This year, the ACPA-College Student Educators International annual convention included accolades for Elon staff, including a Diamond Honoree, a Voices of Inclusion Award recipient, and recognition as one of the most promising places to work in student affairs.
Elon University’s Division of Student Life garnered attention at the latest ACPA – College Student Educators International (ACPA) convention in Chicago held March 18-21 and showcased the division’s meaningful and impactful contributions to the field of student affairs. Notable accomplishments included a Class of 2024 Diamond Honoree recipient, a recipient of the Nancy J. Evans Voices of Inclusion Awards and the division’s recognition on the list for 2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs.
Founded in 1924 with now over 6,500 members, ACPA is dedicated to propelling student affairs forward, fostering student engagement, and offering professional growth opportunities for those in the field. Each year, the association hosts a convention for its members to come together to learn, discuss and celebrate. This year’s convention celebrated the association’s 100th anniversary, themed “Reflect. Evolve. Act.” Participants were encouraged to understand and celebrate past achievements, learn from reflection to shape a transformative future, and commit to proactive change, breaking down barriers while prioritizing racial justice and decolonization.
Jana Lynn Patterson, associate vice president for student life and dean of students, was honored as a member of the ACPA Foundation Diamond Honoree Class of 2024 in recognition of her leadership and contributions to the student affairs profession over the course of her career. All funds raised in honor of the Diamond Honorees will be utilized to sustain the ACPA Foundation and support research, programming and scholarship.
Patterson was recognized during a reception with the other 17 Diamond Honorees during the convention. Collectively, $66,000 was raised by all Diamond Honorees, of which $10,500 came from those who supported Patterson.
“I am honored and humbled by this recognition and being named a member of the Diamond Honoree Class of 2024. This honor further exemplifies the importance and power of meaningful connections with students in our work as student development and learning professionals,” Patterson said. “Elon is a relationship rich organization and this honor and participation level further illustrates the importance of being a student-centered institution. This group of Diamond Honorees also showcased the future of the student development profession by highlighting some of the most dynamic scholars and practitioners of today.
Patterson was also celebrated for her accomplishment at a Zoom celebration in March 2024 hosted by Elon alumni Christian Wiggins ‘03 and Michael Bumbry ‘07, who championed Patterson’s nomination and fundraising campaign.
“I donated to celebrate my mentor and friend, Jana Lynn, as well as to invest in the future of the profession,” Wiggins said. “Dean P has been a steadfast supporter for me – both personally and professionally. She has helped me grow into a better man and pushed me to be a successful leader.”
Bumbry echoed these sentiments, stating that more than 80 people donated in honor of Patterson because of the indelible impact she has had on their careers, undergraduate educations, and in some cases, their personal lives. “It is difficult to put in a few words how much Dean P has impacted my life,” Bumbry said. “But she is my mentor, my advocate, and over time, has become a trusted confidante and friend. Dean P helped me realize my full potential as a student leader and new student affairs professional, and now, as a seasoned higher ed professional of nearly 20 years.”
Another accomplishment celebrated during the convention was Jonathan A. McElderry, dean of student inclusive excellence and assistant professor, named one of two recipients of the Nancy J. Evans Voices of Inclusion Award.
Named this year to honor former ACPA President Nancy J. Evans, the award recognizes ACPA members who use their voices to make their campuses, the Association, and the field of student affairs a more equitable, inclusive, and just place. The inspiration of the award was created from the theme of the 2002 Convention in Long Beach, CA, “Voices of Wisdom: Stories of Inclusion, Practice, and Scholarship.” Emphasizing the Merriam-Webster definition of “voice,” (a “wish, choice, or opinion openly or formally expressed” or a “right of expression; also: influential power”), the award highlights how individuals are empowering, engaging, and advocating for people from multiple marginalized populations.
“Being awarded the Nancy J. Evans Voices of Inclusion Award, newly named after the 62nd President, was a profound honor,” McElderry said. “Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work at institutions that have empowered me to advocate for equity, inclusion, and social justice, while also affording me the opportunity to contribute to an association and field that hold great significance for me.”
During the convention, McElderry also began his term as president-elect of the national association. In the fall of 2023, he was elected to serve as the 86th president of ACPA, becoming the first Elon staff member to be elected to this international leadership role. Following a year of service as president-elect, McElderry will begin his one-year term as president in February 2025.
“As ACPA marks its centennial anniversary, my attention shifts towards the future of both the association and the realm of student affairs,” McElderry expressed. “Throughout the coming year, my efforts will be dedicated to tasks such as appointing the next Convention Chair, leading the Bylaws & Policies Council, and outlining my objectives for my upcoming presidency spanning from 2025 to 2026. Moreover, with the adoption of a new governance framework, the association will collaborate closely with the Leadership Council and the International Office Staff to ensure its full implementation.”
Along with Patterson and McElderry’s milestones, members of the Division of Student Life joined leaders from 21 other institutions to accept the 2024 Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs award, jointly presented by ACPA and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education during the convention.
The Promising Places Places to Work in Student Affairs (PPWSA) study was first proposed in 2011 as a partnership with ACPA-College Student Educators International by Ralph Newell. Terrell Strayhorn, then-Director of Research and Scholarship, was charged by the ACPA Governing Board to explore the project further. After reviewing the recommendations from a volunteers advisory board, the study was approved by the governing board. The project has since expanded into the award program that it is today.
Elon has received the recognition consecutively for four years and is one of three North Carolina schools named on this year’s list, which was published with an accompanying report in the March edition of Diverse: Issues in Higher Education.
“I’m proud of the national recognition for Jana Lynn, Jonathan, and our entire Student Life division,” said Jon Dooley, vice president for student life and associate professor. “The work we do with students and the university community is even stronger when we have nationally recognized leaders in our midst, engaged in daily work on-campus that garners the attention of the premier professional associations in our field.”