Press Releases

Category: Press Releases

Convocation Series Video: Geomimicry

In her October 20th convocation, Marcia Bjornerud, professor of geology and the Walter Schober Professor in Environmental Studies at Lawrence, theorized that all of us would be better off if we followed five geological guiding principles. She says the Earth can inspire us to rethink social, economic and agricultural policies.

Watch a video of Bjornerud’s presentation.

A structural geologist who joined the Lawrence faculty in 1995, Bjornerud was appointed the first holder of the endowed Schober professorship in 2007. She has been the recipient of two Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowships, including one earlier this year that supported four months of research on ancient seismic events in New Zealand along the South Island’s Alpine Fault.

She is the author of “The Blue Planet,” a science textbook and “Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth,” in which she provides a tour of “deep time,” chronicles the planet’s changes and examines the toll human activity is exacting on Earth.

Lawrence Academy of Music Hosts Annual Scholarship Benefit Oct. 24

APPLETON, WIS. — Musical performances by the Lawrence University Jazz Band, a jazz combo featuring Lawrence bassist Mark Urness and pianist Mathew Buchman and Lawrence Academy of Music string faculty ensembles highlight the fourth annual “tutti!” scholarship benefit Saturday, Oct. 24 from 6-9 p.m. in Lawrence’s Warch Campus Center.

With the theme “sustaining beautiful music for all,” this year’s event will feature hors d’oeuvres, wine, a raffle, a silent auction and prizes, including a $2,000 travel voucher, an iPod touch, a moped and more. Tutti is an Italian musical term meaning “all play together.”

Proceeds from the “Tutti!” event benefit the Lawrence Academy of Music Scholarship Fund, a financial-assistance program for students in the academy’s music program. The academy sponsors more than 20 music education programs and ensembles, serving more than 1,900 students throughout Northeast Wisconsin, ranging in age from six months to 90 years old .

“There has been a marked increase in requests for financial assistance this year detailing hardships and challenges faced by many of our families,” said Fred Snyder, director of the academy. “Tutti is our primary funding source to provide need-based scholarships for musical instruction opportunities for area families. Our goal remains that no motivated student with a serious desire to pursue musical studies be denied such opportunity due to family financial circumstances.”

Tickets for the event are $35 in advance or $40 at the door and are available at the academy’s office, 100 S. Water St, Appleton. Call 920-832-6632 for more information.

Lawrence University Graduate Nominated for Post in Obama Administration

APPLETON, WIS. — Scott Quehl, a 1988 Lawrence graduate, has been nominated by President Barack Obama for the post of Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Commerce. The appointment is subject to a hearing confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

Quehl, who also served as a member of President Clinton’s administration, is currently president of Quehl Advisors, LLC and a senior managing director at Public Resources Advisory Group, providing counsel to state and local governments on capital market, budgeting and management initiatives.

He also has served as managing director for tax-exempt capital markets at JPMorgan Securities, Inc. and was managing director at Public Financial Management, Inc., where he served as a management and budget advisor to the several local and state authorities. During his tenure at Public Financial Management, Quehl took a leave of absence to serve as acting, then permanent, chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Police Department.

As a member of the Clinton administration, Quehl served in the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Federal Financial Management. Prior to that appointment, he served as The World Bank’s Country Officer for the Dominican Republic in a consulting capacity, co-managed the development of the Secondary Education Project for the Dominican Republic and advised the governments of Colombia and Bolivia on the decentralization of financial and management authority to sub-national governments.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Lawrence, Quehl served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sabanagrande, Honduras. He went on to earn a master’s degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Geologist Marcia Bjornerud Discusses “Geomimicry ” in Lawrence University Convocation

APPLETON, WIS. — Applying a geological twist to biomimetics, Marcia Bjornerud discusses how the concept of turning to natural living systems as templates for good design could be applied to building new and sustainable institutions and infrastructures in a Lawrence University convocation.

Bjornerud, professor of geology and the Walter Schober Professor in Environmental Studies at Lawrence, presents “Geomimicry: Good Design from the Earth” Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 11:10 a.m. in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. She also will conduct a question-and-answer session at 2 p.m. in the Warch Campus Center cinema. Both events are free and open to the public.

Marcia%20Bjornerud_web.jpgBjornerud was selected for the 2009-10 convocation series as the first recipient of Lawrence’s new Faculty Convocation Award. Chosen by President Beck from nominations collected by the Committee on Public Occasions, recipients for the award are selected for the high quality of their professional work.

Since the start of the industrial revolution, Bjornerud argues, Western technology has tended to treat nature as an adversary to be defied or circumvented, an attitude that has led to many of the environmental problems we face today. She will discuss how “geomimicry” — borrowing design ideas from the long-term habits of the Earth — can be a guiding principle in rethinking social, economic and agricultural policies.

“Environmental abuses and social injustices are arguably both rooted in a distorted sense of the relationship between humans and the natural world,” says Bjornerud.

A structural geologist who joined the Lawrence faculty in 1995, Bjornerud was appointed the first holder of the endowed Schober professorship in 2007. She has been the recipient of two Fulbright Senior Scholar Fellowships, including one earlier this year that supported four months of research on ancient seismic events in New Zealand along the South Island’s Alpine Fault.

She previously was recognized as a Fulbright Scholar in 2000 when she was awarded a fellowship for a year of field research on the west coast of Norway.

Bjornerud is the author of “The Blue Planet,” a science textbook and “Reading the Rocks: The Autobiography of the Earth,” in which she provides a tour of “deep time,” chronicles the planet’s changes and examines the toll human activity is exacting on Earth.

She was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of America in 2003 and was recognized with Lawrence’s Excellence in Scholarship or Creative Activity Award in 2007.

Prior to joining the Lawrence faculty, Bjornerud spent six years in the geology department at Miami University in Ohio. She earned a bachelor’s degree in geophysics at the University of Minnesota and an M.A. and Ph.D. in geology at the University of Wisconsin.

Lawrence University Welcomes Three Visiting Poets for Reading, Q & A Session

APPLETON, WIS. — Three poets will visit Lawrence University Monday, Oct. 19 for a reading and a discussion session. Both events will be conducted bilingually and are open to the public.

Poets Dolores Dorantes, Laura Solórzano and Jen Hofer will read from their work at 8 p.m. in the Wriston Art Center Hoffmaster Gallery. A reception and book signing will follow. Prior to the reading, the poets will conduct a question-and-answer session about Mexican poetry and translation at 4:30 p.m. in Main Hall 104.

Dorantes is the founding director of the border arts collective Compañía Frugal, an organization that publishes a poetry broadside series, distributed throughout Mexico. She has written four book-length volumes of poetry, including 2004’s “sexoPUROsexoVELOZ” and “Lola (cartas cortas)” in 2002. In her poetry, Dorantes works to break away from what she has called “the confessional poetry that prevails in Mexican Literature.”

A teacher at the Centro de Arte Audiovisual in Guadalajara, Mexico, Solórzano is the author of several collections of poetry. Her most recent works include “Boca perdida” (2005) and “lobo de labio” (2001). Solórzano also serves on the editorial board of the literary arts magazine Tragaluz.

Hofer is the editor and translator of “Sin puertas visible: An Anthology of Contemporary Poetry by Mexican Women,” which includes works by Dorantes and Solórzano. Hofer teaches writing and poetics at the California Institute of the Arts and works as a Spanish-language interpreter with the Los Angeles County Superior Courts.

The poetry reading is sponsored by the Mia Paul Poetry Fund, the Spanish Department and ¡VIVA!

Lawrence University Mourns the Death of Professor of English Bertrand Goldgar

It is with great sadness that we share with you the news of the death of Professor of English and John N. Bergstrom Professor of Humanities Bertrand A. Goldgar. The longest-serving full-time member of the faculty in Lawrence history, Professor Goldgar passed away the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 14. He was 81 years old.

Bert-Goldgar_web.jpgBorn in Macon, Georgia, Goldgar joined the Lawrence English department in 1957. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University. Over the course of his 52-year teaching career, he established himself as one of Lawrence’s greatest scholars. Known for his reverence for the written word, he was admired as a literary historian and editor.

His expertise focused on 18th-century literature, including Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift, and he was considered one of the world’s leading scholars of Henry Fielding. He was a key participant in the authoritative Wesleyan edition of Fielding’s works, editing several volumes to great acclaim. His 1976 book, “Walpole and the Wits: The Relation of Politics to Literature, 1722-1742,” remains a standard work for historians and literary scholars alike. His scholarship was recognized with fellowships from the American Council of Learned Societies and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Last October, Goldgar was among the guests of honor at a major conference in Dublin to celebrate the inauguration of the 15-volume Cambridge University Press edition of the complete works of Swift, for which he served as co-editor of the first volume, “English Political Writings 1711-1714: The Conduct of the Allies and Other Works.” He was nearly finished with a second volume for the edition at his death. He was one of only three American editors working on the Swift project.

Goldgar was considered by some to be the “academic conscience” of Lawrence for the seriousness of his approach to scholarship and to liberal arts education, and for his unabashed opposition to anything that would diminish the academic standards and integrity of the institution.

He was widely regarded as one of Lawrence’s most dedicated teachers and was much beloved by several generations of students, both for his classroom style and for his near round-the-clock availability to students. He remained in regular contact with scores of former students after their graduation.

He reveled in his reputation as a “curmudgeon,” but those who knew him best knew he was a kind and beloved curmudgeon. His wit and humor were familiar both to students – he was often ribbed in The Lawrentian – and to friends and colleagues in the Union Grill, where he was a lunch-hour fixture.

In honor of his 50th year of teaching, more than 60 alumni and friends attended a surprise golden anniversary “Bert-Day Party” in September 2007 and presented him with “The Berton Anthology,” a collection of satirical writings in 18th-century style by former students about Goldgar and the Lawrence English department.

At the 2008 commencement, Goldgar was presented the college’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship in recognition of his sustained scholarly excellence and for exemplifying the ideals of the teacher-scholar. He also was the recipient of Lawrence’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1976. He was appointed to the endowed John N. Bergstrom Professor of Humanities chair in 1981.

He is survived by his wife, Corinne, two children, Ben, 52, Chicago, and Anne, 50, London, and two grandchildren, Sarah, 21, and Leah, 17.

If you would like to make a gift in memory of Professor Goldgar, an endowed fund in his name has been established by a group of his former students. Gifts in Professor Goldgar’s memory can support this endowed fund by sending a check to: Lawrence University Office of Development, 711 E. Boldt Way SPC 18, Appleton, WI 54911-5699, or online.

A memorial service for Professor Goldgar will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010 at 2 p.m. in Stansbury Theatre of the Music-Drama Center. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Jill Beck, President

David Burrows, Provost and Dean of the Faculty

Lawrence University Student Pianist Shines in Seattle Music Competition

APPLETON, WIS. — Marshall Cuffe, a Lawrence University sophomore from Salem, Ore., was awarded the Mendelssohn and Audience Favorite prizes following his performance Oct. 10 in the final round of the collegiate division of the 2009 Seattle International Piano Festival and Competition.

Marshall-Cuffe_web.jpgCuffe, who studies in the piano study of Associate Professor of Music Anthony Padilla, was one of six finalists who advanced to the finals from a pool of applicants from Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. He performed works by Felix Mendelssohn and Olivier Messiaen.

The annual competition is held in conjunction with a piano festival that features guest recitals, lectures and master classes. Designed to encourage pianists to find their own niche, participants have the freedom to choose their competition repertoire without specific requirements.

The Mendelssohn and Audience Favorite awards were just the latest accolades for Cuffe, a double-degree candidate majoring in piano performance and Psychology. Last spring he earned first-prize honors in the 2009 Wisconsin Music Teachers Association Collegiate Piano Competition and performed as a “Rising Star” in the 2008 American Guild of Organists National Convention in Minneapolis.

$300,000 Grant Will Support Lawrence University Suicide Risk Prevention Initiative

APPLETON, WIS. — In the war against suicide, college and universities often find themselves on the front lines.

Among people aged 18-22 in the United States, suicide is the third-leading cause of death. In Wisconsin, suicide is the number two cause of death among young adults, accounting for nearly 20 percent of all deaths among 18-22-year olds, the eighth-highest rate in the nation.

To help combat those alarming statistics, Lawrence University has been awarded a three-year, $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to implement a comprehensive approach to preventing suicide.

Lawrence received one of 22 SAMHSA grants totaling $6.3 million that were awarded nationwide. The SAMHSA suicide prevention grants have been funded by Congress since 2005 in recognition of increasing levels of distress among the nation’s college-age population.

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Under the direction of Kathleen Fuchs, director of counseling services at Lawrence and adjunct associate professor of psychology, the college will launch the Lawrence University Campus Suicide Prevention Project, an initiative designed to lower suicide risk factors and enhance protective factors, including life skills and social networking, among Lawrence students.

“Our primary goal is to be sure students who need help get help,” said Fuchs. “One of the principal keys to that is lowering stigma about asking for help.”

Fuchs said the initiative will focus on developing and implementing culturally competent activities that effectively address the mental health needs of students, particularly those at high risk.

“We want to change the campus culture by reducing the stigma of talking about suicide as well as the risk factors ingrained in the academic and social culture on campus and to promote awareness and use of mental health services,” Fuchs said. “We want to coordinate our resources with community resources to ensure students receive comprehensive services.”

The National Institute of Mental Health says the strongest risk factors for attempted suicide among youth are depression, alcohol or other drug abuse or a history of traumatic events, such as sexual abuse. According to SAMHSA, nearly a quarter of a million students in colleges and universities attempt suicide each year.

“This national tragedy demands a strong pro-active approach — reaching out to all those at risk with information and services that give real help and hope,” said Eric Broderick, SAMHSA acting administrator.

Fuchs says the Lawrence University Campus Suicide Prevention Project has multiple objectives, including developing new and enhancing existing training programs to better recognize, respond to and refer distressed students, strengthen internal and external networking infrastructures. It also aims to develop appropriate educational outreach approaches that are tailored to the unique needs of the Lawrence campus, which is known for its intense academics and extreme involvement in extracurricular activities.

The SAMHSA grant will support comprehensive training for key gatekeepers among faculty, staff and athletic coaches to help them recognize and reach out to students in distress as well as help promote healthy habits and social connectedness.

“Feeling valued and positive about oneself helps lower depression and suicidal risks,” said Fuchs. “We have a very diverse student population and we want to be sure we’re addressing the needs of all students, particularly those from sub-populations that tend to be at higher risk. It’s important everyone feels they belong and they have strong social networks.”

The scope of the program will extend beyond “the Lawrence bubble” to incorporate key mental health stakeholders throughout the Fox Valley community in identifying common concerns and share suicide prevention efforts, particularly with other local college campuses.

“We are very fortunate to have excellent partners in this community, including our counterparts in various educational settings and a very active Fox Valley NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) chapter,” said Fuchs. “We look forward to collaborating closely with these existing partners as well as potential new ones that are serving at-risk youth and young adults.”

Karen Aspenson, executive director of NAMI Fox Valley, said young adults represent one of the country’s most important future resources and even one suicide in the community is too many.

“We must devote our time and energy to helping people understand that they’ve done nothing wrong if they are experiencing symptoms of mental illness,” said Aspenson. “They are experiencing a biological disorder and seeking help for it should be as natural as going to the doctor for symptoms of the flu. We are proud of Lawrence for taking on this initiative and look forward to working with them in any way that we can.”

LU’s Jill Beck Cited by Forbes as Barrier Breaker

Forbes.com recently named Lawrence University President Jill Beck to its list of “barrier breakers” in a report about female college presidents. According to the American Council on Education (ACE), 23 percent of college presidents are women, a significant increase over 1986’s 10 percent. Forbes says the future holds even more promise as women continue to break down gender barriers in higher education. Fifteen of Forbes’ 50 Best Colleges are led by women. Eight presidents, including Beck, are the first female president in their school’s history. Read the full story and learn more about Forbes’ 15 “barrier breakers.”

Wriston Art Center Lecture Features Photographer Sama Alshaibi

APPLETON, WIS. — Photographer Sama Alshaibi discusses her current art exhibit — “SUMOUD” — featured in Lawrence University’s Wriston Art Center Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. in the art center auditorium.

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Born of Palestinian-Iraqi descent, Alshaibi moved to America with her parents during the Iran-Iraq war and was unable to return until three years ago. Her photographs reveal feelings of her conflicting heritage between her two homelands and explores notions of war, forced migration and female identity. Often using her own body to represent other women’s trials and suffering, Alshaibi’s pieces are influenced both by current events and her background.

“SUMOUD,” which translates to “steadfastness,” is a term from post-Nekba Palestinian art where women are “iconic signifiers of a people’s tenacity.” Featuring photographs of women overlapped with text, Alshaibi’s work shows her struggle to identify with a history she feels disconnected with as well as to honor and extend a legacy she has been denied.

An assistant professor of art at the University of Arizona, Alshaibi also is the co-founder of the 6+ women’s art collective. Her photography and videos are widely exhibited internationally.

Alshaibi’s exhibit is featured in the Wriston Art Center Hoffmaster Gallery through Oct. 20. Wriston Art Center hours are Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from noon – 4 p.m. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 920-832-6621.