Elon's new chief integration officer shares more about himself and what excites him about the merger between Queens University of Charlotte and Elon University.
This story was originally published in the February issue of The Leaflet, Elon’s quarterly printed newsletter.
Longtime Elon administrator Jeff Stein was reintroduced to the campus community this winter as the university’s new chief integration officer and executive vice president. A key advisor to Elon President Connie Ledoux Book and a member of the university’s senior staff, Stein will collaborate with students, faculty and staff to support the creation of a fully integrated institution through the merger of Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte. Stein, who built a career at Elon and later served as president of Mary Baldwin University, answered questions about what drives his work and why he is excited for the historic merger.
Who is Jeff Stein and what are his responsibilities as Elon’s chief integration officer and executive vice president?
I’m a product of this community — a passionate advocate for students and access to mentored opportunities that empower students to launch great lives. For 21 years, Elon provided me the opportunity to work in and out of the classroom with students, faculty, staff, alumni, families and local communities to design the residential campus, community-based learning, Jewish Life, Boldly Elon and more. This community has always supported [my wife] Chrissy and me and our kids, and I’m thrilled to be back to help guide this innovative merger.
You led the development of the Boldly Elon strategic plan. How will that experience help inform your work in Charlotte and what are effective ways to build strong relationships and develop trust during this type of organizational change?
It’s all about listening. The voices of thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni, Elon families and local community members were needed to shape the Boldly Elon strategic plan. Similarly, the Queens and Elon communities — your questions, your ideas and your values — will be integral to shaping the future of the merger.
What are some of the pleasant surprises you’ve encountered as you’ve begun your role in Charlotte?
It’s been fun to reconnect with the Elon community and to begin getting to know members of the Queens community — smart, talented and dedicated faculty and staff, who put students first and believe in engaged and mentored learning. Charlotte is full of top-notch restaurants, arts, breweries, sports and rapidly expanding industry. Come visit Elon’s beautiful Tremont building (thank you Holly Hodge and Jenny Gonzalez), and we’ll show you around South End or Uptown.
What does success look like at Elon and at Queens one year from now?
Back in 2022, as part of Boldly Elon implementation, a group of us on the regional learning centers team worked to identify Charlotte as the next location in Elon’s national campus work — for students, community, alumni and Elon’s brand.
What’s exciting about how this groundbreaking merger accelerates that work — and the reason people all over the country are watching — is that two strong, world-class, student-centered institutions are engaging to expand opportunities for students, and for and with Charlotte.
While much of the next year’s tasks are regulated by guidelines from the federal government and accreditors, our success will come from planning for integration of our operations and services, imagining new opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students, and developing relationships across Elon and Queens.