12 minute read
Campus News
LAWRENCE MAKES THE GRADE
Princeton Review, U.S. News Rank Lawrence Among Best in Country
Late summer and early fall mark rankings season in the academic world, and Lawrence had another strong showing this year. It is again listed as one of the best colleges in the nation by both The Princeton Review and U.S. News and World Report.
PRINCETON REVIEW
Lawrence again landed on The Princeton Review’s list of The Best 387 Colleges. Only about 14% of the nearly 2,800 eligible fouryear colleges make the Best book each year. Lawrence was also recognized on lists for Best Value Colleges, Best Green Colleges, and Best Midwestern Colleges.
The Green College ranking speaks to the work Lawrence has done on sustainability and reducing the school’s carbon footprint. The Best Value designation is based on stellar academics, affordable cost with financial aid factored in, and strong career prospects for graduates, according to Princeton Review editors.
The Princeton Review report lauded Lawrence for its small student-to-faculty ratio, robust international student population, its impressive First-Year Studies program, and its “holistic approach to the admissions game.”
“At a time when students are searching for institutional strength and quality, we appreciate that The Princeton Review has once again recognized Lawrence University as one of the best colleges in the country,” said Ken Anselment, vice president for enrollment and communications.
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
In addition to being included in U.S. News’ 2022 Best Colleges report, placing No. 62 among the Best National Liberal Arts Colleges, Lawrence placed high on four other lists that are part of the annual rankings:
No. 36: Best Value
No. 44: Best Undergraduate Teaching
No. 54: Best First-Year Experience
No. 167: Top Performers on Social Mobility
To be considered for U.S. News’ Best Value Schools listing, a school first had to be ranked among the Best Colleges in the nation. Those qualifying schools were then examined on the basis of net cost of attendance and available need-based financial aid. The Best Value ranking reflects Lawrence’s push to make more need-based aid available in the form of grants and scholarships.
Placement on the other lists, meanwhile, is particularly exciting because they each reflect ongoing efforts to make Lawrence more inclusive and to provide a broad, holistic student experience.
Being on the list for Best Undergraduate Teaching is heartening because it speaks to the relationship-building that comes with Lawrence’s 8-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and the expansion of key academic programs.
“Lawrence’s faculty are not only terrific scientists, artists, and scholars—they are also first-rate teachers,” said Catherine Gunther Kodat, provost and dean of faculty. “It’s extremely gratifying to see them receive this much-deserved national recognition for the extraordinary work they do with their students.”
The First-Year Experiences ranking is new for Lawrence this year. In addition to the signature First-Year Studies program, the ranking follows efforts across campus to enhance the student life experience in a holistic way, including more coordinated health and wellness outreach, the launch and growth of the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, the expansion of the Center for Academic Success, and the more intentional focus of the Career Center in connecting with students in their first year on campus. That has all played into first-year students having positive experiences as they transition to college life.
The Top Performers on Social Mobility list speaks to the success of a college advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students who are awarded Pell Grants. The majority of those federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are below $50,000.
“While being considered one of the best is great, we’re even more excited that Lawrence is being recognized for the important work we do every day on behalf of our students, which is providing topnotch preparation for a meaningful life after college and doing so in a way that families can afford,” Vice President for Enrollment and Communications Ken Anselment said.
NEW FACES
President Laurie Carter isn’t the only new face on campus. In addition to welcoming back a community of 1,500 students this year, we are also joined by the incoming class, new faculty, and new staff. These new Lawrentians will help us continue to invest in our academic programs, student success, and our mission and values.
Class of 2025’s official photo.Photo: M.C. Kinney Photography
BY THE NUMBERS: WELCOMING THE NEWEST LAWRENTIANS
Lawrence is thrilled to welcome one of the largest classes of new students in our history. Get to know a bit about these impressive students. They are ready, resilient, and are going to do great things.
410 incoming first-years 15 transfer students
10% international students 16% Conservatory students 100+ varsity athletes 21% first-generation college students
Where are they from?
34 states + D.C. and Puerto Rico Top five: Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, California
31 countries Top five: China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Canada
5sovereign Native nations Menominee Nation, North Dakota Mountain Chippewa, Hopi Nation, Nenana Native Association in Alaska, Native Hawai’i
Ten new tenure-track faculty joined Lawrence this fall, including hires in newly-endowed positions in cognitive neuroscience and collaborative & organizational psychology.
Brittany Alperin,
Sigma Colón,
assistant professor of environmental and ethnic studies
Kelly Culhane,
assistant professor of chemistry “I am absolutely thrilled to be welcoming such a talented, dedicated group of scholars. Our new colleagues will fortify strengths in existing academic programs and help us develop new areas of focus.”
Alex Heaton, assistant professor of mathematics
Margaret
Koker, assistant professor of physics
—Provost Catherine Gunther Kodat
Linnea Ng, assistant professor of psychology. She will be the inaugural holder of the Hurvis Professorship in Collaboration and Organizational Psychology.
Scott Dixon, assistant professor of philosophy Amanda Draheim, assistant professor of psychology Kristin Roach, assistant professor of music (vocal coaching) Elizabeth Schlabach, associate professor of history
ABOVE: Eric Mayes, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion, stands for a portrait on campus. Photo: Danny Damiani
ERIC MAYES TO LEAD AS NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IN 20 WORDS OR FEWER: Dr. Eric Mayes is a higher education leader who has championed diversity and education reform initiatives for nearly two decades.
HIS ROLE AT LAWRENCE: As the leader in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Dr. Mayes will work collaboratively across campus with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader community.
HIS PROFESSIONAL LIFE BEFORE LAWRENCE: “My career path has largely been driven by working to give back and replicate the kinds of support that I received that proved to be life-changing,” says Mayes. That path includes being the inaugural executive director of the University of Arkansas’ Center for Educational Equity at Arkansas, an assistant professor of educational leadership and chair of the Diversity and Civility Committee at the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University.
MORE ABOUT DR. MAYES: He grew up in southwest Michigan, surrounded by significant poverty. He said the support he received throughout his youth has informed his education and his professional life. He attended the University of Michigan, where he went from a walk-on linebacker to co-captain of the 1997 National Championship team. The leadership he showed after a season-ending knee injury is the stuff of legend at Michigan.
HIS THOUGHTS ON HIS WORK AT LAWRENCE: “It’s an opportunity to be a part of important change happening at a critical time in both Lawrence’s history and our country’s history. I’m looking forward to working alongside faculty, staff, and students and bringing my experiences, expertise, and network to campus and help move the needle forward in achieving the institutional goals around antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
GARRETT SINGER Director of the Center for Community Engagement & Social Change (CCE)
Singer joins Lawrence from Vanderbilt University. “I look forward to engaging with Lawrence students to help them discover opportunities to serve in the community and build lasting relationships with area nonprofits. I want to raise the profile of the CCE on campus while emphasizing the importance of building community engagement skills.”
go.lawrence.edu/ccesinger
ROBYN BOWERS Dean of Admissions
Bowers will join Lawrence as the new dean of admissions beginning in January. She joins Lawrence from Kenyon where she served as the senior associate dean and director of admissions recruitment. “Everyone I have met at Lawrence has impressed me with their warmth, intelligence, and deep commitment to the institution. Lawrence’s rich liberal arts tradition, commitment to the arts, emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and welcoming community create an extraordinary learning environment. I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working with the admissions team to bring the light of Lawrence to prospective students.” go.lawrence.edu/rbowers
CASEY KORN Head Men’s Basketball Coach
Korn is the new leader of the Lawrence University men's basketball team. Prior to Lawrence, he was an assistant coach at University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. “Overall, we just want players to set a standard for who they want to become and who we should be here at Lawrence. Mistakes are going to be made along the way. But we’re going to continue to grow and continue to learn from them as we go. That’s what our philosophy is going to be. We want to excel on the court and in the classroom, and we’re going to put a product on the floor that people will be proud to come and watch.”
go.lawrence.edu/ckorn
DR. ASHLEY LEWIS Associate Vice President for Enrollment
Dr. Lewis is the inaugural holder of this newly created role that aims to strengthen Lawrence’s commitment to student retention and persistence. She comes to Lawrence from Shippensburg University. “Lawrence is doing excellent work. Ensuring that the student, parent, and family experience is superior, from recruitment to retainment, takes a strong, united, and diligent village. I welcome the work ahead of us as we—faculty, staff, administration, and local community— collaborate to strategically and thoughtfully develop practices and processes that improve upon retention, persistence, and equity for all students.” go.lawrence.edu/alewis
BOARD OF TRUSTEES WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP, MEMBERS
CORY NETTLES ’92
Founder and Managing Director, Generation Growth Capital, Inc., Chair of the Board of Trustees
SARAH SCHOTT ’97
Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel, Gravie Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees
WILLIAM BAER ’72
Visiting Fellow in Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution Secretary of the Board of Trustees
FRANCESCA ROMERO SIEKMAN ’11
Project Developer for Pimieta Films, Recent Graduate Trustee
KATY SCHWARTZ-STREI ’84
Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resource Officer at Emergent BioSolutions, Term Trustee
SACHIN SHIVARAM
CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry, Term Trustee Learn more about our new trustees and Board leadership at
go.lawrence.edu/ board21
THREE NEW PROGRAMS OFFERED
Lawrence continues to invest in its academic mission, launching three new programs: A major in international relations, a minor in global health and society, and a partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin for a 3+3 pharmacy degree.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The major in international relations builds on offerings in Lawrence’s government program. Students can explore international security, conflict and cooperation through coursework. There are also opportunities for international field research with faculty. There has been growing demand for such a major, particularly among students interested in careers in diplomacy, global nonprofit work, multinational business, and graduate work in political science, public policy, international law, and international affairs.
THE HEALTH AND SOCIETY MINOR
Explore the intersection of human health and global social inequities, focusing on the complex issues that shape individual and population health. It draws on faculty expertise from social, cultural, biological, and environmental fields across campus. It can be paired with any major and will provide important preparation for students eyeing health- or social justice-related careers or graduate school programs.
3+3 PHARMACY DEGREE
The partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCOW) offers students the opportunity to earn both a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lawrence and Doctor of Pharmacy degree from MCOW in six years. The program is aimed at students majoring in the sciences.
Students pose for a photo in Hong Kong. Lawrentians traveled there in 2018 as part of a D-Term opportunity taught by Stephen Edward Scarff Professor of International Affairs and Associate Professor of Government Jason Brozek and Associate Professor of Government Ameya Balsekar. Students spent one week on campus reading and preparing, followed by several days in Hong Kong for on-the-ground study, including meetings with local NGOs, government officials and business leaders. Photo credit: Jason Brozek.
Photo: Liz Boutelle
PRESIDENT’S HOUSE NAMED TO HONOR LEGACY OF OLIVE HAMAR
The president’s residence has been renamed the Olive Hamar Olive Hamar, 1922 House. The new name honors a student who, a century ago, advocated for women’s rights and sought to create a new social space on campus. Hamar was a student at Lawrence when she died of meningitis in March 1925. She had been active with student organizations and was leading a push to open a hospitality center on campus. The president’s ▶DID YOU KNOW? house is often a gathering place for campus celebrations and meals with Lawrence guests, Seven Lawrence presidents so it’s appropriate that it will have lived in Hamar House now carry the name of a student since it became the presidentialwho put such emphasis on hospitality and friendship. residence in 1956.
The new name is thanks to a $2 million endowed gift from the late Olive Hamar’s niece, Patricia Boldt ’48. Boldt, who followed her aunt’s path to Lawrence, said family stories and cherished letters detail the kindness and generosity of Hamar, including her love of Lawrence. “Olive was a beloved girl,” Boldt said. “And not just by her family. If you read all the stuff that I’ve got, you can tell people were really fond of her. And when you read some of these letters, you see that she was a darling and a wonderful woman, so generous and humble.” President Laurie A. Carter, her family and dog, Pepper, took residence in Hamar House in July.
