Academics Archives - �鶹ӰԺ University

�鶹ӰԺ University welcomes new faculty as the 2026-27 academic year begins

Communications — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 21:31:20 +0000

�鶹ӰԺ University has announced the hiring of three new tenure-track faculty for the 2026-27 academic year.

The new faculty members bring a wide range of scholarly, artistic, and teaching expertise that will enhance the �鶹ӰԺ community and expand opportunities for student learning and collaboration.

Classes for the Fall Term begin Sept. 14.

Meet the new faculty

Eric Gibson

Eric Gibson, assistant professor of music and director of opera studies:

Gibson joins �鶹ӰԺ from The Ohio State University, where he has served as stage director of opera since 2022. Previously, he led the NAU Lyric Theater program at Northern Arizona University and has directed productions and taught at institutions across the country. Gibson received his bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Michigan. He holds graduate degrees in vocal performance and opera stage direction from the University of Michigan and Indiana University, and he’s currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice and theatre at the University of Mobile.

Ben Chan

Ben Chan, associate professor of philosophy:

Chan joins �鶹ӰԺ after serving as a visiting associate professor of philosophy during the 2025-26 academic year. He previously taught at �鶹ӰԺ from 2011 to 2013 and was a professor of philosophy at St. Norbert College. His scholarship and teaching focus on ethics, particularly biomedical ethics, and he teaches courses in areas such as ethics of technology, food ethics, and “the Good Life.” Chan earned a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed postdoctoral work in bioethics at the National Institutes of Health. He is also known nationally as a nine-time champion on Jeopardy!, where he won more than $250,000 and later competed in the show’s Tournament of Champions.

Wenhao Dai

Wenhao Dai, assistant professor of psychology:

Dai joins the �鶹ӰԺ tenure track after serving as a visiting assistant professor of psychology since 2023. A social psychologist, his research focuses on goals, motivation, and action in the context of social relationships. Before coming to �鶹ӰԺ, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Annenberg Public Policy Center and the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dai earned a Ph.D. and master’s degree in social psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and communication from the University of California, Davis.

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�鶹ӰԺ University to launch Data Science & Statistics major

Communications — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 19:41:59 +0000

Program responds to soaring industry demand for data-literate employees

�鶹ӰԺ University announced it will launch a new Data Science & Statistics major beginning with the Fall 2026 academic term. The program builds upon the success of the minor, which has seen consistently high interest and enrollment since it was established in 2020.

“Data has become a common currency across industries,” said Andrew Sage, associate professor of statistics. “It empowers business leaders and healthcare professionals to identify trends, make informed decisions, strengthen competitive advantage, and improve people’s lives. Employees with the ability to manage and draw insights from increasingly large and complex datasets are indispensable to employers.”

Career prospects are very promising for graduates of this in-demand degree program. Employment of data scientists is projected to grow 34 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, much faster than the average for all occupations. As a result, data scientists can anticipate high earning potential and abundant employment opportunities across multiple industries.

A unique intersection of technical and interpersonal skills

The Data Science & Statistics major at �鶹ӰԺ University is an interdisciplinary program that creates a formal structure for leveraging the strengths of multiple areas of study. Drawing on core courses in mathematics, statistics, computer science, and related disciplines, such as biology and economics, students develop the computational skills, mathematical foundations, and advanced statistical techniques that comprise the data science discipline.

“The interdisciplinary structure of our Data Science & Statistics major allows students to customize their degree program around their academic and future career interests,” said Peter Blitstein, provost and dean of the faculty. “In this program grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, students learn core technical skills for data analysis while also strengthening professional skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and ethical decision-making.”

The Data Science & Statistics major is a natural fit for �鶹ӰԺ students because its interdisciplinary structure allows students to customize the major around their academic interests and career goals. For example, a student interested in health sciences might take electives in bioinformatics and experimental design. A student interested in economics and finance might take econometrics and a data visualization course. That flexibility allows students to hone their skills to their specific area of interest.

�鶹ӰԺ’s local and regional partnerships also open pathways for students to apply their knowledge in actual practice. The major culminates in a capstone experience in which they conduct hands-on analysis of real data, often in collaboration with a community organization. Through internships, guest lecturers, field studies and other applied learning opportunities, students build a professional portfolio while they are in school that prepares them for rewarding careers after graduation or acceptance into the nation’s top graduate schools.

For more information about Data Science & Statistics or other degree programs at �鶹ӰԺ University, contact the Office of Admissions at admissions@lawrence.edu or 920.832.6652.

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How the �鶹ӰԺ University Makerspace is building a community of innovators

Communications — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 20:36:16 +0000

From a single homemade 3D printer to a comprehensive creative hub, the �鶹ӰԺ University Makerspace has spent the last 10 years transforming into a vibrant, interdisciplinary laboratory for students, faculty, and staff. Now boasting laser cutters, sophisticated sewing machines, and an array of 3D printers, it is a testament to the university’s collaborative spirit.��

“Celebrating 10 years of the Makerspace is a reminder of how transformative access to tools and shared creativity can be,” said Becky Frank, director of the Seeley G. Mudd Library. “It’s not just about technology or equipment; it’s about empowering people to learn by doing, to problem-solve, and to imagine what’s possible.”��

Angela Vanden Elzen, associate professor, reference and learning technologies librarian, and leader of the Makerspace, sees its longevity and growth as a testament to the creative and inclusive nature of �鶹ӰԺ University.��

“It shows that collaborative spaces are welcome here,” Vanden Elzen said. “Students, faculty, and staff support the kind of space where we learn from one another, where we are sharing materials, equipment, and expertise. I think that is something that makes �鶹ӰԺ really special.”��

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.��

David Berk, director of instructional technology at �鶹ӰԺ, 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—the inspiration for a creative space on campus.��

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

“Since the beginning, the Makerspace has been a space that is collaborative and responds to student, faculty, and staff needs,” said Vanden Elzen. “Every piece of equipment was requested by a faculty member or student who needed it for a project. It’s very much been responding to the needs to the campus, especially related to the curriculum.”��

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.��

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

“We wanted to be able to let students work on hands-on skills and develop future-ready thinking,” Vanden Elzen said. “Helping students express their creativity helps them bring their ideas to life and develop these new skills.”��

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

“It’s given students a place to experiment, create, and bring ideas to life, connecting what they learn in the classroom to the real world,” Frank said.��

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.��

“To any librarian or instructional technologist, you know it’s just what we have to do,” Vanden Elzen said. “We need to be responsive to the needs of the people we’re serving.”��

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.

“A makerspace means collaboration, a failure-safe environment, being respectful and responsible,” Vanden Elzen said. “It’s not just making with the objects; it’s also making with the community.”

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’s 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.

“During this process, a half-dozen students have spent summers working in the Makerspace to improve the microscope parts,” Martin said. “One 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.”��

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.

“Students were setting long glass pipettes directly on the countertop,” Raebel said. “I 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.”��

The Makerspace’s interdisciplinary reach also extended to the humanities. Brigid Vance, associate professor of history, used the space in her course “Early Cross-Cultural Interactions Along the Silk Road.” After students read an essay focused on the astrolabe—an astronomical, navigational, and time-keeping device used by the ancient Greeks and Romans—she used the Makerspace to 3D print the devices. The exercise enhanced student learning by experiencing a reading through touch.

“For them, manipulating an astrolabe in an attempt to orient themselves in geographical space was both challenging and illuminating,” Vance said. “Challenging 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.”

“I think the Makerspace helps students and faculty to see another way in which education can look so different,” Vanden Elzen said. “The 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.”

Frank added: “It reminds us that learning isn’t confined to a classroom or a textbook—it happens wherever imagination, tools, and people come together.”

Grace Weber ’24, Joseph Carpenter ’24, and Doug Martin: As part of summer research, they worked on creating a customizable, open-source microscope. Some parts were 3D printed with the help of the Makerspace. July 2023

Empowerment through Creation: Stories of Future-Ready Lawrentians

As the Makerspace’s 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.��

Vanden Elzen sees this as central to the Makerspace mission.

“I see it as helping them become future-ready Lawrentians; they’re learning to take control of their lives through a seemingly small way of repairing something instead of buying something new,” Vanden Elzen said.

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

“When 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!” Erwin said. “The 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 �鶹ӰԺ cares about artistic expression.”

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.��

“I’ve improved with interacting with different people and teaching instead of me listening to a teacher,” Gobenciong, a business & entrepreneurship major from Park Ridge, Illinois, said. “That’s a skill I know I will use in business and in my career.”

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

“It 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,” Romano said. “Now other people can do that because I help them and give them access.”

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.

“This is a good community space to meet like-minded people,” Romano said. “It’s like I have a higher chance of finding someone with shared interests here than I do anywhere else.”��

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 “making” current.

“Learning new technologies, integrating new ideas, new digital literacies, like working with AI,” Vanden Elzen said, “those are very important things for our students and for all of us to understand.”��

“The Makerspace fits with the mission at �鶹ӰԺ, 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.”

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Listening to your creative voice with Creator-in-Residence Patricia Smith

Communications — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:35:41 +0000

Patricia Smith, an American poet, spoken-word performer, playwright, author, writing teacher, and former journalist, will join �鶹ӰԺ as its next Creator-in-Residence.��

A four-time individual National Poetry Slam champion and winner of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize in 2021, Smith will work with writers and performers on campus. She plans to help students strengthen their voice and take their art form and craft to the next level.��

Smith started down the creative path in life as a child, when her father came to Chicago from Arkansas in the Great Migration. He brought with him storytelling prowess that instantly fascinated Smith and sparked a desire in her to tell her own magical stories.��

Several major influences on her creative work over the years have helped Smith shape and explore various forms of expression. “I’ll have to say my father, who encouraged my voice; Gwendolyn Brooks, who encouraged my vision, and the poetry slam, which taught me the importance of empathy and audience.”

Creatives often struggle to find their voice; Smith will be a tremendous resource for those students wanting to strengthen their creative voice.��

“It’s important because it’s what differentiates you from all other artists,” Smith said. “It’s your signature. It’s your stamp. And you never really know. You can come to trust your voice, but that doesn’t mean you stop searching.”��

Smith does not attribute one specific thing to inspiring her creative work.��

“When you’re a writer, you’re a witness, and there’s nothing that doesn’t at least give you the beginning of an idea,” Smith said. “It’s a fascinating life—there are stories everywhere.”

Smith describes the creative process as something that “knocks you to your knees.”��

“The ‘creation’ is what prompts you to stand up again,” she said.��

The �鶹ӰԺ community will doubtless be energized by Smith’s new role as Creator-in-Residence. Her expertise and creative vision will complement an already vibrant student community.��

“The key is to learn as much from the students as you’re hoping to teach them,” Smith said. “That no matter what their major, no matter the path they’ve already carved, the arts are the answer to so many questions.”��

To improve as a writer, Smith urges people to stop concentrating so much on technique and remember joy, empathy, and patience.��

“Don’t forget to live what you love,” Smith said. “I hope I, and the students I work with, give the community another way of thinking of something they thought they knew.”��

In helping others find their voice, Smith offers a piece of advice.��

“In most cases, they’ve found their voice; they just don’t trust it,” she said. “I talk a lot about the quirky, roundabout path to finding my own—it’s not always an easy process— and help them see the voice inside that’s begging them to listen.”

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�鶹ӰԺ University Launches Commuter Student Program

Communications — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 22:36:17 +0000

�鶹ӰԺ University is excited to launch a new Commuter Student Program, designed to provide access to a remarkable education close to home for outstanding students in our region who, for personal or family reasons, choose to live at home while pursuing their degree.

We at �鶹ӰԺ recognize that the college experience looks different for every student. Commuter students balance academics, home, work, and travel, and �鶹ӰԺ 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‑specific 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‑curricular life of the university, this program strengthens �鶹ӰԺ’s ties to the Fox Cities community and expands opportunities for the region’s best students to thrive.

We look forward to welcoming our commuter students and building a vibrant, inclusive community where every student belongs—no matter where they live.

Gather more information on �鶹ӰԺ University’s Commuter Program.��
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Strange in the Familiar: Exploring humanity through anthropology and science fiction

Communications — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:21:08 +0000

For Kailey Rocker, former visiting assistant professor of anthropology, science fiction was one of the most natural ways to explore anthropological concepts.��

For two of her three years at �鶹ӰԺ University, she taught the course Anthropology and Sci-Fi—under ANTH 300: Topics in Anthropology—where students explored humanity through an unfamiliar lens: the connection between science fiction and anthropology.

“We have an adage in anthropology: ‘to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange,'” said Rocker. “There are a lot of things that we consider normal or that we take for granted that are familiar to us. 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

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.

“Anthropology is the only discipline at �鶹ӰԺ that seeks to understand humans as a total species, from our origins to the present, in all of our global diversity,” said Jenike. “Dr. Rocker’s 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.”��

Study anthropology at �鶹ӰԺ

You’ll see humanity’s patterns, practices, and places in new lights through multidisciplinary lenses.

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.

“We collaborate with communities to share their story and their experience of the world around them,” Rocker said. “There 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.”

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��

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.

“They were each responsible for developing some aspect through story and through it an anthropological analysis,” said Rocker. “I 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?”

As part of this project, students also interviewed each other in a ‘cultural exchange’ 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.

“One student just made a casual remark that they really enjoyed reading the other groups’ material,” Rocker said. “That it was so neat to dive into a different world that wasn’t their own and to see the creativity, imagination, and exploration. I was like, ‘Would anyone be comfortable sharing their stories outside the classroom?’”

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.��

Exploring Humanity Through Fiction��

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’s introductory cultural anthropology course.

“I love humans; I love everything we create,” Schneider said. “I took intro to cultural anthropology with Kailey Rocker, and something just kind of clicked: ‘This is my field. This is where I’m meant to be.’”

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

“I think science fiction is a great genre because it’s looking at humanity looking towards the future,” Schneider said. “There are stories where it gets really dystopian, but other times, there are ones that just fill us with this blinding hope.”

Percy Schneider

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’s story follows a 16-year-old on her ‘descent,’ 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.

“I was really trying to focus on finding family in a world where you don’t begin with one, because in the world we created, there are no babies or children,” Schneider said. “I focused on that idea of how someone looking like you could be comforting, even if you don’t know them at all. I wanted it to be like coming to a home that you never knew you had.”

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.

“I yielded more out of analyzing the story than writing the story,” Schneider said. “I started looking back at it, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I see how this works. I see how this represents some anthropological concept.’”

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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ experience.

“Our 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,” Vanden Elzen said. “These 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.”

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.��

A microscopic heart implant

The “Обласк/Oblask” biomechanical device

A pocketwatch and teleportation device

“The Tether,” a communication implant

A Collaborative Effort��

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

“I’m very excited with what we were able to achieve. It surpassed my wildest imaginations,” Rocker said.

Physical copies of the zine were disseminated to different departments at �鶹ӰԺ University and are available to check out at the Seeley G. Mudd Library.

Rocker hopes that readers enjoy the students’ creativity and get to experience what �鶹ӰԺ professors get to see every day.

“I’m 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,” Rocker said. “So much collaboration was involved in the creation of this little zine. I’m incredibly proud of the students who took the class and also indulged me in taking on this project.”��

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�鶹ӰԺ University named Wisconsin’s No. 1 small private university by U.S. News

Communications — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 14:20:16 +0000

�鶹ӰԺ University once again retained its top spot as Wisconsin’s No. 1 small private university in the 2026 Best Colleges rankings published Sept. 23 by U.S. News & World Report.��

�鶹ӰԺ was ranked on the following lists:��

National Liberal Arts Colleges (#65)��

Best Value Schools (#32)��

Social Mobility (#63 – tied)��

Undergraduate Teaching Programs (#59 – tied)��

Earning the No. 65 position in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, �鶹ӰԺ gained four places from 69th place in 2025 and up from the 75th position in the 2024 rankings. �鶹ӰԺ is the only Wisconsin institution ranked in the top 90 this year, and one of only four Wisconsin schools ranked in the category.

“Our focus on developing new opportunities for students through innovative campus/community partnerships and keeping students first in all of our decision-making is reflected in �鶹ӰԺ’s continued climb in the rankings,” said �鶹ӰԺ University president Laurie A. Carter.��

The university improved its rankings over last year in other categories as well.��

�鶹ӰԺ surged ahead six positions to No. 32 among Best Value Schools, up from the 38th position last year. The university has been ranked in this category nine times since the 2016 edition, logging its best ranking so far in the 2025 rankings.��

View �鶹ӰԺ's Awards, Recognitions, and Rankings

�鶹ӰԺ also was recently earned a spot on the America’s Top Colleges list by Forbes and was included on its list of 25 private schools with the most generous financial aid.��

“Students and their families understand their college education is an investment that returns dividends for the rest of their lives,” said Vice President and Chief of Staff Christyn Abaray. “A �鶹ӰԺ education equips students, not only with in-depth knowledge of their academic discipline, it prepares them to thrive in an environment of continual change and to lead in careers that may not yet even exist. In such a setting, skills that are the hallmark of a liberal arts education – problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, information literacy, ethical decision-making, and collaboration – empower �鶹ӰԺ graduates to successfully navigate the dynamics of the workplace they will be entering,” Abaray said.��

�鶹ӰԺ 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.��

“Our 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,” said President Carter. “That’s what we do at �鶹ӰԺ University – what we always have done; it is gratifying for �鶹ӰԺ to be recognized for its nearly two centuries of shaping the futures of students.”��

For the seventh time since the 2016 edition, �鶹ӰԺ has appeared on the rankings for Undergraduate Teaching Programs, this year taking the 59th position (a tie with six other schools) down slightly from last year.��

“I am pleased that �鶹ӰԺ University continues to be recognized for its commitment to providing a transformational education that prepares students to make a difference in the world as they follow their unique paths,” said President Carter.��

About the Rankings��

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

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Beyond the classroom: 83 �鶹ӰԺ students transform summer into research opportunities

Communications — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 17:56:25 +0000

For many �鶹ӰԺ University students, summers are more than a break from classes; they’re a chance to engage in intensive, hands-on research that bridges classroom learning with real-world application.��

This past summer, a diverse group of Lawrentians—83 students from 19 departments across the college and conservatory—immersed themselves in a variety of research projects, pushing their boundaries and gaining invaluable skills. Funded by the generosity of donors, their experiences highlight the incredible opportunities available to undergraduates who choose to spend their summers in pursuit of discovery.

“Working with �鶹ӰԺ faculty on their research over the summer is a truly distinctive opportunity for our students,” said Beth Zinsli, associate provost and adjunct associate professor of art. “In addition to a greater depth of knowledge in a specific discipline, this summer research helps them sharpen key skills needed for successful careers in their fields after graduation.”

This is a glimpse of this year’s summer research opportunities, showcasing the research opportunities at �鶹ӰԺ and the transformative impact it has on student learning and professional growth.��

Interested in pursuing a research project next summer? Summer 2026 opportunities will be posted the last Friday of January 2026. Applications will be due by the third Friday of February 2026. Now is the time to start exploring your options. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Summer Research Coordinator (resesarchcoordinator@lawrence.edu), your advisor, or a professor whose interests align with your own.

Learn about student research

Collaborate with professors here on campus, with alumni who teach in major research universities around the world, or through outside programs you wish to pursue

Art History: Highlighting the Permanent Collection

The permanent collection at the Wriston Art Galleries at �鶹ӰԺ University boasts over 6,000 works of art, a testament to the generosity of the college’s 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 ‘25, also an art history major. Muzzarelli picked up the mantle when Chlystek graduated.

“They (Chlystek) left a really good foundation and gave me a really good place to start,” Muzzarelli said. “It’s been more collaborative than just me.”��

Junior Val Muzzarelli peruses some of their selected pieces for the exhibit.

Madison Pierson examines the Earl and Aubrey Richmond Collection of Rare Books.

Selected art pieces for the permanent collection exhibit��

Val Muzzarelli takes notes on a large piece of art.��

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:

Light, More Light!��

Empowerment��

Displacement��

The Unknown��

According to Madison Pierson, the collections and gallery assistant at Wriston, “The Unknown” highlights future research opportunities for pieces whose stories are not yet known.

“Many of the pieces came to us before this building (Wriston) existed,” Pierson said. “The paper trails for some of those early gifts in particular may be less thorough.”

An unofficial fifth theme, “Greatest Hits,” will also be featured, showcasing some of the collection’s 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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.

“Getting 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,” Pierson said. “There are so many who might not know that these collections exist or the breadth of the collection.”��

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��

After their freshman year at �鶹ӰԺ, 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.

“I was like, I can’t spend the rest of my life not doing plant stuff,” said Friestad. “So I decided to put that more into what I’m doing at �鶹ӰԺ.”��

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.��

Laura Friestad shows Rylee Polanka how to collect jewelweed seeds.

Rylee Polanka searches for jewelweed in the woods behind Trever Hall.

Friestad and Polanka search through the woods behind Trever Hall.

The view from behind Hiett Hall

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

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

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.

“That’s one of my absolute favorite things about the prairie —how they put so much into the roots,” Friestad said.

The Conservatory: Brass Pedagogy��

Joey O’Connor, a senior trumpet performance and music education major, had the opportunity to collaborate with assistant professor Nadje Noordhuis in editing interview transcripts for Noordhuis’s PhD dissertation, “The Teaching Philosophy of Laurie Frink.”

O’Connor 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.

Joey O’Connor and Nadje Noordhuis work together to edit interview transcripts.��

The Conservatory: LGBTuben, The Lodge, & Meditations��

Ann Ellsworth, associate professor of music, led several summer research opportunities tied to her involvement with the �鶹ӰԺ Graduate Bayreuth Tuben Quintet (LGBTuben), an ensemble with roots at �鶹ӰԺ. Ellsworth brought together �鶹ӰԺ 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’s 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.

“My 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,” Patch said. “It’s such a beautiful space.”

Ann Ellsworth and Leo Rodda take notes on their meditation arrangements.

Aimee Patch and Ann Ellsworth discuss their work.

The exterior of the Lodge

The Adirondack Park in New York provides a beautiful backdrop for musical work.��

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

“Being 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,” Patch said. “To sit there as a student, as an intern, was really incredible. To see how these decisions were made and debated and decided as a group was really powerful.”

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 Pärt 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.

“We’ve been using a lot of minimalist music, so the point is to listen for the small things that change,” Rodda said. “It’s to get you to mindfully pay attention.”

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.

“The people there (at the lodge) and the environment that was created there were so awesome,” Rodda said. “Everyone was so accepting and passionate about what they did; to me, that was the best part. That is something that I see at �鶹ӰԺ as well; you don’t see many other places.”

Ethnic Studies: Sibling Bonds��

Seniors Gabby DeBoer (psychology), Owen Bakker (psychology and double bass performance), and Faith Onukaogu (business & entrepreneurship and global studies) worked with Estéfani Marín, 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.��

“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.”

Owen Bakker, Faith Onukaogu, and professor Estéfani Marín listen to Gabby DeBoer as she presents her work.

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Acclaimed choreographer Robert Battle sets tone as �鶹ӰԺ debuts Creator in Residence program

Communications — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 15:14:43 +0000

This story originally appeared in the spring/summer 2025 edition of �鶹ӰԺ magazine.

Trust your voice.

For Robert Battle, those three words speak to an artistic journey that has taken him to unanticipated heights in the dance world. Spoken in 2011 by the iconic Judith Jamison as she handed him the keys to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the advice would become a calling card for Battle for the next dozen years as he navigated the creative and cultural pressures that come with being the artistic director of one of the country’s most revered arts organizations.

“I think that’s one of the hardest things for artists, perhaps even people beyond artistic experiences—to trust their inner voice, to trust their instinct,” Battle said.

From 2011 through late 2023, he carried the New York-based Ailey to new levels of brilliance—hailed for introducing works by emerging artists and nurturing young talent while staying true to the dance company’s signature repertoire and cultural relevancy. It was an exhilarating ride that lasted until he stepped away to explore new artistic endeavors.

And now Battle has delivered that same message—trust your voice—to students at �鶹ӰԺ University in his role as the university’s 2024-25 Creator in Residence. The newly launched residency will bring world-renowned creators to �鶹ӰԺ to collaborate with and inspire students and faculty.

“I think artmaking is so much about that,” Battle said of bringing the trust-your-voice lesson to students. “Yes, there’s technique involved but there’s mostly instinct, there’s mostly gut feelings about things before that paint brush hits the canvas or before that dance step comes out of you. You feel that what you have to say needs to be heard. I think that’s what I took from it, and to trust that is the hardest thing to do because of so many outside voices.”

Made possible through a gift from Harold ’72 and Mary Donn ’73 Jordan, the Creator in Residence program speaks to the university’s commitment to academic and artistic excellence. Future Creator in Residence programming is expected to span a range of disciplines, from sciences to humanities to arts.

“The program is built on a concept of collaboration—with students, faculty, and the community,” President Laurie A. Carter said. “These accomplished creators will come from across the academic disciplines, all creating in different ways, from performances and exhibitions to lectures and master classes. And many of them will bring with them a global following. We’re excited to see where it goes.”

“A lot to express”

Robert Battle

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.��

Battle said early talks with campus leaders about the vision for the Creator in Residence program drew him to �鶹ӰԺ.

“We got to talking about this notion of infusing creativity and artistic dance into more parts of academia and how that might work,” he said.

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

“These students are multifaceted,” Battle said. “They’re really smart, and they value art, they value dance. They have a lot to express, a lot to say.”

Magazine: See the spring/summer 2025 edition of �鶹ӰԺ

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.

“To me, that’s my excitement, to always be learning, investigating, trying new things,” he said. “I think this is a space where I felt safe to do that, very much supported by the faculty and by the dancers.”

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 Ureña 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.��

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

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

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

“As a Brooklyn, New York, native, I grew up with Alvin Ailey all around me—seeing the posters, watching the company perform, and knowing about the prestigious program that thousands train and work for years to join,” Fajardo-Wilde said. “Initially, 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.”

Donegan Kraker called Battle’s interactions with students and faculty genuine and his collaborations inspirational—deep conversation around process and interdisciplinary possibilities.

“This cross-pollination of idea, interest, training is what makes �鶹ӰԺ unique, is what sets up our artists for post-�鶹ӰԺ success,” she said.

Eye on collaboration

Robert Battle directs a rehearsal in the dance studio in Warch Campus Center.

It was a thrilling kick-off to a Creator in Residence program that �鶹ӰԺ leadership is excited to see grow. It comes as �鶹ӰԺ 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—all equipped with innovative tools that will facilitate greater academic collaboration and creativity. On the building’s 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ, oversaw the inaugural collaborative program. She said she was incredibly moved by the knowledge, insight, and passion Battle added to the student experience.

“He has flourished at the highest levels of the arts world,” she said. “He 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 �鶹ӰԺ community. He has set the template for what the Creator in Residence program can be.”

“Everybody has a story”

Battle sees the Creator in Residence role, no matter the discipline, as an opportunity to reinforce lessons already being taught at �鶹ӰԺ. 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.

“Sometimes you have to hear it from somebody from the outside,” Battle said. “You 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.”

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

“I feel everybody has a story,” Battle said. “And 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—everything at its foundation is imbued with creativity. I think that’s the link in terms of the Creator in Residence. Creativity is not just for artists. It really is for the world. We usually don’t 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.”

A new focus

�鶹ӰԺ’s Creator in Residence was one of Battle’s first opportunities after stepping away from the Ailey company.

“It was hard to walk away,” he said of leaving Ailey. “It’s a dream job. I think of it as more than a job; it’s a calling. But I think any good performer knows when to leave the stage, when you’ve said what you wanted to say and it’s time for someone else to take the stage.”

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.

“Sometimes you have to sort of let something go in order to move to the next phase of your life,” Battle said.” Sometimes, because we’re 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.”

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

“It’s wonderful because I can now drop in and then move forward,” Battle said. “I get to sort of be an independent artist again, which is exciting—to be in different spaces with different organizations that have different footprints and different modes of working. That’s what is happening now.”

At �鶹ӰԺ and elsewhere, Battle said, it feels good to give back, to be that inspiration to others that his teachers and mentors were to him.

“I’ve done a lot in my career in dance,” he said. “I’ve climbed ladders and mountains that I didn’t even think possible, the pinnacle being artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. I feel I’m at this place in my career where I really want to give back in meaningful ways.”

That was evident as the year progressed and the �鶹ӰԺ 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’s lessons—insights 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.

“This kind of hands-on-experience—creating art together as faculty, professional artists, and students—this is what �鶹ӰԺ does so well and why the Creator in Residence program is so specifically well-suited to �鶹ӰԺ,” Paek said.

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Jake Frederick, Jodi Sedlock named to endowed faculty positions beginning in 2025-26

Communications — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 19:47:15 +0000

Two �鶹ӰԺ University faculty members have been named to endowed teaching positions beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.

Jake Frederick will hold the Jean Lampert Woy and J. Richard Woy Professorship in History, a newly endowed chair. Jodi Sedlock will hold the Dennis and Charlot Nelson Singleton Professorship in Biological Sciences, an endowed position previously held by the retiring Bart De Stasio.

Study history at �鶹ӰԺ

Immerse yourself in different times and places to develop important perspectives on the world past and present.��

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

Frederick joined the �鶹ӰԺ faculty in 2006. His scholarship has included research on and presentations about fire and other environmental crises in Mexico and economic factors that have informed Mexico’s history. Published books include��Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico,��and, with Tatiana Seijas,��Spanish Dollars and Sister Republics: The Money That Made Mexico and the United States. In 2017, he was awarded �鶹ӰԺ’s 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’s 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 ’67 has a deep appreciation for her �鶹ӰԺ 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.

Study biology at �鶹ӰԺ

Whether in ecology, microbiology, marine biology, or genetics, you can look forward to a depth of knowledge and understanding that can come from close collaboration with faculty and classmates.

Sedlock joined the �鶹ӰԺ faculty in 2002. Her research has taken her and students frequently to��the Philippines in Southeast Asia, where she has worked in collaboration with Filipino scientists, conservation professionals, Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History, and other researchers, often in forests, caves, or biodiverse rice fields, as she seeks to better understand how bats respond to human-caused landscape changes. Her recent focus has been on acoustic ecology, a subfield of sensory ecology, using ultrasonic microphones to “eavesdrop” on bats as she explores animals’ evolved strategies for living in naturally noisy environments.

Sedlock earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Loyola University. She earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolution from the University of Illinois.

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