School of Communications bids farewell to senior Fellows

Communications faculty and staff celebrated the graduating students’ accomplishments and leadership during a May 22 luncheon.

Associate Professor Naeemah Clark (far left) gathers with her senior Communications Fellows during a May 22 farewell luncheon.
​As part of the May 22 farewell luncheon for its senior Communications Fellows, School of Communications faculty and staff went around the Lakeside meeting room offering remarks about the graduating students.

With the Fellows and their families looking on, the professors bestowed an abundant amount of praise upon the seniors, highlighted by a comment from Professor Janna Anderson.

Anderson explained that during her spring “Media Writing” class – a course consisting of first-year Fellows – she shared a photograph of the senior Fellows cohort. “You have to lead the way that they led,” the professor recalled telling the first-year students. Anderson commended the seniors for accepting the school’s charge to serve as great leaders, setting an example for future Fellows.

The luncheon included a number of highlights including toasts from several senior Fellows and an appearance via Skype from J McMerty, director of the Elon in Los Angeles Program.

Photos from the luncheon are available on the School of Communications’ Flickr page.

Associate Professor Naeemah Clark, director of the Communications Fellows Program, opened the luncheon sharing a few anecdotes about her time with the graduating class.

During this time, Clark recalled that her morning commute earlier that day became “teary” as she reminisced about her experiences with the Fellows.

“They have made my time at Elon a dream, and I am so grateful,” she said, noting she’s watched the students grow and become “superstars in their classes.”

While grades and accolades came in abundance for the group, Clark said she gained the most satisfaction from seeing the students support one another, as well as their instructor.

“I am grateful that when good things happened to me, these students sent me a note and said that they are proud of me – just like I am proud of them,” she said. “That, to me, is a test of who they are. I know they are going to do great things in the future.”