College faculty spearheading the university’s participation in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) grant program initiated several projects aimed at enhancing Elon’s inclusive excellence efforts in STEM disciplines.
In 2022, Elon received a six-year, $377,800 grant, joining over 100 institutions working to correct the underrepresentation of women and minoritized groups in STEM. Elon is part of a 14-institution cluster — including large R1 institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and small to mid-size private institutions — developing new pedagogical approaches and advancing professional development around inclusive excellence in STEM.
A fall 2023 showcase brought faculty together to discuss ongoing, innovative teaching strategies across STEM programs. At Elon, the IE3 team funded an inclusive pedagogy workshop for faculty and staff, enhanced peer mentoring programs, and piloted programs incorporating new pedagogy into introductory STEM courses. With partners at other universities, Elon’s team is assessing the effectiveness of online inclusive teaching workshops for faculty and will collaborate to gather student perspectives on introductory STEM experiences across five other institutions.
A working group of 14 faculty and staff members also brought in external consultants to help guide development of a center to advance STEM education at Elon.
Through creative expression, the arts address critical issues and elicit emotional responses that catalyze action. This year, the Departments of Music, Performing Arts and Art reached beyond their disciplines to provide powerful messages around health and mental well-being for the campus and community.
, Public Health Scholars and Counseling Services produced “Raising Awareness,” a November concert centered around mental well-being that connected students to campus resources. Eleven first-year Public Health Scholars researched and presented information about anxiety, depression and strategies for well-being. Before and after the concert, Counseling Services supplied additional information for students, faculty and staff about available services.
The Rhoades Research and Choreography Grant, funded by retired art faculty member Barbara Rhoades, supported three student-directed dance concerts that spoke to mental well-being and issues of equality. “Semicolon” by Pheriby Bryan ’25 — co-mentored by Assistant Professor of Dance Keshia Wall and Associate Professor of Dance Jen Guy Metcalf — responded to suicide and suicidal ideation among youth and college-aged adults. Post-show panels provided mental health information and strategies from Elon’s Counseling Services, discussing the impacts of suicide on families and communities.
Seniors in the Department of Art spent the year in deep reflection of their identities and life experiences for their thesis exhibitions in May. Their work transmitted ideas around intersectionality, belonging and overcoming trauma, sparking conversations among peers and the community around sexual assault prevention and self-care.
Hundreds of students, faculty and staff attended a series of events throughout the year focused on the Israel-Hamas War, providing opportunity for discussion of the region’s history and ongoing conflict in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel.
“Contextualizing the Conflict: Conversations About the Middle East” brought the campus together for roundtable discussions with subject-matter experts in political science, religious studies, journalism, history, law, and other areas for a wide view of the tumult. The October event was organized by Carrie Eaves, associate professor of political science and policy studies; Jason Husser, associate professor of political science and director of the Elon Poll; Andrea Sinn, associate professor of history; and Brian Pennington, director of the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society and Professor of Religious Studies.
Several guest speakers and events followed throughout the academic year, offering dialogue and deeper understanding.
