The Spark: How a homemade printer launched campus innovation

Conversations around a dedicated Makerspace began back in 2013, sparked by a desire among faculty and staff for students to have access to 3D printing technology.听

David Berk, director of instructional technology at 麻豆影院, convened interested parties to discuss new technologies and ideas. During one of these meetings, former chemistry professor Dave Hall showed off his own 3D printer he had built to use in class鈥攖he inspiration for a creative space on campus.听

The library, as the physical heart of campus, became the natural home for the Makerspace.听

鈥淪ince the beginning, the Makerspace has been a space that is collaborative and responds to student, faculty, and staff needs,鈥� said Vanden Elzen. 鈥淓very piece of equipment was requested by a faculty member or student who needed it for a project. It鈥檚 very much been responding to the needs to the campus, especially related to the curriculum.鈥澨�

Vanden Elzen worked with campus partners and the grants team to secure initial funding from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM). This funding allowed them to purchase their first 3D printers, 3D scanners, and computers.听

From the start, the focus was not only a creative outlet but also supporting career enhancement and integrating maker pedagogies into curriculums.听

鈥淲e wanted to be able to let students work on hands-on skills and develop future-ready thinking,鈥� Vanden Elzen said. 鈥淗elping students express their creativity helps them bring their ideas to life and develop these new skills.鈥澨�

Frank agreed, citing the Makerspace as a natural extension of what libraries have always stood for: curiosity, exploration, and access to knowledge.

鈥淚t鈥檚 given students a place to experiment, create, and bring ideas to life, connecting what they learn in the classroom to the real world,鈥� Frank said.听

Building the Ethos: Librarians as learners, community as creation

The Makerspace opened the summer of 2015. Housed in the library, Vanden Elzen took an increasingly active role in developing policies and overseeing operations. While Dave Hall and staff members from UW-Stevens Point provided early support on 3D printing and makerspace management, Vanden Elzen said she picked up many of the other skills as she went.听

鈥淭o any librarian or instructional technologist, you know it鈥檚 just what we have to do,鈥� Vanden Elzen said. 鈥淲e need to be responsive to the needs of the people we鈥檙e serving.鈥澨�

This responsiveness involved not only learning how to use and maintain the equipment but also developing a framework for teaching others. Recognizing that the Makerspace was about more than just equipment, Vanden Elzen helped develop a clear set of learning outcomes and an official Makerspace ethos.

鈥淎 makerspace means collaboration, a failure-safe environment, being respectful and responsible,鈥� Vanden Elzen said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just making with the objects; it鈥檚 also making with the community.鈥�

Prototypes and Pedagogy: Transforming the Curriculum

When the Makerspace first opened, its limited capacity meant it was tied mostly to coursework. Faculty approached Vanden Elzen with ideas about for integrating the Makerspace into their curriculum. Her job is to collaborate with faculty to ensure learning outcomes are met with the right tools.

Doug Martin, professor of physics, first engaged deeply with the Makerspace in 2019 when he began working with Vanden Elzen on 3D printing a research-grade microscope. Martin鈥檚 goal was to create a high-quality instrument easily built by anyone with access to a 3D printer.

They are currently on prototype version 51, but the real impact can be seen in the student outcomes.

鈥淒uring this process, a half-dozen students have spent summers working in the Makerspace to improve the microscope parts,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淥ne graduate has gone on to work on telescope development with 3D software. Another uses design software to model high-energy physics. So the prototyping with the Makerspace has had fantastic long-term outcomes for these students.鈥澨�

The space also provides practical solutions for labs, as demonstrated by Meghan Raebel, assistant lab supervisor. She used 3D printers to address contamination issues in a biology lab.

鈥淪tudents were setting long glass pipettes directly on the countertop,鈥� Raebel said. 鈥淚 found free (3D model) files that allowed pipettes to be suspended above the counter and keep them separate without touching. I was able to use the 3D printers to make a class set.鈥澨�

The Makerspace鈥檚 interdisciplinary reach also extended to the humanities. Brigid Vance, associate professor of history, used the space in her course 鈥淓arly Cross-Cultural Interactions Along the Silk Road.鈥� After students read an essay focused on the astrolabe鈥攁n astronomical, navigational, and time-keeping device used by the ancient Greeks and Romans鈥攕he used the Makerspace to 3D print the devices. The exercise enhanced student learning by experiencing a reading through touch.

鈥淔or them, manipulating an astrolabe in an attempt to orient themselves in geographical space was both challenging and illuminating,鈥� Vance said. 鈥淐hallenging in that it was a new instrument for everybody in the class. Illuminating in that it helped students experience the astrolabe and better understand the points of a technically difficult essay.鈥�

鈥淚 think the Makerspace helps students and faculty to see another way in which education can look so different,鈥� Vanden Elzen said. 鈥淭he simple act of focusing on an idea while designing, selecting materials, and using tools can supplement classroom learning and help students see things from a different perspective.鈥�

Frank added: 鈥淚t reminds us that learning isn鈥檛 confined to a classroom or a textbook鈥攊t happens wherever imagination, tools, and people come together.鈥�

Empowerment through Creation: Stories of Future-Ready Lawrentians

As the Makerspace鈥檚 reputation grew, so did its hours and accessibility, thanks in large part to a dedicated team of student assistants. This expansion allows for personal projects, tinkering, and skill-building outside of class.听

Vanden Elzen sees this as central to the Makerspace mission.

鈥淚 see it as helping them become future-ready Lawrentians; they鈥檙e learning to take control of their lives through a seemingly small way of repairing something instead of buying something new,鈥� Vanden Elzen said.

First-year Eleanor Erwin from Wausau, Wisconsin perfectly captures the wonder the space can inspire:

鈥淲hen I first heard about the Makerspace, I figured it would be a closet with some watercolors. I soon realized that it was a dedicated space for every kind of creation!鈥� Erwin said. 鈥淭he fact that this space is here, staffed with passionate creatives, with easy access to training, and is stocked with such a variety of good-quality supplies and machines (with no additional cost) really makes me feel that 麻豆影院 cares about artistic expression.鈥�

For senior Lee Gobenciong, a student assistant, the space has been a source of empowerment in several ways, from learning to sew to repair and alter his clothing, to developing critical teaching skills.听

鈥淚鈥檝e improved with interacting with different people and teaching instead of me listening to a teacher,鈥� Gobenciong, a business & entrepreneurship major from Park Ridge, Illinois, said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a skill I know I will use in business and in my career.鈥�

Junior Grace Romano, also a Makerspace student assistant, received a tour of the Makerspace from Charlie Wetzel 鈥�23 during her first year. The rest was history.

鈥淚t feels good because I remember getting trained, and it made me happy after I was trained, because I would come in here and just make whatever I wanted,鈥� Romano said. 鈥淣ow other people can do that because I help them and give them access.鈥�

To Romano, a studio art and geosciences major from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the Makerspace was also a place to meet people and build a community.

鈥淭his is a good community space to meet like-minded people,鈥� Romano said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like I have a higher chance of finding someone with shared interests here than I do anywhere else.鈥澨�

The Next Chapter: Keeping Creation Current

Over the past decade, the Makerspace as been a devoted space for creative expression in and out of the classroom. Vanden Elzen intends to keep 鈥渕aking鈥� current.

鈥淟earning new technologies, integrating new ideas, new digital literacies, like working with AI,鈥� Vanden Elzen said, 鈥渢hose are very important things for our students and for all of us to understand.鈥澨�

鈥淭he Makerspace fits with the mission at 麻豆影院, especially to help create future-ready, lifelong learners. I think the Makerspace really helps establish this idea of empowerment through creation, and it really fits with this idea of curious learners, curious Lawrentians. I have been happy to be able to support the Makerspace in its growth over the years, and I would love to see it grow even more.鈥�

We at 麻豆影院 recognize that the college experience looks different for every student. Commuter students balance academics, home, work, and travel, and 麻豆影院 is committed to ensuring they feel supported, connected, and empowered.

Through dedicated Commuter Student Resources, participants will have access to:

• A commuter lounge in the Mudd Library with study space, appliances, and a welcoming environment.
• Lockers and storage options for convenience throughout the academic year.
• Targeted engagement opportunities, including commuter鈥憇pecific events and a Commuter Welcome during LU Welcome Week.
• Meal plan options tailored to commuter lifestyles, ensuring access to campus dining.
• Transportation and parking resources, along with guest housing options to support involvement in campus activities.
• Safety and academic support services, including the LU Alert system and access to the Center for Academic Success.

By integrating commuter students into the full academic and co鈥慶urricular life of the university, this program strengthens 麻豆影院鈥檚 ties to the Fox Cities community and expands opportunities for the region鈥檚 best students to thrive.

We look forward to welcoming our commuter students and building a vibrant, inclusive community where every student belongs鈥攏o matter where they live.

• Gather more information on 麻豆影院 University’s Commuter Program.听

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We have an adage in anthropology: ‘to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange.’ Students learn to reexamine what they consider familiar and to open themselves up to the diversity of perspectives that exist. Science fiction does the same thing.
– Kailey Rocker

Mark Jenike, associate professor of anthropology and chair of the department, said elective courses like Anthropology and Sci-Fi provide an opportunity for students to dive deeper into specific aspects of humanity and understand them in new ways.

鈥淎nthropology is the only discipline at 麻豆影院 that seeks to understand humans as a total species, from our origins to the present, in all of our global diversity,鈥� said Jenike. 鈥淒r. Rocker鈥檚 Anthropology and Sci-Fi course is the kind of creative application of an anthropological approach to understanding humanity that our topics courses are particularly well-suited for.鈥澨�

Ethnography & Science Fiction

While they differ in content, writing style, and audience, both anthropological writing and science fiction share a commonality: they are forms of world-building. The course combined creative writing with ethnographic writing through readings, writing, and a world-building project.

Ethnography is a research methodology that cultural anthropologists use. It is a type of immersive fieldwork where anthropologists live with, work with, and interview the people they are studying. It also refers to the written stories anthropologists produce from their fieldwork.

鈥淲e collaborate with communities to share their story and their experience of the world around them,鈥� Rocker said. 鈥淭here is a creative component, though. My field notes are often written down as a story: what I encountered, who I learned from, and some quotes they shared with me. In ethnographic writing, you are trying to the best of your ability to represent the words and the worlds of the people that you work with as truthfully as you can.鈥�

This is where the two genres differ. While ethnographers are responsible for truthfully and honestly representing the people they study, science fiction writers have more creative freedom. This freedom makes science fiction a great avenue for exploring anthropological ideas without having the same constraints.

World-Building and the Power of Sci-Fi听

For their world-building project, students worked in small groups to construct a world where specific technology, technological input, or environmental change had occurred. From there, they imagined the logic and cultural systems of that world, exploring beyond the bounds of their own reality.

鈥淭hey were each responsible for developing some aspect through story and through it an anthropological analysis,鈥� said Rocker. 鈥淚 asked them to think not only about technology or material but to think more about the human experience. How would this impact what a family structure looks like? How might it influence relationship building or language development?鈥�

As part of this project, students also interviewed each other in a 鈥榗ultural exchange鈥� to present an analysis of what a long-term cultural encounter between two very different groups would look like.

From this project, the idea of a sci-fi zine was born.

鈥淥ne student just made a casual remark that they really enjoyed reading the other groups鈥� material,鈥� Rocker said. 鈥淭hat it was so neat to dive into a different world that wasn鈥檛 their own and to see the creativity, imagination, and exploration. I was like, 鈥榃ould anyone be comfortable sharing their stories outside the classroom?鈥欌��

The answer was yes. Nine students from the winter 2025 course worked with Rocker through the spring to edit and compile their stories into a science fiction zine. A limited number of copies were also printed by Allegra Appleton.

In the zine, the students used the genre of science fiction to build worlds with their own cultural logics and contemplate anthropological questions.

“We are fortunate to have An Anthropology Anthology of Other Worlds as a lasting reminder of the achievements of Dr. Rocker and her students in the anthropological study of self and other, of the familiar and strange,” Jenike said.听

Exploring Humanity Through Fiction听

Junior Percy Schneider, an anthropology major from Milwaukee, WI, always had an interest in humans and in fiction. They found their passion for anthropology after taking Rocker鈥檚 introductory cultural anthropology course.

鈥淚 love humans; I love everything we create,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淚 took intro to cultural anthropology with Kailey Rocker, and something just kind of clicked: 鈥楾his is my field. This is where I鈥檓 meant to be.鈥欌��

Schneider studied under Rocker again in the science fiction course. They enjoyed the readings and the challenge of studying humanity through science fiction.

鈥淚 think science fiction is a great genre because it鈥檚 looking at humanity looking towards the future,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淭here are stories where it gets really dystopian, but other times, there are ones that just fill us with this blinding hope.鈥�

For their literary exercise, Schneider collaborated with, among others, junior Iris Shykula, a junior creative writing and Russian studies major from Longmont, CO, to create a shared universe for their stories. The effort was entirely collaborative, as they had to decide how their stories fit together, what the timeline was, and the rules of how their world functioned.

Schneider鈥檚 story follows a 16-year-old on her 鈥榙escent,鈥� a rite of passage for people in their culture who are about to start a new job at the bottom of the ocean. The story also explores the theme of kinship in a world without traditional families.

鈥淚 was really trying to focus on finding family in a world where you don鈥檛 begin with one, because in the world we created, there are no babies or children,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淚 focused on that idea of how someone looking like you could be comforting, even if you don鈥檛 know them at all. I wanted it to be like coming to a home that you never knew you had.鈥�

The students were also asked to write an anthropological analysis of their own works of fiction. Schneider made the decision to include their analysis in the zine. When analyzing your own work, they said they felt like a professional anthropologist.

鈥淚 yielded more out of analyzing the story than writing the story,鈥� Schneider said. 鈥淚 started looking back at it, and I was like, 鈥極h yeah, I see how this works. I see how this represents some anthropological concept.鈥欌��

In addition to their stories, students were tasked with imagining an everyday cultural object from their worlds. They designed and 3D printed these objects with the help of the 麻豆影院 University Makerspace. Pictures of the objects were printed in the zine, and the physical items were used in a cultural encounter workshop. Students were challenged to interpret the objects produced by other groups like archaeologists working within a limited context.

Angela Vanden Elzen, associate professor and reference and learning technologies librarian, said this is one of the many examples of Lawrentians utilizing the Makerspace to get more out of their coursework and their 麻豆影院 experience.

鈥淥ur makerspace has given faculty, students, and staff the opportunity to bring a wide range of making technologies into coursework, laboratories, performance spaces, field work, as a creative outlet, and so much more,鈥� Vanden Elzen said. 鈥淭hese kinds of projects help students to see that getting started with 3D design and 3D printing is not as intimidating as they may think. The technology has come so far that it is easier than ever to learn how to use these technologies.鈥�

According to Rocker, the idea was to make students consider how everyday objects can take on new meanings when viewed in a different light. One group, inspired by time travel and historical drama, created a teleportation device within a pocket watch. The device caused severe memory loss when used, which led to a deeper analysis of how this would impact kinship practices, communication, and human agency.听听

A Collaborative Effort听听

While Rocker had initially planned for the zine to be a digital-only project, she was encouraged to get it printed.

鈥淚鈥檓 very excited with what we were able to achieve. It surpassed my wildest imaginations,鈥� Rocker said.

Physical copies of the zine were disseminated to different departments at 麻豆影院 University and are available to check out at the Seeley G. Mudd Library.

Rocker hopes that readers enjoy the students鈥� creativity and get to experience what 麻豆影院 professors get to see every day.

鈥淚鈥檓 blown away by the creativity and passion, and I hope readers will think about the ways it overlaps with or is very distinct from their own everyday lives and experiences,鈥� Rocker said. 鈥淪o much collaboration was involved in the creation of this little zine. I鈥檓 incredibly proud of the students who took the class and also indulged me in taking on this project.鈥澨�

麻豆影院 also was recently earned a spot on the America鈥檚 Top Colleges list by Forbes and was included on its list of 25 private schools with the most generous financial aid.听听

鈥淪tudents and their families understand their college education is an investment that returns dividends for the rest of their lives,鈥� said Vice President and Chief of Staff Christyn Abaray. 鈥淎 麻豆影院 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 鈥� problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, information literacy, ethical decision-making, and collaboration 鈥� empower 麻豆影院 graduates to successfully navigate the dynamics of the workplace they will be entering,鈥� Abaray said.听听

麻豆影院 University skyrocketed 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.听听

鈥淥ur students come from all over the world and from all walks of life to pursue a high impact, immersive and collaborative education that encourages them to dream bigger and to confidently pursue their personal vision of success,鈥� said President Carter. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we do at 麻豆影院 University 鈥� what we always have done; it is gratifying for 麻豆影院 to be recognized for its nearly two centuries of shaping the futures of students.鈥澨�

For the seventh time since the 2016 edition, 麻豆影院 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.听听

鈥淚 am pleased that 麻豆影院 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,鈥� said President Carter.听听

About the Rankings听

U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges by key measures, including Outcomes, Peer Assessment, Faculty Resources, Financial Resources, and Standardized Tests. Learn more at .听听

Art History: Highlighting the Permanent Collection

The permanent collection at the Wriston Art Galleries at 麻豆影院 University boasts over 6,000 works of art, a testament to the generosity of the college鈥檚 alumni and friends. However, less than two percent of the collection is typically on display in any given year.

To help showcase more of this vast collection, Val Muzzarelli, a junior art history major from Hazel Park, MI, took on a research project to curate a year-long exhibition. Led by Beth Zinsli, associate provost and adjunct associate professor of art, the project began last year with Wren Chlystek 鈥�25, also an art history major. Muzzarelli picked up the mantle when Chlystek graduated.

鈥淭hey (Chlystek) left a really good foundation and gave me a really good place to start,鈥� Muzzarelli said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been more collaborative than just me.鈥澨�

Throughout the summer, Muzzarelli has been researching, examining, and drawing connections among the artwork to create a cohesive exhibition of about 90 pieces. The exhibit will be organized around four core themes:

1. Light, More Light!听

1. Empowerment听

1. Displacement听

1. The Unknown听

According to Madison Pierson, the collections and gallery assistant at Wriston, 鈥淭he Unknown鈥� highlights future research opportunities for pieces whose stories are not yet known.

鈥淢any of the pieces came to us before this building (Wriston) existed,鈥� Pierson said. 鈥淭he paper trails for some of those early gifts in particular may be less thorough.鈥�

An unofficial fifth theme, 鈥淕reatest Hits,鈥� will also be featured, showcasing some of the collection鈥檚 most popular pieces, including Louise Bourgeois prints and the dancing bear statues.

The exhibition aims to expose students, faculty, staff, and the community to the full breadth of the 麻豆影院 permanent collection. If successful, this type of exhibition will become a regular event. Pierson hopes that continuing the project in future years will allow faculty to incorporate the works into their lesson plans.

鈥淕etting more things in the gallery also helps expose students for research but also our faculty to the wide variety of things we have in our collections,鈥� Pierson said. 鈥淭here are so many who might not know that these collections exist or the breadth of the collection.鈥澨�

The exhibition is set to open in the back gallery on Friday, September 26, with a reception planned for October. It will remain on display for the entire academic year. In a related project, Alex Whaley, a junior English literature major, will curate an exhibition in the front gallery featuring works from the Earl and Aubrey Richmond Collection of Rare Books.

Biology: Prairie Restoration听

After their freshman year at 麻豆影院, 5th-year senior Laura Friestad got an internship at Lake Forest Open Lands Association in Lake Forest, Illinois, as a restoration ecologist intern. While there, they learned how to identify invasive and native species, collected seeds, and learned all about ecological restoration; in the end, they fell in love with the work.

鈥淚 was like, I can鈥檛 spend the rest of my life not doing plant stuff,鈥� said Friestad. 鈥淪o I decided to put that more into what I鈥檓 doing at 麻豆影院.鈥澨�

The experience led Friestad, a clarinet performance and environmental science major, to consider ways they could help improve the ecological landscaping on campus. While brainstorming ideas for their junior year capstone class, they decided they wanted to make a prairie on campus.听听

The hill behind Hiett Hall presented a natural place to start, being covered in invasive species. They went to work removing invasive species from the plot and collecting seeds from native species around the city of Appleton. They visited Bubolz Nature Preserve and also searched older areas of the city; less development means it was easier to find existing populations of native species.

From there, they would make a seed mix, weigh it out, and spread it over the hill. A year later, Friestad is continuing their work through a summer research project with Alyssa Hakes, associate professor of biology, along with Rylee Polanka, a junior environmental science major. The project allows them to study prairie restoration methods, visit restored prairie sites, identify invasive and native plant species, and develop a plan on monitoring and restoring prairies and other Wisconsin ecosystems

鈥淲e are trying to overpower the invasive seed bank with our seed bank, and that means a lot of digging up the invasive seed species, cutting the seed heads, removing the seeds, and trying to get as few of those seeds staying and more of our seeds going in,鈥� Friestad said, 鈥渁nd hopefully, eventually, create a self-sustaining ecosystem.鈥�

A seed bank can refer to the seeds already in the soil, some of which can persist for years. Prairie plants flower, produce seeds, and appear to die at the end of the season. However, their roots are still alive under the soil and can return season after season.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of my absolute favorite things about the prairie 鈥攈ow they put so much into the roots,鈥� Friestad said.

The Conservatory: Brass Pedagogy听听

Joey O鈥機onnor, a senior trumpet performance and music education major, had the opportunity to collaborate with assistant professor Nadje Noordhuis in editing interview transcripts for Noordhuis鈥檚 PhD dissertation, 鈥淭he Teaching Philosophy of Laurie Frink.鈥�

O鈥機onnor was able to explore the teaching philosophy of brass legend Laurie Frink and uncover best practices for future educators. The dataset comprised over two dozen interviews with Frink’s former students and colleagues and the students of her renowned teacher, Carmine Caruso.

The Conservatory: LGBTuben, The Lodge, & Meditations听

Ann Ellsworth, associate professor of music, led several summer research opportunities tied to her involvement with the 麻豆影院 Graduate Bayreuth Tuben Quintet (LGBTuben), an ensemble with roots at 麻豆影院. Ellsworth brought together 麻豆影院 musicians and talented tuben players from across the country to create music rooted in inclusivity, visibility, and diversity.

LGBTuben was recently was recently gifted a lodge on 20 acres in New York’s Adirondack State Park, which the group plans to transform into an artist retreat. This space will serve as both a meeting place and an income generator to support the ensemble鈥檚 scholarship and outreach programs.

Aimee Patch, a senior music education major from Greenville, WI, collaborated with Ellsworth on managing the lodge. Patch traveled to the lodge this summer with LGBTuben to research similar nonprofits and study how a musical nonprofit can operate.

鈥淢y research looked at similar nonprofit organizations such as this to see what models we might adopt, and then also checking out a lot of the zoning laws and building laws for the Adirondack Park,鈥� Patch said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 such a beautiful space.鈥�

Patch appreciated the opportunity to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into making music happen.

鈥淏eing able to sit in on group meetings and see what happens behind closed doors and official decisions being made wasn’t something you usually see,鈥� Patch said. 鈥淭o 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.鈥�

Junior Leo Rodda, a music major from Appleton, WI, also visited the lodge this summer to continue his research with Ellsworth. Last year, he arranged music by Arvo P盲rt and John Cage for horn and some clarinet to create 10-30 minute ‘meditations’ that can be used for bilateral music.

Bilateral music can be used in different therapies by providing auditory stimulation where sounds alternate between the left and right ears. The music keeps the brain activated with continuous sound.

鈥淲e鈥檝e been using a lot of minimalist music, so the point is to listen for the small things that change,鈥� Rodda said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 to get you to mindfully pay attention.鈥�

This summer, he collaborated with Ellsworth to finalize the digital scores and record, edit, and master the new album. Although the original plan was to record in New York, audio issues led them to re-record in-house with Brent Hauer, director of conservatory productions.

Rodda is currently selecting the best takes for the album, which will be released this fall. Additionally, a performance by the horn and clarinet studios is in the works for November 2025.

鈥淭he people there (at the lodge) and the environment that was created there were so awesome,鈥� Rodda said. 鈥淓veryone was so accepting and passionate about what they did; to me, that was the best part. That is something that I see at 麻豆影院 as well; you don鈥檛 see many other places.鈥�

Ethnic Studies: Sibling Bonds听

Seniors Gabby DeBoer (psychology), Owen Bakker (psychology and double bass performance), and Faith Onukaogu (business & entrepreneurship and global studies) worked with Est茅fani Mar铆n, assistant professor of ethnic studies, in studying 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. A particular focus was placed on Latin American and Asian American families.

Although Onukaogu is not an anthropology student, she said participating in research outside of her area of study gave her a unique experience.听

“Being at a liberal arts school gives you the opportunity to try things you usually wouldn’t,” Onukaogu said. “The research helped me learn some soft skills, like time management and professionalism, and also cultivate my leadership skills and communication skills. It also helped me connect with professors who are really good resources.”

Battle set the tone for the new program over the past year, meeting with students and faculty across campus and leading dance and music students in the creation of an original dance performance, “Gather Together,” presented on campus in May. Additional performances and workshops were presented to students from Appleton schools.听

Battle said early talks with campus leaders about the vision for the Creator in Residence program drew him to 麻豆影院.

鈥淲e got to talking about this notion of infusing creativity and artistic dance into more parts of academia and how that might work,鈥� he said.

The connection with students was immediate when Battle spent a week on campus in the fall.

鈥淭hese students are multifaceted,鈥� Battle said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e really smart, and they value art, they value dance. They have a lot to express, a lot to say.鈥�

Magazine: See the spring/summer 2025 edition of 麻豆影院

When he returned to campus in February, Battle worked with students and faculty on a performance built on artistic expression. It evolved organically, collaboratively. Fourteen dance students, under the tutelage of Margaret Paek and Mauriah Donegan Kraker, both visiting assistant professors of dance, were selected for the performance.

Battle said he usually comes in with steps already set. But he wanted this to be a collaborative process, with creative ideas flowing both ways.

鈥淭o me, that鈥檚 my excitement, to always be learning, investigating, trying new things,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think this is a space where I felt safe to do that, very much supported by the faculty and by the dancers.鈥�

Battle then returned in Spring Term to finalize and present the performance, working in partnership with rehearsal director Donegan Kraker and Conservatory faculty Loren Kiyoshi Dempster and Jean Carlo Ure帽a Gonzalez. Held in the Esch Hurvis Studio in Warch Campus Center, the performances featured the student dancers, Conservatory faculty, and student musicians, all collaborating with Battle on an original composition and choreography.听

Ella Fajardo-Wilde, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, who grew up immersed in dance, called the experience 鈥渋ncredibly rewarding and boundary-pushing.鈥� She had a solo in the dance performance where her input was not only sought but encouraged by Battle.

鈥淗e met me at my dance level while still challenging my choreography memory, endurance, and focus,鈥� Fajardo-Wilde said. 鈥淗e ensured that this beautiful cast was seen and appreciated for the uniqueness, skill, and grace each individual brought.鈥�

And it wasn鈥檛 all about dance. Fajardo-Wilde said Battle connected with the students and the instructors in ways that built trust. That鈥檚 not always a given when someone so accomplished is coming in from the outside.

鈥淎s a Brooklyn, New York, native, I grew up with Alvin Ailey all around me鈥攕eeing the posters, watching the company perform, and knowing about the prestigious program that thousands train and work for years to join,鈥� Fajardo-Wilde said. 鈥淚nitially, I felt intimidated and nervous to approach or even talk to him. However, the times we talked about different Brooklyn neighborhoods, our similarities and differences in food preferences, or how our days were going, I always found myself enjoying an amazing conversation.鈥�

Donegan Kraker called Battle鈥檚 interactions with students and faculty genuine and his collaborations inspirational鈥攄eep conversation around process and interdisciplinary possibilities.

鈥淭his cross-pollination of idea, interest, training is what makes 麻豆影院 unique, is what sets up our artists for post-麻豆影院 success,鈥� she said.

Eye on collaboration

It was a thrilling kick-off to a Creator in Residence program that 麻豆影院 leadership is excited to see grow. It comes as 麻豆影院 is investing in collaboration among the academic disciplines. Fall 2025 will see the opening of West Campus, where the second floor of the new building at E. College Avenue and Drew Street will feature offices and studios for Conservatory faculty, a Humanities Center, a recording studio, and offices and classrooms for math, computer science, and data science faculty鈥攁ll equipped with innovative tools that will facilitate greater academic collaboration and creativity. On the building鈥檚 first floor will be the new home for the Trout Museum of Art, a nonprofit art gallery that will provide avenues to greater community partnership while adding another layer of creative energy to the 麻豆影院 campus.

What Battle brought to campus via the Creator in Residence program builds on that momentum.

Alison Scott-Williams, executive vice president and chief operating officer at 麻豆影院, oversaw the inaugural collaborative program. She said she was incredibly moved by the knowledge, insight, and passion Battle added to the student experience.

鈥淗e has flourished at the highest levels of the arts world,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e has been a creative juggernaut in dance, a trend setter, someone who has thrived amid incredible expectations. How exciting to have him here on our campus, sharing all his creative energy and genius with the 麻豆影院 community. He has set the template for what the Creator in Residence program can be.鈥�

鈥淓verybody has a story鈥�

Battle sees the Creator in Residence role, no matter the discipline, as an opportunity to reinforce lessons already being taught at 麻豆影院. As he led classes and built a dance performance from scratch, students came prepared because they are already immersed daily in the creative process, he said. You can see it and feel it in the halls of the Conservatory, in the galleries of the Wriston Art Center, in research labs and humanities classrooms.

鈥淪ometimes you have to hear it from somebody from the outside,鈥� Battle said. 鈥淵ou can be saying the same thing day after day and then someone comes in and sort of reinforces what is being offered and is being taught.鈥�

That, he said, extends beyond the arts. Whether it鈥檚 Battle sharing his journey in dance or students hearing from a future Creator in Residence accomplished in another discipline, that fresh voice鈥攃oming from a place of accomplishment鈥攊s important.

鈥淚 feel everybody has a story,鈥� Battle said. 鈥淎nd for the students to have access to those stories, to those people, whether it be a scientist or an artist or a philosopher or a poet鈥攅verything at its foundation is imbued with creativity. I think that鈥檚 the link in terms of the Creator in Residence. Creativity is not just for artists. It really is for the world. We usually don鈥檛 see it that way. That term is relegated to artistic endeavors when, actually, creativity is all around us all the time and is an important component to progress.鈥�

A new focus

麻豆影院鈥檚 Creator in Residence was one of Battle鈥檚 first opportunities after stepping away from the Ailey company.

鈥淚t was hard to walk away,鈥� he said of leaving Ailey. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a dream job. I think of it as more than a job; it鈥檚 a calling. But I think any good performer knows when to leave the stage, when you鈥檝e said what you wanted to say and it鈥檚 time for someone else to take the stage.鈥�

Battle, now in his early 50s, said he embraced the building of a dance community and family with Ailey. That included being on tour for eight months of the year and all the experiences that come with it.

鈥淪ometimes you have to sort of let something go in order to move to the next phase of your life,鈥� Battle said.鈥� Sometimes, because we鈥檙e afraid to let go, we hold on to things much longer than they need to be held and then you miss an opportunity to grow.鈥�

The opportunities since stepping away have been plentiful. In addition to the one-year role at 麻豆影院, Battle has been named resident choreographer of the Paul Taylor Dance Company and has been invited to teach or speak at other colleges.

鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful because I can now drop in and then move forward,鈥� Battle said. 鈥淚 get to sort of be an independent artist again, which is exciting鈥攖o be in different spaces with different organizations that have different footprints and different modes of working. That鈥檚 what is happening now.鈥�

At 麻豆影院 and elsewhere, Battle said, it feels good to give back, to be that inspiration to others that his teachers and mentors were to him.

鈥淚鈥檝e done a lot in my career in dance,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e climbed ladders and mountains that I didn鈥檛 even think possible, the pinnacle being artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I feel I鈥檓 at this place in my career where I really want to give back in meaningful ways.鈥�

That was evident as the year progressed and the 麻豆影院 dance performance came into focus. Paek said the power of creative collaboration could be seen throughout the rehearsal process as the students leaned into the work, supported each other, and embraced Battle鈥檚 lessons鈥攊nsights into choreography at the highest levels. While the rehearsals were exhausting, the interactions and teaching moments that emerged could only happen when all parties are deeply invested.

鈥淭his kind of hands-on-experience鈥攃reating art together as faculty, professional artists, and students鈥攖his is what 麻豆影院 does so well and why the Creator in Residence program is so specifically well-suited to 麻豆影院,鈥� Paek said.

The Jean Lampert Woy and J. Richard Woy Professorship in History was established in 2018 by Jean Lampert Woy 鈥�65 and J. Richard Woy 鈥�64. This fund reflects their appreciation for liberal arts education and their interest in historical scholarship.听

Frederick joined the 麻豆影院 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鈥檚 history. Published books include听Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico,听and, with Tatiana Seijas,听Spanish Dollars and Sister Republics: The Money That Made Mexico and the United States. In 2017, he was awarded 麻豆影院鈥檚 Award for Excellence in Scholarship. He is a recent recipient of a Newberry Library fellowship to research firefighting and fire prevention in eighteenth-century Mexico.

Frederick earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University.

The Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professorship in Biological Sciences was established in 2007. Charlot Nelson Singleton 鈥�67 has a deep appreciation for her 麻豆影院 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.

Sedlock joined the 麻豆影院 faculty in 2002. Her research has taken her and students frequently to听the Philippines in Southeast Asia, where she has worked in collaboration with Filipino scientists, conservation professionals, Chicago鈥檚 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 human-caused landscape changes. Her recent focus has been on acoustic ecology, a subfield of sensory ecology, using ultrasonic microphones to 鈥渆avesdrop鈥� on bats as she explores animals鈥� 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.

De Stasio has long pursued studies in freshwater ecology and marine biology, passions he first explored as a student at 麻豆影院. He has taught courses ranging from introductory biology to aquatic ecology to the environmental studies senior seminar. He has guided important research on invasive species in Wisconsin waterways and for 30 years has led the 麻豆影院 University Marine Term (LUMP) program鈥攁 hands-on undergraduate experience in marine biology that has students learning about coral reef ecosystems, ecology, and human effects on reef environments before embarking on a two-week research trip to the Caribbean.听Under De Stasio鈥檚 guidance, the program has proven to be a pipeline for students interested in aquatics careers or related fields, with an estimated 90 alumni of the program now pursuing related careers or enrolled in graduate school programs.

De Stasio said the Aquatic Ecology & Marine Biology Program, of which LUMP is a part, has been sustained through the years in large part because it gives students flexibility to pursue careers in all sorts of salt water and freshwater environments鈥攊n lakes, rivers, estuaries, and nearshore coral reef environments.

鈥淲e are recognized nationally as one of the few undergraduate programs where students get extensive hands-on experiences in both freshwater and marine biology,鈥� he said.听

De Stasio said his experiences as a student so enthralled him with the 麻豆影院 culture that he happily pursued a faculty position a decade after graduation.

鈥淥ne of the very first times I walked through the Biology Department in Youngchild Hall鈥攁s a first-year student in 1978鈥擨 met a faculty member who knew my name and was familiar with my background and interests,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 felt so welcomed and valued that I decided right then that this was a very different place compared to many others.鈥�

De Stasio said he has since strived to make students feel that way.听

鈥淚n my mind, the true 麻豆影院 experience keeps students front and center throughout their time here and beyond,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y goal is to make sure they experience that sense of belonging, of always being part of this unique community. That is what we used to refer to as the 麻豆影院 Difference, and what makes us all Forever a Lawrentian.鈥�

In retirement, De Stasio said he will continue to stay connected with 麻豆影院 and the alumni he helped usher into a wide range of careers.

鈥淚t has been one of the great joys of my life to be able to give back to 麻豆影院 as a faculty member and to help our students grow and thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am extremely proud of being an alumnus and have always tried to instill a love for 麻豆影院 in my students by showing them they are appreciated, cared for, and that we are here for them.鈥�

Edmund Kern

A specialist in early modern European history, Kern has been a mainstay in shaping the history curriculum over the past three-plus decades. In the process, he drew national attention when he twice connected history with modern pop culture in ways that resonated with large audiences. His research on the history of witchcraft and religious culture led to him teaching a course on Harry Potter, which then led to his 2003 book,听The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices.听It drew wide attention as popular media sought out Kern amid the phenomenon of J.K. Rowling鈥檚 book series. And years later, a former student, Josh Sawyer 鈥�98, reached out to Kern as a consultant in the building of Pentiment, a historical role-playing video game centered on life in 16th-century Bavaria. The game, released in 2022, drew strong reviews, was a finalist for game of the year, and won a 2024 Peabody Award, with reviewers praising its historical accuracy.

Connecting history with pop culture was a worthwhile journey, Kern said.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for professional historians to write for each other in specialized studies that might not appeal to average readers, but there鈥檚 also a need to find ways to communicate with a larger audience,鈥� Kern said. 鈥淲hen questions about Harry Potter came from students and visiting parents due to my expertise in the history of magic and witchcraft, I eventually saw an opportunity to meet general readers where their interests began, and to expand those interests into a more systematic understanding of the past.鈥�

When Sawyer approached him during the planning stages for Pentiment, Kern saw a similar opportunity.听

鈥淚 had no idea how popular鈥攁nd acclaimed鈥攖he game would prove to be, but I鈥檓 extremely gratified that many players who probably never gave the 16th century any thought were introduced to the issues in play during the early Reformation, along with accurate portrayals of early modern popular and material culture,鈥� he said.

Through his time at 麻豆影院, Kern said he took particular joy in advancing the curriculum.

鈥淚鈥檝e thoroughly enjoyed revisiting the history curriculum over the years, as we鈥檝e sought to educate students capable of both focused research and assessing the big picture, but my involvement in establishing gender studies as a major and minor stands out as something I take pride in,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 had only recently arrived at 麻豆影院 and came to know a vibrant group of faculty already heading in that direction. Being part of the group charged with writing the proposal to bring to the faculty was both nerve-racking and exciting.鈥�

It’s the classroom interactions, though, that Kern said he鈥檒l miss the most.

鈥淲hat I really love about our students is their eagerness to learn in the classroom and their engagement with the world outside of it,鈥� he said.听