Commencement Traditions: Academic Regalia
Katie Nash May 11, 2012 Academic regalia has been worn by faculty and students at Elon during Commencement and selected Convocations since the first Commencement at Elon in 1891. The wearing of academic regalia at modern colleges and university’s originated in medieval European universities and has not changed much since the 16th century. It signifies the wearer’s academic accomplishment and includes a robe, head covering, and hood.
Read MoreCommencement Traditions: The Elon Mace
Katie Nash May 4, 2012 Commencement at Elon is full of long-standing traditions. Over the next few weeks, we’ll highlight a few of these traditions, starting with the Elon mace. Have you ever witnessed Dr. Earl Danieley carrying a large silver item at university events such as Convocation and Commencement? Indeed, Dr. Danieley along with numerous faculty members have shared the privilege of carrying the Elon mace during campus events.
Read MoreWomen’s and Gender Studies at Elon
Jennifer Smith March 23, 2012 A minor in Women’s Studies was first offered at Elon in the Fall of 1988 after having been approved during a February 1988 faculty meeting. In the mid-1980s Elon professors, Dr. Seena Granowsky and Dr. Martha Smith attended a conference on Women’s Studies programs at Duke University and were inspired to create a program at Elon. The two worked together to create the minor and the program of Women’s Studies in order to expose students to women’s issues through courses in English, History, Philosophy, Economics, and other related fields. Some examples of early course titles included Introduction to Women’s Studies, Feminist Approaches to Literature, and History of Women in the United States.
Read MoreFirst woman to be named Distinguished University Professor
Katie Nash March 16, 2012 Pamela M. Kiser was formally awarded the Distinguished University Professorship on October 4, 2010. Kiser is the fourth faculty member to receive this award, and the first woman to be named a Distinguished University Professor at Elon.
Read MoreDeborah Yow-Bowden
Rachel Stas – Archives Intern March 9, 2012 Deborah Yow-Bowden is most noted for her skills on the basketball court, especially when she was a member of the women’s basketball team during her time at Elon College. She is originally from Gibsonville, North Carolina and graduated from Elon College in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Currently, she works at NC State University as the first female athletic director in the history of the institution’s athletic program.
Read MoreWomen at Elon: first graduate, first faculty member
Rachel Stas – Archives Intern March 2, 2012 Irene Johnson Cook (originally from Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina) graduated from Elon College in 1892 and she was the first female graduate. In fact, she was the only person to graduate that year from Elon College. She aided in the creation of The Elon College Monthly in 1891 and served as editor. The Elon College Monthlywas first published in June 1891 and it marked the debut of the first medium for student expression at Elon College. The publication included articles and personal items written by students and included a few advertisements. It was published by the three Literary Societies at Elon: the Philologian Society, the Psiphelian Society, and the Clio Society.
Read MoreWilhelmina Boyd
Shaunta Alvarez February 9, 2010 Wilhelmina Boyd came to Elon in 1987 as an assistant professor in the English Department. At that time, she was the only African-American professor at Elon. When she retired in 2005 after 18 years of service, she had taught at Elon longer than any other African-American professor. She was not the first African-American professor at Elon, but she has left an indelible mark on the school’s history.
Read MoreAndrew Morgan’s Legacy
Jess McDonald ’12 October 27, 2011 If you venture to the second floor of Belk Library and head toward the vicinity of the DVDs section, you might notice a portrait of a man named Andrew Morgan. This portrait stands out among the others for several reasons: it’s relatively informal, Morgan has a large stature, and he is African-American. Curious about the role that this man played in Elon’s history, I decided to investigate further.
Read More1894 Elon library
Miriam Pace – volunteer in Archives March 23, 2011 When: 1894. Where: The Elon College Library, located in the Old Main Administration Building. What: A committee composed of faculty members reported on the condition of the library and stated, “We find the library in a confused state due, we judge for the most part, of the library being left open without someone in charge.”
Read MorePhi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Oak
Katie Nash April 15, 2010 On April 13, 2010 a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, one of the most prestigious liberal arts honor societies in the country, was established at Elon University. This is the not the first academic honor society that has been present on Elon’s campus. The Order of the Oak was established by faculty at Elon in 1962 and bestowed privileges of membership to outstanding students at the college. According to the Constitution of the Order of the Oak, the purpose was “to recognize superior scholarship, to encourage intellectual achievement, and to foster the liberal and critical mind.”
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