Take a look back at Elon University's achievements with a selection of 25 photos from 2025.
It was another exciting year for Elon University, ranked for the fifth consecutive year as the No. 1 school in the nation for undergraduate teaching. Among some of the university’s major moments of 2025 include plans to merge with Queens University of Charlotte, which will unify the strengths and resources of both institutions to better serve students and the community for decades to come; the announcement of a transformational gift to establish the Roberts Academy at Elon University, which will will be the state’s only university-based private school for children with dyslexia; and the Pheonix took home seven Coastal Athletic Conference titles, the most ever in one single calender year for the university.
A selection of 25 photos from the year offers a look at what the Elon community accomplished in 2025.
Elon University nursing students and faculty at a lunch stop in Vinales, Cuba during the first of its kind 2025 Winter Term Study Abroad program. The students visited a rural health clinic, provided donations and visited the biosphere area.
Elon University Black History Month kickoff event in Moseley Center on Feb. 3, 2025.
Students celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 7, 2025 in the McBride Gathering Space.
On April 25, 2025 the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life hosted an indoor version of Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, due to an unpredictable weather forecast.
Elon University hosted the Alamance County Special Olympics Spring Games in April 2025.
Cynthia Fair, professor of public health studies, human service studies discovers she is the recipient of the Steven and Patricia House Excellence in Mentoring Award during the Faculty and Staff Awards Luncheon in Alumni Gym on May 13, 2025.
The Elon University softball team celebrates after winning their first-ever CAA Tournament title on May 10, 2025. The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a calendar single year.
Elon University conferred degrees on more than 1,300 undergraduates during Commencement exercises on May 23, 2025.
Sean Mikesh '25 is surprised by President Connie Ledoux Book and Elon faculty for an impromptu Commencement ceremony in New York City. Mikesh was unable to attend his traditional commencement ceremony due to his role in "Stranger Things: The First Shadow" on Broadway.
Work on Elon University's new HealthEU Center began in summer 2025.
Six Elon University faculty members were awarded endowed professorships during the Opening Day ceremony on Aug. 18. 2025. Left to right: Cassandra DiRienzo, professor and department chair of economics; Titch Madzima, associate professor and chair of exercise science; Dave Gammon, professor of biology; Nancy Scherich, assistant professor of mathematics and statistics; Lauren Kearns, professor of dance; Smaraki Mohanty, assistant professor of marketing
Sanah Saha ’29 remains standing during the ‘human bar graph’ exercise, symbolizing the uniqueness of an Elon education, during New Student Convocation on Aug. 23, 2025.
Elon University held the first College Coffee of the 2025-26 academic year on Aug. 26, 2025 on Phi Beta Kappa Commons.
Ocaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Tribal Administrator Vickie Jeffries “smudges the land” by burning sage to clear negativity during a historical marker dedication Under the Oaks on Sept. 9, 2025. The marker, next to Schar Hall Under the Oaks, is a symbol of the continued connection and relationship between Elon University and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Tribe.
Elon University student-athletes touch Olympian Katie Ledecky's gold medal during a talk before Fall Convocation on Sept. 26, 2025.
Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book presents gifts to members of Toshio Sato's family during the dedication of Sato Commons during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.
The Homecoming & Reunion Weekend concert returned with "The Plain White T's" in October.
(Left to right) Acorn Academy Head of School Cherelle Sharpe, Vivvi CEO Charlie Bonello, Elon President Connie Ledoux Book and Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer Janet Williams, cut the ceremonial ribbon for Acorn Academy to mark the center’s official opening.
(Left to right) Elon University President Connie Ledoux Book and Queens University Acting President Jesse Cureton pose for a photo following the announcement that the universities intend to merge.
Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, received a standing ovation from hundreds of attendees at a Nov. 6, 2025, event to announce the Roberts Academy at Elon University.
Elon University men's soccer team hoist its first-ever Coastal Athletic Association Championship trophy in November. The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a single calendar year.
Students working with professor Matthew Banks in the Innovation lLab on November 20, 2025.
Among the highlights of Elon Law's 18th Commencement was when Jordan Holloway L'25 and his service dog, Kai, took the stage. Dean Zak Kramer conferred Kai an honorary diploma for completing law school, drawing cheers and laughs from the audience in Alumni Gym.
A Commencement program for the School of Health Sciences on Dec. 12, 2025, welcomed families, friends and mentors of 45 candidates for the Doctor of Physical Therapy, 38 candidates for the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, and 25 candidates for the university’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Elon University coaches from the seven teams that won CAA championships in the 2025 calendar year. (Left to right) Elizabeth Anderson (Women’s Tennis), Don Hill (Men’s Golf), Marc Reeves (Men’s Soccer), Jennifer Strawley (Director of Athletics), Kathy Bocock (Softball), Neil Payne (Women’s Soccer), Mark Rinker (Women’s Cross Country), Mark Elliston (Women’s Track & Field)
Major moments
- Elon continued its tradition of excellence in 2025:
- Ranked No. 1 in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report
- Ranked No. 1 for study abroad in the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors Report.
- The Hollywood Reporter named Elon among the world’s best drama schools for 2025.
- Mustafa Akben, assistant professor of management and director of artificial intelligence integration, was also named on Poets&Quants’ annual list of the 50 Best Undergraduate Business School Professors.
- The Princeton Review again featured Elon University in its popular college guide that annually recognizes excellence in dozens of categories that measure student feedback on their learning and campus experiences. The Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’s MBA program was also named among the nation’s best by the publication. Elon was also featured in The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges.
- Elon was named one of 75 “new dream schools” by New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Selingo in his new book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.”
- PreLaw Magazine gave the Elon University School of Law an A+ for its experiential curriculum in an annual ranking recognizing legal programs that help students learn by doing.
- The Phoenix took home seven CAA titles in 2025, the most for the university in a single calendar year, including first CAA wins for softball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s tennis. Elon is now only one of two CAA schools in the past 16 years to win both men and women’s soccer conference titles in the same season. Outdoor track & field, men’s golf and women’s cross country, also took home CAA titles. Women’s cross country won for the sixth time in seven years.
- Elon Athletics celebrated another record-breaking Night of the Phoenix, generating more than $644,000 in support of Elon student-athletes – a 23% increase from 2024.
- Gerald O. Whittington, the senior vice president emeritus who played a pivotal role in the growth of Elon’s physical campus and national reputation over three decades of service, received the Elon medallion during an Elon Day celebration in March featuring the dedication of a residence hall in his honor. In August, Rebecca “Becky” Olive-Taylor and G. Smith Jackson were awarded the medallion for their contributions to the university and community over careers that impacted tens of thousands of students.
- Elon University and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) released the second publication in the Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence series. The new publication includes guidance for students using AI in their college studies and offers practical advice about preparing for careers that require AI knowledge and skills.
- Elon said goodbye to the Class of 2025 with a commencement send-off from alum Wes Durham ’88, an award-winning play-by-play commentator for ESPN and ACC Network. In December, Charity Johansson, a founding faculty member of Elon University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, gave a farewell to School of Health Sciences graduates, while Hon. Phil Berger Jr., North Carolina Supreme Court Justice, offered words of advice to graduates in the School of Law.
- Elon leaders dedicated the Toshio Sato Commons (formerly Global Commons) as part of Homecoming & Reunion Weekend in a ceremony that recognized the university’s first international student and first four-year graduate from outside the United States.
- The university launched several new degree programs in fall 2025, including neuroscience and digital content management. Elon also announced plans for a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at both the university’s main campus and Charlotte regional campus.
- In fall 2025, the university established Acorn Academy, an on-site child care and early learning facility with full enrollment of children from infancy to 2 years old whose parents are members of the Elon community. The facility plans to expand capacity and age groups in early 2026.
- Elon adopted the Okanagan Charter as a member of the U.S. Health Promoting Campuses Network (USHPCN), pledging to nurture a campus culture that prioritizes health, belonging and well-being for students, faculty and staff. The charter adoption was part of the university’s larger HealthEU intitiative, which includes the new HealthEU Center, expected to open in fall 2026.
- The Elon University Speaker Series brought multiple speakers to campus throughout the year, including author Jonathan Eig, decorated Marine veteran Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour, CEO of Phi Beta Kappa Frederick Lawrence, author and advocate Alejandra Campoverdi, Olympian Katie Ledecky and retired Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley, Jr.