Andrea Thorsbakken

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

Dear Lawrentians:   Happy New Year, and welcome back to campus for the start of our winter term! I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating break. As we return to our shared purpose of learning, creating, and growing, I am excited to begin another chapter in the life of our vibrant community. This term brings with it some of the most cherished traditions at Lawrence. From continuing to celebrate the Conservatory’s 150th anniversary—a remarkable milestone honoring a legacy of artistic excellence—to long-standing campus favorites like LUgge, Winter Carnival, the Great Midwest Trivia Contest, Cultural Expressions, and the President’s Ball, winter at Lawrence is a season of joy, creativity, and community. I encourage everyone to join in these traditions, which highlight the warmth and energy that make our campus so special. Among these incredible traditions is our annual Winter Convocation on January 24. I want to thank the convocation committee for developing a compelling program, which includes a keynote address from Patricia Smith. Patricia Smith is the award-winning author of eight critically acclaimed books of poetry, a Guggenheim fellow, a Civitellian, a National Endowment for the Arts grant recipient, and a four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam. She is also a professor at the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University. I look forward to seeing many of you in the Memorial Chapel as we welcome Patricia Smith to Lawrence for her convocation remarks.  I am thrilled to announce an extraordinary accomplishment by our faculty: Gregory Hitch, Sigma Colón, Jason Brozek, Andrew Knudsen, and Claire Kirven have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation. This grant will support their collaboration with the College of the Menominee Nation on the project “Environmental Justice in the Watershed of the Menominee Nation.” This initiative exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary work and community partnership, addressing critical issues while advancing Lawrence’s mission of academic excellence and social impact. Congratulations to all involved for this significant achievement! Lastly, I want to offer my congratulations to two of our recent alumni for being recognized by Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Education list. Alec Nguyen ’23 and Austin “Hung” Nguyen ’23 earned a spot on this prestigious publication for their start-up Afforai, an AI-powered citation manager. Alec and Austin presented their idea in The Pitch, a regional competition featuring startup ideas from students at universities across northeast Wisconsin, and have since grown the platform substantially, serving over 100,000 users. Congratulations, Alec and Austin! As we embark on this new term, let us embrace the opportunities it brings to connect, collaborate, and create. Winter is a time of introspection and transformation, and together, we will continue to make strides that reflect the values and aspirations of our Lawrence community. I look forward to seeing you at our winter events and celebrating the incredible work happening across campus. Best wishes for a successful and fulfilling term! Warm wishes,​ Laurie A. Carter President

Dear Lawrentians:   As we reflect on the end of the fall term and the close of 2024, I am filled with pride for all that we have accomplished together as a community. This season has been a celebration of achievement and the enduring spirit of Lawrence.   Celebrating Our Community and Achievements This fall, we came together for the presidential election, demonstrating kindness, respect, and active engagement. I want to again thank the Office of Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL) for their outstanding voter registration efforts, which earned Lawrence the “Most Engaged Campus” recognition from the All IN Campus Democracy Challenge. Their work reflects our deep commitment to civic engagement.   In the arts, our community was captivated by Kaleidoscope, Fred Sturm Jazz Weekend, the powerful production of Working, and an unprecedented performance of nine world premieres executed with aplomb by the Trombone and Flute ensembles. The cast, crew, musicians, and faculty delivered extraordinary performances that celebrated the dignity of work and highlighted the depth of talent within our Conservatory.   Our student-athletes also gave us much to cheer for this term! The women’s soccer team and cross-country teams brought home the Midwest Conference championships, and Vikings football, women’s tennis, and volleyball celebrated significant wins this fall. Additionally, Joe Sagar (Women’s Soccer) and Jason Fast and Shelby Baldwin (Cross Country) were recognized by the Midwest Conference as 2024 Coaches of the Year. Congratulations! Your hard work and determination continue to inspire us all.   Advancing Together This term,we celebrated the tireless work of Facilities, Residential Education, and the Business & Entrepreneurship faculty with two ribbon-cutting ceremonies for our new facilities in Fox Commons. This stunning and innovative addition to our physical plant is already deeply impacting the social and academic experiences of all Lawrentians. Looking to the future, we are making steady progress on the West Campus facility, which will provide state-of-the-art academic spaces for Math, Statistics, and Computer Science, as well as the Humanities programs. The fully sound-proofed Conservatory spaces in this building replace space formerly in Con West while adding state-of the art practice rooms, classrooms, and a production studio. This transformative project will enhance learning and collaboration for generations of Lawrentians and is on-schedule to be completed next August.   I am also delighted to share that Matt Baumler has been promoted to Senior Associate Vice President of Advancement and will serve on the President’s Cabinet. Matt’s leadership and unwavering dedication to Lawrence have been integral to the success of the Advancement division and, in his expanded role, he will partner with Vice President Amy Wilson to provide additional support to our Advancement team during the Onward, Lawrentians campaign. Please join me in congratulating Matt on this well-deserved recognition!   A Festive Lawrence Connection As we celebrate the season, I want to share a unique piece of Lawrence history: the beloved Christmas carol “12 Days of Christmas” has a surprising connection to our community. In 1910, Emily Frances Brown, a professor at Milwaukee-Downer College, brought the song to the United States from Oxford, England, introducing this beloved classic to the United States. Milwaukee-Downer College merged with Lawrence University 54 years later, making this classic carol a festive part of our shared story, and the Brown’s original sheet music is preserved in our university archives.   Looking Ahead As the calendar year draws to a close, I encourage students to take pride in all you have accomplished this term. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed, and I wish you success in these final days of the year. To our entire community, I hope the holiday season brings you moments of rest, joy, and connection with loved ones. You have earned this time to recharge, reflect, and look ahead to all the possibilities the new year holds.   Thank you for making this fall term one to remember. I am continually inspired by your dedication, kindness, and the collective strength of our Lawrence community.   Warm wishes for a happy and restful holiday season, Laurie A. Carter President

Dear Lawrentians:

As this term comes to a close and we enter the holiday season, I am reminded of the strength and resilience of our campus community. This month has been a powerful testament to our ability to come together, support one another, and celebrate all that makes Lawrence a remarkable place to learn, grow, and thrive. Following the presidential election, I have been inspired by the sense of unity and civil discourse displayed across campus. In times like these, our shared values of respect, kindness, and engagement shine brightly. I extend my deepest gratitude to the Office of Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL) for their outstanding voter registration efforts. Their hard work not only empowered students to exercise their right to vote but also earned Lawrence the prestigious “Most Engaged Campus” designation from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge. This recognition reflects our collective commitment to active citizenship and democracy. It has been a month full of brilliant performances at Lawrence. Kudos to Michael Clayville (Music in Entrepreneurial Studies and Social Engagement), Tim Albright (Trombone), Erin Lesser (Flute), and the Flute and Trombone Ensembles for their incredible execution of nine world premieres! This innovative demonstration of musical talent is a testament to the brilliant legacy of the Conservatory and a fitting way to continue celebrating its 150th anniversary. I also want to applaud the incredible talent showcased in our recent production of Working. This dynamic musical brought our community together to celebrate the dignity and artistry in all forms of creative work. Congratulations to the cast, crew, and faculty involved for creating such a memorable and meaningful experience. In athletics, a special congratulations to the women’s soccer and women’s cross-country teams for their triumphant Midwest Conference championship victories! Your dedication, teamwork, and perseverance are a source of pride for all of us, and we celebrate this significant achievement with you. Take time to care for yourselves and support your peers during these next several weeks. I hope the upcoming holiday and fall break bring you moments of joy, rest, and rejuvenation. You have all worked tirelessly this term, and this time to recharge is well-deserved. Thank you for all that you do to make Lawrence a vibrant, compassionate, and inspiring community. Warm wishes,​ Laurie A. Carter President

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

Dear Lawrentians: As the new academic year begins, I am filled with pride and excitement to welcome back our returning students, faculty, and staff, and greet the exceptional Class of 2028. The generosity of kindness, talent, and commitment to excellence that define Lawrence University have been evident during Welcome Week, the first few days of classes, and at Matriculation Convocation earlier today.   This year, we are proud to welcome a diverse group of new students, who hail from 34 states and 18 countries, bringing with them a wide range of perspectives. The incoming class reflects our value of inclusivity, with 18.5% of the class being first-generation college students. The incoming class also exemplifies the Lawrence commitment to academic and athletic excellence, with 13.7% Conservatory students and 38.5% student-athletes. We are also thrilled to welcome more than 50 outstanding transfer students, whose experiences and talents are a welcome addition to our campus community. These students, along with our returning Lawrentians, contribute to the intellectual and cultural richness that make Lawrence a unique and vibrant place to learn and grow.   As we look ahead, we also recognize the growing complexities and challenges facing higher education today. Universities across the nation are experiencing increased political and legal scrutiny on matters such as admissions policies, tuition, curriculum, research, and diversity initiatives. This environment presents both challenges and opportunities for us as an institution committed to providing an outstanding liberal arts education.   At Lawrence, our mission has always been clear: to educate students who will think critically, act with integrity, and demonstrate respect for the perspectives of others. We must navigate difficult moments by fostering a community that values open dialogue. We must remain resolute in our commitment to engender mutual kindness and cultivate respect.   As public and internal pressures on institutions of higher learning continue to grow, it is essential that we stay focused on our purpose. Institutions like Lawrence exist to educate and advance knowledge. Our challenge is to honor these traditions while embracing new opportunities that prepare students for the future.   In 2022, we embarked on a transformative journey, bringing together key coalitions to assess Lawrence University’s position in relation to other institutions, the evolving higher education landscape, and public discourse. With the aid of this comprehensive exploration, we developed a five-year strategic plan. We are now centered on three core priorities: academic excellence, student outcomes, and financial sustainability.   Focusing on our priorities allows us to adapt to a changing world while staying true to our liberal arts roots. The initiatives we’ve launched are both challenging and exciting, and include the expansion of academic program offerings, growth in enrollment, new and renovated facilities like Fox Commons, West Campus, Harper Hall, and the Memorial Chapel, the diversification of revenue streams, and deeper integration of academic and career preparation, among others.   Embracing change is never easy—it involves rethinking cherished traditions and accepting new realities. It’s a process of mourning what we leave behind but also finding joy and growth in the opportunities that lie ahead.   It is an honor to serve as president, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish together in the months to come. I am confident that we will continue to make Lawrence a place where discovery, creativity, and community thrive.   Sincerely,  ​ Laurie A. Carter President

Good afternoon, everyone.

It’s a pleasure to welcome you all to our Matriculation Convocation ceremony at Lawrence University.

Today, we celebrate the incredible community of Lawrentians. Let’s start by acknowledging the outstanding performance you just enjoyed, presented by our very own first-year students. Their talent and enthusiasm set a wonderful tone for the year ahead.

To our new first-year and transfer students, I hope you had a great welcome week and are starting to feel at home on campus. And a warm welcome back to our returning students—your commitment and passion continue to enrich our community. I also want to express my deep appreciation to our faculty and staff, whose guidance and expertise play a crucial role in our success.

Finally, I am excited to introduce our new faculty members. Please stand and be recognized.

I’m delighted to welcome you all to Lawrence where, since our founding in 1847, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other constituents have pursued excellence with integrity.

This is a special year for our community as we are celebrating 150 years of both the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music and the Lawrence Community Music School.

The journey began in 1874 when former President George McKendree Steele proposed the establishment of a Conservatory of Music to the Lawrence University Board of Trustees.

That same year, the Lawrence Community Music School was founded, marking the formal start of our music program with a mission to provide music instruction to the wider community.

As we celebrate this milestone, we will honor our rich legacy and embrace our promising future through special events, commissioned music, and other showcases highlighting the talent of past, present, and future musicians.

To kick off these festivities, it is my pleasure to introduce a special guest who supports our city’s cultural scene and is also a proud Lawrence University alumnus. Please join me in welcoming Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, who will present a special proclamation in honor of our Conservatory’s milestone anniversary.

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Mayoral Proclamation

Whereas, in 1874, the Lawrence University Board of Trustees adopted a proposal to establish a Conservatory of Music on its Appleton campus, allowing students to pursue a diploma in the study of music;

Whereas, in conjunction with the formal beginning of the music program, Lawrence University began music instruction for the Appleton community with the formation of what today is known as the Lawrence Community Music School, a beacon of music education and performance opportunities for all ages; and

Whereas, in 1887, a Bachelor of Music degree program was introduced, the centerpiece of an expanded music course of study that elevated the Conservatory to new heights, putting it on par with Conservatories that were flourishing on the East and West Coasts; and

Whereas, in 1906, property on the north side of College Avenue was purchased by Lawrence University to eventually house Conservatory facilities, leading to the construction in 1919 of the 1,200-seat Memorial Chapel, a gorgeous performance space that remains one of the architectural jewels of Appleton.

Whereas, in 1959, the Conservatory of Music expanded its physical space with the opening of the Music-Drama Center adjacent to Memorial Chapel, housing faculty studios and unveiling beautiful performance stages for Lawrence students, faculty, and visiting artists.

Whereas, the Conservatory of Music has built and sustained world-renowned programs in music and music education, has consistently earned national honors, has featured a faculty of high-achieving artists and educators, and has provided performance brilliance time and again for residents of the Fox River Valley.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that I, Jacob A. Woodford, Mayor of the City of Appleton, Wisconsin, and proud Lawrence University alumnus, do hereby proclaim Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, as

Lawrence University Conservatory of Music 150^th Anniversary Day

… in Appleton and encourage residents to celebrate the benefits of being home to this renowned music conservatory and brilliant community music school and look forward to generations of partnerships to come. 

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Thank you, Mayor Woodford, for being a part of our celebration and for your ongoing commitment to Lawrence University. Your support means a great deal and we look forward to seeing you at our 150^th year celebration performances throughout the year.

As I shared during last week’s welcome, Lawrentians have created many traditions that help us connect with our community and with each other. Today’s Matriculation Convocation is one such tradition. It marks the start of the academic year by officially welcoming all faculty, students, and staff back to campus.

In reflecting on our traditions and our path forward, I was struck by a recent Chronicle of Higher Education piece entitled, “Surviving as a Small College.” This collection of articles and opinion pieces explores the current landscape for small colleges like ours.

It highlighted the significant challenges that smaller colleges—and higher education as a whole—have faced in recent years. Combatting the demographic cliff posed by a declining number of high school graduates requires that schools, including Lawrence, take proactive measures.

While the piece didn’t introduce many new ideas, it reinforced my belief that—despite the bumpy road ahead for small liberal arts colleges—Lawrence is on the right track.

Before I explain, let me first highlight seven key themes identified in the piece as crucial for success.

1. Enrollment growth is both possible and essential.
2. To achieve growth, colleges must invest not just in facilities but also in academic programs and student experiences to meet evolving needs.
3. Colleges must lean into what makes them distinctive in order to attract new students and align with their core values.
4. Career preparation is critical to parents and students.
5. Multi-year budgeting enables colleges to plan more strategically and be financially sustainable.
6. To address financial challenges, colleges must diversify revenue streams.
7. Finally, making informed decisions about programs requires solid data.

In hearing these seven themes, you may be wondering can Lawrence University address each, while remaining true to its liberal arts mission. Without hesitation, I say we are already well down that path.

In 2022, we embarked on a transformative journey, bringing together key coalitions to assess Lawrence University’s position in relation to other institutions, the evolving higher education landscape, and public discourse. With the aid of this comprehensive exploration, we developed a five-year strategic plan. We are centered on three core priorities: academic excellence, student outcomes, and financial sustainability.

Our priorities help us adapt to a changing world while staying true to our liberal arts roots. The initiatives we’ve launched are both challenging and exciting.

Embracing change is never easy—it involves rethinking cherished traditions and accepting new realities. It’s a process of mourning what we leave behind but also finding joy and growth in the opportunities that lie ahead.

Let’s look at our work in the context of the seven themes introduced earlier.

Theme #1, Enrollment growth, is crucial for Lawrence University’s future. We are committed to attracting a diverse and talented student body to enrich our academic community. To achieve this, we are leveraging advanced tools and technologies to connect with prospective students more effectively.

Our collaboration with external data, technology, and marketing partners like MARKETview allows us to utilize real-time data to inform our decisions, while EAB supports our recruitment and student engagement efforts, providing valuable insights to enhance our approach. The outcomes from this work are evident in data.

Financial support remains a key focus in both recruiting and retaining students. Nearly all our students receive financial aid, including scholarships funded by alumni and initiatives like the Lawrence Advantage that help make a Lawrence education more accessible.

We are refining our recruitment strategies to include students affected by changes at other institutions. This year, we welcomed 58 transfer students, exceeding our goal of 25. Among them are students from Northland College who joined through our teach-out program, highlighting our commitment to supporting transfer students.

Additionally, we have expanded our program offerings to align with student interests.

Our new Business and Entrepreneurship major, now among our most popular, blends business skills with a liberal arts education, providing students with the flexibility to explore various fields and enhance their career opportunities. Thank you to Adam Galambos, Dena Skran, and other faculty members for your exceptional work in developing this program.

Starting in spring 2025, we will introduce men’s and women’s lacrosse, reflecting our aim to broaden athletic opportunities and appeal to students who value both academics and sports. Men’s coach, Mikey Zadroga, with support from others, recruited 24 first-year and transfer students to join the Lawrence community. Well done, Mikey.

To remain relevant and competitive, we must continuously invest.

Today, those investments are easily recognized in the development of new facilities; however, the true differentiators are in our new academic programs and student experiences.

Of course, last week’s opening of Fox Commons residential spaces was a historic moment for Lawrence. Students were thrilled that we heard them when they asked for more modern housing that will prepare them for the real world.

This fall, we will also open the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Fox Commons. This state-of-the-art facility will serve as a nexus for collaboration between students, business leaders, and health professionals.

It includes a multipurpose room for interactive seminars, a stage platform for performances and pitch competitions, as well as a finance lab equipped with advanced data analysis and finance terminals.

Next summer, we will also introduce the Pre-Health Commons, designed to support academic programs and career development with spaces for collaborative training and a test kitchen focused on nutrition and wellness.

Together, these Fox Commons amenities will also position Lawrence as a community resource providing opportunities like consultation for local businesses, specialized business courses, and entrepreneurship workshops.

Not to be outdone, the Humanities Center, a groundbreaking new space opening next year in West Campus, will integrate disciplines like math, computer science, and data science with traditional humanities, offering a more comprehensive learning experience. This center will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration on digital humanities projects, supported by advanced tools and software. 

West Campus is the first building on campus intentionally designed to integrate disciplines across the divisions. A sound-proofed classroom and teaching studios and a state-of-the-art production studio will bring our Con faculty into a space also populated with faculty from the college.

To equip our faculty for evolving teaching methods, the Center for Teaching Excellence has introduced a new interactive classroom in Briggs Hall with advanced teaching technologies.

This space enables faculty to experiment with new techniques and reflect on their practices, enhancing their professional development alongside existing CTE resources. Thanks to Stephanie Burdick-Shepherd who did a tremendous job leading this effort.

Additionally, Harper Hall is set to undergo renovations in December to modernize its performance space with state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment. These upgrades will enhance the hall’s functionality and appeal, making it a valuable venue for a wide range of activities and audiences.

These investments reflect a commitment to providing a transformative educational experience. To better tell that story, and thanks to a historic board investment in our future, we are also working with Truth and Consequences marketing firm to refine our value proposition and elevate our brand.

Many institutions attempt to distinguish themselves in ways that do not resonate with students and their families. They emphasize factors that fail to support enrollment growth. Through the research of SimpsonScarborough, it was reinforced that Lawrence University’s ability to support multi-interested students is a strength that is consistent with our mission and culture and attracts students.

As we establish new programs and investments, we will continue to lean into and enhance those programs that have long distinguished Lawrence University as a leading liberal arts college.

For example, our signature First-Year Studies Program, a long-time Lawrence intellectual tradition, was recently updated with input from both faculty and students.

The theme and programming aim to equip students with the academic and intellectual skills essential for a successful college career. Thank you to Scott Corry and members of the First-Year Studies Task Force for your leadership in setting a new paradigm for the future.

In complement, we’ve created a first-year experience with multiple programs to support students’ intellectual curiosity, career discernment, self-empowerment, wellness, and resilience. This includes our highly interactive welcome week that many of you experienced last week. Thanks to Kristi Koshuta, the Orientation Leaders, and Kristi’s team for an outstanding week of activities.

As a private liberal arts college and conservatory of music, we are committed to enhancing both our academic and artistic programs. Creativity fostering creativity is a hallmark of the Lawrence experience. 

Under this principle, I am excited to introduce our new Creator in Residence initiative, funded by a generous donor grant. This role will bring well-known creators—musicians, writers, scientists, curators and more—into our community to lead engaging programs, collaborate with faculty, and participate in events. We will be announcing our first Creator in Residence soon.

While we are excited about these programs, both students and their families have expectations for highly defined career models that will help drive student success after Lawrence.

As stated in Surviving as a Small College, “Expensive marketing and finely tuned enrollment-management and financial-aid operations can be critical for a college’s success, but they can’t make up for an unconvincing educational experience whose benefits can’t be made succinctly plain.” 

Fortunately, studying the liberal arts and preparing for a career are not odds.

Reflecting on the wisdom of former Lawrence University President Richard Warch, we recognize that a liberal arts education is both a privilege and a challenge. It offers transformative opportunities through open inquiry, dedication to excellence, and character development. To be liberally educated is to master essential skills, think critically, and embrace the joys of learning.

Our challenge is to honor these traditions while embracing new opportunities that prepare students for careers of the future.

Lawrence University is taking significant steps to enhance career preparation without compromising our commitment to the liberal arts. We’ve secured a nearly $48,000 NetVUE grant to integrate career discernment into our humanities curriculum, making the practical benefits of a liberal arts education more evident to students. This initiative aims to connect academic experiences with career pathways, reinforcing our dedication to blending liberal arts education with career readiness. Gratitude to Connie Kassor and Kevin Gaw for leading this effort.

Our key projects on West Campus and in Fox Commons are pivotal in advancing this integration.

With dedicated cocurricular spaces for business, entrepreneurship, and pre-health studies, these developments will include mentorship and internship opportunities facilitated through partnerships with local organizations like the Trout Museum, Mosaic Family Health, Prevea Health, and gener8tor.

We will expand and replicate the incredible work that Beth De Stasio has for many years been guiding in the pre-health area. Beth, thank you for laying the groundwork on which we can build.

As we expand on-campus programs, the Career Center is increasing access to internships, job placements, and experiences, like the recent Chicago Business Trek. This event connected 25 students with Lawrence alumni and top business professionals in the Greater Chicago market.

Participants networked, developed their pre-professional skills, and explored their career passions.

These programs will aid us in improving outcomes for our students while improving our rankings. To illustrate, 50% of the US News and World Report methodology is based on student outcomes.

While our focus is setting our students on a path to career success, enhancing rankings is a positive outcome as well. Rankings and gainful employment at graduation are critical components of the college search process for most families. In fact, the annual freshman survey, conducted in 2022 by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles, found that 81% of respondents cited getting a job as “very important” in their decision to go to college, the top response.  

We recognize that strategic investments are necessary to be competitive now and in the future. Of course, these investments come with a cost.

As we develop programs to boost enrollment, it’s equally important to adopt a dynamic financial plan that offers a comprehensive view of our financial health, includes multiple sources of revenue, and allows us to anticipate and navigate future challenges more effectively.

Our new, 10-year financial model moves Lawrence University’s focus on enrollment and tuition dollars, to include more emphasis on advancement activities, community partnerships, and alternative revenue streams.

For instance, we’re expanding our summer programs, which will attract students during the off-season and provide additional income. We’re also enhancing our seminars at Björklunden, which will not only enrich our academic offerings but also generate additional revenue through program fees. Moreover, we’re leveraging Björklunden as a rental space, creating a new revenue stream by offering this picturesque venue for events and gatherings, without compromising programming for students.

Furthermore, we are incorporating alternative revenue opportunities into our new building initiatives. The market-rate apartments on the third and fourth floors of West Campus will provide another source of income to help offset costs, starting next fall.

Another exciting initiative to be announced soon is “Lawrence at Night.”

Designed for working professionals and lifelong learners, this program will offer flexible, evening courses that will both generate additional revenue and extend our educational reach and impact. We have eleven courses scheduled for this fall and I want to thank the faculty for engaging in the process.

These efforts to diversify our revenue sources will help Lawrence University remain financially resilient and capable of continuing its commitment to excellence in education and student outcomes. By broadening our financial base, we can invest more fully in our students, programs, and campus infrastructure, all while maintaining a balanced and sustainable approach to our strategic goals.

Today, we face a critical juncture where our decisions about programs must be guided by rigorous, data-informed analysis.

Regularly reviewing and refining our academic, administrative, and athletic programs is essential to our long-term success.

Earlier this year, we engaged UQ Solutions to support our academic program review process. A task force of faculty and staff are using the collected data to evaluate and categorize academic programs, with recommendations to be shared with the campus community later this academic year. This process is crucial for ongoing improvement, and we aim to build our capacity for ongoing self-reviews.

Last year, we conducted an administrative review benchmarking Lawrence University against 11 peer institutions. Those results were presented to the Board of Trustees this spring.

Key outcomes include the creation of a procurement function to streamline contract reviews, a data governance initiative led by information technology and institutional research, and ongoing evaluations of our enrollment strategies and internal communication methods for campus updates.

In athletics, we have hired a consulting agency to audit our programs and their impact on enrollment and budget. This review is expected to conclude by the end of the year.

By integrating these review processes into our commitment to institutional excellence, we aim to make informed decisions that optimize our resources and better serve our students, faculty, and community.

Today, Lawrence University is a story of continuity and change. Continuity in our commitment to our distinctive institutional identity as a college of liberal arts and sciences and conservatory of music. Change in the evolution of strategies that give us the competitive advantages necessary to grow and thrive.

No small liberal arts college has survived without the collaborative work of its community members. Last month, the leadership of the university, faculty, staff, and administration, gathered for a retreat to discuss our best path forward. We agreed that to preserve what we love about Lawrence, we must work together. As Nancy Wall stated, “there is no us and them, only us.”

It has been a difficult road, and we will face many more challenges ahead. I am confident that our plan will help us steer clear of the pitfalls that have impacted so many other small private colleges.

If each of us chooses to work together, we can, and will, honor the light that Lawrence has brought to the world for 177 years.

We are on the right track. I know that it may be hard to see the light at the end of the track’s tunnel. But the light is there. Lawrence is the light. We have a plan, we have an exceptional faculty, a committed and talented staff, a supportive board, enthusiastic alumni, and students poised to change the world.

Good afternoon. I am President Laurie Carter, and I’m delighted to welcome you to Lawrence University.

I still remember my own first day at my alma mater – walking through those grand doors with a mix of anticipation and nerves. Although it felt overwhelming at first, it soon became a place where I felt truly connected.

I also recall dropping my son off at his first day at university, feeling a different kind of anticipation and nerves, as well as tremendous pride and a sense of comfort and confidence in his choice.

I feel that same energy here with you today. In celebration of this occasion, let’s take a moment to recognize the wonderful people who guided you here:

• to the Admissions team, who recognized the potential in each of you;
• to the Student Life team, who are dedicated to helping you feel at home;
• and to the parents, grandparents, siblings, and other loved ones – your support and trust in both your student’s choice and Lawrence’s commitment to their education are deeply appreciated. Thank you.

To you, our newest students and the class of 2028: today, you become Lawrentians.

You’re on the brink of an incredible journey filled with opportunities and growth. As you begin this new chapter, take pride in Lawrence’s rich history and its cherished traditions.

One such tradition is the passing of class colors each fall, which will take place in just a few minutes. We also uphold our Honor Code, which you will sign this week, embodying Lawrentians’ shared values of integrity and respect. When you walked through the Lawrence Arch today, you marked the beginning of your time with us; when you graduate, you will walk back through the Arch, symbolizing the transition from one chapter to another.

Alongside these traditions, we are also celebrating a significant milestone this year: 150 years of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. We’ll officially kick off this landmark event later this month, and we’re excited to offer many opportunities for you to get involved throughout the year.

While we take great pride in our traditions, our focus remains firmly on enhancing your time here and preparing you for careers of the future. You might notice some construction around campus and in downtown Appleton. These projects are designed to enrich your experience— from new student housing and community partnerships to state-of-the-art academic spaces. Over the next four years, you’ll witness these enhancements and benefit from them firsthand.

Congratulations once again on joining the Lawrence community. The enthusiasm and spirit on campus are truly inspiring, and I am honored to be part of your journey. On behalf of all faculty and staff, we are excited to make this year—and your entire time here—extraordinary.

Thank you to our amazing alumni and friends who are gathered here today. Welcome home.

We hope you’ll enjoy the memories of shared experiences and the excitement of catching up with old friends. We also hope you’ll use this weekend to look forward—to nurture your relationship with Lawrence and strengthen and deepen the bonds with a place that has played such a transformational role in your lives.

One of the true joys of Reunion is the honoring of our Alumni Award winners, which we will do a little later in this program. The career accomplishments of these brilliant alumni are worthy of celebration.

Among the award winners are two from Milwaukee-Downer College.

We are celebrating the 60-year anniversary of the merger and the myriad ways that the Downer legacy remains embedded in all we do. It is an honor to have Bonnie McClellan and Eileen Johnson with us today. Let’s give them a hand.

That lasting connection between and with alumni is the impetus to one of our favorite phrases: Forever a Lawrentian. Forever a Lawrentian speaks not only to our shared love of Lawrence, but also to our collective responsibility to keep the Lawrence we love healthy and strong for current and future generations of Lawrentians.

We see it in our frequent interactions with alumni—in person, online, on social media, via the Lawrence magazine, at homecoming, in the work of LUAA, and in the generosity on display here at Reunion, during our annual Giving Day and Athletics Crowdfund events, and during fund-raising campaigns.

We see it with our faculty in their uncompromising efforts to strengthen our academic programming, collaborate across disciplines, develop impactful research, and stay committed to the education of our students.

We see it with our staff in their efforts to serve the needs of this university in ways that will sustain and nourish it for generations to come.

And we see that shared responsibility in the way that we as a community worked together to help our students navigate recent events on campus. We have the privilege and the responsibility of educating students, not only in their chosen fields of study, but also in the skills that will prepare them to be engaged, productive, and successful members of their communities—including how to listen, how to disagree respectfully, how to compromise, and how to engage in productive dialogue.

We also have a collective responsibility to nurture and deepen partnerships in this thriving Fox Cities community. In early March, we welcomed more than 200 community members to campus for the groundbreaking of the West Campus project, a celebration of partnerships with the Fox Cities, downtown Appleton, and the Trout Museum of Art. The excitement was palpable.

When it opens in mid-2025, the four-story building will enhance our academic programs across the humanities, the Conservatory, and in areas of mathematics, computer science, and data science. The partnership with the Trout Museum of Art will give us avenues to build collaborations and mentorships in the worlds of art and nonprofits.

The Trout Museum will be on the first floor; the second floor will house nearly 30,000 square feet of space for modern faculty offices, classrooms, music studios, large rehearsal spaces and practice rooms, as well as an interactive Humanities Center and a multipurpose space that can also be used for performances. The apartments on the upper two floors will be available for rent—providing a revenue stream for Lawrence while giving us important flexibility in the future should we choose to convert that space to student housing.

Similarly, we have been strengthening our partnerships through the Fox Commons project with the business, health care, and nonprofit organizations that will be collaborating with Lawrence on everything from internships to tutorials in these modern spaces.

Fox Commons will provide new opportunities to engage our students in career preparation, while giving upper-level students the opportunity to live in apartment-style apartments in the heart of downtown Appleton.

The first half of the development will open in time for the upcoming Fall Term. The second half will open in Fall 2025.

These partnerships are all part of strategic planning that is so necessary for Lawrence to thrive in the future.

We must always embrace and celebrate our history—now 177 years strong—while moving forward to meet the needs of today’s students and those yet to come.  

And we are continuing to work every day to keep Lawrence thriving. Over the last three years, we have invested heavily in our infrastructure, focusing our efforts on academic spaces, the conservatory, athletics facilities, and residence hall improvements, which in particular have had a tremendous impact on the positive mental health of our students. In addition, the Board has approved plans to raise funds to build a recreation center, providing indoor track and field, fitness, and tennis facilities that are flexible enough to support athletics and our robust intramural programs while supporting student’s physical and mental health, with plenty of informal gathering spaces.

The Buchanan Kiewit Center was a wonderful addition to campus, and it will continue to serve as the campus wellness center, but we have outgrown it as student needs and demands have changed. We could not be more excited about what this could mean for the student experience at Lawrence.

All of these investments will give us important advantages as we recruit and retain students. It is no secret that we are in a very competitive environment in higher education. Supported by alumni and friends, these initiatives will play a key role in our ability to sustain Lawrence as a selective liberal arts institution.

Here are a handful of other highlights since our last Reunion Weekend.

• Four of our Lawrentians, one a 2024 graduate and three from the 2023 graduating class, were named Fulbright Scholars. All are heading abroad to study or teach and be cultural ambassadors. It is the largest number of Fulbright recipients at Lawrence since 2018.
• Lawrence hosted the inaugural New North ESG Summit in May, a gathering of business leaders from throughout northeast and central Wisconsin who came to campus to talk about good sustainability practices.
• We celebrated Giving Day with 2,505 donors supporting the Lawrence Fund to the tune of $1.62 million. We could not be more grateful for the generosity and commitment of our Lawrence family.
• Esteli Gomez, a voice professor in the Conservatory of Music, won a Grammy as part of the octet Roomful of Teeth. It was her second Grammy.
• Alumnus, James Gandre, class of 1981, shared a stirring Baccalaureate address recounting the joy of his Lawrence journey. Jim, President of Manhattan School of Music for the last 11 years, has had an impressive career on stage and in higher education.
• And we had an alumnus shortlisted for a 2024 Academy Award. Pawo Choyning Dorji, a 2006 graduate and this year’s Commencement speaker, was so honored for his second film, The Monk and the Gun, which was released two years after his debut film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, earned an Oscar nomination.

We are indeed blessed with spectacular talent and commitment throughout our Lawrence family.

Thank you for being here to celebrate the bonds that keep Lawrentians connected across the disciplines and through the generations. We are on this journey together: Forever a Lawrentian.

Greetings to our 2024 graduates, family members, and friends who have gathered here to celebrate this extraordinary milestone. Welcome also to others from our Lawrence University community—the dedicated faculty and staff who have been instrumental in making this day a reality.

To our distinguished guests, Mr. Pawo Choyning Dorji, Class of 2006 and today’s Commencement speaker; Mr. James Gandre, Class of 1981 and the speaker at yesterday’s Baccalaureate service; and Mr. Cory Nettles, Class of 1992 and chair of the Lawrence University Board of Trustees, welcome and thank you.

There is no more fitting location for the Class of 2024 to be celebrated than here on Main Hall Green, a beautiful and beloved gathering space for generations of Lawrentians.

Graduates, today is for you and about you. We come together on this joyous occasion to celebrate the work, commitment, and resilience it has taken to arrive at this moment. We celebrate the friendships that have been built, the bonds that have been strengthened, the intellectual adventures that have commenced, and the dreams that have been ignited.

When you walk with your classmates through the arch and out into the world at the close of today’s Commencement, you will do so with the knowledge that you have accomplished something significant. In that sense, it is an ending, a completion of your undergraduate studies. In another sense, it marks a beginning. From here, a new journey begins.

I urge you to go forth on that journey with a boundless imagination and the wisdom to know there is still much to learn.

You are now a member of the great alumni community of Lawrence University, more than 22,000 strong. They are your peers, your advocates, and your biggest cheerleaders. As those alumni will tell you, the diploma itself does not guarantee anything other than opportunity—it will not on its own chase dreams or take chances or break barriers or lead or change communities. That is for you to determine.

Your Lawrence education has shown you the path to a lifetime of learning. Without question, you are now better equipped to adapt, to innovate, to think critically, and to thrive.

Members of this class have excelled throughout their undergraduate journeys and are positioned to do bold, creative, and impactful things.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with many of you and I’ve watched you grow into insightful student leaders. Kyle Gierman, an economics major and captain of the men’s hockey team, and Addison Littlefield, a music major in vocal performance, brought incredible wisdom to the inaugural cohort of the President’s Student Advisory Council. I so appreciate your commitment to excellence and to the future of our campus community.

Kianni McCain, majoring in Anthropology, and Paula Castillo, majoring in Ethnic Studies, are both Posse scholarship recipients who have fully immersed themselves in the Lawrence experience. It was a pleasure to see you flex your networking skills with alumni on a trip to Washington, D.C. this past December. Both Kianni and Paula completed internships last summer at the Center for Urban Teaching in Milwaukee and have committed the next phase of their lives to teaching, an incredibly important profession.

Paola Saldana Galvan, an international studies major and president of Model UN, was awarded a prestigious fellowship with the United States foreign service.

Jonathan Bass, a double degree student majoring in music performance and French and francophone studies, was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to pursue his graduate degree in music performance in Paris, besting thousands of applicants across the nation.

And our seniors on the men’s baseball team led the Vikings to a conference championship twice in the last three years.

These are just a few examples of the brilliance of this class. We cannot wait to see where each of your journeys will take you.

As graduates, lean into lessons from your fellow Lawrentians. Embrace this community of learners and leaders. Stay connected no matter how many miles or years separate you from this place and find solace and support in the liberal arts education you have so passionately pursued.

Life, of course, is not without pain and struggle. We, like others, have felt the world’s pain in heartbreaking ways since you arrived as first-year students. It is real and it hurts. As Lawrentians, let us lean on each other for strength.

Let the Lawrence family be a source of comfort and care wherever your journey takes you and through whatever challenges you face and victories you celebrate. Be a beacon for good in the communities you will now call home, finding and spreading joy while living a life informed by compassion, empathy, and grace.

Parents, guardians, families, and friends, we also celebrate you today.

No one walks this journey alone. Your contributions and sacrifices have helped bring your graduate to this stage today. Your guidance and support going forward will be no less valuable.

To the class of 2024, on behalf of the full faculty and staff of this university, I wish you the very best. Go be great. You are ready to do amazing things. To all of you, congratulations.

It is now my honor to present our 2024 senior class speaker, Monique Johnson.

Mo brought an impressive intellect and passion to her studies over the past four years. A government major, she now has her sights set on a law degree, planning to build a career as a criminal defense attorney.

She came to Lawrence as a 16-year-old, having combined her sophomore and junior years in high school.

She arrived at Lawrence, as did the other members of the Class of 2024, amid the uncertainties and precautions of the pandemic.

Mo was a first-generation college student, a Caribbean-American from Brooklyn, New York. Her academic achievements and leadership skills earned her a Posse Scholarship. She would become part of Lawrence’s Posse 14.

Mo embraced life as a Lawrentian in and out of the classroom. From studying abroad in Rome to being active across campus, she was all in. She guided her peers as a Community Advisor in Residential Education, provided leadership with the Lawrence University Community Council and the LU Cheer Team, and was active with the Beta Psi Nu sorority and the Black Student Union and African and Caribbean Union student organizations. 

She forged a tight bond over the past four years with the wonderful Kate Zoromski, who served as a mentor to this group of Posse students. Kate said, “Keep your eyes on Mo. She’s brilliant and resourceful, and she’s got a bright future ahead of her.”

I couldn’t agree more. Please join me in welcoming this year’s senior class speaker, Monique Johnson.