Candidates Present for Elon's Dean of Student Health and Well-Being Role

Two finalists share visions for leading the HealthEU Initiative and new campus wellness facility

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Candidates for the next dean of Student Health and Well-Being at Elon University recently presented to the campus community as part of the selection process. The position is currently held by Jana Lynn Patterson, who is retiring in fall 2026 after 40 years at Elon. The new dean will lead the HealthEU Initiative and the Boldly Elon strategic plan, while overseeing departments like Counseling Services and Student Health Services and managing the new 135,000 square foot HealthEU building set to open in 2026.

Why it matters

The dean of Student Health and Well-Being plays a critical role in shaping the campus culture and student experience at Elon. As the university continues to prioritize health and wellness through initiatives like HealthEU, the next dean will be responsible for integrating well-being into all aspects of campus life and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive.

The details

The two finalists who presented were Kelly Hogan, who most recently served as associate vice provost for health & well-being at Indiana University, and Joi Alexander, the director of the Wellness Empowerment Center at Georgia Tech. Both candidates emphasized the importance of taking a holistic, data-driven approach to well-being that goes beyond just crisis response, with a focus on building a campus culture that prioritizes health and prevention.

  • The selection process is currently underway, with the new dean expected to start in fall 2026.
  • Hogan presented to the Elon community on February 23, 2026.
  • Alexander presented on March 2, 2026.

The players

Jana Lynn Patterson

The current dean of Student Health and Well-Being at Elon University, who is retiring in fall 2026 after 40 years at the university.

Kelly Hogan

A candidate for the dean of Student Health and Well-Being position, who most recently served as associate vice provost for health & well-being at Indiana University.

Joi Alexander

A candidate for the dean of Student Health and Well-Being position, who is currently the director of the Wellness Empowerment Center at Georgia Tech.

HealthEU

An initiative at Elon University that the new dean will be responsible for leading, along with the Boldly Elon strategic plan.

Elon University

The North Carolina university where the dean of Student Health and Well-Being position is located.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Campus culture shifts when health is embedded in policy and campus structure, not treated as add-ons. It shifts when environments that's included in academics, residential and recreational consistently support well-being. It shifts when partnership across campus are strong, not siloed.”

— Kelly Hogan, Candidate for Dean of Student Health and Well-Being (Elon News Network)

“Data has to be the foundation. We have to make sure that we're telling our story. What is our story right? What is it that we do, and how do we do it? Well, because I think that there's a lot of data and lots of ways to tell the story, and there's missed opportunities when we're not going out there to tell people this is who we are, this is our identity.”

— Joi Alexander, Candidate for Dean of Student Health and Well-Being (Elon News Network)

What’s next

The Elon University search committee will continue evaluating the candidates and is expected to make a final decision on the new dean of Student Health and Well-Being in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

Elon's next dean of Student Health and Well-Being will play a pivotal role in shaping the campus culture and student experience, with a focus on integrating well-being into all aspects of university life through data-driven, holistic approaches that go beyond just crisis response.