A Message to Alumni of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences

From the August 2026 Alumni NewsletterDean Hilton Kelly

Since my arrival as Dean, I have spent a great deal of my time listening. My goal was to listen and to learn so that we can advance competently and compassionately. After listening to faculty and staff, it became clear to me that there was more agreement and unity about who we are as a college in this university. From these conversations, we launched a new mission statement, vision statement and core values that reflect truly who we are and where we are going with much intention.

The new Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences new vision statement reads: “The Heart of an Elon Education: Ignite Curiosity, Engage Challenges, Transform Worlds.”

The mission statement declares: “Upholding the centrality of the liberal arts, we explore and apply disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge for inquiry, creativity, discovery and problem solving in a complex and changing world.”
The core values include accessibility, belonging, critical thinking, diversity, equity and inclusion, integrity, intellectual curiosity, problem-posing and respect for human dignity.

We are the Heart of an Elon Education — proudly and boldly.

Hilton Kelly
Dean, Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences