News

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NEWS 5/8/26 3:45pm

Nationwide Canvas breach impacts only faculty data as Elon University prepares for transition

By Miles Hayford

Learning management platform Canvas, which will be used by Elon University beginning fall 2026, was affected by a nationwide cyberattack May 7. The hacking group, known as ShinyHunters said in a ransom letter on May 3 that it accessed data from more than 275 million people across nearly 9,000 schools. Canvas’ parent company, Instructure, announced May 1 that it had experienced a “cybersecurity incident.” Instructure said this attack compromised personal identifying information such as names and student ID numbers, but only Elon faculty data was impacted, according to Associate Vice President of Information Technology Christopher Waters.

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NEWS 5/7/26 12:36pm

New York Times journalist discusses role of journalists, offers advice to younger generations

By Megan Walsh

From being kicked out of her college newspaper to working as a New York Times investigative reporter and author, Jodi Kantor shared her wisdom and work with audiences at the Elon University School of Law’s Distinguished Leadership Lecture Series on May 6.

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NEWS 5/6/26 1:08pm

Elon University chair of Department of Performing Arts dies

By Anjolina Fantaroni and Trista Panagakos

Performing arts students were told early Wednesday afternoon that professor and chair of the Department of Performing Arts Fred Rubeck died May 6. Co-chair of the performing arts department Kirby Wahl notified students via a Moodle announcement.

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NEWS 5/6/26 12:16pm

New HealthEU building sees phased construction process

By Abigail Hines

The new HealthEU building, recently named the Slattery Center, has reached its tallest point as it nears its anticipated grand opening in fall 2026. On the north side of the building, facing the Colonnades Neighborhood, workers have begun laying the traditional Elon red brick on the structure's outer walls. The south side has a finished structure, but no exterior walls have been added as of May 5. 

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NEWS 5/4/26 11:09pm

North Carolina must produce more degrees in key industries to address shortfall, report finds

By Miles Hayford

Despite nationwide concerns over the job market, North Carolina’s economy has remained strong, and requires 5,000 to 10,000 more degrees each year from North Carolina universities, according to a report from the University of North Carolina System. 

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NEWS 5/3/26 4:12pm

New neuroscience, digital content management majors gain early momentum in first year

By Mia Torres

After just one year of being launched, the newest majors at Elon University, neuroscience and digital content management, are already gaining traction among students and faculty. They reflect both long-standing interest and rapidly changing industries. 

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NEWS 4/30/26 6:17pm

First rabies case of 2026 in Alamance County confirmed

By Charlotte Pfabe , Mackenzie Cruz and Miles Hayford

The Alamance County Health Department confirmed the first rabies case of 2026, according to a press release April 30. The county health department wrote that the exposure happened April 29 near South Ashland Drive and Tyron Street in Burlington.

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NEWS 4/30/26 2:59pm

New Odyssey Program director to promote community learning and advocacy

By Abby Gravely

On June 1, Mat Gendle will become the director of Elon’s Odyssey Program, which offers scholarships and expanded opportunities to high-achieving Elon students with high financial need. Gendle will be the third person to step into the role within the last year, following one director’s termination and the other’s decision to leave the university to pursue her PHD. 

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NEWS 4/29/26 8:11pm

Search for inaugural dean of Elon University School of Engineering and Computing made confidential

By Miles Hayford

As the final candidates for Elon University’s inaugural dean of the new School of Engineering and Computing begin to visit campus and present to the Elon community, the search committee has made the decision to make the search confidential. 

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NEWS 4/29/26 11:06am

Elon alums share first-hand reactions to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

By Charlotte Pfabe

Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday evening. There were over 2,000 people at the dinner, including Elon alums. Seated on the ground level, Annemarie Bonner ‘23 said she first wasn’t sure what she had heard, but when she realized it was gunshots, the night turned into her worst nightmare. 

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NEWS 4/26/26 10:39am

Policies differ across departments as Elon integrates AI

By Evan Cooper

As Elon University continues work to integrate artificial intelligence on campus, professors and students have varying degrees of adoption.

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NEWS 4/24/26 4:42pm

Former Elon University student arrested for sexual exploitation charge

By Elon News Network

A Burlington man, who previously attended Elon University, was arrested April 21 and charged with four counts of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Nikolaos Alexander Fotiou, 18, was taken to the Alamance County Detention Center and is being held there under no bond, as of April 24. According to a Burlington Police Department press release, the Invictus Task Force aided with the investigation. 

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NEWS 4/24/26 3:25pm

Meet Elon University’s 2026 Lumen Prize winners

By Miles Hayford

Fifteen students have been selected to receive $20,000 to support their mentored research and projects for the next two years as a part of the Lumen Prize. The 2026 Lumen Scholar winners will work closely with their mentors on their projects during their junior and senior years.

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NEWS 4/23/26 4:21pm

Elon, Queens University enter next stage of merger

By Miles Hayford

Elon University and the Queens University of Charlotte will soon be entering the next step of the merger, with many Queens employees becoming Elon employees within the next few months.

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NEWS 4/21/26 5:34pm

Burlington Police sees increase in productivity through AI use

By Charlotte Pfabe

The Burlington Police Department may implement artificial intelligence to help officers write case reports. The department is using a program called Truleo, which BPD Intel Sgt. Misha Braja said the department has already used for almost two years to analyze body-worn camera footage. “Report writing is the bread and butter of law enforcement,” Braja said. “We have to document everything that we do.”

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NEWS 4/21/26 12:53pm

Elon parent, trustee to deliver 2026 commencement address

By Abigail Hines

Patricia Walsh Chadwick has held many roles at Elon University, from being an Elon parent in 2012 to more recently joining the finance and administration committees as a trustee. This spring, she will take on a new role as the 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker.  

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NEWS 4/19/26 3:44pm

Elon University announces 2026 Lumen Scholar winners

By Miles Hayford

Fifteen students have been granted $20,000 to support their mentored research and projects for the next two years after the Lumen Advisory Committee announced Elon University’s 2026 Lumen Scholar winners. Director of the Lumen Prize Michael Carignan said the committee had to make very difficult decisions because there were many strong proposals submitted this year.

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NEWS 4/19/26 11:33am

SURF Day hits record number of submissions

By Fiona McAllister

Elon University’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum has hit a record number of submissions this year, with 387 participants. The forum will be held April 28. There are no campus activities or classes during this full day of research presentations. Associate Director of the undergraduate research program Jennifer Hamel has spent the past three years at Elon helping with SURF Day. Hamel said SURF Day has expanded during her time and from what she has seen in the past. 

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NEWS 4/18/26 5:31pm

Elon University senior’s research explores whether expectations can amplify exercise’s benefits

By Norah Wolf

For Asia Green, a senior exercise science major at Elon, being curious about undergraduate research evolved into something more: a nationally recognized research project exploring the coaction between mindset, movement, and outcomes. Green traced her initial spark of inspiration and interest in the field of undergraduate research back to her sophomore year, when she first attended the Student Undergraduate Research Forum. The forum exposed Green to student-led research that produced meaningful, real-world impact. From there, she said, she sought out mentorship to get started.

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NEWS 4/18/26 3:48pm

STEM Saturday brings Alamance County high school students to Elon University

By Alannah Klingsporn

Alamance-Burlington School System high school students gathered on Elon University’s campus April 18 for Elon’s annual STEM Saturday. Elon senior and co-lead of STEM Saturday Sophia Wall said the program works directly with ABSS to give students hands-on experience in STEM through labs. 

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