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• Strategic multifaith engagement shapes the 黑料不打烊 campus experience
• 黑料不打烊 students and faculty extend multifaith engagement to the community

One of the central goals of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan is to 鈥渟upport opportunities for multifaith learning and engagement for all members of the 黑料不打烊 academic community,鈥� including through academic opportunities. While many students at 黑料不打烊 may take a single course during their time at 黑料不打烊 that focuses on the study of religion or spirituality, a select group of students specializes in academic multifaith learning: religious studies majors.

Last month, 11 students graduated from 黑料不打烊 with degrees in religious studies, the largest number of Religious Studies majors graduating in a single year since 2012.

鈥淭he number of majors in our department has grown substantially over the last several years,鈥� said Geoffrey Claussen, professor of religious studies and chair of the Department of Religious Studies. 鈥淪tudents seldom come to 黑料不打烊 planning to major in religious studies, but students often take courses during their first year that whet their appetite for further learning. They are able to recognize how the critical study of religion helps them to understand the world, and they appreciate the mentorship and community that our department offers.鈥�

Religion is anything

The course that hooked Tracey McCarty 鈥�26 on religious studies was 鈥淩eligion and American Popular Culture,鈥� taught by Andrew Monteith, and explores how religion can be found in many unexpected places in popular culture and imagined in radically different ways.

“I was taught a very specific concept: religion is anything,鈥� McCarty said. 鈥淭his was a game-changer for me. To understand religion not as a cohesive and strict definition, but as this conceptual ball that can be shaped in any way. Seeing religion as not an institution, but as a thing that a single person can define for themselves, was beautiful.鈥�

One of the goals of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan is to develop courses that 鈥渟upport student learning about diverse religious, spiritual, and secular traditions and identities.鈥� In the Religious Studies department, these include 鈥渢raditions鈥� courses that explore how sets of traditions often viewed as static religions are characterized by significant diversity and can be depicted in very different ways.

Tess Trayner 鈥�26 explored the diversity of Buddhisms in 鈥淏uddhist Traditions,鈥� taught by Pamela Winfield.

鈥淲e traced Buddhism from its founding more than 2,000 years ago through its development across Asia and into the West, and Dr. Winfield refused to let us treat any of it as exotic or static,鈥� Trayner said. 鈥淭he unit on Orientalism and Buddhism in America helped me better understand the decontextualizing nature of mindfulness apps, yoga studios, and how to approach the version of Buddhism most familiar to American audiences. Learning to see Engaged Buddhism as both an authentic tradition and a phenomenon shaped by Western projection gave me tools I now reach for constantly 鈥� tools for noticing whose version of a tradition gets centered, and why.鈥�

Another Traditions course, 鈥淛ewish Traditions,鈥� taught by Claussen, featured opportunities to role-play debates about how Jewish tradition should be understood. In this class, Trayner had the opportunity to step into the shoes of thinkers with whom they sympathized and others whose views they found reprehensible.

鈥淚 discovered that wrestling with viewpoints I disagree with sharpens both my disagreement and my empathy,” Trayner said. “It is one thing to read a Jewish thinker. It is another to inhabit them long enough to understand how their historical moment shaped what they could imagine.鈥�

Multifaith at home and abroad

黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan also commits the university to developing 鈥減athways for experiential and engaged multifaith learning,鈥� including through study abroad courses that 鈥渟upport engagement with global religious communities.鈥�

Trayner had a significant learning experience taking 鈥淚ndia鈥檚 Identities,鈥� a course taught in South India by Amy Allocco and Brian Pennington. The course 鈥渄econstructed what I thought I knew about Hinduism, and rebuilt it with a critical emphasis on vernacular practice and the lived religion of regular, everyday people. As such, the class refused the traditional classroom format. Instead, Dr. Allocco’s deep roots of connection in Chennai meant we sat in living rooms with the most incredible people.鈥�

Students have also been equipped by their Religious Studies coursework to engage with communities closer to home. Alyssa Carney 鈥�26, for example, volunteered at the Burlington Masjid, teaching English to newcomers. Experiences of working with displaced people led her to propose a new unit for her 鈥淓ngaging Islam鈥� course, taught by Ariela Marcus-Sells.

What makes this course unique is its 鈥榖uild your own path鈥� structure, which allows students to shape the direction of their learning based on their interests and experiences, Carney said.

鈥淔or me, it created an opportunity to connect my volunteer work with my academic inquiry. As I was working closely with migrant communities, I became particularly interested in the topic of displacement within Islam. This led me to propose a unit based on a textbook chapter, 鈥楻efugee Horizons,鈥� which focuses on the experiences of Muslims in Myanmar, particularly the Rohingya,” Carney said “Through this unit, I explored how the Rohingya negotiate their Islamic identity in the face of systemic violence and ethnic cleansing, deepening both my academic understanding and my connection to the people I work with at the masjid.鈥�

Advancing Equity

The Multifaith Strategic Plan also directs 黑料不打烊 to 鈥渆xplore new modes for student learning about religion and race, especially in connection with the Advancing Equity requirement.鈥� The Religious Studies Department offers multiple courses each semester that meet that requirement.

This spring, Trayner took an Advancing Equity course titled 鈥淩eligion, Race and Resistance,鈥� taught by Sheila Otieno. Through courses such as this, Trayner said, 鈥渢he department has prepared me to take real questions into the world. Dr. Otieno’s course gave me a framework for connecting religious and racial construction to the systems that shape American life, and how I can become a more intentional and thoughtful participant in America鈥檚 futurity.鈥�

McCarty shares that their understanding of race and religion were shaped by studying Judith Weisenfeld鈥檚 “Black Religion in the Madhouse: Race and Psychiatry in Slavery’s Wake” in the religious studies senior聽seminar, taught by Marcus-Sells, exploring 鈥渉ow racism in America not only shaped psychiatry but also how Black religion is viewed. This perspective of religion as a political force in the world made me more knowledgeable about how the current society we鈥檙e in was created.鈥�

McCarty found that the department provided an inclusive space for exploring interesting and challenging questions.

鈥淭he department has always been welcoming to anyone who has joined,” McCarty said. “I鈥檝e been able to form great connections with those in the department, and they鈥檝e been incredibly open to accepting diverse worldviews.鈥�

Carney connected her experience as a religious studies major with the larger institutional objectives found in the Multifaith Strategic Plan.

鈥淭he Religious Studies Department at 黑料不打烊 actively advances the goals of the multifaith strategic plan. It does so not through a single initiative, but through an ecosystem of mentorship, community engagement, creative coursework and genuine care,” said Carney.

Trayner emphasized the importance of Religious Studies in the current political climate.

鈥淭hanks to this department, I’ll leave 黑料不打烊 with a degree in religious studies and a much harder-won inheritance: the habit of holding complexity, the conviction that ordinary people are experts on their own lives, and the trust that careful, plural study of religion is exactly the kind of preparation this fractured moment is asking of us,” said Trayner.

This story is the fourth and final in a series of stories focusing on 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Multifaith Strategic Plan.

This year鈥檚 students will spend the summer interning in fields ranging from media production to public policy, environmental research, business innovation and community development. At the heart of this experience is the opportunity to聽gain real-world experience while exploring the cultural and professional landscapes of their host cities, while earning academic credit through coursework.

Charlotte:聽Exploring sports, marketing, business and beyond聽

As students arrived in the South End of Charlotte, they were welcomed by Director of 黑料不打烊 Charlotte Karen Neff and Program Assistant Emma Hash. This summer marks an especially exciting chapter for the Queen City site, as it hosts Study USA students while also launching the inaugural Summer Business Institute聽(SBI).

The new 10鈥憌eek聽SBI聽offers 黑料不打烊 students the opportunity to earn a Business Administration minor in a single summer through an immersive blend of coursework, professional development, and experiential learning.

Study USA students will pair their internships with a dynamic geography course taught by Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies聽Ryan Kirk.聽Through fieldwork and urban exploration, students will examine Charlotte鈥檚 growth, infrastructure, and identity,聽gaining a deeper understanding of how the city became the economic and cultural hub it is today.

SBI聽students聽will balance four business courses with聽job鈥憇hadowing聽experiences designed to connect classroom learning with real-world聽applications.聽Together, all students across both programs will take part in excursions that highlight Charlotte鈥檚 innovation, history and community.

Move鈥慽n聽day set the tone for an engaging summer ahead, featuring a welcome mixer hosted by Foster Flats, orientation sessions, a聽city鈥憌ide聽scavenger hunt, and a hands-on cooking class that brought聽students聽together.

Los Angeles: Launching creative careers in the entertainment capital

Arriving in the heart of the entertainment industry, students were warmly welcomed by Director of 黑料不打烊 Los Angeles聽Brad Lemack as they settled into their housing聽just聽minutes from major studios and production hubs.

Students聽spend the summer interning with film production companies, talent agencies, digital media firms 补苍诲听theatre companies. Alongside their internships,聽students take a Core Capstone course taught by聽Cinema and Television Arts聽Professor聽Doug Kass,聽examining how visionaries and innovators have transformed Los Angeles, and how the cycle of invention and reinvention continues to shape the city鈥檚 commerce, creativity and cultural diversity.

Move聽in聽buzzed聽with excitement as students met their roommates, explored their neighborhood, and prepared for their first week of classes and internship onboarding.聽The following day included an orientation session at The Preserve, where students will have class each week, followed by an afternoon exploring The Getty, the Grove and L.A.鈥檚 Farmers Market.

New York City: Immersed in media, business and cultural innovation聽

Political Science and Public Policy聽Professor Safia聽Swimelar聽and Program Assistant Hailey Duartes welcomed聽the students聽to Williamsburg, a student-friendly neighborhood in the heart of Brooklyn.

Students聽will intern across sectors,聽including journalism,聽public relations, marketing,聽media production and more.聽The聽Core Capstone聽course, taught by Professor Swimelar,聽complements these experiences. In聽the聽course description,聽Swimelar聽notes, 鈥渢o call New York City a microcosm of the global community is not exaggeration鈥� This course uses New York City as a microcosm to model and understand the diversity and complexity of global humanity.鈥澛燬tudents聽will explore the diversity of values that New Yorkers hold and examine important social, political, and religious issues at play throughout the city.

Students spent their first day navigating their new neighborhood, settling into their apartments, 补苍诲听exploring the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Washington, D.C.: Engaging with policy, advocacy and public service聽

Students聽were welcomed聽into the nation鈥檚 capital聽by Professor Joel Shelton,聽Program Assistant聽Abby Wright, and Ashley Pinney, Director of National Campus.聽Students聽will spend the summer聽living in the heart of聽NoMa聽补苍诲听interning with congressional offices, federal agencies,聽law firms, advocacy groups, 补苍诲听more.

The聽coursework, the inaugural Capital Connections: Power, People and Place in Washington, D.C. spearheaded by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science聽and public policy, 鈥渆xplores 鈥榯he聽District鈥� as a place where politics and policy meet culture,聽economy聽and community.鈥澛燭hrough engaging walking tours, museum visits, and cultural experiences, students will gain a firsthand look at the decision-making processes that shape the intersection of power, culture, economy, and identity in the nation鈥檚 capital.

Move-in聽included聽orientation sessions,聽community building activities,聽and preparation for the聽fast-paced聽professional environments聽they鈥檒l聽soon enter.

“What鈥檚 something neat that happened to you today?鈥� asked Lauren Feeley G鈥�26. She was reflecting on a common conversation starter she had with fellow colleagues participating in the London Experience for 黑料不打烊 employees during the 2026 Winter Term. 鈥淎nd how much did we get rained on?!鈥�

Feeley is a program assistant for student involvement and one of 22 participants in the most recent London Experience, a weeklong visit to England from Jan. 10-17, designed to give 黑料不打烊 employees who have limited international travel experience an opportunity for global engagement. Feeley said that the dreary January weather in London did not detract from a remarkable city with colleagues she now calls friends.

鈥淭his kind of experience shines a real big spotlight for every single person on the importance of being connected to other people on campus,鈥� said Senior Vice President for Advancement and External Affairs Jim Piatt, who facilitated the program for 2026.

He added that the London Experience is a distinctive feature to working at 黑料不打烊 鈥� an opportunity to support students as global citizens by offering employees a similar experience.

Jackie Allred 鈥�94 serves as an administrative assistant for student life and was among those who traveled to London in January.

鈥淔rom sun up to sun down, we never stopped,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f there was something we could be doing, we were doing it.鈥�

Allred said she felt like she shared these experiences with good friends rather than colleagues, a connection reflected in moments like sitting in the choir loft during mass at St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral with a small group from 黑料不打烊.

Allred and Feeley both shared the importance of 鈥渉aving friendly faces to names鈥� across campus and the ability to pick up the phone when their work aligns. They also both have a deepened appreciation for students when they have international experiences 鈥� from the enrichment of global and cultural engagement to things like jet lag and fatigue from a long trip in a different time zone.

鈥淭he experience has broadened and strengthened my networks here at 黑料不打烊,鈥� added Allred.

The group saw much of London and also ventured out to Cambridge. Employees saw staples like the Tower of London, the London Bridge, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben. They were given access to the war room made famous by Winston Churchill, visited the Hampton Court Palace and participated in guided tours across the city.

Dexter Chambers, a floor tech for the university, said he wouldn鈥檛 have had the same experience in London if he had traveled there on his own.

鈥淭he guide, the itinerary, everything was impressive, and that was a joy,鈥� he said. Chambers made the most of the sites and foods that England offers and saw much of the city by foot with a small group of others, including one day that he estimates he ran four miles.

Chambers recalls calling his son and a number of his friends during his runs to share his excitement and disbelief of the places in London he was visiting. Now back at 黑料不打烊, he continues this excitement when he sees participants on campus, who, he says he loves to wave to and reminisce on the shared
experience.

Feeley is finishing her Master of Arts in Higher Education degree from 黑料不打烊 this spring and joined the London Experience, in part, to satisfy her international study away experience.

鈥淏ecause such a large population of our students here at 黑料不打烊 have some sort of study away experience, it鈥檚 really meaningful for me to have my own,鈥� she said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� places such an emphasis on students being global citizens that it鈥檚 important that faculty and staff model that as well.鈥�

Jenny Gonzalez, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 assistant director of interior design, said the program underscores 黑料不打烊鈥檚 commitment to global education for the entire campus community, not only for students. 鈥淥ne of the best parts is getting to know people from across campus and build connections,鈥� Gonzalez said.

The application for the 2027 experience will open soon and be advertised through email. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e considering applying for this experience, do not hesitate, just apply and be open to the experience,鈥� Allred said. 鈥淒o everything you possibly can during the experience.鈥�

The program is offered to 黑料不打烊 employees for a fee of $350, which includes passport, airfare, lodging, certain ground transportation, admission to various attractions and occasional group meals. Previous participants have generally incurred additional expenses for souvenirs, personal meals, and a tube pass as it suited them.

Sixty-eight percent of American adults say they are proud to be American, and 79% agree the United States plays a uniquely important role in world history. At the same time, 69% believe the signers of the Declaration of Independence would feel more disappointment than pride about modern American democracy.

The survey of 1,000 adults in the United States, conducted April 30-May 4, 2026, explores how Americans view the nation鈥檚 past, present and future as the country prepares to commemorate its semiquincentennial.

鈥淎s the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans have complex and diverse feelings about America 250,鈥� said Jason Husser, director of the 黑料不打烊 Poll and a professor of political science and public policy. 鈥淲e found several points of optimism among Americans, including pride in being American and belief that the United States has a uniquely important role to play in world history. At the same time, many Americans expressed significant concern about the health of American democracy today, and the country is split on its outlook over the next 50 years.鈥�

More than half of Americans (52%) say the United States is unsuccessfully living up to its founding ideals, while only 30% say the nation is successfully living up to them. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) rate the overall health of U.S. democracy as only 鈥渇air鈥� or 鈥減oor.鈥�

The survey also found widespread concern about political instability and civic division:

• 68% believe elected officials today are worse than leaders of the past
• 80% say they at least sometimes feel no political party or movement represents their views
• 70% say the country is more turbulent than average compared with other periods in U.S. history
• 64% say they have little or no confidence that U.S. political institutions will make mostly good decisions over the next 50 years
• 68% predict America will become more politically divided by 2076

Americans are also pessimistic about the country鈥檚 long-term future in several key areas. Majorities predict that by 2076 the nation will have less freedom, less economic equality, a lower standard of living, and more pollution. More Americans also believe technology will create more harm than benefit over the next 50 years.

Despite those concerns, the poll found Americans still hold strong connections to the nation鈥檚 democratic ideals and history.

When asked which event best represented American democracy at its highest ideals, respondents most frequently selected the Civil Rights Movement and World War II. Abraham Lincoln was named both the historical figure who best exemplified democratic ideals and the greatest president in U.S. history.

The survey also revealed broad bipartisan resonance for many historic presidential messages when respondents were not told who made the statements. More than three-quarters agreed with quotations from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, while large majorities also agreed with statements from John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Looking toward the nation鈥檚 semiquincentennial celebrations, Americans expressed greater interest in reflection than pageantry. Nearly seven in 10 (68%) said America250 should focus more on reflecting on U.S. history and values than simply celebrating national achievements, and 71% said smaller local events would feel more authentic than large national celebrations.

The survey found Americans entering the anniversary with mixed emotions. The most common feeling was pride, cited by 38%, followed by gratitude at 17%. But 21% said they have no strong feelings, 12% described themselves as conflicted, while others reported disappointment or frustration.

The margin of error for the 黑料不打烊 Poll survey is +/- 3.95%.

Poll Methodology

Access the poll topline and methodology at:聽www.elon.edu/elonpoll. The survey was developed by the 黑料不打烊 Poll and fielded by the international marketing and polling firm YouGov as an online, web-based survey, self-administered with online panels. Between April 30 and March 4, 2026, YouGov interviewed 1,077 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. These respondents were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset.

The matched cases were weighted to the sampling frame using propensity scores based on age, gender, race/ethnicity, years of education, and home ownership. The margin of error for this poll (adjusted for weights) is +/-3.95%.

About the 黑料不打烊 Poll

Established in 2000, the 黑料不打烊 Poll conducts national and North Carolina surveys on issues of importance to voters and residents. Information from these polls is shared with media, citizens and public officials to facilitate informed public policy making through the better understanding of citizens鈥� opinions and attitudes. The poll is fully funded by 黑料不打烊 and operates as the neutral, non-biased information resource.

The 黑料不打烊 Poll is a charter member of in 2014 to educate polling firms on ways to better share how they collect and interpret their information. The 黑料不打烊 Poll鈥檚 voluntary participation in this initiative signifies a willingness to clearly state in its reports how questions were asked, in what order, who funded the poll and then conducted it, and a definition of the population under study, among other details.

Performers can either do karaoke, sing an original song, or lip sync 鈥� the one stipulation is that it must be in a language other than English. This year, there were 14 performances with songs in 10 different languages:聽French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, and Old French/Latin.

Global Vision was inspired by the Euro Vision Song Contest, which has been hosted since 1956. However, the event at 黑料不打烊 is for languages across the globe, not only languages spoken in Europe.

黑料不打烊’s performers were rated in the categories singing, language skills, and performance by Sandy Marshall (Global Neighborhood), Bethanny Sudibyo (World Languages and Cultures), Trudy Arling (Polygot LLC RA), and Joel Thomas (Campus Safety and Police).

There were three prize baskets for the winners filled with international candies, snacks and drinks. In addition to the sweet treats, the first-place winners also went home with a trophy!

Congratulations to this year’s winners:

• 1st place – Vee Brown performed in Italian
• 2nd place – Emma Arruda performed in French
• 3rd place – Tamar Kalisher performed in French/Latin

黑料不打烊’s sixth Global Vision Song Contest is scheduled for Spring 2027.

“I always thought, ‘This is home,’ and right now I’m leaving, and think, ‘Am I leaving home?’ It’s the same feeling I had when I left home (Afghanistan) years ago,” said Tahiry, a computer science major and the first recipient of the Commitment to Democracy Scholarship, dedicated to refugee students.

Tahiry was one of about 20 graduating international students, along with their families, who planted their oak sapling in the international student tree grove on May 21, an 黑料不打烊 tradition now celebrating 10 years. When new students arrive at 黑料不打烊, they receive an acorn and, when they leave, they are gifted a sapling at Senior Baccalaureate. Because international students usually cannot take the sapling home, they have planted their trees in a grove by the Harden Clubhouse.

Denise Teeters, director of international student services, welcomed the students and reminded them of the symbolic nature of the sapling, representing their growth from a first-year student to a graduate.

“Over the last several years, you have grown academically and personally. You learned how to navigate differences, how to build friendships across cultures and languages, and how to speak with courage. Some of you didn’t speak much when you got here, and then, all of a sudden, you grew, you built that courage to speak and also embraced the 黑料不打烊 community,” said Teeters. “Through all this, you’ve seen how growth takes time, just like saplings take time to grow.”

Before students planted their saplings, President Connie Ledoux Book also noted how, just like an oak tree, 黑料不打烊 is also built on connection.

“It’s the root systems that are so critical,” Book said. “You have to have a grove. You need other oak trees for an oak tree to prosper. And that is true about the 黑料不打烊 network.”

黑料不打烊 has been repeatedly recognized for the number of its alumni who participate in the Fulbright Program as teachers, graduate students, and researchers and has been named a top-producer of Fulbright students in six separate years. Students and alumni interested in the Fulbright Program or other nationally competitive fellowships are invited to contact the National and International Fellowships Office. The deadline to notify the office of your intent to apply for Fulbright in this upcoming cycle is June 1, 2026. Rising seniors are required to work with the National and International Fellowships Office to apply for Fulbright, and alumni are highly encouraged to do so.

Those who received awards this year are:

Azul Bellot 鈥�26

Azul Bellot, a double major in psychology and sociolinguistics with a minor in TESOL, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. She is The 黑料不打烊 Commitment scholar in the Odyssey Program and a student scholar with The Center for Engaged Learning.

Bellot has been preparing for an experience like Fulbright long before she arrived at 黑料不打烊. Reflecting on her early years, she says, 鈥淕rowing up as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I was my family鈥檚 translator from a young age. I navigated formal systems, adult conversations, and bureaucratic spaces in both English and Spanish long before I had the language to describe what that experience was doing to me. It gave me a deep understanding of what it means for language to be a gateway, and what it costs when that gateway is closed.鈥�

These formative years laid the groundwork for her time at 黑料不打烊, where she developed her own independent sociolinguistics major, volunteered as an English tutor for children and adults, and conducted research on meaningful mentoring relationships. To Bellot, a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain is 鈥渢he most honest intersection of everything [she鈥檚] been working towards:聽language, identity, education, and community.鈥�

After Fulbright, Bellot plans to pursue more international fellowships before returning to academia to earn her PhD in Applied Linguistics. Her 黑料不打烊 mentors include Archie Crowley, assistant professor of English; Nina Namaste, professor of Spanish; and Sylvia Mu帽oz, assistant dean of students and director for the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education.

Anya Brati膰 鈥�26

Anya Brati膰, a double major in international & global Studies and public policy with a minor in public health, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Vietnam. She is an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow, a Periclean Scholar, and the Student Government Association Student Body President.

To Brati膰, Fulbright represents the intersection of her two greatest passions: global engagement and teaching. She found ways to blend these passions during her time at 黑料不打烊. As a Periclean Scholar, she had the opportunity to study abroad in India to understand what mutually beneficial relationships look like in practice, not just in theory. As a student consultant with the Center for Design Thinking, she developed a love for teaching and facilitation, specifically the challenge of guiding others through the structured process of finding meaningful solutions to 鈥渨icked鈥� problems. Serving as an English teaching assistant will allow her to refine her intercultural and teaching skills while strengthening diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam.

After Fulbright, Brati膰 is interested in pursuing a career in diplomacy or global social impact. 鈥淪imply put, I want to work at the intersection of people, policy and purpose,鈥� she says. Brati膰鈥檚 constellation of 黑料不打烊 mentors includes Amanda Tapler, associate teaching professor of public health studies; Safia Swimelar, professor of political science and public policy; Sean McMahon, professor of entrepreneurship; and Danielle Lake, director of design thinking and associate professor of human service studies.

Molly Moylan 鈥�26

Biochemistry major Molly Moylan has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain.

At 黑料不打烊, Moylan took every opportunity to foster and blend her passions for STEM research, teaching and service. As a researcher, Moylan worked with chemistry professor Dan Wright to study trace metals within medicinal herbs and spices. She refined her teaching skills by serving with America Reads, the Village Project, the CityGate Dream Center, and more. Most notably, Moylan found a way to combine her passions by co-founding Imagine Science, a program designed to address declining student engagement in science education by bringing hands-on experiments and activities to local after-school programs.

In Spain, Moylan will serve as an English Teaching Assistant in Galicia, a region that is especially interested in promoting students鈥� scientific thinking skills. This Fulbright year will serve as crucial preparation for Moylan as she applies to medical school. The language and cultural skills she will gain in Spain will allow her to better serve Spanish-speaking patients in the future.

Moylan鈥檚 most influential 黑料不打烊 mentor has been Assistant Professor of Chemistry Dan Wright. 鈥淒r. Dan Wright has been instrumental in my success at 黑料不打烊,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough his continued support, my confidence in both my personal and professional capacities has grown immensely, and I am extremely grateful to have had him as a mentor.鈥�

Madison Powers 鈥�25

Madison Powers, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in journalism and a minor in Spanish, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Spain. At 黑料不打烊, Powers was a communications fellow and a 2023 Pulitzer reporting fellow. Since graduating, she has served as an editorial intern at Garden & Gun Magazine in Charleston, South Carolina.

Powers has long had her sights set on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Spain. During her undergraduate years, she spent a semester in Sevilla and fostered her dual passions for cross-cultural exchange and global education. Eager to return, she applied for Fulbright in last year鈥檚 application cycle and was named a semifinalist. She remained so committed to the value of a Fulbright experience that she chose to reapply this year, and her hard work and persistence paid off.

Powers will serve as an English teaching assistant in Madrid. She is excited to live and work in a large, diverse city while improving her Spanish language skills and forming connections with her community. Serving in Madrid will also allow her to work closely with students on Global Classrooms/Model UN projects, which are important to the development of their critical thinking and cross-cultural skills.

This Fulbright year will serve as a bridge between Powers鈥� current and future journalistic work. Upon returning to the U.S, she plans to work as a journalist reporting on and working in Spanish-speaking communities. Her 黑料不打烊 mentors include Kelly Furnas, associate teaching professor of journalism; Jan Register, administrative assistant for the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life; and Pablo Celis-Castillo, associate professor of Spanish.

Aryanna Vindas 鈥�25

Aryanna Vindas, a graduate of the class of 2025, has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in South Korea. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography and a minor in Asian studies.

Serving as an English teaching assistant in South Korea is a natural extension of the work Vindas began at 黑料不打烊. She completed a two-year undergraduate research project about Korean Buddhist mindfulness, studied abroad for a semester in South Korea, and undertook a rigorous course of Korean language study. Simultaneously, she developed her teaching skills by serving as a volunteer English teacher, tutoring Spanish, and leading and assisting dance classes.

Because her grant does not begin until January 2027, Vindas has chosen to go above and beyond to prepare. She will spend this summer in South Korea completing intensive language study at Yonsei University in Seoul, which will help her integrate more successfully into her future host community and build more meaningful relationships with her students.

After Fulbright, Vindas plans to enroll in graduate school to continue the research on Buddhist mindfulness she began at 黑料不打烊. Vindas鈥� 黑料不打烊 mentors include Renay Aumiller, associate professor of dance; the 鈥渨onderful鈥� dance staff; and Pamela Winfield, professor of religious studies and associate director of international & global studies.

In addition to these students, one senior has been named an alternate. Alternates are still in the competition and have the chance to be promoted to finalists (recipients of the grant) up until the official start of the grant period. We will update this story as we continue to hear news of their progress.

Rebecca Lovasco 鈥�26

Rebecca Lovasco, a psychology major with minors in women鈥檚, gender, and sexuality studies and neuroscience, has been selected as an alternate for a Fulbright study/research grant in Taiwan to earn a master鈥檚 degree in Mind, Brain, and Consciousness at Taipei Medical University.

Lovasco is an 黑料不打烊 College Fellow who went on to win the Lumen Prize. Her research, which integrates cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, and philosophy of mind, explores how anxiety and depression affect reinforcement learning and conscious visual perception. Outside of her research, Lovasco is proud to have served as a law enforcement crisis counselor with the Campus Alamance program.

Lovasco鈥檚 黑料不打烊 mentors include Kristina Krasich, assistant professor of psychology; William Schreiber, associate professor of psychology; Kim Epting, professor of psychology; Alexa Darby, professor of psychology; and Jill McSweeney,聽assistant director of the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning聽and assistant professor of wellness.

In Alamance County, the class raised funds for the Al-Aqsa Clinic鈥檚 emergency fund, hosted by the Burlington Masjid. Throughout the semester, the scholars organized several restaurant profit-sharing events and other fundraising efforts, generating more than $1,000 in donations. These funds will help the clinic purchase food and personal care items for its Halal food pantry.

The scholars have also continued their partnership with Sarvodaya 鈥� Sri Lanka鈥檚 largest and oldest non-governmental organization 鈥� to promote sustainable and equitable development in rural communities. Working alongside Sarvodaya staff, the students are helping expand consumer markets for locally produced trade goods. Later this summer, a group of scholars will travel to Sri Lanka to continue this work in the country鈥檚 south and east, focusing on creating new market opportunities for producers in areas frequently visited by foreign tourists.

The Periclean Scholars Program is a three-year, cohort-based learning experience centered on building mutually beneficial partnerships both locally and globally. As the centerpiece of Project Pericles, the program is dedicated to advancing civic engagement and social responsibility across the university community while also fostering close, supportive relationships among cohort members and faculty mentors.

Undergraduate students may apply to the program during their first year at 黑料不打烊. Selected students complete a sequence of academic courses during their sophomore, junior, and senior years, totaling 18 semester hours. The experience culminates in the development of a social justice-focused partnership designed and implemented by the student cohort under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Past and current partnerships have included supporting equitable and sustainable community tourism initiatives in Sri Lanka, producing a documentary focused on lived experiences in Cuba, collaborating with leaders on the Pine Ridge Reservation to strengthen communication and advertising efforts, and partnering with a local organization in Ghana to promote youth leadership and development.

To learn more about the Al-Aqsa clinic and Sarvodaya, visit:聽 补苍诲听

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mathew Gendle, director of Project Pericles and professor of psychology,聽has been selected to serve as a co-director of the Community-Based Global Learning Collaborative, an international network of educational institutions and community organizations. The Collaborative advances best practices in community-based global learning and research for more just, inclusive, and sustainable communities.

In this work, Gendle will join The Collaborative鈥檚 three other co-directors: Sarah Stanlick, associate dean of the Global School and associate professor of integrative and global studies, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Sam Brandauer, associate provost and executive director of the Center for Global Study and Engagement, Dickinson College; and Carolina Bola帽os Palmieri, director of programs at Child Family Health International.

Community-based global learning is a term developed by academics and researchers who are also practitioners. It therefore is defined by a set of seven practical components: community-driven learning and/or service; development of cultural humility; global citizenship; continuous and diverse forms of critically reflective practice; ongoing attention to power, privilege, and positionality throughout programming and course work; deliberate and demonstrable learning; and safe, transparent, and well-managed programs.

Learn more about the work of The Collaborative:聽