They are entrepreneurs, innovators, strategists and social agents. They are this year’s Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Award recipients, who were honored at a ceremony Saturday night for their professional success, continuous work to better their communities and loyal service to Elon.
During the event, attendees were able to see each award recipient — David Campbell ’13, Sydel Curry-Lee ’17, Dr. Marissa Mastrocola ’13, Alivia Mattioli-Hodge ’15, Marisa Moody ’15, Claudia Rodriguez ’17 ,Holly Brueggman Tamburello ’17, Jordan Thompson ’14 L’17, David Williams Jr. ’13 and Doug Williams ’13 — through the eyes of the faculty and staff mentors who shaped much of their time at Elon and beyond.
In their introductions, the Elon mentors detailed the journey each alum went through to get to where they are today, and the role their families and the Elon community played in helping them get there.
And while their experiences were different, all the award recipients have something in common: They all embody the values of the institution, President Connie Ledoux Book said during her closing remarks — respect, determination, hard work and intellectual curiosity, among others.
“Tonight is a celebration of values,” Book said. “Thank you for spending the evening with us and letting us celebrate you.”
2023 Top 10 Under 10 Alumni Awards Recipients
David Campbell ’13
Senior Manager – Americas Tax Technology & Transformation, EY
Introduced by Patty Cox, assistant professor of accounting
The real-world experiences and networks David Campbell ’13 developed while at Elon have shaped much of his professional and personal life.
A Business Fellow, David graduated with degrees in accounting and finance and a minor in economics, and served as vice president of Beta Alpha Psi, an admissions tour guide and co-founder of Elon Microfinance Initiative, a student organization that seeks to give back to the community by supporting underprivileged small business owners. David also participated in three global studies programs in Denmark, Israel and Mexico, deepening his understanding of business principles from different perspectives.
Thanks to connections he made with guest speakers in the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, David secured internships with Ferrell Capital and EY. He joined the latter consulting firm as an advisory risk staff member following graduation. Since then, he has steadily risen through the ranks, and in September stepped into his current role as senior manager in the Americas Tax Technology & Transformation group with a focus on the firm’s global Sustainability Tax solutions strategy. Additionally, he leads EY’s campus recruiting efforts at Elon.
In 2014, David married his Elon sweetheart, Rachel Southmayd Campbell ’13. Formerly an award-winning reporter for The Herald in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and communications manager at Moishe House, Rachel has taken on the vital role of stay-at-home parent as she focuses on raising the couple’s two young children, daughter Lillie Beth and son Henry.
Always looking for ways to support their alma mater, David and Rachel are active in the Charlotte Alumni Chapter and are members of the 1889 Society and the Order of the Oak. They have directed much of their giving to support student scholarships and Hillel. David has also served in multiple volunteer roles, including as former Young Alumni Council member, member of the Jewish Life Advisory Council and most recently as member of the Love School’s Board of Advisors.
Sydel Curry-Lee ’17
Vintner & Partner, Domaine Curry
Introduced by Mary Tendler, women’s volleyball head coach
An ardent advocate for mental health, Sydel Curry-Lee ’17 is passionate about creating change in the world.
Sydel earned a degree in psychology from Elon in 2017. As a student, she was a member of the Elon Cooking Club and a volunteer with the Boys & Girls Club. She also played three years on the women’s volleyball team, participating in 81 matches before retiring due to an injury. During the 2016 season, she led both her team and the Colonial Athletic Association in assists and assists per set while posting double-digit assists in all but two matches. She was named team MVP that year.
It’s not surprising that Sydel comes from a family with a strong sports legacy. She is the daughter of former Virginia Tech basketball player Dell Curry and former Virginia Tech volleyball player Sonya Curry. Her brothers are NBA stars Stephen “Steph” Curry (Golden State Warriors) and Seth Curry (Brooklyn Nets). In 2018 she married Damion Lee, who plays for the Phoenix Suns. As a wedding gift to the couple, her brothers and their wives surprised Sydel by making a gift to Elon that named the women’s volleyball locker room in her honor. In 2021, Sydel and Damion welcomed their first child, son Daxon Wardell-Xavier.
Following her time at Elon, Sydel joined the staff of International Smoke, a restaurant owned and operated by her sister-in-law, celebrity cook and cookbook author Ayesha Curry. The sisters-in-law later partnered with Napa winery Coup de Foudre to produce their own wine label, Domaine Curry. The label crafts two highly acclaimed wines, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc. In addition to her work as an entrepreneur, Sydel has used her influence on social media — she has more than 700,000 followers on Instagram — to advocate for mental health, often sharing openly about her own depression and anxiety, her journey to parenthood and life as a new mother, and the importance of self-care.
Dr. Marissa Mastrocola ’13
Orthopedic Surgery Resident, UMass Memorial Medical Center
Introduced by Matthew Clark, associate professor of biology
Marissa Mastrocola’s interest in orthopedic surgery can be traced back to her days at Elon.
An Honors Fellow, Marissa graduated in 2013 with a degree in exercise science and a minor in neuroscience. As a student, she was a teaching assistant in Elon’s human anatomy lab and oversaw the program during her senior year. She completed internships at Beverly Hospital, the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and Alamance Regional Medical Center. She also studied abroad in South Africa and was involved with the Italian Club, Catholic Campus Ministry, the Lincoln Pre-Health Society and Alpha Xi Delta Sorority.
Following graduation, Marissa joined Brigham and Women’s Hospital as a clinical research coordinator in orthopedic surgery. The summer before her second year at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMMS), she was selected for an internship with Nth Dimensions, a medical nonprofit that collaborates with academic and medical partners to address the scarcity of women and underrepresented minorities in the field of orthopedic surgery. She was the first UMMS student to receive the competitive internship.
After earning her medical degree in 2019, Marissa joined the UMMS Medical Center as an orthopedic surgery resident. She has contributed to five medical journal publications and has most recently focused on the topics of obesity education and orthopedic sports medicine.
Alivia Mattioli-Hodge ’15
Senior Manager of Partnerships, Penske Entertainment
Introduced by Barry Bradberry, associate dean of admissions and special assistant to the vice president for enrollment
From an early age, Alivia Mattioli-Hodge ’15 was exposed to car racing, fueling a passion for the sport that has shaped much of her professional life.
It is a passion that she inherited from her great-uncle, the late Dr. Joseph “Doc” Mattioli, who transformed a spinach farm in the Poconos into one of the largest racetracks in the Northeast in the late 1950s. Today, Pocono Raceway remains one of the last family-owned tracks in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. In an effort to cultivate qualified motorsports professionals for the burgeoning racing industry, Doc and his wife, Rose, partially funded the Business of NASCAR course at Elon for more than two decades.
Alivia majored in sport and event management and minored in business administration and marketing. Besides being involved with Catholic Campus Ministry and the Leisure/Sport Management Society, for three of her four years as an undergraduate she facilitated one of Elon’s student-taught Burst the Bubble programs, “No Speed Limit: The In’s and Out’s of NASCAR.” During the summer of her sophomore year, she interned at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and the following year traveled to Europe to work with the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, a 10-race circuit that holds stock car events in France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Great Britain.
Alivia now serves as the third generation in her family’s legacy of motorsports. Beginning her career as liaison to the chairman of the board at Pocono Raceway, Alivia went on to manage operations at the family’s sister-track, South Boston Speedway. For the past six years, Alivia has focused on cultivating partnerships for Penske Entertainment, owner of the Indianapolis Speedway and INDYCAR. It was during planning efforts for the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 that she met her husband, Joe Hodge. The couple married in early 2022.
Marisa Moody ’15
Brand & ESG Impact Strategy Director, Publicis One Touch
Introduced by Daniel Haygood, professor of strategic communications
Marisa Moody ’15 has made it her professional goal to help brands be true to their mission.
A Communications Fellow, Marisa graduated from Elon with a degree in strategic communications and minors in business administration and Spanish. An active member of several organizations, she held leadership positions with Live Oak Communications and the American Advertising Federation, which nominated her to the “Most Promising Multicultural Student” program in 2014. Marisa was also recognized as the top advertising and strategic communications student in the Triangle and Triad regions of North Carolina when she received the 2014 Robert F. Lauterborn scholarship. She studied abroad in Spain and Costa Rica and conducted undergraduate research.
Marisa’s student internships at such companies as BBDO, Wieden + Kennedy and Pace Communications paved the way for a successful career in brand strategy. In the fall of 2015, she was accepted into Ogilvy’s highly competitive post-graduate leadership program in New York, which has a less than 1% acceptance rate. Marisa was appointed to the CEO’s Millennial Advisory Counsel and worked within strategy roles on global brands including Kimberly-Clark, IKEA, Lenovo and IBM.
Three years later, Marisa moved to Germany to join the staff of Publicis Groupe, a French multinational advertising and public relations company. She initially worked with Publicis Emil to transform global branding for Mercedes-Benz. Earlier this year, Marisa transitioned to her current role with Publicis One Touch, where she is working to reposition the sustainability and Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance communications strategy for the personal care brand Nivea.
Claudia Rodriguez ’17
People Business Partner, MyCase
Introduced by Sylvia Muñoz, assistant dean of students and director of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education
Elon’s unique opportunities created the perfect ground for Claudia Rodriguez ’17 to flourish.
A native of Puerto Rico, Claudia majored in psychology and minored in criminal justice. Looking for ways to get involved on campus, she joined many organizations and clubs, including the Crime Studies Club and the Latinx-Hispanic Union, and was often helping out at El Centro.
Claudia also served as a Diversity Ambassador and tour guide for the Office of Admissions, a student researcher in the Office of the Registrar, a facilitator for the Alamance Youth Leadership Academy and a teacher’s assistant in Elon 101 (now Elon 1010).
During the Winter Term of her senior year, she completed an executive internship with the Office of the Associate Provost for Inclusive Community, researching DEI efforts across campus. Looking to expand her global perspective, Claudia participated in multiple study abroad opportunities. She hiked and camped on the Inca Trail in Peru and traveled to Australia and New Zealand.
Following graduation from Elon, Claudia pursued her master’s degree in higher education from North Carolina State University, where she served as a graduate assistant for global programs. She also served on a panel of women for N.C. State’s 2019 Gender & Equity Research Symposium called “Womxn of Color Creating Scholarship Abroad.” After graduating in 2019, she began building her career as a technology recruiter by joining Proven Recruiting. Two years later, she joined the team at MyCase, the largest legal tech company in the world, and quickly rose through the ranks to become a people business partner in fall 2022.
Always proud of her alma mater, Claudia has remained an engaged alumna. Besides volunteering for many initiatives, she has also made contributions to support the Elon Latinx Hispanic Alumni Network and Elon student scholarships.
Holly Brueggman Tamburello ’17
Senior Analyst, NERA Economic Consulting
Introduced by Steve DeLoach, professor of economics and chair of the Department of Economics
Holly Brueggman Tamburello ’17 managed to nurture all her interests while at Elon — from conducting research and presenting at national conferences to studying abroad and singing in an a cappella group.
A double major in international economics and finance, Holly was involved with the Economics Club, the Financial Management Association and the honor societies Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. She was also a member of the all-female a cappella group Sweet Signatures, serving as the musical director her senior year. In addition to being an economics tutor and the editor of the undergraduate research journal Issues in Political Economy, Holly performed administrative duties for Elon’s Office of Business, Finance & Technology. She studied abroad in Sevilla, Spain, in fall 2015 and conducted her senior research on student debt and the housing market, presenting her thesis at the Eastern Economic Association’s annual conference in New York her senior year.
Following graduation, Holly joined the antitrust division of NERA Economic Consulting as a senior analyst. The global firm is dedicated to applying economic, finance and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. In her current role, Holly has worked with clients across a variety of industries, guiding them through mergers, consumer protection, litigation and private arbitration.
While completing her undergraduate studies at Elon, Holly earned her real estate license. In addition to the home she shares with husband Josh, Holly also manages three rental homes in Houston and Lubbock. Outside of Elon, she supports Fractured Atlas Productions, a nonprofit that empowers artists and cultural organizations.
A member of the 1889 Society, Holly remains actively engaged with her alma mater. She serves on the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business’s Economic Consulting Advisory Board and supports the Department of Economics and the school.
Jordan Thompson ’14 L’17
Legal Counsel at TikTok
Introduced by Chris Leupold, associate professor of psychology and Faculty Leadership Fellow
Jordan Thompson ’14 L’17 has managed to translate his academic and on-the-field experiences at Elon into a successful career.
A political science major with a business minor, Jordan played defensive back for the Phoenix football team and was involved with the Black Cultural Society, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the National Pan-Hellenic Council. He also participated in a study abroad program to Barbados during his senior year.
After graduation, Jordan interned with the Detroit Lions in the player personnel department focusing on evaluating pro football players and other front office duties. He decided to return to Elon to pursue his legal degree as part of Elon Law’s Leadership Fellows program, completing internships with sports agencies and a law firm. He also completed his residency-in-practice in the legal affairs and salary cap department of the Washington Commanders.
Jordan turned his love for football into a successful sports business career. In addition to holding roles at NFL agencies such as Element Sports Group, he also practiced as an attorney at Wall Street’s oldest law firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, which represents all 32 NFL teams. He later worked as an NFL agent and assistant general counsel with Priority Sports & Entertainment, one of Forbes’ most valuable sports agencies. There, he represented top NFL draft selections, influencers, media talent and coaches. In 2021, Diverse Representation listed Jordan as one of the Top 10 to Watch, a list highlighting diverse sports business figures on the rise. In his current role as legal counsel in TikTok’s Monetization and Corporate legal group, he advises on a plethora of business in the fast-growing entertainment platform.
Jordan is married to fellow law alumna Timaura Barfield L’18, who is an attorney with Bendin Sumrall & Ladner.
David Williams Jr. ’13
Senior Security Engineer, Amazon Web Services
Introduced by Duke Hutchings, professor of computer science and chair of the Department of Computer Science
David Williams Jr. ’13 has dedicated his career to empowering organizations to securely adopt emerging technologies such as cloud computing and machine learning.
David graduated from Elon with a degree in computer information systems and dual minors in computer science and business administration. A member of the football team, David was active with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and the honor societies Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Eta Sigma. During his time at Elon, he published two undergraduate research projects, including “Efficiency and Device Versatility of Graphical and Textual Passwords,” which he presented at the Americas Conference on Information Systems.
Following graduation, David joined JPMorgan Chase & Company in New York as an infrastructure engineer. After receiving a master’s degree in cybersecurity from New York University in 2016, he transferred into an information security role at JPMC. In 2017, he moved to the D.C.-metro area to join Amazon Web Services as a cloud consultant. His current role as a senior security engineer based in Charlotte, North Carolina, is focused on cyber threat modeling and cloud governance. He earned an MBA from the College of William & Mary in 2022 and is participating in Carnegie Mellon University’s Chief Information Security Officer graduate certificate program in preparation for security executive leadership opportunities.
An engaged Elon alumnus, David has served in leadership positions on the Elon NYC Alumni Chapter Board and Young Alumni Council, and often visits Elon computing sciences classes to build recruiting pipelines for employment opportunities and to share his industry experiences. In recognition for his accomplishments, the Elon Black Alumni Network honored him with the 2018 Young Alumnus of the Year Award. Outside of Elon, David has been active in several community service efforts including Big Brothers Big Sisters NYC and Stuyvesant High School football coaching.
Doug Williams ’13
News Anchor & Reporter, CBS New York
Introduced by Anthony Hatcher, professor of journalism and chair of the Journalism Department
Douglas “Doug” Williams’s lifelong affinity for sports has translated into a successful broadcasting career.
After graduating from Elon with a degree in journalism and a minor in sociology in 2013, Doug served as a production assistant at YES Network before being hired by SportsNet New York in late 2014. During his time with the network, Doug built his own Emmy-nominated talk show and interviewed/covered some of the biggest names and stories in New York sports. In addition to appearing on-screen with “Baseball Night in New York” and “Geico SportsNite,” Doug also hosted SNY’s “Shea Anything,” a podcast that discusses all things New York Mets. He left SNY after seven years at the network in late 2021 and spent a year doing national and local talk radio for CBS Sports and Sirius XM. In early February of this year, Doug returned to TV news as a morning anchor at WCBS in New York.
As a student at Elon, Doug co-produced a pilot called “Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” in which he and fellow communications students worked with a local TV station to share their opinions on ESPN’s show “Outside the Lines.” He was also the recipient of a Hearst Journalism Award in the category of Multimedia News Reporting, a member of Kappa Sigma and the Society of Professional Journalists and studied abroad in London and Germany.
As an alumnus, Doug has been passionate about helping fellow Elon students. In 2017, he returned to campus with his father, veteran news anchor Brian Williams P’13, to engage with the class “Journalism in a Free Society.” Doug has made gifts in support of the School of Communications and Elon’s Greatest Needs, and his family played an integral part in the expansion of Elon’s School of Communications. The state-of-the-art Jane and Brian Williams Studio in McEwen is named in their honor.
