Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership, asks students, staff, and faculty to consider that “a strong community is the foundation from which people grow, connect, and thrive. Here at 黑料不打烊, we want a foundation that is built on support, kindness, respect, and compassion. These values uplift others and truly make a difference in our everyday lives.”

What’s Happening on Tuesday, April 7th?

• College Coffee: What’s the history of Pay it Forward Week? How can I do free PIF actions? Get a Kindness Card you聽can give away!
• Pay It Forward Stop & Sign Event:聽 Join us in the Moseley Lobby between Noon – 2:30 pm and tell us ways you’ve paid it forward before.
• Kindness / Conduct Cab: We’ll be traveling around campus with the staff from Student Conduct, providing the kindness of a ride to your next location!聽 Flag us down.

Luna Aldana, a leadership ambassador in the Center for Leadership, thinks everyone should find a way to pay it forward because “everyone deserves a little positivity in their day, as you never know the impact it might have on someone. Creating a culture of positivity within the 黑料不打烊 community helps make it a more welcoming and supportive place for everyone. Especially during stressful times with academics and extracurriculars, small moments of positivity can make a big difference and lift our spirits.”

Ellie MacMillan, Master of Higher Education graduate apprentice in the Center for Leadership, wants people to know that “paying it forward doesn’t have to cost a thing! It can be free and show care for your community.”聽 MacMillan’s favorite ideas include:

• Encourage someone鈥檚 heart:聽Take a moment to recognize the good in someone else.聽Send a thoughtful message sharing why you appreciate them鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a favorite memory, a quality you admire, or simple words of encouragement. A few sincere sentences can make someone鈥檚 entire day brighter.
• Coffee & conversation connections:聽Bring back the spirit of connection鈥攜our way. Invite a friend, classmate, or mentor to meet for coffee鈥攚hether in person on campus or virtually. Choose a cozy spot, grab your favorite drink, and enjoy a genuine conversation. Small moments of connection can have a lasting impact.
• Express Gratitude to a Mentor:聽Celebrate the people who鈥檝e helped shape your journey.聽Write a thank-you note to someone who has supported or guided you鈥攚hether through advice, encouragement, or simply being present. Gratitude strengthens relationships and inspires continued kindness.
• Share a Playlist or Song:聽Spread positivity through music. Send a song that reminds you of someone or create a playlist to share with friends. Music has a unique way of connecting people and lifting spirits鈥攑ass that feeling along.
• Lead with Grace and Compassion:聽Kindness is the heart of a thriving community.聽Offer patience, understanding, and encouragement in your daily interactions. Small acts of compassion help create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Share your Pay It Forward story:聽Follow the Center for Leadership on Instagram @elonleadership to participate in daily challenges throughout the week and share your acts of kindness using #PIF黑料不打烊.

The conference featured a keynote address by playwright,聽director聽and activist Spirit Tawfiq, who spoke about the role of storytelling,聽courage聽and intentional dialogue in bridging the gap between the civil rights movement and modern social justice. Tawfiq is the founder of the 鈥淟et Your Light Shine鈥� program and the daughter of聽Minnijean聽Brown-Trickey, one of the Little Rock Nine who聽desegregated聽Central High School in 1957.

She shared that her work is deeply rooted in her family鈥檚 history and her commitment to continuing conversations around justice,聽accountability聽and healing. Throughout the talk, Tawfiq returned to a central question: Who is holding the pen?

She encouraged students to consider whose stories are told, whose voices are聽amplified聽and how silence can contribute to continued harm.
Referencing the bravery of the Little Rock Nine, Tawfiq emphasized that healing requires confronting generational trauma rather than ignoring it. She challenged students to view history as an ongoing process and to recognize their role in shaping what comes next. Healing, she said, must be intentional and rooted in understanding,聽accountability聽and a willingness to ask聽difficult questions. Tawfiq described humanity as a quilt, made up of individual stories and experiences stitched together to form a shared whole.

鈥淲e each bring a patch and we put these patches together to make a beautiful, warm quilt, but racism聽doesn鈥檛聽want our patches connected,鈥澛爏he said.
Students were encouraged to become comfortable navigating discomfort, which Tawfiq described as a necessary step toward healing and growth. Learning about experiences that differ from one鈥檚 own, she said, 鈥渉elps foster empathy and connection and tear the structures of racism down.鈥�

The event also included a gallery walk, where attendees moved around the room and wrote words and phrases on the walls that represented what gives them courage. Responses included family, shared legacy, honesty, storytelling, helping others and giving power to the powerless. Faculty boldly and vulnerably shared stories on the wall of things that have healed or are聽currently healing from. The through line being that human connection and conversation were the key to healing.

Students reflected on the impact of the discussion and the importance of listening as a form of action.

鈥淭he most impactful thing I learned is that everyone has their own story and we should do our best to listen and understand them,鈥� said Luke聽Bonifacio ’28.

Another student highlighted the role of dialogue in the healing process.
鈥淭hey are trying to bridge the gap through physical and mental healing, and conversations like this are the start of that,鈥� the student said.

As the event concluded, students were encouraged to continue the work of healing beyond the conference by engaging in difficult conversations, resisting聽silence聽and using their voices to support those around them.

For Maelah Proctor 鈥�26, that reminder has shaped her path from uncertainty to leadership. Now she has become a voice for others on campus.

Her confidence did not always come naturally. Over time, she came to understand that she holds her leadership roles because her skills, perspective and voice are needed in those spaces.

Throughout her time at 黑料不打烊, she has intentionally stepped into spaces where students need to be heard, amplifying voices, advocating for equity, and building community as president of the Black Student Union and as a Student Athletic Council representative for the cheerleading team.

As she reflects on her 黑料不打烊 journey, she points to the people who shaped her path and the purpose that continues to guide her work.

The power of community

Proctor鈥檚 confidence did not grow in isolation but through community.

What began as attendance at a Black Student Union event soon evolved into leadership, first serving as vice president for Black Excellence and now as president.

For Proctor, a political science and policy studies major from Charlotte, North Carolina, belonging is deeply connected to visibility. If you don’t see yourself in the community that you’re supposed to represent, she said, it’s hard to feel a part of that community

That understanding now shapes how she leads, ensuring other Black students can find the same affirmation and space that once grounded her. 鈥淏SU made me feel comfortable and gave me the confidence to continue here,鈥� Proctor said. 鈥淏ecause sometimes going to 黑料不打烊 and not seeing a lot of people who look like you can be very alienating.鈥�

In addition to finding belonging within the Black Student Union, she has also built community as a Leadership Fellow, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and a cheerleader.

鈥淚鈥檝e been able to find community in different spaces on campus, and each one has shaped me in a different way,鈥� Proctor said.

Each role has strengthened her confidence and deepened her understanding of what it means to lead with intention.

Mentorship as momentum

Proctor recalls meeting Simone Royal 鈥�17 G鈥�25, associate director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, at her first BSU brunch.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know anyone, so I sat with Simone because she was a staff member and it felt less intimidating,鈥� Proctor said.

A simple conversation evolved into mentorship.鈥淪he has been someone I could go to with questions, someone who helped me navigate things when I didn鈥檛 have all the answers,鈥� Proctor said.

Throughout their relationship, Royal has witnessed Proctor鈥檚 growth firsthand.

鈥淪he has not only stepped up to be the leader that the organization needs, but she鈥檚 learned how to extend her leadership skills to others 鈥� how to prepare other students to be the best of themselves as well,鈥� Royal said.

Through Royal鈥檚 example, Proctor learned that leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about ensuring others feel heard.

Refusing to shrink

As Proctor deepened her leadership on campus, she became more aware of navigating hyper-visibility and invisibility.

鈥淪ometimes it feels like you’re the only person in the room that looks different,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou’re holding a certain perspective that might be an outlier.鈥�

She once tried to soften her presence to avoid stereotypes. Over time, she realized shrinking herself served no one. Proctor has chosen to lean into her voice.

鈥淪he is a tireless advocate for the community that she serves,鈥� said Abdul-Malik Harrison 鈥�21, assistant director of the Center for Race, Ethicity and Diversity Education. 鈥淲hen she has a vision, she wants it enacted. She is the epitome of, 鈥榠f you want it bad enough, you can get it done鈥�.鈥�

Rather than simply demanding space, Proctor works to create it.

As Proctor looks ahead to law school and life beyond 黑料不打烊, she hopes to continue advocating for equity and expanding access through public service and policy work. Her experiences navigating visibility, representation and leadership on campus have only deepened her desire to pursue law school as a tool for systemic change.

For now, her message remains clear: take up as much space as you want.

鈥淏e unashamed in who you are,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he second you stop letting other people鈥檚 opinions, stereotypes or perceptions limit you is the second you鈥檙e free to pursue what you want to pursue.鈥�

Proctor said her time at 黑料不打烊 serves as proof that when a student chooses to step forward, their voice does more than fill a room 鈥� it amplifies others. And that amplification, she said, is what creates lasting change.

Black History Month

As part of Black History Month, 黑料不打烊 is sharing stories through Today at 黑料不打烊 that highlight Black students, faculty and staff who actively contribute to a campus environment where cultural histories and identities are celebrated year-round. In February, 黑料不打烊 is also recognizing the month through a series of events and programming.

As a reminder from my email on Friday, the new first-year residential student parking lot, the 鈥淕ateway Lot,鈥� is open. Be sure to review the parking information and map on the Campus Safety & Police website for more information.聽 And here is this week鈥檚 Phoenix Five:

Kwame Anthony Appiah: Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Address

Thursday, Jan. 8, 6 p.m., McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

Attend the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Address with . A leading global thinker and New York Times ethicist, Appiah is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal and is known for encouraging thoughtful conversations that bridge differences and emphasize our shared humanity. Admission is $15 or free with your 黑料不打烊 ID. Get your tickets at .

Burst the Bubble 2026

聽workshops鈥痑re free, student-led, non-credit programs where students share their knowledge with their peers during Winter Term. 鈥疧pen to all students, these programs are fun activities with no grades and an opportunity to connect with other students who have similar interests. .

Spring Recruitment for IFC Fraternities and Panhellenic Association Sororities is Now Open

Spring recruitment for IFC fraternities and Panhellenic Association sororities is now open. begins Friday, Jan. 23, while begins Friday, Jan. 30. The Panhellenic registration deadline is Tuesday, Jan. 6, and the IFC registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 16. For more information, visit the . Questions about IFC fraternity recruitment can be directed to Aniya Jerkins at ajerkins@elon.edu or 336-278-7214. Questions about Panhellenic sorority recruitment can be directed to Kayla Hedrick at khedrick@elon.edu or 336-278-7214.

Intersect Diversity & Leadership Event in Recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 11:45 a.m.鈥� 1:30 p.m., McKinnon Hall

Join the Center for Leadership and the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education (CREDE) for the Intersect Diversity and Leadership Event in recognition of the National Day of Racial Healing. This year鈥檚 keynote speaker is Spirit Tawfiq, daughter of Minnijean Brown Trickey of the Little Rock Nine, who will share powerful reflections on storytelling, leadership and healing. . For more information, visit the .

Men鈥檚 Basketball vs Campbell

Saturday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m., Schar Center

Come cheer on the men鈥檚 basketball team as they host Campbell University. Bring your maroon and gold pride to Schar on Saturday, Jan. 10! Get your .

鈥淚t is still unbelievable that I get to essentially do this every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a dream of mine as long as I can remember.鈥�

The business of show biz

Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Rodriguez stars in the ensemble of 鈥淎laddin鈥� on Broadway and is also an understudy for the lead character. But Rodriguez鈥檚 path to Broadway isn鈥檛 the result of magical intervention, but rather hard work and determination, fostered through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Performing Arts program.

鈥淚 had no idea what I was doing before I was in college, and 黑料不打烊 gave me more confidence in myself as a singer, actor and dancer,鈥� said Rodriguez, who is a music theatre major.

In June, The Hollywood Reporter named 黑料不打烊 one of the聽鈥�25 Best Drama Schools of 2025,鈥� and 黑料不打烊鈥檚 prominence in the theatre world is one of the reasons Rodriguez chose the university.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 great about 黑料不打烊 is they really encourage not just focusing on the artistic aspect, but making sure you branch out,鈥� said Rodriguez, who was also a Leadership Fellow. 鈥淚 fell in love with the campus when I came to audition for the program, and everyone was so nice.鈥�

Rodriguez credits faculty such as Associate Teaching Professor of Music Polly Cornelius and Assistant Professor of Music Theatre Courtney Liu for helping him hone his singing and dancing skills, but also for learning about the business of show business.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned about the logistics part of being an artist, and they鈥檝e helped me with figuring out how to talk to agents and how to negotiate deals,鈥� he said.

A wish come true

His love for musical theatre began at a young age, a little begrudgingly at first. His parents needed a summer babysitter and sent him to a workshop at their local community theatre.

鈥淚 was like 鈥楾his is the dumbest thing ever,鈥� but it was so much fun when I was younger, and I fell in love with the people who were involved with theatre,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a space where you can truly be yourself, and you can be wacky.鈥�

That ability to 鈥渂e wacky,鈥� evolved into performances on the 黑料不打烊 stage, including in the original musical 鈥淒eep Bar Ballad,鈥� 鈥淪pring Awakening,鈥� 鈥淎 Chorus Line,鈥� and 鈥淢errily We Roll Along.鈥� He was even set to perform in the fall 2025 production of 鈥淎n American in Paris,鈥� but then his wish for Aladdin came true.

Rodriguez landed the Aladdin role thanks to a connection with the show鈥檚 dance captain, 黑料不打烊 alum Michael Callahan 鈥�13. Both Rodriguez and Callahan worked at a summer theater program together in Aspen, Colorado.

鈥淎laddin is just a machine, like how the show works,鈥� said Rodriguez. 鈥淚 had to learn the show by myself essentially in the studio with our amazing dance captains, a stage manager and the accompanist.鈥�

Before he hit the stage for the first time, Rodriguez only had two full rehearsals with the cast.

鈥淚t was tough, but I had a lot of help from a lot of people. Everyone has been so unbelievably nice and kind and welcoming,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am the youngest person in the company, and that was scary, but everyone is really funny, and they haven鈥檛 treated me as the youngest. They bring me to their level.鈥�

Becoming Aladdin

Not only does Rodriguez have to know his part in the ensemble, but as an understudy for Aladdin, he must be ready to take on the lead role at a moment鈥檚 notice. In October, that preparation proved useful. Rodriguez had planned to have breakfast with 黑料不打烊 classmates who came to New York to see the show, when he received an important text.

鈥淚 woke up to a text at about 9:30 in the morning that said, 鈥榃ould you like to make your Aladdin debut this afternoon?鈥� and the show is at 1 p.m. So, I had to be like, 鈥楪uys, I鈥檓 sorry. I can鈥檛 go to breakfast. I have to go prepare for this.鈥� It was like a dream,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was pretty magical, and a lot of my friends rescheduled their flights to come see me, so that was amazing.鈥�

After his matinee performance, Rodriguez was finally able to celebrate with friends at Red Lobster, but after eating a full, carb-loaded dinner, he was called to the stage as Aladdin for the evening show. A learning experience, he says, to be ready even when you鈥檙e not expected to perform, but one that he took with stride.

鈥淚t was amazing,鈥� Rodguez said with a laugh, 鈥渁nd it was a day I will never forget.”

• November 17th from 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.
• Moseley Living Room Monday
• Event Sponsor: The Center for Leadership

Are there people who have made a difference in your journey at 黑料不打烊? Someone who has supported, encouraged or inspired you along the way? Take a moment to let them know just how much they mean to you at the “Leading with Gratitude” event the week before Thanksgiving!聽 聽This event is designed to bring the power of gratitude into our community and help us acknowledge the many ways we lift each other up here at 黑料不打烊.

Why Attend?

In the hustle of campus life, it鈥檚 easy to forget how impactful a simple thank-you can be. Whether it鈥檚 a professor whose class changed your perspective, a staff member who goes out of their way to make your day better, a friend who鈥檚 always there for you, or a mentor guiding you through the challenges of college 鈥� expressing your gratitude is a powerful way to show appreciation and spread kindness.聽聽Supplies are provided, so all you need to bring is your genuine appreciation and willingness to spread positivity.

When asked who’s made a difference to her 黑料不打烊 experience, Hyemin Im ’27 shared: “There聽are many people who have impacted聽my 黑料不打烊 journey, but especially this semester, Professor Isreal Balderas has made the聽biggest impact on my time here. His class on Media Law & Ethics is definitely challenging, but he is always there when I need him, whether it is to answer my endless 鈥渨hat if鈥� law hypotheticals during office hours or even outside of them. His humor makes me more engaged and interested in law. One day, I was having a really bad day, but he was there for me and told me, ‘There are more good days than bad days.’ My day instantly got better after that. He even gave me his snack-sized pack of M&M鈥檚, which was his own snack for the day. That small moment gave me the strength to push through the rest of the day and this semester. I truly appreciate his energy, kindness, and support.”

Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership, shared, 鈥�Thanking our mentors and those in our support system not only shows recognition but also fosters a sense of belonging and supports our emotional well-being. It feels good to say thank you and it鈥檚 incredibly meaningful to receive that kind of gratitude from students and peers.鈥�

What to Expect:

• The chance to make someone鈥檚 day: Everyone appreciates being recognized, and you have the chance to make a meaningful impact with just a few words. Your gratitude could be the encouragement someone needs!
• A moment to reflect: Writing a note lets you reflect on the journey you鈥檙e on and the people who have supported you. It鈥檚 a small but significant way to foster well-being and connection in our 黑料不打烊 community.
• Coffee, Tea & Hot Chocolate: Grab a warm drink and relax!

A North Carolina native, Gergen was a principled leader, political commentator and advocate for democracy whose influence spanned seven decades.

To 黑料不打烊, he brought insightful commentary at public engagements as a frequent keynote speaker and delivering the Commencement address to the Class of 2016. Behind the scenes, he offered guidance and counsel to university leaders charged with carrying out the university鈥檚 mission and vision.

鈥淒avid Gergen served as a steadfast leader with a lifetime of distinguished service rooted in North Carolina,鈥� said 黑料不打烊 President Connie Ledoux Book. 鈥淎t 黑料不打烊, he was a mentor, teacher, and thought partner for over 25 years. From chairing the 黑料不打烊 Law Advisory Board to delivering Commencement addresses that challenged graduates to serve the common good, David modeled public service.

鈥淲e are a better university and country because of the light he brought to the world.鈥�

Born in Durham, North Carolina, Gergen earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies at Yale University in 1963 and a Bachelor of Laws from Harvard Law School in 1967. He also served in the U.S. Navy for three-and-a-half years.

While interning in Gov. Terry Sanford鈥檚 office, he became involved in civil rights efforts, a cause he remained dedicated to throughout his life. His national political career began in 1971 as a speechwriter for President Richard Nixon, later serving as director of communications for Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, and as a counselor to President Bill Clinton.

His journalism career included roles as editor and editor-at-large for U.S. News & World Report, and political analyst for CNN and ABC. He also contributed to NPR, CBS, The New York Times, and Newsweek.

鈥淥ur country has lost a truly great American,鈥� said President Emeritus Leo Lambert. 鈥淒avid was such a thoughtful and fair and deeply kind person, and those individuals are rare in politics today. He, to me, has always been the model of the kind of person that belongs in public life. He worked to get things done for the betterment of the nation, always valuing our country鈥檚 ideals and constitution. It鈥檚 very sad, at this moment, to see how very far we have strayed from a standard David Gergen set for civility, leadership, and character.鈥�

During Lambert鈥檚 presidency, Gergen became a regular fixture at 黑料不打烊, first headlining a Winter Term Symposium in 2001 around the future of presidential politics, then in 2003 interviewing legendary journalist Walter Cronkite before an audience of 2,900 at the Convocation for Honors. In 2004, he became the inaugural Isabella Cannon Visiting Professor for Leadership.

That same year, Lambert approached Gergen with an early vision for 黑料不打烊 Law.

鈥淒avid鈥檚 help in launching the law school was irreplaceable.,鈥� Lambert reflected. 鈥淚 remember early conversations with him around the dining room table at Maynard House when the law school was just an idea. As he put it, the nation didn鈥檛 need just another law school, it needed 鈥榓 law school with a difference,鈥� one law seeking to innovate new approaches to legal education.鈥�

Gergen鈥檚 far-reaching reputation, along with an advisory board that included two former governors, three former chief justices of the North Carolina Supreme Court, and other legal luminaries added 鈥渁 sense of legitimacy鈥� to the 黑料不打烊 Law vision, Lambert said. 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� was able to leverage that legitimacy to quickly recruit exceptional students who now serve as lawyer leaders in their own communities, a testament to the vision David helped craft for 黑料不打烊 Law.

鈥淎nd in true David fashion, with the heart of a public servant, he mentored our law students with wisdom and lessons that will carry through the ages, sometimes drawn from his own personal experiences of adversity and resilience. 黑料不打烊 owes him a great deal.鈥�

In 2009, delivering the Commencement address to the school鈥檚 charter class, Gergen eloquently described his vision for the law school and why he felt compelled to support it. 鈥淎s one who has been involved in trying to work with the next generation, to prepare a fresh generation of leaders for this country, public leaders, which I think we so much need, that vision had enormous appeal to me,鈥� said Gergen, who was conferred with an honorary doctorate from 黑料不打烊 at the same ceremony.

Gergen remained instrumental in guiding 黑料不打烊 Law through its first 20 years, building support for its mission of legal leadership and public service, and establishing it as the preeminent law school for experiential learning and practical skills. Chairing the Advisory Board, Gergen led efforts to establish 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 differentiators as the first law school in the nation to offer a 2.5-year J.D. and to guarantee that all 黑料不打烊 Law students benefit from in a full-time residency-in-practice during their second year of study. Gergen engaged with students in his work with the law school, reminding them of values they should uphold.

黑料不打烊 Law Dean Zak Kramer marveled at Gergen鈥檚 immeasurable influence on the school, its alumni and current students: 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be 黑料不打烊 Law without David Gergen.

鈥淔rom the beginning of our law school, David has been a constant source of wisdom and support,鈥� Kramer said. 鈥淎 model citizen, David lived a life devoted to family, service, leadership and, above all, decency. Our charge at 黑料不打烊 Law is to produce lawyers who will follow David鈥檚 lead to make a difference in our world.鈥�

Gergen remained active and dedicated to 黑料不打烊 until his death. In 2023, he attended the opening of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Charlotte campus and launch of the 黑料不打烊 Law Flex Program.

In September 2024, 黑料不打烊 established the David R. Gergen Distinguished Professorship in Public Service, to preserve Gergen鈥檚 legacy for generations of future 黑料不打烊 students and faculty through funding to support work with students who share a passion for public service.

In March 2024, at his last public campus appearance, he and his son, Christopher Gergen, led a conversation around political polarization and the leadership needed to move America forward.

鈥淲e need people to hear the call to service,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need more heroes. It鈥檚 important to have heroes.鈥�

A look back at David Gergen鈥檚 influence and service to 黑料不打烊 and the community:

Gergen鈥檚 first speaking engagement at 黑料不打烊 was in 2001, headlining a Winter Term symposium, 鈥淚naugurating the Millennium: The First 100 Days of the 21st Century Presidency,鈥� held nine days before the inauguration of President George W. Bush.

In April 2003, Gergen interviewed legendary broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite before an audience of 2,900 in Koury Center at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Convocation for Honors. In 2004, Gergen was 黑料不打烊鈥檚 inaugural Isabella Cannon Visiting Professor of Leadership, delivering three public lectures on campus and meeting with classes.

In 2005, he accepted the invitation to chair 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 Advisory Board and remained in the role until September 2024. He helped shape the founding faculty and establish the law school鈥檚 mission to develop lawyer-leaders who use their skills to improve their communities. He cultivated a lasting partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro. 鈥淟eadership will set 黑料不打烊 apart from other law schools,鈥� he said. Through his leadership and connections, Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor delivered the law school鈥檚 inaugural address in a ceremony dedicating the law school.

Gergen delivered the first Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture in September 2007, held at 黑料不打烊 Law. 鈥淭he leader鈥檚 role is to become a leader of leaders, to make sure they鈥檙e leading,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淵our role is to bring the best out of them. More and more people are beginning to understand that leadership is not a top-down kind of 鈥榙o this, do this, do this.鈥� Leadership today is much more about drawing the best out of people who are in your group.鈥�

In 2009, he delivered the Commencement address to 黑料不打烊 Law鈥檚 inaugural class. 鈥淎ll of you now have shown us your wisdom, your courage, your service to others and your dedication to leadership. You have those qualities deep within you. You have proven that to all of us. What we ask of you now is to remember who you are and remember to give back,鈥� Gergen said.

Participating in a panel discussion for the 2011 Convocation for Honors moderated by NBC鈥檚 Brian Williams, Gergen called on 黑料不打烊 students to be inspired by global movements for freedom and democracy. 鈥淵ou can be the leaders of today 鈥� Remember, it takes a long time to get hard work done,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to commit yourself 鈥� to make this the work of a lifetime.鈥�

Gergen reunited with Justice Sandra Day O鈥機onnor at 黑料不打烊 Law in 2012 to deliver keynote addresses at the Conference on Law and Leadership, co-hosted by 黑料不打烊 Law and the Center for Creative Leadership. 鈥淲e have to believe that the leaders of this country put the country first,鈥� Gergen said. 鈥淚n so many ways, the people I looked up to were lawyers. For so many of my generation, the majesty of the law is what we believed in.鈥�

Gergen delivered the Commencement address for the Class of 2016, calling on graduates to combat political extremism. 鈥淢ay I plead with you: Please don鈥檛 stay on the sidelines as America struggles to find the best path forward. Come off the bench and get into the arena. 鈥� Find common ground, work hard to respect the views of others. You will get knocked down and there will be severe disappointments. Embrace the fact that change is hard. But know this: if you pour your heart and soul into rebuilding a better state and nation, you will look back one day and find an inner satisfaction, a pride that you answered the call to service and leadership.鈥�

In September 2024, 黑料不打烊 President Connie Book and 黑料不打烊 President Emeritus Leo Lambert hosted a celebration for Gergen, surrounded by his family, and announced the David R. Gergen Distinguished Professorship in Public Service. The professorship will preserve Gergen鈥檚 legacy for generations of future 黑料不打烊 students and faculty through funding to support work with students who share a passion for public service.

To Assistant Professor Israel Balderas, embodies the very best of student journalism at 黑料不打烊.

鈥淎njolina represents what we want to cultivate in our journalism program 鈥� students who have fearless curiosity, integrity and the ability to lead under pressure,鈥� the journalism professor said. 鈥淲hen she arrived at 黑料不打烊, Anjolina already had strong instincts as a communicator. But over the past three years, I鈥檝e watched her grow into a confident journalist who commands the room. She exemplifies the qualities of a modern broadcast journalist 鈥� sharp, ethical and relentless in her pursuit of the truth.鈥�

The National Press Club recently reached a similar conclusion, awarding Fantaroni 鈥撀燼 first-generation student from Southbridge, Massachusetts 鈥撀爓ith the . The award supports aspiring reporters with $5,000 annually, renewable for up to four years.

The Leadership Fellow has built a standout r茅sum茅 during her time at 黑料不打烊. Fantaroni spent the 2024-2025 academic year serving as the broadcast news director for 黑料不打烊 News Network and was recently named executive director, the student-run media organization鈥檚 top leadership position. She has produced more than two dozen broadcasts and filed award-winning multimedia stories, including her , which earned first place in Best Crisis Coverage at the National College Media Convention.

鈥淚t is unbelievable and such an honor to be recognized by the National Press Club,鈥� Fantaroni said. 鈥淚 have been familiar with the NPC for a long time because of my interest and involvement in journalism. And I鈥檓 very grateful to have my work ethic recognized on a national level.鈥�

Balderas, who wrote a recommendation letter in support of Fantaroni鈥檚 application, noted that the rising senior鈥檚 leadership is matched by her commitment to service.

鈥淲hether she鈥檚 producing a live newscast on Election Day or reporting on stories during her study abroad trip to Australia, Anjo has been at the center of our most ambitious student coverage,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he approaches every assignment with a public service mindset. That鈥檚 what makes Anjo so deserving of the Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship. It鈥檚 not just her talent, but her deep sense of responsibility to the truth and to the communities she serves.鈥�

Fantaroni credits her development to the support of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 journalism faculty. She expressed deep appreciation for Kelly Furnas, Alex Luchsinger, Anthony Hatcher, Rich Landesberg, Lorraine Ahearn, and Balderas, noting their willingness to offer thoughtful feedback, encouragement, and hands-on guidance beyond the classroom. Whether discussing story ideas, reviewing show layouts, or simply checking in on students鈥� well-being, the faculty mentorship has shaped her growth as a storyteller and newsroom leader, she explained.

鈥淭he journalism faculty here at 黑料不打烊 care about their students. They want us to know how to produce work that informs the community, and they give us the opportunity to seek constructive feedback that make us better journalists.鈥�

鈥撀燗njolina Fantaroni 鈥�26

The Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship is named in honor of the longtime Washington, D.C., journalist and is one of the most prestigious student honors in the field. In addition to financial support, recipients receive a one-year membership to the National Press Club.

鈥淎njolina has already demonstrated a keen sense of visual storytelling and has covered heavy topics with grace and sensitivity,鈥� said Mike Balsamo, president of the National Press Club, in a June 2 award release. 鈥淪he is not afraid to put in the hard work to achieve her goals, and we鈥檙e thrilled to support her as she continues her broadcast journalism studies.鈥�

This summer, Fantaroni is interning with CBS8 in San Diego, where she has already embraced the demands of morning television. Adjusting to a new time zone and a 4 a.m. newsroom shift, she is learning new production systems, shadowing producers, and contributing to live shows by writing VOSOTs. In the weeks ahead, she will take on additional responsibilities, including building rundowns and shadowing reporters during the evening shift.

She credits this opportunity to the support of several scholarships, including the D鈥橝ngelo Family Scholarship, Lieberman-Grant Internship Award, and Maguire Family Internship Endowment, in addition to the Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship. Together, these awards have helped offset relocation costs and provided financial support for her continued education and professional development.

鈥淚 would not have been able to accept this internship without this support,鈥� she said.

In the lead-up to the 2025 celebration, three graduating seniors answered questions from the Division of Inclusive Excellence and the Office of University Communications about their personal and professional growth at 黑料不打烊.

They also shared how the Gender & LGBTQIA Center helped them embrace their identities while developing lifelong leadership skills.

These are the stories of their journey.

James Hemmingway ’25
Hometown:聽Parkland, Florida
Majors: Public Health Studies and Marketing聽

Q: When did you realize your identity and how has that changed you?聽
A: 鈥淚 was 14 and living in South Florida, which was difficult. Coming to 黑料不打烊 as a whole, not just with the Gender & LGBTQIA Center, but the community I’ve made, has made me appreciate being a part of the LGBTQIA community as something that I am proud of.鈥�

Q: What was something you learned from the Gender & LGBTQIA Center that you didn鈥檛 already know?聽
A: 鈥淏efore I came to 黑料不打烊, I had never met a queer person over the age of 18. Seeing adults in the Gender & LGBTQIA Center live their lives was powerful for me, seeing what my future can look like as a queer person.鈥�

Q: Did the Gender & LGBTQIA Center have an impact on what you want to do in the future?聽
A: 鈥淚 want to work with queer people in their life transition from teenager to adulthood. It鈥檚 a unique experience for queer people, finding your space, and I think the Gender & LGBTQIA Center has great resources to facilitate that for people. That inspires me.鈥�

Q: What is your biggest takeaway from the Gender & LGBTQIA Center?聽
A: 鈥淚 feel grateful that 黑料不打烊 has done a good job with bias reporting and protecting students through the work of the Gender & LGBTQIA Center. And I鈥檝e learned that change takes time. Since the GLC started, there has been so much change 鈥� and students benefit more and more.鈥�

Jayla Martin-Beasley聽’25
Hometown:聽Greensboro, North Carolina
Major: Strategic Communications

Q:聽Tell me about your 黑料不打烊 experience?聽聽
A: 鈥淢y 黑料不打烊 experience has been primarily about inward exploration. I made it a goal to acquire new skills and understanding about the things I was passionate about, and through my work at the Gender & LGBTQIA Center and my experiences around campus, I have absolutely done so.鈥�

Q: Tell me about how the Gender & LGBTQIA Center shaped your experience and you as a person?聽 聽
A: 鈥淲orking at the Gender & LGBTQIA Center has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have been able to grow and stretch myself beyond what I first thought was possible. Planning events, interacting with students and helping them, and just being a voice for others are all valuable experiences that I would not change for the world.鈥�

Q: When did you realize your identity and how has that changed you?聽
A: 鈥淚 realized my identity back in middle school and had been on the road to acceptance about it all the way up until getting into 黑料不打烊. I often struggled with the validity of my sexuality, wondering if I was confused or somehow deluding myself for attention, and it took a long time to overcome those doubts. Now I am proud to be myself, authentically and wholeheartedly.鈥�

Q: What was something you learned from the Gender & LGBTQIA Center that you didn鈥檛 already know? 聽
A: 鈥淚 learned just how many ways there are to care for a community. We have worked on spreading information, resources and opportunities for gathering around various topics like queer and transgender identities, sexual assault, domestic abuse, stalking and intersectionality with BIPOC communities.鈥�

Celia Dupuy聽’25
Hometown:聽Collierville, Tennessee
Major: Human Service Studies聽

Q: Tell me about how the Gender & LGBTQIA Center shaped your experience and you as a person?聽
A:聽鈥淲orking at the Center for Leadership, we often had partnerships with the Gender & LGBTQIA Center, and that’s how I got introduced. I would also attend events such as Spring Pride or Dragstravaganza, and it was comforting coming to 黑料不打烊 knowing that there was a space where people were there to support me, especially because I came from a very conservative area.鈥�

Q: When did you realize your identity and how has that changed you?聽
A: 鈥淕rowing up in the small town that I did, most people were not accepting, but my family and a few friends were very supportive when I came out. Over the past four years, I have grown to be a lot more comfortable with who I am, and 黑料不打烊 has been a very positive space for me to be able to live my life authentically.鈥�

Q: Did the Gender & LGBTQIA Center have an impact on what you want to do in the future?聽 聽
A: 鈥淚 want to go into higher education after graduation and eventually work in an LGBTQ+ center, like what Luis Garay is doing. Overall, I want to help the community in any space that I am in and take what I’ve learned from 黑料不打烊 to make an impact, no matter what direction I take in my career.鈥�

Q: What is your biggest takeaway from the Gender & LGBTQIA Center?聽
A: 鈥淭here are always places where there is support for your identity, where people are going to help you, watch out for you, and can give you advice and resources. The Gender & LGBTQIA Center has shown me that support is everywhere. No matter where you are, you’re not alone.鈥�

Omicron Delta Kappa annually celebrates students who excel academically and demonstrate exemplary leadership across various disciplines. These include multicultural engagement, athletics, campus and community service, student government, the arts, journalism, public speaking and mass communication.

Among the esteemed faculty and staff to present awards were Rebecca Kohn, provost and vice president for academic affairs and John Dooley, vice president for Student Life.

2025 Omicron Delta Kappa Award Recipients

William Moseley Brown Leadership Award
Khairi Morrow 鈥�25

Presented by 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, this award is given to the student who consistently demonstrates the highest ideals of Omicron Delta Kappa: scholarship, service, integrity, character and fellowship, including providing distinguished leadership to his or her peers. The award is named in honor of a former 黑料不打烊 faculty member and one of the original founders of the national chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa.

Student Media Award
Erin Martin 鈥�25

The Student Media Award is presented to the student who has contributed the most to advancing communications on campus during the current academic year.

Leadership Studies Award
Robin Falkow 鈥�25

The Leadership Studies Award is awarded annually to the senior Leadership Studies minor who has best exemplified the study of leadership as an academic discipline through excellence in related coursework, research and/or other scholarly contributions.

Hilaire Pickett 鈥�08 Leadership Grant
Victoria Whetstone 鈥�26 and Benjamin Hornsten Stern 鈥�26

The endowed scholarship, the Hilaire Pickett 鈥�08 Leadership Grant is an endowed scholarship presented to students participating in the Leadership Education and Development at 黑料不打烊. Awards are granted to support students in their junior or senior years in pursuing leadership internships or legacy efforts. The students must demonstrate a significant commitment to their organizations and academics and actively contribute to the 黑料不打烊 community.

Katharine duPont Weymouth Scholarship
Corrin Line 鈥�26

The Katharine duPont Weymouth Scholarship is awarded to outstanding juniors in the social sciences and given in honor of alumnus Frank Lyon 鈥�71.

W.L. Monroe Christian Education and Personality Award
Alex Fleischmann 鈥�26 and Julianna Clark L’26

Recipients of this award demonstrate citizenship and a strong desire to help others improve themselves. A trust created by the late W.L. Monroe Sr., who attended 黑料不打烊 in 1917, provides cash awards to the recipients.

Truitt Center Reconciliation Award
Morgan Williams 鈥�25 and Ryan Gibbons 鈥�25

This award is presented to a student who best exemplifies the vision of Douglas G. Noiles and Edna Truitt Noiles 鈥�44, who endowed the program in the Vera Richardson Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life 鈥渢o enable 黑料不打烊 students to learn about their own and other faiths and to live lives of reconciliation.鈥�

Ella Brunk Smith Award
Natalie Schuver 鈥�25 and Kiara Cronin 鈥�25

In honor of Ella Brunk Smith, wife of former 黑料不打烊 President Dr. L.E. Smith, a cash award is presented to a female student in the senior class who has made significant contributions to the religious and moral life on campus.

Martha Smith Award for Women鈥檚, Gender and Sexualities Studies
Mae Curington 鈥�25

This award is given in honor of Martha Smith, one of the founding mothers of the women鈥檚, gender and sexualities studies program at 黑料不打烊, to recognize the academic and activist achievements of a graduating senior Women鈥檚, Gender and Sexualities Studies minor.

Iris Holt McEwen Community Service Award
Darian Myers 鈥�26

This award is presented to a student whose service to 黑料不打烊 and the larger community exemplifies the generosity of spirit and dedication to the philanthropy of Iris Holt McEwen.

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award
Nicholas Rugbart 鈥�25 and Jasmine Walker 鈥�25

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award is presented to graduating seniors, alumni and community members of selected colleges and universities in the Southern United States for excellence of character and service to humanity.鈥� At 黑料不打烊, two graduating seniors and one faculty or staff member are recognized annually for their honesty, morality, ethics, integrity, responsibility, determination, courage and compassion.

John W. Barney Memorial Award
Mackenzie Smith 鈥�25

This award recognizes the senior(s) with the highest cumulative 颅GPA. Colleagues, former students, and friends of the late John W. Barney established this award in his honor. Mr. Barney graduated from 黑料不打烊 in 1910 and was a faculty member for over three decades.