This year, Lawrence welcomed 307 first-year students and 48 transfer students. The top enrollment states for the 2025-26 academic year are Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, California, and Colorado. Leading majors include Business & Entrepreneurship, Pre-medicine, Music Performance, Biology, Psychology, and Multi-interested.Ìę

First-year students elicited a resounding round of applause for their Welcome Week musical performance titled Take What You Need by Reena Esmail. The song encouraged the Lawrence community to take heart and hope as they embark on a new academic year.Ìę

The Lawrence community formally welcomed Dr. Jenkins to his role as dean of the Conservatory of Music. He will oversee all aspects of Lawrence’s music degree programs and contribute significantly to the university’s academic mission. Reporting directly to the provost, Lawrence’s chief academic officer, he will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the institution.

“This year is especially exciting because one of those new to Lawrence is Dr. Christopher Jenkins, our new dean of the Conservatory,” said Dominica Chang, Margaret Banta Humleker Professor of French Cultural Studies, associate professor of French, and chair of the Public Events Committee. “Dean Jenkins, welcome. We wish you every success, and we’re so excited to witness your vision unfold.”Ìę

President Carter’s address was full of reflections and hope, but it centered on Lawrence’s values of belonging, integrity, honesty, and sustainability.ÌęÌę

“We start by listening. Real listening – the kind of listening that suspends quick judgment and seeks to understand the story behind the sentence, and the soul behind the story,” said President Carter. “We create practices and processes that invite participation. We make our norms explicit: how we disagree, how we repair harm, how we show up for one another and celebrate each other’s contributions. And, when someone is left out, we refuse to normalize their absence. We ask why and we act.”Ìę

She honored the memory of Garth Bond, a respected member of the English department for 20 years. Garth passed away over the summer after a long, hard-fought battle with leukemia.ÌęÌę

“Garth dedicated his career to growing the minds and hearts of our students using literature and the power of language. He also created close, meaningful relationships with many colleagues across campus and others in the community,” said President Carter.ÌęÌę

Bond was known for treating people with great humanity; the Lawrence community will come together on Saturday, October 4, to celebrate his life, legacy, and impact.ÌęÌę

President Carter also recalled the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and the attempt to divide a united nation through the attack, which took the lives ofÌę2,977. At the time of the attack, President Carter was working at Juilliard in New York City, only five miles away from where the World Trade Center fell.ÌęÌę

“Late afternoon, we got word that a few trains were leaving New York City for New Jersey. I left my office and began the 30-block walk to the train station, hoping to be on one of them. It was still daylight, but the sky was darkened by the ash and smoke from the towers. There was no vehicular traffic, so the only people I saw were those like me walking dazed through the streets,” she said. “I was overwhelmed by the events of the day, but as I looked around, I noticed that in almost every store window was an American flag. That attack on our country robbed us of many lives, but it didn’t rob us of the hope that we had for a united America.”Ìę

President Carter has a similar hope for today’s students as they begin a new academic year in a world with deep divides, political polarization, and global challenges.ÌęÌę

“That polarization is corrosive to our ability to work together, to trust one another, and to build a shared future,” she said. “We see families weighed down by economic uncertainty, struggling with questions about opportunity, safety, and financial stability. We see communities torn apart by senseless violence and vitriol. And climate change, global conflict, and unprecedented shifts in federal policy test our resilience and force us to think about the world not just as it is today, but as it must be tomorrow.”Ìę

President Carter acknowledged the headwinds facing higher education, including the public’s skepticism around the value of a higher education, not only in terms of today’s cost but also the long-term benefits.ÌęÌę

“This is the moment when the liberal arts matter most. In a radically changing and unpredictable world. The ability to think critically, communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and adapt creatively is more essential than ever,” Carter said. “These are precisely the hallmarks of a Lawrence education.”ÌęÌę

President Carter’s vision for successful outcomes centered on living out Lawrence’s values of belonging, integrity, honesty, and sustainability, and allowing them to be the foundation for students’ decision-making today and in the future.ÌęÌę

“These values are not just words on our website. They are commitments that shape how we learn, how we live together, and how we prepare to lead in the world,” said President Carter.ÌęÌę

(Full Program)

2025 Matriculation Convocation; We are Lawrence. And that includes you.

The designation, which is good for two years, comes in advance of the April 4 Spring Election.

The institutions designated Voter Friendly Campuses represent a wide range of two-year, four-year, public, private, rural, and urban campuses, collectively serving over 3.5 million students.

Video: Lawrence students talk about what kindness means to them.

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He hopes the initiative can be a spark that will last well beyond 17 days.

“Moments of kindness can change one’s life even if it’s the smallest step because it can be the biggest impact for someone else,” Hepburn said. “Just start by saying hello.”

Follow along on our 17 Days of Kindness page

Carter, who began her tenure at Lawrence last July, will be inaugurated May 13 as the 17th president since Lawrence was founded in 1847. It comes as the university marks its 175th anniversary.

It also comes more than two years into a COVID-19 pandemic that has rerouted lives and changed many of our daily interactions. Being intentional about embracing kindness within the Lawrence community—including self-care—sets a tone that we need to celebrate one another as we tackle challenges collectively.

Giveaways will include such things as bubble tea gift cards, snow cones, truffles, and ice cream. There will be chances to share favorite kindness quotes on the sidewalks along Main Hall Green and to take part in yoga and tai chi outdoors.

Hepburn said the 17 Days of Kindness initiative speaks to Carter’s belief in the importance of leading with kindness.

“The kindness we demonstrate will inspire us all to think about how our words, thoughts, and deeds impact others, ourselves, and the world,” he said.

During the game against Ripon, our head coach, Riley Woldt, had called me over to run a play for Kenya because she was only two points away from setting the record. However, she didn’t need the play because she stole the ball and dribbled up court for a layup.

“I was definitely a little nervous, but I could tell that you guys were on the bench getting excited, and that’s what I appreciated,” Kenya told me. “You guys were probably more excited for me to score than I was.”

For her fourth and final season—she returned to Lawrence as a fifth-year after her senior season was wiped out in the COVID-19 pandemic—Kenya led our team in points, free throws, blocks, and offensive and defensive rebounds. You wouldn’t know it by how she handles herself. There is no ego. She has always impressed me with her skill and knowledge of the game, but one thing that makes her stand out is how humble she is. I have never heard her brag about herself. Ever.

When I asked her why she doesn’t boast about herself more, Kenya said, “I really don’t know, to be honest. I just don’t talk about it a lot. If someone [compliments me] I’ll just smile and say thank you.”

During our years playing together, one of our favorite memories would be when we beat St. Norbert College at home during Kenya’s junior year. We have a lot of history with that school and they were always one of our top rivals. We beat them by one point and it was Kenya who scored the bucket to put us ahead.

“That was probably the best game ever that I’ve been a part of here,” Kenya said. “It was great, the atmosphere, we had a huge crowd, a lot of fans.”

One thing Kenya says she’ll miss most is spending time with teammates, and I agree — all the team meals together, the bus rides, our locker room conversations, our jam sessions, and just funny moments at practice.

“It sounds cheesy, but people say, ‘you really won’t remember the scores of the games like 10 years from now, but you’re going to remember the little memories that came with it,” Kenya said.

I have learned so much from Kenya, especially working alongside her as co-captain for the last two years. She is a great leader, spokesperson, and role model, and I know I speak for all my teammates when I say that we all look up to her.

As Kenya graduates this year, she leaves behind a legacy for all future players. Not only with her exceptional success on the court, but also with her amazing character.

“Hopefully it was something different that they’ve never seen before,” Kenya said of her time as a Viking. “Also, with our whole team, I hope they carry on what we’ve done as captains. Just keep the program moving forward.”

Frederick Douglass, 1866

The famed orator and abolitionist made several stops across Wisconsin in 1866, three years after the Emancipation Proclamation and one year after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. News reports had him making stops in Janesville and then Oshkosh before coming to Lawrence for a May 3 speech before the Philalethean Society in Main Hall.ÌęThe CrescentÌęand theÌęAppleton MotorÌęreported on his Appleton visit.ÌęThe CrescentÌęcalled Douglass “an eloquent speaker, easy and graceful in manner, withering in sarcasm” and said his speech, titled “The Assassination and its Lessons,” was the “same lecture he has been giving so patriotically all over the country.”

Booker T. Washington, 1914

Born into slavery, the legendary author and educator would go on to found and lead the Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and become one of the most influential Black voices in the late 19th century and early 20th century. He came to Lawrence to speak in the spring of 1914, one year before his death at age 59.ÌęThe LawrentianÌęcovered Washington’s speech, saying he “gave a highly interesting description of his life, his struggle for education, and of the founding and successful growth of the Tuskegee schools.” The student newspaper said Washington “brought his address to a close with a plea for a sympathetic understanding between the white and black inhabitants of America.” The paper went on to state: “Dr. Washington was very well received, and leaves a host of friends and admirers in Lawrence and Appleton.”

Marian Anderson, 1941

The celebrated contralto who paved the way for other Black artists delivered a brilliant concert performance at Memorial Chapel, the overflow audience calling her back for multiple encores. “No artist in recent years in Appleton has received the tribute which the audience gave Marian Anderson,”ÌęThe LawrentianÌęreported. But off campus, Anderson wasn’t treated as well. Appleton was a “sundown” town at the time. News reports say Anderson was allowed to stay the night in Appleton’s Conway Hotel, but she wasn’t allowed to have dinner in the public dining room. In 2014, Lawrence held a concert in tribute to Anderson, recreating the repertoire from her 1941 performance.

Louis Armstrong, 1960

The jazz pioneer nicknamed “Satchmo” made a late-career visit to Lawrence’s Memorial Chapel in the spring of 1960. His appearance pre-dated Ella Fitzgerald’s concert by a year.ÌęThe LawrentianÌępreviewed Armstrong’s visit, calling him “the greatest of all jazz musicians” and urged the campus community to get their $2 tickets early or risk being left out. “Because of the interest expressed by townspeople and high schools in the area, it seems that the concert will be quickly sold out,” the student newspaper reported. Indeed, it was.

Ella Fitzgerald, 1961

The “First Lady of Song” was a full-on jazz superstar when she performed in concert at Memorial Chapel in early May 1961. She had just earned her fifth and sixth Grammy Awards and would go on to win seven more. Her visit to Lawrence was a cross-country stopover between a two-and-a-half-week stand at New York’s Basin Street East and a three-week engagement at the Crescendo in Los Angeles. “Ella rocked Lawrence College’s staid, old Memorial Chapel with a battery of upbeat material Tuesday night,”ÌęThe Post-CrescentÌęreported. “And she appeared to enjoy every minute of it. She carried the torch, too, as only she can do. A house just short of capacity couldn’t have loved the first lady of song more.”Ìę

John Lewis, 1964, 2005, 2015

In June 2015, U.S. Rep. John Lewis returned to Lawrence to deliver the Commencement address in the 50th anniversary year of the passage of the Voting Rights Act. It marked the civil rights icon’s third visit to Lawrence. He first came to campus in 1964 as head field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He would return to deliver a Convocation address in Memorial Chapel in 2005. In his 2015 Commencement address, Lewis pledged unity no matter race, religion, or sexual identity. “We are one people, we are one family, we are one house,” he said. “We are brothers and sisters.”

Maya Angelou, 1976 and 1997

The poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist has been among the most influential voices in America over the past 50 years. She was awarded an honorary degree by Lawrence in 1976, seven years afterÌęI Know Why the Caged Bird SingsÌędrew international acclaim and launched a phenomenal literary career. She would return to campus more than two decades later to deliver a 1997 Convocation address and receive another honorary degree. Her 1993 book of essays,ÌęWouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now,Ìęwas a mainstay on theÌęNew York TimesÌębest-seller list shortly before her visit. She was greeted by an overflow crowd in Memorial Chapel. A citation presented to Angelou read, “Your writing, singing, acting, teaching, and your being contribute incredible insight to understandings of the human race, the black race, and the black woman.”

Dianne Reeves, 1987 and 2002

The jazz vocalist extraordinaire led a star-studded lineup into the 1987 Jazz Celebration Weekend. She was joined by Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry, also icons of jazz. Reeves was early in her career at that point, but she wouldn’t be overshadowed. She had released her first album in 1981 and had just signed with Blue Note Records in 1987. She was an ascending star, and the audience at Memorial Chapel got an up-close view. She returned for a second visit to Jazz Celebration Weekend 15 years later.

Wynton Marsalis, 1988

The legendary trumpeter was 27 when he came to Lawrence in 1988 to perform at Jazz Celebration Weekend. The concert sold out so fast that Lawrence officials arranged for a second concert. He met with students while on campus, challenging them to be culturally aware as they pursue music and other studies. “If you don’t research the world of possibilities, you always will accept less,” he told the students, according toÌęThe Post-Crescent. “It’s not a matter of right or wrong; it’s a question of possibilities.” He wouldn’t be the only one of the talented Marsalis brothers to perform at Lawrence. Branford Marsalis played Jazz Celebration Weekend in 2007.

Michelle Obama, 2012

The first lady spoke Sept. 28 at a packed Alexander Gymnasium, a 2012 campaign appearance on behalf of her husband, President Barack Obama, who would be re-elected five weeks later. She is the only sitting first lady to visit Lawrence, and at the time of her visit was arguably the most popular figure in America. She spoke in Appleton about Obama’s fight for health care reform despite potential political consequences. “He cared that it was the right thing to do,” WHBY Radio quoted her as saying. “And, thankfully, because he fought for health care reform, today our parents and grandparents on Medicare are paying hundreds less for their prescription drugs. Our young people can stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old.”

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ÌÇĐÄvlog is celebrating its 175th anniversary during 2022. When founded on January 15, 1847 along the banks of the Fox River in what is now known as Appleton, Wisconsin, Lawrence became one of the first co-educational institutions of higher learning in the country. It continues to build on the vision of its founders, focused on excellence while embracing a liberal arts approach to undergraduate education. With about 1,500 students drawn from nearly every state and more than 40 countries, Lawrence features a college of arts and sciences and a conservatory of music, both annually ranked among the best in the nation.Ìę

Shall We Dance is an entertainment event that aims to increase awareness about sexual assault while helping the Sexual Assault Crisis Center raise important funds. All of the money raised before and during the event will go to the center to help provide needed services to sexual assault survivors.

Each year, eight Fox Cities community dancers are selected to compete. They are paired with various dance organizations and each is matched with a professional dancer. A part of the competition consists of the community dancers raising at least $10,000 for the Crisis Center in the lead-up to the event.

Smith, a member of the Lawrence faculty since 2017, is partnered with professional dancer Pamela Cribbs from Boogie Ballroom, a dance studio in Neenah.

Although he never trained formally, Smith said he is confident in his dancing abilities. For him, the hardest part is learning the footwork; he and Cribbs meet about once a week to work on their moves. In between those sessions, Smith is spending a lot of time practicing on his own.

“So far, it’s going really fantastic,” Smith said. “It’s hard, it’s different. I have these little Cuban dance shoes that have these heels that I swear sometimes are going to break my ankles.”

Smith first heard about the competition through a friend, Cristi Burrill, who won it last year. He said he immediately thought that participating in Shall We Dance would be a great opportunity to incorporate what he learned about sexual assault advocacy as an undergraduate in Texas and share it with the Appleton and Lawrence communities—all the while sweating it out on the dance floor.ÌęÌę

Smith and the other dancers are currently seeking support while they rehearse in preparation for the dance-off in October.

With his fundraising, Smith said he wanted to take a more educational route to help promote the message of the Crisis Center. He is at the midpoint of hosting four virtual mini educational fundraisers, with discussions concerning different communities’ experiences with sexual assault and violence. The sessions include guest speakers. The next Zoom talk will be July 30 with Tommy Curry, a professor of philosophy at the University of Edinburgh, speaking on sexual assault and violence toward racialized boys and men. The final talk will be Sept. 26 and will focus on women, sexism, and surveillance labor with Melissa Ochoa-Garza, a scholar at Texas A&M University. Look for details on Smith’s social media accounts.

Smith also created aÌęÌęwhere supporters can watch behind-the-scenes rehearsals and silly videos of him doing various workouts and activities to get into dancing shape.

The competition will include advance votingÌę) and voting at the Oct. 16 event.

When asked about the specifics of his dance performance, Smith was excited to share. He will be dancing to a Spanish trap song,ÌęA PalĂ©, by RosalĂ­a.

“I wanted to do a song and dance that was reflective of my cultural, ethnic, racial backgrounds,” he said.

The song starts slow and beautiful, with Smith and his partner doing a Viennese waltz. It transitions from there as the tempo picks up.

Smith said he wanted to perform a mix of dance styles to match the song and his upbringing, so the performance will include hip-hop, different waltzes, and various Latin-style dances such as cumbias and the Paso Doble, plus other surprises. He aims for their dance to tell a story through both the movements and the costumes.

“It’s just such a conglomeration of different things, which I love because it’s me,” Smith said. “It’s going to be amazing.”