Respect Archives - ��ý��Ƶ

179th Matriculation Convocation: We are ��ý��Ƶ. And that includes you.

Communications — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:20:03 +0000

At the start of a new academic year, ��ý��Ƶ’s faculty, students, and staff all gathered at Memorial Chapel for the 179th Matriculation Convocation, an event that welcomes everyone back to campus and sets the tone for the academic year ahead.��

“Matriculation convocation is always one of my favorite moments of the year — a time when we gather together not just as individuals but as one community, united by purpose and tradition, and ready to embark on a new academic journey,” President Laurie A. Carter said from the stage of Memorial Chapel.��

(Photo by Danny Damiani)

Walking to Matriculation Convocation.��

Faculty, students, and staff in Memorial Chapel.

First-year Students, Welcome Week performance.��

This year, ��ý��Ƶ 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.��

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 ��ý��Ƶ community to take heart and hope as they embark on a new academic year.��

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

Dr. Chris Jenkins, dean of ��ý��Ƶ’s Conservatory of Music.

“This year is especially exciting because one of those new to ��ý��Ƶ 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.”��

Study in the Conservatory of Music

Integrate intellectual and musical virtuosity in a supportive community that will empower you to find your musical path.��

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

“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.”��

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.��

“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.��

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

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 of��2,977. 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.��

“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.”��

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.��

“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.”��

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.��

“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 ��ý��Ƶ education.”��

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

“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.��

(Full Program)

2025 Matriculation Convocation; We are ��ý��Ƶ. And that includes you.

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Staff members honored for ‘commitment to brilliance’ at annual awards reception

Communications — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:13:14 +0000

��ý��Ƶ honored staff members for significant service milestones and exemplary work during a staff awards reception held Nov. 30 in Warch Campus Center.

President Laurie A. Carter called those being honored examples of the “talent and commitment to brilliance that makes this university so remarkable.”

Forty-two employees were honored for service milestones ranging from five to 50 years.

The annual staff awards included two Presidential Awards of Excellence—one for a team and one for an individual—as well as a Kindness Award, a First-Year Impact Award, and a Diversity Champion Award.

From left: Juan Arguello, Steph Knoppa, President Laurie Carter, and Kristi Koshuta.

President’s Award of Excellence – Team

The team award was presented by Carter to the New Student Orientation Team, led by Kristi Koshuta, first-year dean, Juan Arguello, second-year dean, and Steph Knoppa, director of residential education and housing.

That group, working with partners across campus, reimagined Welcome Week for incoming students, putting a focus on building connections.

“They played games, they made things, they learned things, they visited the downtown, and they had fun, all while getting to know the campus and the community they now call home,” Carter said. “When it came time to walk through the Arch on their way to the President’s Welcome, the students found the sidewalks lined with faculty, staff, family, and friends greeting them with enthusiasm. The message was clear: We are excited you are here, and we are here to support you on your ��ý��Ƶ journey. What a beautiful sight that was to see.”

In addition to Welcome Week, the New Student Orientation Team implemented a platform for parent involvement and communications; facilitated an open forum for incoming students and their supporters; held a series of orientation webinars and other communications to help ease the transition; and created a nighttime program for incoming students to socialize and become more comfortable with campus.

“Thank you, Kristi, Juan, Steph, and all the Lawrentians you partnered with to make this such an outstanding welcome for our newest students,” Carter said. “You have raised the bar.”

Jacklyn Fischer

President’s Award of Excellence – Individual

Jacklyn Fischer, director of academic advising, received the individual award from Carter. Fischer transitioned into her current role a little more than a year ago and has helped to transform academic advising across campus.

“She has brought a fresh perspective and best practices into every aspect of the work—from rethinking when new students register for classes, to revising how summer advising works, to developing more robust training for our faculty advisors,” Carter said. “She has thought holistically to improve the advising experience for both students and faculty.”

Fischer has worked with partners across campus to create a more unified, coordinated, and effective pathway through academic advising. Her position requires her to be a connector, working with a broad range of staff and faculty. She has demonstrated leadership that drives innovation and provides support necessary to bring about effective change.

“She listens, she contributes thoughtfully, and she asks good questions,” Carter said. “And Jacklyn always puts the student experience front and center.”

Fischer was unable to attend the reception.

Alan Jahnke and President Laurie Carter.

Kindness Award

The 2023 Kindness Award was presented to Alan Jahnke, technology specialist. He was selected for his positive attitude and ability to get work done across campus while treating colleagues with kindness and respect.

“Whether solving technology issues, providing training, or installing new equipment in offices across campus, Alan always does it with patience, a smile, and words of encouragement,” Diana Hernandez, human resources manager, said in presenting the award.

Sara Holtzman and President Laurie Carter.

First-Year Impact Award

The First-Year Impact Award was given to Sara Holtzman, director of equity and Title IX coordinator. She has brought insight, compassion, and empathy to this vital role on campus.

“She has made a difference in a very short amount of time, gaining the trust of the ��ý��Ƶ community, providing important education on issues related to equity and Title IX, and providing insightful leadership,” Hernandez said.

Noemi Delgado and President Laurie Carter.

Diversity Champion Award

The Diversity Champion Award was presented to Noemi Delgado, director of Accessibility Services. She has helped make the Accessibility Services office an integral part of the I.D.E.A.S. Division, and she serves as ��ý��Ƶ’s Americans with Disabilities (ADA) coordinator. She has worked to unify responsibilities that were previously split among numerous offices, making it much easier for a student’s accommodation needs to be quickly and effectively addressed.

“This award recognizes Noemi’s leadership in diversity-related work through advocating for change while working in partnership with others to create a community that embraces all aspects of diversity,” Hernandez said. “She meets challenges with professionalism, grace, and compassion, all while creating greater accountability in the accommodations process.”

Service Awards

Service milestone honorees included:

50 years

Michael Ratsch, teacher of percussion

35 years

Scott Lefeber, general maintenance assistant
Carrie Gray, teacher of chamber music and music theory
Joseph Hollenback, senior custodian

30 years

Mary Van De Loo, director of ��ý��Ƶ Community Music School
Kin Chau, teacher of viola and violin

25 years

Michael Rivers, teacher of piano
John Barnabo, senior custodian

20 years

Colette Lunday Brautigam, digital collections librarian and assistant professor
Jennifer Ann Hada, manager of ��ý��Ƶ Youth String Orchestra
Roza Borisova, teacher of cello

15 years

Andrew Fleek, head men’s and women’s swimming and diving coach and director of aquatics
Benjamin Campbell, director of alumni engagement and giving
Benjamin Willard, senior systems analyst��
Brian Pertl, dean of the Conservatory of Music
David Van Ark, custodian
Erin Chudacoff, executive director of donor engagement
Helen Boyd Kramer, affinity group coordinator and instructor of First-Year Studies
Monita Mohammadian Gray, dean of Academic Success
Nathan Froehlich, network technician
Nori Kalman, teacher of violin
Rosie Cannizzo, director of Conservatory Operations
Tim Jack, general maintenance mechanic

10 years

Amy Kester, associate vice president of Leadership and Institutional Giving
Bartholomew Boge, lead campus safety officer
Anthony Skolaski, plumber
Trevor O’Brien, assistant director of Facilities Operations-Custodial Services
Jessica Hart, assistant director of budget and planning
Jacklyn Hittner, artistic director, Girl Choir program
Joseph King, assistant vice president of Facilities Operations
Tim Bolz, custodian

5 years

Alex Baldschun, assistant director of prospect research
Angi Long, registrar
Chris Kubs, lead custodian
Jedidiah Rex, instructional designer and technologist��
Joe Sagar, head women’s soccer coach
Jose Lozano, Film Studies program support coordinator
Shelby Rae, Human Resources coordinator
Shelly Krueger, senior systems analyst
Terra Winston-Sage, Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life and university chaplain

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Noemi Delgado unifies accessibility efforts across campus in new role

Communications — Thu, 11 May 2023 14:34:52 +0000

Meet Noemi Delgado, ��ý��Ƶ’s new director of Accessibility Services and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator.

“I’ll be providing accommodations for students, whether it be housing, academics, or any meal exemptions related to a disability and/or medical condition,” Delgado said.

Delgado’s role unifies many responsibilities that were previously split across the Center for Academic Success (CAS), making it easier for a student’s accommodation needs to be quickly and effectively addressed.

“We want the new process to be consistent and create an equitable opportunity for all students to have access to the accommodations they need,” Delgado said.

Accessibility Services is now part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion office.��Students can find additional information on the Accessibility Services webpage, including a link to request accommodations.

Adding efficiencies

Delgado, who joined the ��ý��Ƶ team earlier this year, walked us through the process. First, students submit a request for accommodations by uploading documentation and completing an eligibility form. Answers to these questions are private and confidential, viewed by Delgado so she can better understand the impact of the student’s situation. She reviews the form and does external research if necessary, and then schedules a one-on-one meeting with the student.

“I think that’s what is really good about this process,” Delgado said. “I’m not just seeing this student on paper; I’m getting an opportunity to meet with them.”

This process helps Delgado gain a better sense of each student’s needs, which allows her to make highly informed choices to best accommodate Lawrentians with disabilities.

“Accommodations are provided to give students with disabilities equal access to the residential and academic opportunities as their peers,” Delgado said. “If a request does not demonstrate a connection between their functional limitation due to their disability or diagnosis and their need for the accommodation, it might not be approved.”

Accessibility Services works to accommodate students with visible and invisible disabilities. Delgado said she appreciates how growing awareness of disabilities and mental health has helped destigmatize them.

In addition to her role as director of Accessibility Services, Delgado said she’s excited to serve as ��ý��Ƶ’s ADA coordinator.

“Campus is beautiful; we want to keep and create safe spaces where all students can go and have the same accessibility they have here [in the Center for Academic Success],” Delgado said, pointing to the wider, wheelchair-accessible hallways and doors on the second floor of the Seeley G. Mudd Library. “We want to make sure we’re working with everyone, whether it be Facility Services or building designers, so we’re meeting those regulations and being an accessible campus.”

Feeling at home

Delgado is thrilled to be part of the ��ý��Ƶ community and loves the college town vibe of Appleton.

“I went to school in Boulder, Colorado,” Delgado said. “My best friend from college lives here. When I would come visit, I was like, ‘This feels like Boulder.’”

After working with a behavioral company in California, Delgado moved to Appleton. She worked with the local school district before coming to ��ý��Ƶ. Delgado loves how her position combines her passions for accessibility and education, and she is excited to help make ��ý��Ƶ a place for everyone.

Delgado urges students with any questions about accessibility and Accessibility Services to visit their webpage, newly updated by Joanna Morey, or email her directly at noemi.delgado@lawrence.edu.

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17 Days of Kindness returns to campus for second year, beginning April 27

Communications — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 21:13:53 +0000

Kindness is a tradition worth embracing.

17 Days of Kindness, a campaign launched last spring in advance of the inauguration of President Laurie A. Carter, returns for a second year, beginning April 27 and carrying through May 13.

Led by the Office of Student Engagement, Activities, and Leadership (SEAL), it will feature giveaways across campus, free chair massages, the making of s’mores with President Carter at Hamar House, karaoke, Big Prize Bingo, a community scavenger hunt, and more.

17 Days of Kindness is meant to remind us of what is a year-round message at ��ý��Ƶ—kindness matters. Putting a spotlight on gratitude and outreach in big and small ways is quickly growing into a Spring Term tradition.

See all the details of the 17 Days of Kindness campaign here.

Stay tuned to�� on Instagram through the 17 Days for virtual opportunities to celebrate and practice kindness. Also watch for Instagram posts from��SEAL @��and��SOUP @��throughout the campaign.

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Cael Neary’s artistic vision turns wall space to safe space in Memorial Hall

Communications — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:52:49 +0000

The Gender and Sexuality Diversity Center in ��ý��Ƶ’s Memorial Hall now features a large, colorful mural, painted by Cael Neary ’17.

Neary, an Appleton artist, said the mural is part of a goal to make the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Center at ��ý��Ƶ more inviting to students.

“This space should be something welcoming, inspiring, uplifting, comfortable,” Neary said, “and also, I thought, something very colorful, something lively.”

Cael Neary ’17 began the mural project in April and continued work through much of Spring Term.

A studio art major, Neary graduated from ��ý��Ƶ in 2017. They have remained in Appleton with their partner and keep in touch with ��ý��Ƶ faculty and staff. With ��ý��Ƶ already planning for a mural in that space, Meghan Sullivan, the Uihlein Fellow of Studio Art, reached out to Neary to gauge interest.

“She knew they were looking for someone to do this, so she said, ‘Hey, you’re still around, and this might be a project that is close to your heart that you’d want to do and have the skills for,’ so I jumped on that,” Neary said.

They started the project in early April. This was Neary’s first mural, but they already had experience painting on canvas. Using existing skills and new insights, Neary first planned out the mural digitally, gained approval from the students running the space, and gathered ladders and other supplies needed to tackle a makeover of the nine-foot wall.

“It was kind of ideal to do an indoor one first to not have to deal with weather,” Neary said. “You mostly do surface research and spend a lot of time on design work behind the scenes.”

Drawing from a personal love of sunflowers, especially those painted by Vincent van Gogh, Neary decided on a floral theme to represent inclusion and self-expression.

“One of the reasons I went with flowers instead of figurative work … is I don’t want to leave anyone out,” Neary said, “I thought about a sunflower that hasn’t opened yet being for people who maybe haven’t figured themselves out yet, who are in the process of coming out, or who are maybe closeted.”

A love of sunflowers helped inspire Cael Neary ’17.��

Neary also included various pride flags in the mural.

“I couldn’t fit all of them because there are so many, so I chose a number of them that I thought most people could relate to and find themselves in,” they said.

Neary is interested in doing more murals while continuing to explore oil painting.

“Both my senior show work and the mural are more graphic and stylized in nature, and I like painting that way, but I am currently pursuing my technical training with oil painting and painting true-to-life realism,” they said.

“I thought about a sunflower that hasn’t opened yet being for people who maybe haven’t figured themselves out yet, who are in the process of coming out, or who are maybe closeted.”
– Cael Neary ’17

For other studio art majors or artists in general, Neary’s advice is to never stop creating.

“One of my favorite speeches to go back to if you’re feeling down or uninspired or you’re having a really difficult day is Neil Gaiman’s graduation speech,” Neary said. “It’s titled Make Good Art, which you can find on YouTube. I think anyone could listen to that and just be like, ‘Ah, yes. OK, I can do this.’ I know I definitely listened to that on at least one occasion making this.” The speech was given at Philadelphia’s University of the Arts in 2012.

Neary said there’s pride in being part of enhancing the Gender and Sexuality Diversity Center, which is such an important space on campus.

“People were fighting for a long time to have a permanent area on campus for queer students, staff, and faculty,” Neary said. “Making something beautiful out of something painful is something I think a lot of LGBTQ people can relate to. … I think it’s easy if you’re walking by every day to be curious and feel that this space is inviting.”

Karina Herrera ’22 contributed to this story.

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Miller, Peregrine, Lin, Smith honored with annual faculty awards at Commencement

Communications — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:30:38 +0000

Four faculty members—Brigetta Miller ’89, Peter Peregrine, Nancy Lin, and Jesús Gregorio Smith—were honored during Sunday’s Commencement ceremony with annual teaching awards, among the highest honors given at ��ý��Ƶ.

Miller, an associate professor of music who has been on the ��ý��Ƶ faculty since 1996, received the 2022 Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Peregrine, professor of anthropology and a member of the faculty since 1995, is the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Scholarship.
Lin, assistant professor of art history, joined ��ý��Ƶ in 2016 and is one of two recipients of the Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member.
Smith, assistant professor of ethnic studies, joined ��ý��Ƶ in 2017 and is also a recipient of the Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member.

Brigetta Miller: Award for Excellence in Teaching

Brigetta Miller ’89

Provost and Dean of Faculty Catherine Gunther Kodat praised Miller for her contributions in teaching both music education and ethnic studies.

“You embody the promise of ��ý��Ƶ as a place that uniquely values the arts, liberal arts, diversity, and inclusion,” Kodat said in reading the award citation. “And you have come to embody, as well, the university’s core commitment to excellence in teaching, serving as an empathetic and patient guide to students eager to challenge themselves and make the world a better place.”

See coverage of the June 12 Commencement ceremony

Miller, a ��ý��Ƶ alumna and member of the Stockbridge-Munsee (Mohican) Nation and a descendant of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin, has been active as a faculty advisor to LUNA (��ý��Ƶ Native Americans) since it was founded in 2008 and has served as a Posse mentor.

“Student course evaluations offer vivid testimony to your kindness, enthusiasm, and dedication to nurturing success and achievement within community,” Kodat said.

She shared this quote from a student in Miller’s Contemporary Native American Women class: “Every course should be like this at ��ý��Ƶ: focused on building relationships and trust with each other as peers, and focus[ed] on intentional discussions and work.”

Peter Peregrine: Award for Excellence in Scholarship

Peter Peregrine

Kodat applauded Peregrine for nearly three decades worth of scholarship in publishing articles, editing essay collections, writing and editing textbooks, and garnering significant grants to help fund a wide range of important research.

“As an archeologist with an interest in cross-cultural research, anthropological theory, and museum studies, you have made major research contributions to your field that I am pleased to recognize today,” Kodat said.

Peregrine’s work has provided significant “contributions to the understanding of cultural evolution and adaptation, helping us see how the lessons of the past might inform action in the future” she said.

This is the second time Peregrine has received the Excellence in Scholarship Award. The first came in 2012, shortly after he was elected as a fellow of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science.

“Your many accomplishments since then include your membership in the external faculty of the Sante Fe Institute, where you were brought in as a collaborator on a John Templeton Foundation-funded project to explore processes of cultural evolution,” Kodat said. “The data you collected on the evolution of cities led to an invitation to participate in a National Science Foundation-funded project to explore social resilience to climate change among non-industrial societies. A critical insight from that work is the importance of political participation as an aspect of social resilience.”

Nancy Lin: Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member

Nancy Lin

Lin joined the ��ý��Ƶ faculty in 2016 shortly after receiving her Ph.D. in art history from the University of Chicago. She brought expertise in early 20th century Japanese and Korean Art.

“You introduced new topics of study to the college, providing many students—and not a few of your faculty colleagues—with their first sustained engagement with the glorious history and traditions of East Asian art,” Kodat said.

Lin has helped to transform some of the core art history courses and the Senior Seminar. But beyond that, Kodat said, Lin made an immediate impact with her ability to engage with her students and colleagues in meaningful ways.

“Again and again, students and colleagues praise your kindness, thoughtful patience, and uncanny ability to balance empathy with rigor to help students achieve their best work,” Kodat said.

One student praised Lin’s ability to push students to think critically and creatively: “Through the courses I have taken with Professor Lin, I have grown in confidence as not only an art historian, but a liberal arts student.”

Jesús Gregorio Smith: Award for Excellent Teaching by an Early Career Faculty Member

Jesús Gregorio Smith

Smith joined the ��ý��Ƶ faculty in 2017 after earning his Ph.D. in sociology from Texas A&M University. He helped launch ethnic studies as a major and has been a big part of the program’s growth over the past five years.

“The ethnic studies program at ��ý��Ƶ when you arrived as its sole tenure-track faculty member was a small but mighty band of dedicated faculty,” Kodat said. “They were determined to build a program that at the time offered only a minor into a set of course offerings and a curricular presence that would be major, in every sense of the word. That dream is coming to pass, thanks in great part to your sterling contributions.”

Kodat said colleagues have praised Smith for the ways he has “created spaces for sustained critical inquiry and scholarly investigation,” including organizing campus-wide events that initiate “difficult but necessary conversations that help create conditions of honesty, connection, and community.”

Smith’s commitment to students shows through in how students respond to his teaching and mentorship, Kodat said.

One student surveyed said of Smith: “He never accepted a simple answer to a question and pushed all of us to think harder and more complexly about topics for our papers, but he was also always present to encourage and support us.”

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17 Days of Kindness campaign to lead into May 13 presidential inauguration

Communications — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 16:19:31 +0000

Before the ��ý��Ƶ community gathers for the May 13 inauguration of President Laurie A. Carter, there will be a celebration of kindness.

17 Days of Kindness begins April 27, with moments of gratitude, special activities, and giveaways planned to remind us to embrace kindness in our daily lives. It will continue across the ��ý��Ƶ campus through inauguration day and will use the hashtag #BeKindLU on social media.��

Events will include Sunday S’mores with Carter outside of Hamar House, LU Bingo, and a campus scavenger hunt, among other engagement opportunities.

Cole Hepburn, an enrollment fellow, is heading up the kindness initiative, planning kindness outreach—both in person and digitally—over the 17 days.

“17 Days of Kindness is bigger than just being nice to people,” Hepburn said. “It’s an initiative to engage with one another through mutual respect and connect with peers you may not even know.”

Video: ��ý��Ƶ students talk about what kindness means to them.

—

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 ��ý��Ƶ last July, will be inaugurated May 13 as the 17th president since ��ý��Ƶ 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 ��ý��Ƶ 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.

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Co-captain Herrera on Kenya Earl: “I have never heard her brag about herself”

Communications — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 15:30:07 +0000

While all of ��ý��Ƶ has enjoyed the basketball exploits of Kenya Earl since she arrived on campus five years ago, perhaps no one has had a better view of her record-setting run than Karina Herrera. They played together on the women’s basketball team for four years, shared co-captain duties the past two years, and have developed a close friendship off the court. Herrera, a student writer in the Communications office, sat down with Earl to talk about their journey.

—

As the end of Winter Term draws near, so do the athletic careers of senior winter sports athletes. I am feeling grateful for so much as my journey as a player and co-captain of the ��ý��Ƶ’s women’s basketball team has come to an end. I have made many great memories and even better friends.

As I look back at my basketball experiences, there’s one person in particular I want to talk about. Let it be known that ��ý��Ƶ’s Kenya Earl is a basketball star. But even more so, she is my co-captain and one of my closest friends. I want to take time to honor and share my experiences playing alongside her.

On Feb. 20, we played our last game of the season against Monmouth College. Kenya scored a team-high 15 points, cementing her spot in our school’s history books as the greatest scorer of all time—men and women—with 1,610 points. It was only a few days before in a home game against Ripon College that she surpassed three-time All American Chris Braier ‘06, who held the record at 1,565 points.

Kenya Earl plays in her final game on Feb. 20. She finished her career with 1,610 points.

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 ��ý��Ƶ 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.”

As co-captains, Kenya Earl and Karina Herrera helped build a culture of teamwork and responsibility. “I hope they carry on what we’ve done as captains,” Earl said.

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.”

The post Co-captain Herrera on Kenya Earl: “I have never heard her brag about herself” appeared first on ��ý��Ƶ.

Meet the new dean of students: Chris Clarke brings wide range of experiences

Communications — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:23:06 +0000

Chris Clarke, ��ý��Ƶ’s new dean of students, feels right at home on a liberal arts campus.

“The seeds were planted long ago,” he said, referring to his undergraduate studies at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York, and his graduate school work at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York.

“I also worked for a time at a number of smaller liberal arts institutions—The Juilliard School, Manhattan, Wagner College,” Clarke said. “Really, there’s an affinity for that population and that kind of environment.”

Clarke, who began his new duties at ��ý��Ƶ on Feb. 7, said he wants to be an advocate for students.

“I want to make sure that students know that I’m here for them, to help them get the best out of their experience here at ��ý��Ƶ,” he said. “And I want ��ý��Ƶ to know that I’m protecting our student body and our community and making proper decisions to make sure the welfare of all is being taken into consideration.”

Clarke comes to ��ý��Ƶ after spending the past two years as the associate vice president of operations at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. His work there involved leadership in human resources, public safety, and campus facilities, overseeing the university’s COVID response, and for a time serving as interim dean of students.

It’s also a time when he worked with then-Shippensburg President Laurie Carter, who became president of ��ý��Ƶ in July 2021.

“I think highly of her and her leadership style,” Clarke said. “I saw great things in my time working for her, so that was something that made this a very easy decision for me.”

Clarke, who holds a juris doctor degree from Pace University in White Plains, New York, has worked across multiple departments on college campuses over the past couple of decades, including being associate dean of students at SIT Study Abroad (World Learning) in Brattleboro, Vermont, director of residence life at Juilliard, and director of housing and assistant dean for campus life at Wagner. He also spent six years working for a realty group in New York City.

“I think I bring a wealth of experience from a variety of departments within student affairs, from recreation to residence life to risk management to international students to counseling,” he said.

That experience will be especially valuable, Clarke said, as he and his staff work with students who have lived through two years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There will be an ongoing focus on the well-being of students,” he said.

Clarke’s first three years of work in higher education were at Ripon College, where he served as a hall director and director of intramural sports. The move to ��ý��Ƶ marks his return to Wisconsin. He said he’ll be joined in Appleton by his partner, Karen, and their three children, ages 2, 7, and 9.

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Building Brilliance With … Brittany Bell: Mentoring, supporting diverse voices

Communications — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 02:22:15 +0000

��ý��Ƶ this series: Building Brilliance With … is a periodic Q&A in which we shine a light on a ��ý��Ƶ staff member whose work helps support ��ý��Ƶ’s students and the university’s mission.��

Brittany Bell, Ed.D., is all about the student journey.

As assistant dean of students and director of the��at ��ý��Ƶ, Bell is an important resource for students. In the D&IC, located in Memorial Hall, Bell and her staff provide a welcoming, inclusive, and creative gathering space for students of diverse backgrounds.

She came to ��ý��Ƶ in early 2019 after six and half years on the staff at St. Norbert College, where she served as assistant director of multicultural student services and then student success librarian.

Since arriving at ��ý��Ƶ, she has raised the profile of the D&IC, remodeled the space to make it a welcoming place where students can gather, study, and socialize, launched educational programming, and has become a valuable mentor for students and student organizations on campus.

Bell, the mother of three girls with her spouse, Chris, contributed a chapter to the recently published book,��Teaching Beautiful Brilliant Black Girls. It was published by SAGE Publications and came out earlier this year. Her chapter, co-written by Ramycia McGhee, is on colorism in the classroom.

She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a master’s from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and a doctorate from Edgewood College.

Outside of work, Bell and her family operate the De Pere-based God’s Purpose Apparel, designing and selling clothing and accessories that feature motivational and faith-inspired sayings, with monies being donated to nonprofits serving the homeless community.

We caught up with Bell for a Q&A to talk about her work on campus and what inspires her.

What excites you the most about the work you do with ��ý��Ƶ students?

It’s getting to know our students, learning more about their stories and aspirations. As I listen, I capture those first moments and then do what I can to support them along their journey. It’s exciting to do it all over again year after year.

As director of the Diversity and Intercultural Center and assistant dean of students, you play an important role in our students’ college journeys beyond the classroom. Why is that so critical to their ��ý��Ƶ experience?

The best way to describe it is I am an ally, mentor, and I serve as a resource for students. Part of my role is leading the Diversity and Intercultural Center (D&IC). The D&IC��is a space where students can come together.��We promote programming that educates and encourages conversation, and celebrations that embrace culture and identity in oneself and others. The space and staff at the D&IC provide an��inclusive environment for students to thrive personally, socially, and academically. An opportunity we’ve created is the Program for Leadership of Underrepresented Students (PLUS), a peer mentoring program that assists students during their first year.

What drew you to a career working in higher education?

My own experience. During my time in college I learned how significant it was to have college leaders and mentors who were supportive during my journey. One day��after completing my internship at a news station,��I remember sitting in my mentor’s office. It was the end of my junior year, and after the internship experience, I decided I no longer wanted to be a news reporter. I didn’t know what to do and felt like I had wasted time and money. My mentor sat with me and we talked, and it was that day that I learned that I had options, ones that included me doing what I loved—letting my light shine bright and helping students through their journey.��

What did the past year and a half—the pandemic, the social unrest—teach you about the work you and your��staff��do?

The pandemic and social unrest has magnified the importance of all voices being heard. We learned how important it is to invite peers, colleagues, and friends to join us on this journey as we continue work toward creating change in our community.

What is one thing you do away from campus that helps you recharge your batteries or otherwise brings you joy?

One thing I do when I’m away from campus, besides being with my spouse and children, that brings me joy is when I’m designing. As an artist, I’m always amazed by the process from start to finish. I get to listen to the creativity from others and I take their ideas and form it into something wonderful. Since I was 5 years old, art has always been my go-to, and now when I see people wearing apparel or using business projects I’ve designed, it brings me joy knowing I’m making an impact in multiple ways.

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Respect Archives - �������ý��Ƶ

179th Matriculation Convocation: We are �������ý��Ƶ. And that includes you.