Working @Elon

Omri Shimron often finds himself caught between two worlds. Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., but raised in Haifa, Israel, Shimron, assistant professor of music, has bridged those two worlds through music.

Recently, the Elon community honored President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley ’46 on Founders Day. And while Danieley might be the most celebrated alumnus working at Elon, he’s joined by more than 120 fellow graduates of the past few decades. Some leave and come back, others become faculty and staff immediately after Commencement, but they agree on one point: Elon is a great place to live and work.

Perhaps no other man captures the spirit of the university better than President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley '46, who was honored at Elon's 2010 Founders Day celebrations. Danieley not only made his career at the institution and served as its sixth president but also doubles as a walking encyclopedia of all things Elon.

The campus community continues to respond enthusiastically to the annual Faculty/Staff Campaign. As of mid-March, 409 employees, or 32 percent of faculty and staff, have donated $251,000 in cash and annual gift commitments. During 2008-2009, 35 percent of faculty and staff contributed $234,000 to support the university.

Sitting among the beautiful furniture and fine art in the reception area of Powell Building, suite 104, you begin to understand the anxiety some faculty, staff and students might feel sitting there, waiting for an audience with President Leo M. Lambert. For the five individuals who spend the most time in the president's office, however, any unease seems incomprehensible.

In 2006, Cummings High School – located a mere six miles from Elon’s campus – was on the verge of closure, as overall student performance and achievements reached record lows. President Leo M. Lambert felt compelled to act, so he called in Deborah Long, at the time chair of Elon’s Department of Education.

J. Fred Young may not be a household name among many current students, faculty and staff at Elon, but he should be. During his 25-year tenure as president of Elon College, Young oversaw significant advancements at Elon, among them the Moseley Center, Koury Athletic Center and many of the current academic programs students participate in today. But his greatest legacy might not involve construction or academics; rather, it centers around something tastier: the tradition of College Coffee.