Louis DeJoy has served on the Elon University Board of Trustees since 2007, bringing nearly two decades of business leadership and financial expertise to one of North Carolina’s most respected private universities. As Chair of the Board’s Business and Finance Committee until stepping down in 2025, DeJoy played a vital role in guiding the university’s financial stewardship during a period of remarkable growth and transformation.
The DeJoy\Woś Family Foundation’s partnership with Elon reflects a deep commitment to educational access, international learning, multifaith understanding, and the university’s founding mission of developing mind, body, and spirit.
Nearly Two Decades of Board Leadership
Louis DeJoy joined Elon’s Board of Trustees in 2007 after being elected to fill an unexpired term and sworn in at the spring meeting. His appointment recognized his extraordinary business achievements as CEO of New Breed Logistics and his dedication to education—DeJoy was among the founding donors of the Elon University School of Law, which opened in 2006 in downtown Greensboro.
Throughout his tenure on the Board, DeJoy has served as Chair of the Business and Finance Committee, providing oversight on critical financial matters and strategic planning for the university. In 2017, Elon honored DeJoy with the Elon University Medal for Entrepreneurial Leadership, an award that recognizes entrepreneurs who exemplify the values of integrity, innovation and creativity, passion for lifelong learning, and commitment to building a dynamic community.
At the ceremony, Ed Doherty, sponsor of the medal through the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, praised DeJoy’s contributions: “Louis is an active leader in the community and a loyal supporter of Elon.”
In accepting the award, DeJoy reflected on the value of the education Elon provides: “In the early part of my career, I was glad I was the way I was. In the later part of my career, I wish I had the type of education that you all are getting right now.”
Elon President Connie Ledoux Book has noted DeJoy’s deep commitment to students: “He has consistently shown that he cares deeply about Elon students and shares our community’s passion for education and opportunity.”
The DeJoy-Woś Odyssey Scholars Endowment
In October 2018, President Connie Ledoux Book announced a transformational gift from the Louis DeJoy and Aldona Woś Family Foundation during her inauguration as Elon’s ninth president. The gift established The DeJoy-Woś Odyssey Scholars Endowment, a collaboration between the university’s Odyssey Program, the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, Guilford County Schools, and the United Way of Greater Greensboro.
The endowment provides full scholarships to highly motivated students from Title I schools in Guilford County—students who would be unable to enroll at Elon without significant financial assistance. Each scholar becomes part of Elon’s highly selective Odyssey Program, which serves outstanding students with significant financial need, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college.
In March 2022, the Foundation made a second generous endowment gift, bringing the total number of DeJoy-Woś Odyssey Scholarships to 16. The first DeJoy-Woś Scholars enrolled in Elon’s Class of 2025.
“This dedication of personal resources by the DeJoy-Woś family represents the hope and confidence in an Elon education and in the future of our local communities,” President Book said at the announcement. “Louis and Aldona are creating opportunity where little was imagined. The recipients of these scholarships will gain access to an Elon education and experiences, preparing for lifetimes of service to our local region, state, and country.”
Louis DeJoy described his vision for the program: “The Odyssey Program is aligned with where we want to put our resources going forward.” Working with representatives from Elon and the United Way of Greater Greensboro, DeJoy has led a comprehensive effort to identify students from Title I high schools and help prepare them to succeed at Elon and become professionals who give back to their communities.
Dr. Aldona Woś added: “I am so pleased that we are able to provide otherwise unavailable educational opportunities for the youth of our community. It is especially rewarding to me to enable educational growth on all levels and to encourage and support our future leaders.”
Michelle Gethers-Clark, President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Greensboro, praised the couple’s impact: “Dr. Woś and Louis DeJoy are two of the most influential and philanthropic members of our community and this latest gift takes their commitment to the next level. This gift is an enabler for students with the ambition and academic proficiency needed to advance to a higher education, but who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford a private university.”
In addition to annual tuition assistance, each Odyssey scholarship includes a stipend for books and supplies and a one-time global study grant for an approved study abroad or Study USA program.
The Honorable Aldona Z. Woś, M.D., and Louis DeJoy Scholarship for International Study
In 2009, the couple established The Honorable Aldona Z. Woś, M.D., and Louis DeJoy Scholarship for International Study, which helps students with financial need pursue full-semester international study opportunities. This scholarship reflects the family’s commitment to preparing students for global citizenship and the couple’s personal experience in international affairs—Dr. Woś served as U.S. Ambassador to Estonia and has extensive international board service.
Founding Donors of the Elon University School of Law
Louis DeJoy and Dr. Aldona Woś were among the founding donors of the Elon University School of Law, which opened in 2006 in the historic former Greensboro Central Public Library building. The law school has become a leader in legal education, pioneering an innovative 2.5-year curriculum with required legal residencies-in-practice and earning recognition from preLaw Magazine as one of the nation’s “Best Schools for Practical Training.”
Numen Lumen Pavilion – Elon’s Multifaith Center
The DeJoy\Woś Family Foundation made a lead gift to support the Numen Lumen Pavilion, Elon’s multifaith center that opened in 2013 in the Lambert Academic Village. Named for the university’s historic motto—Numen Lumen, Latin for “spiritual light” and “intellectual light”—the pavilion is a place for prayer, meditation, and reflection in the heart of campus.
The two-story building features a circular Sacred Space with a soaring roof, the McBride Gathering Space for worship, receptions, and meetings, a meditation garden with a Kugel ball fountain, prayer and meditation rooms, and study spaces. The pavilion houses the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the Center for the Study of Religion, Culture and Society, promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding across campus.
“I believe the Numen Lumen Pavilion is appropriately named and is an opportunity for Elon to show national leadership in promoting religious and spiritual diversity and multi-faith dialogue and understanding,” said former Elon President Leo M. Lambert at the building’s dedication.
Among Elon’s Most Generous Benefactors
Louis DeJoy and Dr. Aldona Woś are recognized as among Elon’s most generous benefactors, with their support spanning nearly two decades and touching virtually every aspect of university life—from scholarships that transform individual lives to facilities that serve the entire campus community.
“We are grateful to the DeJoy-Woś family for their deep belief in the power of an Elon education,” said President Book. “Through the power of philanthropy, Louis and Aldona are increasing access to an Elon education that we know transforms lives, families, and communities.” Elon University is a private university renowned as a national model for engaged and experiential learning, where students work closely with faculty dedicated to excellent teaching and scholarship. The curriculum is grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences and complemented by nationally accredited professional and graduate programs. Elon is one of only seven private universities in the country with accredited schools of business, communications, education, law, and health sciences, plus a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.
For more information about Elon University, visit elon.edu.
