News Releases

Elon University conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters on longtime supporter and trustee Allen E. Gant Jr. during Fall Convocation on Oct. 12, 2010, in recognition of his commitment to innovation, education, global citizenship and service to the university and to Alamance County.

The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication formally honored Elon University's School of Communications this week with the 2010 Equity and Diversity Award in recognition of the school's commitment to advancing gender and racial diversity in its programs.

Acclaimed writer and attorney Scott Turow will deliver the Elon University School of Law fall 2010 Joseph M. Bryan Distinguished Leadership Lecture on Wednesday evening, Oct. 13. Turow's books have been translated into more than 25 languages, sold more than 25 million copies world-wide and have been adapted into a feature-length film and two television miniseries.

Navigating the world of special education can be daunting, especially for parents with no experience having their child tested for a learning disability. Elon University associate professor Linda Wilmshurst recognized that fear, and this fall, the second edition of a book she co-authored five years ago is being released with more resources and updated information on trends that all parents and teachers should have.

"Fresh. Friendly. Fast." For Burney Jennings '87, president and CEO of the North Carolina-based Biscuitville restaurant chain, it's those qualities - and in that order - that have made the company founded by his father, Maurice Jennings '57, such a success. The younger Jennings shared his family's story with a crowded LaRose Digital Theatre on Sept. 15, 2010, in the annual Legends of Business program sponsored by the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Pamela M. Kiser, Watts-Thompson Professor in the Department of Human Service Studies, was formally awarded the Distinguished University Professorship at a special investiture ceremony on Oct. 4. The board of trustees conferred the professorship on Kiser last spring, and the special ceremony was an opportunity to celebrate Kiser's contributions to teaching, scholarship and service to the Elon University community.

Elon University will receive up to $200,000 in federal grant money through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help with the installation of solar thermal systems that will heat water each day in a dining hall and a number of residence halls.

First-year college students do most of their writing via text messaging and social networks, but it’s not always a type of writing they say they most value, according to new research co-authored by a team of Elon University professors. That leads to the next questions in what promises to be an ongoing project: why do they value what they value, and how can academia catch up with their use of writing technologies?

Tyronna McKoy Hooker G’09 and Debra Briggs Hennelly ’88 have been honored in recent weeks as Teachers of the Year in their respective home counties in North Carolina.