Dear Lawrentians:
As the winter term winds to a close, I continue to reflect on our institutional values.
Belonging. Integrity. Respect. Sustainability.
As I shared in my matriculation convocation address this past fall, these are more than simple words on a page or pithy epithets to describe our campus community. They are powerful commitments that shape how we live, how we learn, and how we care for another in the face of regional, national, and global turmoil. The work we do on campus—as students, faculty, and staff—must be informed by the way these values manifest in our daily lives.
These shared commitments ground not only our daily interactions but also our long‑term planning. To that end, our Board of Trustees continues to play a vital role in advancing our mission and our strategic priorities. In our winter board meetings last week, Trustees heard campus updates from each member of the university’s executive leadership team, from Lawrence University Community Council President Brook Schara, and from the Faculty Committee on University Governance.
Perhaps most excitingly, the Board unanimously approved tenure for the following faculty: Abhishek Chakraborty, Statistics; Sigma Colón, Environmental and Ethnic Studies; and Margaret Koker, Physics. Congratulations, all, on this well-deserved recognition!
I remain grateful for the Board’s steadfast commitment to supporting our community and to securing a vibrant future for Lawrence. For more information on the winter board meetings, please see the forthcoming note from Alison Scott-Williams, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
I’m thrilled to announce that the faculty recently approved the newest academic offering at Lawrence: a major in data science! This program will empower our students to engage deeply with complex data, ask meaningful questions, and apply analytical tools to real-world problems in fields ranging from the natural and social sciences to the arts and humanities. My heartfelt thanks to Associate Professor Andrew Sage and Assistant Professor Abhishek Chakraborty for their exceptional leadership in bringing this innovative program from vision to reality, and to all the faculty and staff who contributed to its development.
We also celebrate a remarkable artistic achievement this month: professors Michael Clayville and Erin Lesser have been recognized with a GRAMMY Award for Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance! This is an extraordinary honor that shines a national spotlight on the talent and dedication present within our Conservatory of Music. Please join me in congratulating Michael and Erin on this well-deserved recognition and in celebrating the many ways our faculty elevate Lawrence’s reputation through their performance and creative work.
I want to extend my warmest congratulations to the Theatre Arts Department and to all the students, faculty, and staff who contributed to the recent production of The Double Infidelity. The performance was imaginative, engaging, and beautifully executed, showcasing the deep talent and hard work of our student artists. Thank you to Professor Tim Troy for his leadership and mentorship, and to the entire production team for bringing this compelling work to life on our campus. Moments like these remind us of the transformative and foundational power of the arts in a liberal arts education.
I also had the pleasure of seeing seniors Joey O’Connor and Nicole Frias conduct the Lawrence University Symphonic Band this past Sunday. It was a wonderfully moving ensemble performance that, once again, demonstrated the remarkable breadth of musical talent of both performance majors and non-majors alike. Congratulations to all involved in a magnificent performance, and a special thanks to Associate Professor Matthew Arau for his leadership and artistry.
Our student athletes continue to make us proud, both in competition and in the classroom. This month, I’m especially pleased to congratulate Men’s and Women’s Basketball for spectacular seasons. Our men’s team secured the program’s first winning season since 2014, and, on the way to qualifying for the Midwest Conference championships, the women’s team became the first in the program’s 50-year history to win 20 games! These victories reflect not only skill and preparation, but also teamwork, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence—ideals that resonate across our campus.
Please join me in cheering on our Vikings as they continue their seasons. I encourage you to attend a concert, game, match, or performance whenever you can; your presence and support mean so much to our students.
As we move through the remainder of the term, I hope you’ll take time to check in on friends and colleagues, celebrate each other’s successes, and extend grace and understanding when challenges arise. Remember and embrace our values—they are practices that shape us. Act with honesty and accountability. Engage each other with curiosity and compassion, even in disagreement. These may be small actions, but together they shape the culture that makes this campus feel like home. They are what allow us to practice civil discourse in a time when it is sorely needed. They are what allow us to thrive not only as individuals but as a community. They are the buffers that insulate us from the chaos and conflict of the world. They make it clear to the world that hate, violence, and intimidation are not welcome at Lawrence University.
And they are a testament to one truth above all others: the liberal arts education you receive at Lawrence is not just preparation for a job — it is preparation for a life of meaning, purpose, and impact.
Our motto is “Light, more light. Veritas est lux. (Truth is light).” I urge you to bring more light and truth into the world.
With gratitude,
President Laurie A. Carter