Lawrence Magazine Spring/Summer 2024

LAWRENCE

Journey of

Oscar nominee Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 leans into lessons from Lawrence

DISCOVERY

Ellen Baker ’97 garners big attention with latest novel

Evan Williams ’10 gets London Philharmonic debut

LAWRENCE

EDITOR: Ed Berthiaume ed.c.berthiaume@lawrence.edu

WRITERS: Alex Alden ’25, Taylor Hughes ’25, A.J. Kaiser ’25, Deanna Kolell

CLASS NOTES: Claire Hafeman and Taylor Lang

PHOTOGAPHY: Danny Damiani, Paul Wilke, Aaron Lindeman ’27

FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS: go.lawrence.edu/profile 920-832-6548 • alumni@lawrence.edu

TO SUBMIT IDEAS: Lawrence University Office of Communications

711 E. Boldt Way Appleton, WI 54911-7325 communications@lawrence.edu

Junior Kat McClain (right) works on a handheld spectrometer as senior Sydney Closson observes. They are building the research tools with geosciences professor Jeff Clark.

Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent Lawrence University policy.

Lawrence (USPS 012-683) is published by the Lawrence University Office of Communications. Nonprofit postage paid at Appleton, Wis., and additional mailing offices.

Correction from fall/winter edition: The first qualifiers from Lawrence for the NCAA Division III tennis tournament were Gary Kolker ’76 and Bob Liebman ’77 in 1976.

11 RESEARCH TOOLS

Geosciences professor, students building spectrometers.

16 UNTYING KNOTS

Bhutanese filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 on journey of discovery

24 INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDY

Professors on mission to learn, teach on 13th century Spain

26 PRACTICE TIME

Insights on practice from Conservatory, Athletics, and Humanities

30 STAFF PROFILE

Meet Juan Arguello, Lawrence’s second-year dean

38 BEAUTIFUL MUSIC

Evan Williams ’10 to have music debuted by London Philharmonic

40 SHINING AT THE MET

Emily Richter ’20 wins prestigious Met Opera competition

44 ATHLETICS

Inaugural class of women’s hockey sets foundation for program

46 STAR NOVELIST

Ellen Baker ’97 garners big attention with The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson

52 CLASS NOTES

Catch up with your fellow Lawrentians

Cover photo by Danny Damiani

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Dear Lawrentians,

There is much to be excited about as we close one academic year and prepare to begin another.

We just celebrated the accomplishments of our 2024 graduates at Commencement and welcomed home hundreds of Lawrentians at Reunion. This is always a magical time of year on campus, filled with the promises of new adventures and the embrace of treasured memories. Thank you to all who played a role in helping our graduates get to the Commencement stage and all who have continued to stay connected to Lawrence, no matter the distance in miles or years.

The word partnership is front of mind these days—our partnerships with students, families, alumni, faculty, the community. All are integral to the work we do to build and sustain a strong, vibrant Lawrence long into the future. You will see those partnerships reflected in the amazing Lawrentians featured in the pages of this magazine

The power of partnership is evident in some very visible ways.

If you were among those who joined us—or cheered from a distance—when we broke ground on the building project in the 300 block of E. College Avenue, you saw it and felt it. More than 200 community members—from Lawrence and the wider Fox Cities—gathered at the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street that day for a ceremonial tossing of the dirt, kicking off construction of a development that will support our academic mission and enhance the student journey while providing a new home for the nonprofit Trout Museum of Art, a city treasure. The excitement was palpable; there was joy and a sense of anticipation. Lawrentians, city officials, community leaders, downtown advocates, and champions of the arts were all talking excitedly about partnerships that are being forged, expanded, and reinforced.

That excitement goes way beyond the brick and mortar of a new building. Those gathered were understanding that Lawrence, always an integral part of the Fox Cities, is building partnerships within the community in new ways, with career preparation for Lawrence students central to it all.

Those joining me and Board of Trustees representative Susan Hall ’76 in lifting shovels of dirt included faculty and student leaders from

Lawrence along with leadership from the Trout Museum, the City of Appleton, the business community, and downtown Appleton. It reflected partnership in very tangible ways.

Those partnerships also are central to the development of Fox Commons, which is taking shape just a few blocks to the west. Business, health care, and nonprofit organizations will be partnering with Lawrence in everything from internships to career advocacy to tutorials, all providing enriching experiences for our students in these modern living spaces, beginning as soon as this fall.

Partnerships also will be at the core of conversations in the coming months as we move our strategic planning into an exciting and dynamic campaign that will be vital to the future of Lawrence. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

Our alumni are such incredible partners in all we do. At Commencement, we had the pleasure of awarding an honorary doctorate to Jim Gandre ’81, president of Manhattan School of Music. He delivered inspiring words to our graduates as our Baccalaureate speaker.

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06, the subject of the cover story, also returned to campus for Commencement, delivering the keynote address and receiving an honorary doctorate. Pawo often talks about how the partnerships he built as a student—with faculty across disciplines, with International House, with alumni—led to his work as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker: “With the education I had at Lawrence, that liberal arts education, it really opened my mind,” he says in the story. “It made me very curious—curious for life, not just to be a filmmaker. You have to have that curiosity; you have to have the openness. All my experiences at Lawrence, I think, led to that.”

May we all be partners going forward in building such paths of hope and promise for all our Lawrentians.

Sincerely,

Laurie A. Carter President

CAMPUS NOTES

PARTNERSHIPS TAKE CENTER STAGE AS WEST CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

Construction is under way on West Campus, a new four-story building that will support innovative new academic spaces for Lawrence University, provide a new home for the Trout Museum of Art (TMA), and foster exciting opportunities for career and community collaborations.

Leaders from Lawrence, TMA, and the City of Appleton gathered in early March to put shovels in the dirt at a groundbreaking that drew more than 200 people to the site in the 300 block of E. College Avenue. They spoke to the ways this project will bolster the futures of the university, the nonprofit art museum, downtown Appleton, and the greater Fox Valley region.

“When it opens in fall of 2025, this building will provide our faculty and students with innovative academic spaces that will enhance teaching and

learning in the humanities, the Conservatory of Music, mathematics, computer science, and data science,” Lawrence President Laurie A. Carter said. “It will provide new opportunities for our students to engage with community partners through internships and other collaborations as we prepare the next generation of thoughtful, inspired leaders.”

The building will feature more than 100,000 square feet of space over four floors, with a state-of-the-art Trout Museum of Art on the ground floor, academic spaces for Lawrence on the second floor, and market-rate apartments on the upper two floors. Located at the southwest intersection of College Avenue and Drew Street, on the western edge of the Lawrence campus, the building is a partnership between Lawrence and TMA, with Lawrence owning the upper three floors and TMA the ground floor. It has an estimated cost of $38 million and is being built by Boldt.

For Lawrence, the new building, its first since Warch Campus Center opened in 2009, will support programming that builds on the university’s world-class academics. It adds more than 30,000 square feet of academic space and provides flexibility for future enrollment growth.

“We are continually seeking opportunities to build on the academic tradition that for 177 years has made Lawrence one of the finest liberal arts colleges in the nation,” Carter said. “We continue to adapt our academic and cocurricular

An updated architectural rendering of West Campus.

A groundbreaking ceremony kicked off construction of West Campus in spring.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

DESIGN BY FREDERICK FISHER AND PARTNERS

programming and experiences to prepare our graduates for a rapidly changing world.”

An anonymous gift of $10 million from an alum, announced in December, kickstarted Lawrence’s fundraising for its share of the project.

Lawrence faculty have been guiding the planning for the academic spaces on the second floor— soundproof offices and studios for Conservatory faculty and offices for the Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department. It will include an innovative teaching and co-curricular commons, where students will engage in both formal and experiential learning in varying disciplines. And it will be home to the Humanities Center, an intellectual collaborative for faculty, students, and scholarsin-residence.

Susan Hall ’76 represented Lawrence’s Board of Trustees at the groundbreaking. She is both an alumna of Lawrence and the parent of an alumna. She called this project an important investment in preparing Lawrentians to thrive in today’s world.

first half of the project expected to open to Lawrence University students in time for the start of Fall Term.

The development in the remodeled City Center Plaza—along College Avenue, three blocks west of campus—will eventually house

A housing lottery was held for students wanting to live in Fox Commons in the 202425 academic year.

Fox Commons is being developed with partnerships at its core. A project of Dark Horse Development and Boldt, it will be a

“The trustees believe this is much more than a building— it’s a critical piece of our university’s future,” Hall said.

Christina Turner, executive director for TMA, called the partnership with Lawrence an opportunity to elevate community collaborations to new heights, “blending the academic rigor of Lawrence University with the boundless creativity of the Trout Museum of Art.”

FOX COMMONS ON PACE TO OPEN TO STUDENTS IN SEPTEMBER

The Fox Commons development in downtown Appleton is progressing on schedule, with the

nearly 180 upper-year Lawrence students in modern living communities with direct access to enhanced learning experiences. It will open in two phases—the second floor by this fall and the third floor by fall 2025. It will feature apartment-style housing for students along with academic and meeting spaces catering to business & entrepreneurship and pre-health professions. Built-in academic and collaboration spaces include a Business & Entrepreneurship Center, a Finance Lab equipped with specialized financial industry software, a Pre-Health Commons, a community kitchen, and lecture and meeting rooms.

180,000-square-foot health care, housing, retail, and mixed-use community hub. Besides Lawrence, other prominent tenants include Mosaic Family Health, Prevea Health, and gener8tor, a business incubator focused on sustainability.

All will partner with Lawrence in various educational capacities.

These partnerships will allow for Lawrence students interested in business and entrepreneurship and pre-health careers to collaborate regularly with area professionals.

Students tour the Fox Commons construction site.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

CAMPUS NOTES

MARK BURSTEIN HONORED WITH PORTRAIT, CROSSING DEDICATION

Former Lawrence University President Mark Burstein was back on campus in April for the unveiling of his presidential portrait and the dedication of a campus walking bridge that honors his legacy, one built on student access and success.

Burstein, the 16th president in Lawrence’s 177-year history—his eight-year tenure closed in 2021—was honored along with his husband, David Calle, in a pair of ceremonies attended by trustees, faculty, alumni, and staff.

“I am so moved by it being in this space,” Burstein said at the unveiling of his presidential portrait, displayed in the Center for Academic Success on the second floor of Mudd Library. “This idea of student success is a critical value here at Lawrence and it has

been a critical value for me.”

A dedication also was held at the west end of the walking bridge that spans Drew Street. The walkway was rebuilt with funds contributed by more than 30 donors at the close of Burstein’s presidency. It is now dedicated as the Calle Burstein Crossing.

President Laurie A. Carter called the walkway a fitting tribute to Burstein and Calle, “a visible reminder of their many contributions to Lawrence” and their ongoing friendship with and support of the university.

“As presidents, we are stewards of this university’s legacy, and we carry a responsibility to always move Lawrence forward, to prepare it to serve the needs of today’s students and those yet to come,” Carter said. “In many ways, one presidency is a bridge to the next, making this dedication all the more fitting.”

Carter, along with Board of Trustees Chair Cory Nettles ’92 and a former chair, David Blowers ’82, praised Burstein for leading the Be the Light! campaign that raised $232.6 million and solidified the endowment in ways that allow Lawrence to build on important strategic initiatives and support student success.

“He had a very clear sense of where Lawrence was and where he wanted to take it,” Nettles said of Burstein.

The presidential portrait is a long-standing tradition at Lawrence, with a portrait commissioned following the close of a president’s tenure. Burstein’s portrait, funded by a generous donor, is a work of art, a painting by Patrick Earl Hammie, associate professor and chair of studio arts in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Former President Mark Burstein speaks in front of his newly unveiled portrait in the Center for Academic Success in Mudd Library. PHOTO

ALTERNATIVE SPRING BREAK HELD AT BJÖRKLUNDEN FOR FIRST TIME Björklunden hosted an Alternative Spring Break in March. A first-time undertaking, it provided a week for sustainability and stewardship projects for Lawrence students at Lawrence’s Door County retreat.

Organizing it was a collaborative effort led by Juan Arguello, the second-year dean, and Tom McKenzie, director of Björklunden, with an assist from Carter Robinson, sustainability coordinator, and Kristi Koshuta, first-year dean. Activities ranged from stargazing at Newport State Park to a naturalist-led hike at Toft Point to designing a butterfly garden habitat around the Björklunden solar panel fields.

Students also did volunteer work, including the removal of cut brush and timber in the Range Lights corridor at The Ridges, planting trees at Mud Lake and helping to collect data on previous tree planting efforts by the Climate Change Coalition of Door County.

‘LAWRENCE IN’ EVENTS PUT FOCUS ON LAWRENCE’S FUTURE

Lawrence University President Laurie A. Carter talked about the importance of building for the future in a series of receptions held across the country in the first half of 2024.

The series of events, billed as “Lawrence In,” engaged Carter and other Lawrence leaders in conversation on the university’s strategic planning with alumni, families, and friends. Events were held in the Fox Cities, Chicago,

Participants of Lawrence’s Alternative Spring Break took hikes around Door County, including one at Björklunden with master naturalist Jane Whitney.

Seattle, and Madison. They built on the success of the previous year’s “Time to Shine” gatherings, held in New York, San Francisco, Twin Cities, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee.

“Lawrentians have so many reasons to be grateful,” said Matt Baumler, associate vice president of Alumni and Community Engagement. “These events allow us to both celebrate that gratitude and build upon the community we call Lawrence.”

President Laurie A. Carter talks with attendees at the “Lawrence In” Fox Cities event.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

PHOTO BY KRISTI KOSHUTA

STUDENTS

Eitan Price ’26

Eitan Price dives deep into study of linguistics

BY A.J. KAISER ’25

Eitan Price was keeping good company last summer.

The Lawrence University sophomore linguistics major from Carmel, Indiana, attended the Linguistics Society of America’s (LSA) Summer Institute, a program mostly attended by graduate students. It is described as an “intellectual summer camp” by its organizers, made to forward the study of linguistics by gathering the foremost professionals and students in linguistics studies. “I got to see people who, through the really theoretical work with linguistics, have

actually been able to make tangible impacts on the world,” Price said about his time at the institute, held at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Taking part in the Summer Institute was an impressive commitment from Price, said Bob Williams, professor of education and head of Lawrence’s linguistics program. It’s unusual for a college sophomore to take that leap.

“This is a full month of short classes and lectures, and longer courses being offered by people in the field from all over,” he said. “Not only do you attend the lecture, but you hang

out together, have meals together, and talk. There’s lots of that informal interaction that goes on that really builds the networks within the profession.”

The immersive summer experience has furthered Price’s enthusiasm for linguistics. He has many interests within the major, including computational linguistics and speech-language pathology, and he plans to attend graduate school after Lawrence.

“Right now, the goal is to be a professor of linguistics,” Price said. “It’s a very broad field, with a lot of different people doing a lot of different things.”

When Price arrived at Lawrence in 2022, he already knew he was interested in linguistics. Lawrence’s program is an interdisciplinary offering drawing from the fields of cognitive science, languages, philosophy, and more. Students explore the structures of language— sounds, words, and sentences—and how these express and evoke meaning; how people use language, how they learn new languages, and how language relates to culture and identity.

After taking an Intro to Linguistics course during his first year, Price declared his major and immediately got involved in the program. He is a student representative of the linguistics program, helping to organize social and intellectual activities.

Williams said it “helps enormously” to have students such as Price helming the social events within the program.

“Whether it be clubs, or activities, or other kinds of events—you want those to be largely student-driven,” he said.

Since getting involved, Price has helped organize a linguistics tea, helped plan the department’s annual Björklunden trip, and put together an informative bulletin board in Main Hall. He is tutoring in linguistics and working toward setting up a site at Lawrence for the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO), a competition for high school students that Price himself participated in.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Fast-track graduate Grace Weber finds her path to medical physics

BY DEANNA KOLELL

When Grace Weber first stepped foot on the Lawrence University campus, she didn’t expect to be graduating in three years.

Despite her fast-track to the Commencement stage—she graduated June 9—Weber made the most of her time at Lawrence. The physics major from Oshkosh took part in impressive physics research that

put a focus on accessibility and set her on a path toward a career in medical physics. She has been accepted to the University of Minnesota’s prestigious medical physics program. The medical physics field, Weber said, works with coding various pieces of medical equipment, such as linear accelerators, MRI scanners, and ultrasounds.

“I want to, in the future, hopefully be a clinical medical physicist where I’d be able to work with cancer patients and create treatment plans,” she said.

When deciding what to major in, physics seemed like the obvious choice.

“I really liked math, I really liked science, and although I enjoyed biology and chemistry as well, I really liked the puzzle aspect of physics and the desire to find out more about the world and figure out how it worked,” Weber said.

She chose to apply her love for physics at Lawrence. Her godmother, Alice Young ‘92, attended Lawrence and told her about how she valued the community.

“I always admired the beauty of the campus,” Weber said, “but the real thing that brought me to the campus itself was the community of acceptance.”

The past year has been particularly

exciting for Weber. Starting in June 2023, she dove into summer research developing an open-source microscope. Her research centered around how to bring research-grade microscopy into the classroom by making it more cost-effective. Components of the microscope were either 3D printed, courtesy of the Lawrence University Makerspace, or created with easily accessible software. The replicability of the microscope makes it ideal for an undergraduate setting.

“Because it is mostly 3D printed, we’re able to present it to other schools, and they can make it easily, so that sharing the knowledge is the goal,” Weber said.

Weber had an exciting opportunity to share her knowledge when she and a co-worker, Joseph Carpenter, a junior math and physics double major from Minneapolis (see more on Carpenter on page 33), received a grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) to fund their work on the microscope. It also came with an opportunity to give a presentation at the Wisconsin Space Conference in August 2023.

“Being able to share the research that I had done really helped me prepare for my future and brought me a lot of excitement,” Weber said.

Grace Weber ‘24

STUDENTS

Study abroad fuels Maddy Tevonian’s passion for religious studies, art history

BY TAYLOR HUGHES ’25

Maddy Tevonian, a religious studies and art history double major who graduated in June, spent her four years at Lawrence University seeking knowledge across disciplines. She prepared a capstone analyzing Buddhist art through the lens of religious studies and movement theory following study abroad stints in India and Nepal.

Tevonian, of Wilmette, Illinois, has always been fascinated by religion. From Greek mythology stories told in third grade to medieval Christianity, she knew early on religious studies was a field she was drawn to.

“Everyone has an opinion on religion, whether they believe in one or not; it’s so universal,” Tevonian said.

That fueled a passion for wanting to study abroad, a key objective when she came to Lawrence.

“I had about 10 different countries I wanted to go visit,” Tevonian said.

Eventually, Tevonian narrowed down

plans for her first trip abroad. She went to India, where she participated in a Buddhist Studies program through Carleton Global Engagement. She lived in a rural pilgrimage town with 25 classmates, studying how art is used in the religious practices of a northern India ethnic group.

This experience inspired Tevonian to study abroad again, this time in Nepal in a language summer intensive program, studying the Tibetan language. The trip would contribute to her capstone project, which she then turned into an honors thesis.

While at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Nepal, Tevonian studied at the school founded by Tibetan leader Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche. The trip was funded by the Helen Barr Rudin Language grant, the Harrison Award via the Harrison Symposium, and the Chandler Senior Experience Fund, allowing her to immerse herself in the Tibetan language.

Her project was focused on the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, a Buddhist monument.

She studied the monument and how people interacted with it, relating to the broader theme of how religious monuments and artwork intertwine in the everyday lives of people.

Tevonian’s passion for connecting to community was evident at Lawrence through her involvement with numerous clubs and student organizations. She served as the co-captain of the Frisbee team at Lawrence and was the vice president of the Recess Club, both student-led organizations. She also was in the LU Rock Climbers Club and the Outdoor Recreation Club and was always finding ways to be outdoors. She appreciates interacting with nature and encouraging others to do so as well.

Now that she’s graduated, Tevonian will take a gap year and apply to grad school programs for religious studies. She will continue her work and research in Buddhist studies, showing how religion manifests itself in everyday life.

“I love talking to people and experiencing religion in daily life,” she said.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Maddy Tevonian ’24

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Clark leads students in building spectrometers for use in geosciences research

BY A.J. KAISER ’25

Lawrence University geosciences professor Jeff Clark and two students spent parts of winter and spring terms building handheld spectrometers for use in research and handson instruction.

Funded by a $10,000 grant from the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC), an educational branch of NASA, the project

will produce 10 functioning spectrometers. The devices, which capture wavelengths of reflected light and thermal radiation, are used to analyze earth-surface materials. Clark uses them in multiple geosciences courses, as well as in a WSGC-funded summer research program that uses drones to image earth.

The Congressionally funded WSGC supports STEM education through scholarships, research grants, internships, and more. This grant, awarded from the consortium’s Higher Education Incentives program, is funding the spectrometerbuilding by Clark and students Sydney Closson and Kat McClain. Closson is a junior from Rolesville, North Carolina, seeking a dual degree in geosciences and music; McClain is a junior from Madison, Wisconsin, majoring in geosciences.

The process of building spectrometers requires multiple skill sets, including soldering, 3D printing, electronic wiring, and programming. Each member of the team brings an essential skill to the project, and all three are learning something new—Closson brought experience in 3D printing; McClain had experience in soldering, for example.

“Sydney and I hadn’t soldered before,” Clark said. “We’re kind of learning this as we go, which is fun, to learn new skills.”

The skills being developed will be useful long after this project concludes.

“All the skills we are learning here, whether it’s soldering, learning how to troubleshoot, or coding—they’re applicable across a lot of different fields, and it’s going to be helpful in the future,” Closson said.

McClain has been a student in the Clark-led classes where these updated spectrometers will now be used.

“And I did the drone research project over the summer,” she said.

McClain said working on the construction of the spectrometers gives her greater insight into the technology involved.

Clark, a member of the Lawrence faculty since 1998, has been leading students in field research projects using drones, GIS, and GPS to map changes in the Earth’s surface. His research has explored changes in land cover and crop phenology and the rate of bluff retreat along the Lake Michigan shoreline. His research also has helped inform renewable energy infrastructure at Björklunden.

Building their own spectrometers, though, is new territory. It has required a lot of stopping and starting.

“I had a lot of fun troubleshooting,” Clark said. “Just trying to devise ways of testing that the connections were good.”

professor

and Kat McClain in building spectrometers in a lab at Lawrence.

Geosciences

Jeff Clark works with students Sydney Closson

Concerto co-winners find their music on different academic paths STUDENTS

BY ALEX ALDEN ’25

Lawrence University junior Annika Schmidt and sophomore David Smith, both in the cello studio in the Conservatory of Music, were named co-winners of the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra’s annual concerto competition, which put them on stage as soloists at recent LSO concerts.

That’s where the similarities end in their respective Lawrence academic journeys.

Schmidt, of Appleton, has taken advantage of the university’s dual degree program, seeking a Bachelor of Music in cello performance and a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics. Despite the surface-level differences,

Schmidt often connects the two disciplines.

“I found that analyzing language changes the way I think about music: thinking about music as speech ... or analyzing how the phrase is put together or thinking about it in terms of words in a sentence.”

Smith, of Radford, Virginia, is taking lessons and performing in the Conservatory while pursuing majors outside of music. He thought he was on track to study cello in a conservatory, but his final year in high school rerouted him.

“I kind of fell in love with math and physics in my senior year,” Smith said.

He then sought a college path that would allow him to study math and physics at a high level while remaining immersed in music. He found just that at Lawrence. Drawn to the theoretical, math-heavy side of physics, switching focus from music to math was the right choice, he said. But that yearning to stay connected to his music didn’t go away.

“That is why I like Lawrence; I can participate in everything without having to be in the Conservatory,” Smith said. “I’m taking lessons, I’m going to studio, I’m in a bunch of chamber groups—I’m in the Con and I’m not.”

For the love of music

Schmidt’s winning performance in the concerto competition was of the Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor by Camille Saint-Saëns.

“It grabs your attention right away,

with a huge chord,” Schmidt said. Indeed, Saint-Saëns opted for a single loud chord in place of a traditional orchestral introduction; the soloist enters immediately.

“The beginning is very fiery; it’s a passionate piece,” Schmidt said. “From there, there are different characters within that.”

Although the first movement is generally turbulent, “there are moments of relaxation, but I think the real calm comes in the second movement,” she said. “It feels more innocent, more delicate. I view it more through the eyes of a child.”

The final movement returns to the mature opening character, but with a renewed jubilance: “With all the fast notes, it really sparkles,” Schmidt said.

The music is among Schmidt’s favorites.

“I love the long lines and the rich sound of the cello, and I get to pull that out with this [concerto],” she said.

For Smith, the concerto competition featured a piece he has been working on for more than a year: Ernest Bloch’s Cello Concerto. It is fully titled Schelomo: Rhapsodie Hébraïque for Violoncello and Orchestra; the immense title is matched by music of similar complexity.

“It’s unlike any other cello concerto that’s been written,” Smith said. “At least to me it is different than a lot of the standard repertoire that cellists play. ... It’s kind of melismatic and, I wouldn’t say atonal, but uses a lot of dissonance and tension and release.”

Instead of a melody focus, the cellist works with the orchestra to evoke various moods. Despite Bloch’s original plan for a vocal soloist, Smith finds the work highly idiomatic for the cello.

“It was really written with cello in mind,” he said. “It’s just satisfying to play; there are a lot of very expressive sections where you can take as much time as you want and play with every aspect of it. There is a lot of creative freedom you can have.”

Looking forward

Schmidt has a long list of future Lawrence plans—in both music and linguistics. She is already considering combining the two topics for her capstone. Plans for increased ensemble work and community performances are also on her mind.

After Lawrence, Schmidt hopes to put another interest, ESL (English as a Second Language), to good use.

“Hopefully [I’ll] do some good work with people who need instruction in English,” she said.

She also plans to continue with her music because it’s an important part of her life.

“The importance of playing music is the connection between people,” Schmidt said. “I think that’s why I play cello, to connect with people more, to be vulnerable with people: share the music, share emotions.”

Smith has plans to study physics in graduate school but will not abandon the cello along the way.

“I don’t see myself ever putting the cello down,” he said.

Annika Schmidt ’25

David Smith ’26

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Congratulations, 2024 graduates!

Lawrence University celebrated its graduates at Commencement 2024, held June 9 on Main Hall Green. The 341 graduates now join an alumni community more than 22,000 strong.

“As Lawrentians, let us lean on each other for strength,” President Laurie A. Carter told the graduates. “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 community you will now call home, finding and spreading joy while living a life informed by compassion, empathy, and grace.”

Commencement speaker Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06, a Bhutanese filmmaker who earned a 2022 Oscar nomination, urged the

graduates to always stay curious.

“Class of 2024, may your curiosity always be insatiable, may you always nurture and cherish your curiosity at all times,” Dorji said. “May your curiosity take you to the most interesting of places, and may it empower you to live colorful lives.”

As senior class speaker, Monique Johnson ’24 told her classmates they showed unbelievable strength in staying the course through the pandemic and leading the reawakening of campus life once the pandemic waned. That same strength will serve them well going forward.

“Lawrence has given us the blueprint to a successful life, and it is up to us to once again rise to the challenge,” she said. “Shine your light like the Lawrentian you are.”

Faculty and supporters line the sidewalk as graduates process onto Main Hall Green for Commencement.

Confetti and graduation caps fly as Commencement comes to a close.

PHOTOS BY DANNY DAMIANI

Senior class speaker Monique Johnson '24: “Shine your light like the Lawrentian you are.”

Scan to see commencement photo gallery

Dr. James Gandre

’81 to graduates:

‘Find what nurtures your spirit’

BY ED BERTHIAUME

In the 43 years since he walked across Lawrence University’s Commencement stage, Dr. James Gandre ’81 has lived and breathed the transformative power of education.

Now the president of the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, Gandre said his Lawrence experience set him on his path.

“When I decided to attend Lawrence, I didn’t realize how this institution would dramatically transform my life,” he said. “When I arrived here, I had never heard an orchestra other than at my high school. I had never seen an opera or been to a recital. I had never heard a formal lecture of any kind.”

Gandre addressed Lawrence’s Class of 2024 at the annual Baccalaureate service in Memorial Chapel, one of the signature events of Commencement weekend, storytelling and leaving them with pieces of advice as they embark on their life after Lawrence. For Gandre, this was a full-circle moment.

“He has forged a career as both a renowned leader in music education and a brilliant tenor vocalist,” Lawrence President Laurie A. Carter said in introducing Gandre at the service. “It is fitting that he is addressing you here in Memorial Chapel, from the stage that was such an important part of his Lawrence experience, in a performance venue as revered today as it was when President Gandre was an undergraduate.”

Gandre told the graduates that a decision to attend Lawrence is life changing.

“When I was a student here, I was unaware of the numerous turns my life would ultimately take, and I had no idea my life would be what it is today, more full and more fulfilling than I ever imagined,” he said.

He came to Lawrence from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, with a dream to study music. After majoring in performance (voice) at Lawrence, he would earn a master’s degree in performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, supporting a career that has taken him to the highest levels of music education.

Along the way, Gandre has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra and the London Classical Players as a soloist. He has completed more than 175 choral performances with a variety of organizations, including the New York Philharmonic, and has been featured on more than 20 commercial recordings.

Gandre’s main message was on living a full life.

“Find the things that fuel you and give you purpose and fulfillment,” Gandre said. “If you can do this, you will indeed be satisfied, content, and joyous in a multitude of ways throughout your life.”

Gandre said he found his passion in

higher education. He has been president of Manhattan School of Music since 2013. He held various positions at the school from 1985 to 2000 before taking on leadership roles at Roosevelt University in Chicago and the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Since returning to Manhattan School of Music as its president 11 years ago, Gandre has overseen $30 million in campus improvements, including a renovation of the school’s main performance hall, and launched an undergraduate degree in musical theatre. He also has overseen the creation of an online learning environment known as the Global Conservatoire, in partnership with London’s Royal College of Music and other institutions. He was recently appointed to the Advisory Council of The Misty Copeland Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to bring greater diversity, equity, and inclusion to dance, especially ballet.

“You will carry this great institution, your experiences here – the wonderful ones, the tough ones, and everything in between –you will carry these experiences with you throughout your life,” Gandre told the graduates. “Like other Lawrence alumni, your life journeys will be extraordinarily interesting and tremendously varied."

At Commencement, Gandre received an honorary Doctor of Music degree.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

James Gandre ’81 delivers the Baccalaureate address in Memorial Chapel during Commencement weekend.

For ’06 grad and Oscar nominee

Pawo Choyning Dorji, filmmaking is latest step on a journey of discovery

‘Untying knots’

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 is talking on a Zoom call from Los Angeles just hours after finding out his latest film was left off the list of 2024 Academy Award nominations.

There is not a hint of discouragement.

“The journey I’ve had so far, I think that itself is the greatest success one can aspire for,” said a smiling Dorji.

His The Monk and the Gun was released two years after his debut film, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, drew widespread acclaim and earned Dorji a 2022 Oscar nomination.

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06

“With the education I had at Lawrence, that liberal arts education, it really opened my mind.”

Pawo Choyning Dorji

The new film, which made the rounds of film festivals in 2023 and was released in the United States in early 2024, was one of 15 films shortlisted for the Oscars in the International Feature Film category, giving the Bhutanese filmmaker a seat at the table for a series of Hollywood events and interviews in the lead-up to the 2024 Oscars.

“For me, shortlisted or nominated or anything else, this has been such a magical experience,” Dorji said.

A Bhutan native who calls himself a global citizen, Dorji has been on an incredible journey—four years pursuing a government

major at Lawrence, two years studying Buddhism in a monastery in India, nearly a decade traveling the world as a photographer, then returning to Bhutan with an idea to merge all those interests in the telling of stories through film.

BACK ON CAMPUS

That winding journey came full circle for Dorji as he returned to Lawrence in June to speak at Commencement and receive an honorary doctorate.

His undergraduate experience, he said, continues to inform almost every decision—

creative and otherwise—that he makes. He points to his days at Lawrence for setting a foundation that has allowed him to grow as an artist, a thinker, and an innovator. He studied government, took courses across the humanities, explored his spirituality, served as president of Lawrence International, and worked at International House.

“With the education I had at Lawrence, that liberal arts education, it really opened my mind,” Dorji said. “It made me very curious— curious for life, not just to be a filmmaker. You have to have that curiosity; you have to have the openness. All my experiences at

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 directs a scene in The Monk and the Gun.

Lawrence, I think, led to that.”

The son of a diplomat, Dorji has long had a fascination with history and global politics. That all came to play in the making of The Monk and the Gun, a film that parodies the politics of the United States while exploring the anxieties surrounding Bhutan’s own experiment with democracy.

“I was at a film festival, and they were asking me, how did a Bhutanese person end up becoming a filmmaker and then making a film that is a satire about democracy?” Dorji said.

“The Monk and the Gun is actually a satire about American democracy. I said, ‘Well, you know, it’s funny; I went to the Midwest, and I studied at Lawrence, and I studied government. And that combined with this liberal arts education, it really opened my mind up for everything. … Over time, I combined my experiences at Lawrence, my experiences in a Buddhist monastery in modern India, and I ended up making a film that ties together this philosophy with values of democracy.’”

FINDING AN AUDIENCE

Dorji the filmmaker first started garnering attention when Lunana was accepted at the BFI London Film Festival in 2020. Filmed in 2018 and 2019 and made for less than $300,000, Lunana—in the Dzongkha language, with subtitles—was the longest of longshots. The

all about production companies, producers, agencies, distributors.”

For a long stretch, Lunana garnered nothing but rejection. Then came word that the BFI London Film Festival would show the film, giving it a world premiere. It drew an enthusiastic reaction.

“Just imagine where I came from. I had solar batteries to charge my camera, I had a yak in my classroom. That’s how I started. To suddenly be approached by all these Hollywood execs and agents, it can turn your head.”

Pawo Choyning Dorji

story, written by Dorji, is that of a young teacher, Ugyen, assigned as part of a service agreement to teach in Lunana, Bhutan’s most remote village. Initially unprepared for the physical and emotional toll that would come, Ugyen finds himself increasingly drawn to his young students and the people of the Himalayan village. A yak, gifted to the teacher upon his arrival, becomes a classroom fixture.

The filming in Bhutan’s Lunana Valley, a mountainous region bordering far western China, was itself a challenge. Solar batteries were needed because the location was so remote. Dorji and a crew of 35 walked for eight days to reach the tiny village, about three miles above sea level. They moved much of their gear on mules. The village schoolchildren who appear in the film had no acting experience, and no familiarity with films or filmmaking.

“No fancy anything; no professional actors, no professional crew,” Dorji said. “And after I made that film, it was a reality check. You could say I was very innocent about how the film industry worked. I thought, ‘OK, I’ll get some money together and I’ll make this film and I’ll share it with the world, and everyone will watch it, and everyone will appreciate it.’ But that isn’t how the industry works. It’s

“From there it just grew,” Dorji said. More film festivals would follow. It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film and the Best of the Fest at the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival. It earned honors at the Film Festival della Lessinia in Italy and the Festival International du film de Saint-Jean-de-luz in France. A distributor picked up the film and set a U.S. release date. Lunana was shortlisted for an Oscar in December 2021, which brought Dorji to Hollywood for a blitz of appearances. Meetings with Hollywood royalty would have Dorji’s head spinning. Hollywood writers clamored for interviews, anxious to talk about the challenges of filming in such a remote location, the mysteries and seeming innocence of Bhutan, and why there was a yak in the classroom. Then came the Oscar nomination and the invite to the 2022 Academy Awards. While Dorji would not win the Oscar—it went to Drive My Car from Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi—his life was forever changed.

“Along my journey there were different people who were willing to take a chance on an unknown filmmaker from the Himalayas,” Dorji said. “Each chance was a stepping-stone for the film. It’s been amazing. I’m very grateful.”

FILM NO. 2 DRAWS APPLAUSE

Dorji’s new-found status as an Oscar-nominated filmmaker brought new opportunities. And new challenges. As he set out to make his follow-up film, he was approached by agents and producers and was offered Hollywood actors and an infusion of cash.

“Sometimes that new attention can lead you down a certain path,” Dorji said. “Just imagine where I came from. I had solar batteries to charge my camera, I had a yak in my classroom. That’s how I started. To suddenly be approached by all these Hollywood execs and agents, it can turn your head.”

He said he kept it all at arm’s length, in part because of a conversation he had in 2022 with Ang Lee, director of Oscar-winning films Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Brokeback Mountain

“He told me, ‘Pawo, when I look at you, I see a younger version of myself,’” Dorji said. “’There is so much passion with how you want to tell your stories. But there also is a lot of

it would be not to lose that heart or innocence. Make sure you make every film with the same heart you made Lunana. Once you’ve lost that innocence, it’s very difficult to tap back into it.’”

Dorji held that advice close as be began filming The Monk and the Gun

Set in 2006, the film depicts the Kingdom of Bhutan’s transition to democracy through an oft-humorous story involving a mock election, a valuable antique rifle that falls into the hands of a monk, an American weapons collector in pursuit, villagers unmoved by material goods, and Bhutan’s uncomfortable dalliance with the modern world.

“As I started to make this film, I was being offered different Hollywood actors,” Dorji said. “I was being offered maybe more money than I would need. But at the end, I stayed true to what Ang Lee had said. I have an American character in the movie, and I was offered Hollywood actors for that role, but I decided to stay with what I had. He was an amateur actor. I still wanted to have the innocence in the film. The film is about the loss of

innocence that I had, and you have right now.’ He told me, ‘You will make more films, you will grow as a filmmaker, but it’s a very vicious industry. With every film you make, they will shed away your innocence.’ And he was saying, ‘If I was to give you one piece of advice,

keep the innocence of the story.”

The Monk and the Gun earned the Showcase Audience Choice Award at the Vancouver International Film Festival and the Special Jury Prize at the Rome Film Festival before being shortlisted by the Academy. It was picked up by a distributor and given a February 2024 release in the U.S., where it drew favorable reviews.

The Washington Post gave it three and a half stars: “Though it takes place in the recent past, at a time when the Bhutanese people were still getting used to such American imports as James Bond movies and ‘black waterʼ (Coca-Cola), the film has something important to say about the promise and the perils of the present.”

The Gene Siskel Film Center called it a “playful and wise ensemble drama and a wholly gratifying account of a nation at a crucial inflection point.” The Hollywood Reporter said it was “lively and piquant, demonstrating the director’s sense of humor and sharp observational skills.”

innocence. I felt if I had a Hollywood actor it would be a very different story. The media wouldn’t be saying, ‘Oh, Pawo, the director of A Yak in the Classroom has made a second film, which is about the modernization and loss of innocence of this country; it would be about, ‘Oh, this Hollywood actor went up to the mountains and he went through so much hardship to make a film with the locals up there.’ I think I was fortunate to have met Ang Lee and gotten the advice I received. I tried to

STORYTELLING, OR UNTYING KNOTS

That Dorji’s winding path led to adventures in storytelling may not be all that much of a surprise. He called it a gradual journey of discovery, one that was nourished during his time at Lawrence.

He dove deep into storytelling while working as a photographer. He published two photo

continues on page 20

Above: Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom earned an Oscar nomination in 2022.

Right: The Monk and the Gun was shortlisted for a 2024 Oscar.

“Even when I was at Lawrence, I was very interested in storytelling. I took a lot of history classes at Lawrence. That love for history and story was always there.”

journals, Seeing Sacred: Light and Shadows and The Light of the Moon: The Legacy of Xuanzang of Tang. The latter was a five-year photo project to retrace the lost history of Buddhism. It took him through the ancient silk roads of the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts of Xinjiang, China, over the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Karakorams in Pakistan, and through India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.

It would lead him back to Bhutan, where his exploration of filmmaking would begin.

“In Bhutan, we are a very unique culture that is really rooted in a veneration for the past, our culture, our traditions,” he said. “With that, storytelling becomes a very important aspect

of our culture. Specifically, the oral lineage that is passed down from generation to generation. For me, I grew up in that culture. I have a love for storytelling. Even when I was at Lawrence, I was very interested in storytelling. I took a lot of history classes at Lawrence. That love for history and story was always there.”

The language of storytelling is different in Bhutan, a nation buffered for years from television and the internet and other modern advancements.

“In English, you say tell me a story,” Dorji said. “But in my language, it is, please untie a knot for me. The act of telling a story is supposed to have this untying,

freeing, liberating purpose. You grow up in that culture where storytelling is such an important part of life, and you start adopting different mediums to which you want to untie knots. I started writing. Then I became a photographer. I started combining writing and photography. I published some photography books. Then I slowly came to the realization that the most powerful medium to which we can untie knots in this modern world is moving pictures, it’s film. That’s what led me to this work.”

The business of movies also is a whole different experience in Bhutan. There are no cinemas. People gather in a community hall with a projector, Dorji said. There is no film industry to speak of. The submission of Lunana for the Academy Awards, originally planned for 2021, was delayed a year because the Academy no longer officially recognized Bhutan’s national film committee because it had not submitted a film in 23 years.

“This is where I come from,” Dorji said. “This is why this is so special. When I tell people in Hollywood that I come from a country where people put yaks in their

Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 directs his crew during the making of The Monk and the Gun in Bhutan.

classrooms and we don’t have a film industry, it’s difficult for them to imagine. Coming from a country like that and trying to make films and at the same time being put on a platform where you have to compete with the very best filmmakers in the world, it’s a big challenge. Especially a country like Bhutan. We are very small. We are very poor. And we have never had examples of people who have achieved something in this field that the rest of the country can look up to as an example.”

To stand among other Oscar nominees with his first film was surreal, Dorji said. And then to come back and be shortlisted with his second film was stunning.

“I think my previous film’s Oscar nomination was the first time in Bhutan’s history where we had something to look at like, wow, that is a Bhutanese up there with Martin Scorsese,” Dorji said. “It gave Bhutan, especially the youth, something to aspire to, to give them hope. I am one of them. I represent

their culture. I dress like them. I am them. They see themselves in me.”

The people of Bhutan have embraced Dorji and his films. Following his 2022 Oscar nomination, he became the youngest recipient of the Royal Order of Bhutan, The Druk Thuksey, awarded by the king to recognize an individual for distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people.

His latest film explores territory that might make some in Bhutan uncomfortable. The Monk and the Gun is centered on Bhutan’s real journey to modernization, to becoming a democratic country, much of it based on events of the mid-2000s, about the time Dorji was graduating from Lawrence.

“When it was screened in Bhutan, so many people were emotional, they were crying,” Dorji said. “I thought that was so beautiful. Within this comedy, within this satire, in this film that is about the country’s path to modernization, the Bhutanese were actually

seeing their own journey and how in the quest to try to get something they think they needed they ended up losing what they had. People were getting emotional. That is the beauty of art, right? Everyone looks at it and it almost becomes a medium upon which you see a reflection of your own values.”

STAYING CONNECTED, LOOKING FORWARD

While Dorji spent the bulk of his youth in Bhutan, he lived at times in different parts of the world because of his father’s work as a diplomat—the Middle East, Europe, and India. He attended an American boarding school in India in 11th and 12th grades. It was while there that he started thinking about attending college in the U.S. Lawrence caught his eye in part because several graduates from his high school were already studying there. Also, Lawrence had a large and engaged international student population, and David Mulford ’59, then the U.S. ambassador to Bhutan, is a Lawrence graduate.

“That caught my attention,” Dorji said. “I came to Lawrence and had four wonderful years,” he said. “Amazing friendships, amazing experience.”

Dorji, who is married with two children, said he reconnected with some of his Lawrence classmates when he screened The Monk and the Gun at Soho House in New York in late 2023.

“It was so magical seeing them,” he said. “We were talking about our time at Lawrence. It was a beautiful time. Some of my classmates have a group chat that is very active. Many of us have become dads and we are living in different parts of the world. We keep sending photos of our growing families, career accomplishments. I’ve had them cheering me on.”

Dorji and his family are moving from Taiwan to Los Angeles this summer.

He said he wants to challenge himself as a filmmaker, go outside of his comfort zone. That may take him outside of Bhutan. But he wants to do so while maintaining the heart of his storytelling.

“I am a citizen of the world,” Dorji said. “I have all this multicultural upbringing. Living in Wisconsin for four years really had a huge impact on me—who I am now and how I see the world, how I tell my stories.”

Pawo Choyning Dorji '06 delivers the 2024 Commencement address in front of Lawrence University's Main Hall.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

FACULTY

On Main Hall Green With … Tim Albright: Skilled in trombones and knitting needles

On Main Hall Green With … is an ongoing series that features Lawrence faculty sharing insights in and out of the classroom. It’s the same six questions with wonderfully varied answers. We’ve showcased more than 60 faculty thus far in the series, found under Profiles on the News page at lawrence.edu.

Tim Albright, a trombone professor at Lawrence University since 2016, has lived a musical life. He can be found directing the Trombone Ensemble in the Conservatory of Music, performing with the Faculty Brass Quintet

and the Faculty Jazz Ensemble, and coaching chamber music and jazz small group ensembles.

And in his spare time, knitting a sweet scarf. Albright cut his teeth working for 17 years as a professional musician in New York City while launching a teaching career. A former member of the Atlantic Brass Quintet, he is now with the newly founded brass octet, Brassology. He has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, New York Chamber Brass, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Miguel Zenón Identities Jazz Orchestra, the Alan Ferber Big Band, and the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, among others. He has recorded with Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and The National. His work with Bon Iver included tracks on i,i, the Grammy-nominated album from 2019, and he appears on Dafnis Prieto’s 2019 Grammywinning Latin-Jazz album, Back to the Sunset. Albright earned Bachelor of Music degrees in applied music (trombone) and jazz studies and commercial media from the Eastman School of Music.

We caught up with him to talk about interests in and out of the classroom.

In the classroom

INSIDE INFO: What’s one thing you want every student coming into your classes to know about you?

I want my incoming students to know that I have a huge amount of admiration for them and for their journey, and I am traveling right alongside them. I am on my own lifelong path of learning as a teacher, musician, and human, and I think there is a beauty in knowing that there is never an endpoint to that path. Just about every day, I come to look at teaching and learning in a slightly new way. And as I evolve as a teacher, the one thing that remains constant is the care that I put into being the best that I can be for each student.

GETTING ENERGIZED: What work have you done or will you be doing at Lawrence that gets you the most excited?

Tim Albright

It might sound cliché, but I am energized by my students every day. To see them progress toward their goals and to hear the amazing things they do with their music is a huge inspiration. In addition, being part of the inaugural How to Practice class spearheaded by Estelí Gomez and Catherine Walby this fall was fantastic. It was fun and exciting to share my own approach toward practice, and perhaps even more rewarding to learn from the other practitioners and students in the class.

GOING PLACES: Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional, or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

Oh wow, I am fortunate that my musical career has taken me to so many intriguing and wonderful places around the world; it’s hard to pick just one. I have hiked to the top

of Mount Fuji in Japan, admired Byzantine mosaics in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, and crept among skeletons in the Paris catacombs. But, really, the most significant place my career has taken me is to a state of gratitude. I am eternally grateful for my family, friends, and mentors, too many to name here, who have helped me and continue to help me along my musical and life journey.

Out of the classroom

THIS OR THAT: If you weren’t teaching for a living, what would you be doing?

I’m not sure if it’s possible to make a living at this, but during the early days of the pandemic, I discovered a love for knitting. I first learned to knit as a way of passing the time on long train commutes in NYC. After taking several years off, I started knitting again as a way to relieve stress during COVID lockdown, and I

have been working on one project or another ever since. I love the soothing, tactile sensation of the wool between my fingers, and the repetitive click of the needles brings a mindful moment to my day.

RIGHT AT HOME: Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what’s your favorite spot on campus?

Hands down, it’s got to be the Warch Campus Center. For one, the space itself is beautiful with its vaulted ceilings and picturesque views of the Fox River. But, beyond that, the Campus Center has so much to offer. I stop by weekly for rehearsals with Kinka Viwo (LU’s African drumming and dancing ensemble) and dinner at Andrew Commons. What's not to love about a sundae bar? Also, my family and I have discovered that when students are away for summer and winter break, it’s the perfect time to snag the ping pong table for an epic match.

ONE BOOK, ONE RECORDING,

ONE FILM: Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, and Pixar’s Soul. When I grew up, expressing emotion was often looked down upon, especially among men. I love how Atlas normalizes vulnerability and introduces a vocabulary for feelings that I can share with my sons.

Brahms’ first symphony was the first piece I ever played with the San Francisco Youth Symphony. During the first rehearsal, I was half laughing with glee, half crying with joy at the beauty of the sounds around me. It has been one of my favorite pieces ever since.

It’s always a bit frustrating to watch a movie about music where the actors’ movements are all wrong. Soul’s animators were so spot on with capturing musicians’ gestures, it really feels like you’re right there in the jazz club with them.

PHOTO BY AARON LINDEMAN

FACULTY

Trio of Lawrence professors span the disciplines in teaching, travel focused on medieval Spain

BY ED BERTHIAUME

What started as a shared interest in 13thcentury Spain has turned into a joyous two-year interdisciplinary journey for three Lawrence University professors.

Madera Allan, associate professor of Spanish, Sara Gross Ceballos, associate professor of music, and Danielle Joyner, associate professor of art history, led an alumni trip to Spain over spring break, the third leg of an intellectual adventure built around a fascination with the Middle Ages.

The trio first crafted an interdisciplinary course in 2022, exploring the intersections of art, music, and literature found in the hundreds of 13th-century songs and miniatures that are part of the Cantigas de Santa Maria. That led them to co-teaching a D-Term course that featured a trip to Toledo, Spain, where the topics explored in the earlier course came alive with exploration of the places and cultural dynamics that define that stretch of European history. Twenty students and two alumni traveled with the three scholars for the two-week course.

And this spring, Allan, Ceballos, and Joyner guided an alumni version of the trip, Medieval Delights in Modern Spain. The trip explored and celebrated the cultural legacies of the Middle Ages that endure in modern Spain. The group

traveled through Al-Andalus, examined how the diverse Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities that populated these lands at the time contributed to the artistic and cultural traditions that make the study of medieval Spain so fascinating. The trip included visits to Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba, and Granada.

“These are manuscripts made in the 13th century that record songs celebrating miracles attributed to the Virgin Mary,” Joyner said of the Cantigas de Santa Maria and the interdisciplinary spark that first brought her, Allan, and Ceballos together. “Several of them also contain notated music for the songs and truly beautiful, and sometimes very weird, imagery depicting their stories. Because it’s 13th-century Spain, the relationships among the cultures occupying the peninsula are tightly woven and cross-pollinating and, yes, sometimes at odds with each other. Nonetheless, the mix of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian traditions in Spain was unique in European history. … Once the three of us started working together, the hardest part became narrowing down which songs and stories to choose because there are so many fascinating, funny, and weird possibilities.”

Teaching and learning

The three-unit course grew out of those initial conversations, with Allan, Ceballos, and Joyner

jointly teaching the course, and all three learning along the way.

“Collaborating with Danielle and Madera was amazing,” Ceballos said. “We learned so much from one another, and very often that learning happened live in the classroom as we each took turns presenting materials and leading discussion. I imagine this was a pretty unique experience for some students to see their professors learning right along with them, asking questions, getting things wrong, and gaining new perspectives.”

None of them wanted the class to end.

“The class was so much fun,” Joyner said. “The students liked it, we liked it. We got to the end and thought, we have to do this again.”

So they did.

Allan has been on the Spanish faculty at Lawrence since 2008. Her scholarship is focused on community formation in late medieval and early modern Spain and the colonial era of Latin America.

Ceballos has taught musicology at Lawrence since 2008. Her scholarly work focuses on 18th century keyboard music. She has a fascination with early music and often performs on harpsichord, keyboards, and ukulele.

Joyner joined the art history faculty in 2018. Her scholarly work has most recently focused on intersections between the natural environment and the arts, publishing on topics

such as sixth-century bird-shaped brooches, the ephemerality of gardens, animals in AngloSaxon arts, and representations of terra across the Middle Ages.

The three continue to find meaningful connections via 13th-century Spain in their respective fields. That power of shared knowledge and intersecting interests has driven this project in all three of its phases.

“They bring wisdom and intellectual enthusiasm to everything they do,” Allan said of Joyner and Ceballos. “I have learned so much from both of them. They are also models of patience and generosity—so I’m not the only one who has learned from them. The students in both iterations of the class have produced amazingly nuanced analyses incorporating architectural, musical, and literary elements.”

Taking the course to Spain

The D-Term trip took the experience to a new level. Joyner, who led the planning efforts, reached out to connections she had at Fundación Ortega-Marañon (FOM) in Toledo. With help from Yukiko Okazaki, the organization’s director of International Programs, they put together a travel course built around the Cantigas de Santa Maria. “A number of the Cantigas refer to Toledo, and there are medieval mosques, synagogues,

and churches that still stand in that extraordinary little city,” Joyner said.

The itinerary led the group from Madrid to Toledo to Córdoba and back to Madrid.

“We stayed at the FOM campus in Toledo and had a bus that took us on our various outings,” Joyner said.

A highlight was a private musical performance by the scholar Antoni Rossell. Ceballos had discovered his award-winning album, Galicia e as Cantigas de Santa Maria, during research for the earlier course.

“His album is unique in that he and his collaborators worked to make medieval Galicia and its sound worlds come alive on record, and they also endeavored to situate the Cantigas in that world,” Ceballos said. “In the opening track, you hear the creaking of a boat and the sounds of a powerful storm, and then the a cappella voices of singers praising the Virgin Mary and imploring, ‘Holy Mary, morning star, show us the way to God and guide us.’ Antoni’s performance blew me away and he was so engaging and generous.”

Hannah Frank, a senior history major from New Canaan, Connecticut, called the D-Term trip a “unique and special opportunity” for the students.

“Besides having classes with the professors throughout the term and learning historical context from them, we also got guided tours

Far Left: Madera Allan, Danielle Joyner, and Sara Gross Ceballos pose for a photo in the 10th-century ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, the palace complex built outside of Córdoba, during a spring break alumni trip in April.

Left: The D-Term course in December 2022 included a trip to Spain.

throughout Spain that were really important for me actually understanding the significance of the places we were in,” Frank said.

The D-Term course was aided by two Lawrence alumni, Robert ’79 and Janet Stevens ’82, who joined the trip. The presence of the Stevens enriched the D-Term course, and it sparked talk of a wider alumni trip.

“We could have conversations with them that followed different paths than those we had with the students,” Joyner said. “Because of their own lives and experiences, they posed questions that likely would never come out of a 20-year-old’s mouth, and those questions made us think in different ways about what we were doing. It was fantastic, and it made me want to try it on a bigger scale.”

With 14 alumni and family joining them on the spring break trip, it was the next step in an academic adventure.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

FACULTY

BY

‘How to Practice’ course began as an interdisciplinary experiment; it grew from there

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Estelí Gomez and Catherine Walby, colleagues in the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, were sharing time in the garden in the summer of 2022 when the conversation turned to practice. Specifically, how difficult it can be to teach music students the art of practice.

Gomez, a voice professor, talked about how she had used remote sessions with her students during the pandemic to discuss larger themes in their practice—breath, posture, text and translation study, composer research, and more. And she wondered aloud how that might translate into an in-person course focused on both concrete and abstract practice techniques and philosophies.

PHOTO

DANNY DAMIANI

Walby, a teacher of piano and lecturer of music, was all in. Together, they began putting together the particulars of How to Practice, a one-unit course that debuted last fall and drew rave reviews from the music students who gathered every Tuesday afternoon in Shattuck Hall to hear from a rotating roster of Lawrence educators, many well beyond the walls of the Conservatory. Yes, some are music faculty; others have come in from the areas of dance, religious studies, fencing, and hockey, all sharing insights on developing healthy and productive practice skills.

Among the 13 lecturers, Brett “Wally” Wall, Lawrence’s men’s hockey coach, joined José L. Encarnación, director of jazz studies, to talk about practice within a team. Constance Kassor, religious studies, talked to the students about Buddhist lessons in diligence. Dance professor Mauriah Donegan Kraker joined Jessica Sommer, music theory, to discuss embodiment in the practice room. Tim Albright, trombone, and Greg Riss, percussion, double-teamed on a session about building and sustaining focus in your practice sessions.

“I find that the Con and LU Athletics have so many similarities that don’t always get recognition,” Wall said of his partnership with Encarnación. “The only difference is the Con calls it a rehearsal and a performance and Athletics calls it a practice and a game.”

The insights from all the contributors have been well received by students.

Darren Lam, a fifth-year senior from San

Francisco majoring in flute performance, is already putting the lessons into daily practice sessions.

“I find I am more mindful of myself and of my attitude going into practice, being more intentional,” Lam said. “I’ve found that giving myself more grace is actually a more productive mindset and attitude than being my own worst critic, knowing that, yes, I can always be better but also knowing that there are other aspects of my practice that I am very much satisfied with, and that can be enough.”

Elena Crino, a senior from Joliet, Illinois, majoring in voice performance, is thrilled to finally have a course focused on how to practice.

“I think it’s assumed that young musicians intuitively know how to practice, but that’s almost never the case,” Crino said.

Seeds of an idea

Gomez said she first began pondering ways to focus on practice habits shortly after joining the Conservatory faculty in 2019. She noticed her students had varying levels of comfort in practice settings.

“Some had been in private lessons for years while others had mostly been in ensembles and were fairly new to individual lessons,” she said. “I wanted to find a way to level the playing field and ensure that their time in practice sessions felt guided and effective.”

When lessons went remote during the height of the pandemic, Gomez found herself leaning harder into her “checkpoints” for practice. The lessons—and the conversations they stoked— were comforting at a time of discomfort.

“I tried out the method of having my students utilize guided practice objectives, or weekly themes, and come together to open up

about the process of what worked and didn’t for each of them—an innately humanizing experience,” Gomez said.

When she and Walby began discussing those lessons, the idea for the How to Practice course was hatched. That led to conversations about bringing in professors and coaches from outside the Conservatory to widen the discussion.

Eric Momberg, Lawrence’s fencing coach, jumped at the chance.

“The class fills a need that goes beyond just the Conservatory and addresses less of what we do and more of how we do it,” Momberg said.

Each of the weekly lecturers were invited back to open the following week’s class so they could hear from students about how they fared putting the lessons to work. The discussions, Walby said, were fabulous.

“These students, who I know fairly well, have grown greatly with self-reflection and opening themselves to new ideas,” she said. “I think each one of us has approached some aspect of the class skeptically, but we have been willing to try, thus adding another tool to our practice skills.”

Finding that ‘aha’ moment

The students in the class are seated in a semi-circle in Shattuck 163; the conversation is insightful, casual, sometimes personal. A separate set of chairs is set up behind the students, open to visitors.  Each week, a handful of other Conservatory faculty show up just to observe.

“To see a successful, teaching, performing colleague sitting in the back quietly absorbing the information each week is an inspiration,” Walby said. “We all have space to grow. The faculty and students are modeling this for each other every week.”

It’s a one-unit course, meeting for one hour each week. It’s not meant to be a major commitment, nor a substitution for other areas of study, and Gomez and Walby hope to continue it in future years. That’s partly for selfish reasons. Gomez, a celebrated vocalist who has won two Grammy Awards with the contemporary octet Roomful of Teeth, finds herself learning as much as teaching.

“Every single visiting lecturer has provided an ‘aha’ moment to take into the practice week,” she said. “For me as a practicing musician and also as someone who practices teaching, I couldn’t be more grateful for the chance to organize for and be a part of this collective, of people who are committed to their practice at Lawrence.”

Left: José L. Encarnación, director of jazz studies, joins men’s hockey coach Brett Wall (seated to right) as lecturers in the How to Practice class in Shattuck Hall.

Estelí Gomez leads the How to Practice class in discussion. She and colleague Catherine Walby launched the one-unit course in Fall 2023.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

FACULTY

Daniel, Haines, Jordheim, Michelic, Peregrine retire from Lawrence faculty

Lawrence University honored five faculty members who retired at the close of the 2023-24 academic year. They include psychology professor Beth Haines, anthropology professor Peter Peregrine, and three music faculty in the Conservatory— John Daniel, Matthew Michelic, and Steven Jordheim.

JOHN DANIEL

A member of the Conservatory faculty since 2002, Daniel has shared his trumpet talents with hundreds of Lawrence students and countless audiences across the country.

“The magical memories from my time at LU would include performances with colleagues,” Daniel said. “We created a CD, A Calling, of my jazz compositions using the jazz faculty. There were annual solo recitals, multiple performances with various LU ensembles, and dozens of recitals with Lawrence Brass.”

BETH HAINES

A professor of psychology, Haines has focused much of her teaching and research on developmental psychology and gender studies since joining the Lawrence faculty in 1992.

She has been especially passionate about connecting Lawrence students to applied

opportunities through her developmental psychology class, research, and community practicum and internship projects. She collaborated with community agencies such as the Community Early Learning Center (CELC) and the Building for Kids Children’s Museum.

“I am particularly proud of the Mindfulness Based Kindness Project that Kathy Immel, a colleague at UWO-Fox Cities, and I began in 2017, which is continuing through the CELC beyond my retirement,” Haines said. “The Kindness Project supports early childhood education by providing mindfulness-based training and support for teachers who then teach the Kindness Curriculum (KC) to preschool children and learn mindfulness skills for their own personal well-being.”

More than 60 Lawrence students have served as research assistants and interns with the project, which has now served more than 100 teachers, with the Kindness Curriculum reaching thousands of young children.

STEVEN JORDHEIM

A member of the Conservatory faculty since 1981, Jordheim has shared his saxophone talents widely. He performed on some of the world’s greatest concert stages and won international competitions.

In 2012, he received the Freshman Studies Teaching Award, and in 2001 the faculty award for Excellence in Teaching.

“I treasure my memories of the students I taught in the saxophone studio, the classroom, and the rehearsal hall at Lawrence,” Jordheim said. “Seeing students develop as musicians, scholars, and human beings was the greatest joy of my career.”

MATTHEW MICHELIC

Michelic has been part of the Conservatory faculty since 1987. Besides teaching viola, he has taught courses in musicology, music theory, and music pedagogy during his 37 years at Lawrence, and he has performed with symphony orchestras and other ensembles across the region and around the world.

“There have been a multitude of epiphany moments in lessons, when a student achieved an understanding or breakthrough that empowered their artistry,” Michelic said. “What a privilege it has been to guide so many gifted and dedicated Lawrentians.”

PETER PEREGRINE

The professor of anthropology has been a member of the Lawrence faculty since 1995. With a focus on the evolution of complex societies, Peregrine has taught courses on world prehistory, historic preservation, and museum studies, among others. He also curates Lawrence’s sizable collection of archaeological and ethnographic artifacts housed in Briggs Hall. His work with remote sensing and archaeological studies has taken him to locations around the world over the past three decades.

“I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to work with students seeking answers to difficult questions,” Peregrine said. “I’ve wrestled with some great minds, some great people, and it has been a privilege every time.”

Ellsworth, Rana, Sage earn 2024 tenure appointments

Three members of the Lawrence University faculty were granted 2024 tenure appointments. President Laurie A. Carter and the college’s Board of Trustees, based on recommendations by the faculty Committee on Tenure, Promotion, Reappointment, and Equal Employment Opportunity, approved the granting of tenure to Ann Ellsworth (music), Julie Rana (mathematics), and Andrew Sage (statistics). All three have been promoted to associate professor.

“I am very happy indeed that these three colleagues have been awarded tenure,” said Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of faculty. “These distinguished faculty members together represent the kind of teacher-scholars who make Lawrence a leading national liberal arts college and conservatory.”

ANN ELLSWORTH

A horns professor in the Conservatory of Music since 2018, Ellsworth delivers excellence as a teacher, soloist, recording artist, and chamber musician. She attended the Eastman and Juilliard schools, with further study in Oslo and St. Petersburg, Russia. Her versatile recordings have included solo projects—EUPHORIA, Rain Coming, Late Night Thoughts, and Leningrad—and ensemble work such as 2022’s music project with the Lawrence Graduate Bayreuth Tuben Quintet. Ellsworth has toured internationally as a member of Kristjan Jarve’s Absolute Ensemble, the Manhattan Brass, the Danish Esbjerg Ensemble, and numerous other musical and artistic configurations. An advocate of new music, she was a founding member of the New Music and Culture Symposium.

JULIE RANA

A member of the mathematics faculty since 2017, Rana has excelled in classroom teaching and research. Much of her scholarly focus has been in algebraic geometry, especially moduli spaces, singular algebraic surfaces, deformation theory, and computational methods. In 2021, Rana was awarded a two-year grant of $192,905 through the National Science Foundation’s Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program. The firsttime grant was awarded to only 21 pre-tenure faculty across the country. A portion of the grant allowed Rana to work on research in algebraic geometry related to moduli spaces, collaborating with math scholars in Europe, Chile, and elsewhere in the United States. Rana has played lead roles in developing math curriculum and support mechanisms aimed at making Lawrence’s mathematics, computer science, and data science programs more inclusive and accessible. She earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a bachelor’s degree from Marlboro College.

ANDREW SAGE

Sage joined the Lawrence faculty in 2018. With scholarly work in statistical machine learning, applied statistics, sports analytics, and statistics education, he has brought innovative teaching and research to the Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science Department. Sage has been a key part of that department’s growth, including the 2020 launch of a data science minor. He has worked with colleagues to develop new courses in rapidly advancing areas such as data science, machine learning, and Bayesian statistics. He also has worked across disciplines to bolster data-driven courses and research in other departments. Sage has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Wooster, master’s degrees from Iowa State and Miami University, and a Ph.D. from Iowa State.

Culhane, Michelic, Stoneking honored with 2024 faculty awards

Three Lawrence University professors— one in music and two in the sciences— are recipients of the university’s 2024 teaching awards. They were honored at Commencement on June 9.

KELLY CULHANE

, assistant professor of chemistry, received the Excellence in Teaching for an Early Career Faculty Member Award. A biochemist, she joined the faculty in 2021. She has taught such courses as Biochemistry I and II, as well as General Chemistry. Much of her research has focused on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a family of receptors important in processes such as vision, stress response, mood regulation, bone strength, and blood sugar regulation. Prior to coming to Lawrence, Culhane worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota.

MATTHEW MICHELIC

, associate professor of music, received the Excellence in Teaching Award. A teacher in the viola studio, he has been an integral part of the Lawwrence faculty since 1987, teaching courses in musicology, music theory, and music pedagogy, among others. He is retiring at the close of the academic year (see more on page 28).

MATTHEW STONEKING

, Alice G. Chapman Professor of Physics, received the Excellence in Scholarship/ Creative Activity Award. He has spent much of the past decade splitting his professional time between the Lawrence campus and a physics research institute in Munich, Germany. The experimental plasma physicist has brought his Lawrence students into the research process. In 2022, Stoneking was the recipient of a three-year $431,200 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), funding that allowed him to expand his research on thermal equilibrium in non-neutral plasmas. He has been on the faculty at Lawrence since 1997.

For second-year and transfer students, Juan Arguello is a connecting point

BY TAYLOR HUGHES ’25

Juan Arguello, the second-year dean at Lawrence University, supports sophomores and transfer students by connecting them with important resources throughout the year.

Originally from Oshkosh, Arguello attended a liberal arts university and is a big proponent of a liberal arts education. When the opportunity came to work at Lawrence, the Chicago attorney jumped at the chance for a career change, anticipating his skills would be useful in advocacy and communication.

“I really wanted to work in a job where I could advocate for people and listen to them,” Arguello said. “As a first-gen student, I didn’t have a lot of additional guidance and had to spend a lot of time on my own getting answers. I wanted to help students and help them accomplish their goals.”

At Lawrence, Arguello spends his days working with colleagues, collaborating with committees doing studentfocused work, and addressing issues that students are facing. He also meets one-on-one with students by appointment and works on programming to help transfer and second-year students on their Lawrence journey. His days never look the same, with many aspects of the job overlapping at different hours.

“The students are my clients, in that I want to make myself available to them and reassure them that I am there to help as best as I can,” he said.

students, helping to guide their transition to a new school. This year, he was able to call each transfer student individually to introduce himself, share his role, and offer guidance into the new year. He also provided programming in the fall so transfer students could connect with each other and meet staff members with answers to their questions.

“We try to create new opportunities for them to engage with each other and engage across the university,” Arguello said. “That is something I am hoping to build upon.”

Arguello works closely with the Office of Student Life as well as First-year Dean Kristi Koshuta on first-generation initiatives, offering extra support to those who are unfamiliar with the college experience. They also work to create stronger connections between first- and second-year students so they can offer support to each other.

A retreat to Björklunden during Winter Term provided the space and opportunity for students to make connections and get to know each other across class years. Arguello also helped plan an alternative spring break at Björklunden, designed to provide further opportunities for the classes to come together.

“We try to create new opportunities for them to engage with each other and engage across the university.”

Arguello believes that the sophomore year in college is a pivotal time in one’s education. Historically in higher education, he said, sophomores have not been provided with enough programming or guidance. They have been expected to find answers on their own. Arguello combats this with programming and meetings to answer questions and provide support to students, all with an eye on getting them to graduation.

“The second year is full of academic challenges, while also finding out what you are passionate about,” he said. “I can help them navigate that. I want to teach them selfadvocacy because that is something that is not taught generally in schools before university.”

In addition to his work with second-year students, Arguello is involved with transfer

Arguello came to Lawrence in 2023 after five years of work as an attorney for a Chicago law firm. He also worked at a Chicago nonprofit organization, where he provided removal defense to detained immigrants before the Chicago Immigration Court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Prior to law school, Arguello served in the United States Army and the Illinois National Guard as an infantry non-commissioned officer. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from DePaul University.

Arguello is looking forward to continuing to better the experiences of sophomores at Lawrence, providing support and connecting them to the necessary resources for success.

“It’s a process,” he said. “My role is to help them along with the process.”

New leadership on campus

Lawrence University has welcomed several new members of the leadership team in recent months, led by Alison Scott-Williams, named executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Scott-Williams is in a role that is new to Lawrence but not to higher education. She will serve as the university’s chief administrative officer with oversight of the development, stewardship, and operation of the delivery of campus services and the provision of programs to support campus growth and fiscal health. This position reports to the president.

“We are thrilled to bring someone with Alison’s experience, vision, and leadership skills to Lawrence in this vital position,” said President Laurie A. Carter. “She will play a significant role in supporting the goals of Lawrence University during this transformative time in higher education.”

Scott-Williams joins Lawrence from Studio in a School NYC (Studio NYC), where she has served as president since 2020.

“As a proud native of the Midwest and a graduate of a liberal arts institution, I am enthusiastic about championing the goals and dreams of Lawrence University’s students, faculty, and staff,” Scott-Williams said.

ROBERT NOWAK, associate vice president for enrollment management. He comes to Lawrence from Concordia University, where he worked in enrollment and financial aid leadership positions since 2007. Filling the vacant dean of admissions position, Nowak is guiding the university’s domestic recruiters and visit team, all of whom work directly with prospective students throughout the admissions process.

II, dean of strategic enrollment. He comes to Lawrence from the University of Southern California, where he served as the associate director of admissions. He is focused on the development and implementation of both short- and long-term enrollment strategies, with an emphasis on recruitment and retention.

JULIE VANDEN ACKER, associate vice president of Information Technology Services. She comes to Lawrence from Outagamie County, where she served as director of Information Technology for eight years. Prior to that she was the manager of Information Systems at Neenah Foundry for 15 years.

WOLLIN, associate vice president of Human Resources. A 17-year veteran of the HR/talent field, Wollin most recently worked at VF Corporation managing HR strategy and partnership for global corporate functions.

CURTIS FERGUSON

MIRANDA

Alison Scott-Williams

• Applause to MICHAEL MIZRAHI, the Frank C. Shattuck Professor of Music in the Conservatory, for the June 14 release of his new solo piano album, Dreamspace, on the Sono Luminus label. It features music from, among others, Lawrence alumni Evan Williams ’10 and David Werfelmann '06, as well as music composition professor Joanne Metcalf.

• Kudos to MELISSA RANGE, associate professor of English, for having one of her poems featured on the Poem-a-Day website, run by the Academy of American Poets. Range also is one of six recipients of a Sundress Academy for the Arts summer residency fellowship.

• Kudos to CAYLA ROSCHÉ ’13, lecturer of music, for being selected as a Fulbright Scholar Alumni Ambassador for a two-year term. Rosché is presenting information on her Fulbright experience at campus workshops, academic conferences, and other venues.

• Congratulations to KEN BOZEMAN, professor of music emeritus, for being the 2024 recipient of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He was cited for his career in teaching as well as his writing on vocal pedagogy.

• Kudos to JOSH SAWYER ’98 for winning a 2024 Peabody Award for the development of Pentiment, a historical role-playing video

Celebrating the accomplishments of the Lawrence community LU LIGHTS

• Congratulations to music education instructor LEILA RAMAGOPAL PERTL '87 for receiving the Fox Cities Chamber's Shining Star Award. The annual awards recognize outstanding achievements in education in the Fox Cities. Her work with Lawrence students in the Lab School at Edison Elementary School was celebrated.

• Kudos to EVAN NEY '24 for winning the 2024 Lawrence University Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition. He performed Ingolf Dahl's Concerto for Alto Saxophone with the Wind Ensemble during a Spring Term performance.

• Applause to composer ASHA SRINIVASAN, associate professor of music, who had a piece she wrote, Bhoomija Returns, premiered in April by The Damselfly Trio when they played Harper Hall as part of Lawrence’s New Music Series.

game from Obsidian Entertainment. He got consulting assists from history professor EDMUND KERN and former classmate WINSTON BLACK ’99 in the world-building of 16th century Bavaria.

• Congratulations to ELIZABETH BECKER, associate professor of psychology, on the publication of “Recommendations Emerging from Carbon Emissions Estimations of the Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting” in eNeuro. Her research also was featured by Spectrum – Autism Research News.

• Applause to ROB NEILSON, the Frederick R. Layton Professor of Studio Art and professor of art, and JAKE FREDERICK, professor of history, for channeling their creative energies into new music. We featured the Junkyard Tornadoes when they released Songs from the End of the World during the pandemic. Now they're back with a new release, American Planck Time. Check it out online at Bandcamp.

• Kudos to DIANA VAN GILDER ’25, a history major and film studies minor, for being invited to France to share her research at the Imagining Tourists and Tourism conference. Her paper and presentation explore the relationship between Disney’s development of Black characters and consumer behavior.

• Applause to JACK NILLES ’54 as he continues to get attention for his ahead-

of-its-time research on building a remote workforce. The National Film Board of Canada released a documentary, Work Different, that explores the history—and future—of remote work, much of it focused on the groundbreaking study that Nilles did in the early 1970s.

• Congratulations to STEVEN REICH ’87, a professor of history at James Madison University, for being awarded a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities for his project, “Buzzards Over Texas: A Story of Race, Violence and the Search for Justice in the Jim Crow South.”

• Congratulations to biology major SAFIYA GRANT ’24 for finishing in the money in The Pitch, an annual business startup competition for college students in northeast Wisconsin. Grant pitched her idea for Muse, an all-natural skin-care line of products targeted toward women of color.

• Kudos to PETER JOSHEFF ’78 for being among the talented composers on The Bow and the Brush, a creative project featuring 19 new works of solo violin music inspired by paintings and sculptures at Carnegie Hall. Created by violinist/composer Dan Flanagan, The Bow and the Brush integrates the visual arts with new music.

• Congratulations to DEB GROTTESMAN ’87 for being named one of the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year by Washingtonian magazine. She is co-director and co-founder of Theatre Lab.

• Applause to ELYSE LUCAS ’10, an art teacher at Appleton North High School, for being recognized as the 2024 Excellence in Education Educator of the Year by the Fox Cities Chamber.

• Applause to JAN QUINLAN '74 for being named the inaugural winner of the Jane Dwyre Garton Women's Empowerment Award. Among other initiatives, she provided key leadership in establishing the Women's Fund at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Evan Ney ’24

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Safiya Grant ’24

Four Lawrentians heading abroad with prestigious Fulbright awards

One Lawrence University student and three 2023 graduates have been named 2024 Fulbright Scholars, a prestigious national honor that provides funding to study or teach abroad.

The four recipients in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program are senior Jonathan Bass, a double degree student in music performance (piano) and French and francophone studies, and 2023 graduates Gunner Bauer, who majored in government and Russian studies; Miri Villerius, who was a music and religious studies double major; and Ayla Walther, who recently received her Wisconsin teacher

certification with plans to teach German. This is the largest number of Fulbright recipients for Lawrence since 2018.

The awards mark a continuation of success for Lawrentians in the Fulbright program—63 Fulbright Scholars over the past four-plus decades. The Fulbright comes from the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, offering applicants the opportunity to study, teach English, or conduct research abroad.

Jonathan Bass, of Greenville, Wisconsin, received the Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Award in the Arts. He will enroll in the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris to pursue a graduate degree in piano performance. He will live in Paris at the Fondation des Etats-

Carpenter named Goldwater Scholar on strength of physics research

Joseph Carpenter, a Lawrence University mathematics and physics double major, is the recipient of a prestigious Goldwater Scholarship.

This is the third time in the last five years that a Lawrence student has been among the national honorees in the Goldwater Scholarship Program, which honors the late Sen. Barry Goldwater and was designed to foster and encourage high-achieving students in the fields of math, natural sciences, and engineering.

Carpenter, a junior from Minneapolis, has

Unis, where he will have the opportunity to collaborate with other artists in residence there.

“I spent the fall of 2022 abroad in Paris, and my only regret was that I didn’t have more time—so I’m absolutely thrilled that I get to go back,” Bass said.

Gunner Bauer is headed to Slovakia, where he will teach English. He said the pursuit of a Fulbright was a goal since first arriving at Lawrence.

“I actually chose to go to Lawrence after Professor (Victoria) Kononova told me about the Fulbright during a visit, and thus began four years of studying Russian and international relations,” he said.

Bauer spent a term abroad in Kyrgyzstan.

Miri Villerius will work as an English teaching assistant in southern Italy. She will be placed with a high school English class while engaging with the surrounding community.

“I'm excited about this opportunity because of how much enrichment I've gotten from Italian language and culture throughout my life,” Villerius said.

Ayla Walther will be heading to Bavaria, Germany, where she will work as an English teaching assistant.

“Outside of the classroom, I plan on participating and engaging with the community as much as possible,” Walther said. “I plan to join a local sport group and connect with individuals that way, as well as travel and see as much of Germany and Europe as possible. I also really want to use this experience to polish my German skills in preparation for being a German teacher when I return.”

worked with Doug Martin, associate professor of physics, in developing a research-grade optical microscope.

“I had the opportunity to conduct research at Lawrence last summer through the LURF (Lawrence University Research Fellows) program,” Carpenter said. “My work with Professor Martin on developing an opensource microscope gave me the experience necessary to be competitive for the Goldwater.”

The Goldwater Scholarship Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious national scholarships, seeks to identify, encourage, and financially support college sophomores and juniors who show promise of becoming the next generation of research leaders.

Joseph Carpenter ’25 is studying physics and mathematics.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

From Left: Miri Villerius, Ayla Walther, Jonathan Bass, and Gunner Bauer.

Parent to parent: Advice to thrive on move-in day

BY TAYLOR HUGHES ’25

Move-in day can be a chaotic experience for first-time college students and their families. From lines at the elevators to forgotten items, the hecticness of first-year move-in day is many students’ first taste of college life, and it can be trial-by-error for all involved. We reached out to some Lawrence parents who have been through the ropes of a college move-in day, and we asked them to share their advice for parents who are about to experience it for the first time.

Tricia and Bill Boyle, parents to Mary Boyle, senior English (literature) major from Chicago: Set time aside for a Walmart run. There is always something that you didn't even know you needed (i.e. command strips). Pack snacks; it’s a long day. Bring a small cooler with water. Dress in layers. Even cool days turn sweaty with furniture moving and unpacking. Bring and leave a few essential tools: screwdriver, hammer, and scissors. Bring a tissue and a brave face. It will surely be an emotional time, but this is what you've readied your kiddo for! They (and you) got this! You (the whole family) have chosen a safe, enriching, and inspiring institution at which they will learn to become their best selves. Enjoy the ride.

Michael Seymour, father to Mikala Seymour, sophomore business major from Plainfield, Wisconsin: Organize before you leave (easy moveable boxes that can be stacked); 2. Go to your room first and move furniture to

and there is a tendency to overpack. Bring the necessities. It’s easier to bring more after a visit home. Also, always make the bed first when you get into their room. No matter how much you get done, it’s nice to have a cozy bed to crash into on that first night.

A smooth move-in day will bring plenty of smiles.

where you want it; 3. Start hauling; 4. Only bring the essential essentials, as you can always bring more later but don’t want to have to send things home.

Dan and Sandra Piotrowski, parents of Daphne Piotrowski, junior biochemistry major from Appleton: Focus on the basics and prepare ahead of time for the essentials. Moving in the first day can be overwhelming

Mindy Wallin, mother of Jordan Wallin-Swanson, junior business & entrepreneurship and theatre arts double major from Georgetown, Kentucky: Caffeine and tissues! I suggest you start training at the beginning of the summer. Stairmaster 2-3 days a week, squats, and upper body 1-2 days a week. With all the mayhem, you may need a Xanax. And, absolutely, do not forget tools! You will need them for the most random things.

The Linos family of Cora Linos, junior government major from Janesville, Wisconsin: Pack the car the night before. When you get there, move the furniture where you want it before you start bringing your stuff up, and be patient throughout the process. Don’t overpack any boxes or bins. You’ll have to carry them up a lot of stairs. When you’re done, enjoy a meal with your kid before you leave, give them a hug, and tell them how much you love them.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

BOOKS & WORKS

-FROM FACULTY AND ALUMNI-

Ralph McTell: Every Album, Every Song

Paul O. Jenkins ’83

An album-by-album, track-by-track review of the music career of Ralph McTell. His songs are populated by dozens of memorable figures that spring both from his experiences and his imagination. In this book, readers meet both the man and the musician as the elements of his craft are explored. Jenkins is the university librarian at Franklin Pierce University. From Sonicbond Publishing

A Theory of Insurance and Gambling

John A. Nyman ’70

Nyman argues that demand for insurance and gambling is best understood by focusing not on risk preferences, but on the income transfer, the states of the world that trigger the income transfer, and the value of the income in those states. Nyman is a retired University of Minnesota professor. From Oxford University Press.

The Fountain of Latona: Louis XIV, Charles Le Brun, and the Gardens of Versailles

Thomas Hedin ’66 Hedin reveals how and why The Fountain of Latona was installed in the heart of Versailles in the 1660s,

the inaugural decade of Louis XIV’s patronage there. Hedin, a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota Duluth, calls The Fountain of Latona “a glorification of the king and a proud manifesto by artists.” From University of Pennsylvania Press

Regulating Abortion: The Politics of US Abortion Policy

Robert R. Janes ’70

The book explores the history of the complex web of regulations surrounding abortion in the United States and sheds light on the stark reality of this heavily regulated and politically divisive health care service. The authors examine the factors that influence statelevel abortion policies, including party affiliation, religion, the representation of women in legislatures, and political contributions. From Johns Hopkins University Press.

Starkweather

Harry MacLean ’64

The book tells the story of 19-year-old Charles Starkweather, often considered to be the first mass killer in the modern age of America. It began with the January 1958 murder of the parents and sister of his 14-year-old girlfriend in Lincoln, Nebraska. It kicked off a killing spree that would claim 10 lives and send the City of Lincoln into a state of shock. Publishers Weekly calls it “an

instant true crime classic.” From Penguin Random House.

True North

Andrew Graff ’09

Nearly three years after Raft of Stars drew wide praise, Graff is back with a second novel, again set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in the early 1990s. It is a family drama that finds Chicago transplants purchasing and running a troubled white-water rafting company. A Wittenberg University English professor, Graff knows the terrain well. He has worked as a white-water guide on and off for nearly 20 years, beginning during summers while a student at Lawrence. From Ecco-Harper Collins.

Teaching for Moral Imagination: An Interdisciplinary Exploration

Pamela Bolotin Joseph ’69

The book examines the multifaceted nature of morality and ethics, moral development, and moral education so to provide educators with a clear yet complex understanding of theories, issues, practices, and curricular content. It is intended to be an accessible work of academic significance that inspires educators' deliberation about personal and societal values as well as approaches for fostering children’s and adolescents’ moral development. From Information Age Publishing

Ellen Baker ’97

CAMPUS SCENES

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

PHOTO BY AARON LINDEMAN '27

1 Senior Lenny Crino (center) and fellow students step out in style at the annual President’s Ball in Warch Campus Center.

2 First-year student Jasmine Germany joins other students in showcasing their music, dance, and fashion skills at the annual Cultural Expressions in Warch Campus Center.

3 Director Mark Dupere leads the Major Works Concert in Memorial Chapel.

4 Students Colin Hutton, Lance Juridico, Ellie Carrothers, and Alaina McGinnis share a laugh while hanging out after classes on Main Hall Green.

5 Seniors Tashi Litch and Jando Valdez join other music students in rehearsing on a sunny spring day on Main Hall Green.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

Composer Evan Williams leans into Lawrence influences as his music career unfolds MUSIC & ARTS

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Rising composer Evan Williams ’10 says he doesn’t have to look far to find the foundation on which his blossoming music career is built.

“Most, if not all, of the successes in my professional life I can point back to Lawrence as being the starting place for that,” said Williams, a music theory and composition major when he graduated from Lawrence University in 2011.

He sees it as he prepares to have his harpsichord concerto, Dead White Man Music, performed by the London Philharmonic in January 2025.

He sees it in his teaching at the Berklee College of Music, where he teaches composition, conducting, and music technology.

He sees it in a multitude of collaborations, including his recent contributions to Preach Sister, Preach, the debut album of soprano Katherine Jolly, where his song cycle featuring the poetry of Emily Dickinson has drawn high praise.

He sees it in his doctorate from the CollegeConservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, in fellowships from the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, in his time as the inaugural African American Classical Roots Composer-in-Residence with the Detroit Symphony, and in his current role as the Steven R. Gerber Composer-in-Residence for

the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

And he sees it in a current passion project— writing a piece for the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble that will be performed in the fall as part of the celebration of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music’s 150th anniversary.

“Andy Mast (Lawrence’s associate dean of the Conservatory, Kimberly-Clark Professor of Music, and director of bands) called and asked if I’d write this piece,” Williams said. “He’s been a great mentor for me and a supporter of my work over the years.”

Mast is one of many mentors at Lawrence who have influenced Williams’ career. He points to Joanne Metcalf and Asha Srinivasan, both accomplished composers and members of the Conservatory faculty, among others.

“My training with Asha and Joanne in the Composition Department was crucial,” Williams said.

In 2017-18, Williams stepped into a temporary teaching role at Lawrence to cover for a sabbatical. And he spent a year as a recent graduate trustee on Lawrence’s Board of Trustees before having to bow out because of scheduling conflicts.

A “winding” journey

Williams arrived at Lawrence in 2006 knowing he wanted to pursue music but not quite sure

where to focus his energies. He grew up in Matteson, Illinois, and planned to attend the University of Illinois before paying a visit to Lawrence and falling in love with the campus and its music programs. He initially majored in music education but switched to composition during his junior year. Through it all he performed frequently—he took trombone and voice lessons, took instruction in conducting, sang in choirs and operas, and performed in the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and Symphony Orchestra. If there was music happening, Williams was there.

“My story at Lawrence is really a winding one,” he said. “I meandered a lot, and one of the things I love about Lawrence is they let me meander. They let me be unsure about

what I wanted to do, and that helped shape the career I created. They really let me take the time to explore.”

Outside of the Conservatory, Williams embraced courses in government, history, and poetry, among others. He took a Latin class. Influences from all those experiences have found their way into his music—whether it is music focused on history or social justice or the exploration of languages.

Mast had a front-row seat as Williams’ talents began to catch up with his many interests.

“He was a very good trombone player, but I always knew he was anxious to explore composition and conducting as well,” Mast said. “He took extra conducting lessons with me and conducted a piece with the Symphonic Band. …

I also really admired what a musical omnivore he showed himself to be as an undergrad, and of course that continued throughout his other degrees and to this day. He was a brass player but showed interest in music for many different media. When I think of the prototypical Lawrence student who is curious, open, and multi-faceted, Evan is always one of the first examples I think of.”

It was during Williams’ junior year at Lawrence when composition came into clearer focus. He had been inspired in part by composer David Maslanka.

“I wasn’t sure there was a place for me in the composition world,” Williams said. “And then Andy Mast brought in David Maslanka as the composer-in-residence for the Wind Ensemble,

and we played his A Child’s Garden of Dreams and his Symphony No. 8 and things like that, and I said, ‘Oh, this is it. This is the way forward.’ It had tonal elements and traditional elements and very romantic elements, but it also has a lot of dissonance; it’s inspired by minimalism and jazz and pop music. That was the first time I knew: I’m going to be a professional composer. I’m going to be a college professor.”

After graduating from Lawrence, Williams earned a DMA in composition with a cognate in orchestral conducting from the University of Cincinnati and a Masters of Music in composition from Bowling Green State University. He has been commissioned by notable performers and ensembles including the Cincinnati and Toledo Symphony Orchestras, Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra, Quince Ensemble, and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Thirteen years after walking across the Commencement stage on Main Hall Green, Williams is preparing for a trip to England to see his music performed for the first time by the iconic London Philharmonic. They will perform his Dead White Man Music, a harpsichord concerto with chamber orchestra that is in part a love letter to the classical music of Bach, Brahms, and Dowland, in part a celebration of jazz, soul, and gospel, and in part an internal grappling with the limited diversity within the works of the Western canon. The piece was honored in 2021 by The American Prize.

Before leaving for London, Williams will make a return to Lawrence to see his newest composition performed as part of the Conservatory’s anniversary celebration, a piece he said is “inspired by my time at Lawrence.”

The two events, nearly 4,000 miles apart, are connected via Williams’ winding, expansive musical journey, all nurtured during his undergraduate days at Lawrence.

“All I can say is a lot of things I didn’t know were going to be relevant in my life that I learned at Lawrence have become completely relevant to my life,” Williams said. “It all has informed my music. It all mattered in the end.”

PHOTO COURTESY AMERICU

Evan Williams ’10

MUSIC & ARTS

‘This has been my dream’: Emily Richter’s star rising in opera circles

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Lawrence University alumna Emily Richter ’20 joined impressive company in opera circles in March.

Richter, a soprano who was a standout performer during her undergraduate years in Lawrence’s Conservatory of Music, is one of five rising opera singers named winners of the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, an annual showcase that has helped launch numerous opera careers, among them Denyce Graves, Renée Fleming, and Lawrence Brownlee. She was one of 10 finalists who performed March 17 at the Met Opera’s Grand Finals Concert, hosted by Graves. The singers each performed two arias on the iconic Met stage, accompanied by the Met Orchestra and conducted by Evan Rogister. Five winners were then announced, including Richter.

“This has been my dream for so many years,” Richter said. “To say I’m humbled, honored, and grateful to be here would be an understatement. I had the most exciting week of my life, and singing with that orchestra was nothing short of joyous.”

Richter, a member of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Center Ensemble since May, spent the past two years as a resident artist with the Pittsburgh Opera. She studied music performance (voice) and performed in the Opera Theatre program at Lawrence before going on to earn her master’s degree from McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. “I’m so grateful for my time at Lawrence that

didn’t just teach me how to sing but taught me how to feel and think deeply about the world,” Richter said.

Richter was named a winner in the Met competition along with tenor Daniel Espinal, soprano Lydia Grindatto, baritone Navasard Hakobyan, and mezzo-soprano Meridian Prall. In addition to a $20,000 cash prize, the win comes with great prestige and opportunities to network.

The competition is operated at the district and region levels across the United States, Canada, and Mexico before finalists are

Lawrence a national honor in the 2021 American Prize Awards.

Copeland Woodruff, director of opera studies and associate professor of music at Lawrence, said Richter was a “rock star” in the making during her time in the Conservatory.

“She always brings a curiosity, a humanity, and an infectious, warm spirit into any space she enters,” Woodruff said. “I could not be happier for her, for her successes so far, and the myriad ahead of her. I am lucky to have learned alongside her.”

Richter’s time at the Pittsburgh Opera

named for the Grand Finals Concert. Richter came through the Great Lakes Region. The competition, now in its 70th year, was formerly known as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

While at Lawrence, Richter performed in numerous ensembles and operas, including taking on the role of Countess in The Marriage of Figaro during her senior year in 2020. Her performance would help earn

included performances as the title character of Iphigénie en Tauride and Ginevra in Ariodante. She has sung Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and the Governess in The Turn of the Screw at McGill, covered Micaëla in Carmen at the Santa Fe Opera, and made her debut with the Seattle Symphony as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah

She now returns to the Midwest with Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Center Ensemble.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” she said.

Emily Richter ’20

Schuyler Thornton living the dream with ‘Les Mis’

BY ED BERTHIAUME

When Schuyler Thornton ’14 returned to Wisconsin earlier this year as a member of the Les Misérables Broadway tour, with multi-day stops at both Madison’s Overture Center for the Arts and Appleton’s Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, it was a “full circle moment” for the talented flutist.

“I saw the previous Les Misérables tour at the Fox Cities PAC in fall of 2011 while I was a Lawrence student,” Thornton said. “I think I went five times. So, to be part of bringing the ‘barricade’ back to Appleton is incredibly thrilling.”

Gomez brings home second Grammy Award

Lawrence University voice professor Estelí Gomez is now a two-time Grammy Award winner.

Gomez and her vocal ensemble, Roomful of Teeth, won a Grammy on Feb. 4 in the Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance category for the album Rough Magic, released in May 2023. Gomez was among the ensemble members accepting the award at the 66th annual Grammy ceremonies in Los Angeles.

Roomful of Teeth also won a Grammy in 2014 in the same ensemble performance category for their self-titled debut album. They were nominated again in 2016 following the release of their second album, Render

Thornton was in the tour’s pit orchestra for performances in Madison and Appleton over a two-week period in February. Preperformance gatherings for Lawrence alumni were held at both stops.

A member of the tour since September 2022, Thornton said she dreamed of such an opportunity while studying music in Lawrence’s Conservatory of Music.

“It truly has been the most incredible and rewarding—and challenging—experience of my life,” Thornton said. “I like to say that ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ and it came true. Les

Misérables is the first show I remember listening to as a child. … I’ve always had a love for travel and Broadway, so being part of the Les Misérables tour has been a tremendous privilege and opportunity.”

When the show opened its run in Appleton, it marked Thornton’s 40th city with the tour. She also marked her 400th performance.

“I knew coming into Lawrence that I loved flute, musical theater, teaching, and performing in pit orchestras, but I wasn’t sure what kind of careers were available to me that incorporated all of these wide-ranging passions,” Thornton said. “I wasn’t dead set on a classical symphony orchestra job, and Lawrence was incredibly supportive of nontraditional careers in music.”

A double-degree student majoring in both music performance (flute) and government, she regularly took in the Broadway tours that came to the Fox Cities PAC, furthering her love of musical theater. And she wanted to explore—academically, musically, and globally. She found all of that not only doable but encouraged at Lawrence.

“I’m so glad to have this album out in the world finally, after eight years between our second and third albums,” Gomez said of Rough Magic. “We’re really proud of it. It’s an honor for our group to have been nominated for Grammys for all three of our albums, but this one is such a special mix of music that we’ve gotten to tour and dig into over years of live performances, commissioning projects, and artist residencies.”

Gomez, who joined the faculty in the Conservatory of Music in 2019 and continues to perform at music halls around the world, brings her students along for the ride. The performing she does with Roomful of Teeth—striving to improve and grow as a vocal performer—informs her teaching. That, she said, is at the heart of being a mentor.

“I really feel a sense of symbiosis with my teaching and singing work—both types of work are about communication and self-

“A lot of schools make it nearly impossible to study abroad as a music student, but Lawrence made it so easy,” Thornton said. “It ignited my love for travel and gave me the confidence and independence to travel solo, something I frequently do on tour while sightseeing.” expression, and connecting with people,” Gomez said. “The kinds of connections I get to make with Roomful’s collaborators directly inform and inspire the way I think about singing, and the way I think about teaching. That makes my teaching always more creative and alive upon my return.”

Schuyler Thornton ’14

Estelí Gomez

ATHLETICS

Lawrence’s new track at Whiting Field looked good under the lights at the Viking Twilight, the debut meet, on April 19.

New track, renovated baseball, softball fields make debuts

Lawrence track and field, baseball, and softball all competed in renovated facilities during the spring season.

The George A. Whiting Memorial Field track underwent a $4.3 million makeover with installation of a nine-lane track. The grass infield houses the throws area, the high jump venue, and a runway for javelin. The area just north of the main straightaway has four pits for long and triple jump and runways for pole vault.

Lawrence hosted the Viking Twilight on April 19 and took advantage of the Musco lighting system for the first time. Lawrence also hosted the Fox River Showdown on May 3.

This was the third major renovation to the Whiting Field track in its long history. Whiting Field, which opened in 1925,

celebrates its 100th birthday next year.

Meanwhile, the baseball and softball fields were razed in fall 2023 as contractors peeled away the old turf. New playing surfaces were installed on both fields and other improvements were completed. Contractors also erected fencing to enclose new bullpens on both fields.

Volleyball welcomes Van Lannen as new coach

Jeff Van Lannen is the new leader of the Lawrence University volleyball program.

A prominent name in Midwest volleyball,

Van Lannen comes to Lawrence as its new head coach after serving as the technical specialist on the University of Wisconsin coaching staff.

“I have myriad of experiences in the sport, but as a first-year head coach of a collegiate program I will be leaning heavily on colleagues that I hold in very high regard for counsel,” Van Lannen said. “Whether it’s recruiting, training, or leadership, I’m very fortunate to have a long list of strong volleyball professionals I can reach out to.”

Lawrence's lacrosse teams to compete in NACC

Lawrence’s men’s and women’s lacrosse teams will compete in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) when they begin play in 2025.

“When looking at the current landscape of Division III lacrosse in our region, there were a few conferences that we looked at to determine a fit for Lawrence,” Director of Athletics Jason Imperati said. “The NACC will provide great competition for our programs as our coaches continue to build our rosters for future success.”

Both of Lawrence’s lacrosse coaches view membership in the NACC as a strong competitive test for their fledgling programs.

“We are excited to start our journey as a program in a very competitive conference,” men’s coach Mikey Zadroga said. “My staff and I are not only looking forward to the challenge of competing in the NACC but are also very excited for the strong in-state rivalries we will build. We cannot wait for game one in 2025.”

Women’s coach Ben Morhac said, “I am beyond excited to have our women’s team join the NACC. The conference is strong from top to bottom and provides good competition for our program. I am excited for the competition the conference brings and to make history with our team in the NACC.”

Lawrence joins current NACC lacrosse programs at Aurora University, Benedictine University (men only), Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Wisconsin, Edgewood College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Marian University, and Milwaukee School of Engineering, along with current lacrosse affiliate Beloit College.

Jeff Van Lannen

PHOTO BY PAUL WILKE

Tourney time for women’s basketball team

The Lawrence women’s basketball team had a breakthrough season and reached the Midwest Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007. The Vikings put together a 15-11 overall record as Lawrence posted the most victories in a season since 2005-06.

Facing a must-win situation against the conference’s top team in the regularseason finale, Lawrence put together a gritty 74-71 overtime win over rival Ripon College to earn a spot in the four-team conference tournament. The Red Hawks got some revenge by downing the Vikings in the semifinals of the tournament.

Lawrence posted other significant wins during the season. Lawrence routed Lake Forest College 71-41 to earn the biggest victory in the long history of the series with the Foresters. The Vikings also swept the season series with Grinnell College for the first time since 2005-06 and with Monmouth College for the first time since 2006-07.

Standouts Maggie Culver and Charlotte Brennan were chosen for the All-Midwest Conference second team.

Men’s and women’s track records fall

Lawrence broke five indoor and one outdoor track school records in 2024.

The women’s 5,000 meters record fell both indoors and outdoors. Edythmae Frodl set the new mark indoors at 18:08.09; Cristyn Oliver broke her own outdoor record with a time of 17:39.82.

Oliver also broke the 1500-meter record with a time of 4:42.39.

Tristan Zook was part of three records during the men’s indoor season. Zook broke the heptathlon record with a score of 3,976 points and was part of two record relay teams. Zook teamed with Marcus Jackson, Brendan Cross, and David Benjamin for the 4x200meter relay record with a time of 1:33.59. Zook joined Cross, Jackson, and Alex Luckett to break the 4x400 relay record with a time of 3:30.16.

Kala Velasco ran to a record time of 8.60 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.

Meanwhile, at the Midwest Conference Championships, Riley Winebrenner (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Finn Lee (5,000 meters) grabbed individual titles.

In the women’s championships, Winebrenner won the conference title while

First-year guard Charlotte Brennan scores two of her 13 points as Lawrence beats Ripon, 74-71, at Alexander Gym to earn a berth in the Midwest Conference Tournament.

shattering her own school record, crossing the line in 11:11.60.

In the men’s championships, Lee took the top spot on the podium in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:10.57.

Fencing duo earn All-America honors

Lawrence fencers Eli Freyre de Andrade and Jayna Davis received All-America honors from the United States Fencing Coaches Association. Freyre de Andrade received honorable mention in men’s saber and Davis received honorable mention in women’s saber.

A first-year fencer from Denver, Freyre de Andrade won the saber title at the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Championships with a 15-14 win over Luca Fioretto of Ohio State in the title bout. Freyre de Andrade followed that triumph at the conference meet by placing eighth at the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Davis, a first-year fencer from Reno, Nevada, also placed eighth at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Davis’ finish was the best by a Lawrence women’s fencer at the regional championships since 2018. Davis also went 5-5 at the Central Collegiate Fencing Conference Championships and took 12th place to record the best finish for the Vikings.

Bertman dives to new heights

Lawrence sophomore Jackson Bertman was named Midwest Conference Diver of the Year for the second consecutive season. Bertman won the 1-meter diving at the Midwest Conference Championships with a school-record score of 442.90. He took second on the 3-meter board with a score of 392.65. Bertman also qualified for the NCAA Division III Central Region Diving Championships.

Jackson Bertman

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI

PHOTO BY PAUL WILKE

Four years after launching women’s hockey, seniors leave with foundation strong ATHLETICS

BY TAYLOR HUGHES ’25

During the 2020-21 academic year, women’s hockey started as Lawrence University’s 22nd varsity athletics program. Four years later, nine seniors who were present since the beginning, who helped set a solid foundation, said farewell at an emotional Senior Day.

The LU Pep Band brought some energy as the crowd celebrated the seniors during a 4-2

win against the University of Dubuque. The game itself saw strong performances from the seniors, including goalie Sydney Seeley stopping 37 shots. In their back-to-back victories against Dubuque that weekend, seniors Delaney Kingsland, Lauren Askenazy, and Lindsey Gulliksen scored game-changing goals.

The nine seniors include Lauren

Moravchik, an economics and German double major from Lonsdale, Minnesota; Jessie Arons, a film studies major from Palo Alto, California; Delaney Kingsland, an international relations major from Amesbury, Massachusetts; Gigi Wood, an international relations and philosophy double major from Lake Villa, Illinois; Lauren Askenazy, a biochemistry and biology double major from Albuquerque, New Mexico; Laney Martens, a biology major from Snowmass Village, Colorado; Lindsey Gulliksen, a biology major from Mount Prospect, Illinois; Molly Jastrab, a film studies major from Silver Lake, Wisconsin; and Sydney Seeley, a business & entrepreneurship and psychology double major from Prescott, Wisconsin.

The student-athletes came to Lawrence “with the understanding that we are constructing the foundation of a program that will long outlive us,” said Jastrab, a goaltender. “During the first two seasons, we were faced with unpredictable challenges that forced us to adapt and grow

BY

Nine Lawrence University seniors who were part of the inaugural class of women’s hockey soaked in the accolades with family on Senior Day. They include (from left) Lauren Moravchik, Jessie Arons, Delaney Kingsland, Gigi Wood, Lauren Askenazy, Laney Martens, Lindsey Gulliksen, Molly Jastrab, and Sydney Seeley.

PHOTO

PAUL WILKE

together. ... We are constantly working to build our culture and our community to establish a legacy that continues to fight all night as we proudly wear our blue and white.”

Being the program’s first class created challenges and opportunities.

“Our team has gone through a lot of adversity trying to make a name for ourselves in the NCHA, and I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish that feat without my teammates and coaches’ support,” said Kingsland, calling the program’s first win against Northland her favorite memory. “It was a lot of trying new things, making mistakes, and learning along the way, but we are already headed in the right direction with a very bright future for the program.”

Seeley recalled the program’s first win, coming during their second season.

“It just felt so rewarding—like our hard work over the past couple of seasons had finally paid off,” she said. “There was just so much excitement during this moment and it was just so surreal and special.”

Askenazy’s favorite Lawrence hockey memory is her first collegiate goal, which was also the first goal in the history of the program, coming during a game against St. Scholastica in February 2021. Moments like those were important for the team as they navigated the difficult path of establishing a program.

“We all came into the program new to playing college hockey,” Askenazy said. “However, seeing how far we have come as a program is very rewarding. It is great seeing the program our hard work has built. I am very thankful that I got the opportunity to play the sport that I love while also receiving a great education.”

There were 14 players on the team that debuted in 2021. A couple of the players were already sophomores.

“Starting from the ground level, we were all wide-eyed first-year college players taking on exceptionally skilled veteran players in a highly competitive conference,” Moravchik said. “That was a formidable challenge. Yet, we have demonstrated perseverance and determination, and our confidence and skill level has grown with each season, and we now are a competitive team. And our program, four years after that humble beginning, has a very bright future.”

PHOTO BY PAUL WILKE

Power-hitting trio leads Vikings baseball to conference title

BY JOE VANDEN ACKER

The nickname wouldn’t have worked until Edan Perez discovered a bottle of hair dye. Perez, the lone brunette in the group of starting Lawrence University outfielders, dyed his thick mane a golden hue this spring. Perez, Parker Knoll, and Jacob Charon then went out and crushed opposing pitching all season.

To call them “The Blonde Bombers” seems an apt moniker. Lawrence’s starting outfield hit a combined .432 with 36 doubles, five triples, 42 home runs and 164 runs batted in over 39 regular season games this spring to make them perhaps the most productive outfield in all of NCAA Division III.

Lawrence won the Midwest Conference title and hosted the MWC Tournament.

“We’ve seen flashes of it from all three of us,” said Knoll, a junior from Appleton and the center fielder. “We’re finally all doing it together all the time. It’s special that we’re able to hit as well as we can at the same time. It’s a lot of fun to be part of. I know if I mess up, there’s like four guys behind me that will do as good or better job than I will. It’s great to have that kind of firepower.”

Charon, an All-American in 2022, led

Lawrence’s Jacob Charon (23) and Parker Knoll (17) celebrate with Edan Perez (11) after Perez homered in a victory over Ripon.

the team and ranked second in all of NCAA Division III with a .493 batting average. He pounded out 12 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and tied his own school record with 61 RBIs.

“I really dialed in indoors during the winter,” said Charon, the senior right fielder.

Perez hit .405 with 12 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 53 RBIs while making the transition from third base to the outfield.

“Last year, I was seeing beach balls out there,” Perez said with a laugh. “This year has been pretty similar. It’s on an upward trend.”

Knoll makes it a trio of hitters batting over .400 with a .403 average this spring. He had 12 doubles, one triple, 15 homers and 50 RBIs to go with playing superb defense.

The team received some notable post-season honors. Three players were selected for the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-America team.

Charon and Knoll were chosen for the first team and pitcher Quinn Berglin earned fourth-team honors.

Charon also was named Region 9 Player of the Year by both the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com. He also was awarded Player of the Year in the MWC. Berglin was awarded MWC Pitcher of the Year and Coach Chris Krepline was named the conference's Coach of the Year.

Alumna Ellen Baker’s

‘Cecily’

novel arrives amid big excitement

ALUMNI

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Ellen Baker ’97 is enjoying the moment.

The Lawrence University alumna’s latest novel, The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson, arrived earlier this year with significant fanfare. People magazine featured it as one of its Best New Books; it was named an Indie Next pick for March by the American Booksellers Association; GoodReads called it one of winter’s most anticipated books; BookBub put it on multiple best-of lists, including Best Historical Fiction of 2024.

The novel, from Mariner Books, is an emotional rollercoaster that spans more than 90 years, from a heartbreaking opening scene at an orphanage in Chicago in 1924 to the unveiling in 2015 of jarring secrets held for a lifetime in a small northern Minnesota town. The story of Cecily is one of pain, cruelty, love—forbidden and otherwise—and hope.

While Baker’s first two novels, Keeping the House (2007) and I Gave My Heart to Know This (2011), both from Random House, put her on the literary map, they did not generate quite this level of enthusiasm.

“To know that book editors were noticing it, readers were noticing it, people were anticipating it, that was really exciting,” Baker said from her home on the coast of Maine.

The new novel falls into the genre of historical fiction—as did her first two novels—and the roots of Baker’s history-focused storytelling can be found in her experiences as an undergraduate at Lawrence three decades ago, when the psychology major with a secret desire to write novels fell in love with American history.

“At Lawrence, I got so fascinated by my American history classes, my American

Ellen Baker ’97

literature classes,” she said.

While finishing her psychology major, she worked an internship with the Outagamie County Historical Society in Appleton, and she took an independent study course in fiction writing during her senior year—all while filling spiral notebooks with ideas for a novel.

“I was always drawn toward writing novels, but at the time I was looking for a more practical career path,” Baker said. “I think I was looking for something that wasn’t so close to my heart, because I was also so shy that I didn’t tell anybody I wrote novels in notebooks. A few close friends knew but it was otherwise a secret.”

After graduating from Lawrence, Baker took an internship in Tennessee working as a living history interpreter—dressing in costume, quilting by hand, cooking on a wood stove, and finding other ways to bring American history to life. She completed a master’s degree in American studies at the University of Minnesota, then worked at a World War II museum in Superior, Wisconsin.

All of it built to her next chapter. She eventually went to work for an independent bookstore while beginning to scratch that itch as a novelist. Four years later, Keeping the House, set in the 1950s, was released.

“All the pieces of my Lawrence experience and my master’s degree all dovetail into becoming a historical novelist,” Baker said. “The focus on psychology gave me a different inroad. A lot of people as fiction writers go get an MFA, which is a fabulous path to take if that’s your right path. For me, I wasn’t ready at the time to claim that part of myself, so I think I actually have a really different perspective in terms of how I look at characters or how I look at history— because of training in things other than how to write fiction. I have the training in how to look at the world from

those different lenses. I think it’s been a very valuable thing to have.”

The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson comes 13 years after Baker’s second novel—she launched an online teaching course for would-be novelists and did freelance writing and editing in the meantime. It was in early 2021 that she

was a story that already happened, and I was just writing it down. I didn’t struggle with how to make it make sense. It just felt like it was all there.”

“All the pieces of my Lawrence experience and my master’s degree all dovetail into becoming a historical novelist.”

Ellen Baker ’97

redirected her attention to a next novel, wanting to write a story about the keeping of a decadeslong secret in a small town, all of it eventually unraveling through modern DNA testing.

“I am fascinated by all the stories I’ve read of people who have had DNA surprises in their lives and how that upends their sense of themselves, their identities, and what happens as a consequence of those surprises,” Baker said. She wanted to weave a story that would interplay multiple storylines over long passages of time.

“I started there and wrote the story going back and forth in time because I was interested in playing with the relationship between past and present,” Baker said.

She wrote the initial draft in eight months, far faster than she’d usually get through a first draft.

“I usually take a number of years to write a draft,” Baker said. “I can’t explain why it happened. It just felt like it

Her new literary agent sold the book to Mariner Books, which kicked off an intense editing process. By last summer, Baker was already receiving glowing feedback from authors she admires. And by fall the book was starting to show up on best-of lists in advance of its February release. Baker likes where she’s at as she gains notice as a novelist and builds momentum as a teacher and entrepreneur. She’s growing her online teaching—providing start-up guidance to novelists-to-be—while considering options for a next novel. She’s also working on a screenplay, and her agent is having conversations with studios about taking The Hidden Life of Cecily Larson to the big screen.

“I’ve been figuring out how to support myself with writing and independent projects,” Baker said. “I’ve learned a lot about myself along the way. Being my own boss and having the real estate of my brain completely available to think the thoughts I want to think, that to me is a very valuable thing. I think that is something I learned at Lawrence, or that I came to value at Lawrence. The privilege of intellectual freedom, the privilege to think about the things you want to think about, the privilege to pursue the lines of inquiry you want to pursue. For me, that line of inquiry is simply how to understand the human experience, how to convey human experience, how to bring the past to life in ways that possibly can help us to not repeat the same mistakes.”

From Ph.D. chemistry research to music at Carnegie Hall, ’19 grad Nicolette Puskar embraces it all

BY ED BERTHIAUME

Studying in a STEM field while pursuing interests in music is among the draws that brought Nicolette Puskar ’19 to Lawrence University in the first place.

Now, five years after walking across the Commencement stage as a double-degree graduate with majors in chemistry and music performance (voice), Puskar is keeping both science and music close to her heart.

She is working toward her Ph.D. in physical chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, doing research in quantum dynamics in gas-phase atoms and molecules using attosecond noncollinear four-wave-mixing spectroscopy. She is four years into a doctorate program that takes five to six years to complete.

Her music, though, is never far away. Puskar

spent the year following her graduation from Lawrence performing with the Knoxville Opera in Knoxville, Tennessee, while working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She paused music performances during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she returned to the stage in a big way in April—joining a choral performance at Carnegie Hall.

“Singing remains important to me for so many reasons,” Puskar said. “The main one, though, is that, simply, singing is part of my identity.”

While working at Oak Ridge National Laboratory during a “gap year” to gain more research experience in physical chemistry, Puskar auditioned for and received an opera chorus position with Knoxville Opera. She also joined the Knoxville Choral Society, where she performed as a soprano soloist in an early 2020 concert of

Nicolette Puskar ‘19

Mendelssohn’s Elijah.

A month later, the pandemic would shut down most musical performances around the globe.

The silver lining, Puskar said, is the pandemic allowed her to put all her energy into her graduate program—virtually at first—and passing her qualifying exam.

That pause on her musical performances ended with the Carnegie Hall concert, which came courtesy of an invite from one of her former choir directors, Maestro José Daniel Flores-Caraballo. It was an evening of music by Norwegian composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo, among Puskar’s favorites.

“Choir has always held a special place in my heart,” she said. “Some of my most cherished memories during my time at Lawrence are singing in Concert Choir and with my chamber group at First Congregational UCC.”

“I want to be the kind of chemistry professor that supports students who wish to explore outside topics, just like I was supported at Lawrence.”

Nicolette Puskar ‘19

A focus on science

At Berkeley, Puskar is excited about the progress she’s making in the Ph.D. program, and the research that’s at the core of her studies.

“My research centers on using the shortest laser pulses to reveal the quantum secrets of atoms and molecules,” she said.

Once she graduates, Puskar hopes to find a postdoctoral position, “a short-term position where I can diversify my scientific skill set outside of my Ph.D. focus.”

From there, Puskar is looking to build a career in academia, inspired, she said, by science faculty she learned from while at Lawrence. She singled out chemistry professors Allison Fleshman and Deanna Donohoue in particular.

“The individualized experiences I received at Lawrence shaped me into the scientist that I am today, and my academic journey would not

have been possible without the support of my undergraduate professors,” she said.

Now, Puskar said, becoming a professor at a small liberal arts college is her “ultimate” career goal—with a dose of music on the side.

“This probably goes without saying, but I strongly believe in the value of a liberal arts education and that studying a broad range of subjects winds up mutually benefitting each other,” Puskar said. “For example, in attosecond science, we generate high-order harmonics of the original beam frequency to make attosecond-duration laser pulses, which is directly analogous to musical instrument design and the respective wave mechanics that make an orchestra sound beautiful. I want to be the kind of chemistry professor that supports students who wish to explore outside topics, just like I was supported at Lawrence.”

Nicolette Puskar ‘19 does research in a lab at the University of California, Berkeley, as she pursues her Ph.D. in physical chemistry.

Nine talented alumni receive 2024 Alumni Awards at Reunion weekend ALUMNI

Lawrence University celebrated nine talented alumni—including two from MilwaukeeDowner College—with 2024 Alumni Awards. The recipients were honored at Reunion 2024 in mid-June.

One recipient, Donald Brunnquell ’74, received his award posthumously after passing away in December 2023. He was represented at Reunion by family members.

The recipients include:

Jacob George Allen ’03, Nathan M. Pusey Young Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award: Allen graduated from Lawrence with a double degree in music performance (voice) and theatre and is the chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Memphis. He earned his Master of Music in stage direction from the Eastman School of Music and then joined the faculty at the University of Memphis. He is a well-respected performer, director, and arts administrator, having worked at the College Light Opera Company in Cape Cod and Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio. He has championed Lawrence along the way, bringing many alumni and students to perform at these highly regarded theatres.

Christina Balch ’03, George B. Walter ’36 Service to Society Award: Balch has dedicated her career to pioneering sustainable food systems and fostering equity within communities. As executive director of the Crossroads Community Food Network in Washington, D.C., she orchestrated initiatives

that expanded the organization’s reach. She championed innovative programs promoting healthy eating for low-income families. Her commitment to Lawrence shines through her engagement with alumni activities, offering internships to students and contributing to the Senior Class Program Committee and the Reunion Steering Committee.

Donald Brunnquell ’74, George B. Walter ’36 Service to Society Award: Brunnquell was a licensed psychologist in Minnesota with a special interest in pediatric psychology and bioethics. He was an affiliate faculty member of the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, where he taught pediatric bioethics. He also was an adjunct faculty member in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychology, where he taught ethics in clinical and counseling psychology. He worked for 36 years at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, and for 23 of those years was the director of the Office of Ethics. Brunnquell died Dec. 30 at the age of 71.

Rick Davis ’80, Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp M-D’18 Outstanding Service Award: Davis graduated Lawrence summa cum laude in 1980 with a major in theater and drama. He earned his MFA and DFA in dramaturgy at Yale University. Today, he is professor of theater, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts, and director of the Hylton Performing Arts Center at George Mason University. His volunteer work at Lawrence

includes four years of service on the Alumni Board and service to the Nominations and Awards Committee, the Reunion Committee, the Class of 1980 Leadership Team, and Giving Day.

Cynthia Estlund ’78, Lucia Russell Briggs Distinguished Achievement Award: Estlund is a wellrespected law professor, having spent 35 years teaching at several law schools, including University of Texas School of Law, Columbia Law School, and currently the New York University School of Law. She has published and teaches on a range of topics in collective labor law, employment law, workers’ rights, and workplace governance. She has remained active with Lawrence, including as a member of LUAA and reunion committees, hosting students in New York, coordinating and moderating a Lawrence Scholars in Law panel, and as a loyal Lawrence Fund donor and Giving Day game changer.

Adam Locke ’03, Marshall B. Hulbert ’26 Outstanding Service Award: Locke, a biology major at Lawrence, has carved his path in genetic research. He serves as director of statistical genetics at Regeneron Genetics Center. His expertise lies in unraveling genomic complexities associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychiatric diseases. His involvement with Lawrence spans a spectrum of alumni activities, from steering reunion planning efforts and co-chairing committees to serving on the LUAA Board of Directors and engaging in prospective student interviews.

Bonnie Maas McClellan M-D’62, Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp M-D’18 Outstanding Service Award: A graduate of Milwaukee-Downer College, Maas McClellan retired in 2006 as the

director of disability support services with The Catholic University of America. She earlier held positions as a learning specialist, teacher, and mentor for adolescents and adults with special learning needs. She has been an active volunteer, coordinating get-togethers for Downer alumnae in the Washington, D.C., area as well as on the Lawrence campus. She served on reunion committees, the LUAA Board of Directors, and as a class secretary, and is a loyal donor and member of Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle.

Jill Manuel ’84, Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp

M-D’18 Outstanding Service Award: Manuel is an Emmy, Peabody, and Edward R. Murrow awardwinning, multi-platform executive who has led broadcast newsrooms in digital integration. She has demonstrated excellence in her field as a news director for multiple stations in Sacramento, Cleveland, and Chicago. She has remained a strong and active advocate for Lawrence, interviewing prospective students, serving on her reunion steering committee, on class leadership teams, on the Pride Alumni Network leadership team, and on the LUAA Board of Directors.

Eileen Paulson

Johnson M-D’66, Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp

M-D’18 Outstanding Service Award: Paulson Johnson started her college career at Milwaukee-Downer College, and later received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and master’s degrees in education from Lesley College. She built a career teaching music to elementary students, retiring from the Green Bay Area Public School District. She has been an enthusiastic member of the Lawrence community, serving on the LUAA Board of Directors, reunion committees, and the 50-Year Connection Committee. She continues to serve as a Class Leadership Team volunteer, loyal donor, Giving Day game changer, and Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle member.

Remembering MilwaukeeDowner: 60 years since merger

Lawrence University is marking the 60th anniversary of the 1964 merger of then Lawrence College and Milwaukee-Downer College.

The influences of Milwaukee-Downer continue to be seen and felt at Lawrence 60 years later. Downer traditions such as class colors are embraced, and items of historical and sentimental value such as the Teakwood Room in Chapman Hall and the sundial from Merrill Hall that is now on the south side of Main Hall, remain important pieces of the Lawrence campus.

Reunion 2024, held in mid-June, took time to honor the Downer legacy. In addition to a special luncheon, two Downer alumni were among this year’s recipients of Alumni Awards—Bonnie Maas McClellan M-D ’62 and Eileen Paulson Johnson M-D ’66 both received the Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp M-D ‘18 Outstanding Service Award.

Milwaukee-Downer was a pioneering women’s college, with roots dating back to the 1850s. It was formed in 1895 with the consolidation of two women’s colleges: Milwaukee College and Downer College of Fox Lake, Wisconsin.

In 1964, Downer’s 43-acre east side Milwaukee campus was sold to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and 49 female

students and 21 faculty members transferred to Lawrence upon the merger. Forty-four of the original 49 Milwaukee-Downer students eventually earned bachelor’s degrees from Lawrence, and 11 of the faculty members remained at Lawrence until retirement.

In addition to the sundial and Teakwood Room, other remembrances of Downer can be found on the Lawrence campus. The Chapman Library’s rare book collection, along with a selection of Downer memorabilia, is housed in the Milwaukee-Downer Room of the Seeley G. Mudd Library. A beloved grove of Hawthorn trees, known as Hawthornden, has been recreated near Colman Hall.

Milwaukee-Downer memories associated with nine alumnae from the 1940s live on via a Facebook Group maintained by their descendants. Formed 13 years ago, it has been a way to share Downer memorabilia belonging to their mothers and aunts as well as to convey more recent updates on their loved ones. The alumnae, all from Milwaukee or Racine, began meeting in 1951 on Friday evenings about once a month. Calling themselves the “Downer Club,” they continued this tradition for nearly 65 years.

Meanwhile, Downer alumni shared their ongoing love of the college in this edition of Class Notes (beginning on page 52).

Signage from Milwaukee-Downer resides on the Lawrence campus.

My time at Lawrence has provided numerous opportunities for growth. Because of the Lawrence Fund, I’ve travelled across the Midwest competing in cross country and track and field, while at the same time receiving a comprehensive education from professors of the highest quality. I put Lawrence University on my resume with pride.”

—Connor Myatt ’26

• lawrence.edu/giving

CLASS NOTES

CLASS NOTES IN LAWRENCE MAGAZINE!

Lawrence magazine features individual classes once each year, alternating even and odd years, plus Milwaukee-Downer, to allow adequate space for the rich details of your lives.

Submit your Class Note using our directory. Learn more at lawrence.edu/profile. (Class Notes key: M-D=MilwaukeeDowner graduate; P=parent of a graduate.)

MILWAUKEE-DOWNER

Kikue Rich M-D’49: The class becomes smaller each year but a few of us persist in our aging well past our 95s into our 97s. June McCotter keeps me going telling me of her status. A shock I felt in receiving a response to my Christmas letter from Gail Kuckuk telling of all her accomplishments. She wrote about her husband who had been a professor of art at Clarion College who died two years ago, of their three children now retired or near retirement, in their own retirement traveling and living in Europe and she, a registered dietician responding to issues of diet for aging persons, exercising, and feeling well. I continue to hobble about using walking for exercise and to show younger people that at 96 I could still garden, sweep and bag fallen, matting Magnolia leaves which cover plants looking for light. Yesterday, a fellow resident a few years younger than me, walking with two hiking sticks, seeing me pick up fallen tree twigs asked, “By hand?” How else? I thought to myself. I suppose others would have placed a work order to have a staff to clean the small front yard in the senior retirement agency where I live.

Dr. Beverly Olsen Schumacher M-D’51: After 40 years being “Dr. Olsen”, I am now just plain “Bev” to all. At 94 I am healthy and still able to adapt to life in 2024. My very clear happy memories of Downer include Hat Hung, Crew, and the Swim team. I still love being in the water and exercise now four days a week at the Y in their Olympic-size pool. I am grateful to still be able to live in and maintain my own home and be able to drive to the Y, the grocery store, church, doctor, and dentist appointments all within 5 to 10 minutes from home. I don’t move fast, and I use a cane or walker. These days I read a lot of books and write a lot of letters, all in cursive. Downer gave me opportunities to develop the leadership skills that I used in my career.

Alice Schroeder Wandt M-D’54: My personal life, health wise, took an unexpected turn late January when a breathing episode took me to the ER room/hospital, with diagnosis of aortic valve stenosis. I’m still undergoing tests, doctor consultations, a CT scan, and more. I’m scheduled to have a TVAL procedure and get a replacement heart valve mid-April. Hopefully, I’ll have more energy to do things I love doing like working in my 20 x 20 ft. “organic” veggie garden, where weeds grow faster than the veggies, that I end up giving away to neighbors and friends. I live alone in my own home, (husband passed away in August 2020), and am blessed with great neighbors who offer help. My extra-curricular life is much the same as before. At age 92, the pace is a lot slower. Regular lunches out with longtime friends, my high school chums, MDC limited now to Marlene and Zoe, and the Grannies are relished. The Fun Luv’n Grannie group that I started in 2000 is now down from 18 to 7 ladies plus me at the piano. We are doing sing-alongs at senior facilities, from Independent Living to Skilled Nursing care. I did get to see The Boys in the Boat, which totally mesmerized me. I rowed with the red class of MDC 54, seated somewhere in the middle. Although Miss Heimbach taught us basics of rowing, the conditioning was zip compared to what college teams do for the Olympic championships in the 1936 era as well as today. I was saddened by the passing of Marge Irvin at age 98½. I had been in touch with her since graduation with Christmas letters, phone calls, reunions, and more. My minor in Music Theory was perhaps my most treasured course at MDC and that I use today. One of Marge’s last wishes was that any monetary gifts be sent to LU Conservatory of Music for scholarships in her memory. I plan to send my $1,000 gift there, after July 1.

Joanne Kedzie M-D’55: Fortunately, my little spot in Anaheim, CA was not in the path of recent catastrophic storms and hopefully that will continue as more such storms are predicted. Reaching age 91 brought changes. I sadly did not renew my driver’s license after 70 yrs. of having one and gave up my car. Good news is I am in reasonably good health and managing. Next few months are full of anticipation as 3 of my granddaughters will raise my great-grand total to 25. The eldest is 16 and starting to drive; youngest is 1 and now walking. Good wishes to all MD’55.

Marlene Crupi Widen M-D’55: RE: The Boys in the Boat: A fabulous movie. I called all the crew people I know and told them they had to see this movie! I learned so much about crew, and why we were placed in certain seats in the shell! I thought it would be up for an Academy Award, but apparently Hollywood does not like George Clooney! I now live with my daughter and son-in-law. I still own my home. They are very good to me, but I had an accident and my car was totaled. So, right now I have no wheels and that is really hard. Flexibility is my new goal!

Patricia Leszkiewicz Brinkman M-D’56: Crew was a fantastic opportunity for women in the ’50s. Few schools offered this. We Downer Girls were so fortunate in so many ways as small classes, easy to reach faculty members and get to know them on a one-to-one basis. Being the first in my family to attend college, a whole new world was opened for me. Liberal arts made it possible to dream broadly and acquire skills and interests to make my life full and exciting and at times a bit dangerouslove it. Still alive, curious and traveling. Next stop Normandy to celebrate my 90th birthday. Just got home from the West Indies.

Virginia Jones Mason M-D’57: For the past two years my husband and I have been living in an active adult community called Holbrook in Acworth, Georgia. We had lived in League City, Texas, for 25 years before joining our older daughter here in Acworth. There are more activities here than I could possibly keep up with, but I participate in bridge, TaiChi, writing, French, genealogy, trivia, and needlework clubs. My younger daughter is a pilot for Alaska Airlines and is able to visit now and then. I am able to drive in this small town for all my needs but would not chance a drive on an interstate. We are fortunate to have 4 grandchildren and 2 (almost 3) great-grandchildren.

Nancy Johnson Schildgen M-D’58: I am now living in independent senior housing in Almont, MI. I have been here 4 years now. I have taken the job of providing activities each day, mostly card and/ or dice games, that give us time to socialize and also keep our minds alert! Reminds me of the first job I had after graduating from Downer in 1958 and receiving my status of OTR in 1959. I lost my husband in 1989 and my oldest son in 2022, so my other son and daughter are keeping me supplied with needs, etc. I navigate with a wheelchair most

of the time. Still an avid Packers fan even though I live in “Lion Territory”! Having grown up in Green Bay, I have Packers blood in me. Life is Good!

Lynne Ludeman Goodman M-D’59: For the past six years, Fresno, California has been home for me and the young man whom I took to Milwaukee Downer’s 1959 Spring Prom. At present our daughter lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, and our son, daughter-in-law, and our four young adult grandchildren, reside in New Hope, Pennsylvania. College is more than just book learning and classes. Rich memories of my Downer classmates and Downer faculty abide. That said, my Downer liberal arts education has equipped me to meet change and challenges at every stage of life. Downer’s focus on liberal arts moved me, an art major, to explore other fields of study and thus I obtained an MA in American History; nurtured my appreciation and understanding of the world’s many cultures; and encouraged me to be active in areas I felt strongly about, e.g. child care and public education. In this time of ampant misinformation, critical thinking, a hallmark of liberal arts education, is critical. So, thank you Downer and Lawrence and hello to my fellow alums.

Diane Coddington Turner M-D’60: My life has changed a bit over the last year or so. My husband of 63 years passed away from pancreatic cancer quite suddenly. We had a wonderful life. We raised four children who all married. We have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. My husband and I were able to travel quite extensively during our years together. We loved tennis so we managed to go to all the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments, plus many of the 1000 level tournaments as well. We traveled to Europe, England, Norway, Ireland, Israel, Australia, and China plus all the National parks here in the states. We have spent time in Hawaii most winters as our daughter lives there. I spent most of my years raising our four children and offering free babysitting to our neighborhood children. I used my education briefly at our local YMCA where I taught and developed their pre-school program. Now I lead a knitting and a crocheting ministry in my home. We donate items locally to the Living Alternative Center, our local hospital cancer department, the Women’s Shelter, and a rescue

mission. I love cooking, baking, and sharing my treats with neighbors and friends. I have been very active in my local church for over 50 years, singing in the choir, leading the Women’s Service Guild plus lots of cooking, etc. I also make cards. I send them to seniors in my church, which keeps me quite busy.

Kathleen Ehlert Wollin M-D’60: I emailed M.J. Jones M-D’60 to let her know I purchased her book, The King’s Corpse, and then donated it to the Sussex, WI library. I wrote to her that the only thing I write since we shared Miss Hadley’s composition class are emailed letters. She wrote that she has no plans for future books.

Darleen Dick Young M-D’60: Hi yellow class. Doing well for my age as I live alone in a spacious condo in Mason (close to Cinti). I enjoy art lessons with a group of women that pursue oil painting. Twice a week I play duplicate bridge at the Cinti bridge Center. Challenging but fun. So, I still drive in the daytime, cook, shop, and keep up my property. It is also challenging as something always needs attention. I did travel to Houston to see my son for Thanksgiving and hope he will come to Cinti for Mother’s Day. Time is flying, the world is spinning, life has changed more than we could have imagined from that day in June 1960. Love to all.

Holly Habhegger Day M-D’61: Hello purple classmates and others. I just spoke with Pat Anderson and we’re both still thriving in the beautiful, mild Northwest (Seattle area). I live with my solid grey kitty in a roomy senior apt. in North Seattle near the University of Washington and Pat lives with her husband and Havanese dog in an apartment south of Seattle called Federal Way. We both seem to be of sound mind. Being in our 80s we have the usual predictable muscle and joint aches and pains. I use a walker most of the time due to balance problems. Otherwise, we are moderately active and generally enjoy life. I wish the same for the rest of you. I’m still in a state of mourning since my beloved sister, Heather, recently died in December. Some of you may remember her since she and I commuted to Downer in 1957–58. She as a senior and me as a freshman! We both became OT’s. I sure miss her daily calls from Indiana. Best wishes to all of you and “thanks for the memories.”

Kathleen Parmentier Hansen M-D’61: My husband Howie and I are in Florida right now. We own a home in the Villages, a huge city for retirees! Lots of activities to do every day! We just came back from a week of cruising on The Wonder of the Sea, a city on water! Lots of good food and entertainment every day. We were with 3 other couples, dear friends, which made it more special! We are all in a club for married couples and get to go on various trips every so often. The Villages has lots of golf courses, although I haven’t been out golfing lately. We’re so busy down here. Love playing pinochle with friends, and they have weekly tournaments. It costs $3 to play but if you get good scores, you can make a few bucks! We’re heading

Ruth Qualich turns 90! (June 2023) Celebrating are Marlene C. Widen M-D’55, Carolyn K. Stephens M-D’62, Alice S. “Bogie” Wandt M-D’54, Ruth L. Qualich M-D’55 and Donna W. M. Schroeder M-D’54

back to De Pere, Wisconsin for the summer in May so I should be able to attend the reunion.

Janet Sayre Hoeft M-D’61: Just read Kareem’s address at the unveiling of Lakers’ statue of Kobe Bryant and have been pondering his remarks, “...the fear of aging out of relevance.” I never feel that, am well enough, sold my house of 50 years, and live in a condo. I spent six weeks here and there in Scotland in ’22. My descendants are in line with my Mini’s license plate: SOF SOG—So far so good!

Nancy Owen M-D’61: Tom and I moved to the “south” (Amherst, VA.), March of 2016 after we decided to leave family and friends in Warwick, NY. Rural Virginia is not so different from rural NY except that it’s a little warmer with no big snowstorms. We have volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, fostered kittens for the humane society and even drove 26 cats up to Salem, MA. for lifelong homes, and currently make meals for Meals on Wheels for 27 families in town. Fortunately, we’ve made some friends and learned new games to play with others in the community. We are not church goers, which is the primary way people socialize down here, but we’ve been lucky to meet some nice people who accept us the way we are.

Carolyn King Stephens M-D’62: Eileen Johnson’s invitation to write challenged me to think! What about aging with a Liberal Arts Degree and Friends? The news that my Class President, Bonnie Maas McClellan, would receive the beloved Gertrude B. Jupp Award was just the spark I needed to start calling classmates and sign up for the 60th Anniversary of the Consolidation this June. I thought, “What am I doing these days in my mid-80s?” I read good books. I make beautiful books ... annual journals with photography and art. I think critically about current affairs. I act with letters to editors and authors. I suffer with the sick, the hurting, and those terrified by war. Then “I act where it hurts” by donating. My body is getting creaky but life as an English teacher prepared me for sedentary work. Thanks to the education cultivated by Milwaukee-Downer, my life is still full of action, adventure, romance, compassion, and wonderment!

Virginia Popko Kroitzsh M-D’62: I am now living on the coast of Maine. My two children have provided me with three grandchildren, I am blessed. My daughter Barbara lives in New Hampshire, so I see her often. Greg lives in California, so visits are less frequent. I have given up skiing, but still enjoy long walks especially on the beautiful Maine beaches. Life is good!

Bonnie Maas McClellan M-D’62: All’s well here. Mike and I still live in our home in College Park happily enjoying family and friends. The University gives us abundant resources and opportunities to be involved in our community. I’m especially caught up these days in an initiative with AARP to have College Park be more age friendly. In odd times I enjoy my gardens, swimming, yoga, and doing a weekly 5K Park Run—but mostly walking.

Music fills a large space in our lives too. We will be at Lawrence this June for the 60-year celebration of the Downer-Lawrence merger. It would be wonderful if other Downer and Lawrence friends could be there too.

Ruth Gienapp Rinard M-D’63: I am living in Western Massachusetts. I enjoy my eight greatgrandchildren. I am a Pastelist and try to paint every day. You can follow me on Instagram. I have two shows coming up this year.

Dr. Florence Vaccarello Dunkel M-D’64 P’91: Florence Vaccarello Dunkell enjoys retirement as Emerita Associate Professor of Entomology at Montana State University. Delighted to hear granddaughter, Annika Dunkel ’25, was assigned my 5th book, Incorporating Cultures’ Role in the Food and Agricultural Sciences, part of “Snowmester” course, Food Politics. Writing and speaking continue as professional passions. Three book chapters on edible insects were published this year in 3 separate books. Creating week-long festivals and permanent changes on university menus is frequent speaking request. Had time with Karen Krause Thunberg M-D’64, husband Len in new penthouse, Alexandria VA. At home, we feast on garden, berries, grasshoppers, deer, and elk.

Mary Gibbon Nortman M-D’64: Greetings! Life has continued to be busy with volunteering. I recently rearranged my schedule to make room for Zumba and silver sneakers class. Added a chocolate lab puppy to the mix. I keep in touch with Julie Juan Keller ’63, Ira Voight Leidel ’64, and Diane Holtz Bartels ’64.

Diane Rosedale Odegard M-D’64: Hello to all. I especially liked the information about MD history in the last reunion email. It was a powerful and nostalgic reminder of our Milwaukee Downer education. Thank you, Lawrence University, for the way you have incorporated this piece of history into your present commitment to an outstanding liberal arts education. There are three North Dakota girls who attended MD and graduated in ’64 and ’65 (Lawrence). I hope we can attend the coming reunion. I am presently dividing my time between Grand Forks, ND and Scottsdale, AZ. Because of my late husband’s work at the University of North Dakota, I am always involved with “college life” in one way or another. What a joy!

Julien Minard M-D’65: In October, I turned 80— along with many of my classmates! I live in Long Beach, CA. I retired in 2012 after teaching in California’s public schools (jr. and sr. high school and CSULB) for 12 years; working for the California Federation of Teachers as a Labor Representative; 11 years as a mediator (not of labor disputes) for the City of Portland, OR; and, finally back to CA to work for the CFT as its training director. Now I sponsor house concerts, travel, read, and occasionally carry a picket sign. My first trip in 2024 was to Vietnam for 3.5 weeks: beautiful, meaningful, and grueling. My son Erik and his wife Carmela live in northern CA. My three grandchildren are young adults.

Julien Minard M-D’65

Eileen Paulson Johnson M-D’66 and June Marinelle McCotter M-D’49 enjoyed lunch recently.

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

1951

Jean Goodwin Messenger: I am in a senior living complex, where I expect to finish my years. My health is good, although there are minor “inconveniences” like failing memory and lack of energy. With no longer a car, I am pretty well “stuck” here, along with 200 other residents, but there is a lot going on and many new friends. My 3 kids are all in Colorado nearby, along with 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grands. My husband passed away 15 years ago. Former class-mate Bill Ferguson and I reconnected several years ago (we barely knew each other at Lawrence) and had a nice close relationship. He died a year ago at 92 and was in good health all that time. I really am not in touch with any other classmates except at Christmas time. I wonder how many of us are still kicking. I’ve published several books about a variety of topics like architectural history, which was my master’s topic. But there are a couple of WWII books that may be of interest to classmates. One was a collection of stories from German immigrants living in Colorado, describing life for them in Germany during the war. Another book was a collection from different nationalities, also Colorado residents, of their experiences as civilians during the war. A Japanese American neighbor witnessed the bombing of Hiroshima. I will look forward to the news of my classmates.

1953

Dr. Kenneth J. Meyer P’77: Greetings from Reno. Peggy and I moved to a nearby senior living facility last June, and we love our new home. The residents and staff are friendly and supportive of each other—it’s a village. Assisted living services are available right here as needed, so we are aging in a place with many new friends. I am unreasonably healthy for my age, and Peggy is too, despite macular degeneration, mobility issues, and various other health problems. Life is good for us, despite all the conflicts and troubles in the world around us. Why can’t people learn to live in peace with each other? An enduring theological question and political challenge for all of us. Enough said.

Rev. Margaret Warren Schultz: Margaret (Peggy) Warren Schultz ’53. At age 92, I am enjoying these bonus years with my family and friends. I am a retired United Methodist Minister, who served as a chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center. I remember happy years lived at Lawrence, where I met my husband, Merlin Schultz ’51. Sadly, Merlin died of a heart attack in 1992, and I continue to live in the home

we created 68 years ago. My love of reading keeps me busy and brings back fond memories of freshmen studies, one of my most helpful classes. Several of those old books have a permanent home on my bookshelves. I thank Lawrence for being a significant part of who I have become.

1955

Beverly Hart Branson: Winter in Door County has been warmer this year. Lots of special art exhibits have been held. It is nice to read about Lawrence and the positive news there.

Rosemary Freeman Lehman: Don and I met at the 1st Freshman Mixer of Lawrence ’55, pinned our sophomore year, engaged junior year, and married 13 days after graduation! Then Don’s service call came, and he took off for the Air Force. Post Air Force service, Don settled into the Vogel Building in Madison. Over the years we’ve been blessed with 5 children, 20 grands, 13 greats, and 1 great-great! I received my Master’s/Ph.D. in technology/adult learning at the UW and worked with UW teaching Distance Learning Design. In 1988, we built our 3rd home on 12 acres of wooded land, cultivating three prairies. Sadly, Don passed away in August of 2022, just after our 67th Anniversary. It’s been quite a ride. Thank you, Lawrence, for that 1st Freshman Mixer!

Kathryn Ellis Price: Kathryn Ellis Price is still “hanging in” with her husband of 66 years, Val Price, at a wonderful retirement community in La Grange Park, Illinois, 5 miles from their home of 65 years. Still active in the music club, leading memory writing groups, and enjoying a good life as best as we are able. Son and family nearby. It seems all my close LU classmates are gone, but happy memories abound.

Peggy Stewart Wilson P’85: Greetings from the Lawrence Class of 1951. I’m still in Oak Park and currently surviving the ending phase of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic Era.

1957

Rev. Martin L. Deppe P’86: Sisters and brothers, I continue to reflect on the centrality of Lawrence to my life’s journey. From childhood stamp collecting and Junior UN I moved on to study history in high school and at Lawrence. Inspired profoundly by Professors Raney, Chaney and Goeser I continued with Reformation history abroad. Back in the Chicago area I was thrust into the Civil Rights and Peace Movements and finally wrote a slice of that history, publishing a book on Civil Rights in Chicago, and lecturing on it around Chicago. A

full circle that had dear Lawrence as its turning point. I continue to care for family and write ’letters to the editor’ on vital issues. Keep hope alive!

David L. Hoffman P’94 ’92: Double major in philosophy and biology, a masters in psychiatric social work at the University of Chicago and certificate in child psychotherapy from the Institute of Psychoanalysis. Started 38-year career at Family Service of Milwaukee. Married Debbie in 1969 and our two children: Elyse and Paul are graduates of Lawrence. Retired in 2000 and spent the next 15 years traveling all 50 states and all seven continents to run a 26.2-mile marathon—117 in total. Debbie racewalked four of them with me. My last marathon was at age 80. Celebrating my 90th this and still “running” but my “marathon” is now 3–5 miles and that’s mostly walking. But that’s biology and I’m philosophical about it.

1959

David F. Berganini: Still living on Silver Lake in the Town of West Bend, WI. My son, Rob, lives with me, and it is great because he keeps me moving in the right direction. The whole family will be here for the 4th of July, and it will be a crowded affair that will be a fun time. If you get out this way, give me a shout at 262-306-1560 or bergy1gm@gmail.com.

Waltressa Allen Molsberry: I’m still a resident at Flatirons Terrace, a small independent living retirement home in Boulder, CO. I’m slowing down but am still active in Boulder and Flatirons.

Carol Ann Schleger Ostrom: After 66 years, our church Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Rockford, Ill. had to permanently close due to lack of members and money. I have been the organist here for 60 years: 1964 to January 14, 2024. A group of our members are visiting 4 other E.L.C.A. Lutheran Churches in the hope that we can be invited to serve and join another church. I have been honored for my many years of service on September 10th and invited to worship while 2 organist/pianist friends shared the bench. A catered luncheon followed. As a volunteer, I play worship services Mondays at Peterson Meadows Retirement Center. May God have the glory as we seek to find a new church home.

Shirley Spangler Steiner P’82: We have been fortunate not to have gotten Covid or any of the flu bugs. We enjoy visits from family and friends. I finally was able to adopt a senior dog, a 9 ½-year-old Border Collie/Aussie mix, so have another walking companion. I have a

trainer working with her on the barking issue; otherwise, she is a sweetheart. She certainly brightened up the gray January days for us. We also adopted a year-old kitty to qualify as old people with pets. I enjoy the webcasts of the Conservatory concerts and get into Madison for the MSO Sunday afternoon concerts. I practice on the pipe organ at our church to get my music fix. Life is good at 86! Our wish is for peace around the world.

J. Gilbert Swift III: My most important news is that on Nov. 11, 2023, I lost my dear wife, Sue, of 62 wonderful years. She fought cancer for 14 years! I do pray that none of my classmates endures such pain as I have these last few months. God bless ALL of you!

Barbara Beckley Van Cleave: I’ve lived in Cincinnati for 65 years. Within that time, I lived in England for two years. I now live in a retirement home. I still get together with longtime friends for an occasional lunch, dinner, and bridge. My daughter is in Florida, and son is in Hilton Head, and two grandkids are in the Chicago area. Great places to visit.

1961

Carol Reno Bullock: I am enjoying living in Carlsbad, CA, since my daughter with 2 youngest grandchildren returned from the Boston area after 3 years. (I had moved here from San Francisco in 2016 to enjoy their company.) COVID was a wee bit difficult for everyone, but I managed well by staying up late watching a few shows that I could laugh along with (reruns of some old classics). Retired from a Real Estate career, I seem to fill my days with family and friends. I would love to take the Viking Cruise of the Great Lakes someday soon! Hello to all!

David R. Grant: Suzanne, wife of 59 years, and I are blessed to be healthy and very active even though we have had the normal bypass and two knee and hip replacements. I teach tennis, am a certified college tennis referee, manage a golf grip business, and we are enjoying life here in Salem in the northwest corner of SC, an hour from Greenville. Been here 14 years. I stay in touch with John Dunning but so few are still left so I have little to report on other fellow classmates. Would welcome visitors if you come this direction. Hope to hear from some of you. Dave Grant 609-284-1565 dave_grant@charter. net dgrant@tourmarkgrips.com.

William E. Mack: Judy (Anderson ’64) and I will be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary come June 27th. For our 50th we took our family to England. I think we’ll stick a little closer to

home this time. Had a short call with Dick Lang and Jim Collins earlier this year. We continue to spend part of our summer on Squam Lake in New Hampshire though we are slowly turning management of “Cotton Farm” over to the next generation.

Judith Van Der Linden Ovitt: It has been 66 years since I was a freshman at Lawrence University. Last September I visited Door County with Kathy Murray Eccles and Carol Weise Nichols, former classmates who I have reconnected with in person the past two summers. One of our most fun days was spent at Björklunden visiting the lodge, chapel, and the lakefront. It is a treasure to make new memories with Lawrence friends. I was married in 1962 to Dr. Theron (Terry) Ovitt from Milwaukee, who sadly passed in 2022. We moved to Tucson in 1974, have two daughters and their families. I have served on the U of Wisc. and (currently) on U of Ariz. Boards of Education as well as many nonprofit and medical organizations. I still have an active life.

Frederic G. Sherman: Well, in the continuing game of Whack-a-Mole, I find myself in a null point. All the moles have been whacked. Oh, some continuing residue of the battle royal remains, but I’m doing pretty well. I play tennis poorly three days a week. Since Suzanne’s death in June, I’ve joined her Senior Strength class. I’m in the obligatory book club (Einstein this month). My men’s club meets once a month for dinner and discussion of world events. Such traveling I do is to visit children, grand and great-grand. I’ve scheduled a month in a retirement community for April. Probably premature but just gathering information. Burlington, Vermont, continues to be a healthy place to live. Here for now.

Nancy M. Stowe P’87: I continue to enjoy life in Appleton, living in the house I shared with John Koopman for the last decade of his life. My chief activities center around my church where I am fortunate still to be able to sing in the choir and even do an occasional solo! Good friends abound, though many are much younger. Arlene Atwood Trettin, Mary Hotson, and I attended a lovely memorial at Björklunden for Margaret Carroll, and Jo Nelson Church stops by annually en route to seminars there. I still attend some Lawrence events (usually daylight), chiefly at the Conservatory, where the excellence of student recitals, choral concerts, and opera performances delight me. Come see me!

Rev. Harry C. Vedder: Wow! So many years have passed since I posted an update to Class Notes. So let me try and fill you in on my life. Although no longer active in the Episcopal Church, I

continue to celebrate Mass weekly. I moved from Wisconsin to Tennessee in 2001 to begin a gay/bi commune which lasted until 2016. At that point, I moved a short distance away along with my spouse, Trixi, a transgender female. We were married in Oakland, CA, in 2013. Trixi had just been told that she only had 6–8 weeks to live due to health issues and we wanted to be married should that event occur. Well, she is still here but on home hospice. I hope to hear from you, email: creekvw@yahoo.com.

Dr. Jerome W. Yates: Another year and I am still teaching but I believe this will be my last year teaching health services research in the school of Public Health at the University at Buffalo. I have had a fortunate academic, scientific administrative, and research career in cancer over the past 55 years. It is interesting how much my experience in “Freshman Studies” has crisscrossed my career experiences over the years. Lawrence provided a solid foundation. Now it is time to spend more time with my grandchildren. I still occasionally talk with Mel Weinberg, who lives in Arizona, a classmate at both Lawrence and medical school.

1963

Allen R. Bjornson: My wife, Marti Ross Bjornson, and I are still in our home in Evanston, IL. We are lucky to be able to take advantage of the Cultural Arts scene at Northwestern University and the City of Chicago. We are bi-coastal parents. Our daughter, Alicia Bjornson, has retired from her job as a Historic Conservator and Interpreter with the state of NJ. Our son, Andrew, is in Laguna Niguel, CA (in Orange County) and still works as a designer for the Vans Shoe company. His daughter, Eden, is a sophomore at UCLA, His son, Eli, is a senior in HS. We can remember further back than most of our neighbors because we are about the oldest on our block. Cell: 847-644-2330.

Dr. Donald E. Kersemeier: After 35 years in secondary education, teacher, and administrator, I retired and began researching, writing, and publishing Bequest: A Fifty-Year Journey to Find a Birth Father (available on Amazon). My wife Mary and I will celebrate 59 years of marriage in June. Our three adult children are married and are teachers. We enjoy 11 grandchildren and two great-grands. All families live close by and fill our calendar. After 26 years in our previous home, we are completing year 3 in Luther Village, Arlington Heights. Il. Lawrence Christian Fellowship (LCF) began Dec. 1959 and continues using our Lake Michigan house in Sturgeon Bay, WI.—a 66-year direct connection with LU! So grateful for LU!

1965

Tom C. Conley: Dear friends, continuing to write and teach Cinema and French Studies at Harvard University, soon having directed 40+ doctoral dissertations, I owe much to what Lawrence inspired in us in our undergraduate years and to the impact it has borne upon our lives. In gratitude.

Dr. Roberta Bassett Corson: The book I published last year, Stepping Out of the Shadows: Naming and Claiming the Medial Woman Today, has been reaching a small but appreciative audience of readers both in the U.S. and many other countries. It is a psychological study in the Jungian tradition, without the patriarchal underpinnings. Check out my website: www. robertabcorson.com. We are grateful for good health, atmospheric rivers, which are filling California’s reservoirs, and connections with dear friends.

Rev. David Foxgrover: My son says, “Gravity wins,” but I’m still standing. I’ve tried connecting with Michael Alpert, my freshman year roommate. When I tried to connect with Mike Lynn, I found that he died in April 2021. Michael Alpert is a psychiatrist in NY, and Michael Lynn was a bankruptcy judge in Dallas. Michael and I talked on the phone just before his death. I’ve succeeded in connecting with Jim Walrath, an attorney in Milwaukee, and we had a wonderful phone visit. I found a photo of Michael, Jim, my son Craig, and me having dinner at Gibson’s in Chicago in 2010. A wonderful memory! 630-747-8181.

Dr. Michael E. Hayes: Still going strong in Key West. Reading, swimming daily. Will soon have a book of poetry published.

Theodore M. Katzoff: Greetings, all! Claudette and I are doing well. My retirement involves music, reading, volunteering in the local library bookstore, meals with friends, and tagging along with Claudette when she goes on a dive trip. A big one coming up in the Fall to the Philippines! I am looking forward to Reunion in June and being on campus again. My very best regards to you all!

Dr. Richard L. Rapport II: Still living in Seattle with my wife of 52 years, Valerie Trueblood. Still teaching medical students, and I still can run every other day. My only real contact with patients is now through a wonderful operation called the Maven Project that provides specialty consultations for nothing to providers working in clinics for the underserved. Still enormously grateful for the wonderful education I was given at Lawrence.

Jean Christensen Rogers: Like all of us octogenarians, I have my age-related issues, but am gratefully enjoying my family and our home in beautiful Eaton’s Neck, Long Island. I am truly fortunate to have my wonderful husband and son with me. Although it seems so long ago, I cherish my memories of those carefree years at Lawrence and my very special classmates.

Jane Day Sublett: I lost my husband on St. Patrick’s Day 2022. He had been struggling with dementia for 29 years. I continued to work at the Glencoe Park District until I needed to stay home with my husband. He wandered some but he was always close to home. He was never aggressive, but he was stubborn! I have a wonderful supportive family which made our journey easier. I have two children with grown children. My son Tarn lives in Kirkland, Washington. He went to school there and never left! My daughter lives in Lake Forest, one block from me. I am finally able to do some traveling! I went to Washington for my great granddaughter’s first birthday.

1967

Sidney K. Ayabe: Cookie and I just returned from our Panama Canal cruise. We enjoyed visiting the many Mexican towns and traveling through the canal. We continue our golf outings despite our rising scores. I serve on nonprofit boards as well as the board for our alma mater. I keep my mental faculties stimulated by serving as a mediator/arbitrator. We have three grandkids and enjoy babysitting. My oldest daughter Lisa named her second child Sid Ayabe. So, life is good. To my classmates, be well, take care, stay safe, and don’t postpone life’s enjoyments.

Dr. Richard A. Culbertson, Ph.D.: We are back in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and my final semester at LSU before moving to professor emeritus. We spent five great months in Sunnyvale, CA, where I was Silicon Valley’s least likely tech bro at Intuitive Surgical. My job at the maker of the daVinci Surgical Robot was to establish a Center for Health Policy and Patient Access. We will be splitting time between NOLA and Sunnyvale as long as health permits and Intuitive wants me as Senior Technical Advisor. I’ll rejoin my department at UCSF as Clinical Professor of Family Medicine. I had the pleasure of serving as an interviewer for Lawrence’s Health Career Exploration. Good thing my Intuitive co-workers were 1/3 my age. Be well!

Chris Kaufman: My husband and I winter in Phoenix and enjoy it. We love the change of seasons in Illinois but...

James O. Miller: As a retired Circuit Court Judge for over 10 years, I’ve never been convicted of high crimes or misdemeanors. I was never impeached. As a reserve judge, I took a position that Supreme Court justices should have ethical standards. Never got another case after that. Not bitter, just don’t really care anymore. That’s all, folks!

Charlot Nelson Singleton: Hi 67ers! My news is much the same. Still involved at LU as a retired trustee. Good things happening on campus, including three major capital projects that will keep the students coming! Still working as a mentor at the local Boys and Girls Club and volunteering weekly at Second Harvest Food Bank. Grandkids keep us busy, as does golf and gardening. Lots of travel still in the cards! Call when you’re in the San Francisco area!

Nancy L. Stover: I’m enjoying being in this stage of life with its health and healing miracles of understanding. I worked for a time with LifeSong Theater for Special Populations—“In every life there is a song!”—now I myself am a special population finding new songs and old, weaving meaning for all ages and stages and rages of growth as I enter into faith communities in church buildings and in Be Able Community. For rages, I turn to the Koran and the “Opening” prayer to be led away from the path of rage and onto the path of Grace. This prayer was introduced to me with love by my friend Mahnaz. She lives in Turkey and plants trees. Praying for a peaceful election in 2024! Bless us everyone!

John W. Whipple: I am semi-retired from architecture; all three kids are partnered up and gainfully employed; houses in Portland and Phippsburg are still above water. Mostly recovered from last year’s unexpected bypass operation, I play squash and walk a wonderful doodle dog. My current passion is painting, which Tish and I do together. Portraits of our great-grandkids adorn their water bottles. We travel a lot with friends; Social Security and Medicare compensate for aging. I try to ignore politics, aging issues, and the inevitability of global warming, but can’t. Tish donates time at a food bank; I mentor kids from Africa. As we try to do a small amount of good for the future, we are enjoying the present.

1969

Linda Skoug Brann: Continuing to live in Bromley, Greater London, we now have two lovely grandchildren. Both my husband and I are still working—my husband for an NGO, and I am still teaching piano and music theory to some very bright and talented students. We

are growing older but still well. I miss Lawrence and the care which was given to students. I am trying to pass on what I received.

Gayle Jorgenson Elfast: We are spending the winter at our home here on Long Island, Bahamas. After flying to Nassau and connecting with a great car dealer, we now have good transportation on the Island. Our Honda Fit arrived by ferry a week after purchase. We’ll be driving to a big basketball tournament this weekend. Teams come to Long Island from at least six other Bahamian Islands. It’s really a fun event that we attend every year. We’ve done a lot of hiking and explored old ruins that date from around 1800. This is an amazing Island that also has some great new restaurants. We fly home a few pounds heavier right after Easter. We’ll be ready for the tennis and pickle ball seasons starting in April.

Bruce H. Iglauer: My news is sad. My beloved wife Jo passed away last September. We had 28 wonderful years of marriage, mostly living in two cities—me in Chicago and she in Mequon, WI. But the last few years we were under the same roof in Mequon. We were together almost daily and were more in love every day. She is gone now, but I’ve been adopted by her family, so I have two daughters and six adult grandkids. No one cares that there’s no genetic relationship; we just love each other. I continue to work very full-time running Alligator Records. I’m still producing new blues albums, and still finding artists and signing them. It’s my life’s mission, and it keeps me young and ful of energy.

Laurie A. Magee: I just completed my year as Show Chair of the Rio Grande Valley Quilt Show. We presented 5 military quilts to veterans to honor their service to our country during the show. We doubled our profit this year, which allows us to provide additional speakers and classes to guild members. My charity quilt group on South Padre Island will have our final meeting on Tuesday and we have completed 112 quilts which were donated to the Salvation Army, The VA Nursing Home and Clinic, and the Las Palmas Head Start in Los Fresnos, TX. My husband, Tom Blajeski, has completed some amazing pieces of furniture and other items during this past year. I just was appointed to the local library board.

Susan Voss Pappas: Dean and I continue to live in Evanston most of the year, but we are now spending four to five months in Door County. One of the big attractions there is Lawrence’s northern campus at Björklunden. We both take two or three classes every summer and have

enjoyed connecting with other lifelong learners. Highly recommend!

Steven V. Ponto: I am in the middle of my fourth term as Mayor of the City of Brookfield, Wisconsin. I truly enjoy the job and have great city employees to keep things running well. I have been happily married for 42 years. We have two daughters who live nearby so we see them often. Our youngest daughter and her husband have three daughters (6, 4, and 2) and we love being grandparents.

Joann Gillespie Weisell: I am still living in the Castelli Romani, the hill towns southeast of Rome. Besides all the marvelous benefits partaking in Italian culture, my favorite weekly activity is special guided tours of unique, beautiful Roman/Italian sites. Amazingly, some “new” sites have opened just now after 50 years of excavations and investigation. Living here, I am very much aware of what is happening in Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East. Considering what is happening in my home country, which I love, I hope with all my heart that the almost 8,000 American men and women buried at Anzio, 40 minutes from my house, who lost their lives in 1944 fighting tyranny, will not have died in vain.

1971

Stephen C. Allen: Steve Allen simply cannot seem to retire! He teaches Language Arts oneto-one on Zoom and owns and operates Bay Vinyl Records in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

Dr. Steven M. Bartell: I am still actively involved with private consulting, the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, and the Oak Ridge Associated Universities in environmental matters—more recently with an emphasis on climate change impacts, corporate sustainability, and biophysical economics. Our horse farm in rural Greenback, TN keeps Cindy and I busy, but we are enjoying a new pool with waterfalls, large pavilion, outdoor kitchen, and a great view of the Smoky Mountains. Looking forward to retiring in the backyard—with an occasional foray to tropical blue waters. Best wishes to all my fellow Lawrentians!

Dr. Andrew N. Binns: Susan and I are happily retired in Santa Fe, NM. Loving the hiking where the nearby mountains and high deserts provide all sorts of beautiful scenes and vigorous exercise. And of course, there are plenty of golf courses around to keep me at it! The city is full of cultural activities and great food, and as the COVID pandemic has receded we have been enjoying that more. I keep myself active in the lab, working steadily at the bench at the National Center for Genome Resources

and Susan continues her psychotherapy practice. We very much enjoy visitors who come out to enjoy all this and look forward to more. If you are in the area, let us know!

Robert C. Fellows: Lawrence fostered a love for learning and encouraged us to explore. Minnesota offers college courses to the hip generation tuition free as auditors. I am taking Anthropology of Religion, Advanced Painting, and Basics of Accounting this semester at Normandale Community College just minutes from my condo in Minnetonka. What a pleasure to be inspired by college life with such a diverse student body and dedicated faculty. Melody and I live 50% in MN where we have our first grandchild (a girl named Clara), and 50% in NH. We serve progressive UCC churches part-time (pastor, guitarist, drummer), paint as much as possible, and still put on the occasional magic show. Hello and best wishes to all!

Robert F. Haeger: My wife Kate and I have been enjoying retirement since the end of 2015. Part of that retirement entailed moving from our home of thirty some years in Wheaton, Illinois to the Denver area. There, we’ve been enjoying watching our only grandchild grow (currently 10 years old going on 16). For the warm part of the year, we enjoy a lakeside home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Finally, we do get away from the cold for several weeks in the desert of Southern California. Give a holler if you are ever going to be near any of these places at the right time!

William C. Hogan: Lucky to be living in Palos Verdes Estates California with better half of 42 years, Laura, son Tom and his wife Akira, and close to daughter Rose, husband Dylan, and grandsons Oliver (almost 5) and Parker (almost 2). Best to all Lawrentians!!

Margaret Tifft Janis: For the last dozen years or so, I’ve been researching my family history. I’m happy to say that I will be launching a website, Tengens.net in mid-March, where I will be posting the results of my research as long as I can still research and write. I’ve taken a bit of a different approach. While still doing some traditional genealogical research, I’ve sought out interesting stories of my ancestors, and have found some doozies. The stories promise to be fun reads. Look for my website “Chasing the History of Ten Generations of a Blended, and Very Extended Family” at Tengens.net around March 15 and let me know what y ou think.

David A. Jones P’10: Life has slowed down greatly coming out of pandemic years, but did get a nice Lawrentian boost in several

visits with classmate Rick Rothschild over the past half year, traveling into Chicago from his California home for work on his exciting ’Flyover Chicago’ project, a drone-heavy aerial cruise over and through the city’s many picturesque prospects and vistas currently being installed as a permanent “thrill ride” attraction on Navy Pier. (Rick even gave me a shot as an extra in a long day of filming in and around the Chicago Theater.) Have enjoyed showing him some lesser-known dining spots and bites around town, often in the excellent company of fellow Lawrentian Mike Matheson. Cheers!

Stephen D. Le Van: Karen ’74 and I have settled just north of Gettysburg, PA. We sold our SC home and built our dream home on a friend’s farm. Apartment living for a year and then our friends guest room for 14 months—kept a close eye on the building progress. We moved in last June. We still raise and exhibit Irish Wolfhounds (IWs). I judge dog shows. We had a marvelous trip to Australia where I judged the New South Wales IW show in Sydney in 2019. In 2022 we went to Prague where I judged the IW World Championship. Karen is working too hard with house and kennel care since I have some health issues. Fortunately, I am getting my heart and joints patched up and will shoulder my share of the chores again.

David L. Mitchell: Greetings ’71 classmates! Judy and I continue to split our time between a condo in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood near the SF Giants stadium and our new home on the Mary’s Woods retirement campus in Lake Oswego, south of downtown Portland. Our new abode is a two-minute walk from the Willamette River, making kayaking and standup paddleboarding a regular activity. Regularly attending lectures on international affairs and medical research at Stanford, Judy’s alma mater, and reading lots of non-fiction on history and world affairs, inspired by my studies in Government at LU.

Rick Rothschild: Hello from Chicago, as I am finishing up a 3-year project to open Flyover Chicago, a flying ride attraction at Navy Pier. I’ve enjoyed my time here in Chicago working on this project, as well as renewing old friendships from Lawrence. Catching a few meals with David Jones and Mike Matheson... good times! Our younger ones, twins Arin and Eli are finishing up their junior year at college. Arin is focused on Mechanical Engineering at The Cooper Union in NYC and Eli is engrossed in creative game development at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in MA. Adrienne is looking forward to my being home more as we hope to enjoy my continuing “semi-retirement.”

Dr. Edibaldo Silva: Carol and I relocated to Alexandria, VA in the summer of 2021 to be close to two of our children who had just become parents. She babysits daily 2 recently born 10-month-olds. After 36 years in academic surgical oncology, I retired from the Buffett Cancer Center where I spent the last 20 years or so. We remain very healthy and fit and travel to Europe yearly to see our daughter whose husband is an Air Force officer currently assigned to a NATO airbase in Geilenkirchen, Germany. I volunteer as a surgeon for a Catholic Charities Clinic for the uninsured. We like DC and Old Town Alexandria and hope to see any classmates from Lawrence anytime.

Pamela L. Tibbetts: Linda and I took two great trips this past year: one to Norway with OAT, where we visited Linda’s cousins, and then in September, a driving trip to Scotland with Sue Mahle ’70 and Betty. I was the designated driver and didn’t kill us. We’re done with international travel for a while. This Fall we helped a very good friend move into assisted living and then sold her condo; I guess it is that time in our lives for another transition. My mother (LU ’44) died in November after celebrating her 100th birthday and I am in the process of working on her estate. We are spending our winter down in Albuquerque, NM, which we really enjoy. In April, we hope to see Phyllis and Bill Pengelly in Santa Fe.

John C. Woodruff (Joch): Joch Woodruff and his husband, Jeff, love their European lives in Portugal. Joch retired from an international behavioral health career, moved 4 years ago, and settled in a small coastal suburb of Porto. They are the only English speakers with a home 2 blocks from Praia Cabo do Mundo. Close and valued new friendships enrich their lives. The Porto international airport is a 10-minute drive away, making European jaunts easy peasy. Joch celebrated his 75th birthday at the end of January on a western Mediterranean cruise out of Barcelona. Next year Joch and Jeff will apply for Portuguese citizenship. Joch frequently pinches himself and exclaims, “A vida é boa. Life is good.”

1973

Paul G. Chicos: Officially retired. Now, a fulltime dog walker. Wintering in Sea Island, GA; otherwise in Gladwyne, PA. Squeezing in time at gyms, golf courses, and/or pickleball courts. Never missing an opportunity to “be there” for our children and grandchildren. And, continuing to appreciate my wife of 50 years who makes me smile every single day.

Kingsley Day: Stan Kingsley Day directed Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Gondoliers for the Savoyaires

in September and appeared as Dr. Dreyfuss in Blank Theatre Company’s Promises, Promises in December (the Chicago Tribune review called his performance “drop-dead hilarious”). His new one-act musical Text Me opens in March at Chicago’s City Lit Theater. He and his husband enjoyed seeing Lawrence alumni Bob McDonald, Sarah Carter, and Martha Calhoun in New York City in October.

Dr. Kurt R. Dietrich P’10 ’06: After having the privilege of leading the memorial concert for Fred Sturm at Reunion ’23, one of the musical highlights of my career, my wife Maria (Kaiser Dietrich ’78) and I enjoyed some wonderful international travel, welcomed our first granddaughter (to Paul Dietrich ’10 and Jessica Jensen ’10), and my new book Never Givin’ Up: The Life and Music of Al Jarreau was released in the fall. And I keep playing gigs and traveling. Is retirement great, or what?

Anne Sturgeon Frenchick: Ted and I traveled to South America late in 2023 and had unforgettable experiences in Easter Island, Chile and Argentina. We had opportunities see penguins and a puma, ride horseback in Patagonia, and hike among the moai (stone figures) of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and on paths viewing the Andes mountains. We danced with Polynesian dancers on Easter Island, took tango lessons in Buenos Aires, swam in the South Pacific Ocean, and made meals with local families to eat with them in their homes. We hope to do many more adventure trips like this in the next few years, making memories and learning about new places. Time is precious!

Karen Kirhofer Hansen: I don’t have much new to report since our write-ups for the reunion. I have service trips to Cuba and Ecuador in May and June. Brushing up on my Spanish using Duolingo. We will spend much of July and August at Bear Lake. My youngest is getting married in September! Post retirement activities are still elementary school reading tutor (this seems to be the most impactful of all my volunteer activities), Rotary, the service trips, macrame, fitness stuff and taking lots of classes. I seem to be in a rut, but I really love it!

Kristen Olson Lahner: We are still reveling in memories of our 50th Reunion, thankful for all we as a class accomplished and enjoyed! We miss working on the Reunion Committee and will look forward to “next time.” Ron is teaching a course on the Bill of Rights in our local Boyne City High School, doing his part to educate our young people on what the Constitution really says and means. We are both enjoying a local weekly Trivia contest, playing on a team we

kiddingly named Low Expectations. Daughter Janna has moved here from Oregon, and has formed her own LLC, consulting wineries on viticulture practices. We are headed to England and Wales in June. Life is full and time moves (too) swiftly! Best to all!

Larry E. Nesper: I attended my 50th reunion this past June and enjoyed it immensely. Having retired from UW–Madison two years ago and still in the research habit, I got interested in the relationship between the nearby Oneida Indian community and Lawrence in the mid-19th century. Some highlights: The first building at LU was made of lumber purchased from the Oneida. More than 30 Oneidas attended LU in the 1850s, 60s, and 70s. The first Native people in Wisconsin to take bachelor’s degrees, Henry and Lydia Cornelius, in 1864 and 1879, took them at LU. There is a lot more and I would invite interested alums to contact me. Doing a lot of volunteer work on the Ice Age Trail when not in the archives.

Cynthia Percak: Cindy Percak has been appointed to the Steering Committee of the GreenFaith Circle of Southern New Jersey. This Circle will be focusing its efforts on the nationwide Green Amendment initiative in conjunction with the Camden County League of Women Voters. Cindy is also volunteering for David Wagenhauser’s campaign in the 24th Congressional District of New York.

Sara A. Quandt: Was it just a year ago that we were celebrating our 50th LU reunion? A special time with so many dear friends. Right after reunion I retired, as did Tom; we still do a bit of consulting on farmworker health and safety. We continue to enjoy travel. Last fall we went to Scotland for two weeks with the alumni geology tour—nice to meet alums from other classes— and then continued to Portugal for another two weeks. We spent January at the NC beach and are off to Italy for the month of April. We both stay busy volunteering at a community garden, and I continue to organize meals at a local hospital hospitality house and plan my high school 55th reunion.

Dr. Joseph A. Rota: After 8 years of being together, Sue and I will be taking the leap and tying the knot in June 2024, while cruising the Greek Isles with family and friends. I am still practicing full time in Colorado Springs and enjoying my passion for dentistry but getting ready to cut back to two or three days a week and focusing on implants and reconstructive dentistry which I enjoy the most. Still enjoying all that Colorado has to offer including biking and skiing. I’m always happy to see Lawrentian friends. Come visit!

Nancy Freeman Wallace: Since reunion, Jim & I had a “working trip” to Bozeman to help with grandkids before school started and I had a lovely Sister Week to see highlights of Milwaukee & enjoy an evening with Nancy Hoppe & Linda Laarman. I also enjoyed a couple of short but fun trips to Door County with Laura Mueller, & get-togethers with Margie Allen,Katy Moder & Pam Bryan ’74. Jim and I really like small town life close to family and friends. We’ve been pre-occupied with HS & MS basketball featuring 2 grandkids. Bleacher seats are hard! Laura & I have a spa getaway next week! And now it looks like I am headed to knee surgery as many of you have already experienced. Fun times ahead. Best wishes to all!

1975

Dr. Charles H. Albrecht: Linda and I live near Rochester, NY. I practiced as a radiation oncologist until I retired a few years ago. She continues her private practice as a clinical social worker on a part-time basis, working from home on-line since the COVID shutdown. Our daughter is getting married this summer, and this has added excitement to our lives.

Joseph R. Baierl: Denise and I are well. We continue to be happy with our decision to retire to an “urban downtown” here in St. Paul. Our 100-unit warehouse condo offers meaningful community with interesting people of varying ages and backgrounds. On the street, a wide variety of people love my dog, and some even know my name! In our city government, we have a great City Councilwoman who listens and offers hope for positive change. And, we are blessed to be doing some traveling, with trips to California and Switzerland in 2023 and a 3-weeker to Austrian Tirol this fall. Our children have partners, but no weddings or grandchildren to report. Here’s hoping for a more peaceful and equitable world.

Pamela Brown Day: I have been fully retired from my “day job” for a year now and am loving retirement. I think I have perfected the art of doing nothing, but I also try to work on other forms of art such as printmaking, teaching, and photography. I had a show in December and January with another artist at Printmakers Inc. in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. It was well received. I wish we could add pictures, but you can find me on the web.

Pamela Cooper: I am still in New York working at Cambridge University Press managing a growing sales team—25 people, yikes. I am enjoying working to get them prepared for my inevitable retirement. But I am still learning,

and they seem to value my opinion still. I am striving to go into the office once a week. I got to the Adirondacks three times this past summer—once to Lake George and twice to Newcomb. I was back in Wisconsin for my niece’s wedding in October. I also visited Sharon Starr in Chicago. Some may remember Sharon’s visits to Lawrence freshman year. Hoping that we’ll get back to the UK this coming summer.

Hon. Scot M. Faulkner: I chaired opening session and presented concluding remarks at the Global Conference on Red-Light (Photobiomodulation) Therapy held in Manipal, India attended by 500 delegates from 30 nations. I proceeded to meetings with Parkinson’s researchers throughout India, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation team in Kochi.

Dr. David A. Gust: We are enjoying our retirement here in Brisbane, Australia with plans to attend the upcoming LU Reunion. We both “work” a day a week, David at QUT Earth Sciences doing research and occasional teaching and Linda at the Qld Herbarium archiving botanical samples. Singing in choir, doing “home projects,” such as digitizing 1000’s of pictures, and traveling locally keep us busy. We enjoy visitors from abroad and are great (if I can say so) tour guides. If you are down this way, stop in.

Nancy Butler Kuhn: Richard ’74 and I are still enjoying living in Charlotte and having our immediate family close by. We’re in the midst of house renovations in 2024, and we continue to travel, both domestic and abroad...some of it to escape house renovations for a few days at a time. We completed a full transit of the Panama Canal in January and will spend three weeks in Switzerland and Italy (Piedmonte) in June. The bucket list is gradually getting shorter. We count our blessings we are both in good health, able to maintain a fitness regime, and stay active.

Mary Luehrsen: By fall 2024, I will retire from NAMM after 22 years of policy and advocacy work advancing access and equity for music learning. I’m so grateful to have worked with many inspiring people along the way. My next chapters include teaching at the University of South Carolina School of Music as Professor of Practice and supporting the next generation of musicians in their leadership roles in schools and communities. Also, supporting my beloved daughter Amanda for a November wedding together with the joys of what feels like newlywed life with Gurney and our blended families of Youngs and Williamses.

Dr. Rudolf O. Meyer: I’m still teaching geoscience at UCalgary, about to become irrelevant in “new-and-improved” recently re-named geoscience department with goals of transdisciplinarity and entrepreneuralism to name only two of hot buzz words. However, I still enjoy teaching, trying ways to “flip” lecture sessions and the opportunity of running field courses every year. I spend much of my time at home with Beatrice, our dog and cat, and other small animals visiting our yard, and stay in touch with our two daughters, one in Calgary and the other moving between LA and Portland, OR. Once a year, I Zoom with John Sundlof, Chuck Craig, and Tom Neff to catchup, reminisce, and rant about their (everyone’s) most popular U.S. politician.

Carl Rath: I retired in May 2023 after 48 years of college teaching, the final 11 at Lawrence. I performed my last faculty recital on May 21st featuring a video presentation of my musical influences in my life and one featuring my Lawrence students in the past 11 years. After a reception, several former students who are now professional bassoonists performed a recital. The following night, I directed the Viking Bassoon Ensemble with current and former students. I continue to perform, but I’m enjoying having plenty of time to hike in High Cliff with my dog, Rita. If you are interested in viewing the videos from my retirement weekend, please email me and I’ll send you the link. (crath@me.com)

Elisabeth Van Ingen Steward: My husband John and I are enjoying retirement. I still do some consulting work, but not much. Our grandchildren live across the country, so we see them mostly via Zoom. We’re still in White Plains, NY, working on downsizing, reading books we always meant to read, taking daily walks, and volunteering, with some travel thrown in. We love our “field trips,” visiting/ attending things in the NYC area that we’ve never gotten around to, or that qualify for a repeat visit. We plan to stay in the metropolitan

NYC area since one of our two kids is here. I’m grateful to be in contact with a handful of my LU classmates and am planning to attend our 50th reunion in 2025. Hope to see you there!

Janice Woodward and Chuck Woodward: Chuck and I had a busy, fun, and mostly healthy year. A highlight was a summer trip through Appalachia. We started in Asheville, NC, drove through the hills of eastern Tennessee, explored West Virginia, and ended with an educational 2 days in Appomattox. We also spent a wonderful week with our kids and grandkids on the lake in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho— one of our favorite places. Chuck remains busy with his mediation practice, his “afterretirement” job, and my volunteer work with an anti-hunger agency in Denver fills up my time. Both of us also stay active in church activities. We look forward to our 50th reunion and hope to see many fellow classmates there.

1977

Bill Edminster: Classmates Jim (Rolf) and Jan Surkamp Johnson and I celebrated 50 years of friendship on the anniversary of the day during Freshman Orientation week that we met. We have never lost touch in all that time. I visited London 3 times in 2022 and 2023, bringing my lifetime total to 23 visits, starting with my 2 terms at the London Centre in 1976. Along the way I’ve seen over 60 plays at Shakespeare’s Globe as a groundling. A high point of my 2023 visit was seeing some of the 30,000 items owned by Freddie Mercury that were up for auction at Sotheby’s. Like most of you, I attended my 50th high school reunion in the Summer of 2023. It was delightful seeing old friends and only one old bully. Cheers!

Patricia M. Brown P’11: After 17-plus years with Deloitte, most recently as a Managing Director with the Chief Financial Officer Program for which I facilitate CFO Transition Labs, conduct research, and write various types of content, I am planning to retire. I look forward to spending more time with family and friends, traveling, reading fiction and poetry, and regaining fluency in Spanish. I also will continue my board service and volunteer efforts for Association House of Chicago, the city’s 2nd oldest social services agency. I’m sure I will find so many more ways to pursue my interests—all without an alarm clock to start my day.

Jean M. Capper: I’m enjoying retirement in Onekama, Michigan. I enjoy my many community volunteer activities. I am loving my 4th season teaching skiing at Crystal Mountain, though it would be great to have more snow. We have a great program for Retired not Tired people, so if you are in the area, check it out!

Rev. Deborah J. Howland: I am grateful to be cancer-free after a double mastectomy two years ago. Tom and I volunteer at LifeStriders Equine Therapy Center, doing morning care for the horses several days a week. Those days in particular are a gift to us in our retirement. Our travels include continued visits with our kids: Peter in Oregon and Ryan and Jen in Minneapolis. We are delighted that our Wisconsin sons, Wes and John, are in the Milwaukee area. In January this year, I co-led a Carroll University “January Term” Cross-Cultural Experience in Greece for two weeks. I look forward to hearing about each of you and hope 2024 will be a good one for all.

Tom G. Hughes: The highlight of my Fall was having a mini reunion organized by Mike Powers ’78, Robin Fondow and Karen Sweet ’77 at the Lawrence Homecoming; met in the Banta Bowl parking lot, and then walked the field prior to the game. The other Lawrentians were John Bodnar ’76, Jack Anderson ’76, Joe Troy ’76, Robin Veternick ’76, John Davis ’76, Mike Knipp’76, Jim Thorpe ’76, Jeff Chew ’77, Mark Schoenbohm ’77, Jeff Fox ’77, Jeff Heimerman ’79, Dan Matic ’78, Ron Wopat ’78, Ron Stevens ’79, Tom Lindfors ’78. The other two guests were Coach Rich Agness ’67 and Coach Mike Gallus. The gathering brought back fond memories of our glory days on the gridiron.

Sally J. March: Last November, I was standing in a store in Florida when the woman opposite me said, “Did you go to Lawrence?” I said “yes” and she introduced herself as Marcia Jaffee Cipriani ’78), married to John Cipriani ’77. We had a wonderful evening with John and Marcia before I returned to London, but we just scratched the surface of catching up. In January, I visited Ellen Jakes Kelm ’77 in Santa Rosa, California. She and Bruce ’80 have a beautiful family and are enjoying their grandchildren and travel. Ellen and Bruce lived in London before I moved here in 1986. We discovered a connection that we have in the UK that is, indeed, a small, small world!

James H. Murphy III: Going from no grandchildren to three grandsons in a ninemonth period prompted me to retire from full-time role as VPHR for a biotech company. Although I still consult some, I don’t let

In May 2023, alumni from the Class of 1977 reunited in Nashville. Left to right: Gregg Dawley, John Waldron, Kent Knudsen, Jim Murphy and Charlie Lobeck.

it interfere with my new-found retirement freedom. We have one daughter near us here in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our other two daughters (with the grandkids) live in Cary, NC and Austin, TX. Good places to visit! In addition to those trips, we recently went back to Princeton, NJ for my 50th high school reunion. Unfortunately, a bunch of old people crashed the event. In May, we had a great trip to Nashville with fellow LU classmates Gregg Dawley, Kent Knudsen, Charlie Lobeck and John Waldron. Best wishes to all!

Rev. James M. Rand P’06: Retirement continues giving me opportunities to try on new hats. Instead of “preaching to the choir,” I’m singing in the choir, and I’ve almost finished building a guitar (I’ll be playing it before you read this). I’ve become more intentional about connecting with friends from LU. When I learned that Gail (Nygaard) Miller had moved to NC, I reached out to her. The timing was perfect – she was about to visit Raleigh. We met for coffee and a delightful conversation. Katy Myers – a fellow St. Louisan – and I also FaceTimed recently. She showed me a postcard I sent her our first year out of college! My health is pretty good. I hope yours is too, and that we will reconnect soon!

John S. Schroeder: I have recently acquired an accordion and will begin lessons in the summer.

Anne Macleod Weeks: Greetings from Nova Scotia. Life, here, continues to be great with long walks in nature, chances to photograph incredible beauty, and to enjoy the hospitality of Maritimers. Just ask fellow classmate, Tommy Hughes, how beautiful it is in Lunenburg. It was a bit of a crazy year, here, with a hurricane (during which I had to get an arborist to take down a tree), a few art shows, one of which had work stolen (I guess that’s a compliment?), emergency removal of my gallbladder at the same time my husband was hospitalized with sepsis. What fun! All is good now, except for the snow—beautiful, but we have had enough. Jim published his first novel, Nodding’s People, and has received good reviews.

Andrea Williamson: After a rewarding 44year career with relief and development organization, Save the Children, I called it a “wrap” at the end of 2023 and am now fully embracing the opportunity to “do what I want, when I want.” It’s taking a little getting used to, but I’m definitely getting the hang of it! After last summer’s hiking trip around Mt. Blanc, I decided to venture a little further afield and summer of 2024 will find me trekking with a group in the Ladakh region of northern India. In the meantime, I continue to hike and cycle

in Connecticut and am looking forward to identifying some meaningful volunteer work, most likely with an organization focusing on the environment,

Ann Brenton Winterer: Life is quite full and rich with a large, blended family. We have 14 grandkids, and they live all over the world, New York, Okinawa, Dubai, Washington DC and Spokane, Washington, so it keeps us traveling. In the summers, we live and work in Glacier National Park for four months. I work in the lodge playing piano, and Stephen is a tour guide and drives the iconic red bus. Truly our “happy place!” I am grateful for the wonderful music education I had at Lawrence! Many good memories!

Abby J. Zimberg: Hello, I also went to my 50th high school reunion which was fun, and we saw all the new parts of the school. I am still working as a psychotherapist in San Francisco, using art therapy, when possible, in addition to other approaches. I enjoy the variety of clients and issues. I started ceramics after many years as a relaxing and creative outlet, so that has been fun. This past August, Helene and I went to Zimbabwe with four others on safari and then to Cape Town ourselves. It was a long way to go and worth it all to see animals and cultures and have a good time. Kim Neill, Lilah Greene-Tiemstra, Margaret McCulla and I keep in regular touch and are planning a trip for 2025. Cheers!

1981

Dr. James G. Acker: In November 2023, I presented at the International Ocean Color Science meeting at the University of South Florida (where I received my Ph.D. in chemical oceanography). I presented how to use satellite data to examine transport of carbonate sediments induced by Hurricane Ian, a process in the ocean’s carbon cycle. I still work at the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center in Greenbelt, MD, using my liberal arts skills to write interesting articles about our data. My son, Ben, graduated from the University of Florida in sports journalism and recently received a fellowship with the Los Angeles Dodgers. My daughter, Natalie, is in student ministry at the University of Maryland.

Lisa Marie Brady: In Oct 2022, a complicated detached retina kept me down through my 5th and last surgery in June 2023. Result: left eye, no peripheral vision, 20/60. I joke about getting a service bird to perch on my shoulder warning me that there are people or things to my left. Driving is an adventure. In July, I was able to pursue my goal of backpacking,

my first solo trip along the North Country Trail side of the Manistee River Loop (MI): 11 miles over 3 days/2 nights. In August, I did a modified backpacking trip in the Eastern Sierras for 5 days. I’m still a librarian and hiking club sponsor at Adams HS (South Bend IN, 11th year). I spent an afternoon at LU last summer; many changes since my last visit.

Dr. James Gandre: I am in my 11th year of being privileged and honored to be President of Manhattan School of Music in NYC. In a small world way, we have the daughter of classmate Jody Reckard (Dana) as a grad student here in French Horn, along with three recent LU alumni—Tanner Stegink (getting his MM in Tuba), Hannah Jones (getting her MM in voice), and David Philyaw (theatre major at LU and now one of our Lead Technicians).

Bernard A. Haen: I now live in Green Bay with my wife, Gini, two standard poodles and five cats. I retired in 2023 and now spend my time bowling, golfing, and looking after our 146-yearold house. I took in my first Björklunden seminar last summer and look forward to another this coming August, boarding with my sophomore year roommate, Keith Smedema. Gini is a runner, and I accompany her as Race Sherpa (“Here to cheer, tote gear, and fetch beer”). She has run marathons and half marathons across the US, as well as Dublin, Ireland and Gotenburg, Sweden. We are looking forward to doing more traveling as time goes on. Current bucket list destinations are London and Italy.

James L. Matchefts: Keeping up with four young grandkids is, as they say, its own reward. (At least I think they say that). I’m semi-retired and busy honing my skills on the pickleball court. Samantha and I enjoy going to live music shows. Through a quirk of fate, we recently had the pleasure of seeing Dan Bern play shows in St. Louis and Nashville, only three days apart. If you haven’t seen Dan in concert, you should check it out. I look forward to catching up at our next reunion.

Jessica Grover Robinson: Continuing as the Food Services Administrator for the non-profit Hospitality Common, I personally made and served over 1,300 meals last year for our ESL students. We published a cookbook too (www. hospitalitycommon.org)! My fellow Board members and I are excited to be in the process of purchasing our home for refugees. James and I have rediscovered train travel and are particularly enjoying the Boston–Ft. Worth run to see our first grandchild! Jeremy and Chelsea’s son, Roman Antony, keeps us all delighted, even long-distance, and we will see him again in April. Megan and Shannon are happily enjoying

their new role as Aunts. I am singing regularly in church and solo frequently.

Patrick H. Short: I am the co-owner (with wife Ruth Jenkins) of CSz Portland since 1993; we are still innovating in the improv world, working with amazing clients such as Intel, Nike, US Courts (Public Defender training), Oregon Health Sciences University (End of Life Conversation training) and many more. We are actively seeking the right people to continue the mission so that we might retire! Currently recording albums of songs I wrote between 1977–1989; several of the lyrics are by Lawrence alumni. I also play keys and sing in a cover band, The Dad Kennedys. Our adult kids are launched—one in TV in Boise, ID, the other acting and dancing in Vancouver, BC.

Keith G. Smedema: My wife, Melinda, and I have embraced the “go-go” phase of our retirement. We did a Bjørklunden sponsored cruise of the Danube, and in March we’re doing another Bjørklunden tour of Spain. We also found the time to visit the Galapagos this month. When I’m home, I’ve been tutoring students in a GED program. These students are trying to pursue this degree while navigating work and family issues. It’s been rewarding to help them do this. I hope everyone is enjoying their next phase of life.

David J. Wille P’16: Lots the same as I continue with our fundraising consulting business AMS CHICAGO, where we now help over 250 charities annually with their fundraising, and we are now helping LU Baseball with several fundraising events! Always a Viking, right? Julea (Totzke ’82) and I recently returned from a weeklong Disneyworld adventure with our ’kids’, now ages 30–35. Having an “adult” Disney experience is still magical! We continue to live in Vernon Hills, have a lake house in Wisconsin just west of Oshkosh, and we do spend time with Greg Fiflis ’81 and Meg at the local Lincolnshire Theatre for 5 outstanding plays a year. Best wishes!

1983

Elise Epps Allen: I am enjoying my time as the EHS manager at a small company in Cleveland. For now, I am happy to go to work, but I am plotting when I will decide to retire. We have four grandchildren (1 month old to 5.5 years). Nothing wild or fun to report this year; just visits with friends and family.

Scott L. Cassingham: In the last 4 years, we have moved back to Wisconsin, to the Milwaukee area, to help my wife’s parents and retire. Antarctica was our latest adventure early this year, quite spectacular. Over the last few years, I have become involved in the outer space field as an investor and sometime advisor to a few small companies. I find my background in urban planning and US Colonial history really informs my understanding of how humanity may move into space. Closer to home, having moved to Milwaukee at the start of the pandemic, we are now starting to get out and explore it and are really enjoying it. Our son, daughter, and son-in-law have somehow all ended up in the film business and are thriving!

Professor Elizabeth Ann De Stasio P’17 ’12: I am still teaching full-time and still love working with Lawrence students! The pace of change increased, so it is a scramble to keep up sometimes, but overall, the reward of helping others realize their dreams (sometimes to even have dreams) is worth it! On the home front, we enjoyed a family wedding out in Montana in July 2023, where we were able to hike in a couple of National Parks (gotta love the SR park pass!). It was great to see friends at Reunion too!

James R. Kowald: Tracy (Ostwald ’84) and I are poised to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary—Wow!! I, in my retirement here in Appleton, WI, with boundless time on my hands, am now on the Board of Directors for the Fox Valleyaires Barbershop Choir, a chapter of the national Barbershop Harmony Society. In addition to guiding the group via the Board, I also manage technical audio issues for their various venues and shows, then add in some coaching on music theory and performance. The group also competes! Meet us at the international convention in Minneapolis next Autumn! I have also joined the Appleton Historical Society doing research, preparing presentations, and helping as a docent.

Paul McComas: Paul and producers Lynne Littman (an Oscar winner) and Adam Belanoff (Emmy winner) are halfway through production of Unplugged, the animated feature adapted

from Paul’s multi-awardwinning ’02 novel. All dialogue is recorded; now, “On to the animation!” A supporting voice cast of Christina Ricci, the late Ed Asner (in his final role), Lou Gossett Jr., Jeri Ryan, Sheryl Lee, and Paul backs up Green Baybased newcomer Holly Trasti. Paul’s day job is presenting, performing, and teaching (lit, classic-TV, cinema, creative writing, theatre) at his “favorite ’campus’ ever,” which comprises 10 Chicagoland retirement communities—plus Björklunden!

James R. Stukas: I just started a new job, still at Salesforce and still in France, working on building our new Global AI Practice in our CSG (Professional Services) division. My wife changed jobs in her company at the same time, so 2024 does seem to be the year of the dragon. Our two adult (26 and 22) children still are at home but should both get degrees soon. So, we may be empty nesters soon.

1985

Resli E. Costabell: Karin Sconzert and I braved the January cold to go mud larking in London. It was great fun and such a delight to get to know a Lawrentian I didn’t really know at Lawrence. How does one school pump out so many smart, interesting, decent human beings? I recently decided to work less and enjoy more. One of my adventures was to view a Shakespeare first folio. While I was there, I stopped by to view the remains of the Roman amphitheater in the basement. London continues to thrill me. As for changes in job, marital status, family, and education? Everything’s pretty much the same as it has been for decades, except for the dead people.

Cynthia Mader Fisher: I finished a second master’s degree in mental health counseling this past summer. I continue to work in the Lee County, Florida school district. Last fall, I transitioned from a district ESOL Specialist, where I was training teachers, to a mental health counselor in elementary and middle schools. I also see clients around the state of Florida virtually and in person at Abundant Life Christian Counseling specializing in chronic health issues with adults in addition to my teen and child clients.

John F. Ide: My wife and I split our time between Chicago and Steamboat Springs to spend more time with our three adult children who all live and work in Colorado. We spend

Fiona (Gorman) McKee ’85, Annie (Gillis) Harris ’85, Nancy (Anderson) Schoenwetter ’85, Jenni (Nilsson) Halgren ’85, Tanja (Scribner) Felton ’85, Tammie Follett ’85 in St. Joseph, MN February 2024.

winters in CO skiing with our children and friends and summers in Chicago enjoying Lake Michigan. None of our kids are married, which has allowed us to take several fun family vacations including Italy, France, and Tanzania. I’m celebrating 3 years as a partner at Star Mountain Capital, which is a private credit and private equity manager headquartered in New York. I travel a decent amount for work, which keeps me busy as well.

Lisa Muller Johnson: I’m hoping to see lots of you at the reunion in 2025! I moved to Denver, CO a couple of years ago, and I love it here. The sunshine is great, and I try to be outside as much as I can. My oldest son lives here, and I get to spend a lot of time with him and his girlfriend. I also love photography. I have joined some online groups and have attended many in person photography conferences too. I have gotten to see and photograph some amazing places, and I am looking forward to Big Sur and Grand Tetons this year. I’ve also been to several Björklunden seminars and would love to see some classmates at future seminars.

Kristi A. Ross-Clausen: My son, Alexander, married Amalie Ludwig ’15 in a midnight hand-fasting ceremony at Björklunden chapel in January. The Viking-themed nuptials had all attendees appropriately garbed and had food suitable for a medieval feast. Entertainment consisted of D&D games and related merriment. FUN! Like the past three years, this summer I will teach technical theater classes aimed at high school performing arts teachers through the University of Wisconsin–Madison theater department. This year’s topics are rigging, audio, and props. Because it’s all online, the students come from all over the globe. I reached my goal of visiting all 50 states in August with a trip to New England to get the last few.

Edward F. Thomas: I’m still operating my astronomy products business after 16 years and recently expanded to include a remote astronomy facility. My wife and I have both worked from home since COVID. It is nice to drive a lot less. We moved to a one-story house last year (yeah! no stairs). We just celebrated our 30th anniversary. One daughter recently delivered our second grandson, one just became a veterinarian after 8 years in undergraduate and vet schools, one is working her way into fashion design and photography industries in NYC after graduating summa cum laude with a degree in both disciplines in three years, and our son is a sophomore studying optical engineering and working to find a summer job/internship in the field.

Professor Timothy X. Troy: I’m happy to be back home and busy on the Lawrence campus after my one-year Fulbright Scholar placement at University College Dublin. Living in Dublin for a year was bliss. Gathering new colleagues in Ireland was a thrill. Writing a new play based on archival research was challenging and stimulating. Still, in the end, sharing my time with Lawrence students and colleagues is as rewarding as any time in the past 27 years. Returning to daily life with my lovely spouse, Jacque, and our two kitties is even sweeter for the time away.

1987

Jeffrey A. Jolton: Saw my son Ed get married in December, and we love having his wife Ivy in the family. My other son Josh has just passed his Step I medical boards and continues his medical school studies. After spending a year taking improv classes, I was asked to join the “Cheese and Slackers” troupe here in town –it’s been fun to get back into performing on a regular basis. Beyond my job, I’ve also been busy serving on a range of local committees, working out, and taking care of our two dogs and cat with my wife Marcy.

Julie Benjamin Andrews: I became an official empty-nester in 2023! My daughter moved to San Diego in August, my boys are in South Boston and Cambridge. I continue to love my job as a realtor, and volunteer extensively in my community—currently the president of The Salem Garden Club, a member of the Board of Directors of North Shore Realtors, a member of the Events Planning Committee of The Salem Pantry, and on the board of my neighborhood association. In my spare time, I spend lots of time in my garden and snuggling with my chiweenie rescue dog. Anyone who wants to experience the October craziness in Salem, MA, my door is always open!

Michelle D. Bauer: It’s almost been a year since I joined the Associated Trust team as a Senior Trust Officer. It’s a great role that utilizes my 35 years of banking experience and still allows me to further develop and grow. My daughter is a freshman at St. Norbert College. As a member of the Honors Program, she is on the premedical track with majors in Chemistry, Biology and Math. In March, Dave and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.

Molly Bradshaw Boed: Last year, we embarked on a great driving trip on Route 66 from Chicago to Phoenix, Arizona and many interesting spots along the way. This year, we are finally doing what we had planned to do while we lived in The Netherlands but couldn’t

due to covid; we are taking a 10-day trip to see Scotland! We also were happy to have our middle son living with us for a few months during 2023 while he searched for a job in his field of conflict studies. He is now living and working in Ukraine. Our other two sons live in Boston and New York, and we enjoy visits from each of them too. Let us know if you will be passing through Chicago, we would love to see you!

Deborah N. Gottesman: Deb Gottesman ’87 was named a Washingtonian of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine for her work using theatre to amplify the voices of people from historically underrepresented populations. The magazine honors 10 heroes annually who are using their experience, smarts, and creativity to make the Washington region a better place to live. “Like previous Washingtonians of the Year, this year’s honorees are doing incredible work to help those in our community—and to help the city itself—succeed,” says Washingtonian editor Sherri Dalphonse. “This is a reminder that one person really can make a difference.”

Melissa Pahel Jacks Dowdy: After participating in the weddings in 2022 of both my children to their long-time loves, my partner Thomas and I decided to join the party after ten years together. We were married in June of 2023 in the beautiful woods near Mt. Hood in Oregon, in addition to taking wedding pictures by Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge and at Trillium Lake near Mt. Hood. My last name has now changed to Dowdy. I’ve been playing flute more than ever this past year after joining the Austin Civic Wind Ensemble and have enjoyed the challenge of preparing much more difficult music. I continue to enjoy the benefits of retirement: volunteer ushering, traveling, and photography.

Michal-Lynn Fuller Jakala: ML is the Associate Director of events for Amplify Education. Last year she travelled to Dubai and Australia setting up trade shows there and at many locations around the States. The travel bug that bit from the Eastern European field trip has never left her.

Anne Rupert Lamps: I’m studying in Mexico for a month, trying to learn the language. How do people do this? It will take forever. Hoping my third/final child graduates from college in a few months, and the other two settle in their careers.

Alexandra Howe Stevenson P’20: 2022–23 were very LU-adjacent years for us. In May 2023 our son Drew married Jasper Olsen, a 2020 LU grad. In September 2022, our daughter

Madeleine, also a 2020 LU grad, moved to Minneapolis, where she has been adopted by Kristin and Jim Erickson. I spend as much time as possible outside, volunteering and educating people about native plants and ecological preservation and restoration.

Dr. Silagh Chiappetta White: Silagh (Chiappetta) White continues to perform bassoon with area orchestras while balancing arts administration and serving as director on the Bethlehem Area School Board. She and husband Steve are still getting used to their empty nest with their twins in separate colleges. There isn’t a day that passes without thoughts of faculty and mentor, Marjory Irvin. Whenever she hears an augmented 6th chord within a harmonic transition, an angel just got a fur-lined teacup.

Lewis E. Winkler: In June, Barbara and I celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary in Spain where we spent a rainy week walking a portion of the Camino de Santiago. In December we welcomed our fourth grandchild, a girl, and are enjoying a much-needed teaching sabbatical in the U.S. before we return to Singapore in the summer for a new school year at the East Asia School of Theology. As always, God is good!

Janine M. Yanisch P’22: After 4 years of the divorce process, my divorce from Chris Jankowski ’84 P’22 was finalized in May. I have sold the house and moved on but am still in Rochester, MN. It’s been a journey. I’ve enjoyed periodically seeing classmates Julie D’Andrea and Rob Hudson ’87 in NYC, and Connie Amon ’87. Carolyn Stickney Beck ’65 got me into a Study Club and writing papers again, and she plays flute in a band I teach! Working part-time with band students in 4th grade and older continues to fulfill and challenge me, as does Tilly, my 7-month-old border collie-mix puppy who rescued me in November.

1989

Kelly Carroll Rhodes: My husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary this past year, and we are getting closer to being empty nesters. Our daughter graduated from college and returned home after studying abroad to figure out her post-college plans. Our son is a freshman is college. We love our dog too and continue to foster/volunteer for the same canine rescue. My son and I started learning Finnish a couple of years ago (half of my family’s heritage is Finnish), and we are planning a trip to Finland later this year. Most of my weekday hours, though, are spent at work as an executive in Product Management.

Jennifer Wilkinson Albrecht: My 30-year career as a paralegal has taken me to several firms in Minneapolis and Indianapolis. I have found an ideal position at DeLaney & DeLaney, a small firm focusing on civil rights and employment law litigation. Steve Albrecht ’86 and I have raised two daughters who are both working and making a difference in this world. I am enjoying various hobbies, including a book club I’ve been in for 25 years! Steve and I enjoy traveling, hiking, and camping. We have made a few trips to Door County over the years and have visited Appleton, where Steve’s brother lives and works with Lawrence Choral Scholars. I’m enjoying life and looking forward to our next reunion!

Dr. Kristina K. Bross: After 25 years at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, Steve and I are moving! I’m starting a new job as Dean of the Honors College at Ohio University in July. Steve will teach one last semester at Purdue and launch his new research lab in Ohio in January 2025.

Ray E. Ostwald: After 33 years of teaching high school orchestra here in the Chicago suburbs, I retired in May 2023. I certainly haven’t retired from working; I just shifted the life balance. I continue to play violin and viola gigs in many genres and venues and serve as guest conductor or clinician with orchestras, including Wisconsin, Iowa, and Alaska, this Spring. I also accepted an administrative position as String Specialist with Quinlan and Fabish Music Company in Burr Ridge, Illinois. My wife Leah works in a Methodist church and as a hospital chaplain. Our daughter Audrey is 14, a violinist, and an avid reader. Still motorcycling (49 states, seven countries); life is good!

Dr. Eli M. Wallace: Karen and I have been married for 30 years and live in Colorado. We are fortunate that all our children live nearby— Madeline, 28, is a PA, Hannah, 26, is lead HS science teacher, and Will (22) is a senior at Colorado College. Since graduate school, I have spent my career working in Biotech to discover and develop new therapies for those afflicted with cancer. I have led teams that have discovered four novel medicines approved by the FDA to treat breast, kidney, and skin cancer and two hereditary cancer syndromes. Currently, I am CEO of the oncology group at BridgeBio (based in SF, I work remotely), where we are working on new treatments for lung, breast, and colon cancer, among others.

1991

Elizabeth Keckonen Hejl (Beth) P’15: My husband and I became falconers in 2020 and

have just finished our 2nd hawking season with our Harris hawk, Kaya. She is a good hunter, her freezer is full, and we are doing our part to help the farmers in the area by convincing the crows they’d be safer elsewhere. In the off season while Kaya is molting, I also do substitute teaching of German as a foreign language, which I enjoy. I’ve lived in Germany since September 2012 and love life here. I recently learned that my daughter (LU ’15) will be moving back to the Appleton area, and I can’t imagine a better place in Wisconsin to live.

Charles A. Grode: Heidi Lukas ’92 and I happily celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last October with our fifth 22+ mile walk around Geneva Lake, and we are enjoying our life together in Chicago’s West Loop. I have the privilege of serving as president and executive director for the Merit School of Music, and Heidi serves as director of operations for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She plans and manages the orchestra’s domestic and international tours. She recently completed her longest tour: 3+ weeks in Europe, with 11 cities and 14 concerts. Our family of four includes our Westie, Pearl, and cat, Bixby. We both love to travel and are thankful for the opportunity to do so in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Kristi R.G. Hendrickson: In 2023, I was promoted to full professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Washington in Seattle. I am the first woman to be promoted to full professor in Medical Physics at my institution.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Letourneau: My wife Nathalie and I are getting closer and closer to being empty nesters. It seems like just yesterday we were at Lawrence. Our eldest “child” graduated from the Rutgers Honor College in May of 2023 and now lives in Seattle, working as a software engineer for one of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” tech companies. Our youngest is fast approaching his High School graduation and is still trying to decide where to go to college. Currently, the University of Iowa is a top contender and a trip to Iowa City is booked in late March of this year to attend an “Admitted Student Days” event. We will use this as an opportunity to briefly visit my family in my hometown of Fond du Lac.

Anita Freer Sacrey: I am enjoying life on my 3 acres in Arkansas with eight dogs and six cats, and a human friend lives with me. The dogs and I participate in various dog sports together, such as games of barn hunt, fastcat (100-yard dash), and fetch. I work for the Arkansas State Government as a state school funding manager. I am also a postulant for Holy Orders in the

Episcopal diocese here and will begin the education piece of my preparation soon.

Dr. John G. Sanidas: This past year has been a year of milestones. My son graduated from college and entered the corporate world of supply chain management. He is also now engaged to be married to his high school sweetheart. My middle daughter graduated high school and started nursing at the University of Iowa. My youngest daughter is 14 and will be starting high school next year. My wife and I celebrated two significant milestones: our 25th wedding anniversary and my 25th year of medical practice. On the Lawrence front, I was able to crash the 92/93/94 30th class reunion and catch up with old friends. Cleo’s has not changed a bit. I hope all is well.

Paul T. Snyder: Hello from Portland, Oregon. All is wonderful with us. My wife, Amy, and I remain very grateful to have moved to the Pacific Northwest five years ago. Our eldest daughter, Abby, is enjoying her freshman year at Kenyon in Ohio. Our younger daughter, Maddie, is having a great time as a high school Sophomore. I am still leading “Stewardship” (i.e., Corporate Responsibility and Affairs) for Tillamook. Our business is growing, but in the right way, as our recent recertification as a B Corp attests. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are in our neck of the woods. I am happy to introduce anyone to some cows.

Stephanie C. Stephens-Sutton: After 31 years of teaching high school history, I’ll be on sabbatical for the 2024–25 school year. Yee ha! While away, I will revisit past volunteer experiences, including the Hmong and Oneida communities that I tutored with while at Lawrence. I will also revisit the Romanian orphanages I served as a Peace Corps volunteer. In addition, I’m starting my own business, supporting young neurodiverse adults as a success coach, and championing this community. I’d love to connect with others in the field. It was great seeing my classmates, Jen Ward, Bruce Adams, and Alex Pearsall, recently, and I can’t wait for the class of ’91’s next LU reunion.

Patrick W. Wagner and Patty Bortz Wagner: We live in Brevard, NC, and love mountain life. Pat is the Vice President for Advancement at Brevard College, and Patty is the Director of Operations at the Asheville Museum of Science. Our three boys are grown and on their own. Our oldest married this past April, so we added a daughter-in-law to the family. In the fall of 2022, we celebrated 30 years of marriage with a family trip to Italy, and we are looking forward to our next family trip this summer. We have embraced

all that western NC offers and enjoy living in a real-life Hallmark town.

Michael P. Willis: Greetings from eastern Iowa! My oldest daughter, Maddie, recently graduated from the University of Illinois–Chicago with a master’s degree in public health. My second daughter Katie started her first year of high school and just received her driver’s permit, while my youngest daughter Libby is finishing elementary school this year! I enjoy hearing from old friends and hope to see everyone at the next reunion, if not sooner!

1993

Patricia M. Ellis: I finally retired after 25 years of practice as a Physician Assistant in 2021. Since then, I’ve increased my volunteer time doing costumes for our community theatre (Newnan Theatre Company). You are all welcome to come and see us if you’re in the Atlanta area! I am also a UGA Master Gardener Extension Volunteer while assisting with administrative tasks and transports for a local dog rescue. My husband Matt and I have also been doing more traveling, including trips to France, Portugal, Spain, England, and Greece in the past 5 years. This year we will be going to Costa Rica and Italy. And of course, we take trips back to Minnesota to see family when we can.

Johanna Jaehnig Henry: I am approaching 30 years in park and recreation. This past year has brought several new opportunities, including work with a NASA camp program. Ben and I are almost empty nesters as our son is in his second year at Oregon State University. We were able to celebrate a milestone family birthday with a week on the beach in Charleston, South Carolina this past fall. I was disappointed to miss our last reunion but will hopefully make the next one.

Celia Lyke Kane: I’m still doing volunteer work at the state women’s prison. My teenage sons keep me busy as do my jewelry making and painting. I’m doing massage therapy at a medical clinic part-time and enjoying the creative work of helping people recover from injuries. My family spends lots of time in the Columbia River gorge, hiking, and motorbiking.

Barbara Andersen Karvelot: I began a new position as the Chemical Biology Graduate Program Coordinator at U. C. Berkeley last May. One of the students in my first cohort is a Lawrentian!

Seth Lindenfelser: I remain ever so thankful for everyone who helped plan the 30th Reunion last year and to everyone who came. Every time I think back to last June it makes me feel good to have LU in my life. I got together with Rashne Jehangir, Will McDow, Laura Heuser Kimball, and Peter Kimball (all class of ’93) last summer post-reunion for a bonus gathering over dinner. I continue to coach ice hockey, soccer, and futsal for my children, which is a true joy. It reminds me of my father doing the same for me. Looking forward to a spring break trip with the family to the mountains of Colorado, where I hear they still have winter. See everyone again in 2029?

Stephanie X. March P’17: I woke up the other morning and had a thought about the people I used to live with, for a brief time, on a chunk of Wisconsin in the Fox River Valley. Your college friends are like none you’ll ever meet again. Strangers who have agreed to be thrown together to breathe the same air. Even after these many years, they recognize in you that person from before. Before the career, before the marriage, before the kids, when you were a tightly stacked human full of potential and wit. Laughing through a joke or a phrase we used to share isn’t just memory, it’s foundational. We marked each other’s hearts and grew into the world from there.

Dr. Scott C. Spiegelberg: On May 1, 2023, I became the University Registrar at DePauw University, after four years as Dean of Academic Programs. I continue to teach some music theory as a tenured member of the faculty, but most of my time will be taken up in the next three years leading the transition to a new Student Information System (Workday). I often get asked how a musician became a registrar. My academic practice involves careful attention to details, an understanding of how systems work, and empathy for those impacted by systems. And that is what I do as Registrar: interpret academic policies, guide faculty, staff, and students in how those policies work, and maintain accurate educational records.

Kristin Wensing ’93, Elizabeth Blackwell Nelson ’93, Oliva Harris Barkoff ’93, Laura Heuser Kimball ’93, and Kelly Swett Riordan ’93 reconnected in Madison.

Kristin A. Wensing: I enjoyed a “reunion” with Elizabeth Blackwell Nelson ’93 when she came to stay with me in Madison for a long weekend. We were happy to reconnect with Oliva Harris Barkoff ’93, Laura Heuser Kimball ’93, and Kelly Swett Riordan ’93, who all joined us for lunch at my home.

Barbara J. Zabawa: I started a tenure-track Associate Professor of Law position at the University of Missouri Kansas City in Fall 2023. I am teaching courses in health law, health justice, and contracts and writing extensively about “wellness law.” I still own and operate the Center for Health and Wellness Law, LLC, and founded a clothing company called Pursesuitz Pocketwear. My twins have graduated from high school and are now pursuing their own lives. Since they graduated, my life has become quieter. Although I remember how fast my life became noisy when they were born, I am still adapting to all the changes that 2023 has brought.

1995

Tracy Donald: This past year has had multiple great experiences including spending time on campus for the LUAA Board meetings which enabled me to spend time with our future Lawrentian graduates. Additionally, the year allowed me to have a wonderful year professionally where my team had a successful sales year. On a personal note, my middle child Aniyah, made all-state for her Dance solo in spring and is on pace to do so again in 2024, when she qualified to dance at the state competition. During her senior year she has decided to take on psychology as her major in pursuit of clinical psychology upon graduation. My youngest, Tate, has had a good year with soccer and has developed a huge passion for all things airplanes (future pilot).

Mark P. Calvert: I live in Kansas City, MO, with my wife, Sarah, and our two boys: Christopher (6) and Philip (4). We enjoy spending a lot of time exploring, hiking, biking, and downhill skiing. Sarah is from Germany, so we like getting back there for regular visits to see family and friends. I stay in close touch with my buddies from the Beta house and we all get together at least once per year at Mike Slater’s home in Frankfurt, Michigan.

Charles A. Chagas: Celebrating Version 5.0, 29 years working in the payments industry, 22 years of marriage, and 18 years living in the beautiful state of Colorado. My wife (Teresa) started working for the City of Denver helping with the migrant crisis, our daughter (Vanessa) a new job as an ER nurse, our son (Stefano) a new role

in a tech company in Denver, and our youngest daughter (Katie) her college journey. We stay busy volunteering with our church, spending quality time with family and friends, enjoying musical performances, and traveling the world whenever we can!

Brenda Szitta Halminiak: After a nearly three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer, my husband Joel passed away in June 2023. After experiencing several other significant life events after Joel’s passing, I made the decision to step away from the work-a-day world for a while. I’ve been happily not working since Dec. 15, 2023. 2024 will be a year of travel and volunteering. I’m so excited to see what this next chapter brings!

Jessamyn T. Hope: My husband and I are living in Tel Aviv, Israel, for the year while he is on sabbatical from New York University. Needless to say, the massacre and hostage taking of October 7th by Palestinian Hamas and the ensuing war with Gaza has made it a much more painful year than the one we imagined. I wrote a short account of volunteering to make pizzas for grieving families called “Massacre and Pizza,” which can be found online at the Jewish Book Council. I hope to one day write more about this time, but so far it’s been too difficult.

Thomas W. McKenzie: In January, I was excited to announce the second Björklunden Seminar season that I’ve been involved with planning. Please check out the offerings at lawrence. edu/bjorkseminars, and hopefully you and your family can come to this beautiful Door County campus for an enlightening vacation with purpose. On the family front, our eightyear-old Flora has been swimming in her first YMCA swim meets, and Jill and I invested in a year-round neighborhood gathering spot with a coffee shop in quaint, lakeside Baileys Harbor. We’re also getting excited to travel in spring to Mexico City, a place I’ve always wanted to visit.

Rebecca Marsh Redmann: After 18 years in music ministry, in February of 2024 I made the leap to arts administration with a job as the Teaching Artist Coordinator at the Overtime Center for the Arts in Madison, WI. This position gives me the opportunity to work closely with two amazing outreach programs: The Lullaby Project, and the Disney Musicals in Schools. Having worked as a Teaching Artist for the Lullaby Project for the past three seasons (with a number of other Lawrence grads!!), I have co-written and recorded more than 20 original songs for families who are expecting or who have recently had children. I am excited to make this change and look forward to writing and recording more songs.

1997

Brian Bartel: I continue to work with elementary teachers as a technology coach in the Appleton Area School District, while Carrie is a kindergarten teacher. I still keep connected to science as co-host for a science education podcast called Lab Out Loud—now in its 17th season. I’ve also been collaborating with Doug Martin from the Physics Department at Lawrence to install Solarcans around campus. These are pinhole cameras that can capture the path of the sun over extended time periods. Right now, I have Solarcans installed on the roofs of Youngchild Hall, the Chapel and on Music-Drama. I’ll collect them around the summer solstice to see the results, and you can see them at twitter.com/bbartel. The twins are getting older and starting to plant seeds for their lives beyond high school. Olivia has earned her CNA and is already working at a nursing home, while Jack has secured an internship to pursue machining next year. Both play in numerous musical ensembles (Fox Valley Youth Symphony and Lawrence Community Music School Wind Ensemble) that usually perform in the Chapel, which gives me a chance to check in on my Solarcan installation!

Heather Beckett Oakes: Work continues on the house; it’s great to keep in touch around the journey of Dan at dampproofing_narnia on Instagram. Grow Music, our music school, moved into a new bigger building this year and we are looking forward to competing in Feis Ceoil, Spring Recital, and summer Showman Camps. I am scheduled to finally visit my sibling in Japan (Elaine Beckett Tipping ’LU ’2009) and her family including my wee nephew I’ve never met. My oldest son who is learning Japanese is accompanying me and we can’t wait! Middle son Óran is preparing his Abrsm Grade 6 cello exam and Junior Cert in School here in Ireland. Youngest son Arden Oakes sang solo on the National concert hall stage in December.

Allison Walter Volkman: I was named Executive Director of a National non-profit organization in April 2023! Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic, which goes by its acronym—SAFE— is a non-profit organization of US medical students, physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals dedicated to eliminating the American firearm violence epidemic through research, education, and evidence-based policy. I am none of those professions, but I AM a nonprofit administrator and fundraiser with over 25 years of experience in governance, grassroots organizing, and now gun violence prevention work. I just had enough of people getting shot and wondered why I was never asked about guns from any past doctors.

Catherine S. Walby: I’m in my 24th year teaching piano at both the Lawrence Community Music School (formerly Arts Academy/Academy of Music) and the Conservatory. I love the variety from my 4-year-olds to my 70-plus-year-olds and everything in between. The 2024–25 academic year promises to be extra special as LCMS and the Con are celebrating 150 years of existence. Watch for special events throughout the academic year. If you have special memories of the Con or LCMS, consider sharing them in some way. Keep making and enjoying music!

2001

Homer C. Arnold: I am still living in LA, enjoying fish tacos, surfing, and long sunsets— HA! But seriously, I recently started working as a Research Assistant at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. My job involves assisting curators and scholars with their various projects and keeps me busy learning new fields of Art History. Also, my partner of 5 years (Savannah) and I will be headed back to LU’s state of Wisconsin to get married this fall. We are excited to begin the next chapter of our lives together.

Julianne Carney-Chung: Greetings fellow Lawrentians! My husband Mark and I moved a short distance to Kensington, Brooklyn, where I opened a home violin studio after departing my role of 14 years as Suzuki Program Director at BKCM last year. I look forward to growing my home studio in the upcoming years. Our active and passionate six-year-old attends a Spanishimmersion school, and loves karate, space, science, Legos, and Pokémon. We are looking forward to a big family trip to China this spring to explore the villages in Taishan where my husband’s grandparents were born.

Shanta R. Hejmadi and Rich Johnson ’99: In August, we had a lot to celebrate! I (Shanta) completed my Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota and started a new job as a Senior Data Scientist at Metro Transit (MN). Rich simultaneously celebrated both having his spouse back and having a two-income household again. In other news, our kid is learning to drive which just seems bonkers.

Joshua E. Lavik: Our family has outgrown our house in Madison, and we moved to the suburbs this year. Free time is spent taking the kids skiing and snowboarding in the winter and then boating, biking, and climbing in the summer. Still selling real estate and working on other home projects.

Lyndsay Sund: We have been back in Northern IL for almost four years already, and everyone has adjusted as much as possible to life back in the States. We spend most of our time with our 1st and 4th grade daughters. They are just like me—interested in almost everything—so we explore activities with them, take them to their sports and other clubs, try their skateboards and get on roller skates and coasters when they ask us (to varying degrees of success), and play lots of games and do puzzles. We travel as much as possible and are looking forward to a trip to Nashville this spring, Europe this summer, and try to get down to Chicago to hear some blues as often as we can! Hope all are well!

2007

Kenneth M. Alvord II: Luiza and I returned to Oslo in December after a two-year stint in Riyadh. In January we welcomed the arrival of our first child, likely a future kicker.

Nikoma Baccus: I have been enjoying the joys of travel for both work and leisure. In 2024 I am looking forward to Mexico, Montreal, Tokyo, Sedona, Gatlinburg and more! Along with a new role at my company, I have started an MBA program and am having flashbacks of academia days past with homework and group projects. In my “spare” time outside of work, school, and travel, I have started candle making and am on the quest for the perfectly balanced scent. I love frequenting thrift and antique shops along the New England coast to find containers for my craft!

Katherine Kirkland Cona: My husband and I live in San Francisco and are loving California life after many years in the Midwest and on the East Coast. We welcomed our second baby girl (Giada) in June of 2023, and she joins her older sister (Sophia) in waking up at 5 a.m. and plotting a path to joining the LU Classes of ’41 and ’39, respectively. I continue to work on the Business Development team at DoorDash, running the Partner Management division.

Megan L. Karls: I’m delighted to have just been appointed Concertmaster of the Wyoming Symphony. I continue to live in Great Falls, Montana with my husband, David, where I also perform as Co-Concertmaster of the Great Falls Symphony and with their Artists in Residence, the Cascade Quartet.

Marcin M. Tasz: My wife (Sarah Tasz ’07) and I have finally “settled down” and purchased a house in Las Vegas, NV. It feels good to finally have a place of our own, but now we once again get to go through the fun of home ownership. We also have a 2-year-old who already loves it. Feel free to look us up if you’re ever in the area!

2009

Stephen X. Flynn: I’m living in Columbus, Ohio with fellow Lawrentian and my wife, Emily Alinder Flynn. We have a 6-year-old son Sebastian and soon to be 4-year-old Miranda. I recently accepted a new position as Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase and will begin working at their Polaris regional headquarters in April.

Adam W. Krings: My wife Carolynn and I have been living in Rochester, MN since 2015 and are employed by Mayo Clinic as nurses. Carolynn is a Neonatal Flight nurse, where her primary responsibilities entail resuscitation, stabilization, and transport care for premature infants via Ambulance, Helicopter, or fixed wing aircraft. I recently completed the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia program at Mayo Clinic and have taken a position in the Thoracic and Spine Surgical Division as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. It has been a long three and a half years of schooling! We have 2 labs, Lucy and Baloo. We look forward to remembering what having free time together was like!

Caitlin White Magel: We welcomed a healthy baby boy, Brooks Magel, to the world in July!

Erin V. Moore: After teaching band for seven years and getting her Master’s in Music Ed from GSU, Erin ultimately left the profession in 2022 for mental and physical health reasons. That October, she started working as an ophthalmic technician and is now a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant. She is extremely happy in this line of work providing patient care and education and is on track to becoming a clinical trainer or supervisor. She and her hubby Connor are

Sarah Ehlinger Affotey ’11, Anais Mendes ’11, Will Meadows ’13, and Jonathan Rubin ’19 met up in London last fall and reminisced on our times traveling and studying together at LU, our favorite professors (Skran and Bjørnerud!) and our thoughts around the implications of Brexit.

celebrating 11 years together this March and 8 years of marriage this June. They live in Tucker, GA, with their 6-year-old guinea pig, Maggie, and 6-year-old Dorgi, Hestia. Erin is also excited to be performing in her first paid theater production, Baskervill.

Cynthia Drake Morrow: After working for healthcare consulting firms for several years, I’ve recently gone independent in my medical writing and health services research practice. The flexibility has allowed me to join the teaching faculty of Michigan State University, teaching public health and research methodology to students in the Master’s of Public Health program.

Solveig Smithback Schroerlucke: At the close of 2023, I joined Compass Real Estate. Compass, a technology backed real estate company, is the #1 real estate brokerage in the country by sales volume for the past 2 years. I am thrilled to be one of the founding Compass agents in the Madison area market!

Frances S. Steiner: Frances Steiner welcomed daughter Katherine Coe.

2011

Sarah Ehlinger Affotey: Currently living in Oxford, working in ESG with the medical technology and device company, Convatec.

Elizabeth J. Bertucci: I am married to my wonderful husband Jason, going on 4 years in October. We reside in Menomonee Falls, WI. We have a son Isaac who is 2.5 years old and just welcomed our second son, Ryan, in November. I have been working as a nurse for 10 years, and I recently graduated from Marquette University with my Master’s in Nursing. I am now a board certified Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, and I am working at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Colorectal Surgery.

Chuck Demler: I’ve moved back to the little apple to work at Lawrence for the third time. Start making plans to return to campus yourself, our 15th cluster reunion with 2009 and 2010 is next year, in 2025.

Sally Konzem Burns: My husband (Andy), daughter (Molly), and I welcomed Ryan Richard Burns on August 31, 2023. After 6.5 years in Oregon, we’ve returned to Lawrence, Kansas to be closer to family. I’m in my 11th year as a counselor on a college campus — now at Washburn University.

Katherine E. Cummings: This year will be my 10th year (!) with the Coral Research Team

of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, monitoring coral on Florida’s Coral Reef. I’ve also had my dog, Nana Banana, for over 8 years, and my fiancé, Jesse, for 5.

Dr. MacKenzie E. Fye McCain: My husband, Michael McCain ’10, and I welcomed our son, Grayson Alexander McCain, in July 2023.

Elyse-Krista A. Mische: I never expected to call Appleton my home, but here I am enjoying a slice of the Little Apple. At the start of 2024 I founded and began Appleton’s 1st death café, Fare-Well: Art & Death Café, in collaboration with the Trout Museum of Art. I facilitate this free program each month through existential exploration and creative engagement. In May I will debut a creative death education and resourcing website, fare-well.com, alongside completion of an MS in Thanatology from Marian University. As a Creative Thanatologist, artist, funeral ambassador, and gardener, I hope to give back to this flourishing community. A big thanks to Appleton and LU, I may not have germinated the same without you!

Jihyun Shin: I’ve been enjoying my new job as an assistant professor of history at MacEwan University in Edmonton, AB, Canada. My husband Anton and I are anxiously waiting to meet our newest member of the family in May 2024!

Richard Owen Georg Wanerman: Cindy and I moved just outside D.C. to Maryland last year with our (now) 18-month-old daughter Eleanor and are constantly kept delightfully busy with her and our own day jobs. I’m with the Maritime Administration (MARAD), an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation that is charged with overseeing and promoting the United States Merchant Marine, and specifically work on programs that provide operating financial support to U.S.-Flag carriers in international trades and promote the publicprivate cooperation between carriers and the Government, including the Department of Defense and USAID. Cindy is both running her own consulting firm on women’s economic empowerment and is a delegate to the W20, the official advisory body to the G20 on women’s economic issues. Eleanor will soon start preschool (!), is extremely active, and somehow has no fear of the cold. We’re really hoping to see everyone at the 2025 cluster reunion!

Renee R. Wanger: I am fully self-employed making pies as Renee the Baker! I focus on using local ingredients in seasonal fruit pies with unique flavor combinations. I sell at local area Farmers Markets, run a monthly pie

subscription, and am beginning to wholesale to local restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, etc. I still play trombone, TTPRGs, Board Games, and enjoy reading. I live with two fantastic housemates as well as my two cats (Spritz and Crumpet) in Fort Collins, CO.

2013

Hava K. Blair: Last summer I finished my Ph.D. in Land and Atmospheric Science at the University of Minnesota and am now celebrating my one-year anniversary of moving back to the Madison, WI area with my husband Nick Blondheim. I work as a researcher in the University of Wisconsin Department of Soil Science on topics related to agricultural nutrient management and soil conservation. Hope to run into fellow Lawrentians at the farmers markets and on the bike paths around town!

David R. Cordie: My partner Anna and I are living in Fitchburg after purchasing a home together and are very excited to have recently welcomed our new (very fluffy) German Shepard mixed best friend, Chewbacca.

Claire M. Edwards: Hi all, I am moving from the Mexican Caribbean to Nashville this year with my pup and going to be pursuing a master’s in art therapy and counseling in 2025. I wish you all the best.

Christopher L. Grathwol: Chris Grathwol is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador until 2026.

Kaye Herranen: My daughter Emilia (Emmy) is a year old and is walking, talking, and giggling! She was born prematurely but is absolutely thriving, and I can’t believe how quickly she is growing.

Andrew H. Kraemer: I’m still living in Texas, I got another cute puppy, and I went on an amazing trip to New Zealand to celebrate Steve Nordin’s wedding.

Zachary A. Kulig: It was a busy end of the year in 2023. My wife and I bought a new house in Palatine in November to accommodate our growing family. We welcomed our 2nd daughter, Peyton Quinn, on Dec. 1.

Mike Kumbalek: Drilling oil wells in Oklahoma.

Bethany A. Larsen: Hey everyone! I’ve moved back to Kenosha, WI and am running a startup accelerator program for SE Wisconsin companies. I have a 1-year-old border collie who is a crazy floof (but super cute) and we’re enjoying life back in the Midwest.

Daniel B. Perret-Goluboff: Gonna get a dog this year. Hell yeah.

Samantha R. Schilsky: An update is that my husband and I are posted out in Estonia for several years for his work. If anyone fancies a trip to the Baltics, come swing on by!

Hannah Stein: I am a legal assistant in Minneapolis, life is pretty good.

Andrew P. Stuart: Emma and I had our first child, Sebastian Arthur Stuart, in April 2023. It has been exciting watching him grow like a weed. Sebastian is already the youngest and tallest in his daycare class. Maybe he will have a bright future as an athlete at Lawrence.

Johnathan R. Vanko: On 2.4.24, J.R. Vanko married his partner in beautiful Punta Cana surrounded by close friends and family. Currently, he and his husband Josh live in Royal Oak, Michigan with their two fur babies Milla and Westley. J.R. currently works as the Sr. Marketing & eCommerce Manager for Elite Sportswear LP, working with their Gymnastics, Swimwear, and Cheer fashion divisions to grow in the marketplace. GK Elite, the gymnastics division of the company, is the official apparel partner of the United State Association of Gymnastics and outfits Gymnasts on the U.S. Olympic team. He is looking forward to a busy summer as the road to the Paris 2024 Olympics is already underway!

Abigail A. Wagner: I am pursuing a Ph.D. in historical musicology with a focus on gender studies in Vienna, Austria.

2015

Katherine M. Bultman: This past September my husband and I welcomed our first child Landon. He has brought such joy to our lives. In November, I successfully defended my Ph.D. in Microbiology and have since started as an Assistant Professor at Carroll University in Waukesha.

Elena C. De Stasio Stabile: As of January 2024, I officially completed my DMA from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, having successfully defended my thesis on operatic adaptation and Brett Dean’s 2017 opera Hamlet

Brandon T. Kreuder: In the fall of 2023, I started a job as a violist touring with an ensemble called Emo Orchestra. We spent seven weeks touring the USA by bus with the band Hawthorne Heights. I also had the pleasure of reconnecting and performing with fellow

Lawrentian Jessica Ghering ’20. This spring we’ll be touring again, but with the band Escape the Fate. To contrast this, I recently started a one-year part-time position with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra in CT. Between gigs I’ve had just enough time to continue exploring my love of world travel. This winter I will finish visiting every country in Central America, and at the time of this writing I have only Nicaragua left to go!

Adriane N. Melchert: I’m writing this on my birthday, getting ready to go out and will definitely be seeing some other old Lawrentians tonight in Brooklyn. I went to Lincoln Center last night to see the New York City Ballet; Cole Escola’s play is next. Loving life, come visit!

Rebecca P. Shuman: Becca Shuman ’15 and Marshall Yoes ’15 are enjoying life in Minneapolis! Marshall is working as a music therapist at the MacPhail Center for Music, and Becca is teaching band at Eagan High School. Both of us are finishing up our master’s degrees from the U of M in our respective areas of Music Education and Music Therapy. We are house hunting, and hopefully by the time this gets published, we will have bought a house in the south metro!

Rachel N. Wilke: A lot has changed in the last couple of years! I moved from Milwaukee to Chicago last summer 2022, got a new job, and adopted a rescue puppy six months ago. I’ve been working in social media and graphic design ever since I graduated from Lawrence and recently got promoted to a senior management position.

Emily E. Zawacki: After nearly a decade living in the hot Arizona desert, my partner Stefan and I moved to beautiful (sometimes) sunny San Diego, CA in Summer 2023. Our two cats, Mica and Selex, are loving being SoCal kitties. I am thrilled to be working professionally in science communication for a geoscience non-profit. (Greetings to the Geology department!)

2017

Kristen Clark: We welcomed our second son, Calvin “Cal” Leo Martin Clark, on June 11, 2023!

Ellen R. Coale: After going back to school to get another degree in Biology at Washington State University, I am now in my second year as a PhD student in the Integrative Genetics and Genomics program at University of California, Davis. In my first year, I participated in the largest strike of academic workers in the US with UAW, and my long-time girlfriend and I got

engaged in April. I now reside in the Runcie lab at UC Davis working on advanced applications of genome-wide association studies in Arabidopsis thaliana and will take my qualifying exam to advance to candidacy in the spring. My lovely dog Bear, a stray I adopted in 2018, has been helping me study.

Megan N. DeCleene: Life since graduating from Lawrence has been nothing less than transformative. When I graduated in 2017, I had many great plans, and almost none of them came to fruition in the way I expected! Life is full of twists and turns. My time at Lawrence may not have prepared me for that reality, but it certainly prepared me to face challenges head-on and embrace growth. Some high points in my journey thus far have been completing my Master of Arts in Hispanic Linguistics at Indiana University Bloomington, meeting my husband through our mutual love for Latin dance, and moving to his home country of Brazil to start our life together.

Maxwell A. Edwards: Following the onset and lengthy treatment of a couple medical conditions not long after graduation, I regrettably fell out of touch with many of you. Thankful to share that I’m significantly healthier now and continuing to make steady gains each month. Professionally, I’m on the revenue cycle team at a large healthcare IT consulting firm. Outside of work, I’m enjoying self-study of applied behavioral science and organizational psychology with a particular interest in ’humancentric’ software & tech implementation in both corporate & household settings. I’m currently living in downtown Appleton of all places. Hit me up if you’re back on campus or in the area; I’d love to reconnect!

Greta M. Fritz: Hello all! Wesley Hetcher ’17 and I currently live in Ann Arbor, MI with our puppy, Reggie. I’m in my second year of residency in OBGYN, and while the hours are pretty rough, I absolutely love the career I’ve worked toward all my life. Wes is a chemist, performing sample analysis and method development for the Bioanalytical department of Cayman Chemical Company. We are slowly working on wedding planning, having gotten engaged last July! 11 years after we first met, we’ll be joining the 11%!

Benjamin J. Hanson: Me and my partner, Lauren Vanderlinden ’17, are currently living in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. I’m the Music Director at Foothills Unitarian Church, and Lauren works for the Denver Women’s Chorus, a thriving community treble choir. Last December, I also started as the Assistant Conductor of the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, where I work with

the full 140-voice ensemble and serve as the Ensemble Director of their auditioned chamber group. We have enjoyed performing in choirs across the state together, and this year I’ve also enjoyed singing as a professional chorister with the Colorado Bach Ensemble.

Angela Como Jacobson: My husband Daniel and I are enjoying life in Moscow, Idaho with our almost three-year-old daughter and infant son. We love doing anything outdoors as a family, whether it be camping, hiking, berry picking, paddling, or gardening. We cherish visits from extended family and friends. My kids are my junior office assistants in training at the University of Idaho where I manage programming for various Indigenous education and place-based STEM grants in the College of Education.

Alaina C. Leisten: My husband and I got married in October of 2023! We had a beautiful wedding at the Dakota in Minneapolis, MN. I continue to work at the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota as the Development Programs Manager and really enjoy the work I do and the community I support.

Alicia R. Lex: I had many Lawrentians by my side as I walked down the aisle last year and witnessed my flute making a late-night appearance. Now as I prepare for my baby, I continue to be grateful for the relationships that started on campus and for their support as I become a mother!

Joseph J. Liberko: I recently graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Ph.D. in chemistry. I just moved to Newton, NJ with my wife Lindy Sherman who is a fellow alumnus not only from Notre Dame, but also from high school where our relationship began. We moved to the Newton area for me to take a role as Science Writer I, New Products at Thorlabs. In this role I am in charge of curating web site content for new product releases and ensuring all of their features are shown and properly communicated on their product pages. I am excited to begin my career at Thorlabs and I’d like to thank Lawrence University and the class of 2017 for the education and many wonderful memories.

Xi Lin: I’m currently on the design team (Associate Sound Designer) for Yale Repertory Theatre’s production The Far Country, which will open in April/May in New Haven, CT. The play is by Lloyd Suh (2023 Pulitzer Prize Finalist) and directed by Ralph B. Peña. “In the wake of the Chinese Exclusion Act, an unlikely family carries invented biographies and poems of longing on

an arduous journey from rural Taishan to Angel Island Detention Center, in hopes of landing in San Francisco Bay. Intimate and epic, The Far Country weighs the true cost of selling the past for the hope of a brighter future.” Welcome to see the play!

Cameron B.W. Nasatir: I’m beginning my MBA at the University of Washington this fall and am excited to be living in Seattle!

Molly P. Nye: I’m happy to announce that I just accepted a Clinical Research Associate position at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California!

John E. Plasterer: Greetings, fellow Lawrentians! I am wrapping up my GIS studies, as I get set to graduate with an MS in Geographic Information Sciences from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Again, I couldn’t be more grateful for the education I received at Lawrence to prepare me for this moment. On another note, thanks to money from the Biden Administration going to passenger rail service in the U.S., I’m excited about the potential to ride the train from Madison up to Appleton for the next class reunion at Lawrence, whenever that may be.

Kaira R. Rouer: Hello, class of 2017! After obtaining my degree in Performance at the Lawrence Conservatory and then a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music this past Spring, I am so excited to announce that I have been named Executive Director of MUSE Sturgeon Bay, which is a start-up community music school and venue in Door County. We have been designing and building the infrastructure for about two years and will open the doors this Summer/Fall. I am developing programming for lessons, workshops, a variety of different approaches to concert programs, and community engagement. I am thrilled to take what I learned at LU and give back to my community!

Allison E. Wray: I’ve been the Technical Services Manager at the Menomonee Falls Public Library for about a year and a half now, and I absolutely love it. My partner and I are still living in Cedarburg, WI with our cat, and I’ve been skating on the Battlestars team with Brewcity Bruisers roller derby league since December 2023!

2019

Mikaela L. Bolker: I live in Los Angeles with my roommate, Yasmin Khanbhai ’19. We attend game nights hosted by Ben Johnson ’23, attempt to keep our plants alive, and are currently

planning our annual party. Last year’s theme was Shrek; this year’s is Twilight. (“Where the helLU been, loca?”) I work as a freelance writer and educator and pursue acting. Recently, I acted in a short film for the CBS Pipeline Challenge.

Craig D. Jordan: I am currently pursuing my DMA in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Iowa. This past fall, I premiered Matthew Mason’s “Things that Drift Ashore: Concerto for Piano and Ensemble” with the Center for New Music and traveled to Natal, Brazil for a piano collaboration with UFRN. It’s been a very exciting academic year with upcoming performances of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 right around the corner and the excitement continues as I’ve just been accepted to be a 2024 Tanglewood Piano Fellow. I also recently joined the piano faculty at the Preucil School of Music where I teach Suzuki piano.

Jerry Y. Liang: Graduated three and half years ago. Working at bus company. Still struggling to make friends. Enjoy your uni-days, there’s a whole other hurdle coming your way. That said I’ll be visiting Taiwan to have a look at their presidential inauguration day, different cultures same democracy? Keep your horizons broad Vikings.

Emily C. Midyette: I quit my job in September and have been traveling around the U.S. since doing work exchanges and couch surfing. Many people have noticed my Lawrence water bottle and stopped to share their LU connections. I may have met the person who sat next to you in high school band or your grandma. Eventually I will be back in Oregon where all will be welcome to come crash on my couch.

Claudia M. Rohr: I’m currently a 3rd year Ph.D. candidate at the Medical College of Wisconsin studying parasitic flatworms, ion channels, and drug discovery! I’ve presented my work at multiple conferences and I’m just about to secure an F31 research grant from the NIH.

Charlotte S. Willett: Joe and I got married and it was a lovely occasion.

2021

Hannah M. Baron: I’m living in San Diego, CA with Nick Muellner ’20 where we are both music teachers for San Diego Unified. We have both been auditioning for graduate school for this coming fall. Nick is still waiting to hear back but I will be attending San Diego State University and getting a MM in Cello Performance! In addition to teaching 4th and 5th grade orchestra

I have a private cello studio of about 25 students and play with the Coronado Philharmonia. We have also adopted a dog who we named Rostropovich (Po for short).

Emma S. Gilshannon: I’ve been working at the New Haven, Connecticut Planned Parenthood clinic since 2022 and enjoying every minute of it! I love the work we do and am so passionate about providing such important sexual and reproductive healthcare to our community as well as patients from the entire East Coast. We always are looking for volunteers! And we always welcome any donation to either abortion action funds or to Planned Parenthood, so we can help patients who have to come from out of state for care or without insurance.

Johanna R. Kopecky: I have been working as the data analyst for the City of Appleton. Nicholas Vaporciyan ’21 and I are getting married on 25 May 2024! We will live in Madison, WI.

Ethan E. Mellema: I have been living in the Chicago suburbs since the pandemic hit. I’ve spent the last few years as the Director of Worship and Music at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois and working parttime for the Maine-Niles Association of Special Recreation, which does programming for people with intellectual and physical disabilities. I’m in the process of auditioning for grad school for organ and sacred music, and I’ll likely be returning to school in the fall of 2024. Send me a message if you happen to be in Chicago. I’d love to see people from Lawrence!

Nora Robinson: I currently live in Appleton, where I work as the Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement in the Advancement office at Lawrence University. I oversee the Alumni Community Program along with my colleague, Ben Campbell ’97. I love being able to help bring alumni together in their respective regions. It’s always a joy seeing Lawrentians rekindle connections, build new relationships, and share stories. If you are interested in learning more about the Alumni Community Program, please email me at nora.e.robinson@lawrence.edu.

Jim Yang: I am currently a recruiter for the solar installation company, Ion Solar. If you are interested in a career in business or in the renewable energy field, please reach out to me! My email: jim.yang@ionsolar.com

2023

Claire E. Chamberlin: Hi, all! After graduation, I moved to the south of France, where I teach English to French middle and high schoolers. I spend my free time writing, teaching myself a smattering of Spanish, Italian, and Mandarin, and traveling around France. After my current program ends, I’ll either return for one more year or move back to Minneapolis. I miss you all, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of you at this year’s graduation ceremony!

Malcolm T. Davis, Jr.: Hello, I hope everyone is well! In the summer of 2023, I moved to Madison, WI to start a new job in human resources at UW–Madison! I’m currently in a rotation program at UW, where I will have the opportunity to work in four different units across campus over two years. Moving and starting a new job has been exciting and challenging in many ways, although, I continue to find joy as I learn new skills and connect with new people. Cheers to you all!

Alexandra K. Freeman: Hi all! I’ve been living in London since September pursuing a Master’s in Global Media and Communications at the London School of Economics, and I’ll hopefully be heading off to Shanghai for the second year of my program this fall. I absolutely love my degree program—I’m getting to combine my international relations major with my work experience on The Lawrentian and in the LU Communications office. I’m hoping to stay in London after graduation, so if anyone has any connections to the London NGO/IGO/ media and communications scene, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Wishing everyone all the best.

Sean P. Mclaughlin: After graduation I got a job working as a chemist in Sheboygan, WI, which I really enjoy. In my free time I’m pursuing competitive strength sports. I’m qualified for both US strongman and USPA powerlifting nationals this June, as well as the IPL powerlifting world championships in November, and I can’t wait.

Tuong A. Nguyen: I continued to build my startup, Afforai. I scaled from $0 to $700,000 in revenue in 3 months of launch since October 2023. I’ve raised nearly $1M in venture capital funding from top investment firms like Sputnik ATX VC, Plug and Play Ventures, Hatcher+.

David H. Pickar: After graduating from LU in 2023 (double degree in Music Performance & Spanish), I finished US Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) in Texas and am stationed at Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis. As a drummer in the USAF Band of Mid-America, “Roots in Blue,” I’ve been excited to dig into music performance from the perspective of a military musician, equal parts a touring rock band, logistics administrator, training and development specialist, social media content manager, and government systems expert. Recently I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the U.S. and am finishing tours in TN, KY, WI, and some professional development opportunities here in St. Louis and |Washington, D.C.

Luka A. Santin: This January I started a second bachelor’s degree program in music therapy at Carroll University! I am set to graduate either in spring or fall of 2026. After I complete the coursework, I will do a 6-month internship, then take the board certification exam. Then I will be ready to begin practicing as a board-certified music therapist!

Sidney A. Short III: I recently attended the White House Youth Policy Summit in DC where I represented Gen Z of Houston, The Aspen Institute, the Greater Houston Opportunity Youth Collaborative, and my employer: the Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries. I was able to meet the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Jill Biden, and influential young adults. I am having an amazing time helping the young people of Houston find jobs and educational opportunities. I also run a youth council here and we have fun in the great weather of Texas. Professor Skran and others at Lawrence definitely set me up for success in the non-profit world post-graduation.

Willem B. Villerius: I’ve continued my work as a freelance journalist writing on Jewish music. In particular, an article I wrote on composer John Zorn for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was republished by multiple publications including The Forward, The Cleveland Jewish News, The Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post, and The Jewish News of Northern California. I started my own publication, (www.oyer.fm), dedicated solely to writing on Jewish music as many pieces I wanted to write aren’t of interest to larger publications. For Oyer, I’ve already gotten to interview tons of musicians I love including Frank London and Job Chajes.

Emma K. Zelles: Absolutely thriving.

Remembering Bonnie Laird ’64: Reunions, faculty funding won’t be forgotten

Bonnie Laird ’64, a longtime supporter of Lawrence University who was instrumental in numerous fundraising and reunion projects, including the formation of the Leveraging Lawrence Faculty Initiatives (LLFI) program, passed away June 13, 2023. Her classmate, Peter Betzer ’64, has written the following tribute. The complete tribute, including testimonials from three faculty members whose research has benefited from the LLFI program, can be found at Lawrence.edu/news.

Bonnie Laird ’64 was a dedicated, loyal, and generous Lawrentian who for decades inspired many others to support Lawrence. Almost as soon as we graduated 60 years ago, Bonnie began connecting with our classmates and spent countless hours encouraging them to attend reunions.

It was especially meaningful that both our 40th and 50th reunions established substantial new records for: 1) donations to the Lawrence Fund; 2) for % participation; and 3) for the number of Legacy Circle members. Particularly striking for our 40th reunion was tripling the record for contributions to the Lawrence Fund ($232,000 vs $757,729). We were also proud of our participation rate, 82.8%, which was considerably more than the previous mark of 72%. These distinctive accomplishments are a tribute to our dedicated classmate, Bonnie R. Laird.

In addition, Bonnie was part of a small group of classmates that in 2013 began planning our 50th Reunion. During those discussions, a new program—Leveraging Lawrence Faculty Initiatives—was advanced. At that time, any awards the faculty or institution received—federal, state, foundation—that required matching funds meant Lawrence was forced to reduce that amount from their departmental budgets. As a result, any new grant requiring a match would become a cause for celebration in one area and a financial scramble in another. The goal of our initiative was to build an endowment sufficient to cover the matching funds required as part of any new grant. Not surprisingly, several classmates were

skeptical that our class could create a large enough endowment to make a substantive difference. Gene Clark, Robert Anker, and Bonnie Laird were most supportive and a new endowment, Leveraging Lawrence Faculty Initiatives, was started as an integral part of our 50th reunion. Thankfully, 43 classmates have donated to a fund that is now in excess of $900,000. The first awards from the endowment were made in June 2014 to three faculty. In the past 10 years, 23 faculty have received awards that supported them and their research but also enriched Lawrence’s academic programs.

In 2023, the program was named for a major donor, Robert Anker ’64, who from our first discussions made it clear he felt this would be a transformative endeavor—Robert Anker Fund for Leveraging Faculty Initiatives.

Bonnie Laird’s support of Lawrence encompasses more than recordbreaking reunions and multi decadal efforts that inspired her classmates to support Lawrence. Bonnie’s bequests to Lawrence include the Bonnie R. Laird and Dorothy Brenner Laird Scholarship, the Bonnie R. Laird endowment for Björklunden and a major contribution to the Robert Anker Fund for Leveraging Faculty Initiatives. For 59 years, our classmate not only dedicated herself to supporting Lawrence but also left bequests that will continue enhancing Lawrence for decades. If Lawrence ever decided to establish a group of Viking “ALL STARS” I have little doubt Bonnie Laird would be a charter member of Lawrence’s first class.

For the full Bonnie Laird tribute, please scan:

Bonnie Laird ’64 is seen front row to the right in 2004 with her 1964 Lawrence classmates.

LAWRENCE’S ALUMNI TRIPS SPAN THE GLOBE

Traveling the world is among the avenues Lawrence University provides to help its alumni stay connected— blending camaraderie and educational insights with gorgeous scenery and shared global experiences.

James Walker ’74 embraced it all when he and his wife, Randi, joined 16 other alumni and friends on an eight-day trip to Northern Scotland in September 2023—Geology of Northern Scotland: Sermons in Stone. The geologyfocused travel tour hit all the right notes.

“I first got involved in geology at Lawrence, having taken courses from Ron Tank and John Palmquist,” Walker said.

“After graduating from Lawrence, I got an MS in geology from the University of Minnesota, so geology is part of me. At the time, plate tectonic theory was still new, and what I learned on this trip about the advances of the theory was unexpected and profound. I will remember this as one of the best trips I’ve ever had with such unique learning experiences and scenery.”

As is the case with all the trips, it is open to Lawrence alumni, family, and friends. Costs vary per trip.

Mark Breseman ’78, senior principal gift officer at Lawrence, and his wife, Jane Hillstrom—they are parents of a 2014 Lawrence graduate—led a 10-day Danube River cruise that included 17 people in the Lawrence group. The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, passing through 10 countries.

The cruise ship, the Amadeus Brilliant, visited seven countries—Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.

The ship stopped in ports and the group walked through numerous cities, among them Vienna, Budapest, and Belgrade.

“Classmates reminisced while the ship passed from the Iron Gate in Southern Romania to the Hungarian Gates Gorge,” Hillstrom said. “Conversations flowed about favorite classes and professors while our ship cruised past fishermen, barges, and castles. Stories about campus shenanigans brought laughter over five-course meals served with wines from the respective countries.”

To learn more about alumni travel opportunities, search Alumni Travel here: lawrence.edu/alumni/ events-travel

“We are including Lawrence in our estate plans because we want to help ensure that Lawrence students have the best learning opportunities available on campus and at Björklunden. We have developed specific bequests that revolve around our interests and passions.

We ’customized’ our giving back which makes it all the more special. One of the ways we were able to accomplish this was through a charitable gift annuity with Lawrence.

Please consider joining Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle by ’giving back’ to Lawrence as a thank you for what Lawrence has done for you!”

— Janet Sygnator Peters ’72 and Michael J. Peters

Join Janet and Mike in the Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle. Visit legacygiving.lawrence.edu to learn more.

By choosing a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA), you make a valuable gift to Lawrence University and receive an immediate charitable tax deduction for a portion of your gift. With annuity payments guaranteed for life, you can ensure your financial stability while supporting Lawrence’s students and faculty. The payment amount you receive is based on the ages of the income beneficiaries and the size of your gift. The remainder of your gift will support your passion, making it an impactful way to leave a lasting legacy. Contact our office to find out if an annuity is right for you at: legacygiving@lawrence.edu or 920-832-6843. *Recommended rates by the American Council on Gift Annuities (subject to change)

Marguerite Brown Tibbetts ’44 P’71, Golden Valley, MN, November 3, 2023. Family includes Jennifer Bodamer Evans ’78; Pamela L. Tibbetts ’71.

Muriel Braaten Williams ’44 P’76, Traverse City, MI, January 20, 2024. Family includes Karen L. Williams ’76.

Cecelia Speel Zwicker ’44, Waunakee, WI, December 14, 2023.

Gloria Frank Moore M-D’45, Lake Forest, IL, March 31, 2023.

Nancy Balster Schuler M-D’45, Middleton, WI, November 25, 2023.

Mary Shattuck Young ’45, Lake Forest, IL, October 1, 2023. Family includes Bradlee H. Shattuck ’68.

Shirley Vogt Rogers M-D’46, Round Rock, TX, December 23, 2023.

LeRoy E. Jirikovec ’47, Nashville, TN, December 3, 2023.

Robert O. Robertson ’48, Lake Wales, FL, September 8, 2023.

Nancy L. Ballou ’49, Arvada, CO, April 4, 2023.

Emmogene Gassert Erickson ’49, North Bend, WA, July 31, 2023.

Gloria Liebner Cherkasky M-D’50, McLean, VA, December 26, 2023.

Betty Plautz Leeson ’51, Rockford, IL, January 7, 2024.

Barbara Nukow Olive ’51, Milwaukee, WI, February 18, 2024.

Keith M. Buxton ’52, Appleton, WI, October 26, 2023.

Joan Furstenberg Heller ’52, February 24, 2024.

Dr. James H. Olander ’52, New York, NY, March 9, 2023.

Carol Bevins Shier ’52, Mc Farland, WI, November 3, 2023.

Dr. Phillip W. Alley ’53, Prospect, KY, November 27, 2023.

John L. Anderson ’53, Racine, WI, January 11, 2024.

Arden White Fall ’53, Chagrin Falls, OH, January 24, 2024. Family includes Harry C. Fall ’52.

Beverly Buchman Reberg ’53, Roy, UT, October 16, 2023.

Charles H. Rohe ’53, Windermere, FL, October 3, 2023.

Janet Seeber Adams ’54, Arlington Heights, IL, January 5, 2024.

MerryBelle Kercher Beltz ’54, November 9, 2023.

Barbara Boldt Fink M-D’54, Fond du Lac, WI, November 3, 2023.

Alan C. McConagha ’54, October 31, 2023.

Kenneth W. Cummins ’55, Fort Myers, FL, June 8, 2023.

Dr. John D. Maloney ’55, Fort Collins, CO, January 20, 2024.

Dr. David W. Ortlieb ’55, Colorado Springs, CO, January 3, 2024.

Karen Foth Selig ’55, Appleton, WI, February 12, 2024.

Phyllis Thompson Ziegler ’55, Bartlett, IL, March 17, 2024.

Charlotte Darling ’56, Appleton, WI, January 28, 2024. Family includes Andrew D. Darling ’65; Joan Carrington Darling ’65.

Donald P. Rietz ’56, January 29, 2024.

Richard H. Kimberly ’57 P’90, McLean, VA, November 23, 2023. Family includes William A. Brehm, Jr. ’67; James E. Gorlinsky ’93; Lynne Ansorge Gorlinsky ’66; Kim Kimberly Holland ’90; Karen Ansorge Kimberly ’58.

Mary Barnard Larson ’57, Brillion, WI, October 13, 2023.

Richard D. Rine ’57, Appleton, WI, December 31, 2023. Family includes Carol Bowman Rine ’57.

Suzanne Breitwish Walker M-D’57, Sandia Park, NM, January 5, 2024.

Lois Votapek Harshaw M-D’58, Silver Spring, MD, November 30, 2023.

James R. Smith ’58, Janesville, WI, October 16, 2023.

Dr. Brian K. Beck, Ph.D. ’59, December 20, 2023.

Diane Hobbet Burt ’59, Wheaton, IL, February 14, 2024.

Juliet Good Gant ’59, Montgomery, TX, November 28, 2023.

John E. Harris ’59, Scottsdale, AZ, February 5, 2024. Family includes Ruth Esty Harris ’59.

Peter A. Hartwig ’59, Carmel, IN, January 15, 2024.

David G. Patton ’59, Waupun, WI, December 15, 2023.

Myrna Rongsted Manz ’60, Maple Plain, MN, June 16, 2023. Family includes Beth E. Cowett ’91; Katherine Manz Cowett ’64.

Donald J. Schildt ’60, Waterford, WI, November 15, 2023.

Millicent Irmiger Mitchell (Penny) ’62, Lincoln, MA, November 14, 2023. Family includes Gretchen Irmiger Morrison ’53.

Susan Daniels Swift ’62, Nisswa, MN, November 11, 2023. Family includes J. Gilbert Swift III ’59.

Helaine Messer M-D’64, New York, NY, September 8, 2023.

Linda Axelson Packard ’64, Galena, IL, November 10, 2023. Family includes Nancy Van Peenen Axelson ’54.

Gary F. Scovel ’64, Minocqua, WI, November 3, 2023.

J. Peter Bartl ’65, Eau Claire, WI, February 1, 2024.

Gordon R. Bond ’65, Prescott, AZ, October 27, 2023. Family includes Virginia Booster Bond ’62.

Patricia Cook Haukohl ’66, Brookfield, WI, October 24, 2023. Family includes Robert T. Haukohl ’64.

Robert G. Krohn ’67, Janesville, WI, November 15, 2023.

S. James Smyth ’67, Lafayette, IN, March 16, 2024.

Vivien Leister Steele ’68, Bethlehem, PA, January 14, 2024.

Peter F. Neulist ’69, Maryville, TN, December 21, 2023.

Michael L. Moodie ’71, Silver Spring, MD, March 13, 2024.

Diana Rohloff Grasee ’72, De Pere, WI, November 1, 2023. Family includes Tyler D. Grasee ’15.

Bonnie Koestner ’72, December 3, 2023.

Gerald R. Hansen ’74, Sleepy Hollow, IL, June 22, 2022.

Donald J. Brunnquell ’74, Minneapolis, MN, December 30, 2023. Family includes Sally A. Scoggin ’74.

Diane Cyrwus Wexler ’74 P’08, Elmhurst, IL, December 13, 2023. Family includes Sara E. Wexler ’08.

Catherine A. Mach ’80, Kenosha, WI, November 24, 2023.

Lisa A. Olivas ’80, Eden Prairie, MN, January 22, 2024.

MARRIAGES

Susan Schmidt Robertson ’81 P’13, Minnetonka, MN, February 23, 2024. Family includes David A. Robertson ’82; Heidi A. Robertson ’13; Andrew C. Schmidt ’83.

J. Gavin Beyersdorfer ’83, Franklin, WV, February 21, 2024.

Andrew S. Burnett ’83, Washington, DC, October 11, 2023. Family includes Connie Radtke Burnett ’82; David F. Burnett ’82; Shaunna T. Schultz ’07.

Anne L. Bjelland ’91, Minneapolis, MN, January 5, 2024.

Sara Mladejovsky Deitrich ’91, Appleton, WI, October 20, 2023. Family includes Michele Mladejovsky Christiansen ’92; Andrew T. Deitrich ’96; Christopher T. Deitrich ’94; Jane Kohlman Deitrich ’96; Suzanne Des Isles Deitrich ’67.

Melissa A. Klocke ’12, Minneapolis, MN, December 29, 2023. Family includes Dr. Stephen A. Exarhos ’12.

Zoe Baird Berglund Hesterberg ’14, Minneapolis, MN, October 7, 2023.

Sara A. Nordin ’17, Marshfield, WI, December 9, 2023. Family includes Emily J. Nordin ’16; Stephen J. Nordin ’13.

Liam McCarty-Dick ’18, Monona, WI, October 18, 2023.

Rachel Gregory Griffith ’17 and Stephen Griffith, Rowlett, TX, September 23, 2023

Alaina C. Leisten ’17 and Dan Lee, Minneapolis, MN, October 15, 2023

Alicia R. Lex ’17 and Seth Kilkelly, Madison, WI, January 7, 2023

Dr. Joseph Liberko ’17 and Dr. Lindy Sherman, Newton, NJ, September 23, 2023

Charlotte S. Willett ’19 and Joseph W. Kortenhof ’20, Boston, MA, October 7, 2023

BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS

Laura M. Fessler ’04, Lake Forest, Illinois, a daughter, Lilianna Grace, August 13, 2023.

Susan Kraemer ’10 and Casey Clark, Boston, Massachusetts, a son, Harrison T., October 9, 2023.

Elizabeth J. Bertucci ’11 and Jason M. Drew, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, a son, Ryan Michael, November 17, 2023.

IN MEMORIAM FACULTY, STAFF AND FRIENDS

Professor Marjory Irvin, Macomb, IL, January 21, 2024.

Harry Kisker, San Anselmo, CA, November 14, 2023.

Professor David Mayer, West Didsbury, GB, August 24, 2023.

Carol J. Palmquist P’86 ’82, Appleton, WI, January 7, 2024. Family includes David C. Palmquist ’82; Kirsten J. Palmquist ’86.

Professor Theodore W. Ross P’94, Neenah, WI, January 13, 2024. Family includes Ted W. Ross ’94.

Monroe E. Trout, Appleton, WI, March 4, 2024.

Gladys V. Veidemanis, Oshkosh, WI, December 27, 2023.

Joan M. Verbrick, Little Chute, WI, October 19, 2023.

Nancy Winslow, Appleton, WI, January 31, 2024.

Erik C. Borresen ’11 and Shanan, Waukesha, Wisconsin, a son, Samuel Martin, January 23, 2023.

Sally Konzem Burns ’11 and Andy, Lawrence, Kansas, a son, Ryan Richard, August 31, 2023.

Zachary A. Kulig ’13 and Courtney, Palatine, Illinois, a daughter, Peyton Quinn, December 1, 2023.

Andrew P. Stuart ’13 and Emma, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, a son, Sebastian Arthur, April 18, 2023.

Andrew Borresen ’15 and Jenna, Durham, North Carolina, a son, Isaiah Gregory, January 26, 2024.

Kristen Bischel Clark ’17 and Philip ’15, Portland, Maine, a son, Calvin Leo Martin, June 11, 2023.

Angela Como Jacobson ’17 and Daniel, Moscow, Idaho, a son, William James, December 2, 2023.

Samantha Lapid Aman ’18 and Brien, Menasha, Wisconsin, a daughter, Addison, April 12, 2023.

Gabriel L. Baker ’20, Fox Island, Washington, a daughter, Lydia Grace, October 24, 2023.

MARJORY IRVIN

A beloved music professor for more than 40 years, Marjory Irvin passed away Jan. 21, 2024, in Macomb, Illinois, at the age of 99. She taught first at Milwaukee-Downer College and then at Lawrence following the 1964 merger. Upon her retirement in 1987, Irvin was described as a “personal force with students, colleagues, deans, and presidents” by then-President Richard Warch. Irvin began teaching at Downer in 1948. She continued teaching piano and music theory at Lawrence, and she published a textbook, Perspectives in Music, that brought together the professional and pre-professional worlds of music. Her contributions to the merger were invaluable.

BONNIE KOESTNER ’72

Bonnie Koestner ’72, a retired music professor, passed away Dec. 3, 2023, in Richmond, Virginia. She was 73. A graduate of Lawrence, Koestner returned to her alma mater to join the Conservatory faculty in 2001. She worked with opera and theater productions until her retirement in 2017. “As a vocal coach, you have worked tirelessly with students, helping them reach their highest potential,” read a citation upon her retirement, presented at the 2017 Commencement. “The results are performances of great power, grace, and beauty.” At Lawrence, Koestner’s many credits included preparing operas ranging from Henry Purcell to Phillip Glass to Benjamin Britten. She also served as a visiting faculty member at the London Centre and at the Florence program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.

DAVID MAYER

David Mayer, a professor of theatre at Lawrence from 1960 to 1968, passed away in late August at age 94. He was a theatre historian and professor of drama throughout his career—much of it in the UK—often focused on early cinema and the Victorian and Edwardian stage. One of his first teaching endeavors was as an associate professor of theatre and drama at Lawrence. That would lead him to a Guggenheim fellowship that brought him and his family to London. He taught, researched early 19th-century English pantomime, published numerous books, and took scholarly interest in melodrama and other popular theatre forms of the 19th century.

TED ROSS

Retired geology professor Theodore William Ross passed away Jan. 13, 2024, in Neenah, Wisconsin. He was 89. He taught geology at Lawrence for 33 years before retiring in 1999 He held stints as chair of the Geology Department and taught courses in areas including crystallography and economic geology. He also served students in a variety of other ways, including as an assistant football coach for 16 years. Then-President Richard Warch said upon Ross’ retirement: “It is fair to say, I think, that you disabused many students of their stereotypical notions of both professors and coaches. In this sense you have embodied in your own career the combination of curricular and extra-curricular interests to which many of our students aspire, and which at a residential college we actively encourage.”

ROBERT SCHAUPP ’51

Robert “Bob” Schaupp ’51 P’86, a trustee emeritus who served the university in various volunteer and philanthropic capacities for multiple decades, including as a key supporter of Björklunden, passed away April 15 at age 95. His career included leadership at the Green Baybased P&S Investment Co., a trucking company, for more than 50 years. In addition to other service roles at his alma mater, Schaupp was a trustee at Lawrence for 24 years, beginning in 1990, and was instrumental in the More Light! campaign and the rebuilding and expansion of the lodge at Björklunden.

The BIG

Picture

The student band NOIR performs during the 2024 Fox Cities Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in Memorial Chapel.

PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI