Ryan Kupperman

Managing Editor of elonnewsnetwork.com

Ryan Kupperman '25 is studying journalism with a minor in criminal justice studies. Kupperman currently serves as Managing Editor of elonnewsnetwork.com and has a passion for reporting, storytelling and digital communications. When not in the newsroom, Kupperman enjoys reading, catching up on media and playing board games. Click here to view Kupperman's best work.

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Recent Articles

NEWS 7/15/24 7:10pm

Elon University professors contextualize assassination attempt on Trump

By Ryan Kupperman

Less than 10 minutes after he took the stage at one of his political rallies, former President and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump was huddled away by secret service agents following multiple gun shots. According to Dillan Bono-Lunn, Elon professor of political science and policy studies, this incident is the most significant event of the election season so far. The attack came just days before the start of the Republican National Convention on July 15, where Trump announced Senator J.D. Vance as his vice president and running mate.

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NEWS 6/21/24 4:07pm

Risant Health acquires Cone Health

By Ryan Kupperman

Cone Health, Elon University’s medical service partner, signed an agreement June 21 to become part of Risant Health — a nonprofit organization created by Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Cone Health itself is a nonprofit health care network that manages and coordinates care for roughly 200,000 patients in Alamance, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham and part of Forsyth counties, according to a Cone Health press release. “We do not anticipate changes in the types of care we provide as a result of becoming part of Risant Health,” Dr. Mary Jo Cagle, CEO and President of Cone Health, said in the release.

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NEWS 5/27/24 2:55pm

Family remembers Elon community service officer as full of love, ‘one of a kind’

By Ryan Kupperman

Monte Markley — an Elon community service officer — died of a stroke on May 18 at 43 years old after roughly nine years working at Elon University. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. June 1 at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington. Markley is preceded in death by her son James Markley, who was a sophomore at Elon when he died in 2020. Monte's sister Amanda Kilcrease said she wants Elon to know how much Monte loved the community. “I just want people to know that when she loves, she loves hard. She loved her job at Elon.”

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NEWS 5/24/24 10:31am

Elon University class of 2024 triumphs at 134th commencement ceremony

By Avery Sloan and Ryan Kupperman

Elon University’s class of 2024 took flight as phoenix officially joined the ranks of alumni at the 134th commencement ceremony on May 24 in Schar Center. Two ceremonies were held throughout the day, with the first kicking off at 9 a.m. and the second starting at 2:30 p.m. Senior Grace Ackermann, the first-ever nominated student commencement speaker, began the ceremony by remarking that it was the class of 2024’s first real graduation — since this year’s seniors graduated high school in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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NEWS 5/23/24 4:03pm

¡Celebremos! charges Latinx/Hispanic graduates to take flight

By Ryan Kupperman

Class of 2024 graduates within Elon University’s Latinx and Hispanic communities took flight — embodying the Monarch Butterfly — at the ¡Celebremos!: Graduates Take Flight on May 23 in the Lakeside Meeting Rooms. The ceremony is an annual tradition to honor Latinx, Hispanic students that are graduating with bachelor's or master's degrees. The Monarch Butterfly was also adopted within the last couple of years as a symbol of spreading one’s wings and moving onto the next stage of life. Senior Manny Sanchez attended the ceremony, and said he was proud to be a part of and give back to the Latinx and Hispanic communities. 

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NEWS 5/20/24 2:28pm

Elon community service officer dies at 43 years old

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon Community Service Officer Monte Markley died on May 18 at 43 years old, according to an email sent out to the Elon community by University President Connie Book. Markley is survived by her mother Lynn Cobb, her father Harold Prince, her husband Wade and her sister Amanda Kilcrease. Markley was also preceded in death by her son James Lee Yancey Markley. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on June 1 at the Rich & Thompson Chapel in Burlington. People may also show their support by purchasing and planting a memorial tree in Markley’s honor.

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NEWS 5/14/24 7:24pm

Rainfall causes road damage on East Haggard Ave

By Ryan Kupperman

The road between Crest Apartments and North Oak Street has sustained major road damage due to heavy rainfall, according to an E-Alert sent May 14. Though another E-Alert also stated that East Haggard is closed due to a gas leak, Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire clarified that that message was a mistake and there is no gas leak. LeMire recommended that everyone get off East Haggard Avenue entirely leading up to Oak Street. As of 9:40 p.m., Campus Police reported that East Haggard has been temporarily repaired by using gravel to level the road. 

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NEWS 5/13/24 11:38am

Elon alum, former basketball player dies two weeks after returning to campus

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University alum Dmitri Thompson ’18 has died, according to a Facebook post from his high school alma mater Orlando Christian Prep. This comes two weeks after he came to campus to receive a 2024 Top 10 Under Top award, which honors 10 alumni who have graduated in the past 10 years for their post-graduation accomplishments. Elon News Network does not yet know the cause of death. Thompson was a former member of Elon’s Men’s Basketball Team and ended his career as one of the best scorers in program history.

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NEWS 5/7/24 1:17pm

Associate Director of Teaching Fellows Program dies unexpectedly due to illness

By Ryan Kupperman

Jennifer Fish, associate director of Elon University’s Teaching Fellows Program, died unexpectedly the morning of May 7 due to illness, according to an email sent to the university community by President Connie Book. A Gathering of Friends will be held at 4:30 p.m. on May 8 in the sacred space of Numen Lumen to honor her life. Book stated in the email that Fish recently celebrated 15 years of service to Elon and has taught the teaching fellows throughout that time. Expressions of condolence for Jennifer’s family can be brought to the Truitt Center main desk or sent through campus mail to Truitt Center, 2960 Campus Box.

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NEWS 5/4/24 12:30pm

Gathering of friends honors Elon junior as ‘selfless’, ‘life of the party’

By Ryan Kupperman

Approximately 70 members of the Elon community attended a gathering of friends in the pavilion behind the Sklut Hillel Center on May 3 to share their feelings of loss and reflect on fond memories they’ve shared with Malinsky. Malinsky, who died on April 29 of brain cancer, was a member of Elon’s class of 2025 and an active member of the Jewish community. Jewish Educator Boaz Avraham-Katz, who was one of Talia’s professors, spoke at the event along with University Chaplain Kirstin Boswell — who led the service in a prayer before allowing Talia’s friends to speak about their memories with her.

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NEWS 5/1/24 9:23am

Elon junior dies of brain cancer

By Avery Sloan and Ryan Kupperman

Elon junior Talia Malinsky died around 5 p.m. on April 29 at the age of 21 surrounded by family. Her mother Irit Malinsky said she died from a recurrence of brain cancer. She has been on leave from Elon since last spring. The family is currently raising money to transport and bury Talia in Jerusalem. As of May 1, they were able to raise upward of $17,000 and will be leaving tonight for Israel. Talia, raised in an Israeli family, wanted to move to Israel after graduating from Elon, according to her dad Mark Malinsky.

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NEWS 4/29/24 5:33pm

Campus police confirm no fire on, near campus

By Ryan Kupperman

Following several reports of smoke in the air and a potential fire near campus, Elon Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire issued an E-Alert stating there is no fire danger near Elon University. According to the statement, a control burn is taking place in another county and a shift in wind has begun to blow smoke toward the Alamance County area. LeMire stated the smoke will dissipate over time, and it may be helpful to close vents or windows to reduce smoke smell. LeMire closed the alert with cautioning those who have difficulty breathing to remain inside while the smoke dissipates.

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NEWS 4/11/24 12:03pm

Campus police responds to reports of suspicious person; declares no danger to Elon University community

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University Campus Police responded to reports of a suspicious person on campus; the individual was a male, non-student who had tried to make contact with an Elon student he had met online, according to an E-Alert sent by Chief of Campus Safety and Police Joe LeMire around 11:30 a.m. on April 11. Elon Campus Police contacted the Elon student, who was reportedly concerned for their safety, and the individual was investigated by the police, instructed not to return to campus or contact the Elon student again and was issued a written, trespass warning.

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NEWS 3/12/24 11:05am

East Haggard, North Oak Avenue closed due to gas leak

By Ryan Kupperman

East Haggard was briefly closed from North Oak Avenue to Lawrence Street due to a gas leak, according to an E-Alert. This is the third gas leak near or on Elon University’s campus in three months. According to Dante Howell, construction personnel on scene, one of the construction workers hit an active, main gas line on Haggard Avenue. Following protocol, they called the fire department and closed off the area. As of 11:30 a.m. Howell said the road had been reopened for about an hour — though Howell is managing the flow of one-lane traffic just past Sheridan Place.

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NEWS 3/5/24 11:14pm

Alamance County primary elections results

By Ryan Kupperman

As of 10:12 p.m. on March 5, 39 out of 39 precincts in Alamance County have reported their votes for North Carolina’s primary elections. The North Carolina State Board of Elections will officially call the results on March 15. The following are each of North Carolina’s candidates after primary elections closed March 5. Most notably, gubernatorial candidates North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson will be facing off against each other in general elections in November with nearly opposite campaign platforms.

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NEWS 2/19/24 11:42am

New Elon in Los Angeles director focuses on recruitment

By Ryan Kupperman

New Elon in Los Angeles Director Brad Lemack will be visiting Elon on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Snow Atrium for an informal meet and greet. After a few weeks on the job, Lemack said his primary goal for the program is recruitment. Lemack has been living and working in LA for decades — including as an Elon adjunct professor of strategic communications and entertainment public relations for the last 14 years. With the Elon in LA program being 15 years old, Lemack has been involved with the program for almost its entire existence.

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NEWS 2/15/24 3:28pm

Traffic on West Trollinger Ave; South Holt Ave; West Summerbell; Johnson Street to be blocked Feb. 19, 20

By Ryan Kupperman

Traffic will be blocked on West Trollinger Avenue, South Holt Avenue, West Summerbell and Johnson street on Monday, Feb. 19 and Tuesday, Feb. 20 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to an E-Alert sent on Feb. 15. Residents who live on South Holt Avenue, West Summerbell and Johnson Street will be allowed to access their homes from South Williamson Avenue at West Trollinger Avenue. Residents in the 200 to 600 blocks of West Trollinger will need to utilize Church Street, Summers Drive and Ball Park Avenue.

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NEWS 2/14/24 8:15pm

Elon life trustee dies at 94, leaves mark on university community

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon Life Trustee Warren “Dusty” Rhodes died at the age of 94 on Monday, Feb. 12, according to an email sent to faculty by university President Connie Book. Rhodes served on the board of trustees for 14 years before being elected a life trustee in 2011. According to Book, Rhodes was “one of Elon’s most dedicated and passionate friends for more than 25 years.”  A celebration of Rhodes' life will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16 at St. Mark’s Church in Burlington, and a burial will follow in the church cemetery.

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NEWS 2/9/24 6:13pm

Elon Law student camps for seat in Trump’s Supreme Court hearing

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon Law student Landon Eckard left for D.C. as soon as he got out of class on Tuesday, Feb. 6. After arriving at the Supreme Court building around 7 p.m., Eckard waited in line for a seat in former President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court hearing on Feb. 8 — where The Court deliberated if Trump should be barred from the 2024 presidential ballot. With a lawn chair and some blankets, Eckard was third in line and waited for two days.

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NEWS 2/8/24 11:12am

East Haggard Ave, Antioch closed due to gas leak

By Avery Sloan and Ryan Kupperman

Traffic on East Haggard Ave. is closed from Antioch to Lawrence due to a gas leak, according to an E-Alert sent at approximately 11 a.m. At around 12:30 p.m., another E-Alert stated that traffic had reopened and access to Sheridan Place — which had also been blocked — is once again available. The Utility Company is on scene and repairs may take up to a couple of hours. Elon University facilities management said the leak is not on Elon's property and the town of Elon is working to fix this issue.

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