Professional Development Pathways

Health Professions Advising

The Health Professions Advising program provides students with advice, information and resources to help them gain entrance to health professions programs after completing their undergraduate degree. A total of 25 scholars participated in focused workshops, mock interviews, individual meetings, on-site test preparation and personal advising sessions to advance their goals during the 2019-20 academic year. Undergraduates also have multiple opportunities to visit Elon’s physician assistant and physical therapy programs. Elon College graduates regularly gain admittance to a range of health profession schools, including medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy and pharmacy school programs. Data show that Elon students are at or above the national averages for acceptance into all these programs.

Legal Professions Scholars

The second cohort of 17 Legal Professions Scholars entered Elon in fall 2019, bringing the total number in the scholars program to 32 for the 2019-20 year. Incoming scholars participated in dedicated Elon 101 and COR 110 courses and met with legal practitioners throughout the year. The 2018 cohort took Intro to the Study of Law with Senior Associate Dean of the Elon University School of Law and Associate Professor of Law Alan Woodlief. Among other activities aligning with their interests, legal scholars participated in Model United Nations, N.C. Student Legislature, Elon’s Mock Trial Team, Phi Alpha Delta and Elon Votes! At the American Mock Trial Association Regional Competition in Richmond, Va., Taylor McMartin ’21 won the Outstanding Performance as a Witness award.

Nonprofit Leadership

Three new students joined the Nonprofit Leadership program in the 2019-20 academic year, bringing the total number participating to 22. The Art & Science of Your College Journey, a two-part course launched in 2018, continued to successfully help students in the Communities of Professional Practice and those outside those programs navigate their undergraduate paths, enhance post-graduate plans and transition to the workforce. Nonprofit Leadership partnered with the Student Professional Development Center and Kernodle Center to co-host a Year of Service Informational Panel, illuminating post-graduation options. The program was also awarded a Fund for Excellence grant to develop and launch online learning modules that provide undergraduates extended knowledge about nonprofit organizations.

Peace Corps Preparation

Elon’s Peace Corps Preparation Program continues to produce strong numbers of Peace Corps volunteers, ranking it highly among national universities. This year Elon ranked No. 25 in the agency’s 2020 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities list. Elon’s Peace Corps Prep program was established in 2013, recertified in 2018 and expanded to prepare students to serve in all six Peace Corps service areas: agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and youth in development. Sixteen alumni served globally in 2019-20 before being recalled this spring due to COVID-19. Their missions hadn’t been reinstated as of this report. Sixteen undergraduates completed the program this year. Among the members of the Class of 2020 were Laura Braley, Hannah Cheyney, Lucia Craige, Marjorie Anne Foster, Taylor Garner, Elise Granath, Zoe Grove, Chloe Hultman, Ashley Jutras, Alexandra Mangan, Holly Miranda, Celia Roskin, Lallo Yadeta and Fiona Zahm. From the Class of 2021, Austin Hays and Kathryn Noon also completed the program.

Military Science/Reserve Officer Training Corps

Elon College strengthened proud support for the Army and Air Force ROTC programs last year by establishing the ROTC Advisory Committee. Comprised of members from academic advising, admissions, the registrar’s office, financial planning, faculty and the Elon College dean’s office, the committee’s mission is to grow ROTC at Elon and support cadets’ experiences and academic success.

The committee met in the fall and spring semesters and implemented opportunities for ROTC cadets, including incorporating ROTC color guard and bell ringing at Elon Phoenix home football games and established an ROTC Leadership Experiential Learning Requirement opportunity. The team advanced strategies to streamline orientation for incoming ROTC students by bringing the registrar’s and advising components to one location. The College hosted a fall breakfast for all ROTC cadets in the fall, where cadets were able to give valuable feedback that will be used for continued growth of the programs.

On May 21 and 22, six graduating seniors were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army and Air Force during virtual ceremonies. Air Force cadets commissioned were Sarah Boggins (applied mathematics), Matt Oertel (accounting) and Hannah Schulz (international & global studies and history). Army cadets commissioned were Kyle Delaney (finance), Angela Kammen (public health studies) and Kyle Walsh (strategic communications).