Dan Anderson

Members of the Elon University Parents Council gathered on campus for their spring meeting April 3-4, considering a full agenda of items related to the university's operation and its future.

Three faculty members in the School of Communications were recognized for their outstanding work this academic year during the spring Advisory Board luncheon April 3.

The university community is deeply saddened by the death of student Milena Alvarez, who passed away April 1 after a courageous battle with cancer. Milena was a freshman from Winston-Salem, N.C. She was recently initiated as a sister in Alpha Chi Omega and was also a member of Campus Outreach.

George R. Johnson Jr., a distinguished lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in government service and education, has been named the second dean of Elon University School of Law. Johnson’s appointment by Elon University President Leo M. Lambert comes after a five-month national search, and is effective immediately.

John G. Sullivan, Powell Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, has published an article titled “Spring’s Stirrings: The Art of Being a Beginner,” in the spring 2009 issue of Itineraries, the electronic journal of the North Carolina non-profit organization, Second Journey.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discussed a wide range of foreign policy issues at a news conference on campus prior to her March 31 Convocation address. She praised the work of President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, but said they are facing not just foreign policy headaches, but the "whole emergency room."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright will be the featured speaker during Elon University's Spring Convocation for Honors at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, in Alumni Gym. Tickets are still available for the general public and for students, faculty and staff.

Bill Webb, assistant professor of theatre, presented on Elon's performing arts production of "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Southeastern Theater Conference in Birmingham, Ala., on March 9. His presentation, titled "The Tech of Phantom" was an evaluation and discussion of the technical process of the production.

Matt Matheny, a 16-year veteran assistant basketball coach at Davidson College, has been selected to lead Elon's men's basketball program. He was introduced as the 17th head men's basketball coach in Elon history at a March 29 news conference, vowing his goal is to ensure the academic success of the players and at the same time propel Elon to a spot in the NCAA Division I tournament.

Barbara Bancroft, the final Voices of Discovery speaker for the 2008-09 academic year, comes to campus March 30 for an evening discussion on health care advancements and how the public has been flooded with confusing, complex information about new medical products and services. Bancroft is known for her sense of humor in presentations that summarize and interpret that new information.