President Carter

Dear Lawrentians,

In the words of our founder Amos Lawrence, much “great and good work” is taking place on our campus.

We hosted our first in-person Board of Trustees meeting since early 2020 last week, and the excitement, energy, and pride exhibited by our trustees and campus colleagues was palpable. We were all particularly excited to engage with our talented students over the course of the meeting, reminding us all of the true purpose and mission of our work: to prepare students for professional success and personal fulfillment.

The majority of our Board work focused on the Strategic Investment plan, on which administrators, faculty, staff, and students have been working to finalize since February. Leaders of the plan’s working groups—Academics, Brand Elevation, Capital & Technology, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Antiracism, Employee Compensation, and Recruitment & Retention—joined our meeting to showcase their progress. Their work included focusing our initiatives on those projects that would have the most immediate impact on the student experience and best prepare the university to face the enrollment challenges ahead. Plans, timelines, and metrics were presented to ensure that each investment is fully developed with ongoing assessments.

The Board enthusiastically affirmed our work, allowing us to move forward with this historic investment in Lawrence’s future.

I am grateful to our Board for investing in the future of this remarkable institution, as well as to all of the community members who served on the investment working groups to finalize our plans. Their hard work will support academic programs and faculty development; facilities and technological infrastructure; diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism initiatives; reputational enhancement; recruitment and retention initiatives; and better compensation for our faculty and staff.

We now turn our focus to implementing the plan and will share more information, including ways you can follow our progress and track our success, with the community over the next few weeks. Please watch your email for more information regarding upcoming opportunities to learn more.

One other significant action taken at the Board’s spring meeting was the approval of faculty for promotion. This year, three faculty members were promoted to full professor: Stefan Debbert, chemistry; Lori Hilt, psychology; and Jodi Sedlock, biology. Please join me in congratulating them on this important moment in their careers.

After the end of an eventful and productive Board meeting, we turned our focus to inauguration weekend. I knew this weekend would be special—family, friends, colleagues, dignitaries, and Lawrentians from around the world came to campus to celebrate a historic moment in Lawrence’s history—but I was incredibly moved by the support I received as I was officially inaugurated as Lawrence’s 17^th president, as well as the appreciation shown for this remarkable institution.

It was a truly joyful occasion, from the warm welcome we offered our guests, to the spectacular performances of our Conservatory students during the inauguration ceremony, to the academic achievements showcased at the annual Harrison Symposium, to the Brighter Together gathering, to Mayor Woodford’s proclamation of Lawrence 175^th Anniversary Day. The weekend brought members of the Lawrence and Appleton communities together to celebrate our shared history and bright future, and we proved that we are truly Brighter Together.

I’d like to thank Associate Vice President for Alumni & Constituency Engagement Matt Baumler, his team, and the Presidential Transition Committee, led by Trustee Martha Olson, for their tremendous efforts planning, organizing, and launching this eventful weekend. You can read more and see photos of the event online.

And congratulations to Coach Krepline and our Midwest Conference (MWC) Champions, our Vikings Baseball Team. After a truly spectacular season, the team hosted and won the MWC Championship on Saturday afternoon, securing a berth in the NCAA Division III baseball tournament for the first time since 1979. They leave on Thursday morning and head to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where they will face University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Not only will the game be live streamed, Student Life is also organizing a campus watch party in the Warch Cinema and a caravan of Lawrentians who will head to the game on Friday in support of the team. Be sure to cheer on the team, whether you join the caravan or tune into the live stream. And remember, it’s a great time to be a Viking!

I could not be prouder of our institution, this Beacon on the River that has drawn students to its light for the last 175 years. I am truly honored to lead Lawrence at this moment in history as we plan for our immediate future and look to what the next five, 10, and 20 years may hold.

We have more “good and great work” ahead of us, and I am confident that together we will ensure a bright, more inclusive, and kinder future for our institution and, most important, our students.

Sincerely,

President Laurie A. Carter

Dear Lawrentians,

Today is the first day of Earth Week, and the LUCC Sustainability Committee has coordinated with other sustainability organizations to plan a robust week of activities celebrating our planet. Festivities include educational opportunities, campus beautification projects, and plenty of fun. Earth Week is also a time for each of us, as well as the university as a whole, to assess our environmental footprint and commitment to sustainability.

I am impressed by Lawrence’s longstanding commitment to foster a culture of sustainability, from the work of Sustainability Steering Committee, to the robust student engagement with initiatives like recycling and the SLUG garden, to the campus solar panels that generate 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, to the Net Zero Björklunden project. I also believe it is time for Lawrence to take the next step.

On Earth Day, this Friday, April 22, I will sign a Climate Commitment that affirms our belief that colleges and universities must exercise leadership to create a positive and sustainable future.

I am excited for Lawrence to join the institutions across the state and country that have made this vital commitment. It is an important reflection of our values and the university’s dedication to a sustainable future. A key component of the Climate Commitment is the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Lawrence, which includes carbon neutrality and resilience.

Please join me, along with faculty and student representatives from organizations dedicated to environmental action, at 4:00 p.m. on Friday in front of Main Hall for this historic event. Together, we will reaffirm Lawrence’s commitment to a sustainable campus and a sustainable future.

Just as we must be kind to the Earth to nurture its strengths and ensure its survival, we must also be kind to each other to nurture and sustain our community. Kindness may take many different forms, from individual acts to collective gestures. Acts of kindness can be random or intentional. Whatever the size and whatever the cause, kindness is a key component of community, particularly a community likes ours that values acceptance and belonging.

In a few short weeks, I will officially be inaugurated as the 17^th president of Lawrence University. I can think of no better way to showcase our sense of community at this moment in the university’s history than to showcase the best of our community, especially our kindness to each other.

On April 27, we will launch a community-wide campaign leading up to my inauguration—17 Days of Kindness. Over the course of the campaign, we will honor one another by infusing kindness into our daily practice. There will be opportunities to show this kindness to your fellow Lawrentians and to those a part of the Appleton community. There will even be gifts!

More information regarding the campaign will be shared soon, so please watch your email, campus posters and digital displays, and social media. I look forward to joining each of you as we demonstrate together how a kind word or deed can lift up each other and our community.

Sincerely,

President Laurie A. Carter

Dear Lawrence community,

We are excited to announce that Samir Datta will be joining Lawrence as our next Vice President for Finance and Administration. He will begin his work at Lawrence later this spring.

Samir will join us after a 20+ year career in various successful financial and managerial executive roles, including most recently as the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB), where he led a team strategizing short- and long-term financial planning for the state’s pension fund. His extensive experience is impressive and what we need as we position ourselves to thrive sustainably into the future. He has derived a sense of purpose from mission-driven work during his time at SWIB and has a sincere appreciation for higher education and the liberal arts in particular for its broad-based learning focus. You can read more about Samir on the Lawrence website.

Those who met with Samir during the hiring process appreciated his quiet confidence, active listening, and thoughtfulness; needless to say, his financial acumen. I’m grateful to the search committee for its hard work over the past few months. I also want to thank Mary Alma Noonan, who will work closely with Samir as he transitions to his new role at Lawrence. 

Please join me in welcoming Samir to Lawrence.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Dear Colleagues,

I write today to announce that Catherine (Katie) Gunther Kodat will step down from the post of provost and dean of faculty into a terminal sabbatical at the end of this academic year. It gives me great pleasure to further report that Associate Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of History Peter A. Blitstein has agreed to serve as interim Provost and Dean of Faculty, effective July 1. Peter will lead us through the planning and implementation of the strategic investments, with his primary focus on holistic academic pathways.

Katie was appointed provost in 2017, after serving as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Lewis & Clark College and dean of the Division of the Liberal Arts (as well as acting provost) at The University of the Arts. Her many accomplishments at Lawrence include successful partnerships with faculty and staff to secure external funding to support a wide range of academic initiatives. These include the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Inclusive Excellence grant; a grant from the Mellon Foundation to support reform the University’s reappointment, tenure, and promotion process; and multiple awards to advance the scholarly and creative work of individual faculty. Under her leadership, departmental and programmatic external reviews were re-established; articulation agreements with Marquette University law school and the Medical College of Wisconsin were executed; and the Bachelor of Musical Arts degree was introduced, along with new majors in Computer Science, Ethnic Studies, and Environmental Science; new minors in Data Science & Statistics and Health & Society; and the introduction of Creative Writing and International Relations “tracks” within the English and Government departments, respectively.

A scholar of 20^th-century U.S. literature and culture and a tenured member of the English department, Katie will enter her sabbatical with two publications on the horizon. Her collection of essays on the work of William Faulkner, Faulknerista, will be published by Louisiana State University Press in fall 2022. Her essay, “Faulkner after Morrison,” an examination of Toni Morrison’s transformative effect on the reception of Faulkner’s novels, is also forthcoming in New Faulkner Studies from the Cambridge University Press.

I am grateful to have had Katie’s institutional knowledge and administrative expertise during my first year at Lawrence and greatly appreciate her leadership helping the university meet its academic mission and enhance its academic offerings over the last five years, especially during the pandemic. 

I am excited to welcome Peter to his new role, as he brings a wealth of administrative and curricular experience with him. A historian of modern Russia specializing in the Soviet period and the history of nationalism and ethnicity, Peter joined the Lawrence community in 2001 as assistant professor of history. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he has served as chair of the History department, the director of the senior experience program, and on numerous committees over the course of his career at Lawrence, including the Faculty Committee on University Governance, the Financial Planning Committee, and the Title III Grant Advisory Board, among others. As chair of the Instruction Committee, he was integral to helping the university meet its academic mission during the pandemic.

Peter was chosen as an American Council on Education Fellow in 2013 and was placed at Vassar College, where he worked with the dean of the faculty and dean of strategic planning and academic resources. He also completed site visits at 40 colleges and universities around the country during his year-long fellowship. This experience has served him well in his current role as associate dean of the faculty, which he has held since 2019.

I have enjoyed getting to know Peter over the past nine months and appreciate his candor and dedication to Lawrence’s faculty, academic mission, and future. I look forward to working with him in his new role and as we finalize and implement the strategic investments.

Please join me in thanking Katie for her service and wishing both her and Peter well in their new endeavors.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Even as Lawrentians are preparing for finals and finishing up winter term, spring is in the air. Each day brings more light than the day before, and I’m seeing more faces of colleagues and students as I walk across campus. It’s clear that we are all ready for a well-deserved break and more days in the sun.

As we look to the possibilities for renewal that spring brings, I am pleased to report that we are making great progress on planning for the future of Lawrence. We have started to receive reports from our Guiding Coalitions, and to date, the Full Speed to Full Need and Amplifying Athletics coalitions have submitted their findings and recommendations. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Antiracism group will submit their report shortly, and the Visioning Committee is continuing to work through March and will submit their report in April, as will the Strategic Equitable Enrollment Management (SEEM) team.

Our Strategic Planning Committee has also made great progress evaluating the results of our current strategic plan, Veritas Est Lux, and preparing for our future planning process. The committee is currently assessing each component of Veritas Est Lux, noting where we have completed or institutionalized initiatives and where we’ve made progress or fallen behind. The work of the Guiding Coalitions and SEEM will inform the next phase of the process, during which the committee will partner with well-known consultant firm Keeling & Associates. Keeling will assist them through the remainder of the strategic planning process, which will outline an institutional strategy for the next 3-5 years. The committee plans to use our shared governance model, existing committee structures, new staff structures, town halls, and surveys to ensure we have input from all community members as we finalize a plan.

Simultaneously, we are working though shared governance to create our strategic investment plan. We held the first meeting last week with our planning team, which consists of students, faculty, staff, and Cabinet members, and we will continue to meet on a weekly basis until the May Board meeting. We have gotten a head-start on a few projects, including infrastructure improvements to Music-Drama and the Warch Campus Center as well as brand elevation work, both of which require time and resources to implement. I am excited about the work and opportunities ahead and look forward to sharing our progress with the community.

Thank you, once again, to all community members who served on the coalitions and committees and participated in various discussions and town hall meetings. Your participation and input in the process is invaluable as we work together to build Lawrence’s bright future.

I’m pleased to report that Eric Schacht, who graduated from Lawrence with a government degree in 1991, is returning to his alma mater to serve as our new university counsel. After graduating from Lawrence, Eric worked in risk management, litigation, and insurance for more than a decade before pursuing his J.D. from the University of Illinois. He has worked at the Wolfram Companies since receiving his law degree, most recently as general counsel.

Eric is truly excited to return to his alma mater, stating, “I have not lost my passion for the university, and I look forward to using my position to ensure that the current and future students of LU are able to succeed and thrive as I was.” I look forward to working with Eric, who will officially start his role on March 28 and will serve on the President’s Cabinet.

Dwight and Marjorie Peterson Professor of Innovation and Associate Professor of Economics Adam Galambos will also join the President’s Cabinet starting this month in his role as special assistant to the president. He will replace Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs and Associate Professor of Government Jason Brozek, who will end his term as special assistant this June. Adam is joining the Cabinet early to assist with the strategic initiatives planning process. I look forward to working with him in his new role at this exciting time.

Finally, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on Women’s History Month, which is made even more special for me this year as the leader of one our nation’s first co-educational institutions. This institutional commitment was renewed in 1964 with Lawrence’s consolidation with Milwaukee-Downer College, one of our nation’s preeminent women’s colleges. And as a former student-athlete, I cannot forget to mention the 50^th anniversary of Title IX, which leveled the collegiate playing field for women athletes, including me. Its impact is still felt today.

“Providing healing, promoting hope” is the theme of Women’s History Month this year. As we conclude winter term and look to the spring, I hope our upcoming break brings you moments of healing after a challenging term and fills you with hope for the new term ahead.

Sincerely,

Laurie

Dear Lawrentians,

It’s hard to believe that we are quickly approaching the final stretch of winter term, and I want to express my gratitude to our students, faculty, and staff for their continued dedication to the health and wellbeing of our community. I’ll be the first to admit that the start of our term was challenging for us all as we returned to campus at the height of the Omicron variant, but our collective commitment to Honor the Pledge has helped us limit the spread of the virus. Most important, we have slowly returned to hosting activities that bring us together as Lawrentians.

February has been a month full of opportunities for us to gather and celebrate Lawrence’s long-standing traditions, as well as Black History Month. After ending January with the Great Midwest Trivia Contest and the wonderful Lunar New Year celebration, we welcomed February with Winter Carnival, and this past week we hosted multimedia artist Alexandra Bell as our Winter Convocation speaker. On Saturday, the Black Student Union hosted the annual Black Excellence Ball, and we now look forward to Cultural Expressions to close out the month. Thank you to the Lawrentians, particularly our students, who helped to organize the term’s many engaging events.

Alexandra Bell’s Convocation talk reminded us of the important contributions Black artists are making to society. Black History Month is a good time to remind us that it is more important than ever that we recommit ourselves to supporting the university’s efforts to becoming an antiracist institution.

Last week, our community also participated in the It’s On Us Week of Action, which included a series of programs, events, and discussions to support the awareness and prevention of sexual assault. We will also soon welcome our new Title IX coordinator, who will help us ensure that Lawrence is a safe and respectful community for all. Dr. Eric Mayes, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion will share more information shortly.

Even with such engaging community events and celebrations, winter term can still take its toll on each of us, thanks to shorter days and prolonged winter weather. I want to remind us all to take a moment to ensure that we taking care of our mental health along with our physical wellbeing. Please take advantage of the programs that our Wellness Center and the Esch Hurvis Center for Spiritual & Religious Life offers, including intramurals, hikes along the Fox River, and massages, among others. Please also reach out to the support services available to us on campus through Wellness Services. 

The university’s Board of Trustees also hosts its annual winter meeting in February, and this year’s meeting brought an unprecedented and historic opportunity for the university—approving a proposal for a one-time, strategic investment designed to strengthen the Lawrence experience. This investment is designed to have a lasting impact on students, faculty, and staff; our educational mission; and our ability to recruit and retain students.

The President’s Cabinet is currently working through shared governance to disseminate information to faculty, staff, and students, create plans, and establish a timeline for implementation as well as key performance indicators. This process will coordinate with current work that is happening at the university and with the work of our Guiding Coalitions, the Strategic and Equitable Enrollment Management (SEEM) team, and Strategic Planning Committee. Our work will be presented to the Board at its May meeting. 

The Board’s confidence in our ability to use shared governance to create and implement a plan based on this proposal is thanks to the continued hard work of the Lawrence community, and I am grateful to the Board for giving us this opportunity to strengthen the university. This term has proven once again that we are brighter together, whether that’s in the classroom or Andrew Commons, on the stage or court, engaging with strategic work, or celebrating our many traditions and milestones. I look forward to working with each of you to make Lawrence even brighter.

Sincerely,

Laurie A. Carter

Good morning, Rotarians,

Let me begin by saying, thank you for the good work you do every day to make Appleton and the Fox Cities a better, brighter, and more compassionate community. Rotary has a long and proud tradition of building alliances and serving its neighbors. Your work truly makes a difference.

At Lawrence, we do not take lightly the need to nourish community, to build those important partnerships that strengthen us as a whole—intellectually, economically, culturally, and emotionally. We have a saying at Lawrence that we are brighter together, and I believe in my heart that that applies as well to the many ways Lawrence interacts with its neighbors in the Fox Cities.

In the nearly seven months since I arrived at Lawrence, I have been taken by the connections between the university and this place we call home. We are celebrating Lawrence’s 175th anniversary in 2022, a milestone that puts an exclamation point on the many ways in which Lawrence and Appleton have grown up together. As those of you with a love of local history may already know, Lawrence is named in honor of its founder, Amos Lawrence, and the city of Appleton in honor of his wife, Sarah Appleton Lawrence. 

It was on January 15, 1847, that Lawrence Institute was granted a charter, one year before Wisconsin would become a state, and six years before Appleton would be incorporated as a municipality. Upon his first visit to Appleton in 1857, in a letter back home to his wife in Boston, Amos Lawrence described the location of the university this way: “The streets extend along the high banks of the river, and the views up and down the river are picturesque and almost grand. The roar of the water over a succession of falls adds to the effect.”

Amos Lawrence, quite obviously, took to Appleton immediately. His beautiful description of the landscape still holds true today.

The Lawrence campus was but a single building in those early days. Situated on 84 acres on the eastern edge of Appleton’s downtown, the campus now includes 60 instructional, residential, recreational, and administrative facilities. The Fox River runs through the heart of campus. It truly is a gorgeous setting.

But, of course, there is much, much more to Lawrence University and its place in Appleton than those picturesque river vistas.

Lawrence today remains what it has been for much of its history—an undergraduate college of the liberal arts and sciences with a conservatory of music. With an enrollment of nearly 1,500 students, it continues to honor the vision of its founders and build on the heritage of excellence in undergraduate education. It is annually ranked among the nation’s best private colleges and is the top liberal arts college in Wisconsin, drawing students from nearly every state—including students from the Fox Cities—and nearly 40 countries. 

In 2018, Lawrence contracted with the consulting firm Appleseed for an Economic and Community Impact Study. The results gave us data that reflect how intertwined Lawrence is with the surrounding community. The study showed that Lawrence’s economic impact in the region totals more than $70 million annually. Students from the Fox Valley receive more than $1.4 million in financial aid from Lawrence. Our students, faculty, and staff contribute more than 10,000 hours of community service each year as we continue to build partnerships with area nonprofits and the Appleton Area School District.

That’s but a small sample of our community connections. Also consider these:

Through our Lawrence Community Music School, formerly known as the Lawrence Academy of Music, more than 1,500 area children and adults annually take private music lessons or perform in orchestras, ensembles, and choirs. The school has been an important part of Lawrence’s outreach to the community for nearly 150 of our 175 years.

The Conservatory of Music’s annual Jazz Celebration Weekend, meanwhile, has brought thousands of high school and middle school students to campus each fall for two days of high-level instruction with our world-class faculty and special musical guests. It just marked its 40th year.

A music education team led by Conservatory faculty, students, and alumni partner each year with Mile of Music to offer free interactive music experiences throughout the popular four-day festival in downtown Appleton. It’s an element that separates Mile of Music from almost any other music festival in the world.

Fox Cities residents are frequently invited to campus to hear guest speakers on a wide range of important topics, allowing us all to listen and learn and hopefully think a little deeper about issues that affect this world—locally and globally.

Our Athletics department hosts summer camps for Appleton area youth each summer, bringing dozens of Fox Cities children and families to campus to learn from our coaches and student-athletes in the Banta Bowl and Alexander Gymnasium.

A partnership between Lawrence’s education department and the Appleton Area School District regularly puts new Lawrence graduates into Appleton classrooms for year-long student-teaching assignments. Many of those graduates go on to be hired full time as Appleton teachers.

And one of my favorite examples is spearheaded by current senior and Kaukauna native Molly Ruffing. Ruffing, a psychology and English double major, works for our Center for Community Engagement and Social Change and runs our VITAL program. VITAL stands for Volunteers in Tutoring at Lawrence and matches Lawrence student tutors with K-12 students in the Appleton Area School District. Molly also created a new education-focused program called First of Many, a first-generation student mentorship program with her alma mater, Kaukauna High School,

Sadly, the Covid pandemic put a pause on many of these interactions. I eagerly await the day, hopefully very soon, when Lawrence can again open its doors to the community, inviting everyone back for theater, opera, music, and dance performances in Memorial Chapel, Stansbury Theater, and Harper Hall; to the impactful art exhibits that grace the beautiful Wriston Art Gallery and the convocation addresses that are so integral to our traditions; to the many public resources housed within Seeley G. Mudd Library; and to the athletic events that bring excitement and camaraderie to Alexander Gym, the Banta Bowl, and other spaces where our student-athletes compete.

I am also eager to extend our community outreach and partnerships across our community. I’d like for Lawrence to create new service opportunities with area non-profits through our Center for Community Engagement and Social Change; pursue internships with local businesses through our Career Center; and launch new continuing education classes taught by Lawrence faculty and open to Fox City community members.

Suffice to say, Lawrence’s commitment to serving the community and being a part of the community has never wavered.

That community partnership extends to Bjorklunden, Lawrence’s beautiful 441-acre educational retreat in Door County, where summer seminars on a robust and eclectic range of subject matter are open to the public. Residents from all over Wisconsin, including the Fox Valley, partake enthusiastically in those seminars, many coming back summer after summer. Most of the seminars are led by Lawrence faculty or alumni, who bring expertise from their areas of study, research or passion.

Speaking of Lawrence alumni, they are now more than 20,000 strong, living and leading and changing the world in places near and far. They have generously supported Lawrence through the years with their time, talent, and gifts, and many of them continue to graciously connect with and mentor our students as they prepare to launch careers.

Among our alumni is a Nobel Prize-winning chemist and a former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice. Four Lawrence alumni have been appointed by U.S. presidents to serve as ambassadors throughout the world. Our Conservatory alumni perform on some of most acclaimed stages in the world, from Broadway to Paris. And they can be found in classrooms and boardrooms, leading community nonprofits and guiding Fortune 500 companies. 

Many of our alumni live right here in the Fox Cities. The Appleseed study showed that 5 percent of area residents with bachelor’s degrees are Lawrence alumni. In fact, I would not be surprised if we had some Lawrence alumni in our audience today.

And as many of you know, Appleton’s current mayor, Jake Woodford, is a proud 2013 graduate of Lawrence University. I’ve had the opportunity to meet with Mayor Woodford on multiple occasions and have walked away impressed with his sincere commitment to serve the people of Appleton and to nurture the long-standing connections between Lawrence and its home community.

As we look to the future, Lawrence is not immune to the many challenges facing higher education. The Covid pandemic has posed new anxieties for colleges and universities across the country, and Lawrence is no exception, but our resolve is strong to build smartly and strategically on our 175 years of history and prepare to meet the needs of students today and long into the future.

That resolve includes our commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. From the time we recruit a new class to the time we bid them farewell at commencement, we will make Lawrence a welcoming place for all of our students. We are trying to live those words every single day.

That commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to the greater Appleton community as well, as we work with city leadership, including Appleton’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator Timber Smith, and important partners like Imagine Fox Cities to ensure that all of our students feel at home here in Appleton. We need them to feel embraced and respected, whether they’re on campus, on College Avenue, or elsewhere in the Fox Cities. That hasn’t always been the case, and it’s imperative that we all work together to make the commitment a reality.

Those cannot be hollow words. They have to play out every day, in everything we do. As community advocates through your work with Rotary, I know you understand the importance of unity and fairness and community-building, and I thank you for living those ideals in your personal lives, your work lives, and in your community advocacy.

We must do this together. A healthy Lawrence is good for Appleton, and a healthy Appleton is good for Lawrence.

As it has for all of its 175 years, Lawrence remains an important part of this community. We cherish our role in this community. We cherish the intersection of our shared histories and our shared interests, and we look forward to an even deeper relationship as we build a strong, vibrant future for generations of students to come.

We are, after all, brighter together.

Dear Lawrentians,

Happy new year to each of you, near and far. What a remarkable year this is for Lawrence, as we celebrate the university’s 175th anniversary.

We are marking this incredible milestone with a year-long celebration that honors our storied history, celebrates our powerful present, and looks ahead to our bright future. I am excited to join all of you in the year’s festivities.

The celebration begins next week over Founders Day weekend, which marks that historic January 15 in 1847, when the Territory of Wisconsin Legislature granted a charter to Lawrence Institute. That institute evolved into the university we know and love today. After visiting his namesake institution, founder Amos A. Lawrence shared with his wife that the institution was a “great and good work” of which they could be proud. These words still ring true today.

Since our founding 175 years ago, Lawrence has become a nationally ranked college of liberal arts and sciences and conservatory of music that attracts students from nearly every state and 40 countries. With an alumni community 20,000 strong and counting, Lawrentians are shining their light in communities around the world.

In this anniversary year, you can look forward to:

• The official 175th Anniversary webpage, where you can find information on celebratory events, engagement opportunities, and reflections on Lawrence and Milwaukee-Downer history. The website will be updated throughout the year, so visit often.
  
• An exclusive selection of 175th gear and merchandise in our virtual anniversary store. The store launches on Founders Weekend and will be available throughout 2022. You can get gear including t-shirts, mugs, blankets, and more!
  
• A Founders Weekend Celebration on January 14 & 15. All Lawrentians near and far can take part in activities like a virtual trivia contest, a livestreamed Lawrence University 175th Birthday Recital, social media engagement, and more!
  
• Additional celebrations over the course of the year, including a Fox Cities community celebration in the spring and a campus and alumni celebration in the fall.

Stay tuned to the 175th webpage, as well as your email, for additional 175th events, coverage, and engagement opportunities.

We shine brighter together, so grab your Lawrence gear and join me as we celebrate this historic year!

Sincerely,

Laurie A. Carter

President 

Dear Lawrentians, 

While there may be fewer students on campus, our daily lives are still filled with activity.  After nearly two full weeks of coursework, December classes are coming to a close. Students and faculty are collaborating on research projects. Our Vikings basketball and hockey teams are competing for the first time in December since 2019. Facilities Services is working on enhancements to residence halls across campus. The faculty, students, staff, trustees, and alumni participating in our five guiding coalitions—Visioning Our Five Priorities; Full Speed to Full Need; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Antiracism; Athletics; and 175^th Anniversary—and the Strategic Equitable Enrollment Management team are deep into their work planning for Lawrence’s future. All of which facilitates the Strategic Planning Committee, which has commenced its work as well. Thank you to everyone who is dedicating their time, energy, and talent into ensuring that Lawrence meets its fullest potential. 

As November brought moments of reflection and gratitude, December brings moments of celebration and transition. Last week, faculty and staff gathered at our annual holiday reception, and it was wonderful to see so many colleagues gathered safely together to enjoy our bright community. My sincere thanks to Human Resources for helping to plan the gathering, to Bon Appetit for the wonderful food, and to our Conservatory students for the joyous music. Earlier this week, we celebrated Alice Boeckers and Linda Peeters as they embark on their retirement after years of dedicated service to Lawrence. Thank you to everyone who came together to wish them well as they enter this new stage of their lives. 

The new year will also bring a number of transitions for the university, the President’s Office in particular.  

This week, we welcomed Andrea Thorsbakken as my new executive assistant. Andrea brings years of experience serving as a chief of staff and project lead at the Tennessee Department of Education, which will be invaluable to her new role. I’m confident she will be a wonderful addition to our team here in the President’s Office. Mike O’Connor will be transitioning from his position as Riaz Waraich Dean of the Career Center and Center for Community Engagement and Social Change to a new role as special assistant to the president in January. His role will focus on university-wide assessment and metrics and other projects as designed. He will work across the university to create a culture of assessment that includes clear metrics to assess strategic priorities and investments and ensure that we are working toward meeting our goals. I’m excited that Mike will share his skills with the university in this new role, and I look forward to working with him to ensure Lawrence is meeting its full potential. 

Starting January 1, Megan Scott will serve as vice president of communications and marketing, reporting directly to me. This shift in title and reporting is a direct reflection of the quality of work Megan has done during her time at Lawrence, as well as the importance of Communications to the ongoing success of the university. Megan has worked to build an integrated communications office that directly supports the university’s strategic initiatives and has kept our community informed and connected during the pandemic. She and her team will lead our efforts to elevate Lawrence’s reputation and relevance as a leading liberal arts institution. 

Also, as of January 1, Christyn Abaray will officially become my chief of staff, while also continuing her role as secretary to the Board of Trustees. This is truly a change in title only, as Christyn has been an invaluable resource and partner as I’ve transitioned into the Lawrence community. She helped to implement our guiding coalitions, leads the Lawrence Pandemic Planning Team, and, when needed, represents the President’s Office. She will also play an integral role in our strategic planning process, helping to set a vision for Lawrence’s future. 

Please join me in welcoming Andrea to Lawrence and congratulating Mike, Megan, and Christyn on their new positions at the university.  

I look forward to welcoming the new year, one in which we will celebrate Lawrence’s 175^th anniversary, our storied history and our bright future, together. I wish you all peaceful, safe, and restful holidays with your family, friends, and loved ones. 

Sincerely,
Laurie  

Laurie A. Carter
President, Lawrence University
Sampson House, 711 E. Boldt Way | Appleton, WI 54911-5699 | Office 920.832.6525