ƶ’s Mission
  • Regional Learning Centers information session

University Directory photographs

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 the 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, .

  • Tuesday, Aug. 15: 2 p.m. — 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 16: 10 a.m. — noon

Once your photo is in the directory, you may download a high-resolution version for your own professional use. To do so, visit . Log in at the bottom left, and the editing page will open. Beneath your photo, click the download link to download a high-resolution copy of your portrait to your computer.

Calendar Events

Detailed instructions on how to use the Events Calendar and add events directly to your personal calendar can be found on the Planning Week website by clicking “Schedule” on the navigation bar on the left or the featured link icon near the top of the front page.

The events listed on the Planning Week webpage are managed through 25Live, Ƶ’s event management system managed by the Office of Event and Space Management. 25Live provides the means to add calendar events for a variety of email clients and services. Whether you use a Windows or Mac computer, or use Outlook, Outlook Web Access, or Apple Mail & Calendar to manage your email and individual calendar, we recommend using the Microsoft Office Outlook Calendar option. Instructions for this method are provided below.

School supplies

Ƶ will once again participate in collecting school and personal hygiene supplies for K-12 Alamance County students in need. Please support the education of young people in our county. This effort, which will continue through Aug. 21, is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Name tags

Name tags for new employees only hired since June 1will be delivered to each office by Aug. 11. Please pick yours up from your department assistant. If you are unable to get to your office prior to planning week, you may stop by the name tag table on Monday morning, Aug. 14, at the reception beginning at 8:15 a.m. in Schar Center. After Monday, please see the assistant in your area to get your name tag.

College Coffee

Ƶ’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with this year’s first College Coffee.Come (re)learn about the ERG’s 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-10:20 a.m.

The following Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) will be available to engage with faculty and staff members at this event

  • Amazing Admins
  • Advocates for Diversity and Accessibility
  • API (Asian and Pacific Islander)
  • Black
  • Caregivers
  • Cultivating Emerging Professionals
  • Divorce
  • Employees with Children
  • Global Connections
  • Hispanic/Latinx
  • LGBTQIA
  • Mindfulness
  • Remote
  • Supervisors of Student Employees
  • Sustainability
  • Thrive After 55
  • Women’s Forum at Ƶ

New Student Convocation

New Student Convocation will beUnder the Oaks onSaturday, Aug 19, at 9 a.m.Rain location will be Schar Center. All faculty and staff of Ƶ are welcome to volunteer during the ceremony. Staff teaching Ƶ 1010 courses may wish to serve at the ceremony prior to advising sessions.

The New Student Convocation marks the official opening of the academic year and welcomes the Class of 2027 and transfer students. Volunteers are needed to greet guests, assist with seating, and answer general questions. You can sign up to volunteer by filling out . The survey will close on Aug 11.

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What’s to come during Planning Week for the 2022-23 academic year /u/news/2022/08/10/whats-to-come-during-planning-week-for-the-2022-23-academic-year/ Wed, 10 Aug 2022 13:30:04 +0000 /u/news/?p=920830 Planning Week is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 15, as Ƶ prepares to welcome more than 6,000 undergraduate students to campus. Ƶ faculty and staff will start the week by gathering in Schar Center on Monday morning for a reception for new faculty and staff, a presentation to honor this year’s Ƶ Medallion recipients, and then an announcement of new professorship selections and then an opening address by President Connie Ledoux Book.

Other events throughout the week include a session on the Boldly Ƶ strategic plan, open houses and tours of locations on campus, meetings of each school at the university, and various faculty and staff receptions. The full list of events and programs can be found on the Planning Week website.

Planning Week highlights

Opening Day

Monday, Aug. 15, will officially kick off the 2022-23 academic year. Opening Day events begin with a reception to meet new faculty and staff and congratulate the Ƶ Medallion recipients in the atrium on the concourse level of Schar Center at 8:15 a.m. The presentation of Ƶ Medallions and named professorships will be from 9 to 9:45 a.m. President Connie Ledoux Book will give the Opening Address directly following the medallion and professorships presentation. The campus community is then invited to gather for a lunch in locations around campus.

A detailed list of events from Monday, Aug. 15 to Monday, Aug. 22 can be found on the 2022 Planning Week website.

University Directory Photographs

For a new or replacement university directory photograph, University Communications takes directory portraits of faculty and staff in open sessions each month. No appointment is necessary. Just drop in during a session listed below that suits you. They are indoors and unmasked, so you must be fully vaccinated. The portraits are taken from the chest up on a gray backdrop in a photo studio.

The studio is located in the south end of Alumni Gym. Those who arrive for portrait sessions should enter through the East Haggard Avenue entrance to Alumni Gym and the studio is to the left.

  • Tuesday, Aug. 16 – 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Aug. 17 – 10 a.m. to noon

Calendar Events

Detailed instructions on how to use the Events Calendar and add events directly to your personal calendar can be found on the Planning Week website by clicking “Schedule” on the navigation bar on the left or the featured link icon near the top of the front page. Once familiar with the feature, you can go directly to all of the events by clicking on the 25Live Calendar Events tab and select multiple events at one time.

School supplies

Ƶ will once again participate in collecting school and personal hygiene supplies for K-12 Alamance County students experience homelessness. Please support the education of young people in our county. This effort, which will continue through Aug. 22, is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. More information about drop-off procedures is available here.

Name Tags

Name tags for new employees hired since June 1 will be delivered to each office by Aug. 12. New employees should pick up name tags from their department assistant. If you are unable to get to your office prior to Planning Week, you may stop by the name tag table at the Opening Day reception on Monday morning to get one. After Monday’s reception, please see the assistant in your area to get your name tag.

College Coffee

On Thursday, Aug. 18, from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m., Ƶ’s weekly tradition of community gathering begins with the first College Coffee of the academic year. College Coffee continues throughout the year on Tuesday mornings from 9:40 to 10:20 a.m.

Representatives from the Office of Leadership and Professional Development as well as each of the following Employee Resource Groups will be available to engage with faculty and staff members at this event. Employee Resource Groups include:

  • Advocates for the Differently-abled
  • Amazing Admins
  • Black Employee Resource Group
  • Caregivers
  • Cultivating Emerging Professionals
  • Employees with Children
  • Latinx/Hispanic
  • LGBTQIA
  • Mindfulness
  • Retirement Planning
  • Sustainability
  • Supervisors of Student Employees
  • Women’s Forum at Ƶ

New Student Convocation

New Student Convocation will be Under the Oaks on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 8:45 a.m. In the case of rain, the event will be held in Schar Center.

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Faculty and staff look ahead to new academic year with Planning Week, Aug. 16-19 /u/news/2021/08/10/faculty-and-staff-look-forward-to-another-academic-year-with-planning-week-events/ Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:02:34 +0000 /u/news/?p=875999 Faculty and staff will embark on their journey with Ƶ as the 2021-22 academic year begins as Planning Week commencing on Monday, Aug. 16 with a campus-wide reception.

Planning Week

The reception will begin at 9:15 a.m. in the atrium on the concourse level of Schar Center, inside the main entrance. Following the reception, an announcement to congratulate the university’s most recent professorship recipients will begin at 10 a.m. and will be wrapped up by the opening address from President Connie Ledoux Book starting at 10:45 a.m.

All other events which will be held during the week, from Monday, Aug. 16 to Monday, Aug. 23, will be listed on the 2021 Planning Week site. The detailed schedule will list all events which require RSVPs, provide a directory of academic administration, deans, chairs, committee chairs, directors and fellows.

New hires

The site includes lists of faculty and staff hired since June 1, 2021 and other important dates occurring throughout the fall 2021 semester will be included on the 2021 Planning Week site. For those getting familiar with Ƶ, there is an overview of academic administrators, deans, department chairs, committee chairs, directors, and fellows, including a printable PDF.

For those hired after June 1, name tags will be delivered to each office by Friday, Aug. 13 and can be picked up from each office’s respective department assistant. If any new faculty or staff member is unable to get to their office before planning week, they may stop by the name tag table at the reception Monday morning to get their name tag.

University Directory Photographs

Need a new or replacement University Directory photograph? Click herefor information regarding portrait sessions that willbegin in September. University Communications is located in the Truitt Building on South campus, at the corner of South Antioch and East Trollinger avenues. No appointment is necessary for the scheduled portrait sessions.

*Please note: The photo studio is indoors, and you will be unmasked during the photo session. Therefore, in accordance with Ƶ policy, you must be fully vaccinated at that time if you want to participate.

Calendar events

Events during the week can be added to staff member’s direct calendars through 25Live, Ƶ’s event management system managed by the Office of Event and Space Management. All events can be viewed by clicking on the 25Live Calendar Events tab and multiple events can be selected at one time, if preferred.

School Supplies

The university will also begin participation in collecting school and personal hygiene items supplies for K-12 Alamance County students experiencing homelessness. This collection is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association and the Office of the Dean of Students and will continue until Aug. 23.

More information regarding drop-off procedures will be emailed to faculty and staff.

Healthy Ƶ COVID-19 testing

During Planning Week, scheduled COVID-19 testing opportunities will be provided for unvaccinated staff and faculty. It is required that all unvaccinated faculty and staff be tested no later than Thursday, Aug. 19 to fulfill the August monthly testing requirement.

Planning Week Testing Schedule (Aug. 16-19)

  • Located in Oaks Neighborhood,McCoy Commons 207. Unvaccinated faculty and staff must testno later than Thursday, Aug. 19.
    • Monday, Aug. 16: 1 – 4 p.m
    • Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 17-19: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 4 p.m.

Fall Testing Schedule(Beginning Aug. 23)

Located in Oaks Neighborhood,McCoy Commons 207;unvaccinated students, faculty and staffmust choose a regular appointment time for the semester. Students must sign up the week of Aug. 23; faculty and staff must begin testing the week of August 16.

  • Mondays: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Tuesdays: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays : 1 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 9 a.m. – noon and 1 – 3:30 p.m.
  • Fridays: 9 a.m. – noon

More information can be found regarding testing on the Healthy Ƶ website.

Kognito At-Risk Program

Counseling Services will also begin offering campus-wide mental health online training through the “Kognito At-Risk” program which can be accessed by visiting the and logging in with an Ƶ username and password. The At-Risk for Faculty & Staff training will help people learn to notice signs of distress, develop and use techniques to discuss concerns and refer students to appropriate resources, if necessary.

College Coffee

Ƶ’s weekly tradition, College Coffee, will resume on Aug. 19 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for a special New Student Orientation College Coffee, and will continue throughout the year on Tuesday mornings on Phi Beta Kappa Plaza (weather permitting) from 9:40 until 10:20 a.m.

New Student Convocation

The New Student Convocation will be Under the Oaks on Saturday, Aug. 21 at 9 a.m. In the case of rain, the convocation will be held in the Schar Center.

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Seeking school supplies: Annual faculty, staff drive for Alamance students now underway /u/news/2020/08/11/seeking-school-supplies-annual-faculty-staff-drive-for-alamance-students-underway/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 14:46:16 +0000 /u/news/?p=817882 Ƶ will again sponsor its annual schoolsuppliesdrive. For the past 9 years, the Ƶ faculty and staff have donated thousands of neededschoolsupply items to children of Alamance County.

This initiative began in 2011 when James Black, a 2009 alumnus serving in the armed forces in Afghanistan,helped young children gain access to basic educational materials. As supplies were collected during that initial drive, the university community also recognized the part it could play to help to alleviate the need in Alamance County, with that originaldrivebenefitted both students abroad and here at home.

Once again, the university is asking the faculty and staff community to come together to donate neededsuppliesfor students in the Alamance BurlingtonSchoolSystem (ABSS).

The need in Alamance County is profound. At the end of the 2019-20schoolyear, nearly 60 percent of the students in the county’s 36schools met the eligibility requirements for free and reduced meals and in 11 schools, 100 percent of students receive free or reduced-price lunches. The ABSS Student Support Services team identified more than 600 students in 2019-20 for McKinney-Vento services for students considered as lacking a permanent nighttime residence and experiencing homelessness. The needs will increase given the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although “back to school” will look a little different this year, the university is issuing a special request to its faculty and staff to donatenew backpacks, book bags,schoolsuppliesand personal care items. Partners at ABSS have also indicated that these students need personal hygienesuppliesas well, and those items have also been included on the neededsupplieslist. Everyone is invited to participate in thisdriveto help make a difference in the life of achild in Alamance County.

You may participate in several ways:

  • Purchase and drop off school supplies on campus in one of our many drop-off locations (Aug. 11 through noon on Aug. 18)
  • Purchase school supplies on-line and have them shipped to the Office of the Dean Of Students, 2045 Campus Box, 100 Campus Drive, Ƶ NC 27244 (they must be delivered by August 22)
  • Participate in the Alamance Chamber of Commerce’s Classroom Collection Campaign by making a cash donation at

The school supplies drive traditionally “kicks off” during the opening reception and President’s Address. Since this event will be held virtually on Wednesday, Aug. 12, supplies will be collected at campus drop off locations only for this year. Collection boxes will also be placed at several locations around campus untilnoonon Aug. 18. The number of drop off locations has been expanded for your convenience. After Aug. 18, members of the Student Government Association will sort and pack the supplies.

LawSchoolfaculty and staff members who wish to participate may drop off items in the Student Services Suite and we will pick up onAugust 18.

While allschoolsuppliesare welcomed and appreciated, the following have been identified by the ABSS staff as most critical need:

  • Book Bags (best if can span ages and levels)
  • 3-Ring Binders (1.5 in., 2 in., 2.5 in, and 3 in.)
  • Notebook Paper (wide-ruled and college-ruled)
  • Composition Notebook
  • Pocket Folders (with prongs or without)
  • Colored pencils
  • Crayons
  • Washable markers
  • Flashdrives (4 gb +)

Personal hygiene items needed:

  • shampoo
  • toothbrush
  • toothpaste
  • combs
  • brushes
  • body wash
  • deodorant
  • feminine hygiene products
  • hand sanitizer
  • gas cards
  • food cards
  • Ziploc bags
  • tissues

Drop off box locations:

  • Janice Ratliff Building
  • Moseley Campus Center Information Desk
  • Koury Center Concourse (near Young Commons entrance)
  • Koury Field House (Athletics) – at reception desk
  • Ellington Center (Faculty/Staff Health and Wellness)
  • The Francis Center Main Lobby
  • Alamance Rotunda (near room 109)
  • Lindner Hall (Outside Deans Suite, Room 104)
  • Campus Shop ( Ƶ Town Center)
  • Campus Safety and Police (Oaks)
  • Koury Business Center Lobby
  • LawSchoolDeans Suite (Room 110-D)
  • Powell Building (at Front Entrance)
  • Belk Library- Front Entrance
  • Technology ServicesBuilding –
  • Snow Family Grand Atrium (Schoolof Communications)
  • Business Services Building (Front Entrance)
  • Physical Plant Building- Front Office
  • Mooney Building- student lounge area

A special thanks to Tammy Hill, administrative assistant to the Office of the Dean of Students for her continued work and support of this initiative, and to Brian Dudiak in Ƶ Athletics and our SGA student leaders for assisting us with on-campus logistics. Thanks also goes to CC Cowan and the Moving and Set-up Crew for transporting thesuppliesto ABSS during a very busy time.

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