Elon students attend, support Global Action Summit

Five students and one staff member from the School of Communications provided video and social media coverage for the annual forum that brings together world leaders to discuss topics relating to food, health and prosperity. Two other Elon students attended the conference as fellows.

A group from Elon University attended and provided media support at the 2015 Global Action Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Pictured (from left) are Giles Roll ’18, David Perell ’16, Sky Cowans ’16, Andrew Steinitz ’17, Mia Watkins ’16, Jensen Roll ’16, Rajat Agarwal ’16 and Bryan Baker, coordinator of video projects in the School of Communications.
​A group of Elon University students and staff coordinated, produced and distributed online news coverage for the 2015 Global Action Summit, an annual conference that convenes top decision makers, leaders and young fellows from around the world.

Seniors Rajat Agarwal, Sky Cowans, David Perell and Mia Watkins and junior Andrew Steinitz teamed with Bryan Baker, coordinator of video projects in the School of Communications, to provide video and social media reports highlighting the summit’s events, keynotes and activities.

The group traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, from Nov. 15-18, 2015, and conducted interviews of speakers and attendees about topics relating to food, health and prosperity. In addition to videos for the summit’s YouTube channel, the Elon contingent also oversaw content on the conference’s Twitter and Facebook platforms. Here’s the group’s day one recap video.

“I’m extremely proud of the work and effort these students put forth into the summit and its news coverage,” Baker said. “Myself and others were impressed with their professionalism, which shows in the work they produced.”

Elon students interviewed and spoke with CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria, who hosts the annual Global Action Summit. Pictured (from left) are Giles Roll ’18, David Perell ’16, Zakaria and Sky Cowans ’16.
​Also in attendance were Elon senior Jensen Roll and his brother, sophomore Giles Roll. Jensen Roll was instrumental in the creation of Helping Other People Eat (H.O.P.E.), a nonprofit organization fighting hunger by providing sustainable financial support to local food pantries.

The Rolls were Global Action Summit Fellows and used the forum to share the work and efforts behind H.O.P.E.’s success.

The 2015 summit, hosted by Fareed Zakaria, anchor of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” gathered nearly 400 senior business leaders, university leaders, research scientists, global agencies and NGO directors.

Global Action Summit
The Global Action Summit is an annual forum held in Nashville, Tennessee, that fosters cross-sector perspectives on food, health and prosperity. The aim of the summit is to create, guide and facilitate leadership initiatives. Events, conferences and outreach activities are also hosted throughout the year by the Global Action Platform to help facilitate program goals. Attendance to the annual Global Action Summit is by invitation only.