Schedule of Events

Reunion Headquarters and Residence Halls Open at 4 p.m. CT. Please check in there first to receive your name badge and schedule of events, as well as your residence hall key, if staying on campus.

By Invitation Only / Free to Attend / Registration Required

Alumni awards honor individuals for their service to Lawrence, their service to society, and their professional achievements. Lawrence University is pleased to kick off Reunion 2024 with this celebration dinner honoring some of our most distinguished alumni. Remarks will be made by LUAA Board of Directors President Matt Murphy '06 and Lawrence University President Laurie Carter.

The Lucia Russell Briggs Distinguished Achievement Award: Cynthia L. Estlund '78

The Nathan M. Pusey Young Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award: Jacob George Allen '03

The George B. Walter '36 Service to Society Award: Christina Balch '03 and Donald Brunnquell '74 (posthumously)

The Gertrude Breithaupt Jupp M-D'18 Outstanding Service Award: Rick Davis '80, Jill Manuel '84, Bonnie Maas McClellan M-D'62 and Eileen Paulson Johnson M-D'66

The Marshall B. Hulbert '26 Outstanding Service Award: Adam Locke '03

$42 per person/Registration Required / Cash Only Beer & Wine Bar

All are welcome to attend.

Breakfast is $8/person, all-you-can-eat hot breakfast buffet. No registration is required. Cashless - Credit & Debit Card Only accepted at the door.

Separate registration required.

https://lawrence.alumniq.com/index.cfm/events:register/home/eventId/327

How the technology behind Bitcoin is revolutionizing record fraud and ownership in Africa

There have been a series of recent scandals in Africa where professionals like doctors and lawyers are practicing with fake educational credentials. This poses a challenge to authorities around the world but is affecting Africa in particular. Young African professionals suffer the consequences as they seek jobs and encounter suspicion about the validity of their qualifications. At the same time, African countries are struggling with how to create and verify health records like vaccinations, that are required for various travel or events. In this session, you will learn about these challenges and how blockchain technology can help address them. You’ve likely heard about BitCoin, a cryptocurrency. But did you know that blockchain is the technology that powers it? Blockchain technology is a method for storing and authenticating data that is highly secure, stable, scalable, inexpensive, and offers instant transactions. In addition to verification, blockchain can help Africans own and monetize their own data, which currently generates billions of dollars outside of the continent.

Dr. Catherine Lephoto '97 (BA, Biology and Chemistry) is a tech entrepreneur, molecular biologist (PhD - University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg '02), and qualified brewer, with extensive B2B technical sales experience and a passion for the development of the African continent. After an accomplished career in academia, she held leadership roles in several multinational corporations in the food and beverage industry on the African continent. As Deputy CEO of the National Covid-19 Secretariat, she led the Covid-19 response program of the Kingdom of Lesotho (2020 - 2021). She is based in Johannesburg and serves as the Executive Director for Global Partnerships with VX Technologies, a verified blockchain records company domiciled in Wyoming.

The 100th Meridian Project: Making Theater at the Intersection of Science, Policy, and History

Join in a discussion about the ongoing development of a multi-disciplinary performance piece that explores the historical roots of the Western water crisis, from the 1860s to the present. The project began in 2015 and had its most recent manifestation in April '23 at the Kennedy Center as part of their "RiverRun Festival" of environmental-themed artwork. "The 100th Meridian Project" uses documentary theater techniques to address the question of how good science can lead to bad public policy. This class includes (voluntary) audience participation in a brief excerpt from the work-in-progress.

Rick Davis '80 (BA, Theatre and Drama) became Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) of George Mason University in May, 2015. He joined Mason in 1991 as Artistic Director of Theater of the First Amendment, a professional resident company, and a member of the theater faculty. His publications include four books, several translations, numerous articles, and several libretti (for opera, oratorio, and song cycle), including two with composer Kim D. Sherman, LU '76. After Lawrence, he attended the Yale School of Drama, receiving an M.F.A. in 1983 and a D.F.A. in 2003.

Navigating New Applications of AI in Academia and Industry: Efficacy, Ethics, and Inclusivity

Are you wondering how AI and large language models (LLMs) are going to play a role in your life? How will these tools be used in your profession? How will they impact our children and grandchildren as AI and LLMs are integrated into primary, secondary, and university education? Will AI enhance or erode the ability of our children and grandchildren to be creative and think critically? How are AI tools going to be used ethically in politics, advertising, and the creative arts? Come join us for a lively panel discussion on these topics led by Lawrence faculty and your fellow alumni who are involved in fields where these tools are already having a major impact: science, the legal system, entertainment, and education.

Thomas M. Baer '74 (BA, Physics) is the Executive Director of the Stanford University Photonics Research Center (retired) and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Stanford University. He earned a PhD in Atomic Physics from the University of Chicago.

Gail J. Sonnemann '74 (BA, Music) is a Career Librarian and served as an Information Systems Specialist (retired) with the U.S. Copyright Office. She earned an AMLS degree from the University of Michigan.

Mark T. Nelson '74 (BA, Music) is CEO and President of Microscopy Innovations in Marshfield WI. He earned an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Joseph J. Bruce '74 (BA, Government) served as Illinois 17th Circuit Court Judge (retired). He earned a JD from the George Washington School of Law.

Connie Kassor is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Special Assistant to the President at Lawrence University. Dr. Kassor teaches courses on Buddhist thought and Asian religious traditions and is a leader in developing Lawrence's approach to Artificial Intelligence on campus. She earned her BA in Philosophy and Buddhist Studies from Smith College and a PhD in Religious Studies from Emory University.

Missing Mothers: The Maternal Mortality Crisis in the United States

Over the past few years, several articles, television features, and news stories have highlighted the fact that the United States has the worst maternal mortality rate of all developed nations. For those of us who work in the field of high-risk obstetrics, however, this information was not new. Annie Dude '99 and Carolynn Dude '03—both Maternal Fetal Medicine physicians—will use case presentations to help participants understand how maternal mortality is measured, what factors in the US health care have contributed to the maternal health crisis, and how the legal landscape after the Supreme Court decision in the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health Organization has made a hard job even harder.

Annie Dude '99 (BA, Biology and English) is a board-certified Maternal Fetal Medicine physician at a major medical school in the southeastern United States. After Lawrence, she was a Rotary scholar in the UK and then completed an MD/PHD in from the University of Chicago. She completed her Ob GYN residency training at Duke University and the University of Illinois-Chicago and her MFM Fellowship at Northwestern. Dr. Dude's professional interests include maternal medical disease in pregnancy (HIV, diabetes, and hypertension) and resident/fellow education.

Carolynn Dude '03 (BA, Biology and Chemistry) is aboard certified Maternal Fetal Medicine physician at a major health system based in Illinois. After Lawrence, she went to the University of Cambridge on a Rotary scholarship to complete a PhD in Developmental Biology. She then returned to the University of Wisconsin for her medical degree, and then went to Duke for her Ob GYN residency and the University of Pennsylvania for her MFM Fellowship. Dr. Dude recently moved back to the Midwest after several years at Emory University where her research focused on infectious diseases and vaccination during pregnancy.

Can We Work Together Remotely?

Remote work exploded during the pandemic, and it is now here to stay for many workers much of the time. What does that mean for the social dimension of work—that is, for the value of people working together to employers, workers, and the society? Evidence is beginning to roll in regarding the impact of remote work on productivity and on workers' own experiences of work—especially work-life balance. The impact of remote work on the societal value of working together is least appreciated and hardest to study, and it is least likely to be factored into the decisions that workers and employers make about the quantity and quality of remote work. Let's discuss.

Cynthia Estlund '78 (BA, Government)is the Crystal Eastman Professor at the New York University School of Law. She has published widely on the law and regulation of work, including four books—Automation Anxiety: Why and How to Save Work (Oxford, 2021); A New Deal for China's Workers? (Harvard,2017); Regoverning the Workplace: From Self-Regulation to Co-Regulation (Yale, 2010); and Working Together: How Workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy (Oxford, 2003)—two co-edited volumes and over eighty articles, book chapters, reviews and essays. Before joining the law faculty at NYU, she taught at the University of Texas School of Law and Columbia Law School. She holds a BA (summa cum laude) from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and a JD from the Yale Law School.

Journalism in Crisis

What is happening in the news business, and why is our democracy at stake if we don't fix it? The answers are complicated. This class will examine how we got here, the current media landscape, and the imperative quest to engage Generation Z with credible information.

Jill Manuel '84 (BA, Philosophy) is a distinguished alumna with an MA in Public Communications from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. She currently serves as the Director of Content for KXTV-TV in Sacramento. Jill's extensive experience as a news and communications executive, coupled with her innovative approach to storytelling and audience engagement, has cemented her reputation as a leader in the field of journalism. Her work has garnered prestigious awards, including a George Foster Peabody Award and two Peabody nominations, a duPont-Columbia, two national Edward R. Murrow awards, and consecutive Northern California NATAS Emmy Awards for Overall Excellence/News Excellence.

Lunch is $12/person, all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. No registration required. Cashless - Credit & Debit Card Only accepted at the door.

Our Milwaukee Marie Curie: Elda Anderson's Forgotten Legacy

Elda Emma Anderson (1899-1961) was a well-known, beloved figure in physics during the first half of the 20th Century. A Wisconsin native and alumna of Ripon College and UW Madison, Dr. Anderson's early career was a testament to her passion forteaching: from her creation of the Division of Sciences at Estherville Junior College (and becoming its first dean) at the age of 25 to her nearly two decades-long tenure at Milwaukee-Downer College, where she became the first woman to earn tenure in—and chair—the physics department. An accomplished experimentalist, she joined the Manhattan Project during WWII, one of the few women who worked at the Los Alamos Lab as a scientist. Her work—she produced the first pure Uranium-235 sample—was critical to the success of the project and the end of the war. After the war, in response to the horror of atomic war, she helped found the Health Physics Society, where she worked exhaustively on radiation safety and the biological effects of radiation. Each year following her death in 1961, the Elda Anderson Award in Health Physics is given in her honor. Despite her significance, Dr. Anderson remains largely unknown at Lawrence—the only tribute is the name of one of the campus computer servers. In this session, Dr. Megan Pickett will discuss Dr. Anderson's legacy, and the plans we have for amplifying and celebrating this amazing woman, scientist, and teacher.

Megan Pickett is an Associate Professor of Physics at Lawrence University. She earned her BA in Physics at Cornell University and an MA in Astronomy and PhD in Astrophysics from Indiana University Bloomington.

Why We Need Ethnic Studies Now More Than Ever

Race-related pedagogies and institutional programming have increasingly been challenged across the U.S. and abroad. Join Drs. Jesús Smith and Sigma Colón to discuss the necessary work of addressing racial justice issues and the role that the Ethnic Studies department at Lawrence plays in doing this work. They will provide an overview of developments within the Ethnic Studies department and the issues they aim to address through the curriculum and broader community programming. Come learn about the critical work Ethnic Studies is doing to contribute to our campus community and the larger Fox Cities.

Sigma Colón is an Assistant Professor of Environmental and Ethnic Studies at Lawrence University. She received her PhD in American Studies from Yale University and her MA in History and BA in English from the University of Arizona. Her research and teaching focuses on the intersections of environmental issues with systems of social injustice in the U.S. and globally.

Jesús Gregorio Smith is an Associate Professor and chair of the Ethnic Studies Program as well as an Associated Colleges of the Midwest(ACM) Andrew W. Mellon Fellow. He received his PhD in Sociology in 2017 from Texas A&M University where he studied the intersections of systemic racism, masculinity, and sexuality and how they influence mental and sexual health.

What does it mean to be a classical singer in a post-pandemic world?

This session will explore the relevance of classical music in our world today, what it means to work as a professional singer in a world that has little financial space for opera, and how to successfully navigate the current operatic systems in the US and Europe.

Hailed by Opera News for her "velvety mezzo," Zoie Reams '14 has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Minnesota Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Austin Opera, and others. A Chicago native, Zoie received her Master of Music degree from Louisiana State University and is a graduate of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Her concert highlights include the Messiah at the Washington National Cathedral, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the National Symphony Orchestra, and A Child of Our Time with the New York Choral Society at Carnegie Hall. Zoie will be performing in The Gambler at Salzburg Festspiele in the summer of 2024 followed by both Rigoletto and Jennie Tesori's Blue with Lyric Opera Chicago in the fall of 2024.

Local Craft Beer – Art and Science in a Pint Glass!

Wisconsin's rich history of beer and brewing is alive and well in Appleton, and Lawrence has a seat at this Craft Beer Table. Join Allison McCoy Fleshman, Associate Professor of Chemistry and co-owner of McFleshman's Brewing Co., on a tour of the brewery that she and her husband built, which specializes in German Lagers and British Ales. We will sample the rich history of German and British beer styles and explore the art of fermentation science. Dr. Fleshman will share the importance of the beer glass, what cask-conditioning is all about, and how they use science to make the perfect pint. Cheers!

Allison McCoy Fleshman is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Lawrence University and co-owner of McFleshman's Brewing Company. She earned a BS in Physics and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Fleshman is a physical chemist, and her research focuses on ion motion at the fundamental level as well as identifying pigments and inks in Medieval illuminated manuscripts using spectroscopic techniques.

A campus shuttle will be available for those who would like a ride downtown for this event.

This is a 21-and-over event.

Join other LGBTQIA+ identified alums and current faculty and staff for a casual meet & greet; see old friends and meet new ones! Some information will be provided by Helen Boyd Kramer, the gender and sexual diversity coordinator for campus.

Academic departments and programs will host open houses in their buildings. Reconnect with your favorite faculty members and staff and meet new ones.

$50 per person/Registration Required

Hosted Beer/Wine Bar

$45 per person/ Registration Required

Cash Only Beer/Wine Bar

$15 per child/Registration Required

Parents, let the kids play while you have your own fun! We will have activities and food for children from the ages of 5 to 12. Please make sure each child is registered for this event.

All alumni are invited to attend a recital featuring talented alumni musicians from all decades.

Breakfast is $8/person, all-you-can-eat hot breakfast buffet. No registration required. Cashless - Credit & Debit Card Only accepted at the door.

Join the traditional 5k fun run/walk for all ages, named in memorial for Coach Gene Davis.

Free to attend/Registration is required

Join Director of Athletics Jason Imperati and his coaching staff for a celebration of Vikings Athletics. In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of Women's Basketball at Lawrence during the 2025-26 season, we are proud to shine a spotlight on our Women's Basketball alumnae as part of this reception.

Join your classmates in the march to the Memorial Chapel for Reunion Convocation.

Free to attend/No Registration Required

Celebrate Reunion with President Laurie Carter at this annual all-Reunion event that recognizes the special contributions made by Lawrentians and Downerites. The program features the presentation of alumni awards and Reunion class gifts, music by the Alumni Choir, and President Carter's Convocation address.

Free to Attend/ No Registration Required

$12 per person / Registration Required

$30 per person / Registration Required

$25 per person / Registration Required

A special event for our Milwaukee-Downer alumnae and alumni celebrating Golden Reunions.

As Lawrence ushers in an era of renewed partnership and collaboration, join Dr. Kenny E. Yarbrough, Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Antiracism, and Support Services, for lively conversation and reception with alumni and Fox Cities community leaders of color. Sponsored by the Lawrence University Black Alumni Network (LUBAN) and LUAA Alumni of Color.

Free to Attend for all Founders Club & Legacy Circle Members / Registration Required

President Carter invites all current Founders Club and Lawrence-Downer Legacy Circle members to a reception honoring those who generously support the university.

• 40th Reunion/ Class of 1984: Lawrence Memorial Chapel Steps
• 45th Reunion/ Class of 1978,79,80: Wriston Amphitheatre
• 50th Reunion/ Class of 1974: Main Hall North Steps

• 10th Reunion/Class of 2014: Main Hall North Steps
• 20th Reunion/Class of 2003,04,05: Wriston Amphitheatre
• 25th Reunion/Class of 1999: Lawrence Memorial Chapel Steps

$45 per person / Registration Required

Cash Only Beer/Wine Bar

$45 per person / Registration Required

Cash Beer/Wine Bar

$45 per person / Registration Required

Cash Beer/Wine Bar

$50 per person / Registration Required

Hosted Beer/Wine Bar

$45 per person / Registration Required

Cash Beer/Wine Bar

$45 per person / Registration Required

Cash Beer/Wine Bar

$15 per child / Registration Required

Parents, let the kids play while you have your own fun! We will have activities and food for children from the ages of 5 to 12. Please make sure each child is registered for this event.

Breakfast is $8/person, all-you-can-eat hot breakfast buffet. No registration required. Cashless - Credit & Debit Card Only accepted at the door.

Discover or revisit Lawrence's beautiful northern campus located on Lake Michigan in picturesque Door County. Spend the day touring the historical chapel, hiking the many nature trails, or relaxing on the lakeside decks.

Motorcoach bus transportation and lunch will be provided. Luggage may be stored in the motorcoach. If you prefer to drive yourself, you may select the $15 no-transportation-needed rate when registering for this event.

Meet at the Wriston turnaround on Lawe Street at 7:45 a.m. Advance registration is required for this event, which has an additional fee. We are unable to accept walk-up registration.

Free to Attend/No Registration Required

We have so very much to be grateful for and the lives of those who have died to celebrate. Join Terra Winston-Sage '00, Julie Esch Hurvis Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life, along with other alumni, to celebrate the deep connections we share with each other and with our world through a multifaith offering of prayers, wisdom and music.