The Class of 2025 find success after Commencement
Graduating is a remarkable milestone for those who enroll in college. The Class of 2025 produced 442 graduates, many of whom have already taken first steps in their future careers.
Lake Forest College names Dr. Mike Sosulski as fifteenth president
Illinois native brings visionary leadership, national liberal arts impact to Lake Forest
In memoriam: President Emeritus Eugene Hotchkiss III
A visionary leader, trusted mentor, and cherished neighbor who helped shape Lake Forest College and the community beyond
Tracy Wamarema ’28 films documentary through Richter Scholar Program
As an international first-year student from Kenya, participating in the Richter Scholar Program was a cocktail of “firsts”: my first summer in America, my first interaction with Hindu culture, and my first real taste of independent fieldwork.
Van Ness House dedication honors $5M gift from alumni family
Lake Forest College celebrated a momentous occasion on Friday, June 13, with the naming of a beloved campus building in recognition of a transformational gift from distinguished alumni Gardiner “Gary” Van Ness III ’64 and Jessie (Steiner) Van Ness ’69.
WTTW-Chicago turns to Rebecca Graff for historical context on 1893 World’s Fair
A WTTW-Chicago film crew interviewed Associate Professor of Anthropology Rebecca Graff on campus for her insight on the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition for an upcoming Chicago Stories program.
Professor Karen Kirk publishes paper with eight student co-authors
Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Foster G. and Mary W. McGaw Professorship in the Life Sciences, Karen Kirk worked with eight undergraduate co-authors to examine how telomerase RNA (TER) is handled inside cells of the fungus, Aspergillus nidulans.
Lake Forest College to add dance, cheer, men’s volleyball in 2026–27
Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Catanzaro announced today that Forester Athletics will grow to 28 programs in 2026-27 with the addition of cheerleading, a dance team, and men’s volleyball.
Jim Catanzaro named Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics
Lake Forest College Vice President for Enrollment and Campus Life Chris Ellertson announced that, following a national search, Jim Catanzaro has been selected as the College’s Assistant Vice President and Director of Athletics and will officially assume that role immediately.
Brian McCammack awarded fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Chair of Environmental Studies Brian McCammack was recently awarded a $60,000 fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) for his book project, Black, Brown, and Green: The Origins of Environmental Justice in the 1970s.
Karla Perez ’23 earns top honor in PhD program at Stanford
Karla Perez ’23 was named to the 2025 cohort of 84 new Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) at Stanford University.
The Class of 2025 find success after Commencement
Graduating is a remarkable milestone for those who enroll in college. The Class of 2025 produced 442 graduates, many of whom have already taken first steps in their future careers.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025
The Lake Forest College Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony took place under sunny skies on Wasylik Field on South Campus on the morning of Saturday, May 10.
Students, faculty, and staff honored at 2025 Leadership Awards
The Gates Center honors individual student leaders, student organizations, and faculty leaders at the Leadership Awards Ceremony each spring. This year awards were presented to students, faculty, and student organizations.
Phi Beta Kappa inductees celebrate admittance to prestigious honors society
Eligible students were inducted into the Lake Forest College Phi Beta Kappa Chapter (Theta of Illinois), during a ceremony in Brown Hall's Tarble Room on April 28, 2025.
WGN News spotlights Lake Forest College premiere inspired by young cancer survivor
A powerful story of music, resilience, and hope reached a wider audience on May 1, 2025, when WGN News aired a 4-minute feature on Lake Forest College’s musical premiere inspired by 11-year-old cancer survivor, Kamila.
Students identify real-world solutions in 2025 Venture Design Challenge
The 2025 Venture Design Challenge finals were held on April 26 in the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel. This year, two teams shared the prize title.
Leading the way with AI: Lake Forest College announces new artificial intelligence minor
Beginning in Fall 2025, Lake Forest College students can explore artificial intelligence (AI) through a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary minor.
Nu Rho Psi hosts event exploring connections between social media and the brain
On March 20, 2025, the Lake Forest College chapter of Nu Rho Psi hosted "Demure Perspectives on Social Media"—an interactive educational event exploring the nuanced relationship between the brain and social media.
Psychology students present at Midwest Psychological Association conference in Chicago
In an impressive representation of student research coming out of a single department, 16 undergraduate psychology students presented their accepted research over the annual Midwest Psychological Association (MPA) conference.
Ahmad Sadri speaks at Chicago’s 2025 Nowruz celebration
Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri attended the 2025 Nowruz celebration at Chicago City Hall on April 8.
Foresters present ‘Decolonizing Bodyminds’ research at Midwest conference
Seven students from Professor of Anthropology Holly Swyers’ Decolonizing Bodyminds and Their Relations class presented at the 2025 Midwest Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), held April 11 at Indiana University South Bend.
Kate Feist ’27 wins 2025 Goldwater Scholarship for Parkinson’s research
Science double major and student-athlete Kate Feist ’27 has been named a 2025 Goldwater Scholarship recipient for her research on the causes of Parkinson’s disease, the prestigious national organization announced.
Desang Tenzin '28 awarded Projects for Peace grant to improve monastery living conditions
Economics and computer science double major Desang Lhaki Tenzin '28 grew up in Bhutan, where many monasteries face significant resource challenges. With the support of a Davis Projects for Peace grant, Tenzin is determined to change this.
Students present, win poster awards at national fruit fly conference
Three Lake Forest College students and one alum attended the Genetics Society of America's Drosophila Genetics Research Conference in San Diego, California, March 19-23.
Band, Orchestra, Choir to premiere original piece inspired by girl’s cancer journey
On Friday, April 25, the Lake Forest College Band, Orchestra, and Choir will present the world premiere of an original composition inspired by the story of 12-year-old Kamila, a resilient young girl from Lake in the Hills, Illinois who beat cancer.
Ben Zeller named an ACM Academic Leadership Fellow
Professor and Chair of Religion Ben Zeller has been selected as the Lake Forest College Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Academic Leadership Fellow for a 2-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
Courtney Pierre Joseph in new PBS documentary on Chicago’s lakefront
Associate Professor of History and African American Studies Courtney Pierre Joseph is featured in a new WTTW documentary, “Touring Chicago’s Lakefront with Geoffrey Baer” premieres 7 p.m. (CDT) on Monday, April 14.
Symposium 2025 celebrates student achievement in day-long event
On April 8, the Lake Forest College community gathered for Student Symposium 2025, the College’s annual celebration of student creativity and academic achievement.
Foresters reconnect and build careers at 2025 In The Loop Mixer
More than 200 students, alumni, and employer partners gathered on Thursday, April 3 at the Bank of America building in downtown Chicago for the 2025 In The Loop Mixer—an annual event that brings the Forester community together for networking, mentorship, and career-building conversations.
Sadri’s ‘Shahnameh’ translation earns praise and global invitation
Less than two weeks after his new Shahnameh was published on March 18, 2025, Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri was making news globally.
Schwalbe research students earn top honors at conferences
Spring 2025 has been a landmark semester for Assistant Professor of Biology Margot Schwalbe and students in her research lab.
Student tutors present research at Midwestern Writing Center Association conference
Four Lake Forest College students who work in the College's Writing Center as tutors attended and presented research at the Midwestern Writing Center Association (MWCA) conference March 13-15.
Students build professional skills at Career-A-Palooza 2025
At Career-A-Palooza, students choose from a variety of sessions and activities where they learn valuable career-building skills that will help them apply for and secure jobs and internships as well as narrow down their fields of interest.
Folk musician Justin Lansing ’07 named 2025 Commencement speaker
Grammy Award-winning folk musician Justin Lansing ’07 will deliver the 2025 Lake Forest College Commencement address on Saturday, May 10.
Artist in Residence events bring two dance companies to campus
This year, Lake Forest College’s Artist in Residence (AIR) committee invited two Chicago dance companies to campus for performances and workshops.
Eukaryon to inaugurate 21st issue of award-winning journal
The print and web-based student publication Eukaryon, which highlights scholarship in the life sciences, will be inaugurated on March 27 at 4:30 p.m. in the Tarble Room in Brown Hall.
Meet the Forester mentors who help students make it
Over winter break, 242 members of the Forester network reached out to support current students through the Foresters CAREER Mentoring Program that pairs students with professionals.
Linh Pham awarded climate grant to study economic impacts of Vietnam carbon transition
Assistant Professor of Economics Linh Pham recently won a grant to study the macroeconomic implications of the carbon transition in Vietnam.
Josh Hedge publishes article on Utah dinosaur egg diversity
Visiting Assistant Professor of Biology Josh Hedge recently published an article on fossil eggshell diversity of the Mussentuchit Member in the scientific journal PLOS One.
Ridges Sanctuary, College affiliation opens new doors to learning
Lake Forest College is pleased to announce a budding interdisciplinary affiliation with The Ridges Sanctuary, a leading environmental conservation organization in Bailey’s Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin.
Neuroscience achieves departmental status at Lake Forest College
The newest department on campus represents one of the top five majors for Lake Forest College students. Neuroscience, formerly under the wings of the Departments of Biology and Psychology, has been elevated to full department status.
HUMAN Residency Fellows to explore AI through the humanities
Ragdale, in conjunction with Lake Forest College, is pleased to announce the recipients of the HUMAN Residency Fellowship, made possible by the Mellon Foundation.
Ahmad Sadri to discuss enduring power of Shahnameh in NYC Public Library event
Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri, a distinguished translator and scholar of Persian literature, will participate in a special event exploring the enduring legacy of Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh in the New York Public Library on March 12.
Sean Menke receives NSF grant to uncover ant reactions to periodical cicadas
Last summer, Lake Forest's landscape was changed by the emergence of periodical cicadas that surface every 17 years. Professor of Biology Sean Menke partnered with fellow scientists to explore the impact of these cicada emergences on ant populations, and the project received a grant from the National Science Foundation to enable further research.
Vocalist's on-campus performance highlighted in Classic Chicago
A recent article in Classic Chicago magazine, “Lake Forest College: Celebrating Town and Gown,” spotlighted a special evening of music and community at Lake Forest College.
Lake Forest College mock trial teams shine at regional tournament
Lake Forest College’s mock trial program continues to grow in strength and success, as two teams competed at the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) regional tournament at the University of Notre Dame in early February.
Class of 2024 reports 97 percent placement rate
The Gorter Family Career Advancement Center (CAC) is pleased to report that within six months of graduation, 97 percent of Class of 2024 graduates were employed or enrolled in continuing education
Paper published on how job ad wording affects women’s career decisions
Research that began as a Richter Scholar Program project four years ago with Farhan Ahmed ’24 under Assistant Professor of Business Cassondra Batz-Barbarich was recently published in the Journal of Personnel Psychology.
Study uncovers unexpected relationship between banks and peer-to-peer lending
Lake Forest College professors and students challenge conventional wisdom with groundbreaking research.
Omicron Delta Kappa inducts outstanding students in annual ceremony
Lake Forest College recently celebrated the induction of new members into Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), a prestigious national leadership honor society.
Lake Forest College to host free VITA tax preparation services
IRS-certified students and alumni from Lake Forest College will provide free, in-person tax-preparation services to qualifying community members filing 2024 returns this spring.
Brian McCammack awarded NEH fellowship for environmental justice project
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Chair of Environmental Studies Brian McCammack was recently awarded a $60,000 fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for his book project, Black, Brown, and Green: The Origins of Environmental Justice in the 1970s.
Todd Beer study on conservation, gender equality, and education published
Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department Todd Beer, recently published a peer-reviewed research article in The Sociological Quarterly, the official journal of the Midwest Sociological Society.
Map your future: a junior’s guide to the college search
Congratulations! Your college search starts now, and as a high school junior (or maybe even a sophomore), you're ahead of the game—and that's something to be proud of.
Courtney Joseph, RL Watson lead students in preserving Black history of Lake Forest
A grant from the National Archives has enabled Associate Professor of History and African American Studies Courtney Joseph and Assistant Professor of English and African American Studies RL Watson to lead students in researching the Black history of Lake Forest, Illinois. Halfway through the grant cycle, the team has already accomplished a noteworthy amount of work.
New Foresters begin on first day of spring semester
The skies deceivingly shone bright blue while temperatures remained frigid throughout the first day of classes on Monday, January 13, 2025.