Lawrence looks to 'hit the ground running'

by Lillian Ferrall '10

Thursday November 29, 2007

For most Sarah Lawrence students, August 1, 2007 was just another glorious summer day. For Karen R. Lawrence, it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her career and the start of a new life in an unfamiliar town. In recent interviews, however, Lawrence describes this transition as “coming home,” since she was raised on the East Coast.

Elected last spring from a pool of well-qualified candidates, including the deans of several colleges and executives of non-profit organizations, Lawrence expressed an eagerness to “hit the ground running” during one of her first visits to the college.
Shortly after Lawrence assumed her post, she was given the opportunity when U.S. News & World Report placed Sarah Lawrence in an “unranked” category after the culmination of a highly publicized debate.

Lawrence doesn’t plan on wasting any time when it comes to fundraising. According to a statement released by the College on September 24th, “During the 2007-2008 academic years, President Lawrence will visit alumni, parents, and friends in several cities around the country, including Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Palm Beach, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.”

These trips will presumably constitute the beginning of an aggressive fundraising campaign. In her first speech at the college, Lawrence again highlighted the endowment as one of her main concerns. “Unique pedagogy is very expensive. More money, pure and simple, is imperative.”

Sharing the college’s history with the public is also a top priority for the new President. “I hope to tell the story of Sarah Lawrence, so that it’s even better known than it is now. It’s such a distinctive place,” said Lawrence in an exclusive interview with The Phoenix last spring. At her inauguration on October 5, she shared her thoughts on the next chapter in Sarah Lawrence history.