When I first addressed our community as dean-elect, I spoke of two convictions that shaped my leadership journey: higher education is a uniquely powerful engine of social mobility, and every steward of an institution must leave it stronger, more resilient and more generous than it was found. Those convictions frame the theme of this annual report: World-Class, World-Ready.
At Elon University, “world-class” begins with a liberal arts foundation that nourishes ethical reasoning and curiosity, then deepens through disciplined study. It becomes “world-ready” when knowledge is tested against real challenges, whether in an emerging market, a family enterprise, an AI-driven start-up or a Fortune 500 boardroom. At the heart of it all are our exceptional faculty and staff, who offer students a personalized experience they will cherish for a lifetime.
The pages that follow chronicle a year of purposeful expansion. You will discover stories of global learning hubs that pair coursework with industry projects, immersive cohort experiences that place students in unfamiliar cultures for an entire term and alumni whose achievements reveal how far an Elon University education can travel. Together, these narratives affirm a simple proposition: insight delivers its greatest impact when it reaches across geographic and disciplinary boundaries and invites us to step beyond our own perspectives and comfort zones.
Sustaining this momentum demands unwavering attention to student success, strategic investment in faculty and staff, and partnerships that link classrooms to the evolving demands of business. It also requires resources, and I will spend considerable time with advisory boards, corporate friends and philanthropic partners to secure the support that keeps innovation at the center of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.
We build on an established foundation. For more than a decade, Dean Raghu Tadepalli guided this school with an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to academic excellence. I am grateful for his mentorship and for the culture of collaboration he fostered.
Thank you for standing with us as we prepare principled, agile leaders who will thrive wherever the world calls them. I invite you to read on and share in the pride we feel for a community that is, in every sense, world-class and world-ready.
Best regards,
Haya Ajjan
Dean of the Martha & Spencer Love School of Business
