Deanna Kolell, Alyssa Retza, Suzanne Sullivan, Billy Greene ’26, A.J. Kaiser ’25, Ed Berthiaume, Jaye Alderson, Chris McGinn
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Danny Damiani, Paul Wilke, Adrian Stancil-Martin ’28, Aaron Lindeman ’27, Jacob Hanekamp ’25, Juan Marin ’20, Austin Segrest, Charles Del Viscio
CLASS NOTES:
Sharon Cook, Kelly Coenen, Ann Steenbock, Elizabeth Boutelle
DESIGN:
A2Z The Agency
Dear Lawrentians,
As I write this letter, we are entering the traditional season of celebration, a time that reminds us to give praise and thanks for our blessings throughout the year. Certainly, it has been a praiseworthy time for Lawrence University.
In this edition of Lawrence magazine, you will read about several milestones and achievements we celebrated. This fall, we marked the 50th anniversary of BjÖrklunden, our beautiful north campus in the heart of Door County, and concluded our yearlong, 150th anniversary celebration of the Conservatory of Music. We also were delighted to retain our ranking as Wisconsin’s No. 1 national liberal arts college in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Colleges report.
important milestones in our long-term growth strategy for the coming decade. We are truly grateful to our community partners in helping us create new opportunities for our students. Likewise, we are thankful for faculty and staff who bring these new spaces—and the ideas they represent—to life.
With our belief in the power of a liberal arts education in this increasingly complex world, Lawrence recently unveiled a refreshed brand strategy—one that honors our historic strengths while boldly embracing what makes Lawrence distinctive. At the heart of this new brand identity is a simple yet powerful statement: We the Lawrentians. More than mere words—it reflects who we are. You can read more about the refreshed brand on page 24.
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 54911-5690 communications@lawrence.edu
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.
We held an historic ribbon-cutting in August for our newly completed West Campus (our cover story for this edition). This space was intentionally created to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration thanks to an insightful design by architect and Lawrence Trustee Fred Fisher. The facility embodies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking that defines Lawrence University. As Trustee and alumna Susan Hall ’76 aptly described, “Lawrence continues to be a place where bold ideas take root and grow.”
As we ushered in the academic year, we also celebrated the opening of the Pre-Health Commons—the next stage of the Fox Commons development in the heart of downtown Appleton. Activating partnerships with other tenants in the building, Mosaic Family Health and Prevea Health, directly supports students by providing expanded access to internships, research, and job shadowing—all critical parts of their career discernment process.
The programs these spaces support are
Opinions about the value of higher education have been a frequent topic of public discourse in recent years. At Lawrence University, we understand that an education in the liberal arts and sciences is ideally suited to preparing students for careers that do not yet even exist and equipping them for success in a rapidly evolving workplace. We know that a Lawrence education is so much more than preparation for a job—it is preparation for a life of meaning, purpose, and impact.
Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement of Lawrence University. We have much to celebrate and many more to come. Working together, We the Lawrentians, will continue to explore, innovate, and inspire in everything we do.
Warm regards,
Laurie A. Carter President, Lawrence University
WEST CAMPUS
Lawrence students enter West Campus’ interdisciplinary hub, which encompasses the humanities center, math, computer science, and the Conservatory of Music to cultivate cross-disciplinary collaboration.
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Lawrence University recently opened West Campus—its newest academic building and the first at Lawrence intentionally designed to create opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and collaboration.
Opened in September, the $38 million development expands the university’s approach to teaching and learning, preparing students to navigate the rapidly evolving workplace they will enter after graduation.
In this dynamic career environment, students require far greater fluency with their relational skills that naturally develop over the course of a liberal arts education. Employers
increasingly place high value on graduates who are effective collaborators, creative problem-solvers, and imaginative innovators.
With West Campus, the Lawrence community is discovering what the building truly represents: a celebration of intellectual curiosity, a commitment to creating opportunities for Lawrence’s multi-interested students to explore, and a model for how teaching and learning will evolve at Lawrence over the next decade.
The state-of-the-art development brings together students and faculty from the humanities, mathematics, statistics,
computer science, and the Conservatory to cultivate cross-disciplinary collaboration and spark innovation that reaches well beyond university borders.
“West Campus’s interdisciplinary focus, cutting-edge spaces, and location close to downtown opens doors for collaborative projects with community partners,” said Andrew Sage, assistant professor of statistics.
“For example, I am currently advising a team of students working in partnership with Fox Valley Exchange, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to using data to enhance well-being in the Fox Cities.”
PHOTOS
An Innovative Space for Campus and Community Connections
Rooted in Community
Located at the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street, West Campus is an innovative campus and community partnership. The Trout Museum of Art occupies the entire first floor of the building. Lawrence’s state-of-theart academic spaces occupy the second floor, and the third and fourth floors offer beautiful one- and two-bedroom apartment rentals available to the general public.
West Campus brings people from Lawrence and the community together, creating more opportunities for internships, exhibitions, and hands-on learning with local partners.
“Partnerships like this ensure that our students’ education is not confined to classrooms but is enriched by direct engagement with the cultural fabric of our region,” said Lawrence University president Laurie A. Carter. “We are building bridges
between theory and practice, past and future, campus and community.”
West Campus expands the community’s access to the arts, boosts economic growth, adds new housing options, and fosters a culture of belonging, integrity, respect, and sustainability.
“West Campus symbolizes Lawrence’s investment in students from across the institution,” said Monica Rico, Robert S. French Professor of American Studies and professor of history. “We believe in the future of our students and this community, and we believe in the power of a liberal arts education.”
Empowered by Interdisciplinary Learning West Campus is comprised of eight classrooms, a digital humanities laboratory, a music production studio, a performance room,
a Mathematics Commons for collaboration and study, and more than 30 faculty offices, including 18 soundproof offices used by Conservatory faculty for private music instruction with students.
This interdisciplinary nucleus helps students in charting a distinctive path, one that nurtures the whole student and provides them with a well-rounded education for a successful career and culturally rich life. Case in point is the Humanities Lab.
“The space is flexible and reflects how today’s humanities practitioners approach this field,” Rico said. “Humanities professors employ a wider variety of teaching practices. than ever before—lectures and traditional seminars will always have their place, but we’re doing more community-based learning and digital storytelling, for instance—and we talk to scholars in departments outside our own.
An exterior view of Lawrence University’s West Campus, featuring more than 100,000 square feet of academic, residential, and public space.
“I think we are modeling the idea that learning is a continuous process that doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom.”
– Elizabeth Sattler, associate professor of mathematics
This is true everywhere, but it’s particularly true at Lawrence because we have such a dynamic and creative faculty.”
At West Campus, students are encouraged to collaborate and innovate, not just with one another but with faculty, staff, and community partners who share their passion for discovery, creativity, and lifelong learning.
“It’s common in industry for arts and music majors, humanities majors, and math and science majors to work together on project teams,” Sage said. “It is important for students to learn to understand and communicate with people with a range of interests and expertise. By intentionally bringing different disciplines together in West Campus, Lawrence is creating a space that resembles the world we’re preparing our students to live and work in.”
How students utilize technology and collaborate with others is critical. Employers seek highly collaborative, tech-savvy problemsolvers to overcome the challenges businesses face to remain relevant and viable.
“I am especially excited about the technology-enhanced, active learning classrooms, each containing six short-throw projectors,” Sage said. “These can connect to students’ laptops, allowing them to work together and display their work. For example, students can collaborate to create a data visualization and watch it come to life in real time. This setup not only allows students to learn to code and analyze data but also to develop the communication and collaboration
skills that we know are so important in the workplace.”
The momentum being created by West Campus is undeniable. Traditional lectures and seminars still have their place, but professors are integrating more handson, community-based learning, utilizing technology to support active learning, and deploying a wider variety of teaching practices than ever before. Students say they can feel the creative energy when they enter West Campus.
Mathematics major Anja Dobbins has adopted the Mathematics Commons at West Campus as her new favorite location for studying with many accessible resources to accomplish her work. From her perspective, it is a place where creativity and analytical problem-solving intersect.
“West Campus is a place for Lawrence students to work, socialize, and expand their knowledge,” Dobbins said. “I continue to see new people walking in and out, and I see my professors, who have done so much for me, continue to do the same for other students.”
Assistant professor of mathematics
Elizabeth Sattler echoed that sentiment.
“Lawrence is investing in our students, the liberal arts, and our community,” Sattler said. “When you walk in, you see math equations left on the whiteboards from students studying, students attending a presentation in the Humanities Center, statisticians meeting with social scientists on a data science project, and music coming from faculty offices or practice studios.”
Monica Rico, Robert S. French Professor of American Studies and professor of history, sits for an on-camera interview in West Campus and shares the vital role of the humanities in students’ education.
Student Experience and Transformation
At West Campus, Lawrence’s multi-interested students can move fluidly between classes to practice rooms or group study sessions. The space is an incubator for project-based learning and partnerships in action.
“I think we are modeling the idea that learning is a continuous process that doesn’t stop when you leave the classroom,” Sattler said. “You step out of the room, and you work at a whiteboard, you ask your professor questions, you share ideas in the Humanities Center, and you learn and socialize in the Mathematics Commons. I think this helps students feel that learning isn’t confined to a classroom, and when they go into the world and don’t have the comfort of a classroom, they’ve developed the mindset that they can learn anywhere, any time.”
Looking Ahead
Students, faculty, staff, and the Fox Cities community are energized by the possibilities of West Campus and what can be achieved in the future.
“I’m excited about the variety of students who will thrive in West Campus,” Sage said. “The range of opportunities the building provides will allow students to thrive in ways that are unique to them. For example, one student may thrive by creating music in West Campus’ practice rooms and recording
studio, while another might thrive through an impactful community-based research project in the humanities center. Other students may thrive by creating apps and software or by solving a new problem in mathematics. Any one of these achievements is worth celebrating, and it’s exciting to think that at a given time, all these could be happening within West Campus.”
Passionate, disciplined, and highly creative students are the heartbeat of West Campus, and their cross-collaborations are integral to shaping the future of Lawrence.
“I’ve had several students in the past few years conduct their senior projects on math and music, specifically, Fourier analysis and understanding sound waves,” Sattler said. “These students would have loved West Campus’ recording studio and to chat with me on the side. These projects pop up almost every year because we have curious students! This space will only encourage more of that.”
The advantage of a state-of-the-art space and tools that West Campus offers will empower the next generation of problem-solvers, inventors, and creators. The community can look forward to seeing how new ideas, new technology, and new partnerships take shape over time.
“West Campus better prepares students for their careers and life,” Rico said. “The West Campus space will strengthen their initiative, creative problem-solving, and collaboration
skills. Employers want to hire people who can work flexibly across disciplines to solve problems, and that’s the kind of person Lawrence graduates.”
Small interactions between faculty will begin germinating new ideas, ambitions, and collaborations. As they become more familiar with each other and learn more about what others are doing, they will find similarities in their teaching approaches and their goals for Lawrence students. These interactions will soon lead to more meaningful conversations, sharing ideas, and considering new ways to collaborate, co-teach, and expand opportunities for students.
“The possibilities inspire our faculty in this multidisciplinary space, where they can interact with a variety of colleagues who nurture other interests,” said Chris Jenkins, dean of the Conservatory of Music. “There are so many fascinating possibilities we are just starting to explore, and I’m very excited about the future of West Campus.”
Watch Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of the faculty and associate professor of history, as he describes how students might collaborate in the new space during the West Campus ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Students meet for conversation and collaboration in a quiet study booth in West Campus.
West Campus’ interdisciplinary hub greets the community on the corner of College Avenue and Drew Street.
A SPACE TO GROW
Pre-Health Commons prepares students for what comes next
BY ALYSSA RETZA
On a weeknight in Fox Commons, long after most classrooms have gone quiet, the PreHealth Commons is still awake. Lights glow from study rooms. Laptops hum over group projects. In the demonstration kitchen, a few students laugh as they test a new, nutritious one-pot recipe. For neuroscience major Taylor Svoboda ’26, it feels like a bridge to the future.
Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the space on Sept. 19, 2025, Svoboda said, “The partnerships Lawrence has built for both the Pre-Health Commons and the Business & Entrepreneurship Center go a long way in helping students bridge the gap between their classroom experiences and the life and careers that await us after Lawrence.”
A Collaboration Years in the Making
The living-learning community in downtown Appleton is the result of years of collaboration among Lawrence University, Mosaic Family Health, and Prevea Health. Designed to connect students with hands-on experience, professional mentorship, and independent
living, the Pre-Health Commons is part of Fox Commons, a 180,000-square-foot mixeduse development that brings together retail, residential, and clinical spaces to strengthen ties between Lawrence students and the Appleton community.
Bringing together student housing, academic resources, and direct access to healthcare professionals, the Pre-Health Commons offers a model of experiential education rooted in the liberal arts tradition. It houses 86 students in apartment-style units with dedicated wellness and study areas, a rooftop patio, a mind spa, and a demonstration kitchen equipped with high-resolution cameras for in-person and virtual presentations.
President Laurie A. Carter said the space reflects Lawrence’s student-first approach to growth. “The opening of the Pre-Health Commons celebrates the culmination of a shared vision and the power of partnership,” she said. “Together, we’ve built a state-of-the-art space for students to learn and collaborate, to develop new skills and explore new careers, and to forge deeper connections with the local community.”
Learning, Living, and Leading
Beth De Stasio, the Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science and professor of biology, was among several Lawrence and community leaders who helped shape the vision from concept to completion. Working closely with campus partners and healthcare professionals, she helped ensure the Commons would function as both a residence and a learning community.
“It’s making a good impact on the students who are pre-health and living in Fox Commons,” De Stasio said. “They’re using the facility on their own time for study and for community building. The kitchen is being used in ways that I hoped it would be.”
Programming in the Commons combines academic exploration with wellness education. De Stasio organizes two main event types: exploration events, where local professionals meet with students for informal discussions, and wellness events, which focus on resilience and self-care. Recent exploration sessions have featured Fox Valley physicians and Lawrence alumni describing the realities of medical careers, followed by student reflections connecting personal values to career paths.
Wellness programming has included intuitive cooking workshops led by Sustainable Kitchens of Milwaukee, snack-building demonstrations for busy schedules, and discussions on emotional well-being featuring
(left to right) Lawrence University provost and dean of the faculty and associate professor of history Peter Blitstein; neuroscience major Taylor Svoboda ’26; Raymond H. Herzog Professor of Science and professor of biology Beth De Stasio; president Laurie A. Carter; and vice president and chief of staff Christyn Abaray.
Mosaic Family Health practitioners, Lawrence counselors, and wellness staff.
“These sessions give students tools they can call on later when they’re in medical school, residency, or professional practice,” De Stasio said.
For students like Svoboda, the Commons provides both independence and community. “Living here helps me stay focused on why I want to pursue neuroscience,” she said. “We support each other. It feels like a small community inside a larger one.”
A Broader Network of Care
The Commons also strengthens Lawrence’s partnerships throughout the Fox Valley. Mosaic and Prevea professionals collaborate on research discussions, networking events, and student shadowing, while the facility’s flexible spaces support community-engaged research and potential collaborations with the Business & Entrepreneurship Center, allowing students to test food-based or wellness innovations developed in the demonstration kitchen.
Unlike most residence hall learning communities, the Commons is designed for sophomores through seniors preparing intentionally for their next steps. “This is more of an aspirational career tool,” De Stasio said. “The goal is to prepare students for the career they are choosing thoughtfully and with purpose.”
Students who thrive here, she added, are motivated, collaborative, and compassionate. Many are scholar-athletes or tutors in area schools. “They need to like people if they’re going to be in healthcare,” she said. “You have to be interested enough to spend the time to do it right.”
Beyond Fox Commons, Lawrence’s Health Professions Advising Program offers
individualized support to help students discover paths that fit their strengths, whether they begin with a clear goal or a general interest in healthcare. Graduates have gone on to top medical schools including Johns Hopkins, Rush University, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, and Vanderbilt.
The program also introduces students to healthcare careers beyond clinical medicine, such as public health leadership, genetic counseling, and pharmaceutical research.
“Our robust pre-professional healthcare advising, paired with the rich liberal arts education at Lawrence, is a springboard toward medical
school acceptance and a lifetime of purposeful work,” De Stasio said.
Shaping Futures Beyond Fox Commons
De Stasio believes the Commons will continue to shape students long after they graduate.
“It can have an immediate impact right now while they’re living in Fox Commons,” she said. “But it’s also something they will call on in the future when they’re in medical school, residency, or professional practice and need those skills, that resilience, and that sense of connection.”
Students collaborate in the new Pre-Health Commons test kitchen.
PHOTOS BY DANNY
ACADEMICS
Beyond the Classroom
83 Lawrence students transform summer into research opportunities through the Lawrence University Research Fellows program
BY DEANNA KOLELL
For many Lawrence University students, summers aren’t just a break from classes; they’re an opportunity for intensive, handson research that bridges classroom learning with real-world application. This past summer, a diverse group of 83 Lawrentians from 19 departments across the college and conservatory immersed themselves in a variety of research projects, pushing their boundaries and gaining invaluable skills. These experiences underscore the incredible opportunities available to undergraduates. “Working with Lawrence faculty on their research over the summer is a truly distinctive opportunity for our students,” said Beth Zinsli, associate provost and adjunct associate professor of art. “In addition to a greater depth of knowledge in a specific discipline, this summer research helps them sharpen key skills needed for successful careers in their fields after graduation.”
Showcasing the Permanent Collection
The Wriston Art Galleries at Lawrence University hold a permanent collection of over 6,000 works, with typically less than 2% on display. To showcase more of this vast resource, junior art history major Val Muzzarelli took on a research project to curate a year-long exhibition, a project led by Zinsli.
Muzzarelli spent the summer researching, examining, and drawing connections among the artwork to create a cohesive exhibition of about 90 pieces. The exhibition, which opened in the back gallery on Sept. 26, 2025, aims to expose the community and faculty to the full breadth of the collection.
Madison Pierson, the collections and gallery assistant, hopes this type of exhibition becomes a regular event, allowing faculty to incorporate the works into lesson plans.
Rylee Polanka ’27 searches for jewelweed in the woods behind Trever Hall.
Junior Val Muzzarelli peruses some of their selected pieces for the exhibit.
Scan to learn more about Art History research
Pioneering Prairie Restoration
Fifth-year senior Laura Friestad, a clarinet performance and environmental science major, developed a passion for ecological restoration during a previous internship, resolving that they “can’t spend the rest of my life not doing plant stuff.” Friestad decided to integrate this interest into their work at Lawrence by creating a prairie on the campus hill behind Hiett Hall, which was covered in invasive species.
The initial work involved removing invasives and collecting seeds from native species around Appleton. This summer, Friestad continued their efforts through a research project with associate professor of biology
Alyssa Hakes, alongside junior Rylee Polanka, an environmental science major. The project studies prairie restoration methods, focusing on techniques to help the native seed bank overpower the invasive one.
“We are trying to overpower the invasive seed bank with our seed bank, and that means a lot of digging up the invasive seed species ... and hopefully, eventually, create a self-sustaining ecosystem,” Friestad explained. They noted their favorite thing about prairies is how much energy the plants put “into the roots,” allowing them to return season after season.
Music Pedagogy and Nonprofit Development
Conservatory students engaged in diverse summer research, bridging performance with scholarship. Senior Joey O’Connor, a trumpet performance and music education major, collaborated with assistant professor Nadje Noordhuis on editing interview transcripts for Noordhuis’ Ph.D. dissertation, “The Teaching Philosophy of Laurie Frink.” This opportunity allowed O’Connor to explore the philosophy of the brass legend and uncover best practices for future educators.
Ann Ellsworth, associate professor of music, led several projects tied to her involvement with the Lawrence Graduate Bayreuth Tuben Quintet (LGBTuben). Junior Leo Rodda, a music major, continued his research with
Pursuing Discovery
These are just a few examples of the wide range of research opportunities available to Lawrence undergraduates. The intensive summer research experience provides a unique opportunity for students to apply their classroom knowledge, work closely with faculty mentors, and develop critical skills for their future careers.
Ellsworth on arranging music to create “meditations” for bilateral music, which provides alternating auditory stimulation for potential therapeutic use. This summer, Rodda finalized the digital scores and recorded, edited, and mastered the new album, set for release this fall.
Separately, senior Aimee Patch, a music education major, collaborated with Ellsworth on managing a lodge in New York’s Adirondack State Park, recently gifted to LGBTuben for use as an artistic retreat. Patch researched similar nonprofit models and studied zoning laws. She valued the chance to see the “behind-the-scenes work” of making music happen, noting, “To sit there as a student, as an intern, was really incredible. To see how these decisions were made and debated and decided as a group was really powerful.”
Studying Sibling Bonds
In the social sciences, seniors Gabby DeBoer, a psychology major; Owen Bakker a psychology and double bass performance major; and Faith Onukaogu, a business & entrepreneurship and global studies major, worked with assistant professor of ethnic studies Estéfani Marín to study sibling bonds. The three research fellows dove into interviews, coding and analyzing data to understand how siblings generate and transmit resources in the educational context, with a particular focus on Latin American and Asian American families.
(right to left) Gabby DeBoer, Estéfani Marín, and Faith Onukaogu work on coding and analyzing interviews.
Aimee Patch and Ann Ellsworth discuss their work. The exterior of the Lodge
PHOTOS
ACADEMICS Summer Immersion Programs
BY JILL JOHNSON
Lawrence University has launched new summer pre-college experiences for highly motivated students who are ready to engage in college-level learning.
Aimed at high school students, options include two distinct paths for high-achieving, AP-level students: The Ascent Summer Institute and The Odyssey Immersion Program. Both of these elite learning opportunities are designed and taught by Lawrence University faculty.
Learn more about summer programs for kids and teens offered at Lawrence in music, theatre, athletics, and aviation.
The Ascent Summer Institute is a one-week residential experience offered on the Lawrence University campus. It offers high school students a college-level, interdisciplinary learning and leadership development experience. Opportunities in the Ascent Summer Institute are designed to allow students to explore topics of scholarly interest they would not typically encounter in their regular academic curriculum. This program is open to high school freshmen through seniors.
“Students will experience real college rigor in an environment that values intellect, artistry, and purpose.”
– Trevor Lord, AVP of strategic partnerships
Learn more about the Björklunden seminar series for lifelong learners at Lawrence’s north campus in beautiful Door County.
The Odyssey Immersion Program allows participants to earn college credit as they engage in a three-week interdisciplinary exploration spanning three locations. It is taught collaboratively by three faculty members from different disciplines, providing a rich experience that delves into the topic area from unique points of view. The first week of their academic journey takes place on the Lawrence University campus. Week two brings students to Björklunden, Lawrence’s “north campus” in Door County. Students complete the final week of their experience at Lawrence’s London Centre, where students explore topics of interest through a global lens. Odyssey is open to rising juniors and seniors.
“These summer options will help Lawrence University to connect and engage with high-performing high school students who are academically curious and intrigued by
a journey of learning and self-discovery,” said Trevor Lord, assistant vice president of strategic partnerships. “Students will experience real college rigor in an environment that values intellect, artistry, and purpose.
Primarily guided by Lawrence University faculty, students will engage in hands-on study, explore cultural connections, and build enduring friendships with peers who share their curiosity and drive.
“The greatest pleasure has been watching my creative colleagues come together to develop these incredibly cool and impactful course experiences that, through their interdisciplinary approach, reflect the best of Lawrence,” said associate professor Elizabeth Becker.
These signature experiences will allow students to deepen their sense of purpose, discover unexpected connections between academic disciplines, and synthesize those discoveries into their lives in ways that point out new, previously unexplored pathways to learning, leadership, and self-expression.
“Ascent Summer Institute and Odyssey Immersion Program at Lawrence University are the ideal summer choices for students to explore their interests, refine their goals, and strengthen their sense of purpose, all in an academically challenging, intellectually stimulating, college-level environment,” Becker said.
LISTENING TO YOUR CREATIVE VOICE
with Creator-inResidence
Patricia Smith
Patricia Smith, American poet, spoken-word performer, playwright, author, writing teacher, and former journalist, is LU’s Creator-in-Residence.
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Patricia Smith, an American poet, spoken-word performer, playwright, author, writing teacher, and former journalist, will join Lawrence as its next Creator-in-Residence.
A four-time individual National Poetry Slam champion and winner of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize in 2021, Smith will work with writers and performers on campus. She plans to help students strengthen their voice and take their art form and craft to the next level.
Smith started down the creative path in life as a child, when her father came to Chicago from Arkansas in the Great Migration. He brought with him storytelling prowess that instantly fascinated Smith and sparked a desire in her to tell her own magical stories.
Several major influences on her creative work over the years have helped Smith shape and explore various forms of expression.
“My father, who encouraged my voice,” Smith said. “Gwendolyn Brooks, who encouraged my vision, and the poetry slam, which taught me the importance of empathy and audience.”
Creatives often struggle to trust their unique voice, but Smith aims to help them embrace joy and patience to refine it.
“It’s important because it’s what differentiates you from all other artists,” Smith said. “It’s your signature. It’s your stamp. And you never really know. You can come to trust your voice, but that doesn’t mean you stop searching.”
Smith does not attribute one specific thing to inspiring her creative work.
“When you’re a writer, you’re a witness, and there’s nothing that doesn’t at least give you the beginning of an idea,” Smith said. “It’s a fascinating life—there are stories everywhere.”
Residence. Her expertise and creative vision will complement an already vibrant student community.
“The key is to learn as much from the students as you’re hoping to teach them,” Smith said. “That no matter what their major, no matter the path they’ve already carved, the arts are the answer to so many questions.”
To improve as a writer, Smith urges people to stop concentrating so much on technique and remember joy, empathy, and patience.
“It’s a fascinating life—there are stories everywhere.”
– Patricia Smith
Smith describes the creative process as something that “knocks you to your knees.”
“The ‘creation’ is what prompts you to stand up again,” she said.
The Lawrence community will be energized by Smith’s new role as Creator-in-
“Don’t forget to live what you love,” Smith said. “I hope I, and the students I work with, give the community another way of thinking of something they thought they knew.”
In helping others find their voice, Smith offers a piece of advice.
“In most cases, they’ve found their voice; they just don’t trust it,” she said. “I talk a lot about the quirky, roundabout path to finding my own—it’s not always an easy process— and help them see the voice inside that’s begging them to listen.”
PHOTO
ACADEMICS
Melissa Range’s Prize-Winning Collection Is a Work of POETRY & HISTORY
BY BILLY GREENE ’26
Associate Professor of English Melissa H. Range was awarded the 2025 Vanderbilt University Literary Prize for her upcoming collection Printer’s Fist
In Range’s third book of poetry, the creative writing and 19th-century literature professor explores the 18th- and 19th-century abolitionist movement through its rich print culture.
Through a fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society, Range engaged with the era’s archival material, such as newspapers, broadsides, and letters.
“When I’m interested in something, I want to write creatively about it—not critically,” Range said.
PHOTO BY AUSTIN SEGREST
Slated for a March 2026 publication from Vanderbilt University Press, Range’s collection will also offer her a residency at the Nashvillebased university. Over a decade in the making, it is her first book since the National Poetry Series Winner Scriptorium (Beacon Press, 2016).
“It took a really long time because I needed to do the research to get it right,” she said.
Printer’s Fist is a testament not only to activism but also to Range’s journey to Lawrence University.
Melissa H. Range
A Path Through Poetry and History
Range has always wanted to tell stories. She grew up in the mountains of upper East Tennessee in a community of conservative values and low academic expectations. But she always had dreams of writing: If the authors she read in the classroom could do it, she reasoned, why not her?
A first-generation student from a workingclass background, Range attended the University of Tennessee. Both her upbringing and college experience gave her an outsider ethos, Range said.
“I’m always thinking, feeling, and recognizing the outsider,” she said. “Because that’s how I felt in academic circles.”
Originally interested in fiction, Range enrolled in a poetry workshop because the fiction one was full. Under the instruction of poet Marilyn Kallet, however, she realized she wanted to write poetry.
Kallet also offered Range a piece of advice she still uses in her classroom today.
“You have to let yourself write shit, because if you don’t, you won’t ever write any good,” Range said.
After graduating, Range worked many jobs— with AmeriCorps, with libraries, and even with
PHOTO BY BILLY GREENE
Range leads her
and Life
on a group nature walk.
“They did all this work that changed the country for the better,” Range said, “but we don’t know about them.”
Inspired by the poetry collection Native Guard by Natasha Trethewey, Range wrote Printer’s Fist as a monument to the abolitionist movement and the history of American activism. She hopes the collection will empower readers in their own communities to spearhead change.
“ Poetry and the humanities teach people how to be more curious, more empathetic, and more attuned to wonder.”
– Melissa Range
a record store—before returning to academia. She even pursued a theology degree, which, she said, was for fun.
Enrolling in the M.F.A. program at Old Dominion University, Range said her mentor, scholar Alex Socarides, encouraged her interest in dense religious imagery and archival research. It was here she read activist poets Frances Ellen Watkins Harper and John Greenleaf Whittier, whose work featured in abolitionist newspapers.
“A lot of problems in this country arise from not looking at our history,” Range said. “If we can look at it, we can move forward.”
Excerpts from Printer’s Fist can be found in Ecotone, Poets.org, and The Nation, among other publications.
In the Classroom Range teaches courses in 19th-century literature, creative writing, and contemporary poetry. She came to Lawrence because its interdisciplinary departments allow her to teach between analytical and creative fields.
“I don’t want to teach work from one point of
view,” she said. “My desire is to teach a diversity of authors, in every sense of that word.”
Range’s favorite course to teach is her advanced seminar on elusive poet Emily Dickinson. By diving deep into one poet’s work, students sharpen their research and closereading abilities—skills that are beneficial regardless of discipline, she said.
Another favorite of Range is Introduction to Creative Writing, where she balances the study of craft and activities that push writing to its limits.
One example is her bonnet activity. Range prints out various writing constraints, such as zany phrases or odd poetic forms, on slips of paper. She then places them in several bonnets for students to draw and include in a piece of writing. The change in their written voices and confidence is rapid.
As for her colleagues, Range spoke to how much passion Lawrence’s Department of English instills in students. The care for teaching among faculty is unlike anywhere else, Range said.
“Poetry and the humanities teach people how to be more curious, more empathetic, and more attuned to wonder,” Range said. “It teaches them how to be better people.”
course, Nature
Writing,
ACADEMICS
Becker’s Brain and Behavior lab class leans into collaboration with local high school students
BY A.J. KAISER ’25
Elizabeth Becker, associate professor of neuroscience at Lawrence University, noticed that while students in her Brain and Behavior laboratory class seemed to be excited about what they were learning, they were far less enthusiastic about presenting their work.
“As a scientist, I regularly communicate my work,” she said. “And then I thought when I present, I’m going to a conference, I’m speaking to people who are really passionate about the same topics, or I’m educating the community.”
In an attempt to engage her students more deeply in the presentation element of the class, Becker reached out to Karen Koss, a psychology teacher at Appleton East High School, with the idea that Becker’s students would gain greater enthusiasm and understanding of the material by presenting their work to Koss’ students.
“The role of the high school students was to help the senior students practice translating their research goals and outcomes in such a way that is accessible to all people,” Koss said.
“My students served as research assistants, observers, and even participants in the formulation, execution, and evaluation of the research projects of the college students.”
Nine students from Appleton East joined Lawrence students earlier this year.
“They are getting their hands on some of the different techniques, some of the behavioral assays, and even serving as a grant review panel for our students when they first present their ideas,” Becker said.
Lawrence senior Nazlee Harunani, who took Brain and Behavior two years ago, was a teacher’s assistant in this year’s class. She said the high school students opened the floor to questions that otherwise may never have been asked.
“They would ask anything,” Harunani said. “It was helpful for the [Lawrence] students to hear that. I think it helped them realize that science is about learning, and science is about coming up with new questions.”
When Harunani, from Rockford, Illinois,
was a pre-med student, she discovered her love for research while taking the class. Now she is majoring in neuroscience and psychology.
“Genuinely, this class completely changed my life,” Harunani said. “This is where my love for research started. Dr. Becker made me feel like I could do anything I wanted.”
Becker added that Lawrence’s instructional designer and technologist, Jedidiah Rex, set up the class, and a faculty teaching grant helped with funding.
“It really is a collaborative effort,” Becker said. “There are multiple layers of teaching and learning that are happening throughout the term.”
Becker said she aims to repeat this process for upcoming iterations of the Brain and Behavior class.
“Now that it’s set up, I can’t imagine it would be of service to students moving forward not to do so,” she said. “Their mastery is just so much deeper and greater when they have someone to explain it to.”
Professor Elizabeth Becker leads a lab class that has Appleton East High School students joining her students.
Jake Frederick and Jodi Sedlock named to endowed faculty positions
BY ED BERTHIAUME
Two Lawrence University faculty members have been named to endowed teaching positions beginning in the 2025–26 academic year. Jake Frederick will hold the Jean Lampert Woy and J. Richard Woy Professorship in History, a newly endowed chair. Jodi Sedlock will hold the Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professorship in Biological Sciences, an endowed position previously held by the retiring Bart De Stasio.
Jean Lampert Woy and J. Richard Woy Professorship in History
Established in 2018 by Jean Lampert Woy ’65 and J. Richard Woy ’64, this fund reflects their appreciation for liberal arts education and their interest in historical scholarship.
Jake Frederick joined the Lawrence faculty in 2006. His scholarship has included research on and presentations about fire and other environmental crises in Mexico and economic factors that have informed Mexico’s history.
Published books include Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico, and, with Tatiana Seijas, Spanish Dollars and Sister Republics: The Money That Made Mexico and the United States. In 2017, Frederick received Lawrence’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship. He is a recent recipient of a Newberry Library fellowship to research firefighting and fire prevention in 18th-century Mexico.
Frederick earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.
Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professorship in Biological Sciences
Established in 2007, in recognition of the deep appreciation Charlot Nelson Singleton ’67 holds for Lawrence education, the endowed position reflects her conviction that the biological sciences are a critical component of the liberal arts
curriculum and an abiding belief in the value of education she and Dennis share.
Jodi Sedlock joined the Lawrence faculty in 2002. Her research has frequently taken her and students to the Philippines in Southeast Asia, where she has worked in collaboration with Filipino scientists, conservation professionals, Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History, and other researchers, often in forests, caves, or biodiverse rice fields, as she seeks to better understand how bats respond to humancaused landscape changes.
Her recent focus has been on acoustic ecology, a subfield of sensory ecology, using ultrasonic microphones to “eavesdrop” on bats as she explores animals’ evolved strategies for living in naturally noisy environments. Sedlock earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Loyola University. She earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Illinois.
Jake Frederick, professor of history
Jodi Sedlock, professor of biology
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FACULTY NEWS ACADEMICS
Lawrence University welcomed seven new faculty members for the 2025–2026 academic year
BY JILL JOHNSON
Hixon
Andrea Gross Hixon, visiting assistant professor of music (oboe): Andrea Gross Hixon brings more than two decades of collegiate oboe teaching experience to Lawrence. Her students have gone on to prestigious music programs, won significant scholarships, and secured orchestral and teaching appointments. An active orchestral and chamber musician, Hixon is a member of both the Madison Symphony Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival. She has performed with numerous other ensembles, including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony, and has toured and recorded with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. Hixon holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music in oboe performance from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music in oboe performance from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with additional studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.
Chandler Hall, music librarian and assistant professor (library): Hailing from the Lone Star State, Chandler Hall recently completed his Master of Science in library science at the University of North Texas. His musicology dissertationin-progress, tentatively titled, “Contestation and Collaboration on the Cathedral Close: Washington National Cathedral’s Musical Responses to the Vietnam War,” examines how music performance continuously reshaped and reconstituted the National Cathedral’s communities and its pro-peace stances. He also served as a research assistant on the Early Modern area of Grove Music Online’s Women, Gender, and Sexuality Project. Hall earned his bachelor’s degree in history and music from Rhodes College. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the University North Texas.
Stephanie Kapsa, lecturer of music (music education): Stephanie Kapsa is an awardwinning music educator who has been sharing her love of music and nurturing the talent of her students for more than 20 years. Before joining the college ranks in 2022, she served as an elementary general music teacher, most recently for the Appleton Area
School District and earlier at the Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas and Hallsville R-IV School District in Missouri. Kapsa has been repeatedly recognized for excellence in teaching. She was named the VFW-Wisconsin District, Regional, and State Teacher of the Year. She earned Teacher of the Year honors at Foster Elementary and Hallsville R-IV School District. She was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Pflugerville Independent School District. Kapsa earned both her Ed.D. in educational sustainability and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Margaret Malone, assistant professor of biology: Margaret Malone brings more than 15 years of experience as a marine biology researcher to Lawrence. Most recently, her NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science–funded research focused on the use of acoustic telemetry to assess reef fish movement and foraging patterns in the Florida Keys. As a postdoctoral researcher for the USDA Forest Service and Cascadia Conservation District, she studied juvenile salmonid habitat selection within the Columbia River basin. Her graduate work at the University of Illinois at Chicago included work at the Field Museum of Natural History and research as a visiting researcher at the Hawai‘i Institute
of Marine Biology, Kāne ‘ohe, Hawai‘i, where she developed a standardized technique to quantify the foraging behaviors of coral reef fishes.
An award-winning researcher, Malone has published extensively on fish ecology and is a frequent invited presenter and contributor at scientific conferences and symposia. She is a highly experienced diver whose field work has taken her from Lake Michigan to Tahiti French Polynesia. Malone serves as co-director of the Lawrence University Marine Program, a field-based program that provides immersive, hands-on undergraduate experience in marine biology. Malone holds a Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She earned her M.S. in biology with an emphasis in aquatic ecology from Loyola University Chicago. She received her B.S. in marine biology from College of Charleston.
Theresa Martin, instructor of music (composition):
Theresa Martin brings a wealth of experience as an educator, performer, and composer to Lawrence University. In addition, she is a private instructor of piano, clarinet, composition, and theory at her Appleton studio. She has taught music at the collegiate level for more than 20 years at institutions in Wisconsin,
Hall
Kapsa
Malone
Martin
Michigan, and Arizona and has had residencies at prominent universities throughout the country. Martin is a prolific composer whose works have been performed worldwide by numerous symphonies, bands, and ensembles. Her talents were showcased in 2019 at the Solar Flair Festival: Celebrating the Works of Theresa Martin at Colorado State University. A talented clarinetist, she has served as principal clarinet with the NEW Voices Ensemble, the Marquette Michigan Symphony, and the St. Norbert Orchestra for the Dudley Birder Chorale. She currently serves as the Wisconsin state chair of the International Clarinet Association and, recently, was named as one of the top female clarinetists in history. Martin holds a D.M.A. in music composition from the University of Michigan. She earned two master’s degrees in music composition and clarinet performance at Arizona State
University and received her B.F.A. in music composition/theory and clarinet performance from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
Kristina PagelMartinez, assistant professor of psychology: Kristina PagelMartinez brings more than 10 years of teaching and research experience to the university. Prior to joining Lawrence, she served as assistant professor of psychology at Colorado Mesa University, where she ran the psychoneuroimmunology lab and conducted transdisciplinary research with biomarker data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Her research and published work emphasize health and development across the lifespan, with specific focus on biomarkers, inflammation, stress, cardiovascular health,
New Music Lab designed to serve all students
When Chandler Hall was studying music scores at the Library of Congress, he was impressed by how useful it was for researchers to have pianos and scanners available right there in the reading room. So, when Hall arrived at Lawrence in July for his new job at the Seeley G. Mudd Library, he saw an opportunity to bring that added level of support to students and professors.
With the combined efforts of many colleagues from instructional technology, IT, facilities, the Conservatory, and his fellow librarians, his idea for a music research space came to life on Nov. 6, 2025 with the grand opening of the library’s new Music Lab.
“The Music Lab introduces new music technologies and resources to the library and updates existing offerings,” Hall said. “It is designed to help students more effectively use the library’s collections and to expand what our library can provide them,” Hall said.
The new space features two Mac workstations (one with dual monitors) with velocity-sensitive MIDI keyboards and professional-grade audio editing and music composition software. The shared space with a fourperson capacity includes a full-size, portable Yamaha digital piano and a scanning station equipped with a large-format flatbed scanner that allows students to scan music or documents into their iPads for reading
psychological health, social relationships, parenting, sexual activity, aging, and underrepresented and marginalized groups. She is a frequent presenter at academic conferences and industry associations and has participated in international cross-cultural collaborations in Tanzania, Belize, and Brazil. Pagel-Martinez earned both her Ph.D. and M.A. degrees in comparative human development with behavioral biology emphasis from The University of Chicago. She received her B.S. in psychology from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh.
Carrie A. Picardi, Thomas Hurvis Professor of Organizational Psychology and Collaboration, and associate professor of psychology:
Guests at the grand opening explore the offerings in the new Music Lab.
Carrie Picardi is an industrial/ organizational psychologist who comes to Lawrence with over 25 years of experience in human resource management positions, as an organizational consultant, and as a professor serving both psychology and business programs. Picardi has consulted with a variety of global and regional organizations in the areas of leadership development, culture change, employee performance, conflict resolution, and building high-performance teams. Her main research focus is on employee performance management, and she is also the author of three academic textbooks used by professors and workplace practitioners. Picardi holds a Ph.D. in applied organizational psychology from Hofstra University. She earned an M.A. in industrial/organizational psychology from the University of New Haven and a B.S. in psychology from The College of New Jersey.
annotation, practice, or performance. It also features a listening station equipped with vinyl, cassette, and CD players.
“The Music Lab is a space of exploration, of creating and creativity, a space of possibility,” Hall said during remarks at the grand opening.
“It builds upon the momentum and ethos of West Campus, bringing multiple disciplines into a single building.”
True to its interdisciplinary approach, the Music Lab was designed to serve all students non-music majors and conservatory students alike.
Pagel-Martinez
Picardi
ACADEMICS For Relena Ribbons, leading with joy ends in victory
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Lawrence University associate professor of geoscience Relena Ribbons won the women’s full marathon at the 2025 Community First Fox Cities Marathon with a winning time of 3:07:00.
Ribbons said she has always found great joy in running and the adventure of where a run might take her. She ran on the Wellesley cross country team in her first year of college and felt privileged to be surrounded by so many strong women runners, she said.
Ribbons trained for the marathon with friends, typically running about 60 miles a week, in addition to a healthy dose of cross-training.
Her goal for the Fox Cities Marathon was two-fold.
“Joy,” Ribbons said. “Joy in running through my regular stomping grounds, as well as joy in seeing the crowds of volunteers, spectators, and fellow runners on a glorious day. Another goal was that I wanted to high-five anyone along the course who was willing. Mission success on both counts!”
Seeing her friends along the way was a highlight.
“Margaret Koker and family offered high fives along the Fox River after the halfway mark, and she really inspired me to run strong because she is one of the strongest women I know.” Ribbonsʼ mental strategy for the marathon was gratitude.
“I am a mental health running advocate through Bigger Than The Trail,” Ribbons said. “And in that capacity, I’ve come to share stories with runners and learn from other amazing
humans who have come through the other side of traumatic events in life. This hits home because I had years where I was unable to run after being struck by a drunk driver while out running, and after additional life events, I found the Bigger Than The Trail group, and it has helped me cultivate self-acceptance and grace, which are really useful for thinking about life broadly.”
The hard work and long miles of practice and training paid off when she crossed the finish line.
“Lucky me, I got to dance across the finish line to Dua Lipa, which is one of the artists whose high-energy vibes I will do treadmill mile repeats to in the depths of winter,” Ribbons said. “After finishing, I looked around for family and friends to share in the joy and just bounced around with happy energy like an Energizer Bunny! I felt like I was in my glittering prime!” Ribbons is looking forward to the Glacial Trial in Greenbush, Wisconsin, for her next running adventure.
Relena Ribbons, winner of the 2025 Community First, Fox Cities, women’s full marathon.
Relena Ribbons, Lawrence University’s associate professor of geosciences, runs across the finish line for victory.
BY DEANNA KOLELL
• Kudos to all who had a hand in the success of Lawrence University’s first-ever Aviation Summer Camp, especially to Trevor Lord, assistant vice president of strategic partnerships; Meralis Alvarez-Morales, executive assistant to the executive vice president and chief operating officer; and Alison Scott-Williams, executive vice president and chief operating officer.
• Congratulations to piano professor Michael Mizrahi for leading the Lawrence Summer Music Institute (for advanced high school musicians) and the Lawrence Chamber Music Festival (for advanced instrumentalists 18 and over). Both drew rave reviews.
LU LIGHTS
Celebrating the accomplishments of the Lawrence community
• Welcome to Liv Johnson, Lawrence University’s new second-year dean! With a background in higher education and a passion for student success, Dean Johnson will be a key support for second-year and transfer students as they navigate their academic journeys.
• Kudos to junior Alex Whaley for curating an exhibition at the Wriston Art Gallery. Drawing from the Richmond Collection, Exploring Rare Books from a Feminist Perspective highlights rare books through a thoughtfully assembled feminist lens.
• Anthropology faculty and students, along with the Lawrence Makerspace, completed a passion project: an electronic zine titled Sci-Fi: An Anthropology Anthology of Other Worlds. It includes nine stories spread over four collections that were conceived in Professor Kailey Rocker’s course, Anthropology and Sci-Fi (ANTH 300). Read the zine for yourself on Lux.
• Congratulations to Lawrence University president Laurie A. Carter for being named a “Made in the PSAC” honoree by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)! The PSAC is celebrating its 75th anniversary by recognizing 300 of its most prominent contributors, and this honor highlights President Carter’s prestigious career in higher education following her successful time as a standout track and field athlete at Clarion University, where she was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. Her selection is a testament to the powerful combination of athletic achievement and professional excellence that the PSAC represents.
• Marcy Quiason, Linnea Ng, and Jesús Smith were selected to present a paper with Dr. Dom Jackson-Cole, SFHEA at the American Sociological Association annual meeting in Chicago this August. They presented at a round table with several different scholars. They also got invited by a publisher to have a discussion about a possible book contract on the project.
• Congratulations to Garrett Singer, M.Ed., Lawrence University’s deputy chief of staff, and Noemi Delgado, director of accessibility services! They were named to the 2025 class of Fox Cities Future 15 Young Professionals. These individuals were chosen based on their professional dedication, strong sense of vision for the future of the Fox Cities, and personal commitment to philanthropy in the community they call home.
Liv Johnson, Lawrence University’s new second-year dean
Lawrence University’s first-ever Aviation Summer Camp
Lawrence Opera Theatre, Kristin Roach honored by The American Prize
BY DEANNA KOLELL
Lawrence University’s Opera Theatre program has once again been honored by The American Prize, an organization that annually recognizes excellence in the performing arts among nonprofit arts organizations and schools across the country.
Kristin Roach, assistant professor of opera, was named a prizewinner in two categories in Opera Conducting. She received second prize in the University/Community Opera Division for her work on Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon at Lawrence University; she also received third prize in the Professional Division for Jake Heggie’s Two Remain at Lyric Opera of Orange County.
Roach credits the entire team for the recognition.
“Any recognition of one member of an opera production belongs to the whole team,” said Roach. “More than 100 Lawrentians worked on our production of one-act operas, onstage and backstage and in the pit and behind the scenes.”
The 2024 production of Cendrillon at Lawrence was paired with Alice Tierney, a piece by Melissa Dunphy and Jacqueline Goldfinger, to celebrate the contributions of women in the opera world.
“We are always sharing resources between the two shows and really trying to present both these operas written by women,” Roach said.
PHOTO BY RACHEL CROWL
“Trying to bring forward creators who might be underrepresented in the opera field is at the forefront of the opera program’s mission.”
Meanwhile, Two Remain is based on the true stories of two Holocaust survivors, Krystyna Zywulska and Gad Beck.
Roach said one of the most powerful aspects of the theatre is its ability to keep history alive by wrestling with challenging themes and stories.
“It’s so important that we continue to tell these stories through works in the theatre,” Roach said. “It’s important that we don’t lose the narrative, the truth behind what happened. Part of why we’ve chosen to perform an excerpt of this work at LU is that our students are able to tell these important stories, keeping history alive and in the forefront.”
The Lawrence Opera Theatre program performed a portion of Two Remain in their fall scenes program this year.
Looking ahead, Roach is excited by the upcoming season, which includes the world premiere of a new opera, A Nearer Mother, by composer Evan Mack and librettist Joshua McGuire. The piece was commissioned by Copeland Woodruff, director of opera studies at Lawrence, and the Lawrence Opera Theatre program. For the past three years, Woodruff has worked closely with the creative team to bring the opera to life.
A Nearer Mother explores the story of AIDS activist Ruth Coker Burks, known as the “Cemetery Angel,” and her daughter Allison. Burks and her daughter will be in attendance
“Any recognition of one member of an opera production belongs to the whole team. More than 100 Lawrentians worked on our production of on-act opera, onstage and backstage and in the pit and behind the scenes.”
– Kristin Roach
at the March 2026 performance, which will be paired with the one-act opera A Clever Artifice of Harriet and Margaret, by composer Leanna Kirchhoff.
“I am so excited about doing a brand-new piece; we will be working hand-in-hand with the creators of these works,” Roach said. “Working on this opera will continue to tell the story of the many important, wonderful people that we lost in the early years of the AIDS epidemic.”
These latest honors are a testament to the talent and commitment of Lawrence Opera Theatre. Lawrence has received 11 awards in The American Prize, including two special judges’ citations and two productions tied for first place. Roach has won the prize in Conducting, College/University division, for Suor Angelica and the prize in Conducting both in Professional and College/University divisions. Woodruff has won the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing and was the first stage director to be given The Independence Day, Honored Artists Award for Sustained Excellence. Lawrence is also in the National Finals of The American Prize for Best Production for Cendrillon/Alice Tierney, and Copeland Woodruff is once again up for the Charles Nelson Reilly Prize in Directing.
Learn more about upcoming performances by the Lawrence Opera Theatre program.
The cast of Cendrillon performs, directed by Kristin Roach, on Feb. 27, 2024.
Why Brand Matters—and Why Now
BY SUZANNE SULLIVAN
For nearly 180 years, Lawrence University has been a place where bold ideas and deep connections flourish.
From its earliest days as one of the first co-educational colleges in the United States to today’s thriving community of artists, scientists, musicians, athletes, and innovators, Lawrence has always balanced
tradition with transformation.
This year, Lawrence introduces something new: an evolved brand identity
More than a new logo or color palette, it’s about sharpening how we tell our story—so that every student, alum, faculty member, staff member, and friend of the university sees themselves reflected in it.
What Is a Brand, Really?
A brand isn’t just design. It’s a promise a shared understanding of what makes Lawrence distinct.
Ours is built on academic rigor and creativity, a welcoming community, and a commitment to preparing students not just for graduation but for a lifetime of success.
A clear, consistent brand builds recognition and trust
It unites us behind a shared purpose, inspires curiosity, and ensures that when someone sees or hears “Lawrence University,” they understand who we are—and why it matters.
Our brand is more than a look—it’s a living reflection of who we are and how we move forward.
Why Now?
The world of higher education is evolving quickly. Families seek value. Employers want adaptable thinkers. Students want more than just a classroom experience—they want community, connection, and transformation. Lawrence’s refreshed brand reflects this new reality—embracing our liberal arts foundation while boldly affirming the
PHOTOS BY
Lobby, West Campus
relevance of a Lawrence education today and tomorrow.
It celebrates how Lawrentians excel—in academics, music, athletics, and service and how they lead lives of purpose long after graduation.
In short, our new brand brings clarity, confidence, and consistency to how we share the Lawrence story—so that everyone, from prospective students to alumni donors, understands the Lawrence difference with energy and authenticity.
Visuals That Speak
Our visual system unites Viking Blue and White with Navy, Gold, and Cream, complemented by a lively supporting palette and bold typography.
Together, they make Lawrence instantly recognizable.
But a brand is more than visuals— it’s energy, authenticity, and voice.
It’s how we speak with pride and purpose when we say:
We are Lawrence.
We the Lawrentians.
The Heart of the Brand
Our updated identity is built on three brand pillars:
Academics & Beyond
Pairing a strong liberal arts foundation with future-ready programs and career pathways.
Campus & Location
A vibrant, welcoming home in Appleton, Wisconsin, where community and independence grow side by side.
The Lawrentian Way
A spirit of connection, collaboration, and individuality that makes the Lawrence journey unforgettable—and lifelong.
Together, these pillars remind us of what makes Lawrence unique while giving us the tools to share that story consistently.
“The Lawrence experience doesn’t end at graduation—it evolves with every Lawrentian.”
• Strengthens connections with alumni, students, and community
Looking Ahead
Our brand is a living platform one that will evolve as we do.
Already, you’ll see it across signage, publications, and digital platforms, with more to come.
What will not change is the essence of Lawrence: a place of discovery, collaboration, creativity, and connection.
A place where students become leaders.
A place where alumni remain lifelong Lawrentians.
As we roll out this refreshed brand, we invite you to see yourself in it—to share it and to take pride in it.
Because this isn’t just a university brand—it’s a reflection of all of us.
We are Lawrence.
And that includes you.
Residential area, Fox Commons Memorial Chapel
CAMPUS NEWS
RISING
in the rankings
BY JILL JOHNSON
Lawrence University once again retained its top spot as Wisconsin’s No. 1 small private university in the 2026 Best Colleges rankings published Sept. 23 by U.S. News & World Report
Earning the No. 65 position in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, Lawrence gained four places from 69th place in 2025 and up from the 75th position in the 2024 rankings. Lawrence is the only Wisconsin institution ranked in the top 90 this year and one of only four Wisconsin schools ranked in the category.
USNWR completely overhauled its ranking methodology two years ago to emphasize student outcomes. Now, more than half of a school’s ranking score reflects how well it prepares students for life after college, looking at measures like graduation rates, loan debt, earnings five years after graduation, and the school’s added value.
Lawrence’s 10-point jump in the rankings over the past two years clearly reflects the university’s focus on preparing students for successful careers and lives of impact.
“Our focus on developing new opportunities for students through innovative campus/ community partnerships and keeping students first in all of our decision-making
is reflected in Lawrence’s continued climb in the rankings,” said Lawrence University president Laurie A. Carter.
Lawrence surged ahead six positions to No. 32 among Best Value Schools, up from the 38th position last year. The university has been ranked in this category nine times since 2016 edition, logging its best ranking so far in the 2026 rankings.
Lawrence also recently earned a spot on the America’s Top Colleges list by Forbes and was included on its list of 25 private schools with the most generous financial aid.
“Students and their families understand their college education is an investment that returns dividends for the rest of their lives,” said vice president and chief of staff Christyn Abaray. “A Lawrence education equips students, not only with in-depth knowledge of their academic discipline; it prepares them to thrive in an environment of continual change and to lead in careers that may not yet even exist. In such a setting, skills that are the hallmark of a liberal arts education—problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, information literacy, ethical decision-making, and collaboration—empower Lawrence graduates to successfully navigate the dynamics of the workplace they will be entering,” Abaray said.
Investing in the future
Lawrence University rocketed up the Social Mobility rankings this year to the 63rd position (tied with five other schools), gaining an impressive 49 places from its 112th place spot last year
“Our students come from all over the world and from all walks of life to pursue a highimpact, immersive, and collaborative education that encourages them to dream bigger and to confidently pursue their personal vision of success,” said President Carter.
For the seventh time since the 2016 edition, Lawrence has appeared on the rankings for Undergraduate Teaching Programs, this year taking the 59th position (a tie with six other schools), down slightly from last year.
“I am pleased that Lawrence University continues to be recognized for its commitment to providing a transformational education that prepares students to make a difference in the world as they follow their unique paths,” said President Carter.
PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI PHOTOGRAPHY LLC
Welcome Week: New students arrive on campus.
New local partnership offers direct admission for college-ready Appleton students
BY JILL JOHNSON
A new partnership between the Appleton Area School District (AASD) and Lawrence University now offers a direct admission pathway for college-ready, academically eligible students from the district.
In addition to automatic acceptance for qualified applicants to a nationally ranked liberal arts institution, candidates from the district are eligible to receive a minimum of $45,000 per year in scholarships and grants.
The direct admission initiative aims to recognize students who demonstrate excellence and potential while highlighting the benefits of pursuing higher education close to home.
If students apply for Early Decision admission, they are also eligible for priority housing registration, advanced academic advising and registration, early financial aid assistance, internship opportunities, and more.
“This agreement is a celebration of the incredible work AASD is doing to prepare students for college and beyond,” said Robert Nowak, associate vice president for enrollment management at Lawrence. “It reflects our shared belief in the potential of young people who have shown academic strength,
leadership, and a readiness to thrive right here in their community, where they can continue their journey close to home.”
Under the new program, AASD will identify qualifying students, support them with college guidance, and coordinate campus visits during their junior year, giving students an early, firsthand look at college life. In return, Lawrence will offer a streamlined admission process and individualized support along with significant financial aid and scholarship opportunities
“We want Appleton’s college-ready students to know they are valued and genuinely wanted at Lawrence.”
– Robert Nowak, associate vice president for enrollment management at Lawrence University
that make a top-tier Lawrence education financially manageable.
Greg Hartjes, AASD superintendent, said he is excited that the partnership shows students that a top-tier college experience is available to them right here in Appleton.
“It creates opportunities for our students while keeping them connected to the community,” he said.
AASD assistant superintendent Michael Hernandez said the partnership with Lawrence opens new doors for the district’s collegeready seniors.
“It sends a powerful message to our students and community that their hard work is recognized and that a bright future is within reach.”
With this agreement, both institutions see a promising future built on community connections, academic opportunity, and student success.
“We want Appleton’s college-ready students to know they are valued and genuinely wanted at Lawrence,” Nowak said. “This direct admission promise is our way of affirming that, ‘We are Lawrenceʼ—and that includes you.”
(left to right) Robert Nowak, Lawrence University associate vice president for enrollment management, and Michael Hernandez, Appleton Area School District assistant superintendent
CAMPUS NEWS
10 YEARS OF MAKING
How the Lawrence University Makerspace is building a community of innovators
BY DEANNA KOLELL
The Lawrence University Makerspace is celebrating 10 years, transforming from a single 3D printer into a vibrant, interdisciplinary laboratory. Now equipped with laser cutters, sophisticated sewing machines, and an array of 3D printers, it demonstrates the university’s commitment to collaborative creation.
“Celebrating 10 years of the Makerspace is a reminder of how transformative access to tools and shared creativity can be,” said Becky Frank, director of the Seeley G. Mudd Library. “It’s not just about technology or equipment; it’s about empowering people to learn by doing, to problem-solve, and to imagine what’s possible.”
Angela Vanden Elzen, associate professor and leader of the Makerspace, sees its longevity
as a sign of Lawrence’s inclusive nature. “It shows that collaborative spaces are welcome here,” Vanden Elzen said. “Students, faculty, and staff support the kind of space where we learn from one another, sharing materials, equipment, and expertise.”
The idea for a dedicated Makerspace began in 2013, inspired by former chemistry professor Dave Hall, who showcased his homemade 3D printer. The library, the physical heart of campus, became the natural home for the Makerspace. Initial funding from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) secured the first 3D printers and scanners.
The focus from the start was on supporting career enhancement and integrating maker
pedagogies into the curriculum. “Every piece of equipment was requested by a faculty member or student who needed it for a project,” Vanden Elzen explained, highlighting its responsiveness to campus needs.
She helped develop the official Makerspace ethos: “A makerspace means collaboration, a failure-safe environment, being respectful and responsible,” she explained. “It’s not just making with the objects; it’s also making with the community.”
The Makerspace has become integral to coursework across disciplines. Physics professor Doug Martin used the space to develop a research-grade microscope. The sustained prototyping process has provided significant long-term benefits to students, leading to graduates working in telescope and high-energy physics development.
The interdisciplinary reach extends to the humanities. History professor Brigid Vance had students 3D-print and manipulate astrolabes—ancient navigational devices. “For them, manipulating an astrolabe ... was both challenging and illuminating,” Vance said, enhancing their understanding of a complex essay through touch.
Thanks to a dedicated team of student assistants, the Makerspace expanded its hours for personal projects and skill-building. Vanden Elzen views this as central to the mission. “I see it as helping them become future-ready Lawrentians; they’re learning to take control of their lives through a seemingly small way of repairing something instead of buying something new.”
Senior student assistant Lee Gobenciong has developed critical teaching skills. “I’ve improved with interacting with different people and teaching,” he said. “That’s a skill I know I will use in business and in my career.”
Junior Grace Romano sees the space as an essential community hub: “This is a good community space to meet like-minded people.”
As Frank concluded, the Makerspace shows that “learning isn’t confined to a classroom or a textbook—it happens wherever imagination, tools, and people come together.”
PHOTO BY ADRIAN STANCIL-MARTIN ’28
Students explore ideas in the Makerspace, led by Lee Gobenciong (right).
Björklunden 50 years and counting
Lawrence’s picturesque north campus in Door County has been enticing generations as a sanctuary for education, connection, and renewal
BY CHRIS MCGINN
Like many visitors to Björklunden, Thomas McKenzie ’95 came to Lawrence University’s “north campus” to learn … and fell in love with the rustic charm of the woodsy retreat.
As a Lawrence student, McKenzie was captivated by the infectious enthusiasm of his ecology teacher, Professor Maravolo, as he and his classmates explored the unique vegetation and natural beauty of the 441-acre lakeside campus in Door County, Wisconsin.
Now serving as director of Björklunden, McKenzie has found much to adore—like Jane’s Grotto, where he finds himself transported back in time to an ancient bluff-lined shore. Or a favorite ledge near
the Memorial Grove that he says, “captures brilliant sunrise light across a low groundcover reddening with autumn’s progress.”
In the 50 years since Lawrence University took stewardship of the land, Björklunden has provided a haven where students and the broader community come to seek knowledge, explore nature, and find respite from the breakneck pace of daily life.
Today, Björklunden includes a two-story net zero carbon footprint lodge, an historic cottage, the handcrafted Boynton Chapel, a theatre in a garden, and 3.5 miles of hiking trails, all nestled along a mile of pristine Lake Michigan shoreline.
Whether it is the Door Shakespeare performers and their audiences in the garden, brides and grooms in the chapel, or students and educators in the Lakeside Seminar Room, Björklunden offers an ideal setting for connection and community.
Preserving the sanctuary
Björklunden vid Sjön (Swedish for Birch Grove by the Lake) was purchased in 1928 by Winifred and her first husband, Carleton Vail, as a summertime family retreat. Following Carleton’s death, Winifred spent time in Norway and wanted to bring a bit of it home. After Winifred remarried, work began on
Björklunden, Door County, Wisconsin
building a chapel on the property modeled on a medieval stave church she had visited in Lillehammer, Norway. From 1939 to 1947, Winifred and her second husband, Donald Boynton, painstakingly added many beautiful details to the chapel, including 41 handpainted frescoes and its memorable carved wood altar, baptismal font, and other furnishings—a story she recounts in her book, Faith Builds a Chapel: The Story of an Adventure in Craftsmanship.
Donald and Winifred Boynton bequeathed the property to Lawrence University in 1963 with the vision of preserving the site as a “sanctuary for all” and a place for peace and contemplation. They retained tenancy of the property during their lifetime.
A CHAPEL STORY
Learn more about the history of Boynton Memorial Chapel and its remarkable architecture and artwork in Faith Builds a Chapel: The Story of an Adventure in Craftsmanship by Winifred C. Boynton. The book can be found in many local libraries and can be purchased at Björklunden, The Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay, and Kate’s Corner Store on the Lawrence campus.
Copies are $30. Books can also be purchased and shipped (additional shipping charges will apply).
Contact Björklunden at 920-839-2216 to place your order.
CAMPUS NEWS
After the Boyntons passed away Lawrence University began its stewardship of the property in 1975; seminar programming began in 1980. However, an August 1993 electrical fire that gutted the original home led LU leaders to reevaluate their use of the property.
Lawrence University’s president at that time, Richard Warch, recognized that Björklunden was a “once in an institution’s history gift” and that it needed to be incorporated into the full academic life of the university.
In the aftermath of the fire, construction of a beautiful 37,000-square-foot lodge with guest rooms and dining and meeting spaces transformed Björklunden into the learning destination it is today.
Nourishing mind and spirit
Björklunden offers Lawrence students space to retreat and focus. On weekends throughout the academic year, nearly 1,500 students have opportunities to join mentors and peers in group retreats focused on an aspect of their academic interests, athletic pursuits, or student life experiences.
Additionally, the Björklunden seminar program provides a vacation with a purpose for the general public, offering an array of three- and five-day learning opportunities for its public summer season, ranging from the arts and movies to history and science. Online seminars are also available on selected topics.
As the founder of the program, Joe Hopfensperger, wrote: “Here people join
The Boynton Chapel
Lawrence students strengthen mind, body, and spirit with yoga at Björklunden.
“Here people join together to share the human experience … to nourish mind and spirit.”
– Joe Hopfensperger
together to share the human experience … to nourish mind and spirit.”
A living learning laboratory
Looking to the future, Björklunden has launched its net zero initiative with the creation of wind and solar energy infrastructure and research into the carbon sequestration of the vast forest on the property.
This remarkable endeavor offers unique learning opportunities for Lawrence students while also helping to ensure Björklunden’s future by reducing energy costs and making positive contributions to the natural environment through carbon recapture.
Today, 390 acres of the property are protected under a permanent conservation easement with the Door County Land Trust.
50 years and beyond
Since 1975, the north campus has grown to be an essential part of the Lawrence University experience, a destination for lifelong learners, and a blessing to the broader local community through music, theatre, performance, and other public events.
About half of Björklunden’s annual budget comes from seminar program fees and one quarter comes from donations to support
Lawrence student retreats and to maintain the grounds and buildings.
To participate in maintaining this Lawrence University treasure, please consider making a gift. Anyone who donates and/or volunteers becomes a Friend of Björklunden. Those giving $500 or more are Boynton Society-level donors, which allows them early registration for the seminar program.
Scan to make a gift to Björklunden.
Scan to learn more about Björklunden Seminars.
Walking trail at Björklunden.
Lawrence students bond at Björklunden.
Lawrence students playing chess at Björklunden’s lodge.
Björklunden, Door County, Wisconsin
A ‘simple act’ changed Justin Wolf’s ’25 life forever
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Despite a rocky start in life, Justin Wolf ’25 got a second chance for a normal childhood when he was adopted by Lawrence music professor Ann Ellsworth and her husband, Dave.
When he was just 5 years old, Wolf and his two younger siblings were removed by Child Protective Services from a home environment deemed unsuitable for healthy child development due to abuse and neglect. They were placed in a foster home with an older brother and sister unrelated to them.
“Growing up with five siblings was probably the most consistent and normal-feeling part of my childhood because, even though we aren’t all biologically related, we lived in the same foster home and became a family unit together,” Wolf said.
Ellsworth and her husband initially adopted the unrelated brother and sister from Wolf’s foster home, who soon began advocating for the younger kids, worrying that they were not safe in the foster home.
“The older sibling group made such a strong case for adopting Justin and his siblings, we had pretty much decided to do it without even meeting them,” Ellsworth said.
“When we saw them all together for the first time, we realized that they all had a very strong attachment to each other.”
Wolf and his siblings were placed with Ellsworth in May 2008, and in November 2009, all five children were adopted at once.
“Reflecting back on it, I believe that the trauma of removal from my biological parents and experiencing abuse and neglect in both my first home and my foster home was the root cause of
the emotional and behavioral issues I had as a child,” Wolf said.
Like many children living in or adopted from foster care, Wolf struggled to settle into his new home despite the stability it offered.
“Justin was just turning 9 years old when I met him,” Ellsworth said. “His childhood had been disrupted, and he had an understandable distrust of me and adults in general.” He dealt with his trauma, in part, Ellsworth said, “by testing the limits and boundaries of his new parents.”
The trauma of his early childhood left Wolf with behavioral issues—problems that are, sadly, fairly common with kids in the foster care system.
“My adoptive parents, Ann and Dave, played a huge role in helping me work on myself,” Wolf said. “Having space to just be a kid and explore my creativity helped me improve my behavior and learn how to regulate my emotions better.”
Wolf began to blossom—and believe—in his parents.
“It was hard at first to trust and believe that my new parents actually loved me and had my best interest at heart, so I was often defensive in
“The simple act of a parent’s love can completely change your life.”
– Justin Wolf ’25
the beginning,” Wolf said. “But my mom was a relentless advocate for me and never gave up on me even when others might have.”
When Ellsworth moved to Wisconsin for her new position at Lawrence, Wolf followed to be closer to his family.
“I decided to give college another try, and Lawrence was an excellent opportunity for me,” Wolf said. “I just really feel at peace when I am making music.”
Wolf graduated from Lawrence University in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. He recently got married and moved to a new city to start a leadership job in retail, which he said he enjoys immensely.
“My adoption gave me a second chance at a normal childhood,” Wolf said. “Being aware of what my life used to be like, what it’s like now, and the alternative route it could have taken has made me extremely grateful for my parents and how the simple act of a parent’s love can completely change your life.”
Reflecting on her hopes for Justin’s future, Ellsworth responded with, “That he will always know he is loved unconditionally.”
Justin and Ann take a selfie together (2015).
Justin and Ann take another selfie 10 years later (2025).
PHOTOS BY ANN ELLSWORTH
Student Miles McCue ’27 finds purpose, not perfection
BY ISAIAH WELLS
For Lawrence University student Miles McCue ’27, success isn’t about finding perfection; it’s about finding purpose. As a scholar-athlete, campus leader, and mentor, McCue embodies a mindset rooted in selfdiscipline and genuine connection.
“I always want to be a positive example for others,” McCue said. “At first, it is easy to get into your own head and think that everything must be perfect since you are considered a leader, but that is far from the truth. Nobody is perfect, and there is only so much you have control over. I have developed the skill of only focusing on the things I can control, for example, my attitude, work ethic, and how I treat my teammates and peers.”
As a dean’s list biochemistry major with a minor in Spanish, McCue devotes himself to his academic studies while taking on several leadership roles across campus. He’s an orientation leader, EPIC mentor, assistant captain of the men’s hockey team, co-president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), and an on-campus tutor.
McCue understands the value of being organized. His success doesn’t come by chance; he’s intentional about what he focuses on each day.
“I have become a Microsoft Outlook
Calendar professional, or at least I like to think so,” McCue said. “Every activity that I am planning to do goes on my calendar. That way, I can look and see what is going on during the day, so I stay focused and thinking about the right things.”
“Nobody is perfect, and there is only so much you have control over.”
– Miles McCue ’27
The Monument, CO, native came to Lawrence because he wanted to be challenged in the classroom and as a hockey player. This pursuit of athletic and academic excellence has given him a sense of joy and fulfillment.
Finding joy in the work
“I have genuine happiness when I am on the ice, when I am an orientation leader, in the classroom, and more,” he said. “It is a blessing to be involved in things that you enjoy doing. It makes it easy to find ways to dedicate time and stay focused on them!”
As a peer mentor, McCue credits his ability to relate to others through his own humanity and experiences as the key to success. Through his openness and authenticity, he’s able to connect with others in a meaningful way.
“I think it is important to be relatable to the people around you. Sometimes when you are in the position of being a mentor, it is easy to try and portray that your life is perfect and you have all this incredible wisdom, but we all know that isn’t the case,” McCue said. “The biggest thing I try to do when working with others is relate to them. I look to share experiences and things that I have gone through to relate and show them that I am not perfect, and we are all living and working through life together.”
McCue credits the extraordinary people, resources, and campus culture at Lawrence for helping him develop into the best version of himself and preparing him for the career and life he aspires to have.
“I am hoping to get into medical school,” McCue said. “From there, I want to continue learning and growing as a student and leader on the journey to becoming a practicing physician. Lawrence has been instrumental in helping me prepare for my life ahead.”
Miles McCue ’27, Lawrence University men’s ice hockey
Internship gives Emma Moya ’26 a deep dive into life as a marine scientist STUDENTS RIDING THE WAVE
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Emma Moya ’26, a scholar-athlete majoring in biology with a minor in fine arts, says her 20S aren’t meant to be a time of certainty. She believes this decade of her life is about building resilience, nurturing curiosity, and chasing the things that make her soul light up. It’s this mindset that encouraged her to take on a summer internship through the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program (SDRP).
“It was truly my dream internship,” Moya said. “One that not only deepened my passion for marine biology but also equipped me with invaluable skills and insights. This opportunity reaffirmed my commitment to
pursuing graduate studies in the field and ignited an even stronger drive to contribute to marine conservation.”
The program brought together students from institutions such as New College of Florida, Sweet Briar College, Coastal Carolina University, and the University of Florida, offering the chance to connect with peers who share a passion for marine science.
“It’s exciting to think about how we, as emerging scientists, can work together to protect our oceans and serve as a bridge between marine ecosystems and the broader community,” she said.
Diving into research
The internship offered Moya a comprehensive and immersive experience in marine biology. She spent her time doing fieldwork, including boat surveys for population monitoring, acoustic monitoring throughout the Sarasota Bay, fishing to study dolphin distribution and their prey, and gaining skills in photo identification. These hands-on experiences offered a realistic glimpse into the life of a marine biologist.
“To thrive in this environment, it’s essential to have a growth mindset—being open to change, willing to explore new interests, and understanding that your passions may evolve,” Moya said. “You might discover that something you expected to love isn’t quite the right fit or unexpectedly fall in love with a new area of study.”
The SDRP challenges students to grow as scientists through real-world research and offers ongoing opportunities to volunteer in diverse projects—from necropsies and offshore acoustic receiver deployments to sea turtle hatchling releases and collaborating with shark researchers.
“At SDRP, you’re encouraged to be curious, ask questions, read scientific literature, and learn from both successes and mistakes,” Moya said. “Ultimately, the experience is what you make of it—so be a sponge, soak up every opportunity, and allow yourself to grow both personally and professionally.”
(left to right) Staff scientist Kathryn Holmes, Sarasota Bay listening manager Emma Moya ’26, and staff researcher Cecilia Thompson
PHOTOS BY INTERN ETAF JUMAA
Learning beyond the science
Being a scientist means more than just doing science: it requires confidence, courage, resilience, and most importantly, a willingness to face the unknown and embrace failure as part of the journey. These are the traits that have sustained SDRP’s legacy for 55 years and enabled it to produce pioneering research for marine mammals.
By continuing to take bold steps driven by curiosity and ambition, SDRP has helped lay the foundation for marine mammal conservation and inspired generations of scientists to follow.
In analyzing the behavior and health of small cetaceans, Moya noted that when dolphins are together, they’re not called pods; they’re called communities.
“The bottlenose dolphins are just like us—living creatures who are curious, trying to survive, and remarkably intelligent with developed communication skills that help expand their complex social structures,” said Moya. “Bottlenose dolphins are self-aware and able to recognize one another through signature whistles.”
Dolphins serve as vital indicators of the health of the world’s oceans. They play a key role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, help control fish populations, help maintain water quality, and keep the food chain in balance.
“Their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them sort of like our ocean security guards for detecting issues like pollution and disease, or even with incidents of algal blooms like red tide, which occurred in 2021 throughout the Sarasota Bay,” said Moya. “However, when dolphins are in trouble, it can be a serious sign that our oceans may be at risk too.”
Exploring the opportunities
Lawrence students are encouraged by faculty and staff to take on internships to expand their understanding, build relationships, and strengthen their overall career path.
“‘Ride my wave’—that’s something my mom always tells me, and it’s become a grounding mantra throughout my college journey,” Moya said. “It reminds me to stay present and embrace each moment, whether it’s challenging or joyful. The tough times are temporary, and the good ones pass quickly too—so it’s important to appreciate them while they last.” This perspective has shaped not only how Moya moves through tough moments but also how she approaches the future.
“Even when the wave you’re riding knocks you down, you get back on the board and catch the next wave. That mindset is guiding me as I work toward graduate school in marine mammal research while staying open to new opportunities that may come my way.”
Do you know of an internship or early-career job opportunity?
Share it with the Lawrence University Career Center! Your leads help us uncover “hidden” opportunities and connect talented Lawrence students with great employers.
Submitting is quick and easy, just complete our short online form via this QR code. There’s no obligation; we’ll take it from there.
This initiative is inspired by the L Lawrence University Alumni Association (LUAA) Connecting to Campus Committee and supports current students and recent grads as they begin their professional journeys.
Thank you for helping our Vikings thrive!
Emma Moya ’26 in the Gulf of Mexico next to Mote Marine Lab research boat
The Gallery
1 The Lawrence University cheer team is all smiles before the Blue & White Homecoming football game. DANNY DAMIANI PHOTOGRAPHY LLC
2 New students greeted at 2025–26 Welcome Week.
PHOTO BY JUAN MARIN ’20
3 Cooking in the Fox Commons Test Kitchen, as part of an EPIC Experience for new students during Welcome Week.
PHOTO BY ADRIAN STANCIL-MARTIN ’ 28
4 Brigit Pacher plays the bassoon at her faculty recital.
Winston-Sage, Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life and Lawrence University Chaplain
A Safe Space for the Spirit
Terra Winston-Sage nurtures
well-being at Lawrence
BY A.J. KAISER ’25
Students today have a lot of worries on their minds—academic performance, financial concerns, an expanding list of responsibilities, and future career expectations. Add to that an increasingly chaotic social and political environment, the pressure to meet the growing demands of daily life, and the weight of expectations—both their own and others—can sometimes feel like too much to handle.
Enter Terra Winston-Sage ’00, dean of spiritual and religious life at Lawrence, who leads the Julie Esch Hurvis Center for Spiritual and Religious Life, a welcoming space where students can explore what gives their lives purpose. Her work at Lawrence University centers on creating spaces of belonging, reflection, and care, where students can feel accepted without judgment or ridicule.
“Everybody has a spirit,” Winston-Sage said.
“Everybody has something that sparks them and that they care about. I see a big part of this work as helping people connect with that. Sometimes that comes through religion, and sometimes it doesn’t. Helping people get back to the thing that’s driving them—that’s at the heart of the work we do.”
After graduating from Lawrence, WinstonSage earned a Master of Religious Studies from the University of Chicago, a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary. She worked in social justice and human rights before returning to Lawrence in 2018 as associate dean of the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life. She was named dean in 2023.
“The Julie Esch Hurvis Center for Spiritual and Religious Life is a non-judgmental space,”
Winston-Sage said. “You can come with your anger and your tears and your joy and know that you’re always going to be welcome here. It’s also just an incredibly comfy and warm place to be.”
The office provides a space for any student who needs someone to listen, a gateway for community, or even just a quiet place to take a few moments alone.
Working alongside assistant dean of spiritual and religious life Shola Adegbite, WinstonSage, with others on her staff, provides leadership and counsel as she facilitates student conversations about spirituality, faith development, religion, and community building. She also provides pastoral care and assists with memorial gatherings.
An ordained Presbyterian minister, she earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in religious studies at Lawrence. She said she is thrilled to be back at her alma mater and bringing support to a unique campus of ambitious and driven students.
Being a resource for students has been incredibly rewarding, said Winston-Sage. Her office supports students in all phases of their journey, whether it’s addressing times of loss, readjusting after study abroad, getting a fantastic internship, providing the setting for their weekly community dinner event, or just offering a quiet, comfortable place to be and a means to calming the chaos.
“There are so many things that happen in life that are unexpected,” Winston-Sage said. “Sometimes those things are great, and sometimes those things shake your foundation. This is a space to react to that, and some resources to ask, ‘What do you need at this moment? What do you need in a month?’
Then also to teach people those skills for when those things happen again.”
“Helping people get back to the thing that᾿s driving them—that᾿s at the heart of the work we do.”
– Terra Winston-Sage
PHOTO BY DANNY DAMIANI PHOTOGRAPHY LLC
Terra
BOOKS & WORKS
-FROM FACULTY AND ALUMNI-
Everything We Could Do
David McGlynn
Set against the backdrop of a small-town Wisconsin NICU, a sweeping story of parenthood, family, and redemption. After a decade of miscarriages, Brooke Jensen is finally pregnant— with quadruplets. When she goes into labor after 23 weeks, Brooke and her husband are plunged into the terrifying and mysterious netherworld of the neonatal intensive care unit. A fiercely honest portrayal of American parenthood, the American healthcare system, and Rust Belt communities, Everything We Could Do lays bare the ways that families are formed and remade in times of crisis. McGlynn has been on the Lawrence faculty since 2006. From Triquarterly Books, Northwestern University Press.
United States are facing challenges of relevance, access, representation, and sustainability. Sound Systems features original speculative fiction stories and visual art, alongside essays from musicians, music educators, arts leaders, activists, and scholars. Dr. Jenkins was a contributor on this project, writing a chapter titled “Harmonic Convergence: A Symphony for San Antonio.” Dr. Jenkins has been the dean of the Lawrence Conservatory of Music since 2025. From Arizona State University.
The Night Eaters #3: Their Kingdom Come
BRZRKR: The Bleeding Tide
Marjorie Liu ’00
A vampire-pirate adventure set in Keanu Reeves’ BRZRKR universe will make its debut this fall. When a pirate captain follows a strange heartbeat into the depths of the ocean, she finds a box chained in irons—and the deformed mass of the immortal warrior B. inside it. Now awakened, B. must jump into battle to defend the crew from an ambush at sea despite rising concerns. From Boom! Studios.
Monstress Vol. 10: Hollow Gods and Compendium 1: Enter the Halfwolf
Marjorie Liu ’00
Sound Systems: The Future of the Orchestra
Dr. Christopher Jenkins
What is the future of the orchestra? Classical music institutions across the
Marjorie Liu ’00 Their Kingdom Come is the third volume in Liu’s Eisner Award–winning horrorfantasy graphic novel series with longtime collaborator Sana Takeda. The novel continues the saga of the supernatural Ting family as they face a demonic apocalypse. Los Angeles has been decimated by the Ting twins and the hole they’ve accidentally torn in the fabric of the universe. But that’s not all: across the world, things are ... changing. The long-separated realities of Earth and the magical world have collided with disastrous results. The final war for the fate of our world has begun. From Abrams Books.
Liu marks 10 years of her acclaimed fantasy series Monstress (also with Sana Takeda) with two major releases. Monstress Vol. 10: Hollow Gods stories the Defiled, a group of Monstra long confined to the prison planet Golga. Enter the Halfwolf is a compendium collecting Volumes 1–8, following the richly imagined world of an alternate 1900s Asia, with an art-deco infused steampunk aesthetic brimming with arcane dangers. From Image Comics.
BOOKS & WORKS
continued ...
Notes for Oboists: A Guide to the Repertoire
Nora Lewis
This comprehensive guide offers historical context and musical analysis for 35 of the best-known works for oboe. Notes for Oboists: A Guide to the Repertoire is an indispensable resource for students and professionals as they select repertoire, learn recital programs, and share their work with audiences. This work models scholarship for students and professionals, which can inform their approach to other compositions. Nora Lewis has been on the Lawrence faculty since 2018. From Oxford University Press.
I Am No Longer the Little Bunny Who Bit His Nails
Ollin García Pliego ’15
This is the debut poetry collection of Ollin García Pliego. In these pages, the author delves into universal themes—childhood, growth, trauma, and illness—through a voice that is both intimate and unpretentious. His verses guide us across landscapes of the United States, Mexico, and France, meditating on the textures of lived experience. This work offers a resilient vision of the world, learning from pain and transcending afflictions such as COVID-19. Each poem reaches into the depths of human existence, reminding us that it is always possible to begin anew. From RiL Editores, Chile and Valparaíso Ediciones, Spain.
Ya No Soy El Conejito Que Se Comía
Las Uñas
Ollin García Pliego ’15
Este es el primer libro de poesía de Ollin García Pliego. El autor aborda temas universales como infancia, crecimiento, trauma y enfermedad con un lenguaje íntimo y cotidiano. El poeta nos lleva por geografías como Estados Unidos, México y Francia, donde reflexiona sobre experiencias de vida. La obra ofrece una visión resiliente del mundo, aprendiendo del dolor y superando enfermedades como el COVID-19. Sus versos exploran lo más profundo de la experiencia humana, mostrando que siempre es posible volver a comenzar. De RiL Editores, Chile y Valparaíso Ediciones, España.
Landsome Roads
Rebecca Zornow ’10
Real life doesn’t compare to an imaginary one fueled by Dottie’s favorite book series, Landsome Roads. After her obsession gets her in trouble at work, Dottie escapes to the library where Sorrel, who claims she’s Dottie’s Fairy Bookmother, promises she can send Dottie directly into the world of Landsome Roads to meet the handsome male lead but only if Dottie agrees to help solve a late-series plot problem.
Wrecked: The Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy
Thomas Nelson and Jerald Podair
Wrecked links the story of America’s most infamous shipwreck to the story of an even larger disaster—the wreck of the American industrial economy. When the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in a Lake Superior storm on November 10, 1975, more was lost than the ship and the 29 lives on board. The disaster was a human tragedy as well as an indictment of the American industrial policies that eventually cost the nation thousands of jobs and marooned hundreds of communities. Written with a passionate yet factually grounded intensity, Wrecked shows that the reasons for the decline of industrial manufacturing in the upper Midwest are linked to why the Edmund Fitzgerald sank, and to the legal turmoil that followed for the victims’ families. The book conveys the sense of loss that still is felt by those affected, along with the outrage over the disappearance of manufacturing jobs and the inadequate maintenance and legal maneuvering over liability for the sinking of the ship. What follows is a fascinating critique of what went wrong and why. Jerald Podair is professor of history and the Robert S. French Professor of American Studies Emeritus at Lawrence University. Tom Nelson is the Outagamie County executive and a former Wisconsin Assembly majority leader. From Michigan State University Press.
ATHLETICS
Lawrence University Welcomes
New Athletic Coaches
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Lawrence University’s Athletic Department welcomed three new coaches to the team: men’s lacrosse coach Kasey Burst, women’s lacrosse coach Melissa Cartagna, and football coach Dan Galante ’87.
Men’s lacrosse coach Kasey Burst brings more than a decade of coaching experience to the Vikings, along with a record of building successful programs. He launched men’s lacrosse teams at Clarke University and the University of Dubuque, where he spent 10 years as head coach and helped shape the athletic department’s philosophy. At Lawrence, Burst aims to build a winning culture while preparing students for life beyond college.
“I will be a mentor for them,” Burst said. “I have a lot of experience as a player and a coach. I know the pitfalls of a young male trying to figure out who he is and how he should live.”
Women’s lacrosse coach Melissa Cartagena hails from Wayne, New Jersey. She spent the last two seasons coaching at Edgewood University. During Cartagena’s time at Edgewood,
the Eagles posted an 18–17 record with an impressive 11–4 mark in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference.
“After college, I started volunteering with local lacrosse programs, and that quickly turned into a passion for helping athletes grow,”
Cartagena said. “I’ve always sought out opportunities that challenge me and push me to evolve, so when the Lawrence position opened, it felt like the perfect next step. It’s a place that values growth, leadership, and authenticity and that aligned perfectly with who I am and what I want to build.”
Football head coach Dan Galante ’87 joined the Vikings football team in December 2025. He came to Lawrence from St. Patrick High School, where he served for 20 years in various capacities in athletics and admissions.
“It is an incredible honor to return home to Lawrence University. I’m excited to work with our student-athletes, reconnect with alumni, and build a program that represents Lawrence with pride, toughness, and excellence.”
Men’s lacrosse head coach
Kasey Burst
Women’s lacrosse head coach
Melissa Cartagena
Football head coach
Dan Galante ’87
ATHLETICS
A voice for the Vikings, Joe Vanden Acker retires after 25 years of service
Joe Vanden Acker accepted the Midwest Conference Meritorious Service Award in late 2024 and the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 25-Year Award in 2025.
BY ISAIAH WELLS
For 25 years, Lawrence Athletics has been guided by the steady hand, voice, and dedication of Joe Vanden Acker. Known to generations of Vikings simply as “JVA,” he has served as sports information director since 1999, leaving a legacy of professionalism, passion, and care that will be felt for years to come.
“It’s a rare person who is immediately identifiable by a singular name,” said Jamie Reeve ’95, co-chair of the Vikings Athletics Advocacy Council. “And rarer yet are individuals known simply by their initials. Typically, only celebrities and politicians are identified by a singular moniker. But for the last quarter-century at Lawrence, every Viking knows JVA instantly.”
Vanden Acker was a mentor to countless students and staff members over the years, and he always had time for a conversation.
“Ever since working with JVA, I’ve never seen him give anything but 100%,” said Erica Grube, women’s soccer scholar-athlete. “His love for his community of fellow coaches and athletes is a rare find in this world.”
From championship moments to quiet midweek contests, Vanden Acker was there to capture the story. He wrote thousands of recaps, logged every statistic, and ensured that the work of Lawrence studentathletes and coaches was recognized and remembered. He built websites, designed publications, managed broadcasts, and served as the voice behind Viking athletics for more than two decades.
“JVA embodies everything that is great about our department,” said Jason Fast, head cross country coach and assistant athletic director. “Through every step of my coaching career, he’s been there to support my teams and me. His love for sports and Lawrence Athletics always came through in his writing. His hard work made the athletic experience for thousands of student-athletes a great one. He is truly one of the best to ever do this job.”
Vanden Acker’s greatest impact came from the relationships he forged. Coaches trusted him to present their programs with care, athletes appreciated the recognition he gave to every
“His love for his community of fellow coaches and athletes is a rare find in this world.”
–
Erica Grube, women’s soccer scholar-athlete
contribution, and alumni valued his perspective and willingness to support others. He built lasting bonds with student-athletes, parents, and colleagues, becoming not only a chronicler of Viking history but also a mentor and friend.
“His recall for detailed stats evidences his keen memory,” Reeve said. “But more importantly, his personality reflects his genuine interest in others. While he loves to recall the glory days, he’s just as keen to ask about life after Lawrence to learn how the world is made a better place by Vikings after graduation. Simply put, JVA cares.”
Vanden Acker’s plan for retirement is to cheer on his daughter, Anna, a scholarathlete in her senior year at Lawrence University. Anna is majoring in business & entrepreneurship and English literature and will compete in tennis and track.
“It has been so special for me to share my time at Lawrence with my dad. He is the hardest worker I know, and everything he did was completed with the best attention to detail and dedication,” Vanden Acker’s daughter, Anna, said.
“JVA reminded us that every student-athlete matters, and every story deserves to be told,” said Jason Imperati, director of Lawrence University Athletics. “Even on the hardest days, he made sure Lawrence Athletics looked and felt like it belonged.”
Joe Vanden Acker served as the “Voice of the Vikings” for three varsity sports: hockey, baseball, and softball.
A legacy of family, community,
BY JAYE ALDERSON
“For me, success in tennis and track is based on my personal performance or emotional feeling,” Vanden Acker said. “There are days I walk off the court feeling like I played great, even though I lost, or the opposite. I try my best to stay positive no matter what, and I think that helps me to feel fulfilled as a person and athlete.”
The team culture at Lawrence is a major influence on Anna, and her teammates inspire her to always do her best.
and excellence
For senior scholar-athlete Anna Vanden Acker ’26, the strength of family and community connection is the cornerstone of her foundation.
Anna’s father, Joe Vanden Acker, fondly known around campus as JVA, recently retired after more than 25 years as Lawrence’s sports information director. Her mother and biggest fan, Julie Vanden Acker, serves as Lawrence’s assistant vice president of technology.
With her parents tightly woven into the Lawrence community, Anna considered attending other schools. Ultimately, though, it was the strong sense of community at Lawrence that inspired her.
“Lawrence was just always the perfect fit,” Anna said. “I have been able to interact with and become friends with people from across the world and right next door. I have gained so many new perspectives since being at Lawrence.”
As Wisconsin’s No. 1 small private college, Lawrence attracts students from across the United States and around the world who are
excited to be a part of an innovative, immersive, and diverse learning community.
A double major in English literature and business & entrepreneurship, Vanden Acker competes on both the tennis and track teams. As an interdisciplinary student and a scholarathlete, she’s effective at balancing her time.
“I have found that when something is important to you, you learn how to make it all happen. My grades are just as important to me as my performance athletically, so I probably put an even amount of time into both.”
Anna is thriving at Lawrence. She is a deanʼs list student, a three-time Academic All-Midwest Conference selection (2023–25), an All-Midwest Conference selection in singles, and a three-time ITA Scholar Athlete. She’s a member of Chi Alpha Sigma, the national honor society for collegiate scholar-athletes, and has earned Academic All-Midwest Conference and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors.
“There is a lot of intrinsic motivation,” she said. “I want to be the best I can be. Having teammates that push me also fosters a healthy competition.”
Anna noted that the skills she has gained as a player and a leader within her sports teams will have a lasting impact on her and that she hopes to leave a legacy at Lawrence of hard work, dedication, and kindness.
“The tennis team is truly like a family,” she said. “We are a very small team, so we are all incredibly close. The track team is exactly the opposite: it is the biggest team on campus. Despite this, I feel like Iʼve gotten to know everyone and have developed some great friendships. My closest friends are from these two teams, and I feel so grateful every day to have them.”
Anna has helped foster the Viking spirit at Lawrence, and the lessons she’s learned throughout her four years have become the building blocks to her future.
“I have gained so many transferable skills by being a student-athlete that I think will be truly helpful in my future career. Organization, reliability, confidence, communication, and dedication are all the makings of a good athlete and a good employee.
(left to right) Julie, Anna, and Joe Vanden Acker
Lawrence University names alumnus Dan Galante ’87 as head football coach
BY CHRISTYN ABARAY
Lawrence University has appointed Dan Galante ’87 as the next head football coach of the Vikings. A Lawrence Athletics Hall of Famer with more than three decades of coaching and recruiting experience across the Midwest, Galante returns to his alma mater to lead the next era of Vikings Football.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dan back to Lawrence,” said Lawrence athletics director Jason Imperati. “His belief in this institution, proven experience developing student-athletes, and deep recruiting network make him the right leader for our program. Dan understands Lawrence at its core, and he brings the passion, energy, and vision needed to move Viking
Football forward.”
Galante arrives with a distinguished career that spans college and high school football, enrollment management, and program building. His impressive coaching résumé includes 16 years as head football coach and director of admissions at Saint Patrick High School in Chicago, where he became the longest-tenured coach in school history and led the team to eight playoff appearances and a conference championship.
His college coaching experience includes serving as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at North Park University, where he helped restructure the defensive system and supported all aspects of football recruiting. Galante also served on staff at Northwestern University as a graduate assistant, contributing to defensive operations and recruiting evaluation.
“It is an incredible honor to return home to Lawrence University,” Galante said. “This place shaped me as a student-athlete and as a person. I believe deeply in the mission of the University and in the potential of Viking Football. I’m excited to work with our student-athletes, reconnect with alumni, and build a program that represents Lawrence with pride, toughness, and excellence.”
A respected recruiter, Galante
brings decades of established relationships with coaches, families, and prospective student-athletes across Illinois, Wisconsin, and the greater Midwest. His background in both coaching and admissions provides him with a strong understanding of how to identify and recruit student-athletes who can thrive academically and athletically at a top-tier liberal arts institution like Lawrence.
“Dan’s return to Lawrence is a homecoming that reflects our commitment to excellence and tradition as we build our future,” said President Laurie A. Carter. “His experience, leadership, and deep connection to Lawrence will inspire our student-athletes and alumni.”
Galante graduated cum laude from Lawrence in 1987 with a degree in history and classics. He was a star player for Vikings Football from 1983–86, earning first-team All-Midwest Conference honors four times, only the second player in Lawrence history to do so, and becoming the only player in program history to be named a four-time All-American. A team captain in 1986, Galante anchored a nationally ranked defense in 1985 and remains one of the most celebrated athletes in Lawrence football history. He also holds a Master of Science in Education with a focus in higher education administration from Northwestern University.
As head coach, Galante will lead all aspects of the football program, including player development, staff leadership, recruiting strategy, and alumni engagement. He will immediately begin preparations for the 2025-26 recruiting cycle, with a focus on strengthening Lawrence’s presence in key recruiting regions and building strong relationships with prospective student-athletes who exemplify the University’s academic rigor and values.
“Lawrence Football has an incredible history and a bright future,” Galante added. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead this program, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Galante succeeds Adam Gonzaga, who led the Vikings for one season. Lawrence thanks Coach Gonzaga for his contributions and wishes him well in his future endeavors.
Galante will begin his duties immediately as Lawrence prepares for the upcoming season.
(left to right) Dave Shepard, chair of the Board of Trustees; Bill Baer, vice chair of the Board of Trustees; Dan Galante, head football coach; Laurie A. Carter, president; and Katy Strei, secretary of the Board of Trustees.
PLAYING FOR MORE THAN WINS
Sophie Morey ’26 defines success through connection and gratitude
BY JAYE ALDERSON
For Sophie Morey ’26, a forward on the women’s basketball team, success in her sport is about more than just wins. It’s about a collaborative experience.
“To me, it means bringing everyone along for the ride and creating an environment where we play hard, stay connected, and make the game fun for everyone who comes to watch,” said the senior from Tinley Park, Illinois.
Basketball coach Riley Woldt “always says that if people leave our games thinking we were a team that was tough as nails and together through the highs and lows, then that’s a pretty good day in his book, and I couldn’t agree more.”
Morey added, “Playing for an ‘Audience of One’ reminds me to give all the glory to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Regardless of my performance, knowing that my time, effort, and energy are dedicated to a higher purpose is what continually motivates me.”
As a child, Morey said, she eagerly joined numerous clubs, teams, and activities. “Basketball was the one that immediately clicked for me. I fell in love with the energy of the
game—the teamwork, the competitiveness, and the constant opportunity to get better. I loved how basketball challenged me both physically and mentally, and over time, it became so much more than just a sport.”
Morey also plays lacrosse and has a double major in psychology and gender studies with a minor in government. She is wrapping up her student research project, “Serious Injury in College Athletes: Coping Skills, Belongingness, and Cortisol Reactivity,” merging her passion for sports and understanding how athletes cope and maintain a sense of belonging and how stress may contribute to vulnerability to injury.
“I’ve seen firsthand how injuries impact both the mental and physical sides of performance and overall well-being in student-athletes,” Morey said. “From navigating injuries to managing academics and leadership roles, I’ve learned how crucial support systems and confidence are to success. Those lessons have inspired me to want to help other athletes build that same sense of balance and belief in themselves.”
She plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career as a sports psychologist. Other pursuits at Lawrence have included three years as an EPIC coordinator and peer mentor, working closely with first-year dean Kristi Koshuta to help brainstorm and organize the first-year experience, and three years as an intern for the Wellness Center.
Morey was named to the Academic AllMidwest Conference team from 2022–25 and to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for 2024–25. She has earned dean’s list honors in all four years at Lawrence and has been a member of Psi Chi, Chi Alpha Sigma, and Mortar Board honor societies.
“I define success as striving to grow into the best version of myself while uplifting others along the way,” Morey said. “Whether it’s in the classroom, through my campus involvement, or in everyday relationships, I want to approach everything with gratitude and compassion. To me, success is about leaving a positive impact on the people and communities around me.”
Sydney Seeley ’25 ATHLETICS
Strong mentors and hard work got her results
BY ISAIAH WELLS
Sydney Seeley ’25 laced up her ice hockey skates for the first time when she was 4 years old. Her dad used to play hockey and encouraged her to try it. Seeley quickly fell in love with the game and recalls knowing she wanted to compete at the college level by the time she was in sixth grade.
“My parents were my biggest influences during my athletic journey,” Seeley said. “Not only did they allow me to do anything to get better, they also never missed a game, no matter how far it was.”
At Lawrence, Seeley majored in psychology and business & entrepreneurship, with a minor in economics. With the demands of academics and sports, she had to strictly prioritize the important details of her life to achieve the results she wanted.
“When I was a student-athlete, I would designate time for all of my obligations,” Seeley said. “Times for class, practice, lift, or games were always at the same time weekly, so I would set aside time around those events to do my homework or work.”
Thanks to focus and determination, Seeley made the dean’s list every year at Lawrence. She was a member of the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) and the AllAcademic Team from 2021–25. She earned the Krampade All-American Scholar award from the American Hockey Coaches Association in 2024, and she received the Marion Read Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to
Lawrence Athletics. In addition, Seeley was a member of Chi Alpha Sigma (national college athlete honor society) and Psi Chi (national honor society for psychology majors).
Seeley built a collegiate resume that would make anyone proud. The challenge for her came in making time for herself and the things she enjoyed outside of her obligations.
Now, working full-time with the Minnesota Vikings as a social media associate, she credits her time at Lawrence with teaching her the skills needed to be successful at work.
“My time as a student-athlete has had an impact on my career thus far in multiple areas,” Seeley said. “For example, being a studentathlete taught me to have time-management skills and to be versatile, two skills that I find myself using quite often in my current role. Additionally, as a student-athlete, you learn how to have a strong work ethic, be resilient, have good communication, and collaborate within a team; these are all skills I use on a day-to-day basis when working in sports.”
For many students, the environment they choose and the people they surround themselves with have an undeniable impact on their lives. For Seeley, the people and the environment pointed her in the direction she needed to achieve the result she wanted of landing a great job right out of school.
“Being a part of the Lawrence community allowed me to step out of my comfort zone to try new things,” Seeley said. “The entire Athletics department staff, the Communications department, President Carter, Christyn Abaray, and Professor Karen Bussone are all individuals who had a huge impact on me. All of these individuals supported me as I strived to reach my goals, and I am really thankful for their guidance during my time at Lawrence.”
Looking back on her time at Lawrence, Seeley embodied what it means to be a Viking and a Lawrentian.
“I hope I am remembered as a leader, hardworker, and someone kind to all,” Seeley said.
Sydney Seeley ’25 stands on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium, home of the Minnesota Vikings.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SYDNEY SEELEY ’25
Partnering to Bring Unplugged to Life
BY CHRIS MCGINN
When Celeste Faith Reyes ’22 attended the Lawrence in Chicago alumni event in April 2024, she had no idea she would be making a connection that would put her on a path to achieving her dream to work as an animator.
A mutual friend introduced her to author and filmmaker Paul McComas ’83 who was working on a project to bring his awardwinning book Unplugged to the screen.
From that initial meeting and through additional conversations, Reyes, who is pursuing an M.F.A. in animation at DePaul University, is now on board as lead animator for the movie’s pitch reel, an important step in getting a movie made.
“I was so excited to hear there was someone in my field of interest at the event, and I’m still so grateful to Lawrentians like Carter [Howe]
who look out for one another, especially in moments like that,” she said.
The Unplugged movie project is the latest incarnation of a story McComas first created more than two decades ago. Originally published in 2002, Unplugged received numerous Critic’s Choice designations and inclusion as one of Christian Century magazine’s Novels of the Year.
Based on his own experiences with mental health challenges and watching others in the public eye such as Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, and other members of the socalled “27s Club” die at a young age, the story features childhood rape survivor Dayna Clay, now a talented yet deeply troubled 27-yearold alt-rocker on the rise, who forfeits her career and sets out incognito for the South Dakota Badlands. The project is currently in development as an animated indie film with goals of winning at festival showings followed by theatrical release.
“My time at Lawrence really helped shape both my creativity and my confidence as an artist.”
– Celeste Reyes ’22
McComas said that a highlight of the project to date is getting his “dream cast” to record the audio, including Christina Ricci; Jeri Ryan of Star Trek Voyager and Picard series; Sheryl Lee of Twin Peaks; John Doe of the band X; Valeria Cotto of The Florida Project; Green Bay–based rocker Holly Trasti as lead character Dayna Clay, and, in what turned out to be their final performances, Ed Asner, Louis Gossett Jr., and King of the Hill’s Jonathan Joss.
The book, past album and tour, and future release support McComas’ passion for bringing attention and support to a variety of issues including mental health support, abuse prevention, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ inclusion, Indigenous rights, and other subjects incorporated in the story.
McComas credits his liberal arts training at Lawrence University with preparing him well for a life in theatre, music, writing, and teaching.
Reyes added, “My time at Lawrence really helped shape both my creativity and my confidence as an artist. I had amazing professors who encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone while staying true to my authentic voice.”
Watch the Unplugged pitch
Paul McComas ’83 and Celeste Faith Reyes ’22
Celeste Faith Reyes ’22
PHOTO
PHOTO
How Daryian Matthews ’25 turned research into
REAL-WORLD IMPACT
BY ALYSSA RETZA
When Daryian Matthews ’25 arrived at Lawrence University, he already knew he was fascinated by people, how they make choices, and how those choices shape the world. That curiosity led him to double major in psychology and philosophy, an academic pairing that soon became a personal calling. “I came into Lawrence as a psychology major because I wanted to better understand how people think,” Matthews said. “In my first term at Lawrence, I took Introduction to Ethics with Professor Albrecht and realized I also had a genuine interest in how we ‘should’ think.”
That combination of intellectual curiosity and care for others has since evolved into a career grounded in service. Through the Children and Adolescent Research in Emotion (CARE) Lab, Matthews found a way to turn his studies into meaningful community work, a path that led him from research student to full-time employee at Samaritan Counseling Center.
Research That Reaches the Community
Matthews’ position wasn’t a typical internship. It was a research collaboration between the Children and Adolescent Research in Emotion (CARE) Lab and Samaritan Counseling, supported by the Lawrence University
Research Fellows (LURF) program. Through this partnership, Samaritan funds ongoing CARE Lab research to strengthen its Wellness Screen Program, which provides mental-health screening for thousands of students across the Fox Valley.
“While working in the CARE Lab, I had many tasks,” Matthews said. “For two summers, I primarily worked on the Wellness Screening Tool data of over 10,000 students.” His work focused on understanding rumination, or repetitive
“In my head, either the job got done or it didn’t, and I got to choose how it went.”
– Daryian Matthews ’25
thought patterns that can be linked to anxiety and depression. He analyzed data, developed research questions, and presented findings alongside his mentor, Professor Lori Hilt, to Samaritan’s leadership team.
The partnership was more than an academic
exercise; it directly improved how local schools identify and support students in need of mental-health services. “In the case of any screening program, you must first consider the goals of your program before evaluating the psychometrics,” he said.
Before his research became a full-time career, Matthews was balancing more than most students. A former basketball player, he left the team after back surgery but carried the lessons of discipline and teamwork into his studies. “I did actually work two jobs—Texas Roadhouse, 30-plus hours a week, and CARE Lab—while being a full-time student before Samaritan,” he said. “When people ask how I got it done, I would always say the work ethic came from basketball.”
By senior year, he was working full-time at Samaritan while continuing his coursework and part-time restaurant job. The schedule
“My experience at Lawrence helped make me a well-rounded individual suited for many jobs, roles, and tasks that I’ll face ahead of me.”
– Daryian Matthews ’25
was grueling, but it reinforced his belief in consistency and responsibility. “In my head, either the job got done or it didn’t, and I got to choose how it went,” he said.
From Student Researcher to Future Agent
When Matthews graduated, his research and relationships naturally led to the next step: a job offer from Samaritan. “I was ecstatic when I got the call,” he said. “I was actually leaving Professor Albrecht’s office when they called me and offered me the position.”
Now a data manager for the Wellness Screen Program, Matthews maintains databases, analyzes screening data, supports CANDID clients across multiple states, and assists with grant writing and research collaboration. “It was an opportunity to help
people and see the other side of data I had been working on for over two years,” he said. “It just felt like a natural progression that I was excited to explore.”
He loves the work for the same reasons he first joined the CARE Lab: because it makes a tangible difference. “Most importantly, I love helping give students an avenue to receive mental-health treatment that many students may have gone without if not for the Wellness Screen Program,” Matthews said.
Matthews credits two mentors for shaping his path: his high school basketball coach, Keegan Cook, and his lab director, Dr. Hilt.
“Keegan Cook helped me learn the importance of service to others and taught me the impact an individual can have on another,” he said.
“Dr. Hilt inspired me through the care she gives her students, her work ethic, and all the great things she does for not only Lawrence,
but the broader community.” Their influence, he said, helped him connect personal motivation with professional purpose.
Matthews is now planning for graduate school in forensic psychology, with hopes to one day join the FBI as an agent or victim specialist. But his measure of success remains simple and grounded. “To me, success has always been doing what makes you happy while also heading toward a future that will make you happier,” he said. “All you can do is try to make yourself, and others, happy.”
He credits Lawrence for preparing him to do just that. “My experience at Lawrence helped make me a well-rounded individual suited for many jobs, roles, and tasks that I’ll face ahead of me,” he said. “It also taught me that my curiosity and passion for learning are a gift and to pursue that in any way I can.”
Daryian Matthews ’25 on Main Hall Green.
The Art of the Detour
Amelia Anderson ’14 finds freedom in contemporary art and trying everything
BY DEANNA KOLELL
For Amelia Anderson ’14, the path from Lawrence University to her current role as director of the Bennett Prize and curator of women’s art at the Muskegon Museum of Art has been marked by a series of surprising detours. Her career, she said, is defined by unexpected pivots and the growing confidence to apply for roles she felt unqualified for.
Anderson transferred to Lawrence after a year at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, realizing she was a “liberal arts person” who felt lost in a bigger environment. She quickly found her footing in art history, thanks to the high standards and unwavering support of
mentors like associate professor of art history
Elizabeth Carlson and adjunct associate professor of art Beth Zinsli.
“I was shocked at how many opportunities I had once I said I wanted to be an art history major,” Anderson recalls.
Carlson’s guidance—which included meticulously editing graduate school essays—prepared her for advanced work while giving her the freedom to “flop around.” This atmosphere of high expectation mixed with acceptance taught her the humility and resilience needed to navigate the art world. Zinsli, meanwhile, taught her that interviewing is a learned skill.
The Unexpected Pivot: From Academia to Aviation
After receiving her master’s in history of art and architecture at the University of Oregon Graduate School, Anderson’s initial plan was to pursue a Ph.D. and teach, becoming “the Elizabeth Carlson of whatever small-town college” she could get into. But when that path didn’t materialize, a part-time curatorial position opened up at The Richard H. Driehaus Museum in Chicago, which was a natural fit for her master’s thesis focus on late 19th- and early 20th-century decorative arts. This role was cut short in 2020 when
Muskegon Museum of Art, featuring the sculpture One’s-Self I Sing by Beth Lipman.
Anderson was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I thought I was done in the museum industry,” she said.
Despite the setback, she persisted, landing a “career reset” role in 2022 at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Even though she knew nothing about airplanes, she applied the skills she had: writing, organizing, and proofreading. This ultimately led to a curatorial opening at the EAA Aviation Museum, where she made the leap, becoming the museum’s first woman curator.
Investing in Community and Women’s Art
Aviation wasn’t her long-term calling, however. In the summer of 2025, she accepted her
current role at the Muskegon Museum of Art, which includes leading the Bennett Prize, a major $50,000 award for women figurative realist painters.
In this role, Anderson has a direct hand in lifting up women’s careers.
“Women are historically underrepresented,” she explains. “We all need to lift each other up and really support each other.”
She emphasizes that being a curator isn’t just about hanging paintings; it’s about curating relationships, building community trust, and cultivating donor relationships. Her work is driven by a passion for local museums and the power of art to feed a community, proving that you don’t have to leave the Midwest to find a world-class career.
Ultimately, Anderson’s journey is a lesson in adaptability: “You’re going to detour every now and again, and that’s natural,” she advised. “Don’t discount yourself but keep an open mind ... Every experience is useful, so try to utilize it to the best of your ability.”
Anderson encourages all Lawrence alumni who are women figurative realist painters to apply for The Bennett Prize Cycle 5 by visiting thebennettprize.org. The call for entries will be officially announced in Spring 2026.
The Rising Voices traveling exhibition, which consists of the Bennett Prize Cycle 4 finalists, and the solo show of the Bennett Prize Cycle 3 winner, Shiqing Deng, The Cost of Life, are currently on the road.
Visit thebennetprize.org for a full schedule.
Amelia Anderson ’14, whose path from Lawrence University led to her current role as director of the Bennett Prize and curator of women’s art at the Muskegon Museum of Art.
PHOTOS
COURTESY OF THE MUSKEGON MUSEUM OF ART
Rising Voices 4, the Bennett Prize finalist exhibition, at the Muskegon Museum of Art where Anderson is a curator.
ALUMNI
ONE FOR THE ROAD
Student-developed app gives campus shuttle a user-friendly lift
BY JILL JOHNSON
Minjun Lee ’25 never imagined he would have the opportunity to apply the skills he was learning in his degree program to his summer job as a student campus safety officer. But when Campus Safety Director Jeff Miller learned that Lee was a computer science major, Miller approached him about a project to improve access to the Lawrence shuttle service.
“He asked if I could build a system to help manage campus safety rides,” Lee said. “What started out as a simple website gradually evolved into a full mobile app project.”
Courses in his major, such as Mobile Application Development and Back End Development gave him the foundations to tackle a project like the shuttle app on his own, he said.
Despite the high-tech nature of the project, Lee said he likes a decidedly old school approach to conceptualizing the work.
“I like brainstorming on paper,” Lee said. “I organized the core functions of the app, the methods to achieve it, and some of the exception cases that I needed to consider. From there, I chose the frameworks that best fit those needs and taught myself how to use them by building small projects.”
Lee said he had previously worked on smaller assignments that were not intended
for actual deployment, such as an AI fitness assistant created for generating customized workout plans. The shuttle app was his first foray into a real launch.
“A lot of the structural inspirations for database, security, and API actually came from projects that I made in [Mathematics] Professor [Joseph] Gregg’s class,” Lee said.
Lee learned as he went, reading documentation and watching YouTube tutorials to learn certain concepts he could apply.
“From those sources I often learned enough to try it, but not enough to get it right. Although it was a time-consuming process, it really helped me to learn the materials in-depth,” he said. “The whole process took about a year,” he said, juggled between classes and homework.
After graduation, Lee took a job at Michiganbased LG Energy Solution, which focuses on EV battery technologies for the automotive industry. His role, he said, “focuses on vision inspection systems that use cameras and algorithms to detect product defects.”
He added, “I want to give a huge shout-out to Jeff Miller for trusting me with this project, and I’m deeply grateful to Professor Gregg for his guidance and constant support. Finally, I want to thank President Carter and Student
Minjun Lee ’25, Lawrence University, Commencement Ceremony
Affairs VP Chris Clarke for their support in a student-led project growing into something real and meaningful.”
Miller said the new Uber-style app, which is available to students, faculty, and staff, helps ensure the campus community gets the full benefit of the service.
“The new shuttle app is a valuable resource because it allows riders to schedule a pick-up for a specific time and location,” Miller said. “As our campus footprint extends further into downtown Appleton, riders will appreciate the added convenience the app has to offer.”
Shuttle driver Kelly Remme concurred. “The two-way communication between the driver and rider is a nice function because we can connect directly through the app in case of a delay or change of plans,” Remme said.
The campus shuttle app was just a first foray into what Lee hopes will be many more fruitful projects.
“I see education as privilege that I was, for no particular reason, fortunate enough to receive,” Lee said. “Therefore, I hope to use it to share the benefits of the skills that I learned. Looking ahead, I want to develop software that can address real-world problems and make technology more accessible and affordable for everyone.”
THE TREK TO ALEX TREBEK
Stacy Shelly ’00 on her Jeopardy! journey
BY DEANNA KOLELL
Lawrence University alumna Stacy Shelly ’00 put her liberal arts knowledge to the ultimate test as a contestant on America’s Favorite Quiz Show, Jeopardy! The attorney from Rockford, Illinois, competed on the episode that aired on Sept. 9, 2025.
Stacyʼs dream of competing on the show began in high school, but it took 20 years and many attempts at the contestant test before she received the long-awaited call.
“I almost let it go to voicemail,” Stacy recalled, “And then I realized who was calling and why! A few months later, I was on the Alex Trebek Stage.”
As a litigator, Stacy was already accustomed to performing under pressure.
“I’m used to standing in front of a tough audience and answering questions,” she said. Her main challenge was mastering the timing of the signaling device. “I was quicker on the buzzer than I thought I might be; I just didn’t know enough stuff!”
Although she ultimately came in third place, highlights included getting to answer a question about the movie Steel Magnolias and achieving the feat of running a category. Stacy was also surprised by the camaraderie behind the scenes.
“Getting to meet and become friends with my fellow contestants—the smartest group of people I’ve ever met in one place—has been such an unexpected gift,” she said.
Stacy credits her Lawrence education for preparing her for the breadth of questions.
“The first question I answered on the show was about Miss Havisham, and I read Great Expectations in Professor Goldgar’s Major British Writers II course. So my Lawrence education literally got me on the Jeopardy! Board.”
“Competing on Jeopardy! was the true dream of a lifetime, and it exceeded all my expectations in every way.”
What Legacy Will You Leave?
“I have been blessed with much good fortune and it is with great purpose that I feel I should try and help future generations receive the same foundation of excellence that Lawrence gave to me. Lawrence taught me critical thinking that served me extremely well throughout my journey. I was fortunate enough to make lifelong friendships that neither time nor distance have been able to diminish.
Joining Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle is our way to provide for the school through our estate. To help do this, several years ago Marie and I decided to make a provision for Lawrence in our wills. It is our way to pay it forward. Whether you currently have a will or are just considering getting one started, it is very easy to make a provision for Lawrence. It will only take a few minutes to commit, and those few minutes can turn into a lifetime benefit for a future Lawrentian.”
—Rick Young
’80
and Marie Schmidt
Join Rick and Marie in the Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle. Visit legacygiving.lawrence.edu to learn more.
For more information on the benefits of making a lasting impact at Lawrence through a charitable bequest, contact us at: legacygiving@lawrence.edu
Chuck Demler ’11
Laurie Yingling P’20 Director of Leadership and Planned Giving Associate Director of Gift Planning 920-832-6937 920-832-6843
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 go.lawrence.edu/profile.
(Class Notes key: M-D - Milwaukee-Downer graduate; P - parent of a graduate.) Class Notes are edited for clarity and consistency.
MILWAUKEE-DOWNER
No updates were shared for this issue.
LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY
1954
Jane Shonts Horstman: I have zipped down the laneways of life, enjoying my wonderful lifestyle in Perth, Western Australia. I have become determined to stay alive and have learned a lot about resilience and somewhat about letting go, though I still live in my home of 56 years. I am a dual citizen. Margaret, my daughter, lives outside Chicago and visits once a year.
Kenneth J. Krueger: I am enjoying my relaxed lifestyle here in Southern California’s high desert. I still do a little gardening and other chores around my home, and I am able to drive to LA for an occasional concert or theater. I try to stay positive even in the face of our country’s divide.
1956
Joan Timmermann Anderson: Can you believe it’s been 70 years since we graduated? I am planning to attend Reunion, and I hope to see some of you there to prove we are a hardy group. I realize that it will be a short trip for Steve and me because we still spend our summers in Baileys Harbor to escape the heat in Indiana. Our long trip is 485 miles on Memorial Day.
Dr. David R. Challoner P’82: Dave, Jacklyn (Challoner ’58), and their beagle Freyja are enjoying life at Oak Hammock, a continuing care facility in Gainesville, FL. They now have three great-grandchildren.
Beverly Becker Henderson: Beverly is doing well, and at 91, enjoys daily exercise classes at her senior living community. She has three children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her second youngest granddaughter is also a Lawrence alum—class of 2018!
Shirley Cox Seefeld: I am still at Ovation, the senior living community in St. George, UT. It has worked out nicely for me. Otherwise, nothing new with me—I keep active with exercise, do a lot of reading, very ordinary lifestyle.
Janie Clapp Torma: I’m remembering how long it has been since I wrote for the Alumni news and thought I’d better do so. Jim and I moved to Wesley Village in Macomb, IL, 10 years ago to be near our daughter, Susan. Jim passed Christmas of 2020. At 91 years young, I am still teaching water and chair exercise classes for people with disabilities.
Carol Yates Zuehlke: I am living in NC to be near one of my children. Doing well but not traveling anymore. I am a great-grandmother of two boys and a girl.
1958
William R. Blask: Bill has not lost his love for sailing and crews for a friend in sailboat races on Lake Murray near Columbia, SC. He recently bought a 16-foot trimaran to sail on a small local lake. Bill is a member of advisory groups at Clemson and Furman universities that are involved with the furtherance of quality adult education.
Dr. Philip J. Burck: Phil attended an alumni meeting in July where Cal Husmann, senior principal gift officer, spoke on new developments at Lawrence. These included Fox Commons, West Campus, and the Recreation Center. Phil’s annual gift goes to supporting a summer internship for a Lawrence science student.
Jacklyn Anderson Challoner P’82: David (Challoner ’56) and I are living happily in our Gainesville CCRC with our beagle Freyja. David has survived a second shoulder replacement and has returned to the gym. Freyja is a committed member of the library program Kids Read to Dogs. Think of it as Freshman Studies for beagles.
Joyce Freiberg Christie: Joyce reports that she and her husband, Tom (Christie ’59), have been living in a retirement community for six years now. Music is still an important part of their lives. Joyce accompanies monthly sing-alongs on the piano as well as accompanying the residents’ choir and Tom’s trumpet and flute solos. They enjoy concerts by the Milwaukee Symphony.
James B. Davis Jr.: Jim got back to the Appleton area for a family visit this summer. In August, he hosted family members on trips to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. The fast rides at Universal are better watched than ridden these days. Jim is still playing pickleball and finds the competition better but more attractive. Life is challenging but GOOD.
Dr. Robert A. De Lapp: Deloris and I decided to give up the house, downsize, and move to a senior independent living situation. We’re still in Aurora, CO, with the same e-mail, but cut the landline and rely entirely on our cellphones from now on. No really big trips, just one road trip to Illinois to visit family and several day trips within Colorado for the same.
Shirley Carter DeLorme: Shirley has found life to be very enjoyable in the retirement community she chose in Green Bay. She enjoys the meals and does not miss cooking for herself. Shirley has four children, six grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Ulrike Scharmer Duchrow: Ulrike writes that the year’s biggest event has been her husband, Ulrich’s, 90th birthday in June. The two of them are in fairly good health. Ulrike enjoys teaching German to Ukrainian refugees, participating in an Italian conversation course, and being in an English and American literature group.
Rev. Frank R. Gaylord: Frank’s 2025 has been one of highs and lows. He suffered weeks of illness due to a neurovirus that resulted in three hospital stays. The installation of a pacemaker solved his problem. With a longtime friend, Frank took a cruise that ranged from Lisbon to Copenhagen. He is looking forward to future travel.
Janice Krause Gunlogson: Jan’s husband, Dick, passed away this past fall. Jan and her daughters spent the summer disposing of things related to the family’s big game outfitting and commercial fishing business. Jan is moving this fall to a retirement home in Carmel, IN. Their daughter, Kirsten, teaches vocal music at nearby Butler University.
LTC David L. Mann: Dave and his wife Margie are still traveling. In February, they took a 14-day Caribbean cruise on the Explorer out of Miami. It carries only a little over 600 passengers, and Dave highly recommends it for both comfort and service. They visited a number of ports, including St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Antigua, St. Barts, and St. Kitts.
Frederic C. Stevens: Fred is living in a Del Webb over-55 retirement community in the Gainesville, GA, area. He retired after 34 years in the insurance business, which took him from Chicago to Memphis, Nashville, and finally Atlanta. Fred’s second wife, Joyce, passed away earlier this year.
Ruthann Boucher Stolzman: Ruthann’s business card should read “occasionally retired.” She is still doing desktop publishing for her fellow residents at the Los Gatos retirement community where she lives. The Christmas season is especially busy as she is designing Christmas cards for others.
Phyllis Rowland Trostrud: We have been lucky and blessed. Lived 35 years here on a little lake, with 15 years as a volunteer lake monitor. I’ve been married for 67 years to Earl, whom I met on the first day of high school. We have eight grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren, all living close to us. A lot of time spent caring for a rescue dog and a feral cat who has lived on the back porch since 2012.
David J. Wege: Dottie and I have lived in Lancaster, PA, for the past year and enjoy living here. Lancaster is an old historic city that has a rich cultural heritage, which we enjoy. We live next door to our son and his wife in a beautiful historic church built in 1893 and converted to a lovely living space. Life is good!
1960
Dr. John J. Beck: Barbara passed away on March 20, 2023. I have been sailing my Dickerson 41 ketch and reading stories and poetry at open mic. I didn’t plant a garden this year. I still live in the house we had built in 1974. So far, no joint replacements and no cane or walker. All four “kids” live in Wisconsin, and we gather on Zoom every week.
Kathleen Karst Larson: Hola, classmates! I am still hanging out at Brook Ridge Independent Living in Pharr, TX. I lost my husband, Roger, in May, and being here has been the best place. I crossed off a bucket list item when I went to a University of Texas football game with my son and daughter-in-law. It was wild and crazy, and I loved every minute.
Gail Meier Reiman: I have been living in an Erickson Community called Highland Springs, in north Dallas. It is a vibrant senior living place and plenty of activities to keep one busy. I have been here for about seven years now. In the past year and a half, I became a great-grandmother twice. I never thought I’d make it this far.
1962
Gordon A. Becker: Still here, enjoying northern Michigan and in relatively good health. We are quite active in the community—Anne is in two book clubs, a deacon in our church, and quilts for hospice. I am in two Bible studies, have a limited law practice along with pro bono work, and serve as a hearing officer for the Attorney Discipline Board. My golf handicap is too high.
Virginia Booster Bond: Delighted to be living the good life in northern Michigan during the summer, Midland, MI in the winter after 20 years in South Carolina. Go Clemson!!! Enjoying a monthly Zoom chat with fellow 1962 grads. We may be scattered throughout the country, but friendships begun over 60 years ago live on!
CLASS NOTES
Rev. Mary Schindel Harris: Mike (Harris ’56) and I are still walking, talking, and taking nourishment. I am a retired minister in the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). It was a wonderful ride, and I loved leading worship services. Mike meets with two separate men’s groups each week. We still live in our Tucson home for as long as we are able. I think of classmates often.
Lynn Voss Jacobsson P’89: I have ended up in Clovis, CA, after teaching at CSU-Fresno for 22 years. My family has grown to two daughters, five grandchildren, and a new greatgrandchild. I am spending most of my time now that I am retired in political engagement.
Sue Smith Leeson & Bill Leeson: Still spending six months in Steamboat Springs, CO, and six months in Casa Grande, AZ. Spend our time playing golf, volunteering for nonprofits, and traveling. Other than a few body part replacements, we are doing fine.
Richard Price & Mary Price: Mary and Rick are still in Ann Arbor, MI. We often say to each other how much we appreciate the many things our professors at Lawrence have given us. We’re saddened to hear of the loss of Professor Minoo Adenwalla, an extraordinary and caring teacher. We are delighted to see the leadership at Lawrence giving new energy.
1963
Dr. Robert B. Petters: I have completed the orchestration of James Ming’s work, Missa Brevis. This work was premiered in the fall of 1959 (I sang in the choir) as part of a dedication for the festival year of the Music-Drama Center. I have sent the PDF of the orchestrated score and parts to the Music Department. I was told it resides in the digital music library.
1964
Virginia Allen: Still a resident of Parker, Co., where my chief vice is an addiction to the puzzle Spelling Bee.
Peter W. Barile: I am combining my two factories into one for efficiency. Working on four miles of trails on our 32-acre farm. We have 15 cows belonging to farmers who lease the fields. The cows are often at the fence for “treats” when I come home. Great sunrises and sunsets greet us daily in distant hills.
Gene Redding Clark: I currently split my time between my residence in Sioux Falls and my summer lake place in Windom. I have no current plans to travel. At least not soon. In 2026, the plan is for a trip to Turkey, Greece, and several islands. It will be a family trip, so I’m sure it will be a lot of fun even though most of us have been to most of those places before.
Barbara Isely Dedo: Hello to all the ’64 classmates who gathered at this time last year for a wonderful reunion! Kudos to the organizers who made it a memorable weekend. It was fantastic to see you all looking hale and hearty. Last spring, I went to France with my book club and this summer to England with my church choir.
Thomas T. Goldsmith III: After living in Sweden for 15 years, I’ve moved back to Boston. 1964 seems long ago, yet Appleton memories are still strong. My two children and three grandchildren, along with a three-floor Victorian home still under renovation, help keep life interesting. I enjoyed the recent Lawrence get-together at Boston’s Museum of Science. Miss y’all.
Walter J. Isaac P’88: Hi all ’64 classmates! Barbara and I have had a fun summer. A reunion of high school friends in MN followed by a week at Björklunden to hear Terry Moran. Also got a trip to Maui over Labor Day. Still in Colorado and enjoying our lifelong activities. Saw classmates Jon and Anne Keckonen in July and really enjoyed that. Keep your notes coming!
Jonathan E. Knopp: After Peace Corps in Malaysia, earning an MA at Columbia University, teaching International Baccalaureate biology, and serving IB as exam team leader, exam paper author, and teacher workshop leader across N. America and abroad, I retired last May. My wife and I regularly travel to Seattle, San Diego, and Nairobi, Kenya, to visit our sons and two granddaughters.
Gwendolyn Law Lane: I am well and trying to keep active. I am still volunteering as a tutor in ESL at the local library and serving as a board member on TEACH, an organization that raises funds for local college students in need of help. I am very happy living in Trilogy at the Vineyards, an over-55 community.
Pamela Kolb Leadbitter: I feel very blessed to teach reading to at-risk kindergartners, first, and second graders. I also play my viola in two orchestras, swim laps, and enjoy walking and playing Shanghai, a card game, with my husband, family, and friends. David, our Husky, and I spent five weeks at a cottage on Lake Ontario within the Sandbank Provincial Park.
Harry N. MacLean: I taught a five-day course on true crime at Björklunden in July. It was a great experience. Three hours in the morning, and the afternoons spent exploring Door County. The students were mainly retired folks, like myself, and many had done the suggested reading, so there were some lively discussions. I hope to repeat the course next year.
Russell Rutter: Margaret (Rutter ’66) and I recently celebrated our 60th anniversary and plan a memory lane trip that includes a visit to Lawrence, where we met. I still play piano. Margaret still works with Fair Trade. Our six great-grandchildren live far away, so we see them rarely. We are well and together, so we have the best reason to be happy. And we are!
J. Richard Woy: Jean (Lampert ’65) and I still live in Brookline, MA, and go up to our Vermont place both winter and summer. I play a lot of tennis. Jeannie volunteers on archaeological digs for the city of Boston. Our travels this past year included a walking holiday along the Vezere River in France in the spring and a three-week trip to Albania last fall—and also a visit to LU last spring when I got to hit some balls again with the men’s tennis team for the first time since 1964!
1965
Tom C. Conley: In May of 2025, Tom retired from teaching duties at Harvard University in film and media studies and French literature. Finishing two monographs (one in French, Classiques Garnier, Paris; the other in English, at Minnesota), on cinema, early modern poetry, and visual form. He savors memories of Lawrence.
1966
The Class of 1966 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Dr. T. Michael Anger: Almost a year since a car hit me and ended my cycling career. I have compensated with an indoor bike and walking outside. I have spent some fun times with my son Tom in Columbus, OH, sailing with him on his MC. An Inland Lake Scow, the cat-rigged version of the M-16, the boat I grew up with. I note that Lawrence has a new football coach. Go Vikes!
Anthony D. Beadell: I have a lot to be grateful for. This year, Prilla and I celebrate 59 years of marriage and three grandchildren. I am further celebrating 51 years in business as A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel and the publishing of my book, 10 years in the works, In Pursuit of Truth in Art, Antiques and Antiquities, due out January 2026.
Kirk W. Elliott: I left Lawrence after two years. I graduated from UW-Madison in 1969. I got together with a high school friend and his friends in 1965, and we formed Madison’s White Trash Blues Band in 1965. I’m playing drums with them now. We play a couple of short gigs a year. I sing on Bright Lights, Big City by Jimmy Reed. Incidentally, Court Newman ’66 walked up to me one day in Plantz Hall in 1962 and gave me my first blues record: Jimmy Reed at Carnegie Hall.
Dr. David K. Glidden: At our coming 60th reunion, we need to share our insights gained ever so slowly over the decades with those who will come after us, who may be in need of knowing that love is more powerful than hate, that we can carry social progress and justice ever forward from generation to generation.
Edward W. Hoffman: Hi, fellow 1966ers. We just returned from attending the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland. Hearing the Vienna Philharmonic live was awesome, as they are a special orchestra. Switzerland is a beautiful (and expensive) country with many wonderful sights. We could learn much in the U.S. from their efficient mass transit and overall neatness.
Patrick R. Kroos: Pamela and I celebrated 47 years together and remain residents in Hong Kong. Our focus is on the grandchildren, Tristan (21), Amber (17), Lincoln (4), and Travis (2), which requires more frequent travel to North America to enjoy time together. Family and our Christian faith are most important at this stage of our lives.
Dr. Edward Rath: Lois (Beck ’67) and I visited Vienna and Innsbruck (Lois’ 80th birthday present!) in August 2025. A short trip to Eisenstadt allowed us to see many friends and attend the 50th anniversary celebration of the Classical Music Festival. I received the City of Eisenstadt’s gold Haydn Medal in recognition of my 22 years of service to the festival.
David M. Remley: The Class of ’66 Sig Ep travel group completed our 37th annual trip. Six brothers and seven spouses met at the historic Hotel Julien Dubuque in Dubuque, IA, for three days of good times.
Robert H. Schoenwetter & Kathryn Wilson Schoenwetter: Almost six decades. Really? Since 2003, we have been seasonal residents—Glenview, IL, and Tucson, AZ. We’ve lived the Demeter-Persephone myth, enjoying six sunny months in each location. We loved the LU experience. It made us lifelong learners and graced us with friendships that have stood the test of time.
Lawrence P. Wilson: Larry’s new book about divorce, Own Your Own Divorce, was published July 1, 2025, by Track 61 Publishing. It is available worldwide in book, ebook, and Audible formats. Amazon listed it as the #1 New Release in three categories. Additional information, including how to acquire a copy, is available at: ownyourowndivorce.com
1968
Edward T. Butt, Jr.: Some 1960s Phi Gamma Delta haoles traveled to Honolulu to get together with fellow Lawrence Fijis. Pictured from left to right: Denny Sugihara ’67, Al Austin ’68, Leslie Butt, Celia Wong, Emi Crandall, Judi Austin, Keith Shichida ’67, Rich Crandall ’68, Ted Wong ’69, Bonnie Wendt Draeger ’68, Leslie Kammerer, Dave “Sage” Kammerer ’68, Harvey Takemoto ’68, Ed Butt ’68, Jim Buck ’68, and Wayne Draeger ’68.
Eileen J. Chase: I’m enjoying life in Kansas City with my dear husband, Bill Shefchik. The zinnias near the street are attracting butterflies, bees, and skippers galore. (I have written a song about the dog days, which features butterflies in zinnias.) My love of early music continues, and my cardiologist says, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Richard L. Crandall: Now that our daughter’s family lives in Kenya, Emi and I have traveled long distances from Honolulu to see them. Last year, we visited them in Nairobi. This year we met in Thailand. I enjoyed new music contacts when “sitting in” on piano at a Bangkok jazz club called “Groovin’ High,” named after a popular Dizzy Gillespie tune.
Dr. Sally Hickerson Darley P’08 ’01 ’00: I still see clients as a clinical social worker, U of Iowa students, and graduate students, primarily. I’m living with my husband in a co-housing community that is modeled after the Danish concept of a caring community for all ages. Prairie Hill Co-housing is the first in Iowa. Seven kids among the 50 of us. Working on a book of short stories.
Dr. Jim B. Freim: As we approach the big 80, I’m redefining aging. I’m doing two 50-mile running races in fall 2025. My new mantra is “oldest but not the slowest.” While camped in Wisconsin, I struck up a conversation with a person who knew Shirley and Dave Strange ’69, whom I haven’t seen in 60 years. What a delight to reconnect with them. Stay fit for life!
David G. Johnson: My wife, Kathy, and I are doing well. A few health issues, but we’re still on our feet. Still enjoy biking, hiking, and some travel. Last year, we enjoyed welcoming in two granddaughters, so the tree keeps getting bigger. I feel grateful for being able to stay active and involved with family and friends, and never getting bored with life.
Kenneth E. Luckhardt: Happily living in Canada for 57 years, I am a retired anthropology and social justice (SJ) professor after many years of engagement in SJ projects in South Africa, Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, East Timor, Noumea (once New Caledonia), and, of course, Canada. In 2024, I was awarded the Order of South Africa in Pretoria. Divorced, three grandchildren.
Brent Wm. Primus, J.D.: I am pleased to report that we are just days away from the publication of the Third Edition of my text, Motor Carrier Contracts Annotated. Also, I am continuing to practice law with an emphasis on transportation and logistics. I continue to serve as director of virtual education for the Transportation and Logistics Council.
Robert L. Suettinger: Mostly retired, just a quick update on my book, The Conscience of the Party: Hu Yaobang, China’s Communist Reformer (Harvard University Press, 2024). Traveled to Taiwan for the launch of the Chinese language edition in June and also toured Australia. Exhausting, but enjoyable. Recorded edition coming out in December. Check website: robertsuettinger.com.
David Remley, 1966
Ed Butt, 1968
CLASS NOTES
Frederick H. Walsh: In March, we took our last flight to London. Almost went in October. Hoped to see a rare staging of Oscar Wilde’s one-act play Salome. I wanted to produce it senior year. Didn’t happen; instead, I wrote an outline for the production and graduated. Thank you, Prof. Cloak. In the ’90s, I wrote lyrics for Salome the Musical. Still waiting for tunes.
1970
Alumni classes of 1970–1974 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Paul B. Bauck: Jean and I celebrated 38 years together this August! Life has slowed down, but we remain committed to actively supporting social justice. A month in the summer at a small cottage on Vancouver Island gave us a break from the city. I continue to post a new song each week to my YouTube channel (Paul Bauck) and play gigs with my duo, Home Cookin’.
Kristin Jensen Bryan P’12: We continue enjoying the freedom of condo living in Appleton with our two cats. After doing a land tour of England and Scotland in March, we relaxed on a river cruise of the Rhine and Main Rivers in August. Our favorite times, though, are visiting with our nearly 2-year-old twin granddaughters near Madison.
Dr. Peter R. Burzynski: Peter and his wife, Sue, moved to a townhome, remaining in their Indiana city of Newburgh. Grandkids, photography, golf, and travel fill his time. He wishes his LU classmates well and encourages communication; he will respond to Facebook or email (pburzynski@aol.com).
Richard A. Candee, Jr.: Fall 2024, after 19 years, we sold our house, moved to a townhouse, same town—no more snow shoveling. Linda (Brown ’71) retired from the clinic. We support FSIL Nursing School, Leogane, Haiti and the Episcopal hospital, Gaza. Health: Linda had one hip and knee replacement. I had a quad bypass. I am at the WI farm several times a year and enjoy seeing the Schotts.
Dr. Gregory J. Exarhos P’12 ’07: A Lab Fellow emeritus at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, I am treasurer of an AIP physics society and U.S. director of a global physics union. Cathy (piano) and I (clarinet) are church musicians and belong to a Master Singers group. We toured the Netherlands and rented bicycles. A family reunion on Whidbey Island found us crabbing and enjoying fresh mussels from Penn Cove.
Dr. Jeffrey O. Leach: Enjoying retirement. Took a wonderful trip to South Africa and Botswana with Delt fraternity brothers Tocher Mitchell, Gar Kellom, and their wives last year.
Bert Lord & Juliana Cheng Lord: Juliana is a certified volunteer counselor for Area Agency on Aging 1B with Medicare/Medicaid Assistant Program, where she counsels and reviews supplemental healthcare and prescriptions for the seniors for the coming year when she is not employed as a tax pro at H&R Block. Bert is serving as choir director and organist at St. Clement Church.
John A. Nyman: A number of Lawrentians gathered on Kamano Island in Washington in April to remember Ted Hope. Ted was my roommate for three years. We were Betas, went to Bonnigheim together, and played football together. Ted was about as tough a person as you can get, both mentally and physically. He was smart and perceptive and wise beyond his years. We did not see much of each other after school, but I’ll always remember him as my best friend.
Dr. Bernd C. Peyer: After my prospective publisher in London folded due to litigation, I decided to go with vanity and let Amazon publish it. It’s a fictive autobiography titled BIMBI: Narrative of a Narcissist and contains a chapter revolving around Lawrence in 1969–70.
Dale R. Schuh: Time zooms by. It’s been five years since I finished twelve consecutive years as an LU Trustee. Today, I enjoy using Zoom to stay engaged, listening in on currently held trustee meetings.
Judith Stanfield Young & Timothy Young P’00: Personally, we’re lucky: two daughters, MD and JD, and five good grandkids are all doing well. We regret the death of Professor and friend, Minoo Adenwalla. Judy sold her Disney stock and will donate a big part of the proceeds to causes “fighting the power.”
1971
Alumni classes of 1970–1974 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Rev. Scott W. Alexander: I am now in my 51st year of ministry with the Unitarian Universalist Association, serving Unitarian Church North in Mequon, Wisconsin. I have also just been elected to a three-year term on the board of the Lawrence University Alumni Association. Looking forward to this service to my beloved alma mater.
Stephen C. Allen: Steve is having fun owning and operating Bay Vinyl Records in Sturgeon Bay, WI.
Robert C. Fellows: Bob is winding up a six-month interim pastorate at First Parish Congregational Church in Derry, NH. My goal is to paint landscapes, do yoga, and perform magic and music. Melody and I live in Peterborough, NH, during the summer and in Minnetonka, MN, during the winter, where we enjoy time with our 2-year-old granddaughter and other family.
David A. Jones P’10: Quiet and beautiful fall days in Chicago despite political clashes. Rochelle and I are looking forward to our cluster Reunion in Appleton in June. Hope to see a lot of Cluster-Classmates there.
David L. Mitchell: After 13 years of splitting our time between San Francisco and Portland, OR, Judy and I now live full-time in a singlefamily home on an 85-acre CCRC campus in Lake Oswego, south of Portland. We and our 800 fellow residents find life here somewhat like being back in college—with much better food and lovely living and recreational amenities.
Frances Farley Pan: For the past 11 years, husband Don and I have lived in Belfast Cohousing and Ecovillage in Belfast, ME. We share gardening and a flock of chickens with some of our neighbors. I look forward to weekly gatherings of a French table and a German table in town and work to support our local library. Two sons (one nearby), lovely DILs, three grands.
Julie K. Panke: I recently retired from directing one of my community choirs after 30 years. The other two groups, a women’s chorus and a mixed ‘multi-faith’ choir, continue to keep me busy along with our grandchildren and local cultural events. Karl and I enjoyed a trip to Germany last March. Looking forward to the cluster reunion.
Marianne R. Varney: Still in Naples. Home/ yard keeps me active. April, I spent a wonderful week in Appleton with Jeff (’70) and Jone (’72) Riester before we lost dear Jone. Thankful for that visit! August in France, three weeks for a wedding in Vichy and visits to the Côte d’Azur and Pérouges. Another wedding in Santa Fe in October (and visit with Janine Sagert ’70) and on to family in Salt Lake.
Norman Yamada: Still doing some private lessons, music, and sound gigs, but cutting back. We were wondering if grandkids would be in our lives, but 3 ½ years ago, we were blessed with Agnes, Rory, and Nikko. They were tiny and Aggie had a tough go, but they are healthy now and just started 3K! We’re only 90 minutes away, so we see them often!
David Jones, 1971
1972
Alumni classes of 1970–1974 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Marte Brengle: My life changed a lot after I had a stroke the first week in August. Fortunately, the only real damage was to my right hand. I have been working hard to make it functional again. In family news, daughter Meghan is now streaming regularly on Twitch, son Daniel works for UCLA, and granddaughter Evie is acing the seventh grade. No room to write more, alas!
Jane Cliff: Happily retired from the U.S. Forest Service for 10 years; living in Milwaukee. Finished four YWCA triathlons in Minneapolis, with encouragement from Marilyn Thompson ’71. In addition to Marilyn, I stay in touch with Anne Paulet Pabst ’72 and Marvis Knospe ’71. Proud parent of Sarah, third-year law student. Partner Julie and I held a timber sale on land in southwest Wisconsin.
Richard D. de Rosset: This past year has been a mix of adventure and nostalgia. We traveled to Spain, France, and Sweden, discovering that the perfect balance of pintxos, croissants, and herring makes for a surprisingly well-balanced diet. Closer to home, I’ve kept up my hobby of recording myself singing favorite songs on my iMac using Logic Pro.
Dr. Mark A. Facknitz: Mark is still living in Virginia, in his body and personal circumstances, remarkably healthy and secure for someone who is 75. But he is grief-stricken and deeply troubled by recent political events.
Scott E. Ferguson: Sandy and I are going strong after 47 years. Nine grandkids and one GRAND. Living on a little golf course in Salem, OR. Been here since 1987. Staying busy with grandkids’ activities (soccer, baseball, basketball, who knows what next year!)
Marjorie Norgaard Grier: Spending six months in LU’s Eningen program ignited in me a passion for travel. It has been a wonderful way to reset my life following the death of my beloved husband of 30 years. In the last
several months, I claimed my fifth, sixth and seventh continents—Antarctica in December, Australia and NZ in March, and Peru in May. Good for the heart and soul.
Steven G. Hall: We had an absolutely fantastic trip to the Cotswolds with LU alums this past spring. Looking forward to touring Ireland next spring. Hope you all can come too!
Jerome A. Langer, Ph.D.: Most exciting were the births last winter of two baby girls, two months apart, one in Philadelphia, the other in Israel. We spent six weeks with each family following the births. Since then, we’ve all been together on three occasions. Pam and I are also figuring out retirement, being active in the Jewish community, and working with refugees and immigrants.
Joseph Lipari: Once a year, this group of LU grads tries to attend either a Cubs game or a Brewers game and enjoy one another’s company. Left to right: John Stroemer ’72, John Moeller ’71, Joe Lipari ’72, David Arakawa ’72, Ned Sahar ’72.
Kirk A. Michelson: All is well in Minneapolis. Karen and I can’t wait for our first grandchild in November! We visited Appleton last weekend with Richard Zimman ’73 and Rick McLaughlin ’72 to be with Mike DeYoung ’72. The new buildings tour was amazing! We look forward to our 55th reunion next June and hope all alumni will Get Back to Where You Still Belong!
Thomas J. Nathan: Dear friends, What a gift it will be to “reunite.” Status: Our two kids(?) have provided us with three wonderful grandkids who live on the East Coast. We travel; I am still practicing law, doing work for political candidates, and for an organization that services disabled adults. See LU folks a lot and enjoying life: Drinks on Bill, Kev, Foxy, and Greg!!!!
John R. Olander: I did not return to LU after the fourth trimester. Too much Adler Brau, or was it Meister Brau? A.S. in Environmental Technology, B.S. in Environmental Health at UMass, Amherst, career in the field, mostly in the public sector. Married 50 years to a wonderful Iowa girl.
L. Keith Reed: Had a surprise visit from Sig Eps Jerry Kaminski ’71 and Blakely Coats ’70 in early August. After coming through Yellowstone Park, they stopped by for a brief tour of some Three Forks highlights on their way to the Glacier Park area. I don’t think I have seen Blakely since he graduated in 1970.
Stewart L. Ross, Ph.D.: I keep busy living in Ft Myers, FL. I have a volunteer position as a division manager where I oversee 32 adult men’s traveling tennis teams. I am also a captain of an over-70 tennis team where I live in Pelican Preserve, and I play on another traveling tennis team from my gated community. I swim laps for one hour each night.
Charles R. Seraphin: Working on a fourth book of lessons learned in the fast lane to be published in 2026. Thanks to all who have read the first three.
Douglas J. Smith: Retired in 2020. Remain busy, chair of MSGCU credit union. On the board of the new Pontiac Transportation Museum and hosting the Pontiac 100 international birthday party in 2026. Remain active in a number of groups involved in the reawakening of the city of Pontiac. Son Kevin is getting married on 12/5 in Detroit, and Carol and I are celebrating 45 years married.
Archan Jane Sramek: This past spring, I had a fabulous 6-week trip to see friends in Sydney, Tasmania, and Western Australia. It was my first trip back in 11 years. Maybe my last? That trans-Pacific trip is a marathon. Next, we are headed to British Columbia to visit Norma Kilpatrick, ʼ71, to celebrate her birthday with our (first international) Deluxe Magic Show.
Judith Exner Walseth: Living in Vancouver, WA, in summer and Tucson, AZ, in winter. Two grown kids in Portland and one in Seattle. Four teenage granddaughters. Lots of new joints, but staying active. Going to Japan Oct. 2025.
Dr. C. Stratton Warden: Busy 2025! Stepped in front of a car in Jan.; a month in hospital, then rehab; progression of my multiple myeloma; fancy CAR-T chemo the month of June; BM Bx Sept. 2, no abnormal cells; Cure, for now! Our Frenchie, Miss Pearl, passed. Miss Ruby just returned from Frenchie boot camp! Winning: Alive and Upright! Wrote a screenplay: know a producer?
Cynthia White: Dan and I moved from Seattle to Ashland, OR, in March 2025. This is my “Home” place—Todd Pierson and I first visited OSF in 1975, and then Dan Kremer and I lived and worked here from 1985–1997. Home again for retirement! Come visit!! I’ve made a new pianist friend, Lawrentian Kathleen (Dinham) Davis ’64.
Joseph Lipari, 1972
Deb Halberstadt, 1974
CLASS NOTES
George C. Whitely: Since the last reunion, had our 56th annual 500 baseball game with Tom Andrew and John Davis ’72. Also see Mike Rossmeier ’72, Ned (’72), and Raida Sahar, and keep in touch with Al Berger ’72. Lots of travel and concerts (The Who, Rod Stewart, Chicago) and newer groups (Green Day, Smashmouth, and Coldplay—didn’t misbehave on Jumbotron!). Hope to do more next year.
1973
Alumni classes of 1970–1974 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Rev. David L. Danner: I am teaching again this year after having last year off. Since I did not start doctoral studies until after retiring in 2018, what began as a bit of a lark has turned into an unexpected second career. After giving up on having grandchildren, our sons, both in their 40s, surprised us. We welcomed number three in August.
Kingsley Day: Stanley Kingsley Day recently played the Old Man (typecasting?) in Prelude to a Kiss and Doctor Tambouri in Passion and directed Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe and a reimagined version of The Mikado. In spring 2024, his one-act musical Text Me premiered at City Lit Theater, where his new musical Scaramouche will premiere this spring.
Dr. Augustin K. Fosu P’13: I remain at U Ghana, teaching mainly econ Ph.D. courses; as Extraord. Prof, U Pretoria, and Res Assoc, U Oxford; selected Distinguished Fellow, International Core Acad of Sciences and Humanities; completed this year’s service on the UN Committee of Experts on Public Admin (UN-CEPA) and a JHS block (with my wife) for the basic school in my hometown.
Karen Kirhofer Hansen: I finished my ninth and final service trip in June. It was to India. Great place to visit if you stick to the mountains and villages. Otherwise, I am still doing the same things in retirement—taking classes, macramé, Rotary, and attempting to stay fit through a variety of activities. Bob and I continue to explore Utah. Best wishes to all!
Stephen L. Holmgren: Continuing a tradition of hiking trips that started over a decade ago, several alums of the Class of ’73 got together to hike between inns in rural Vermont in midAugust. Rob Lindquist, Dave Rogers, and Dan Wiessner joined host Steve Holmgren in southwest Vermont to walk over 40 miles in four days, enjoying good food, fellowship, and Vermont scenery.
Laura Mueller Just: This past August, I attended a Björklunden mini-seminar with LU ’73 classmates Nancy Freeman Wallace, Margie Allen Carroll, and Nancy Hoppe. Lawrence professors Jerald Podair and
Arnold Shober led an engaging discussion about ranking the U.S. Presidents. No reading assignments, papers, or tests!
Kristen Olson Lahner: Enjoyed the Lawrence Cotswolds Tour in June (led by my sister Kimberly Peterson). Loved being in England so much, we’re headed back for Christmas 2025 in London. Many LU friends visited us in summer and fall, including Debby (’73) and Jeff (’72) Fox, Ann (’74) and Rich Wolter, George and Amy Steed (both ’74), Roy Brayton ’72, and Micky Sullivan. See you at the reunion in June!
Ginger Bevis Littleton: I continue to be busy in Colorado Springs. Volunteering with behavior modification at the local dog shelter, singing alto in a chamber choir, acting as a CASA advocate for children in dependency and neglect cases, and taking dog agility and scentwork classes. And then there are grandchildren. Went to Patagonia in January!
Alice J. Ralph: May 2025 I drove from Ann Arbor to Sault Ste Marie (“The Soo”) to formally accept an organizational award at the annual statewide conference of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network. The award was to the Washtenaw Co. Historic Preservation Program, the only county-wide Historic District jurisdiction in the state. Fruit of decades ...
Constance B. Roop & Peter G. Roop: Peter and Connie launched their latest picture book, Maya Angelou Finds Her Voice, at the Clinton Presidential Library. Noa Denmon, a Caldecott Honor illustrator who illustrated their book, joined the Roops for their five presentations. With over 100 tornadoes in the area, it was a whirlwind Arkansas April tour!
Dr. Joseph A. Rota: After a 10-year engagement, Sue and I married on a Greek Isle cruise last summer. Had a wonderful two-week tour starting in Dublin, traveling to Paris, then Venice, and finally meeting up with eight family members in Rome for the wedding cruise to Athens. Still working full-time and loving it. Looking forward to the multi-class reunion next June!
Rev. Nancy Johnson Russell P’01: My husband Stephen and I continue to enjoy our life in the northwoods of Wisconsin. We love having family and friends visit to share the beauty of the area and outdoor adventures.
We fill our calendar with traveling to see our children and grandchildren, as well as volunteering in our local community. Overseas trips took us to Egypt and Portugal.
Rabbi Myra Soifer: I’m writing this from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where I’m on a twomonth scouting trip, in case I decide to move. Then I go to Puebla for a Spanish seminar that takes place over the Day of the Dead, which should be quite a terrific time. I’m in reasonably good health, still living in Reno, NV.
Steve A. Swets: Diana and I have been enjoying our move to Raleigh-Durham, NC, and being close to our daughter and her family, including two charming young granddaughters ages 3 and 5—less snow than Boston and cooler temperatures than our time in Florida.
1974
Alumni classes of 1970–1974 will be gathering on campus during Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Deborah Busch: I am still living outside of Monterey, CA, playing oboe in orchestras with husband Peter. We are managers of our professional music group, Ensemble Monterey (check out the website). We’ve also been traveling a lot with upcoming trips to Maui in October and a Mediterranean cruise in Aug. 2026 for the total eclipse off the coast of Spain.
Patrick M. Cunningham: I’m still practicing acupuncture and herbal medicine in the Boston area. I specialize in orthopedics and concussion recovery. I am also studying Sacred Anatomy Energy Medicine, which is quite a rigorous training that will go on for another couple of years. It involves the anatomy and treatment of the Human Energy System.
Carol Stoneman Dibble: Very happy to still be traveling! Adriatic cruise this spring: Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Corfu, Malta, plus France. Colorado in May with Gail Sonnenmann, Ann Wolter, Cathy Chicos, Beth Sullivan, and Pam Miles. Chairlift ride at A-Basin and snow at Loveland Pass. Swam in Lake Michigan when the water temp was 64.9 degrees—yes, I’m still crazy.
Judy Frater: In October 2024, I published a book, Artisans by Design, with Schiffer
Joseph Rota, 1973
Steve Holmgren, 1973
Publishing. I have done book tours in November 2024 and March 2025. In November 2025, I have another book tour that includes a talk at The Book Store on College Ave. in Appleton on November 8. I’m also leading an artisan tour to India from December 27, 2025, to January 10, 2026. You can contact udyf@textileslive.com for details.
Deb Halberstadt: My husband, Jon Hainer ’74, and I lost our home in the Eaton Fire. We are currently living in the Caltech area of Pasadena. We are fine; our insurance was good—though we have not recovered all of our money from insurance.
Karen D. Hettinger: My husband and I visited my brothers in Montana this summer, where we enjoyed the wedding of my nephew and his bride. We also spent time in Bozeman and in Missoula, MT. Marilyn Broome Matelski ’73 and her husband Bill drove up from Colorado to visit, and it was wonderful to get caught up again. We hadn’t seen each other since 2018!
Amy Hoffmann Jarvis: We celebrated the arrival of our first grandchild last November. My daughter and her husband have a beautiful and brilliant (of course!) baby girl. Several trips to the Boston area to visit them, OLLI (Osher) classes, and house projects have kept me busy.
Ann Carpenter Kay: I create initiatives for the nonprofit Rock ‘n’ Read Project, including the recently published A Song A Day: Brain Prep for Pre-Readers, a curriculum that uses singing and basic music skills to develop young brains for reading.
Gerald C. Metscher: Not having submitted recently, I’ll jump to the important stuff: married to Micki for 44 years, three children, four grandkids, and retired for seven years after 40 years as a pharmacist. We are now spending our retirement savings traveling widely, following the compass north to Iceland, south to Chilean Patagonia, east to Romania, and west to Hawaii. Great!
Mary Niebling: I enjoyed a mini LU reunion in South Hero, VT, this summer. From left to right: Ann Niebling Laughlin ’71, Patty Stroebel Taffel ’71, Roy Brayton ’72, Mary Niebling ’74, James Taffel ’72.
Hope Davis Preston: It’s been a quiet summer for Norm and me. I herniated a disk in my back in June, which slowed me down considerably. We did manage a trip to Maine with my siblings and our children. That allowed us to visit the five Dambo trolls that are at a Maine botanical garden. A troll is being built in Waukesha. They are wonderful, and you should visit one.
Thomas J. Stewart III: Lori and I spent our vacation in Hayesville, NC, with our middle daughter, youngest grandson, and both dogs. Andy loves the mountains but not the roads. Eleven years into retirement and enjoying it, although I miss the challenges and being able to drive through KSC when I want. Back to the gym three days a week and in relatively good shape. Health is good!
Kathy Daugherty Wawer: Last year, I (metaphorically) shoveled out my Chicago area house of 40 years and moved to Charlotte, NC. I’m now near one of my daughters and my grandson. My house is newly renovated and has no pressing problems. Between being near family and having an updated house, I swear I’m in paradise!
1976
The Class of 1976 will celebrate its 50th Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Clyde Cassel: Clyde Cassel and Anthony Newell ’76 are making more memories together since our meeting as freshmen at Lawrence over 50 years ago! Meeting in Las Vegas for the Chicago Bears vs the Las Vegas Raiders football game!!
Randall B. Colton: A Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra violinist and board member, I also play for many gigs and Irish music sessions. My partner Barbara and I celebrate our 25th year together! We enjoy traveling, domestic and international. I continue pursuits—paddling, pedaling, swimming, tai chi, sharing children’s literature, and now grandparenting!
John R. Davis: Nothing very exciting to share, and I’m guessing pretty similar to all of us. Still married (to Beth), our three grown kids are doing well, we have three grandsons and one granddaughter, traveling more, and I’m still personal training. More details at our 50th.
Dr. Robert J. Hanisch: I finally retired from federal service (National Institute of Standards and Technology) in April. Advanced my plans a bit, but we were offered a cash incentive to go, and I am so glad to be out! Eva and I spent most of the summer at our second home in Spain, near Vigo. Back in the D.C. area until next spring.
Dr. David W. Hines, Jr. & Nancy Gazzola Hines: We have three wonderful children, no grandchildren, and lots of travel. David works 1/4 time and gives some lectures at Björklunden. Nancy volunteers in several capacities in our community.
Mary Crain Juliano: Last spring, I fulfilled my lifelong dream of visiting London. It was wonderful to see so many places I’ve read about and seen on the screen! While there, I had the privilege of running the London Marathon!
Rev. Thomas A. Lambrecht: I have recently retired from full-time work and am now working part-time for the new denomination called the Global Methodist Church. I serve as the General Conference secretary, helping to plan and carry out our next General Conference, at which representatives of the church from all over the world will meet in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2026.
Margi Briggs Lofton: Michael (Lofton ’76) and I love life in Montpellier, FR. It’s a great point from which to explore the world—this year we cruised from Lisbon to Cape Town and from Oslo to Norway’s North Cape—and it’s been fun to welcome visiting Lawrentians Jim Fleming ’74, Mark Berry ’77, Ed Langer ’76, Paula Justich ’76, Jeff Middleton ’76 and Martha Schmidt ’79. See you soon?
Susan L. Medak P’11: Right now, I’m hiking in the Czech Republic with Sue Cook and Bill Eggbeer ’76. I’m having a great semiretirement, working as an interim CEO for cultural institutions (most recently with SF Jazz), team teaching at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and doing some coaching. My husband and I love to travel, entertain, and visit our son in Las Vegas.
Earl J. Patterson: Life is very good in southern Idaho! I have almost completed a full recovery from a badly fractured left femur suffered in July
Mary Niebling, 1974
Deb Halberstadt, 1974
Clyde Cassel, 1976
CLASS NOTES
of 2022. Dumb mistakes have consequences. I work in commercial agriculture and enjoy staying in touch with John Davis, Joe Troy, and Paul Yankee. With the leg much better, I am able to golf frequently with my wife, Eileen.
Susan Reeves: I am president of the board of directors of The Beacon, a nonprofit providing essential and next-step services to homeless people in Houston. Brett was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal church in June and is teaching at Episcopal High School. He will be ordained a priest early next year.
Dr. Diane Macutha Savage: Retired now, so I have been traveling a lot, why not? On a relevant note, during a recent UK trip husband and I stayed in the Kensington area, scene of the Arden Hotel-London Study Program of 1973. Fun, fond memories. And, current higher education pursuits—a book club, as well as improving skills in playing bridge (don’t scoff, it’s a complicated game!), and chess (with husband as a kind patient mentor).
Kim D. Sherman: “We can still do stuff!” This past year, my opera Bluestem was given two public readings in the Twin Cities. And my piece Invocation was recorded by Allison Charney on her new album ALIKE (track 6!). I am running a summer camp for young composers called Junior Composers Institute. And still have time to travel, scuba dive, and wog (walk + jog).
Julie Phelps Stier: Ken and I have lived in Franklin, WI, for 10 years. We have four grandchildren—ages 1.5–11—and we live just 40 minutes from my parents, who are still in their home near Burlington, WI. We are so blessed. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the 50th reunion next summer! Has it really been 50 years!?!?!
James R. Suhrcke: Enjoying retirement immensely. Completed my goal of visiting all 50 states in 2025. Still working on seeing all the presidential libraries; about halfway there, might see Ronnie Rayguns and Tricky Dicky in CA this fall 2025. Plenty of travel but not much hair anymore. Happy to have survived into my 70s. My modest life expectancy goal is only 75.
Dr. James J. Thorpe: I am enjoying a very active retirement (10 years and counting). Hunting, golfing, traveling, the gym, and reading fill most of my time. Never a month passes without meeting a fellow Lawrence alum for lunch, golf, poker, sheepshead, etc. Looking forward to both October’s Football and Greek Homecoming and June’s 50th Reunion!
1978
Scott A. Bohon: I retired after 35 years as a psychiatrist, and I don’t miss it at all! I’m busy with photography, cycling, reading, and small limnology stuff here in the Madison area as well. I spend most of my time with my wonderful
wife, Kari, as she battles a glioblastoma (brain cancer), but she is amazing. Would love to hear from classmates!
Mark D. Breseman P’14: I’m still happily working full-time for Lawrence, doing my part to support the Onward Lawrentians campaign. My wife Jane is doing a bit of consulting and working on her book. Our son Adam ’14 and his wife Mela are the proud parents of our first grandchild. Our daughter Abby has a midcentury modern resale shop in New Glarus, WI. Feel free to stop by!
Anne Hathaway Bush: Wes and I are retired and doing a lot of traveling. Next year, we will have all seven continents. I am keeping active with walking. Life is good.
Kurt D. Eckhardt: Retired as Newtown High School Band Director in 2021, and I am still a very active trombonist in southwest Connecticut and New York. My two daughters both work in public schools. Brianna, 36, in Brooklyn, NY, is a speech therapist, and Hannah, 32, teaches high school English in Charleston, SC.
Janet Aronberg Hersh: Stuart and I are splitting our time between southern Wisconsin and southwest Florida these days but also traveling and volunteering. While much of our travels are to visit our grown children and grandson (Indianapolis, Brooklyn, and Maplewood, NJ), we have been fortunate to spend time in the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, and the northwest US this past year.
Charles E. Kron: I continue working as the machinist for Arch-NYC.com, an artistic custom fabrication company. Sadly, we moved to Claverack, NY (120 mi. from the Bronx). We finished the memorial for Flight 93, Shanksville, PA. I made many parts for that installation. I also still make bagpipes, but am semi-retired there.
Beth Trompeter Major: Since retiring in 2016 from 35 years as a classical singer and voice teacher (Univ of MI and Adrian College), my goal to become the best cross-country skier I could be led to my founding and running a nonprofit
youth cross country ski outreach program serving 800 students in northern Michigan. Nordic Rocks brings third–fifth graders 4x per winter to learn fundamentals of cross-country skiing FOR FREE!
Julie A. Stoneman: Paul and I enjoyed hiking coastal trails on both sides of the Atlantic this year: Newfoundland and Cornwall, England. The latter included a side trip to visit the village my grandfather emigrated from in 1909; he landed in Michigan’s U.P. to work in the copper mines. And having great fun zooming with my first year LU pals—51 years and counting!
1980
Simon C. Chu, Ph.D.: Retired in 2012. Did a lot of traveling around the world. Enjoyed being a first-time grandparent last year and a full-time babysitter. Active in the local community as a substitute teacher, commissioner of the city council, airport volunteer, CERT (community emergency response team) member, and a recent licensed ham radio operator for the county CERT team.
Rick Davis: Still deaning and professing at George Mason University. Contributed an article on the 100th Meridian Project (my multimedia performance piece on the western water crisis) to the new book Theatre About Science: Communicating and Performing. Todd Mahr, ’79, helped organize our 50th reunion for La Crosse Central HS, so I decided to go. Glad I did.
Jeffrey M. Griese: Jayne (Merwin Griese ’80) and I continue to love the retired life! We just finished a 10-week camping road trip to visit 10 National Parks, covering 9,200 miles with 115 miles of hiking! This weekend, we head to Björklunden for a seminar—Jayne’s first time and my second. It is a Door County Hiking Seminar—sounds perfect!
Nadine T. Karplus: Enjoying my retirement from directing nonprofits. Hiking, dancing, and living the dream in a tiny town in the mountains above Boulder, CO. Met my new love, August Geise, ’79, of Silverthorne, CO, at the 45th LU Reunion last year.
Margi Briggs-Lofton, Michael Lofton, 1976
Beth Trompeter Major, 1978
James I. Scheuer: In retirement, I continue to be involved in music education. I work for the Wisconsin School Music Association, adjudicate, judging festivals and auditions, and I am on the WSMA board of directors as a state arts advocate. I also self-publish compositions and arrangements for bands and various ensembles, specializing in music for nonstandard groups of instruments.
Dr. Jill Dianne Swenson: My new book, The Land of Everlasting Sky: A Memoir of Loss and Legacy on Lake of the Woods, will be released in June 2026 from She Writes Press (distributed by Simon & Schuster).
Susan Choate Wolf: I have been hosting community events centering art practice and conversation. Locations include my front porch, an industrial loading dock, and a storefront gallery. My job update includes sending emails and letters to arts faculty and curators at LU, requesting exhibition space and dates for a residency, including art practice and conversations.
Jon Zilber: My retirement “hobby” is editing and ghostwriting books on topics ranging from healthcare to innovation in developing economies. Latest: a guide to successfully deploying AI projects for a UC Berkeley professor, called But What If I’m Not Elon Musk?! Music projects are at https:// soundcloud.com/jon-zilber/sets/mister-owl-andother-delights
1981
Alexander R. Holliday III: Happy to report my wife, Kat, and I are both still living and working in Boston. I am managing a portfolio of commercial real estate assets for a European bank, while Kat works as a lawyer for Harvard University’s Office of Technology. Our daughter is a teenager who excels in sports, music, and academics with an ease I never had. I have used my liberal arts education to help chair cultural activities at the Union Club in Boston with a speaker series of first-rate authors, journalists, and historians, including NYT writers and the head of the Ukrainian Institute, as well as the occasional cocktail party.
1982
Jim Cheng: In September, Bruce and Lizz Loder ’82 hosted an event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The group included Phil Young ’81 and his wife, Cherri. I was happy to represent my Louisville hometown. The next day, I took the Loders to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where they showed their Brewers fandom.
Mark A. Kohls: Nancy and I both retired full-time this summer, and we embarked on a six-week trip to Ireland to visit the homeland of Nancy’s great-grandparents. It has been wonderful so far. I spent my Fourth of July at Scout camp teaching shooting sports and certifying youth and adult leaders in marksmanship.
Elizabeth Shoemaker Kortenhof P’20 ’18:
After 35 years of teaching, I retired in June 2025! Mike followed suit, retiring September 30. We’re excited to begin our next adventure!
Kimberly Peterson Krueger: Retirement rules! Our Jack Russell, Dexter, keeps us hoppin’. Son Ben will wed the lovely Nasitta Keita next summer; daughter Anna loves living in Chicago. Great to see my pals Cindy Carlson Dobberke ’82, Barbara Kloehn Gresik ’82, Carol Johnson Polivka ’83, and Andrea Schauer ’83 for our summer bash. Fight the power and cheers to all!
Elizabeth Lutton Luscher: Lots of small trips this year: Tombstone, AZ; Big Bear, CA; Catalina Island; Avila Beach, CA; and Nashville, TN! We also dog-sat for our niece, cat-sat for friends, and threw ourselves a Medicarethemed 65th birthday party since COVID cancelled the 60th plans. Pool parties, protests, and fun with friends round out our time. Retirement is great!
Andrew L. Marshall: I was selected as a Minnesota Attorney of the Year for my pro bono representation of the residents of the Town of Trade Lake, WI, in their successful efforts to prevent the establishment of a large industrial hog farm, or CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation), in this rural town of about 800 residents.
Michael E. Mol: The start and end of summer had two big events in our lives. Joyce retired from teaching at the end of May, and we were blessed with our third grandchild at the end of August! I’m still working part-time at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville, IL. If you live near one of our eight permanent sites or find a mobile pack in your area, I highly recommend it!
Janet L. Place: I am back living outside of Chapel Hill, NC. I was forced into retirement due to federal budget cuts, but I can live with it. I am now a full-time glass artist, with pieces in local galleries. I also still play some music, though glass, fingers, and stringed instruments don’t always go together. Somehow, I find myself busier than ever.
Janet Steiner Stevens P’13 ’10: We have had a good year with some highlights: In January, our granddaughter Georgia was born, bringing the total grandchild count to four. We enjoy attending their activities and watching them grow up way too quickly. In June, we took part in a lovely LU alumni tour of the gardens of the Cotswolds, led by Kimberly Olson Peterson ’82. A fun time!
Pamela R. Weiner Malkin: Feeling excited to enter a new chapter in life: grandparenthood! My eldest, Jordyn, blessed us with a beautiful, big baby boy in November 2024, and I am beyond proud to claim a new moniker: Mimi! Hubby and I moved to Arizona in 2018, and we both continue to work in the medical field. Planning many trips to Chicago to visit family. Life is Great!
1983
Paul McComas: I met Celeste Reyes ’22 at a 2024 Lawrence in Chicago event where President Carter spoke. Now we’re working on a movie together! She is animating my in-progress feature film Unplugged, adapted from my prize-winning 2002 novel. https://linktr.ee/unpluggedfilm
1984
Dr. Thomas D. Brucker: I am still enjoying my career—actually having fun—as a pathologist, currently in my 11th year at VA Medical Center in Milwaukee (31 years in practice altogether). We occasionally get to Boulder, CO, to visit our daughter (our other daughter is currently in Brookfield) and Utah/Idaho to visit my wife’s family; trips that we thoroughly enjoy.
Patrick J. Grogan: Greetings from Birmingham, Alabama. Enjoying the air conditioning in Hot Bama. Still working in aerospace as a technical rep working with SpaceX, NASA, and geological companies. I am still flying WWII planes and fostering rescue pups. My wife and I recently visited Paris and saw places I had toured in 1982 during my London Center Days. Go Vikes.
Rebecca A. Latorraca P’22: This year, I was laid off along with USAID colleagues from over 130 countries. Our work helped build local systems in partner countries so they could lead their own development in health, agriculture, business development, education, civic engagement, and more, while using soft power to achieve US foreign policy goals and counter rival influences.
Robert H. Ott: In January, I won my fourth ASCAP PLUS+ Award 2024 for Liturgical Music. In February, my composition In Quiet Handbell Choir from a set of seven Sound Offering, Vol. III. In August, Jose won Best in Show at the Sonoma County fair for a Lion Fish sculpture. www.roberthowardmusic.com
Elizabeth Sheridan Rammer: Since retiring, John and I have enjoyed more Lutsen, MN, cabin time and international travel. This spring we toured Sweden and Norway, next is N. Italy. Just enjoyed an ’84 gals weekend with Carrie Morris Bowman, Michelle Bernardi Landis, Kate Moore Lauderbaugh, Jill Manuel, Susan LichtySchmid, Susie Turner, and Hallie McNamara Worsey ’83. My heart is full!
1985
Tammie L. Follett: Enjoy catching up with my Lawrence friends throughout the year! After a long career at Thomson Reuters, I accepted a new position in January 2024 as the director of advancement at lawyers Without Borders,
CLASS NOTES
a global NGO. www.lawyerswithoutborders. org. I love to travel and look forward to my trip to Uruguay and Brazil this November. Enjoying life!
1986
The Class of 1986 will celebrate its 40th Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Karen Pleasant Gonzalez: Widow as of 2023. Moved to Phoenix, AZ.
Alison F. Guthrie: I completed service as an LU Alumni Board member this year. I continue to reflect on that experience and all I’ve learned while also looking forward to the 40th-year reunion for my class in 2026.
John K. Hellermann: Greetings, fellow Lawrentians! Changes to my life in Portland in the past year include the passing of my 17-year-old dog Béla, buying a house with Caroline and moving in together, discovering the novels of Charles Baxter, progress on the organ pedal board, and starting a new research project on canine-human interaction at Guide Dogs for the Blind. Peace.
Colleen M. McVeigh-Buist P’23: Greetings from Chicago! Here I am, 60 years old, still fighting for many of the same issues. Plus climate change … Left the Field Museum Action Center in 2022 and took a position at a local private high school as one of three sustainability instructors. I also work with community groups on urban habitat restoration and climate change mitigation.
Elizabeth Schaupp Sidles: I moved to Jackson Hole, WY, and co-founded the Invstr Foundation. My son, Charlie, lives in London, and my daughter, Addie, lives in NYC, so I have great cities to visit on a regular basis. Sending light and love to all
Frederick R. Slater: In September, my rock band toured for two weeks in Spain, that being our eighth European tour in as many years. I am also studying at the Seattle Jazz Academy. I must be trying to make up for not attending the Conservatory when I was at Lawrence! I still teach rock and ski mountaineering and enjoy bicycling both in town and on trails.
1988
Eric S. Langlois: Every chance I get, I head out to the track to race my M2 until I have no tires left. When I don’t have funds for the racetrack, I kick back with my beautiful Japanese wife and my mischievous Nanday conure (and perhaps an adult beverage). On the more mundane side, I teach ESL out in Southern California. Life is still an adventure. ;)
1990
Dr. Jeanette Miller Everson: Jeanie enjoys the challenges as a family doctor serving refugees primarily from Burma/Myanmar. Our youngest is in college, so most of the time we are emptynesters. Hoping to get back into some travel to see our middle child, Esther, working in (Morlaix, France). Still very thankful to live near Carole (Wolsey) ’90 and Todd Pankow ’89 in South S. Paul.
Kristin M. Howard: Enjoying my 25th year with Madison schools and leaning in to a new position as instructional coach at Capital High. Also wrapped up a grad program at UWWhitewater in school counseling—holding on to the heart of the Lawrence Honor Code when surrounded by AI is a thing for sure! Looking forward to the Mammoth Hike Challenge again in October.
Amy Hirt Jacobs P’25: Amy is currently the director of gifted academics at Science & Arts Academy, an independent school for gifted learners located in Des Plaines, IL. She is just one small dissertation away from being Dr. Jacobs. Amy’s daughter, Emma Jacobs ’25, graduated from Lawrence this spring and is attending the University of Toronto.
Ellen Huber Lyons: I just retired from my position as the Cultural and Natural Resources Program Manager at two National Parks in Alaska: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve and Yukon Charley Rivers National Preserve. My daughter is a freshman at U of Montana in Missoula, studying biology. John and I intend to do a great deal of hiking and Nordic skiing!
Kelly Goode Tooker: For the first time in 35 years, I attended a Lawrence Reunion. It was a wonderful experience and a chance for me to share Lawrence with my husband. We did all the things—enjoyed the Alumni College and visit to Björklunden. We also got a tour of the Center for Academic Success with Monita Mohammadian Gray ’92. It was nice to catch up with many classmates.
1992
Gerald W. Gabbard ’92: Since August 1, 2024, Gerald has been serving as deputy director for benefits policy and integrity with the state of Washington’s employment security department in Olympia. Gerald is still active with playing the piano and composing, and improvising, music, mainly solo piano pieces.
Cheryl Timm Keopanya P’29: We are excited to be visiting campus again, as parents now (new Lawrentian ’29!), as well as alumni! We are also proud parents of a senior at Purdue University and a high school freshman.
Jay W. Roberts: I have accepted an offer to serve as the head of school at The Athenian School in the Bay Area of California beginning in July 2026. After 30 years in higher education, I am looking forward to a different role leading a progressive, experiential independent school. Marcie and I would love to welcome visitors once we are settled!
Lynnette L. Wood: Since my three years in the Peace Corps, I’ve been a fiber optic tech support engineer at Nokia for 28 years, with a certificate in opto-electronics from UMass. I was a four-year ambassador for Liv Bicycles, became a certified bike mechanic and mountain bike skills coach, and in my free time, I fix bikes for underprivileged folks in my community.
1993
Ryan G. Stone: During a sabbatical year off from my current job teaching and coaching at Milton Academy, I finished my first book. The true story and photo journey of my year coaching the Chinese National Women’s ice hockey team 20 years ago. The book Justa Maybe Hockey: A Chinese Coaching Journey is available online at BarnesandNoble.com
1994
Jiro Kume: Hello, I was an exchange student from Japan and lived in Ormsby Hall in 1990–1991. Now I live in Tokyo, Japan, working for an ad agency. If you have inquiries when in Tokyo, please feel free to let me know.
Jennifer O’Connor: Jenee has received the Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce “Ladies Who Lead” award in the nonprofit category for her 20 years of working at Crossroads Presbyterian Church. She continues to serve as one of the worship ministry directors alongside her husband, Todd, leading rehearsals, performances, and worship services for all ages.
Pawel T. Pomianowski, M.D.: My three boys are growing up, one in college and the other two in high school. My wife works as teaching faculty at a medical school, and I started the Department of Adult Genetics and Genomics at UMMC, where I am the director of adult genetics and genomics. I teach medical students and residents and supervise adult clinical genetics clinics.
Shad R. Wenzlaff: Since the last reunion, I have shifted my life to focus on my piano studio. I launched a local youth-audienceoriented series at a recital space I manage, hoping to apply for grants in the coming year. Personally, I’ve enjoyed taking up the cello, en plein air watercolor, and oil painting in my studio, and I continue to enjoy traveling.
1995
Alumni classes of 1995, 1996, and 1997 will celebrate their 30th Cluster Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Brenda Szitta Halminiak: After taking a year and nine months away from work to focus on myself and home remodeling projects, I’m excited to say I’m back to work part-time in environmental consulting! I’m working for Sand County Environmental in their Rhinelander, WI, office, which just so happens to be located two doors down from where I live. The commute is killer!!
Dr. Dawn M. Magnusson: We are loving life in Colorado and get out to explore the mountains every chance we get! I now serve as the director of student affairs for the University of Colorado Physical Therapy Program, as well as the director of global health programs.
Carey Cook Petersen: Still living in Lincolnwood, IL, with my husband Greg and my 16-year-old twins Henry and Nellie. Greg continues to work hard to provide services for adults with disabilities. I gave up my personal chef business when my kids grew teeth and decided they wanted to be fed Every Single Day. I spend my free time quilting.
1996
Alumni classes of 1995, 1996, and 1997 will celebrate their 30th Cluster Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Angela J. Digmann: After 10 years in Colorado, Patrick and I have moved back to the Midwest, this time to St. Paul. I’m still working at Intermountain Health as director of talent and career development; it’s great to have a fully remote role! We miss the mountains and Colorado friends and are happy to be closer to family, friends, and lakes here!
Aaron D. Lindberg: Life in LA is challenging; I can’t seem to escape chaos in either my professional or personal life. Nonetheless, I persevere and resist; friends and family are my constant comfort. I’m looking forward to co-chairing our 30th Cluster Reunion (’95, ’96 and ’97); I hope to see you in June 2026!
Dina Marinberg Lipowich: After decades in the acute hospital sector, I have transitioned into a new chapter as director of health services at a vibrant senior living community in Elmhurst, IL, specializing in assisted living and memory care. Happily married to Alex Lipowich with two wonderful children, Alexander (23) and Rachel (16). Wishing everyone a wonderful year!
Dr. Amy K. Mechowski: Having lived in London for the last 27 years (on and off since 1993), I continue to work as an art historian in curating and teaching (will curate and teach for food)—with the V&A, Sotheby’s Institute of Art,
and The National Gallery. I have a 2-year-old, but if you’re in town, please look me up—I love to connect with fellow Lawrentians!
Robyn Watkins Morris: My husband and I have recently relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado, after 12 years near Sequoia National Park in California. I am still an archaeologist for the Forest Service and am enjoying researching and protecting historic places in our national forests. I have one college graduate and one sophomore in college.
Casey T. Peterson: I’m still living in Fargo, ND, designing and delivering adult education for the Northern Crops Institute. The opportunity came up last year to serve on the LUAA board, and it’s been great to reconnect on campus. The spaces at Lawrence may keep changing, but the culture is still the same! If you get asked to serve, don’t think twice. Say yes!
Catherine A. Statz: Since leaving Wisconsin Farmers Union in Aug. 2022 to join my spouse Tom as he taught in Poland and Morocco, I’ve been doing remote work in co-op business education and outreach. We’ve been back in Wisconsin (Oshkosh) since January 2024; I’ve been on the road a lot, attending great events related to the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives 2025.
Jessica Wherry: I was selected as a Woman Veteran Trailblazer for the 2025 Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans (CWV) Trailblazers “Women Veterans Forging a Path” initiative. I will receive the award at the Library of Congress in September 2025.
1997
Alumni classes of 1995, 1996, and 1997 will celebrate their 30th Cluster Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Renate Marie Fiora: Renate Fiora is in her 14th year as a physics teacher at Orono High School in Minnesota, where she is also a member of the Instructional Leadership Team. This November, she gets married to Tom Hyer in Burnsville, MN.
Dr. Catherine M. Lephoto P’29: It was fantastic to be back in Appleton from 12–18 August 2025. Following my last visit to the Lawrence campus for our 10th reunion 18 years ago, it was a moment of great pride to return with my son, Tshepo (17), who has enrolled as a freshman at Lawrence. He is also a member of the LU men’s soccer team. Here is to the next generation!
Heather Beckett Oakes: Had the lucky chance to meet up with Maya Gutierrez ’97 when my middle son played with the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland at Carnegie Hall! Oldest son started university in computer science at
Trinity College Dublin. Youngest making films and friends in an Irish language immersion secondary school. My mum has joined us in Ireland, and Dad is now in Portugal.
Catherine S. Walby: Hello, everyone! I continue to teach at the Lawrence Conservatory and Community Music School. Nothing new to report. Updates from campus: the geese are more aggressive, there are many more local coffee shops, and we have a much wider variety of restaurants around town. Come to the reunion and experience all of the above!
1998
Rachel Strom Bass: After a decade in secondary education, I followed the pandemic trend of going back to school, where I earned my master’s degree in counseling. I am now an outpatient mental health therapist for ThedaCare Behavioral Health in Menasha, WI.
Rachel R. Beck: I just relocated from Oakland to San Francisco to make my commute more manageable. My heart is still in Oakland, but I walked through Golden Gate Park on my way home today and can’t deny that SF is gorgeous. I teach exercise and discussion classes at a senior center and, as a hospice volunteer, check in with caregivers who have had a recent loss.
Louis Clark IV: An early college memory of dating Alissa in ’97 was her introducing me to email. I also learned that her laugh was all I needed in life to be happy. The life we’ve built has gone too fast as Addison is a freshman at UW-River Falls, Camryn graduates high school in December, and Noah celebrates losing his teeth as I celebrate keeping my hair.
Kerry A. Kruk-Borisov: I got married and have been working full-time and as a full-time student in a doctoral program (Lesley University, Expressive Therapies) since 2022. I published my pilot study in March 2025. After 15 years at the city of Virginia Beach, I went into private practice and recently opened my own, Rewired Canvas Psychotherapy. Remus and I live in Norfolk, VA.
Mary McNamara Bernsten: Mary McNamara ’98 and Ben Bernsten ’97 recently turned 50 and are celebrating 25 years of marital bliss, deeply rooted in Lawrence love! Ben enjoys his role as CEO of Goodwill of Northern Illinois, and I’m enjoying my role as ED at the Arts Council. One college grad and three to go, if all goes well, and we’ll be working till the end of time!
Joshua E. Sawyer: This year, I celebrated my 26th year in the video game industry and 20th year at the company where I am the studio design director, Obsidian Entertainment. I still live in Orange County, California, with my 18-year-old cat, Sesame.
CLASS NOTES
2000
Melanie L. Brooks: It’s been a good year for my family and for music. My son now plays tenor sax in his middle school jazz band, and I just finished performing on flute, clarinet, and saxophones in the orchestra for a world premiere sci-fi opera with the White Snake Projects. The garden this summer was lovely, and we all got to spend great times outdoors.
Dr. Thomas J. Ow & Bethany Ow: TJ started a new job as a head and neck surgeon at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Lucette, our oldest of three daughters, just started college studying musical theater at Marymount Manhattan. Bethany continues her work as an immigration attorney at the nonprofit Immigrant-ARC.
Andrew R. Peterson & Vanessa Curtis: Andy and Vanessa live in Iowa City, IA, with their goofy dog. They ride their bikes a lot and take many adventures. They both work at the University of Iowa. Vanessa is a pediatric endocrinologist, and Andy is a sports medicine physician.
Benjamin C. Roney: Ben is heading into his third year/season as the technical director at the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN, where he also still freelances in scenic and lighting design. He also has a sophomore and a senior in one of the local high schools, and both are extremely talented and accomplished multiinstrument musicians.
Titus S. Seilheimer: I continue to be a fisheries specialist with Wisconsin Sea Grant, based in Manitowoc, WI. The Great Lakes are doing well, although there will always be challenges (hello job security). Amy Fettes ’99 and I are now parents of busy teens. We’re exhausted like everyone else, but trying our best.
Stephanie J. Webster-Cheng: Living my best life in Columbus, OH, with my high school senior son and middle school daughter. My eldest is graduating from Boston University this year! I split my time teaching piano (home studio + community college), Music History, and Intro to College courses. Finding humor and joy in life’s daily adventures!
Jessica J. Fogle Wolfbird: Jessica recently had music featured in a Cheetos commercial and licensed by YouTube/Google. She is touring the U.S. with a songwriting challenge called 50 Songs in 50 States and just married her longtime partner, Bryan. They live in SW Michigan with their dog Scout. Follow on IG @jessica_wolfbird or at jessicaintherainbow.com
2001
The Class of 2001 will celebrate its 25th Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Lyndsay Sund: Life is busy here in northern IL! I have a sixth and third grader now and am enjoying cheering them on in their sports and activities. In my limited free time, I’m involved at school and have been training for the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon in October. I hope to see many of you on campus for our 25th reunion in June!
Samantha Woodford: Greg (Woody) and I still live in Minnetonka, MN. Our two children are sharing one year of high school together before our eldest heads off on her own college adventure. Greg enjoys his work as an attorney for US Bank, and I am celebrating my sixth year working with our school district. Hoping to catch up with folks at our 25th reunion in June!
2002
Sally Schonfeld Goodman: I’m grateful to live and work on the shores of Gichigami (Lake Superior) in Duluth, MN. As a teacher at a K–4 Forest School, I get to learn with and from the land, water, forests, rocks, plants, and the original liberal arts learners, CHILDREN! Matt and my children are growing quickly, too, and keep us inspired.
Cameron D. Kramlich: I married Carrie the summer of 2012. Many years of Hawaii did not work, so we chose a known egg donor in early 2020, surrogacy in 2022 ... with a 2024 match and three embryos left. Our happy, healthy daughter Zuna was born in October 2024. Hope to go on a sib journey. Nil desperandum! Open to sharing our learnings with others on the path.
Beth Achille Lambert: Life is full in the best ways! As chief teaching and learning officer at the Maine DOE, I’m leading work in literacy, numeracy, and innovation. Onstage, I just wrapped Deathtrap and now dive into the comedy The Nerd. Offstage, my husband and I happily cheer on our daughters, 21 and 14.
Daniel M. Leers: On September 13, an exhibition I organized titled Black Photojournalism opened at the Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh. John Bauerlein ’61 was there, too! The show, about Black photographers working from 1945–1985, will run until January 2026 before traveling to the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, TX, in March.
Robin Sampson Wong: After three years at the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the senior leadership team in the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, overseeing investments in mega-scale infrastructure projects, I am headed back to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where I will
work to advance fusion energy. And best of all, I am loving being on the LUAA Board!
Beth A. Zinsli: In July, I moved from the Wriston Art Center to Sampson House to serve as the associate provost for a few years. Come visit my office on the second floor of Sampson, and I’ll fill you in on accreditation, assessment, course approvals, and the never-ending excitement of “other duties as assigned” as an academic admin at LU.
2004
Melissa M. Batog: I’m starting my 20th year teaching ESL. I recently earned my Master’s in Teaching English Learners from ACE in July 2025. I live in Franklin, WI, with my 5-year-old daughter Sophie, who just started kindergarten. We love visiting zoos, museums, and parks. Recent trips include Wisconsin Dells, Florida/ Disney, and a Nickelodeon Resort in Punta Cana.
Sara Bergene Bayram: Hi, everyone! Doing well, and I hope you all are, too! Still in the Washington, D.C., area. Left DOJ in May 2023 for a career break. Figuring out my next steps now. It’s a work in progress. Meanwhile, I’m a SAHM and household manager, and our puppy Harvey is keeping me on my toes!
Bradley J. Behrmann: Bradley received tenure at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX, and is now associate professor of musical theatre.
Christopher M. Chan: Chris’ 2024 book, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers: Critiquing the Columbo Killers, was nominated for the Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards this year. His book The Autistic Sleuth was long-listed for the CWA Dagger Award for Non-Fiction, and his novel She Ruined Our Lives was nominated for the Best Literary Silver Falchion Award.
Jody Hahnke P’28: For the past eight years, I’ve been on the nursing faculty at NWTC in Green Bay, WI. I still live in Appleton, not far from Lawrence, and I also work part-time at Thedacare on the RN float pool team. My husband is a teacher at Appleton West High School, and I have four children, one of whom is currently attending LU!
Allison Lauber de Garza: Allison has been living in Appleton for the past four years and works in the AASD as a Spanish teacher. She and her husband, Genaro, are busy driving their four kids to different schools and activities, including Latin dance classes with Allison’s own dance company, DanzArte, which she started in June 2025!
Akshai Sarin: Exciting things to share; created the “World’s Largest Musical Installation” —Google search this for more info! Three
collaborators on my album Connected got Grammy 2025 nominations. Also nominated for the H&M Global Change Award 2025 for my foundation and social enterprise BlessdBuy’s work in sustainability and social impact.
Karina S. Zeier: I live in Montevideo, Uruguay, and I plan to pursue a master’s degree next year at La Universidad de la República (Montevideo) in Patrimonial Documental: Historia y Gestión (Documentary Heritage: History and Management), after which I hope to assist the National Library of Uruguay with their efforts in the conservation of their national heritage.
2006
Dr. Bonnie E. Alger: I am the first female director of The U.S. Army Chorus. I conducted the Chorus at President Biden’s Armed Forces Farewell and the Armed Forces Chorus at the 2025 9/11 Pentagon Memorial Service, hosted by President Trump. I made conducting debuts at the Kennedy Center with the Army Strings and at Strathmore with the International Pride Orchestra.
Anna Kiel Freiberg: I recently made a major career shift and am now a clinical research coordinator of Multiple Sclerosis clinical trials at the Medical College of Wisconsin. I previously worked for almost 15 years as a psychometrist in both clinical and research capacities and am excited for this new adventure that will allow me more opportunity for advancement.
Jonathan P. Griffith: Last year, I moved to Portland, OR, with my wife, Tara, and we enjoy living in the PNW! I like living in a walkable neighborhood with access to the light rail and great food. We both feel very welcomed by locals and vibe with the art and culture. Feel free to reach out if you are in the area; we’d love to connect and share stories!
Dr. Christopher J. Kliethermes: My wife Katy and I have grown our family to two wonderful kids; Lilly (4) and Teo (1.5). I recently accepted
a position with my new practice as national chair of surgery for pelvic rehabilitation medicine after joining the group a year ago. We focus on pelvic pain, endometriosis, and fibroids.
Lara T. Manzanares: After LU, I lived in Milwaukee, then Chicago, then San Francisco. Along the way, I earned a post-bac and an M.F.A., busked, and wrote songs. In 2016, I returned to New Mexico in a debilitated state and spent my 30s wrangling illness. I also recorded an album, which received some awards. My second album is out Nov 21st! More at laramanzanares.com.
Matthew A. Murphy: Edward and I moved to the Hudson Valley, 60 miles north of New York City, at the end of 2022. We’re loving it. And Blossom, our 14-year-old rescue dog, is spry enough to keep us on our toes. Professionally, I’m starting my fourteenth (!) year at Skadden Arps, currently serving as associate director of the firm’s operations group. I also wrapped a seven-year term on the LUAA Board of Directors this spring, including three years as president.
Kimberly F. Reece: Thank you to the LU community for your support last summer when an airplane destroyed my house and everything in it. We weren’t home, thankfully, and my three cats survived. What a year it has been, but we are doing ok! I am working as a nurse in Portland and raising my 8-year-old daughter, Morgan.
2007
Daniel E. Martin: After 17 years as an LU swim and dive asst coach, I have hung up the stopwatch. Now I have more time to help the LU Rowing Club and serve as treasurer of the National Association of Scientific Materials Managers (NAOSMM), elected 7/23/25 (two-year term).
2008
Mallory J. Giesen: In my financial planning business, I’ve been putting more focus on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and SRI (Socially Responsible Investing) in an effort to try and make a difference in this national climate.
Aleksandra A. Turek: After living here for more than 10 years and being married to a native New Yorker for almost three years, I finally feel like I can call NYC home. Ironically, also a decade after I stopped practicing viola, I made it to Carnegie Hall, where I now work as a SaaA product manager supporting operations at this iconic institution.
Ellen E. Woodsbie: We welcomed our third child, Aoifelyn Woodsbie, in February of 2023. She is now a busy, running-around toddler,
and Abel and Auggie are now teenagers. In 2025, I finally took all of my tests and became a registered architect! Greg continues to collaborate with musicians and dancers on a variety of musical projects.
2010
Cora A. Keene: My son, Adair, was born July 29th, and we are enjoying life as a family of four in San Francisco. I’ll be transitioning to full-time private practice in January and leaving my position with the SF Department of Public Health after seven years working in substance use services.
Lindsay Rachel Schwartz Miiller: I just started year 15 teaching orchestra at Cheney Middle School in West Fargo, ND. I continue to conduct the middle group of the FargoMoorhead Area Youth Symphony and play cello in the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra. Family life is awesome and chaotic with littles. It was so great to be at the reunion this past summer and see everyone there!
April J. Verser: I completed my doctoral studies, earning a D.M.A. in bassoon performance from Boston University in May 2024. I began work as the contrabassoonist with the Cape Symphony (in Cape Cod, MA) in February 2025. I also continue in my work as the camp director and director of admissions for MathPath (www.mathpath.org) and freelance in the Boston area.
2012
Dr. Cameron D. Blegen: Maggie and I will be off to Berlin this fall for the Berlin Marathon, and then I will be tackling the Door County Fall 50 solo in October. Our boys, Warren (5) and Jay (4), completed their first 1-mile race, and it is so fun to see them grow and develop—future LU runners?!
Marla J. Brown: Marla got married this past July to her fellow plant nerd and outdoor enthusiast, Brett. She and her husband are living in St. Paul with their two cats, Peachy and Bayou, enjoying their native pollinator garden. Both love their jobs in landscape architecture, focusing on ecological restoration and working to protect and restore native landscapes.
Katelin Richter Davis: Katelin launched her own business, KRD, LLC, a consultancy helping mission-driven leaders translate their vision into action (www.krd.llc). David was appointed to the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Council for Innovations.
Andrew F. LaCombe: Andrew is now the news director at WLUK-TV in Green Bay. He previously was news director at WLUC-TV in his hometown of Marquette, MI.
Melissa Batog, 2004
CLASS NOTES
Rana Dohene Marks: My husband and I welcomed our second son over the summer. We now have two boys, two dogs, and a cat in our Seattle household. I continue to work on the sustainability team at Amazon and will be on maternity leave through the end of the year.
Neel Patel & Anna Jankowski: We are happily living in Portland, OR, a city we love. In the past year, we bought a house! We’re enjoying getting to know our new neighborhood and the adventures of owning a home. Neel is still working as a diagnostic radiologist, and Anna is a women’s health nurse. We love all the natural beauty the PNW has to offer!
Adam E. Readinger: My wife, Nicole and I welcomed our first child, Remy, in May!
Kristina M. Ruff: Currently in my fourth year of residency in Delaware, dual specializing in emergency and family medicine. My husband and I have three puppers and are excited to welcome our first human baby this coming January.
Allison M. Shinnick: Dave (Keep ’11) and I are thrilled to announce the arrival of our daughter, Ila Elizabeth Keep, born on September 11, 2025! She has long fingers and is already showing an affinity for Brahms.
Lauren S. Thompson Ringeisen: We welcomed our second child, Ramona, on May 14. Paul is a wonderful (and energetic) big brother. Morgan and I have our hands full!
Alexander L. Wilson: Alex and his wife, Sabrina, welcomed daughter Sofia on New Year’s Day. Now 8 months old, she keeps them busy in their new home in Escanaba, MI, where Alex joined his family’s McDonald’s franchise. Together, they also run Romero-Wilson Consulting and Marquette Voice, a voice studio in Northern Michigan.
2014
Amelia K. Anderson: Amelia has recently moved to Muskegon, Michigan, to begin her role as director of the Bennett Prize and curator of women’s art at the Muskegon Museum of Art.
Katherine M. Dannecker-Stevens: We (Sam Stevens ’13) welcomed our second child, Georgia, in January 2025. We promptly took the kiddos on their first international trip and went to Portugal. We’re enjoying being kept busy by our girls, work, and traveling!
Catherine M. DeMets: We were thrilled to welcome Shea Linden, our beautiful baby boy, to our family on May 16th! We are having a blast getting to know each other and seeing the world anew.
Heather Jost Doerfler: My husband and I welcomed our first child, a little boy named Asa, on August 10!
Peter P. Ehlinger: I live in Minneapolis these days. I work as a licensed rehabilitation psychologist and play drums in a couple of bands in town, as well as singing in a choir. I miss my Lawrence folks! Reach out if you’re coming through town.
Nicole Flack: Working in biotech in Finland, enjoying cycling, karaoke, and plenty of sauna.
Abby E. Guthmann: Abby successfully defended her Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, and behavior at the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation research examined how indigenous pastoralism and contemporary conservation practices shape the behavior of wild species in Kenya.
Tara C. Jensen: My husband Johannes and I welcomed our first child, a baby girl named Sloane, this past June. Every day with her is a gift!
Bryan G. Lesser: Hi! I am an attorney in Chicago. I have a wife and two beautiful children. I also make music under the artist name Tevy Chahoe. I’m always happy to hear from my fellow Lawrentians.
Amanda C. Ollerer: My husband, Alex, and I welcomed our girl, Vera, in August. Our hearts are so full, and we love watching her explore the world! Big brother Benito (dog) is adjusting well to not being an only child.
McKenzie A. Saunders: I am still in Rhode Island with my husband Jake, my son Ciaran, and my daughter Imogen. When I’m not working or spending time with my kids, you’ll find me working on new and innovative ways to keep squirrels off my bird feeders or attempting to grow fruits and vegetables (it’s not going great).
Kevin M. Specht: My dog Tucker (named after Tristan Tucker ’14) celebrated his 10th birthday this summer. Starting my third year teaching fourth and fifth grade band and orchestra at Prince George’s County Public Schools, and still playing tuba and euphonium with the 257th
Army Band of the District of Columbia National Guard. Stay weird, Lawrentians. IHRTLUHC.
Schuyler T. Thornton: I am in my fourth year of playing flute for the Les Misérables tour— please say “hi” if we’re in a city near you! When not on tour, I continue to call NYC home and teach flute at Muhlenberg College. I recently joined the Board of Trustees of the College Light Opera Company and look forward to connecting with the many LU alums who also went to CLOC!
Chiao-Yu Tuan: After seven years together, Wen and I got married in November 2024, overlooking the Pacific Ocean in California. I am now working at Included Health, trying to raise the standards of healthcare through technology.
2016
The Class of 2016 will celebrate its 10th Reunion June 18-21, 2026.
Adam James Busch & Miriam Barney Busch: We got married last October in Golden, CO! It was great to have many Lawrence friends celebrating with us. After eight years in Denver, we recently moved to Tucson, AZ, where Mira is pursuing a master’s degree in geography, focusing on Tribal water rights in the Colorado River Basin. Reach out if you’re in the area!
Galen W. Dods: Settled, settled, settled, Galen has become. In Minneapolis, with its frozen ponds. Wanting warmer climes with more humidity, He visited New Orleans with Johnson, Corby. They marveled at all the giant oak trees, The blaring jazz musicians and antique trolleys.
Mya Hunt Dwyer: My husband and I are thrilled with the birth of our daughter in late June; she joined her older brothers, who are 5 and 3 years old! I’m in my ninth year of teaching in Naperville, IL, as an orchestra director for grades 4–8 (at one junior high and two elementary schools). I also just earned a master’s degree in education in curriculum and instruction.
Miriam Barney, Adam Busch 2016
Jaime Gonzalez: This summer was the year of changes, and I moved to Austin to take on the role of director of admission at Southwestern University, where I’ve worked for the last three years. I also spent the last year attending the weddings of my favorite Lawrentians and still have more to go. Go Longhorns?
Jonathan P. Hanrahan: Sarah Axtell ’17 and I first got to know each other 10 years ago as co-hosts of the hit podcast No Stone Unturned. While searching for (and finding!) The Rock, missing at the time, we happened to fall in love. This past September, we finally married each other in the Boynton Chapel at Björklunden.
Grace C. Johnson: I am working as the weekend manager for the student program at Björklunden, and I have owned an online promotional products business for a little over a year. If you are in need of branded merch, hit me up at create@evergreenimpressions. com—I’ll give ya an LU Alum discount!
Young Hun Kwon: I founded Stellog, a location-based community app helping students share events, tips, and real campus life. I’m inviting LU voices—clubs and individuals—to post so future Lawrentians feel welcome. If you’d like to support or try it, I’d love to connect. 30-sec intro: www.youtube.com/ shorts/5fVKTVcSfBQ contact: info@stellog.io
Jonah H. Laursen: This fall, my partner of +10 years left me unexpectedly. I’m staying in Detroit and have started to pursue my master’s in social work at Wayne State University.
Charles G. Martin: In May, I graduated with my Master of Sacred Theology in liturgical studies from Yale Divinity School and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. Now I am working as associate rector and campus chaplain at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville, AR.
Lawrence University for preparing me to enter this next stage of my life.
Theodore H. Kortenhof: After living in Wisconsin for 11 years, I finally moved back to Oregon! Wisconsin was good to me, both at Lawrence and beyond. But I’m excited to be closer to family. I’m now teaching high school physics at Sherwood High School in Sherwood, OR.
Hitkarsh Kumar: First, I was a Viking. Later, I became an Owl. And now, I’m a Longhorn.
Zachary P. Martin: My wife Teresa and I welcomed our first child, Eleanor Joan Martin. She is absolutely adorable. Other highlights of our Minnesota summer include enjoying our neighborhood farmers’ market, winning local trivia, and becoming regulars at a brewery.
Cameron Murdock: I’m in my final year of occupational therapy school and will be completing clinicals in Massachusetts this fall. Reach out if you’re in the New England area—I’d love to connect!
Jenny M. Niedenfuehr: My husband and I reside in Houston, TX, along with our cat, Cici. I earned my Master of Public Health degree in 2023 and am currently in a PH.D. program at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, specializing in behavioral sciences with a minor in epidemiology. I have recently begun working on my dissertation. In our spare time, we love traveling the world.
Marianthi Tangili: Last May, I completed my Ph.D. in the molecular biology of aging, got married, and started a postdoctoral researcher position at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. It has been an exciting and transformative time, and I am enjoying both the new academic challenges and married life.
Wesley S. Varughese: I’ve recently graduated with my MBA from Georgetown University. My wife, Melissa, and I have relocated to the Big Apple as I begin a new role in investment banking. We’re excited to connect with Lawrentians here in New York City! My LU roommate of four years, our very own Zach Ben-Amots ’16, and his partner, Sage, are just a few of the many we have in NYC.
Alek J. Wasserman: My enlistment with the 440th Army Band ended in February. Triad Music Academy has up to 15 teachers and 220 students. We have one former student who’s now at the UNC School of the Arts studying voice. A couple of piano students have won/ placed in local competitions. On a personal note, our family is enjoying life in Pfafftown, NC!
Nathan T. Whiteman: I’ve started a new role as a power scheduler at Invenergy, helping to coordinate between Invenergy, energy generation assets, and energy regulators.
2018
Ryan A. Aiello: Hi everyone! Just wanted to share some updates—I recently started on the LEGO Group’s HR team and got engaged! Settling into life in Boston and loving it so far.
Helena Dryjanski: After a lot of hard work and dedication, I was accepted to rabbinical school at Hebrew Seminary for the Deaf & Hearing in Chicago! Thank you to Professor Barnes for the letter of recommendation, and thank you to
Augustus J. Lowry: Set to defend my Ph.D. on November 6. Eyeing a return to the Midwest. I enjoyed seeing Liam Hoy ’16, Jack Lucas ’19, Alex Gomez ’18, and Claire Hoy ’17 this summer and love opening my inbox to Saturday Snacks.
Meghan A. Murphy: Still in NYC.
Tanner H. Stegink: This June marks three years of living in New York—I have had a great time building a freelance career here and am hopeful to find an outlet for my teaching aspirations as well. I have been fortunate to spend a second summer as music faculty at the AIMS music festival in Austria, and have enjoyed spending the last year learning German.
2020
Matthew M. Demers: Hello, friends and those who care to read this! I am still living in southeastern Massachusetts (been here for ~2yrs) and am currently working in quality for the laboratory arm of a contract research organization. I am lucky to have reasonable stability. Hugs and well wishes to you all!
Jessica L. Gehring: I am traveling the country as the violin/viola player on the Broadway tour of The Book of Mormon!
Georgia R. Greenberg: Great news! My best friend Molly Reese ’20 is engaged to the fantastically wonderful Duncan King. I am so proud and happy for them both. This note is submitted with permission.
Helen C. Ochs: I just finished my Ph.D. in aquatic fungi from Northern Arizona University, and now I’m off to a postdoc at Michigan State studying the relationships between soil fungi and switchgrass roots! I’m so excited to be back in the Midwest, and I’d love to catch up if you’re in the area.
Maria Poimenidou: Hello everyone! I’m currently finishing up my last year of my Ph.D. at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. If anyone finds themselves in town, let me know. I’d love to catch up. It’s been so fun cheering everyone on through social media and seeing all the amazing things you’re up to.
Meghan Murphy 2018
Bianca Celine Pratte: This past June, I wed my partner, James Harrington, in a garden ceremony in California. It was a perfect day! Thank you, Rick Kubly ’20, for playing guitar in the ceremony, and to my SAI big Sara Larsen ’17 for being my maid of honor. This fall, I am heading into year three on faculty at our dear alma mater; come visit me in Appleton!
Cristina Sada Segovia: Entered a new role at Condé Nast as a research/fact-checker for Teen Vogue and thereafter became senior research manager at Teen Vogue. I also got married in October 2024.
Jesus Sanchez: I started a new position as a SUD counselor for adults at a methadone clinic in Oakland, CA. I bought a home and am excited that I am able to still be near my community and not get displaced. I am proud to be a first-generation homebuyer.
Benjamin B. Schultz: In March, I published my first book, Attention Kmart Shoppers: The Rise and Fall of America’s First Big Discounter, with Luminare Press. In the meantime, I work for UW-Madison’s Center for Health Disparities Research, using the historical skills I learned at Lawrence to help reveal how a person’s life history can affect their brain health.
Wenshu Wang: I have been awarded a fellowship under the Tengbo Fund, jointly established by the Chinese Museums Association and the Tencent Foundation. From October 2025 to April 2026, I will work as a visiting research associate in the Department of Art History and in collaboration with the Center for the Art of East Asia at the University of Chicago.
2022
Alesandra R. Aragon: Alesandra Aragon and Carson Bell ’22 are delighted to announce their engagement.
Clare E. Conteh-Morgan: I got married this summer and just started law school at UW-Madison this fall.
Sophia R. Galassini: I’m a full-time artist! I started my own business, got engaged, and bought a house in the western burbs of Chicago. Since graduation, I’ve shown my work in events across the U.S. from New York to LA. Hoping to one day bring some back to Wisconsin one day.
Julia P. Hackler: I am graduating from the University of Oxford with my M.Phil. in modern languages (Russian) and moving to the University of Bristol to do a Ph.D. in Russian through an SWW DTP studentship.
Jessica L. Hopkins: I graduated with honors from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in May of 2024! While attending, I got to attend the NAIITS symposium of 2023 in Manitoba, Canada, as well as the Healing Our Spirits Worldwide Conference of 2023 in Vancouver, Canada. I am now currently working as an ALT in Tamura, Japan, for the next two years.
Matthew R. Jahnke: Many changes have happened in the past year. I left my job teaching middle school orchestra in my hometown of West Fargo, ND, to pursue my dream of conducting. I moved to Lincoln, NE, where I am working on my master’s in orchestral conducting at the University of Nebraska. I also teach at Lutheran Summer Music as their double bass professor.
Lauren R. Kelly: I am involved with film festivals across Wisconsin and in Chicago as a screener for the Milwaukee, Midwest, and Chicago Underground Film Festivals and as a volunteer for the Wisconsin, Sheboygan, and Chicago International Film Festivals. I work as an assistant manager at a Marcus Theatre. I hope to return to school and get into film programming.
Sara M. Klemme: I became the head coach for cross country/track and field at Lakeland University. I’m hoping to develop the program significantly!
Dylan S. McMurray: I am currently in my second year of pharmacy school at the University of Southern California. Over this past summer, I studied abroad in South Korea and spent some time in Vietnam. I was also recently accepted into my master’s program in global medicine. I also enjoy serving as a member of the Vietnamese American Pharmacy Student Association.
Nathanael S. Mitchell: I’ve made my way back to the music/entertainment industry with the IATSE Local 2 Stagehands of Chicago, working as a rigger and in the audio, video, lighting, electrical, carpentry, and automation departments. A few of the productions I’ve worked with this year: Cowboy Carter Tour, Summer Smash, Lollapalooza, Hans Zimmer, Kendrick Lamar, and many more.
Katherine M. Perry: I am a first-tour consular officer serving at the American consulate in Shenyang, People’s Republic of China. I am honored to have this opportunity to serve my country and learn more about China’s northeastern provinces.
Celeste Reyes: see Paul McComas ’83.
Barrah K. Shamoon: I spent the first half of 2025 defending my graduate thesis about a Buddhist jataka tale at Peking University and successfully graduated with a Master of History! I hope to continue doing research on Buddhist jatakas as well as early contacts between the Subcontinent and China for my Ph.D.
Grace I. Stahl: I can’t believe it’s been three years since graduation! I’m currently living in my hometown in KS. I am working part-time at my local library in the Makerspace. I’m really happy to be making art and helping others make art! I take care of my mom when I’m not working with the help of one of my siblings. We also have a dog, two cats, and a lizard :)
Willie L. Sturgis: Hello, fellow Lawrentians! Since graduation, I’ve gained valuable realworld experiences and recently completed my M.S.F. in July. I’m now pursuing opportunities in financial services and looking forward to reconnecting with LU alumni.
Kinri M. Watson: Hi all! I’m settling into life in Chicago after finishing my master’s degree in Spanish translation from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this June. Now I work as an in-house translator for an insurance company, and I’m getting to know the city—lots of Lawrentians here! Say hi if you’re ever in town! Take care and much love.
Yanyan Yang: Hi, I have relocated to Vancouver. I’d love to connect with folks who are also based in Vancouver. Hope you have a wonderful day.
Celeste Reyes, 2022 with Paul McComas, 1983
Adam L. Bruce: My schooling recently came to a close when I attained my Master of Science in data science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in May. Since then, I have been gaining industry experience as a Business Technology Developer II at Schneider. In this role, I have been learning skills like Power BI and Bash/Python scripting. Be well, everyone!
Taylor S. DeCastro: I am still finishing up my MM at the University of Washington, where I do a ton of performing and teaching. I have also recently been appointed concertmaster of Philharmonia Northwest, a chamber orchestra in Seattle. Amongst all the busyness, I continue meeting other Lawrentian alumni in the PNW, and it is such a lovely time every time!
Molly A. Jastrab: I dumped the bum who cheated on me and then was an EA at my old elementary school until I could finally move to Milwaukee in hopes of finding more film-related work. I’m currently working as a photographer for School and Sport Pics and an editor for the D Talks podcast. I’m also a part of The Skeleton Crew for the Milwaukee Admirals!
Lauren G. Moravchik: After graduation, I threw a dart at a map in the Nickel—it landed in Colorado! Now I live in Aspen, working as a staff accountant and student and guest services coordinator at Anderson Ranch Arts Center. After hours, I lace up my skates as the head coach of Aspen’s 10U girls’ hockey team, and on weekends, I hike 14ers, summiting peaks over 14,000 ft!
Logan C. Olson: I’ve continued to grow as a professional at Northern Trust in Chicago while also maintaining a position of support to the University. Academically, I contributed to the Chicago Business Trek as a resource to current business students. Athletically, I’m a member of both the Viking Athletic Advocacy Council and the Rec Center Fundraising Committee.
Jorja A. Springer: I am starting my Master of Arts in foreign language teaching through Michigan State University.
Katherine T. Stenson: I am a full-time musician, as of September 2024! I started my own LLC, and now I make all my income from performing. I’m still close by as I’m splitting my time between Green Bay and Coloma, and I’m performing all around WI with Wine On Fridays, Gold Standard, and The Clauson Family Music Show. I also had the honor of playing at Mile of Music this year!
Madeleine E. Tevonian: I’ve just started my Master of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School, and am having an incredible time so far. Wouldn’t be here without my Lawrence experiences and professors!
MARRIAGES
Dr. Joseph A. Rota ’73 and Sue Cleveland, Colorado Springs, CO, June 12, 2024.
Megan L. Occhino ’16 and Constantine J. Revis ’16, Chicago, IL, February 15, 2025.
Marianthi Tangili ’16 and Lennart Martin Baks, Groningen, Netherlands, May 8, 2025.
Clare E. Conteh-Morgan ’22 and Justin T. Wolf ’25, July 12, 2025.
BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS
Cora A. Keene ’10 and Grant Willison, San Francisco, California, a son, Adair, July 29, 2025.
Rana Dohene Marks ’12, Seattle, Washington, Julian Rhys, July 25, 2025.
Adam E. Readinger ’12 and Nicole Finnegan, St. Paul, Minnesota, a son, Remy, May 10, 2025.
Allison M. Shinnick ’12 and David A. Keep ’11, Holland, Michigan, a daughter, Ila Elizabeth, September 11, 2025.
Lauren S. Thompson Ringeisen ’12 and Morgan Ringeisen, Neenah, Wisconsin, a daughter, Ramona, May 14, 2025.
Alexander L. Romero-Wilson ’12 and Sabrina Romero-Wilson, Escanaba, Michigan, a daughter, Sofia Lynn, January 1, 2025.
Adam H. Breseman ’14 and Melanie Green, Highland Park, Illinois, a son, Atlas, May 24, 2025.
Katherine M. Dannecker-Stevens ’14 and Samuel R. Stevens ’13, Mequon, Wisconsin, a daughter, Georgia, January 17, 2025.
Tara C. Jensen ’14 and Johannes Seemann, Libertyville, Illinois, a daughter, Sloane Ursula, June 25, 2025.
Amanda C. Ollerer ’14 and Alex Zuniga, Villa Park, Illinois, a daughter, Vera, August 12, 2025.
Amanda M. Jaskolski ’15 and Christina Nagle, Appleton, Wisconsin, a son, Max Allen, October 24, 2023.
IN MEMORIAM (ALUMNI)
Phyllis Weikart Greene M-D’47, Granville, OH, July 31, 2025.
Barbara Cook Wood M-D’48, Westford, MA, October 2, 2024.
Jean Watt Castles ’49, Arlington Heights, IL, December 15, 2024.
Marilyn Ericson Firehammer ’49, Tallahassee, FL, June 2, 2025.
Joan Teuscher Guenther ’49, Davis, CA, February 26, 2025.
Carol Miessler Sabin ’49, Elkhorn, WI, August 2, 2025.
Sallie Keen Smith M-D’50, Tucson, AZ, December 6, 2024.
Susan Fry Becker ’51, Capitola, CA, December 13, 2024.
Stanley F. Doenecke ’51, Golden, CO, March 24, 2025.
Dorothy Schwartzbeck Hay ’51, Troy, MI, July 31, 2025.
Phillips M. Montross ’51 P’85, Wilmette, IL, September 5, 2025. Family includes Peter H. Montross ’85.
Kenneth G. Bauske ’53, The Woodlands, TX, August 28, 2025.
Elizabeth Beyer Conway ’53, Edgerton, WI, April 10, 2025. Family includes Paul F. Ramsey ’58.
Patricia Scott Myers ’53 P’79, Denver, CO, March 29, 2025. Family includes Scott D. Myers ’79.
Donald W. Reinicke ’53, Platteville, WI, July 8, 2025.
Joanne Bonneville Reitinger ’53, Colorado Springs, CO, January 25, 2025.
Marjorie Thuss Sarles ’53, Grafton, WI, August 8, 2025.
Nancy Moberg Foss M-D’54, Milwaukee, WI, June 16, 2025.
Virginia MacFarlane Ruppin ’54, Lake Ozark, MO, August 6, 2025.
Donna Weltcheff Schroeder M-D’54 P’79, Brookfield, WI, May 11, 2025. Family includes Bruce A. Marshall ’79; Maureen R. Marshall ’17; Susan Dresser Marshall ’79.
IN MEMORIAM
Frances Hillborn Krause ’55, Villa Rica, GA, April 7, 2025. Family includes Janice Krause Gunlogson ’58.
Virginia Zastrow Law ’55, Santa Cruz, CA, April 19, 2025.
Judith Benfer Phillips ’55, Billings, MT, June 1, 2025.
Douglas M. Reimer ’55, Chicago, IL, August 31, 2025. Family includes June Jacobsen Reimer ’54.
Patricia Lambur Smith ’55, St. Joseph, MI, July 18, 2025.
Mary Bowlby Branch ’56, Troy, MI, August 9, 2025.
Carolyn Kasten Howe ’56 P’82, Columbia, MO, January 10, 2025. Family includes Lisa E. Howe ’82; Mary Kasten Thilker ’61.
Barbara Randall Kline ’56, Bend, OR, November 30, 2024.
David N. Deinard ’57, Port St. Lucie, FL, February 19, 2024.
Adriana Van Uxem Noonan ’57, Bell Canyon, CA, April 27, 2025.
Ann Bartels Babcock ’58, Seattle, WA, May 5, 2025.
Dr. Allen R. Bonde ’58, South Hadley, MA, May 10, 2025.
Sonja Jensen Dosse ’58, Punta Gorda, FL, March 14, 2025.
Arno Wm. Haering ’58, Wausau, WI, August 5, 2025.
Mary Severson Lewis ’58, Marietta, GA, July 17, 2025.
Dorothy Hur Reilly ’58, Mendham, NJ, February 6, 2025.
Carol Holmes Wiensch M-D’58, Milwaukee, WI, March 5, 2025.
Barbara Organ Wooldrage ’58, Appleton, WI, May 2, 2024.
Waltressa Allen Molsberry ’59, Boulder, CO, March 11, 2025. Family includes Monte Allen ’68.
Marilyn Pautzke Stieg M-D’59, Boulder, CO, January 31, 2025.
Arlene Verbeski Crawford ’60, Oak Ridge, TN, January 25, 2025.
Judith Anderson Mack ’64, Moultonboro, NH, May 3, 2025. Family includes William E. Mack ’61.
JONE BOUCHER RIESTER
ʼ 72
The Lawrence community lost a gifted pianist, teacher, mentor, and friend to many Lawrentians with the passing of Jone Boucher Riester ’72. Her life was a symphony of love, joy, and generosity.
From an early age, Jone was drawn to the piano, and her passion led her to Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music, where she earned her degree in music education. She was known within the Lawrence community for her musical excellence, warmth, and care, which drew people in.
Jone shared a transformative year in London with her sister, Jan, studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Upon returning to Appleton, she met and married Jeff Riester in June 1972, and later welcomed two children, their daughter Devon and son David, into their lives. Their 53-year marriage was a sublime example of love and friendship.
As a devoted teacher, Jone inspired those around her and carried her Lawrence liberal arts spirit into everything she did. She shared her musical gifts with the First Congregational Church by leading several musical productions, and she supported the Infant Welfare Circle of the King’s Daughters, the Trout Museum of Art, and Meals on Wheels.
Jone’s supreme devotion in life was to her children, whom she raised with care, pride, and steadfast support. Through concerts, sporting events, traveling, schooling, and into adulthood, Jone was a devoted guide and confidant. They loved her unconditionally and always will.
Known to her grandchildren as “Jojo,” she enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family, friends, grandchildren, Juliet (10), Louie (9), Avery (7), and Dax (4), all of whom she considered her greatest treasures in life.
Jone Boucher Riester embodied what it means to be a Lawrentian: creative, compassionate, endlessly curious, and fostering a sense of belonging for others. Her legacy will live on in all the lives she touched, cared for, and transformed.
Jone’s ashes will be placed in the Memorial Grove at Björklunden, overlooking the lake. Jone is survived by husband Jeff; daughter Devon (Stevensville, MI), her spouse Erik Voster and their kids Louie and Avery; son David (San Francisco), his spouse Katie (Knepley) and their kids Juliet and Dax; sister Jan (Lake Geneva), her spouse Dan Bice, and their kids Ben and Brittany, and their families.
Carolyn Kingsland Patterson ’60, Potomac, MD, February 7, 2025.
Charles E. Collins ’61, Lakewood, WI, February 26, 2025.
Gretchen Affeldt Joel ’61, Rochester, MN, July 16, 2024.
Ann V. Kearns ’61, New York, NY, August 30, 2025.
Ernest L. King III ’61, Coeur d’Alene, ID, February 13, 2025.
Theodore F. Schnese ’61, Stoughton, WI, July 20, 2025.
Karen Schmidlkofer Wolter ’61, Green Bay, WI, July 3, 2025.
Kathryn Fagan Jeffery ’62, Seattle, WA, February 22, 2025.
Sue Bucklin Abiad ’63, Mahwah, NJ, October 20, 2024.
Susan Holland Roberts ’63 P’89, Centennial, CO, February 3, 2025. Family includes Kathryn Roberts Rana ’89.
Stephen R. Elliott ’64, Milwaukee, WI, January 6, 2025. Family includes Suzanne Whitmore Elliott ’57; John J. Thorse ’55.
Rev. Richard B. Lampert ’64, Sarasota, FL, August 9, 2025.
Steven E. Werner ’64, Cedarburg, WI, August 19, 2025.
David H. Aronson ’65, Appleton, WI, August 4, 2025.
Robert A. Bonewitz ’65, Ojai, CA, August 5, 2025.
Martha E. Miller ’65, Chicago, IL, December 26, 2024.
Janet Wichers Waanders ’65, Ardmore, PA, May 31, 2024.
Michael L. Ward ’65, New York, NY, March 19, 2025.
Dr. Steven E. Landfried ’66, Edgerton, WI, September 21, 2025. Family includes Renee R. Honold ’90; Henry A. Spille ’54.
Sheila Pernot Stamps ’66, Plymouth, MN, August 19, 2020.
Judith Lewandowski Deater ’67, Raleigh, NC, April 25, 2024.
Keith H. Shichida ’67, Honolulu, HI, May 7, 2025.
Christopher M. Vernon ’67, Shorewood, WI, April 15, 2025.
Alice Farver Bowdish ’68, Harvard, IL, May 5, 2025.
Mary Rysgaard Catron ’69, St. Paul, MN, March 4, 2025. Family includes J. Mark Catron ’69.
Theodore J. Hope ’70, Friday Harbor, WA, March 20, 2025. Family includes Margaret Rosenow Hope ’70.
Jacquelyn Bushner Schriber, Ph.D. ’70, La Verne, CA, December 31, 2024.
Roulettei L. Gildersleeve ’72, Columbus, NC, September 7, 2024.
Marina Spheeris Krejci ’72, Milwaukee, WI, September 15, 2025. Family includes Ms. Constance Spheeris ’76.
William J. Porter ’72, Minneapolis, MN, July 25, 2025.
Ronald E. Richardson ’72, Mount Prospect, IL, February 3, 2025.
Jone Bocher Riester ’72, Appleton, WI, July 22, 2025. Family includes Daniel R. Bice ’73; Janis Bocher Bice ’73; Jeffrey D. Riester ’70.
Charlene Thompson ’72, Winston Salem, NC, September 21, 2024.
Joan M. Carlin ’74, Mason City, IA, February 27, 2025.
Charles E. Dawes ’75, Nekoosa, WI, May 1, 2025.
Sharyn A. Everman ’75, Libertyville, IL, July 9, 2024.
Patricia McCarty ’78, Kaukauna WI, October 16, 2025
Polly S. Pfost ’78, Minneapolis, MN, January 22, 2025. Family includes Amy Coughlin ’97.
Pam Frigo Johnson ’79, Newington, CT, July 25, 2025. Family includes Noel W. Frigo ’81; Thomas M. Frigo ’75; Timothy B. Frigo ’82; Dominique Frigo Geraghty ’78; Henry W. Geraghty ’16; Lisa Frigo Kuegler ’83; Diane Thate Martin ’60.
Jill Kaar Hanson ’81, Lindenhurst, IL, April 10, 2025.
Kathryn Estrem Mao ’81, St. Paul, MN, August 13, 2024.
Kurt M. Hoehne ’82, Seattle, WA, July 31, 2024.
Joanne Martello ’82, Oshkosh, WI, February 24, 2025.
Steven F. Papacosta ’83, Green Bay, WI, January 28, 2025.
Angela Wagoner Ryckman ’87, Appleton, WI, July 15, 2025.
Mark W. Sachs ’87, Appleton, WI, April 16, 2025.
James G. Pfeiffelmann ’03, Lowell, MI, July 2, 2025.
James W. Simmons ’70, Cumming, GA, November 2023.
IN MEMORIAM (NON-ALUMNI)
Larrimore (Larry) Crockett, Visiting Professor 1969-1973, Dummerston, Vermont, September 10, 2025
Joylene Delie, Appleton, WI, March 10, 2025.
Mary E. Egan P’77, Neenah, WI, June 23, 2025. Family includes Mary Beth Egan ’77.
Joyce A. Nikolai, Hortonville, WI, September 27, 2025.
Calvin H. Stoney, Naperville, IL, August 6, 2025.
Gail L. Oliver P’99, Appleton, WI, March 3, 2025. Family includes Erin Oliver Velasco ’99.
GARTH BOND
Lawrence University lost a beloved member of the faculty with the passing Garth Bond, a member of the English faculty for 20 years. Garth passed away on July 9, 2025, at the age of 53 after a hard-fought battle with leukemia.
Garth joined the Lawrence community in 2005 as a visiting instructor in the English Department and soon began his tenure-track appointment. From the very beginning, his passion for literature and his generosity as a teacher made a lasting impression on students and colleagues alike. A specialist in medieval and early modern literature, Garth brought an infectious curiosity to his teaching and an ability to connect timeless texts to the lives of his students.
Before coming to Lawrence, Garth taught in the Writing Program at Temple University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. At Lawrence, he introduced the popular course, History of the Book. He served as both director and frequent instructor in the First-Year Studies program, where his thoughtfulness and enthusiasm shaped countless students’ first experiences of college learning. In 2020, he was honored with the Freshman Studies Teaching Award for his outstanding contributions to the program.
Garth’s love for literature extended far beyond the classroom. His colleagues remember him as a generous collaborator, always eager to share ideas, offer guidance, or simply talk about a great book. He found joy in teaching and cherished the sense of connection and community that defined his time at Lawrence.
Reflecting on Garth’s legacy, Lawrence president Laurie A. Carter said, “Through his profound love of literature and storytelling, he inspired our students to think critically, write boldly, and engage deeply with the human experience. Garth’s legacy will live on in the conversations sparked by his teaching.”
Garth Bond leaves behind a legacy of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and care. His influence endures in the minds of his students, the work of his colleagues, and the spirit of inquiry that animates the Lawrence community.
Garth Bond, Appleton, WI, July 9, 2025.
The BIG Picture
Lawrence debuted its new brand identity this fall with a fresh look and refined messaging that creates cohesion and a sense of momentum across campus.
With a heart in hand, Erica Grube ’26 takes the field with the Lawrence University women’s soccer team during its annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game.
