Dear Lawrentians:
| As the leaves turn and we embrace the crisp autumn air, I’m reminded of how special this season is for all of us here at Lawrence. Our campus, so full of life and warmth, continues to be a place of collective purpose, shared commitment, and spirited academic pursuits. Whether in the classroom, on the field, or in our community, the spirit of Lawrence shines brightly. First, I want to take a moment to celebrate our incredible faculty. Their dedication to teaching, scholarship, and creativity was highlighted in last week’s Board of Trustees meetings, where we shared outstanding examples of their achievements and initiatives, including the cross-departmental commitment to advancing the university’s community engagement and auxiliary revenue strategy through Lawrence at Night. The Board expressed deep appreciation for all the work being done to advance our academic mission and build a brighter future for Lawrence. A summary of the fall board meetings was shared earlier today by Christyn Abaray, Chief of Staff, Vice President of Enrollment, and Secretary to the Board. This most recent summary, as well as updates from previous board meetings, can also be found on the Lawrence University website. Since my last campus update, our Conservatory faculty and students brought to life one of my favorite Lawrentian performances: Kaleidoscope. This incredible showcase of Conservatory ensembles, large and small, never fails to highlight the immense talent of Lawrentian musicians. Special thanks to Brian Pertl, Dean of the Conservatory, for his stewardship of this vibrant and robust biannual tradition. This week, we also celebrated the completion and official opening of the Business & Entrepreneurship Center in Fox Commons. Thanks to Adam Galambos for his service as the inaugural director of the center, and to all the faculty and students who have been involved in planning and programming the space. Looking ahead, we are making exciting progress on our new West Campus facility, which will house state-of-the-art academic spaces for Math, Statistics, and Computer Science, as well as the Conservatory of Music and Humanities programs. This project represents our commitment to providing a world-class learning environment for current and future Lawrentians, and I can’t wait to see how it will enhance our community. I also want to acknowledge the remarkable success of our fall athletics teams! Congratulations to Vikings football, women’s tennis, men’s and women’s soccer, and volleyball for recent wins that have energized our campus. Your hard work and determination are inspiring, and we are proud of how you represent Lawrence on and off the field. I hope many of you will also be cheering on our newest Vikings, men’s and women’s lacrosse, at their inaugural scrimmages this weekend. None of these incredible achievements would be possible without the generous and indefatigable commitment of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, and community supporters. As we celebrate another phenomenal Lawrence University Giving Day, I want to thank everyone who came together in support of our students and programs. Thanks also to Amy Wilson, Vice President of Advancement, and the entire advancement division, for your leadership in this important annual initiative. As a result of your tremendous effort, we successfully raised $1.72 million, exceeding our goal by 15% and helping to ensure that Lawrence remains a place where we can all thrive. Finally, let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of fall on campus. Whether it’s gathering with friends in a cozy study spot or cheering on our ensembles and teams, this season reminds us of the kindness and connection that make Lawrence such a special place. Wishing you all a wonderful and restful fall reading period. Sincerely, Laurie A. Carter President |