Dear Lawrentians,
I have been told many times how quickly our 10-week terms pass, and that sentiment didn’t quite hit home until I realized that we are three weeks from finals and our winter break. It seems like only a few short weeks ago that we welcomed our newest Lawrentians on Main Hall Green. Yet regardless of how quickly it seems we’ve made it to the latter half of fall term, my thoughts at this time of year always turn to reflection and gratitude.
Looking back at the first eight weeks of the academic term, I am proud of all that we have accomplished as a community. In addition to our new students, we have welcomed 10 new tenure-track faculty members to campus, new Men’s Basketball Coach Casey Korn, and new Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Eric Mayes. Associate Vice President for Enrollment Ashley Lewis will arrive later this month, and we are set to make an announcement regarding our new dean of admissions very soon.
The Science Learning Commons (formerly known as Youngchild 121) opened, providing a new interactive space to launch science learning. The renovation was part of the HHMI grant-funded Inclusive Excellence Initiative. Hundreds of community members came out to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with the dedication of Kaeyes Mamaceqtawuk Plaza and Otāēciah sculpture. Our College faculty have secured new national grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and National Endowment for the Humanities, and our Conservatory faculty and ensembles received two American Prize awards. Thanks to the hard work of LUCC and SOUP, our students gathered for a truly celebratory Blue & White Weekend, complete with food trucks, a pep band, and a carnival on Main Hall Green.
And I must give our Vikings student-athletes and coaches my thanks for closing October with a truly outstanding weekend of competition. The Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams qualified for the Midwest Conference Tournament, both for the first time since 2011. Both the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams won the Midwest Conference Championships—the women securing the conference title for the first time since 2001, and the men claiming their first conference championship since 2011. And the teams swept all awards at the championships, including individual title, newcomer of the year, coaching staff, and more. What a great time to be a Viking!
Reflecting on such bright moments, I can’t help but look back on my first four months with gratitude for the Lawrence community.
I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had to meet with Lawrentians, both near and far. All have deepened my knowledge of the university’s storied history, its many accomplishments, and our collective aspirations for its future.
I am thankful for our students who have shared with me their successes, frustrations, and hopes for their future. I am particularly appreciative of those students who have provided me with windows into their lives as I toured their residence halls and living spaces this fall.
I am grateful to our faculty who have continued to pursue excellence in both teaching and research even as they’ve adapted to the continuing challenges the pandemic brings to classrooms, studios, and laboratories.
Our staff, who rolled up their sleeves to prepare campus for the start of the term, helped facilitate surveillance testing and other safety measures, and addressed student needs during our return to campus, are all deserving of thanks. Their hard work is testament to their dedication to stewarding our campus and community.
Thanks also to alumni whose support for Lawrence shined through on Giving Day, helping us to raise nearly $2 million in support of our students and academic mission. I am grateful to the City of Appleton for their on-going collaboration and support in taking steps to make Appleton a more inclusive community. And I am especially grateful to our Board of Trustees for their thoughtful work and guidance at the start of my tenure at Lawrence.
Most important, I am grateful to all Lawrentians—students, faculty, and staff alike—who have volunteered to participate in the Guiding Coalitions and serve on the Strategic Equitable Enrollment Management (SEEM) team. The groups are already hard at work planning for our future, and the Strategic Planning Committee will soon begin its work evaluating the current strategic plan in preparation for creating the new one. And our community’s continuing dedication to Honor the Pledge and keep our campus safe is truly inspiring.
I wish all members of our community well as we approach finals and the end of term, prepare to return to our homes, visit family and friends, and celebrate our holiday traditions. May the light of Lawrence be a beacon to us all during our time apart and welcome us safely back together in the new year.
Sincerely,
Laurie
President, Lawrence University