College names Distinguished Alumni
The college recognized three outstanding alumni for contributions to higher education, public health and the arts during a ceremony April 28.
Sarah Babcock ’09, Kevin Pace ’02 and Drew Van Horn ’82 received the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award for embodying excellence in their fields and commitment to Elon’s values of integrity, honesty, service and leadership.
A biology major, Babcock chose to attend Elon on the strength of its service-learning opportunities and living-learning communities. She coordinated a service trip to Cambodia, participated in the Isabella Cannon Leadership Development Program and Clinton Global Health Initiative. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology, Babcock earned a Master of Public Health, International Health and Development from the Tulane School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine.
Babcock is currently chief administrative assistant for Jefferson Parish, near New Orleans, where she is creating the parish’s first health department from the ground up. She credits Elon’s instructors and emphasis on broad study of the liberal arts and sciences with her success at problem-solving and adapting to rapidly changing needs in public health.
Previously with the New Orleans Health Department, she served as director of healthy environments and communications and was recognized at the White House with FEMA’s Community Preparedness Award in 2015.
While visiting Elon, she met with biology students to discuss her professional experiences and share the importance of a liberal arts mindset in responding to public policy issues and crises.
The relationships Pace forged at Elon coupled with courses in jazz music illuminated his path to a career in musical performance.
He’s since appeared on more than 30 professional recordings, scored a film and won the Mid-Atlantic Song-Writing Competition. Pace’s debut album, “First Steps,” was selected by Capitol Bop magazine as one of the top five recordings of the year. He co-founded the D.C. Jazz Composers Collective, a 501(c)(3) organization devoted to perpetuating improvised music.
Pace graduated with a music degree after receiving the Billy Crocker Jazz Award in 2001 — the music department’s highest award for jazz studies — as well as the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for service. He earned a Master of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park.
In addition to touring the globe and playing in some of the world’s most prestigious venues, Pace has taught at multiple colleges and universities and currently is on the faculty at Shepherd University.
“His students adore him and cherish his mentoring. Already, Kevin has led many of his students to become among the best players in their respective areas,” Professor of Music Emeritx Jon Metzger said. “Kevin is by far the most requested guest artist now among our current students here at Elon. He connects so well with our students here on his return visits, identifies so beautifully with them and is able to reach them with sound advice.”
Pace routinely teaches master classes in Elon’s music programs, helping students map their career paths. In an Introduction to Music Business course this spring, he shared insights into establishing a career as a musician, the importance of professional conduct and how to diversify creative output through various media.
Van Horn has spent his career in higher education working to instill the commitment to student-focused teaching he first encountered at Elon at other liberal arts institutions.
Since 2017, he has served as president of Young Harris College in northwest Georgia. Van Horn previously held administrative positions at Elon — as director of student activities, alumni and parent relations and later development and major gifts — as well as Gardner-Webb University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, Iowa Wesleyan University and Brevard College, where he was president for nine years. He is also the former executive director of the Independent College Fund for North Carolina.
Van Horn graduated from Elon cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in human service studies, earning numerous awards and recognitions including induction into Alpha Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa and selection as a two-time recipient of both the Academic All-American Award and the CoSIDA (GTE) Academic All-American Award in basketball. He was inducted into the Elon University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
He earned a master’s degree in counseling from Campbell University, returned to Elon as director of student activities and eventually led Elon’s efforts in advancement.
In addition to his success in higher education, Van Horn founded his own consulting firm, Decision-Matters LLC, focusing on executive leadership training, development and coaching. Beyond his professional roles, he works extensively with human service organizations, helping them develop strategic and fundraising plans. His excellence in leadership was recognized nationally by his selection as a Thrivent Leadership Program Fellow, one of 12 selected in the U.S.
“Drew has demonstrated unique skills and leadership abilities and put his knowledge to great use,” said Associate Professor of Human Service Studies Bud Warner. “At his inauguration as president of Young Harris College, Dr. Van Horn noted that the college’s mission was to make a difference in the lives of its students and to make a difference in the lives of the community in which it resides. To me, that sounds like how someone might describe Drew Van Horn.”
Jake Smith ’19 brings solar power to Haiti
The solar battery Jake Smith ’19 engineered with the Haiti Solar Initiative looks unassuming — a black box about the size of a lunchbox with two electrical outlets — but it’s changing lives in Haiti.
The Relay battery is affordable, intuitive and easy to install, and has brought lights, phone and computer access to homes in areas where Haiti’s unreliable electric grid can’t reach. Some families even started businesses with the Relay, such as using electric sewing machines to tailor and sell clothing, expanding access to opportunity.
A dual-degree engineering alumnus with bachelors’ degrees in electrical engineering and engineering-physics from Elon and Georgia Tech, Smith earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Georgia Tech. He is currently a senior analog designer for Nebula Microsystems in the Dallas area.
The Relays are sold to local businesses below cost, then to customers at a small profit which is returned to the project to continue manufacturing the devices. Smith had distributed 75 Relays as of fall 2021. Currently developing the Relay III — a pocket-sized, lithium-ion battery — Smith hopes to deliver 10,000 solar batteries to the Haitian people in the coming years.
Chris Miller ’99 premieres “Prairie Songs and April Twilights” at Elon
Award-winning composer Chris Miller ’99 premiered a new collection of songs performed alongside Elon University music faculty in March.
“Prairie Songs and April Twilights” is a song cycle based on the poetry of Willa Cather. Senior Lecturer in Music Polly Cornelius commissioned the work and performed soprano vocals with Miller and Professor Emerita Victoria Fischer Faw accompanying on piano.
Miller composed the music for the Broadway production of “Tuck Everlasting,” scored the revival of “Angels in America” and was part of the team that won a 2012 Daytime Emmy Award for music in “Elmo Time” and “Sesame Street.” Miller worked closely with Fischer while an undergraduate at Elon, cultivating a passion for dramatic composition before earning a Master of Fine Arts in musical theatre writing from New York University.
Miller is a previous recipient of the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award, which led Cornelius to begin commissioning Miller’s work.
While on campus, Miller led several master classes for music and performing arts undergraduates.
Robert Minton ’18 talks Peace Corps, teaching in Ukraine
Robert Minton ’18 discussed his time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine and then his time living there as a private citizen during an April 12 discussion moderated by Assistant Professor of English Jennifer Eidum.
In August 2018, Minton deployed with the Peace Corps to a village in western Ukraine where he learned the language and trained to be a teacher. He taught English in Mukachevo, a western Ukrainian city, until the pandemic. He returned to the country later in 2020 to marry and continue teaching. When Russia invaded in February 2022, Minton and his wife fled to Prague.
He described the complexity of Russo-Ukrainian relations and the cultural ties between the countries. Depending on the region, Ukrainian sentiments toward Russia range from amicable to hostile.
Minton continued teaching his students virtually throughout the spring and hopes to return with his wife to their home in Kladno when the war ends.