Family Fall Event Archive
Past Family Fall Events
While these events have passed, you can still view some of our recorded programming.
College Coffee Catch-up!
Sept. 29 | 9:40 a.m.-10:40 a.m. ET
College Coffee is one of Elon’s oldest and most appreciated traditions. Hosted every Tuesday from 9:40 a.m. to 10:20 a.m., College Coffee provides an opportunity for our campus community to connect with one another. This semester, College Coffee was reimagined to allow our community to continue connection in a healthy and safe way. On Sept. 29 at 9:40 a.m., please join us for a special College Coffee Catch-up by taking this time to connect with your student! Grab a cup of coffee and FaceTime, Zoom, or chat. All registrants will receive special College Coffee Catch-up prompts. Snap a picture or screenshot of your College Coffee Catch-up and email it to parentengagement@elon.edu or use #ElonFamily on social media to be featured in our Family Fall photo album.
History of Elon
Sept. 30 | 6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. ET
Learn more about the history of the university from some of those who know it best. Coordinator of University Archives Chrystal Carpenter leads a discussion with 22-year Elon employee Michael Williams, professor emeritus Carole Troxler, and Jane Shutt P’05 P’10 P’14, a former Elon parent and daughter of former Elon President Earl Danieley. Questions can be submitted by audience members in advance to parentengagement@elon.edu. The discussion will premiere on the Elon Parents Facebook Page on Sept. 30 at 6:00 p.m. ET and will be available to view at a later date on the Family Fall website. No registration required.
Catholic Mass
Oct. 4 | 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. ET
Join Catholic Campus Ministry for the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. October 4th is the Feast of Saint Francis and will kick off CCM’s Francis Week – a weeklong series of events focused around the life and spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi. Tune in to celebrate Mass, receive an update on Catholic Life on campus, and see what else CCM has coming up for students on campus. No registration required.
President’s Update
Oct. 5 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Dr. Connie Ledoux Book, Elon University President, will provide a university update. No registration required.
Book Club
Oct. 6 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
A chance for parents to discuss Elon’s Common Reading book, Biased. The group will gather on a Zoom call and hear opening remarks from Paula Patch, Senior English Lecturer, before breaking off into smaller groups to discuss the book. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Oct. 6.
Concert with Dan Nichols
Oct. 8 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Live event. No Recording.
We might not be able to gather in person for Family Weekend this year, but Hillel is bringing us together for a live concert celebrating our warm and welcoming Jewish community. Jewish rocker and camp superstar, Dan Nichols, will perform the songs you know and love with Elon Hillel students and Rabbi Sandra Lawson! Celebrate Sukkot with us and tune in for this incredible concert at this time when connection and community matters more than ever. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Oct. 8. Presented in partnership with Elon Hillel.
Phoenix Families Facebook Live Week: Oct. 12-16
Tune into the Elon Parents Facebook Page at noon on Oct. 12-16 for Family Fall’s Phoenix Families Facebook Live series. Check-out the sessions below and email your questions to parentengagement@elon.edu.
Top 10 Parent Questions Answered
Oct. 12 | Noon – 12:45 p.m. ET
Kick-off Phoenix Families Facebook Live Week with Senior Director of Parent Engagement, Jozi Snowberger ’07, and Will Roberson, Assistant Director of Parent Engagement. They will be answering the top 10 parent questions the Office of Parent Engagement receives.
Student Professional Development Center
Oct. 13 | Noon – 12:45 p.m. ET
Join special guests, Tom Brinkley, Executive Director of the Student Professional Development Center, and Brooke Buffington, Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations, Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, to learn how the Elon Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) assists students and alumni in understanding their career-related interests, individual preferences, strengths and values. Discover how the SPDC is supporting students with pursuing meaningful internships and careers during a global pandemic.
Fraternity and Sorority Involvement
Oct. 14 | Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
Jordan King, Associate Director of Student Involvement, and Jarrod Rudd, Assistant Director of Student Involvement for Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development, will share information about Elon fraternity and sorority involvement, the community, responsibilities and obligations of membership.
Global Education Center
Oct. 15 | Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
Rhonda Waller, Executive Director of Global Engagement, and Bill Buress, Director of Study Abroad, will provide information on the programs, scholarships and resources offered by the Global Education Center.
Academic Advising
Oct. 16 | Noon-12:45 p.m. ET
Anne Bryan, Executive Director of the Koenigsberger Learning Center and Director of Academic Advising, and Kathy Ziga, Assistant Director of Academic Advising, will provide an overview of the support Academic Advising offers to Elon students, including Elon 101, major and minor declaration, and information for returning students.
Coffee with a Dean: Becky Neiduski
Oct. 19 | 10.00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join Becky Neiduski, Dean of the School of Health Sciences, for coffee and conversation. Three lucky registrants will be randomly chosen to receive a package of coffee from a local coffee shop. Winners will be drawn on Oct. 11, so be sure to sign-up early. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Oct. 19. This event is limited to 30 households.
Coffee with a Dean: Raghu Tadepalli
Oct. 22 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join Raghu Tadepalli, Dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, for coffee and conversation. Three lucky registrants will be randomly chosen to receive a package of coffee from a local coffee shop. Winners will be drawn on Oct. 14, so be sure to sign-up early. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Oct. 22. This event is limited to 30 households.
Book Discussion with Dara Kurtz P’22
Oct. 22 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Dara Kurtz P’22, the author of the new book, I am My Mother’s Daughter and Crush Cancer and blogger at Crazy Perfect Life will be interviewed by her daughter, Zoe, an Elon junior – who will ask the questions she’s always wanted to know about her mom. Join us with your mother, daughter, sister or grandmother for this lively conversation about these very special relationships. Presented in partnership with Elon Hillel. Registrants received Zoom log-in information on Oct. 22.
Dancing in the Landscape
Oct. 23 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived video!
Elon dance majors present site-specific dances.
SUB Pumpkin Carving & Decorating
Oct. 23 – 25 | At your leisure!
Check out our gallery of submissions and winners!
Join the Student Union Board (SUB) for a virtual version of the same on campus event! While your student decorates a pumpkin Under the Oaks, carve or decorate your own pumpkin. Submit a photo to parentengagement@elon.edu for a chance to win a prize! Click here for printable Elon stencils, and remember to submit your photo by Monday, October 26 at 8:00 a.m. ET to be entered in our family pumpkin carving contest!
Phoenix Flavors
Oct. 24 | 11:00 a.m. ET
Click here for the archived videos!
Join Elon Dining Head Chef, Jay Vetter, and Elon Phoenix coaches to learn how to make signature Phoenix tailgate specials and some of the coaches’ favorite dinners. A shopping list is available here if you’d like to try your hand at one or more of the meals!
Get to know Phoenix Student-Athletes
Oct. 24 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived video!
While we can’t see our Phoenix student-athletes play this fall, get to know them off the field and court in a series of interviews. No registration required.
Let’s go PHOENIX
Oct. 24 | 2:00 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived Cheer video and click here for the archived Dance video!
Spread some Elon spirit by cheering on the Phoenix with Elon Cheer and Dance!
Football Flashback
Oct. 24 | 2:30 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived video!
Join Elon Football head coach Tony Trisciani to relive the big Elon win over the #15 Delaware Blue Hens from 2019.
Acorn Talks
Oct. 26-29 |Noon and 6:00 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived videos!
Join distinguished Elon faculty members for a series of Acorn Talks. This series is designed to give you a glimpse into what it would be like inside a classroom being taught by Elon professors. No registration required.
Monday, Oct. 26 | Noon ET
Social entrepreneurship: Leveraging revenue for social change
Elena Kennedy, Ph.D., Doherty Emerging Professor of Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
This talk will explore the concept of social entrepreneurship, using examples to highlight the dominant ways in which entrepreneurs are leveraging revenue in for-profit and non-profit organizations to support social and environmental missions across the world.
Monday, Oct. 26 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Key data worth following on election night
Jason Husser, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science and Policy Studies and Director of the Elon Poll
The night of November 3rd, 2020 promises to be a significant moment in United States history. As election results flow in from communities around the country, it can be overwhelming to make sense of what is happening. The Director of the Elon Poll will share what data sources he’ll be analyzing throughout election coverage and what insights people might gain from interpreting that information.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Noon ET
Digital identity: What your media use says about us
Kathleen Stansberry, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Strategic Communications, 2020 School of Communications Faculty Excellence in Scholarship Award
The average American spends more than half their waking hours engaging with digital media. As we view, comment, stream and share we leave digital footprints that can be used to build personalized profiles based on our online activities. In this mini-lecture, we will explore current topics in digital data collection and analytics to show how what we do on the web can affect the news we see, products we buy and the real-world decisions we make.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Nothing personal, just cultural: Navigating the challenges of a multicultural world
Barjinder Singh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Management, 2020 Martha and Spencer Love School of Business Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
Cultural diversity is on the rise. In academic settings, students are required to work and collaborate with other students from diverse cultures; while in work settings, employees are required to perform in multicultural teams. Multicultural scenarios present unprecedented challenges that can be daunting for many, and to be successful, cultural competence is necessary. Therefore, the purpose of this session is to educate participants to recognize, acknowledge and understand these multicultural differences and to better prepare them for such challenges by enhancing their cultural competence.
Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Noon ET
Mirrors and windows in children’s literature: What research shows about representation and why it matters
Lisa Buchanan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education
This session will overview the long but narrow history of identity and representation in children’s literature, and counter historical trends by featuring inclusive picture books, including #ownvoices titles and titles that illustrate intersectionality
Wednesday, Oct. 28 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Community trauma and mental health in the times of COVID-19
Vanessa Drew-Branch (HSS), Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Human Service Studies, 2019-2020 Diversity and Inclusion Grant recipient for Human Service Studies Podcast Assignments for Social Problems
2020 has been a challenging year. Our American community has dealt with a global pandemic, racial outcries for social justice, and a contentious political season. How are communities taking care of one another? Resilience is indeed borne out of adversity, and grief and healing are both communal experiences. In this session, Dr. Vanessa Drew-Branch will discuss how trauma shows up at the community level and how we can care for one another during challenging times.
Thursday, Oct. 29 | Noon ET
Good vibrations! How and why animals communicate by shaking things up
Jen Hamel, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology, 2020 Elon College Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Award
Animals communicate about things that are central to their survival and reproduction! There is a robust body of research about how and why animals use sounds, visual signals, and odors to communicate with each other. Less is known about how animals use substrate-borne vibrations, although we estimate that over 200,000 animal species shake to communicate! Associate Professor of Biology Jen Hamel studies vibrational communication with insects. She will provide an overview of animal communication and vibrational signaling, invite you to identify which animals produced some recorded vibrational signals, and summarize some of the current questions of interest to researchers in this field.
Thursday, Oct. 29 | 6:00 p.m. ET
Your role in fighting fake news
Amanda Sturgill, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Journalism, 2020 School of Communications Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award
The media landscape has shattered and scattered and it’s very confusing for audiences. Journalists know to check facts, but other accuracy that matters, too, as public figures abuse logic and language to confuse and distract. Those who share news, even from their own social media, can make it worse. In this mini class, you how to identify some ways that public figures try to deceive and the media share it, and try your new skills with real examples from recent news.
Coffee with a Dean: Rochelle Ford
Oct. 28 | 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join Rochelle Ford, Dean of the School of Communications, for coffee and conversation. Three lucky registrants will be randomly chosen to receive a package of coffee from a local coffee shop. Winners will be drawn on Oct. 20, so be sure to sign-up early. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Oct. 28. This event is limited to 30 households.
Coffee with a Dean: Ann Bullock
Nov. 2 | 10:00 a.m. -10:45 a.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join Ann Bullock, Dean of the School of Education, for coffee and conversation. Three lucky registrants will be randomly chosen to receive a package of coffee from a local coffee shop. Winners will be drawn on Oct. 25, so be sure to sign-up early. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Nov. 2. This event is limited to 30 households.
Coffee with a Dean: Gabie Smith
Nov. 5 | 11:00 a.m. -11:45 a.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences, for coffee and conversation. Three lucky registrants will be randomly chosen to receive a package of coffee from a local coffee shop. Winners will be drawn on Oct. 28, so be sure to sign-up early. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Nov. 5. This event is limited to 30 households.
Virtual Bingo
Nov. 5 | 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. ET
Live event. No recording.
Join us for a special hour of bingo, a favorite Elon student activity. Tune in to see an Elon celebrity call bingo and battle it out with students and families for some great prizes! Register to receive your virtual bingo cards and the Zoom link to the event. Registrants will receive Zoom log-in information on Nov. 5.
Painting with Parents
Nov. 10 | At your leisure
Elon student and artist Abby Cates ’21 will guide you through painting your own original serene Elon scene. Register to receive access to a shopping list of supplies and a video of the artist’s demonstration. The video tutorial will be emailed to all registrants on Nov. 10. Share you masterpieces by emailing a picture to parentengagement@elon.edu or use #ElonFamily on social media!
Behind the Scenes in the Writer’s Room
Nov. 11 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Click here for the archived video!
Leonard Dick P’20, father of a former Elon Hillel student leader, is an Emmy Award-winning TV writer for shows including Lost, House, and The Good Wife. He will take us behind the scenes in the writer’s room as he shares experiences from his long and vibrant career in television. Students who are considering a career in the entertainment industry – take note: Leonard will be offering some powerful advice and guidance! Presented in partnership with Elon Hillel.