Introducing the Sprint Teams for Elon and Queens

When Elon University and Queens University of Charlotte announced their intent to merge, leadership from both institutions highlighted the important role of new “sprint teams” charged with developing recommendations to bring together the best features of both schools.

Those teams, comprised of representation from both Queens and Elon across key departments and integration areas, have now started weekly, in-person meetings that will alternate between campuses to:

• Listen widely and design openly by gathering ideas from faculty, staff, and students, and then test those ideas with data and peer comparisons.
• Surface key questions early, which will identify unique challenges associated with merging the institutions, and task the appropriate leaders with maintaining rapid progress.
• Uplift academics and student life by recommending ways to strengthen programs, pathways, advising, and co-curricular experiences across both campuses.
• Report regularly on a synthesized set of recommendations for leadership review while sharing progress to the broader community in updates and town halls.

The teams will be guided by leaders from Boston Consulting Group and Huron Consulting Group, two nationally recognized firms with deep and recent experience in the complexity of merger work in higher education.

Members of both campus communities are being encouraged to share ideas and concerns by engaging with the teams, and in the weeks ahead, the teams will value feedback to their requests for input and data from departments.

Upcoming Events

(including, but not limited to those below)

• QU Alumni Town Halls: 9/25 and 10/1
• Elon Parent Town Hall: 9/26
• Elon Alumni Session: 10/11
• Elon Faculty/Staff Town Hall: 10/14
• QU and Elon Admissions Virtual Events: Dates Forthcoming

Co-Chairs of the Merger Sprint Teams

(Listed in Alphabetical Order by Last Name)

Pamela Davies (Queens): Pamela Davies is president emerita and a professor of strategy at Queens University of Charlotte, where she served as president from 2002-2019. During her tenure, the university doubled in enrollment, significantly expanded academic programming, and invested more than $150 million in new campus infrastructure. Prior to her presidency, Davies served as dean of both the McColl School of Business at Queens and the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University.

Jim Piatt (Elon): James B. Piatt, Jr. joined the Elon administration in 2008 and today serves as senior vice president for University Advancement and external affairs. His responsibilities include oversight of all fundraising activities, alumni engagement, parent engagement, corporate and foundation relations, annual giving, donor relations, student professional development center (career services), cultural and special programs, national campuses, and continuing and professional studies.

Sprint Team Leads

Graduate Programs

CJ Fleming (Elon): CJ Eubanks Fleming, chair of the Department of Human Service Studies and associate director of Undergraduate Research, holds a two-year appointment with Elon University’s Senior Staff as Faculty Administrative Fellow.

Denise Rotondo (Queens): Denise Rotondo serves as dean of the McColl School of Business at Queens. She previously served as dean of the Wehle School of Business at Canisius College and has held leadership positions with SUNY Geneseo and Meredith College.

Academic Affairs and Faculty

Sarah Fatherly (Queens): Sarah Fatherly serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Queens University of Charlotte, overseeing all academic programs and services. Fatherly joined Queens in 2012 as associate provost and dean of university programs before subsequently moving into her role as chief academic officer. She also currently serves as the university’s chief operations officer.

Jen Platania (Elon): Jennifer Platania has served as associate provost for academic affairs at Elon University since 2021. She joined the Elon University economics faculty in 2002 and has served in a variety of administrative roles, including chair of the Department of Economics and associate dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business.

Finance and Administration

Susan Kirkland (Elon): Susan M. Kirkland joined Elon University in 2011 and serves as associate vice president for finance and administration, overseeing accounting, budgeting, student financial services, payroll, purchasing, and risk management. Kirkland is also responsible for university real estate transactions.

Matt Packey (Queens): Matt Packey joined Queens University of Charlotte as chief financial officer and vice president for administration in June 2010 and later served as special counsel to the president and associate vice president for sustainability and institutional planning before returning to the CFO role.

Campus Facilities and Technology

Kenitra Horsley (Queens): Kenitra Horsley is chief of staff and chief information officer at Queens University of Charlotte, providing leadership for information technology services and managing the strategic planning and effectiveness of the Senior Leadership Team and President’s Cabinet. She leads technology initiatives such as enterprise data management, cybersecurity, and infrastructure modernization.

Brad Moore (Elon): Brad Moore was named Elon University’s associate vice president for facilities and chief facilities officer in 2023 to oversee facilities management, sustainability and planning, design and construction management units at the university. He joined Elon in 2005 as assistant director of construction management and subsequently earned multiple promotions.

Communications (Special Topic)

Mike Haskins (Elon): Michael R. Haskins joined the Elon University administration in 2022 as vice president for communications and marketing. He oversees Elon’s marketing, media relations, publications, graphic design, web and digital communications, photography and videography, social media, internal communications, and academic communications.

Justin Moss (Queens): Justin Moss serves as assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Queens University of Charlotte, where he leads institutional efforts to craft brand-enhancing strategies. Moss joined Queens in 2022 after serving as director of marketing and communications for Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte.

Lori Ann Summers (Queens): Lori Ann Summers joined the Queens University of Charlotte administration in 2023 as vice president of university advancement. She came to Queens from Newberry College in South Carolina, with previous leadership roles at the University of South Carolina, Auburn University, and Colorado College.

lūquire: Founded in 1984, lūquire is a Charlotte-based, full-service marketing and public relations agency.

Athletics (Special Topic)

Steve Roach (Elon): Steve Roach was named deputy director of athletics at Elon University in 2024, where he has oversight of day-to-day oversight of development, communications, ticketing, and marketing, including the operations, strategic efforts, staffing, budgetary, and revenue goals for each area.

Cherie Swarthout (Queens): Cherie Swarthout is director of athletics at Queens University of Charlotte, where she is responsible for the 30 NCAA DI teams fielded by the Royals. Sports information, community partnerships, and the management of all athletic facilities also fall under Swarthout’s oversight.