Dear Lawrentians: As we approach the end of another remarkable academic year, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible energy, creativity, and kindness that have defined our community this spring, as well as reiterate our collective commitment to protecting our values through the work of the Federal Action Task Force, comprised of staff and faculty from across the institution.
Last week, we welcomed the Board of Trustees to campus for our May meetings. The Board was deeply engaged and inspired by the momentum they saw across the university, from our bold academic vision to the vibrant student experiences that make Lawrence such a special place. The Board toured the rapidly progressing facilities at West Campus, met with graduating seniors who intend to pursue graduate studies, received updates about enrollment, the campaign, and from LUCC, and finalized the budget for next year. I am grateful for their continued partnership and support.
I’m thrilled to report that the board also approved the following faculty for promotion: Dominica Chang, French and Francophone Studies; Mark Jenike, Anthropology; Doug Martin, Physics; and Julie McQuinn, Musicology. Congratulations, all! This well-deserved achievement is a testament to your pedagogy, research, university service, and the light you shine on our campus. More details on the Spring Board Meetings can be found in the update shared earlier this week by Christyn Abaray, Vice President and Secretary to the Board.
Following the board meeting on Friday afternoon, I had the pleasure of exploring the natural world through the lens of our incredibly insightful biology students at BioFest, a showcase of senior experiences and research projects. More than three dozen seniors presented their research on a variety of subjects, allowing members of the campus and Appleton community alike an opportunity to engage with complex research in an accessible and digestible way. Congratulations to all on successfully completing your senior experiences, and a special thanks to the many faculty and staff who supported you on this journey.
Progress on our new academic and residential facilities at West Campus continues to move forward with great speed. The academic floor—which will house the Math, Statistics, and Computer Science department, Conservatory studios and practice rooms, Lawrence’s new Humanities Center, and a state-of-the-art music production studio—will open for use this fall. The university is in the final stages of identifying a property management partner for the market-rate apartments on the third and fourth floors, and we look forward to welcoming tenants from the Appleton community as early as August.
Two student jazz ensembles—the LU Jazz Ensemble and the Latin Jazz Ensemble—contributed to a Conservatory legacy, winning 2025 honors in Downbeat magazine’s Student Music awards. This recognition marks the eighth time in eight years that Lawrence students have brought a top ensemble award to our campus. Congratulations to Patty Darling, instructor of music, José Encarnación, associate professor of music and director of jazz studies, and all our student musicians on this prestigious achievement.
We also had the honor of hosting Robert Battle, our inaugural Creator in Residence, for a powerful week of artistic expression and community engagement. From May 7-10, Robert shared his wisdom and artistry through workshops, conversations, and performances that stirred our imaginations and reminded us of the transformative power of the arts. The spring program culminated in an invigorating and joyful performance entitled “Gather Together,” embodying an ethos of community and collaboration that perfectly captures the Lawrentian spirit. This work would not have been possible without the support of Lawrence instructors and faculty—Mauriah Donegan Kraker, Margaret Paek, and Jean Carlo Ureña González—and an incredible cast of student performers and musicians. I extend my gratitude to everyone who helped bring his residency to life. Special thanks to Trustee emeritus Harold Jordan ’72 and his wife Mary Donn ’73 for their generous contribution to support this program.
KidsGive, a program created in 2009 by Lawrence students and Professor Dena Skran, celebrated a huge accomplishment this term. Since its founding, Lawrentians who participated in the KidsGive program have traveled to Sierra Leone to support projects focused on youth education and health. As part of this work, KidsGive contributed to the development of an all-girls junior secondary school at the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) School. After 15 years of continuous effort, the school recently celebrated its grand opening! I am profoundly moved by these efforts; the legacy of this work will endure for decades to come, a shining beacon of the transformative power of global engagement and experiential learning at Lawrence.
Our 17 Days of Kindness initiative has been another shining example of what makes this community exceptional. From handwritten notes and shared meals to volunteer efforts and spontaneous acts of generosity, this celebration of compassion and connection has brightened our campus and reminded us that small gestures can have lasting impact. Thanks to all who planned, enacted, and participated in this ever-expanding tradition.
Lawrentians also celebrated the robust history of Greek life on campus through Greek Week, marking the 165th anniversary of fraternity and sorority life at Lawrence. The weeklong celebration culminated in a Fraternity and Sorority Awards luncheon this past Sunday, at which we honored the collective and individual accomplishments of Greeks across campus. While Greek Week has now wrapped in spectacular fashion, I now look forward to the inaugural Greek Reunion at homecoming this fall!
Congratulations are also in order for Faith Onukaogu ’26, who took home the top prize in The Pitch, a regional business startup competition, for her innovative multi-purpose clothing brand, Anima Unita. This is a tremendous achievement, and we are so proud of Faith for representing Lawrence with such vision and poise. Thank you to all who supported her journey and to those who planned and executed this exciting opportunity. This marks the seventh time in the nine-year history of The Pitch that a Lawrentian has won seed money for a startup idea.
Athletics has given us more to celebrate. Men’s Baseball captured their third conference championship in four years—an extraordinary accomplishment that speaks to the dedication and talent of our student-athletes and coaching staff. And Women’s Softball made a triumphant return to the conference tournament for the first time in a decade. Congratulations, Vikings! And a special congratulations to coaches Trent Whitcomb and Korey Krueger for realizing these accomplishments in their very first seasons. These successes are a testament to the perseverance and spirit of our Vikings.
For the first time in 20 years, Lawrence hosted the Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field championship earlier this month. This amazing achievement gave us the opportunity to showcase our updated track and field facilities. Thanks to all those across campus who made hosting this momentous event possible.
Finally, I want to congratulate Men’s Fencing head coach, Eric Momberg, on being recognized as the United States Fencing Coaches Association’s (USFCA) Division III Men’s Team Coach of the Year. This prestigious national recognition is well-deserved, as Coach Momberg has led the Vikings to incredible successes in competition, has developed an outstanding team culture, and has been honored twice in recent years as the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Coach of Year. Congratulations, Eric!
As Commencement approaches and we prepare to send the Class of 2025 out into the world, let us carry forward the joy, excellence, and kindness that have defined this spring. Thank you for all that you do to make Lawrence a place of brilliance, belonging, and bold ambition.
With gratitude,
Laurie A. Carter, President