Dear Lawrentians: As we close another remarkable academic year, I am filled with gratitude for the energy, achievements, and shared sense of purpose that continue to define our community. This final update of the year offers an opportunity to celebrate recent milestones and recognize the many individuals who make our campus so vibrant.
Last week, we were honored to host our Board of Trustees for their annual spring meeting.
We welcomed several new members to the Board. Please join me in congratulating our newly elected trustees: Tom Brown ’74, Rick Davis ’80, Shaun Gunderson P’29, Steve Mech ’93, Mia Moe ’95, Warren Pierson ’84, and Cathie Tierney. Their experience, insight, and commitment will be invaluable as we look ahead.
The Board also approved promotions to the rank of full professor for five outstanding faculty members:
- Sonja Downing, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology
- Adam Galambos, Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and Associate Professor of Economics
- Samantha George, Associate Professor of Music
- Nora Lewis, Associate Provost & Associate Professor of Music
- Brigid Vance, Associate Professor of History
These promotions recognize sustained excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service to our beloved university, and I extend our congratulations to each of them.
I am pleased to share that the Board approved the FY27 budget, a critical step that supports our strategic priorities and ensures continued strength and sustainability. For additional information on the Board’s spring meeting, please refer to the note shared earlier this week by Alison Scott-Williams, Executive Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees.
Last week, we were proud to mark the official renaming of West Campus to Hall Commons. I extend my sincere thanks to university trustee Susan Long Hall ’76 and the Hall family for their generous support of the university, which has made a lasting impact on our campus community and helped bring this vision to life.
In addition, we celebrated the Level Up Kick-Off for The Hub in City Center East. We were thrilled to welcome over 200 Lawrentians and local community leaders to our newest facility to explore our plans for this space. This exciting initiative represents a significant investment in our future: expanding opportunities for health, wellness, athletic training, and music performance beyond the traditional bounds of our campus. We look forward to opening The Hub later this year and will continue to share updates with the campus community.
Friday also marked the fifteenth installment of Biofest, where members of the senior class presented their research projects to the campus community. Biofest is a powerful demonstration of the depth of inquiry, creativity, and academic rigor that define the senior experience. I commend our students for their thoughtful and impactful work, and I thank the faculty mentors who guided them throughout their research journeys. I’d like to offer special thanks to Professor Kim Dickson, Shoshana Schmit, Nick Katz, and Jack Ginsberg for taking some extra time to share their research with the Board. Congratulations, all, and well done!
We also celebrate Adrian Stancil Martin, who has been named a recipient of the prestigious Jeff Ubben Posse Fellowship. This highly selective program provides five scholars nationwide with a significant stipend and an extraordinary summer internship. Adrian will spend the summer interning with Marty Walsh, Executive Director of the National Hockey League Players Association. Congratulations!
Yesterday, many members of our campus community gathered to recognize the recipients of our annual staff awards. I am proud to recognize the recipients of this year’s annual staff awards, which honor the outstanding contributions of colleagues who strengthen our community every day:
- Kindness Award: Ka Houa Lee, Payroll Manager and Patricia Schmidt, Custodian
- Collaboration Award: Allison Hinze, Director of Warch Campus Center and University Events
- Belonging Champion Award: Shola Adegbite, Assistant Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life
- Innovation Award: Alyssa Retza, Director of Digital and Web Product
- Leadership Award: Robert Nowak, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management
- First Year Impact Award: Suzanne Sullivan, Director of Brand Strategy and Creative
- President’s Award of Excellence: Garrett Singer, Deputy Chief of Staff
Please join me in congratulating these individuals for their dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
Earlier this month, eleven of our talented Conservatory students embarked on a tour to New York. Over the course of several days, our students visited some of New York’s preeminent cultural establishments, performed at the Manhattan School of Music, and visited the MET to watch a performance by Lawrence’s own Hannah Jones ‘22! These types of experiences expose our students to some of the world’s most prestigious musicians and concert halls, which in turn supports their journeys after Lawrence. I am thankful for the leadership of Dean Jenkins for prioritizing experiential study in the Conservatory, and for Samantha George, José Encarnación, and Cathy Kautsky for their leadership on this tour.
As many of you may have heard, a new varsity sport is joining Lawence’s athletic program array. I am thrilled to announce the launch of varsity Women’s Flag Football, a historic addition to Vikings athletics. This milestone would not have been possible without the generous support of university trustee Kathi Seifert, whose commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes will make a meaningful impact on our campus. I look forward to seeing the team compete in their inaugural season in spring 2028.
One of Lawrence’s most exciting spring traditions returns this weekend: LUaroo. I am always impressed by the energy this event brings to campus and am excited to share that this year’s LUaroo celebration will culminate with a new event: a student-led DJ showcase in the Fox Commons residential atrium! When preparing to open Fox Commons in the fall of 2024, I was hopeful that Lawrentians would put their own stamp on the space—activating the commons with the unique blend of creativity, ingenuity, and energy that is the hallmark of the Lawrence student. It is so rewarding to see that vision come to life. I want to thank Marcus Jackson for developing this concept and offer my special thanks to the staff in Student Life who came together to support this work.
I am delighted to share that Marjorie Liu ’00 will serve as this year’s commencement speaker. An accomplished author and advocate, her voice and perspective will no doubt inspire our graduates as they begin the next chapter of their journeys. I am also thrilled that Constance Kassor, former Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Lawrence and current Chair of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Humanities Center at Cuyahoga Community College, is returning to campus to serve as this year’s baccalaureate speaker.
As we look forward to commencement and celebrate the many achievements of this year, I want to thank each of you for your dedication to our shared mission and values. Your work, creativity, and care for one another continue to make this community shine.
I wish you a restorative summer and look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the year ahead.
Warmly,
President Laurie A. Carter