| Dear Lawrentians: As we step further into the winter term, I am heartened by the energy and dedication across our campus. The recently concluded Winter Board of Trustees meetings reflected this spirit, with the board enthusiastically supporting and applauding the important work being done across our university. From the considerable efforts of Provost Blitstein and the faculty-led Academic Program Review Task Force to the many ways our faculty, staff, and students continue to push boundaries in learning and innovation, our collective efforts are shaping Lawrence’s future in meaningful ways. A large portion of our meetings was dedicated to reviewing the recently completed Academic Program Review report. The board focused their discussions on how the faculty might use this data to inform efforts to better resource our academic programs and position Lawrence for enrollment growth in an increasingly competitive environment. The faculty did not recommend, nor did the board approve, any cuts to any of our academic programs. The board applauds and thanks Provost Blitstein and the Academic Program Review Task Force for their thoughtful and thorough work. The Provost’s Office will provide additional information on the review process and report’s recommendations in the coming weeks. I’m thrilled to report that the board also approved the following faculty for tenure: Hillary Caruthers, Economics; Scott Dixon, Philosophy; Estelí Gomez, Music (Voice); Anne Haydock, Film Studies; Relena Ribbons, Geosciences; Elizabeth Sattler, Mathematics; Austin Segrest, English; and Betsy Schlabach, History. Congratulations, all! This well-deserved achievement is a testament to your pedagogy, research, university service, and the light you shine on our campus. The board also thanked LUCC President, Isabel Dorn, for her service to the campus community over the past year, and offered a warm welcome to Brook Schara, LUCC President-Elect. Thank you, Isabel, for your commitment and leadership. And congratulations, Brook! I look forward to working with you and your Cabinet in the coming academic year. More details on the Winter Board Meetings can be found in the board update message shared last week by Christyn Abaray, Vice President and Secretary to the Board. We continue to make great strides in improving our campus spaces to better support our students and faculty. Construction on the third floor of Fox Commons is now complete, with furniture scheduled for delivery over Spring Break. We look forward to opening this new space in Fall 2025. Harper Hall has also undergone significant enhancements, with audio/visual upgrades designed to better serve the needs of our Conservatory faculty and students. Later this academic year, the stage will be refinished and a ramp will be added to increase accessibility, further solidifying Harper Hall as a premier performance space on campus. I want to extend my congratulations and appreciation to Marcia Bjornerud, Walter Schober Professor of Environmental Studies and Professor of Geosciences, and Ann Ellsworth, Associate Professor of Music, along with the entire cast and crew, for their outstanding production of Un-Earthing: An Eco-Geomusical about Hubris and Hydrofracturing. Their performance christened the newly renovated Harper Hall in spectacular fashion, exemplifying the kind of interdisciplinary collaboration that makes Lawrence a beacon of creativity. Additionally, please join me in celebrating Estelí Gomez, Assistant Professor of Music (Voice), for her recent performance at Carnegie Hall—an incredible accomplishment that highlights the talent and dedication of our faculty. I’m also excited to share that nine students and recent graduates have advanced to the 2025 semifinalist round for the U.S. Fulbright award. The Fulbright Award is one of the nation’s preeminent scholarship programs, and the National Screening Committee receives thousands of applications each year. Best of luck to our semifinalists, and a special thanks to Claire Kervin, who, in addition to her role as Assistant Professor of English, serves as Lawrence’s Director of Fellowships Advising. Our student-athletes continue to excel both in competition and in the classroom. With an impressive win over Lake Forest, our Women’s Basketball program has secured a place in the Midwest Conference Tournament for the second consecutive season. Be sure to cheer on the Vikings in the semifinal round versus Ripon College on February 23! As we move through the rest of the term, I encourage all of us to embrace the traits that define Lawrence: curiosity, creativity, and, most importantly, community. During our winter board meetings, the Board reaffirmed our campus’s core values of inclusion, acceptance, and unity in response to recent executive orders. In these challenging times, our unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive and welcoming environment for all members of our community remains as strong as ever. This commitment is clearly reflected in the board’s letter to our campus community, which can be read in full here. The only way we can successfully move our campus, our community, and our beloved institution forward is together, and the administration is always happy to work with student organizations who are prepared to work collaboratively to ensure a positive future for Lawrence and Lawrentians. Thank you for all you do to make this such a special place. Warmly, Laurie A. Carter President |