Roughly 40 students and faculty gathered in the Great Hall of Global Commons to listen to President Connie Book speak and to ask her questions during a fireside chat March 26. Jon Dooley, vice president for student life, helped facilitate the dialogue.
Since President Emeritus Leo Lambert left on sabbatical and passed the baton to Book three weeks ago, she has been focusing on her vision for Elon.
Book described how she felt inspired when driving into Elon and seeing the gigantic maroon "E" hanging from the new Schar Center.
“You have a sense of how important it is to have a vision,” she said during the talk. “You may not know how you’re going to get there, but there’s a vision.”
Some of her goals include improving the affordability of college and diversity on campus.
And that vision, she says, is collaborative.
“We as a community decide who we’re going to be,” Book said. “In all things, including how we treat each other.”
Freshman Mackenzie Martinez voiced her concern about the diversity on Elon’s campus to Book. The campus is roughly 80 percent white, according to institutional data.
“As much as a diverse and forward-thinking campus Elon is, I think we can better represent that within our student body and faculty and within our staff,” Martinez said. “So my hope is that through [President Book] we can help to develop this community of greater diversity that better reflects a lot of different experiences.”
For Alicia Powell, another Elon freshman, an increase of diversity starts with greater financial aid.
“I’m an Odyssey Scholar, so getting to know where the funds are going for Elon Day is really important to me because I helped donate and I want more students like me to come to Elon because that’s why I’m here,” she said. “Elon is a predominantly white institution, and there’s a lot of resources here. But we want to feel welcomed and having the scholarships that a lot of us need to be here helps.”
Book addressed her plan for expanding diversity by allocating more money to stronger recruiting and greater scholarships.
At the end of the talk, Book expressed her interest in having a clear communication channel with the university. She believes that collaboration is key for both growth and learning.
“I want to create a culture where students feel comfortable asking me questions and know that I actually enjoy the back and forth and getting to know people,” she said.
Powell appreciated Book’s fireside chat and open dialogue.
“I think it’s really important to hear what she has to say, especially as the new voice and face of Elon,” she said. “The transition from Lambert to President Book was so rapid. I think that getting to know our President is very helpful.”
And Book says that she plans to hold more talks like this regularly in the future.
“I was talking to Dr. Dooley just about how can we put some structures in place at least a couple of times a semester,” she said. “I’m also a fan of on the sidewalk conversations so I’m trying to make sure I’m out and about and on the sidewalks.”