This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience Learn more about our use of your data by reading our Privacy Policy and hope reached a wider audience on May 1 when WGN News aired a 4-minute feature on Lake Forest College’s musical premiere inspired by 11-year-old cancer survivor was the culmination of collaboration between Sing Me a Story Make a Wish Illinois and the College to bring Kamila’s cancer journey to life through music The WGN segment captured behind-the-scenes rehearsals and moments from the April 25 performance at the Gorton Community Center in Lake Forest “I’m so touched by this phenomenal project and so proud to have been a small part of it.”  Reflecting on the project, Edgar said: “I’m so touched by this phenomenal project and so proud to have been a small part of it.” Edgar gifted his conductor’s baton to Kamila after the concert This national exposure highlights the College’s commitment to community partnerships and the transformative power of the arts.  View photos of the concert here Illinois 60045 847-234-3100 Admissions: 847-735-5000 which opens for tours April 26 through May 25 Renowned architect Henry Ives Cobb masterfully blended classic architectural design with serene English-style gardens when he designed the 30-room manse once known as Pembroke Lodge the residence sits on more than three acres and includes a formal garden Finely finished Wisconsin limestone cloaks the exterior which is adorned with classical details such as dentil cornices and balusters his sister and a visionary designer herself who worked on many homes in the area throughout her career The property remained in the hands of the same family until the ’60s a series of renovations in the ’70s and ’80s stripped the home of its traditional aesthetic although the exterior remained mostly unchanged since its original design The front porch of the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens by Cynthia McCullough Interiors “The challenge for show house designers was to restore the home’s traditional detailing while making it a warm and functional space for a young family,” says Susan Rolander principal of Rolander Architects and one of six co-chairs of the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens Challenge accepted: The participating pros took about 75% of the home down to the studs and installed a smart home system in addition to replacing hardwood floors they discovered original millwork and wallpaper beneath layers using the finds as cues for their restoration work “It was like an archaeological excavation,” Rolander said Throughout the numerous rooms on the first and second floors—including eight bedrooms with en suite bathrooms—and the outdoor spaces created the next evolution of the home while considering its history and holding some reverence for Adler and Elkins deliberately referenced the organic by embellishing walls with an elegant botanical plaster installation as well as working with a local artisan to create a bespoke cocktail table made of local limestone “I paid homage to Elkins with our redesign of the reception room,” said Marli Jones the creative director of Rebel House Design “Her decidedly modern takes on classic interiors became our driving direction Our ode to Elkins came in the form of the biophilic plaster wall design rendered with a local twist: Instead of acanthus and palm leaves Joey Leicht Design decorated the salon which branches dramatically towards the ceiling velvet-upholstered sofa adds further decorative intrigue Get a year of unlimited access for $25 $20 per month the poolhouse pavilion became a vibrant entertaining room where floral motif grasscloth wallpaper complements furnishings and accessories that pop in purple and blue hues Neutrals have their moment at the Lake Forest Showhouse and Gardens too. With its wash of warm whites and natural materials, the primary suite by Diana Wagenbach of Studio W Interiors is an oasis of calm it made me lean into the Belgian interior design movement of quality materials and neutral tones,” says the AD PRO Directory member from a cove ceiling to a modern wall reveal and leather-lined shelves to handcrafted tile “The designers this year blew us all away with their dedication to craftsmanship and extraordinary attention to detail,” says Wendy Franzen president of the Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago which provides healthcare services to underserved communities in Chicago is the beneficiary of this year’s show house The salon by Joey Leicht Design The office by Birkman Interiors The reception room by Rebel House The dining room by Maggie Getz Studio The first floor hall and stairwell by Lauren Collander Interiors The ritting room by Unpatterned The library by Kipling House The foyer by Cynthia McCullough Interiors The gallery by Michael Del Piero Good Design, Randy Heller Pure & Simple Interiors The main kitchen by Ablaze Design Group The scullery by DeCleene Creative Pantry hallway by Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors The pantry by Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors The mudroom by JenMarie Interiors The double powder room by Katy Evans The 2nd Floor Landing by Sarah Dippold The rotunda by Kaylane Kane The little girl’s bedroom/playroom by Theresa Hansen Interiors En suite bathroom by Theresa Hansen Interiors The Mahjong room by White Couch The English resting room by AD PRO Directory firm North Shore Nest Gentleman’s retreat by Anthony Michael Interiors The primary suite by Studio W Interiors The guest bedroom and bath by Aarti Shah Interiors The ladies office by AD PRO Directory member Emily Sturgess The cabana by Meghan Jay The kitchenette by Mason & Brass The reading nook back stairwell by R. Titus Designs The vintage printed lady’s lounge by Courtney Petit Design Another girl’s bedroom by AD PRO Directory firm Robbins Architecture The ladies office bath by AD PRO Directory member Emily Sturgess The dressing room by Forward Fruit The laundry room by Suzanne Sykes Interiors Sign up for The Source newsletter our essential read for design professionals 20 Interior Styling Secrets from AD Stylists Off to Milan Design Week? Get AD PRO’s Essential Guide to Salone del Mobile 2025 4 Designers’ Tips for a Longer-Living, More Resilient Garden AD PRO’s 2025 Outdoor Forecast Is Here 14 Gardens Every Design Lover Must See in Person 35 Chic Walk-In Closet Ideas From the AD Archive The AD PRO Directory Expands to Include Builders and Contractors—Applications Now Open ExpandThe playroom section of the room redesigned by Theresa Hansen Interiors (Photo provided by Grundy County Chamber of Commerce) Theresa Hansen Interiors in Morris has been selected for a Lake Forest mansion designer showcase where Hansen will be responsible for giving an 1895 little girl’s playroom a 21st-century makeover The Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens is an event held by the Lake Forest Chapter of Infant Welfare Society of Chicago an organization that raises funds for IWS Family Health IWS provides healthcare services to medically underserved families according to the Showhouses’ Instagram page Theresa Hansen Interiors is a featured designer in the 2025 Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens The Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens is an event held by the Lake Forest Chapter of Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Hansen is at the far left of the group gathering of the designers at the kick-off of the designing event This year’s Showhouse brings together 38 interior designers from around the country to reimagine the 15,000-square-foot mansion and its 3.5 acres Hansen was among 100 interior and landscape design companies “Being selected as a designer for the Lake Forest Showhouse is such an incredible honor It’s a privilege to collaborate with some of Chicago’s most talented and seasoned designers on this project,” Hansen said Theresa Hansen Interiors opened 10 years ago and it’s a nationwide custom interior design company based in Downtown Morris inside the Fabric Center Hansen and her husband Matt purchased the Fabric Center in 2024 The interior of the room redesigned by Theresa Hansen Interiors “Theresa Hansen Interiors is renown in the field and to have Morris be its home is already a point of pride for our community,” said Christina Van Yperen Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry President & CEO “To have Theresa be a part of such a distinguished and elite showhouse illustrates her talent and will help promote Morris to a new audience the Georgian-style home chosen has 30 rooms and was designed in 1895 by architect Henry Ives Cobb It was built for real estate and zinc mining entrepreneur David Benton Jones and remained in the family for 67 years Each designer is assigned a different room of the house from the kitchen to the outside tennis court Hansen will design a little girl’s playroom and bathroom “Designing the little girl’s bedroom and playroom has been such a joy Seeing the space through a child’s eyes has made the process feel playful “While every project is a creative adventure there’s something truly magical about crafting a space for imaginative play Our goal is to create a room that not only sparks joy today but becomes a cherished memory for years to come.” The Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens is Tuesday through Sunday from April 26 - May 25. To buy tickets, visit www.lakeforestshowhouse.com For information on Theresa Hansen Interiors visit theresahanseninteriors.com The bathroom section of the room redesigned by Theresa Hansen Interiors Michael UrbanecMichael Urbanec covers Grundy County and the City of Morris, Coal City, Minooka, and more for the Morris Herald-News Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Lake and McHenry County Scanner Lake Forest Police announced they are training a new St and they are seeking help from the public to name him Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Lake Forest Police Department Bernard puppy will accompany department Social Worker Lauren Perez on mental health-related calls within the community Olson said the department responded to 538 mental health-related calls for service in 2024 marking a clear indication of the growing need for compassionate and innovative resources like comfort dogs The addition of a comfort dog will help provide emotional support during these high-stress situations “There’s no question that police work takes a toll on emotional well-being,” Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke said “This comfort dog program is an important step forward – not just in how we support our team but in how we connect with and care for the Lake Forest community.” affectionate nature and remarkable emotional intuition making the breed especially well-suited for high-stress situations that require empathy “Having a comfort dog on the force will help build trust in difficult moments,” Perez said “Whether we’re responding to a mental health crisis or offering support after a traumatic event comforting presence for the people we serve – and for the officers who serve them.” Comfort dogs are increasingly used by law enforcement agencies nationwide to help alleviate the psychological stress experienced by first responders and those affected by trauma The role of the new dog will conform to the role of other comfort canines which includes providing emotional support during and after critical incidents reducing anxiety for residents and officers enhancing communication during sensitive investigations and offering a positive presence during community engagement and outreach The Lake Forest Police Department is inviting the public to help choose the perfect name for the new dog. Community members can cast their vote in a short online survey at cityoflakeforest.com/HelpNameLFPDComfortDog “This program is more than just about one dog – it’s about how we approach mental health “We’re proud to take this next step with Social Worker Perez leading the effort.” No part of this website may be reproduced or stored in any form without written permission from Lake and McHenry County Scanner To keep you informed about the latest news across Lake and McHenry counties as it happens The 2025 Venture Design Challenge finals were held on April 26 in the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel an AI-powered vertical software for steel service centers an app for displaying current information on crowd density at popular campus spaces Other projects spanned across industries such as golf In all, 13 teams competed in the 2025 pitch competition for a total of 49 individual student participants View photos from the final.  Venture: AI-powered vertical software for steel service centers Venture: App for displaying crowd information Venture: A golf ball that allows you to track your ball on a mobile app so you can never lose it Venture: Resilient industrial flooring solutions Venture: On-line course to analyze the morfologia of the Nelore cattle breed Venture: An app for optimized and streamlined résumé building Through the annual Venture Design Challenge Lake Forest College students identify a problem worth solving and mobilize the resources to solve it Pitch competition participants connected with mentors and competed for a share of a $10,000 prize The CrowdView team aims to have their app up and running by the next calendar year we feel excited to have the opportunity to improve students' time management," Iain McAlister shared "We also are looking forward to offering universities better insights into the popularity of certain spaces and the benefits that come with the analytics." The competition is designed for students with an early-stage social impact or business idea It is open to all current Lake Forest College students regardless of year or major John Russick is the Managing Director of the Bronzeville Center for the Arts in Milwaukee and Visiting Director of International Projects for the Future Museum Studio at the Institute for Cultural and Creative Industry at Shanghai Jiao Tong University His interactive augmented and virtual reality experiences for the Chicago History Museum won a Chicago Innovation award in 2019 PhD (Duke University biomedical engineering) a firm that helps cultural organizations with mission delivery and Operations at the Art Institute of Chicago and has been named to the Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40 Lisa Wilkerson worked in the pharmaceutical industry for nearly 30 years including 23 years as a General Manager at AbbVie She won the prestigious and coveted Chairman’s Award awarded annually to fewer than 100 of the more than 50K AbbVie employees Lisa is the owner of two companies and teaches Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lake Forest College and two faculty members attended the 2025 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) national meeting in Chicago and students from around the globe attended this year’s premier international conference in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology she presented her junior year work that led to her award-winning proposal In addition to the general poster sessions and Kiernan were invited to participate in the 27th annual Undergraduate Poster Competition. Over 300 top undergraduate BMB majors representing institutions from all over the United States presented at this fiercely competitive session representing the highest level of BMB research conducted by students nationwide “I was especially proud of how our BMB students presented themselves with such expertise as they regularly do to support students presenting faculty/student collaborative research in BMB labs at the college DebBurman has been an ASBMB faculty member since 1998 “I am proud to be part of this national organization that stands out as a scientific leader in undergraduate education and sees its mission to help build and empower young molecular life scientists to advance discovery,” he said “I always feel professionally rewarded seeing our students feel at home thriving at this meeting and see them stand out for their professionalism and preparation,” he said “Their outstanding research consistently elicits accolades and praise from my colleagues at other institutions and from industry professionals.” Kirk offers this viewpoint: “I saw impressive work across the board—but I was especially proud of how our BMB students presented themselves with such expertise ASBMB is an international nonprofit scientific and educational organization with over 11,000 members It is one of the largest molecular life science societies in the world its community has pioneered new discoveries in the molecular life sciences that drive medical advances and therapies for many disorders and diseases as well as many other applications ranging from environmental to agricultural Holly Kiernan ’26 (above) and Leslie Casares ’26 co-presented their research; co-authors Kate Feist ’27 and Mieng Chandavimol ’27 attended Martin Ettlin Cuitino ’27 presented research conducted in Dr Rebecca Delventhal’s traumatic brain injury lab Co-author Otoha Tatami ‘24 also attended Leslie Casares ’26 (above) and Holly Kiernan ’26 co-presented their research; co-authors Kate Feist ’27 and Mieng Chandavimol ’27 attended Sebastian Gacek ’25 presented his senior project conducted in the D-Lab Co-author Mieng Chandavimol ’26 also attended the conference.  Lake Forest College students can explore artificial intelligence (AI) through a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary minor With two distinct tracks—AI studies and AI governance—the AI minor program is designed to help students think critically and lead confidently in a world increasingly shaped by AI AI is already shaping the workforce across a range of industries Understanding how AI works and how to govern it ethically is essential to success in the current job market The new minor allows students to combine AI with a variety of majors to prepare for the changing landscape of future careers The minor is co-chaired by Executive Director of the Krebs Center for the Humanities and Professor of English Davis Schneiderman and Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics Sara Jamshidi “We proposed this new minor in artificial intelligence because students today need more than just technical fluency—they need the critical and interdisciplinary tools to navigate a world increasingly shaped by AI,” Schneiderman said “Lake Forest College is uniquely positioned to lead in this space: no other small liberal arts college offers a program like this one that bridges humanistic inquiry and AI governance frameworks with real-world applications.”  Lake Forest College is one of the first small liberal arts colleges to offer a comprehensive and interdisciplinary AI credential that is firmly rooted in the liberal arts tradition Students explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the human experience through literature This humanities-driven track invites you to ask big questions about what it means to be human in the age of AI and offers practical skills for the 21st-century workplace and guardrails essential for ensuring that AI implementations are ethical graduates become proficient in designing governance plans that cover the entire AI lifecycle from proper launch and ongoing monitoring to issue resolution and sunsetting our robust data science and computer science programs provide opportunities for students to learn how to build AI systems—complementing the minor's focus on assessment and critical engagement “The data science and computer science programs discuss the nuances of building machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms But the subject is far too expansive and ever-present to only explore on the development side,” Jamshidi explained the ‘monoculture’ problem that AI use presents As people use AI more in activities like writing human writing styles can start to converge to the styles inherent to common large language models What impacts will that have on creative writing How will this impact our expectations as readers These are profound questions that extend well beyond algorithmic programming and design.” Lake Forest College is preparing students to develop Students will be able to declare an AI minor with the Registrar beginning in the fall The new AI minor is not the College’s first engagement with artificial intelligence. The College’s Krebs Center for the Humanities received a $1.2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation for the HUMAN (Humanities Understanding of the Machine-Assisted Nexus) project The HUMAN grant project aims to explore artificial intelligence through a humanities perspective equipping students with the skills to ethically integrate AI into their professional lives with an emphasis on equity and justice HUMAN explores what it means to be human in the age of AI by engaging an interdisciplinary group of humanities faculty fellows who in partnership with Chicago-based organizations Students are gaining a broad understanding of the role that the humanities should play in public policy and community education in an AI-inflected world HUMAN addresses the urgent need for an informed understanding of the interplay between the humanities and the fast-evolving realm of artificial intelligence to ensure ethical developments promote equitable technological advancement and nurture meaningful human-AI collaboration.  is studying abroad at Ewha Womans University in Seoul I’m Nika and I’m a junior majoring in psychology with a minor in Chinese at Lake Forest College I’m currently studying abroad at Ewha Womans University in Seoul I felt the endless excitement at the thought of immersing myself in a completely new environment; I was surprised at myself that I was not as nervous as I had initially expected My first memory of South Korea was my move-in day when I went out with my roommate to have gukbap (soup with rice) and Korean BBQ to celebrate our first day as roommates All the classes I’m having are taught in English and they have been broadening my knowledge of South Korea’s history and culture students have the opportunities to go on field trips such as the National Museum of Korea and Seoul Museum of Craft Arts Contemporary Issues in Korean Culture stands out to me; through this class I have learned so much about both North and South Korea’s popular culture We once watched a movie in class about a population group of North Koreans in their 20s to mid-30s called the Jangmadang generation which had challenged my past perspectives about North Korean society I had a fundamental understanding of the Korean language I did not have a hard time at all when it came to adjusting to the language upon my arrival I saw a huge improvement in Korean and gained more confidence in speaking Korean with the locals thanks to this class I’m also able to practice Korean with the buddies I had met through the Ewha Peace Buddy system and we sometimes hang out during the weekends in different neighborhoods of Seoul My buddies have made my time in Seoul so much more memorable and they’ve helped me a lot in adjusting to Ewha’s environment I’ve had an amazing opportunity to see the cherry blossoms at Seokchon Lake and although the cherry blossom period only lasted for about 2 weeks Having afternoon picnics by Han River with my buddy group is also one of my most memorable activities; sharing our ramyeon and fried chicken while having long conversations was one of the highlights for me I also got the chance to attend a concert of my favorite artist with my friends and we had so much fun together Being in Seoul has allowed me to learn more about myself both as a scholar and as an individual My studying abroad journey has been nothing but full of joy and fulfillment and I will always be grateful for this opportunity International Student Support is committed to serving the diverse needs of our F-1 international student community through advising and a variety of services beginning with visa applications for admitted students through graduation and beyond The Office of International Student Support (ISS) assists F-1 international students with their visa status, employment and support services to ensure a smooth transition and a successful experience for students from over 90 countries Our staff also provides support for cultural and personal adjustment At Lake Forest College we are proud of our diverse international student community which comprises over 18% of our student body Office hours are open for walk-ins and appointments Walk-ins during a previously scheduled appointment may need to wait until appointment is finished. To schedule a meeting outside of office hours please email Sandra or Lauren directly Book an Appointment Monday: 10:00 am - 12:00 pmWednesday: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pmThursday: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Book an Appointment Tuesday: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pmWednesday: 2:00 - 4:00 pmFriday: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Sandra Ortiz, PDSO Director sortiz@lakeforest.edu 847-735-5202 Lauren Risner, DSO Program Coordinator lrisner@lakeforest.edu 847-735-5016 students can explore artificial intelligence (AI) through a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary minor With two distinct tracks—AI Studies and AI Governance—this program is designed to help you think critically This humanities-driven track invites you to ask big questions about what it means to be human in the age of AI and offers practical skills for the 21st-century workplace Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s a present reality shaping every industry and aspect of life AI has become embedded in a range of industries Understanding how AI works and how to govern it ethically is essential to our future Combine an AI minor with a variety of majors to prepare for the changing landscape of future careers students explore artificial intelligence through a first-of-its kind interdisciplinary minor that centers two important perspectives: AI Studies and AI Governance we assess AI through a societal lens using humanistic practices we ask key questions about the history and impact of AI on human life and the world we live in we assess AI through business standards and safety lenses we ask key questions about the embedded risks using governmental Combine a variety of disciplines to gain a better understanding of the complexity of the AI landscape Learn to use and analyze AI through internships Practice essential liberal arts skills like critical thinking and analysis to boost your career readiness The AI minor at Lake Forest College offers students a multitude of ways to engage with AI in a hands-on setting Students taking on a minor in AI in either track will have the opportunity to blend a variety of disciplines in their studies This liberal arts approach gives students an edge when it comes to applying their AI-based skills and knowledge beyond the classroom Techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci visited the College for a discussion with Krebs Center Executive Director Davis Schneiderman about a world rapidly adjusting to everything from ChatGPT to big data to the power of the algorithm—and how the humanities might be the key to the future students assess AI through a humanistic lens asking critical questions about its history students assess AI through a business standards and safety lens We ask key questions about the embedded risks of these technologies using governmental The AI Studies track is deeply interdisciplinary and media studies to examine how AI shapes and is shaped by society choose from humanities electives focused on AI and participate in an AI-focused internship They will also serve as Krebs Center for the Humanities Scholars The AI Studies track offers students hands-on learning opportunities through internships in AI-related fields the Krebs Humanities Scholar Experience allows students to engage in scholarly work under faculty supervision partnerships with Chicago-based organizations enable students to gain real-world experience and contribute to AI applications and policy discussions enhancing their understanding and preparedness for future careers in AI The AI Governance track focuses on central ethical concerns and technical difficulties related to AI deployment they must take a humanities class of their choice focused on AI and society and they must take either a technical AI-related class OR another humanities class which is needed as a skill to help with assessment students will learn how to use assessment frameworks to develop oversight mechanisms informed by what they’ve learned in previous classes We’ll look at real-world scenarios and study AI governance frameworks arising from many entities students will engage in real-world and hypothetical case studies allowing them to analyze and apply AI governance principles across various sectors such as healthcare and draft governance frameworks for AI and data management systems providing practical experience in ethical considerations and regulatory compliance 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 The three-day conference took place April 10 through April 12  The Lake Forest College students represented three of the College’s research labs From Assistant Professor of Psychology Nora McLean’s lab multiple students presented in a poster session focusing on experimental psychology research and Pablo Gilbert ’25 presented on the role of psychosocial stress and perceived control in moral decision making in an experimental lab setting and Jackson Rothman ’25 presented on a science of teaching and learning study that explored the effects of factors in asynchronous learning videos on student recall and subjective stress based on analysis that was conducted by Arreola and McKee during the 2024 Richter Scholar Summer Research Program In the SEED Lab, run by Assistant Professor of Psychology Layne Vollman five graduating seniors presented their research Arianne Collins ’25 and Valeria Almendares ’25 conducted a cross-cultural analysis of the presence of social-emotional pedagogy in two Sesame Workshop productions: Sesame Street and Ahlan Simsin a production for children in the Middle East “Conducting research in the Science of Early Education and Development Lab this past year has allowed me to develop skills that I know I will need as I pursue higher education and has also led me to develop a strong interest in the research at hand - understanding how social-emotional learning is taught in children's media cross-culturally,” Collins said and Mac Chan ’25 participated in a collaborative research project with a local middle school to examine cognitive and non-cognitive factors predicting mathematics achievement in a low-income middle school “Working in the SEED lab has been one of the highlights of my undergraduate career,” Golden shared Vollman and the experience we’ve gained is invaluable and presenting a national conference felt like the culmination of our work.” From Assistant Professor of Psychology Emily Dix’s lab three students presented posters on research projects related to understanding racial bias Recent graduate Lucy Freeman ’24 presented a study conducted during her senior year at Lake Forest Using a politically diverse national sample the study examined how people’s recognition of ongoing racial bias relates to their support for policies that promote racial equity and their reactions to race-related current events Graduating seniors Fatima Galvan-Alva ’25 and Loreto Galvan-Alva ’25 presented a study that explored who is likely to speak out and take issue with racial bias that occurs online in a social media context Reflecting on her experience conducting this research Loreto Galvan-Alva said: "Research is truly a labor of love—one that requires countless hours of dedication It’s been one of the most fruitful experiences I’ve been part of during my time at the College.” The Krebs Humanities Scholars program offers an independent study or creative project experience sponsored by the Krebs Center for the Humanities This new program pairs faculty mentors with students to conduct research or creative work in the humanities The program was launched as a pilot in Spring 2025 with seven students undertaking research or practice-based projects for credit under faculty guidance The Krebs Humanities Scholar Program has generously supported me and my research assistant as we undertake historical research for my next novel scheduled for publication by Regal House in 2027 the third in a historical trilogy set in the 1920s so Derick and I have been looking into the economic and labor structure of the studio system the rivalries between film distribution companies and the technological and economic issues related to the development of film sound We have also been delving into biographical details about certain Hollywood personalities of the era—but to say too much more would be to spoil the plot Lago/Volcano is Bielak’s collaborative multimedia art project that uses Lake Michigan and the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl to explore the ways we anticipate and respond to environmental instability by attuning to natural bodies Lago/Volcano will highlight the ways urbanity can habituate us to the extraordinary geologic bodies in our midst how we can remain attentive to their presence and how tuning into them can help us anticipate and respond to environmental instability The project will include drawings at the scale of the landscape and visual poems based on research in the fields of geology Senior SOAN major and Studio Art minor Angelica Hryb is working closely with Bielak on this cross-disciplinary research the findings of which have ranged from imagery of molecular structures of plant life in Lake Michigan to data on Popocatépetl’s ash distribution Bielak recently applied this research in a production trip to Mexico City the Paso de Cortés (the mountain pass between the volcanos Popocatépetl and  Iztaccihuatl) and Zacualpan de Amilpas Computer vision has now progressed to the point of reliable visual analysis for artistic objects offering insight into form and context with reasonable accuracy under expert guidance This project uses AI to analyze images in the Krebs collection compare the output with our own analyses derived from connoisseurship practices we aim to better understand the collection to enhance our records as we catalog the artworks; second we seek to illustrate the current strengths and weaknesses of computer vision for art history By studying lesser-known objects through both expert and computer lenses we explore the efficacy of publicly available AI programs for real-life museological work as we contemplate the role of AI in humanities research for the present and future What would it have been like to attend a pageant on the streets of Renaissance London: to hear speeches written by some of the best playwrights through the commotion of the crowd to see floats designed by leading architects amidst fireworks This project aims to provide such an immersive experience beginning work on digitally modeling Thomas Middleton's pageant "The Triumphs of Health and Prosperity" on October 29 The ultimate goal will be for users to experience the pageant across 5 different locations across the city although we will limit ourselves to the first location (at St Michael's de la Querne and the "Little Conduit") Students would help me begin this project by doing a deep dive into the material conditions and historical locations of this first pageant (that is and will begin developing the key scenes (including but not limited to: the historical location; the pageant cart designs; the performance of the speeches; clothing and costumes) Taking the "Virtual Saint Paul's Cross" as our guide and using AI to streamline our research process this group will get our bearings with digital modeling technology as we seek to recreate the historic experience of attending Middleton's civic spectacle this project will provide invaluable data for scholars of the early theater who have long emphasized the multisensory and diverse experiences of the early modern playhouse that are often left out of the exclusive analyses of texts; moreover it would be a resource for emerging scholarship on the mayoral shows (and might thus be included in anthologies and future publications) This project explores how AI-generated digital art can enrich the thematic essence of multilingual poetry in Collage Magazine As a publication that celebrates the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Lake Forest College community Collage provides a creative platform for students to express themselves in languages other than English Through extensive testing of over a dozen AI art generators the project identified the most effective tools for visually interpreting poetry refining prompts to capture the poem’s emotional depth The selected AI-generated images serve as the thematic artwork for the 2025 edition of Collage Magazine These illustrations add a dynamic visual and interpretive layer to this year’s publication enhancing the reader’s engagement with the poetic expressions within Robert Archambeau's books include the studies Laureates and Heretics; Poetry and Uselessness from Coleridge to Ashbery;The Poet Resigns: Poetry in a Difficult World; Inventions of a Barbarous Age: Poetry from Conceptualism to Rhyme, plus a few volumes of poetry and edited collections of essays and some literary translations he has embarked on a trilogy of historical novels Toklas is Missing was published by Regal House which will publish the second volume, The Bloomsbury Forgery He is at work on the final volume, Let Me Talk to Harpo Marx. He serves as an advisory editor at The Hudson Review and chairs the Department of English and Creative Writing at Lake Forest College Susy Bielak is an interdisciplinary artist and writer and educator. Bielak’s work responds to issues including migration Her work has been collected and exhibited widely including by the International Print Center She has received fellowships from the Jerome Foundation and has been in residence at Ragdale and Oxbow Bielak received an MFA from the University of California San Diego and BA from Macalester College and is an Assistant Professor of Art & Art History at Lake Forest College Kimiko Matsumura is an assistant professor of art history specializing in modern and contemporary art Her research addresses histories of scientific display and illustration the role of visual culture in shaping knowledge and knowledge-making practices and artistic reinterpretations of scientific imagery Her current Krebs Center project deploys computer vision in collection management and interpretation as a method for exploring the advantages and disadvantages of AI in visual studies.  Catherine Reedy is a visiting assistant professor of English Her teaching and research interests include early modern English drama Her work has been published or is forthcoming in Early Modern Literary Studies Doctrine and Disease in the British and Spanish Colonial World Historicizing the Embodied Imagination in Early Modern English Literature and the Map of Early Modern London digital resource She is at work on a book on the representations of the plague in the early modern theater entitled Pestilent Congregations: Drama and Devotion in the Early Modern Theater and is the editor of Thomas Middleton's The Triumphs of Health and Prosperity as part of the peer-reviewed anthology of the Lord Mayoral Shows Professor Wu is the chair of Asian Studies and a faculty member in Modern Languages and Literatures She teaches all Chinese language courses and many courses in Asian Studies She has been teaching at Lake Forest College for 12 years I am currently studying for a degree in sociology & anthropology along with economics I love to read and travel around different parts of the world My time spent at the college has given me many inspirations for the future and I hope to carry on what I have learned post-graduation as well and I am currently a senior at Lake Forest College I have the great opportunity to be a Krebs Humanities Scholar this semester I work part time aiding elementary school kids in their academic endeavors and lead the student-run organization My name is Shellane Shettleworth and I am in the class of 2026 I am a double major in Politics and Data Science (Computer Science Concentration) with a minor in Asian Studies (Chinese Language Concentration) Given my majors and my current role as the Vice-President of Collage Magazine my interest in Artificial Intelligence has grown particularly regarding the ethical considerations and creative applications of its use I am excited for the opportunity to integrate this interest with my passion for showcasing the cultural diversity of Lake Forest College and I am a sophomore majoring in English and Philosophy I’m excited to work alongside my professor and fellow students in the Krebs humanities program It’s rare for an undergraduate to have the opportunity to research with professors and I’m so grateful to the Krebs Humanities Program and Lake Forest College for giving me this opportunity!  Frederick Perdana lives a vast life within the movie theaters Ask him what his favourites movies are and be prepared for an hour-long lecture you'll see him working on various creative projects including making short films Sebastian Ellis is a passionate history student who enjoys working with collection objects you can probably find him working with objects from around the world in the Sonnenschein Gallery Sebastian is a passionate collector and dealer of antiques He strives to highlight the value that objects bring to the educational experience.  Lake Forest College has entered a formal search process to select its fifteenth president.A 12-member Presidential Search Committee selected by the College’s Board of Trustees has committed to finding the most-qualified candidate to lead this outstanding liberal arts institution into the future The Board of Trustees has retained Russell Reynolds Associates—a national search firm with deep expertise in higher education—to serve as consultant to the Search Committee.  Representatives of Russell Reynolds will conduct an extensive national search and provide: Several listening sessions were held and surveys conducted with various College stakeholder groups to gather input on the priorities for and qualities desired in the next president.  The mandate of the Search Committee is to find the most qualified candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees as the next President of Lake Forest College We seek an extraordinary leader to guide our exemplary institution into its next chapter—an accomplished dynamic institutional leader with a proven record of strategic vision and fundraising success The ideal candidate will prioritize academic excellence This is more than a leadership role—it’s a rare opportunity to join a vibrant community unlike any other Or download the pdf Lake Forest College Presidential Search Prospectus Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest should be sent to our search firm at: lakeforestcollege@russellreynolds.com.  please submit a CV and an optional cover letter by April 30 Lake Forest College does not discriminate on the basis of race unfavorable discharge from military service or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates Lake Forest College complies with federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination based on the protected categories listed above including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 which prohibits discrimination based on sex (including sexual misconduct) in the College’s educational programs and activities Lake Forest College provides reasonable accommodation to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities and to individuals who are pregnant Presidential Search Committee Co-Chairs Marisue Lacher and Bob Murley will share as much search information as possible with the College community while maintaining the confidentiality of the applicants: Thank you to the nearly 900 individuals who participated in the survey regarding the priorities and background for the selection of our 15th President Our thanks as well to the dozens of faculty and members of the community who participated in listening sessions The search committee has finalized the job profile and the committee looks forward to providing an update on the progress throughout the spring semester If you would like to nominate someone for this opportunity please send submissions to lakeforestcollege@russellreynolds.com Presidential Search CommitteeBoard of Trustees Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri attended the 2025 Nowruz celebration at Chicago City Hall on April 8 Sadri spoke at the event and presented a copy of his new translation of Shahnameh to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Deputy Mayor Beatriz Ponce de Leon Sadri will deliver the plenary speech on the significance of Shahnameh  in Persian literature at the Uncensored Books Fair in Vienna Sadri’s translation of the Complete Shahnameh (Epic of the Persian Kings) was published on March 18 His previous version of the Shahnameh was a best seller and is still in print The Shahnameh is one of the most important works in Persian literature chronicling the mythic and historical foundations of Iran Though it is widely known in Persian-speaking communities it remains relatively unfamiliar to many Western audiences Sadri’s acclaimed translation has played a pivotal role in making this literary masterpiece more accessible preserving both its poetic brilliance and historical significance Sadri’s ‘Shahnameh’ translation earns praise and global invitation Ahmad Sadri to discuss enduring power of Shahnameh in NYC Public Library event Sadri addresses the crowd during the Chicago Nowruz celebration Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponce de León 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 “Can the Master’s House Be Decolonized from the Inside?” They were supported by work from their classmates, Isabel Bersie ’26 Participation in such conferences allows Lake Forest College students to engage with current educational research and practices enhancing their academic and professional development By contributing to and learning from these scholarly discussions students gain valuable insights into the dynamics of teaching and learning preparing them to be thoughtful and effective educators in their future careers.​ “My biggest takeaway from our conference presentation is that we have more allies and supporters than we know Our audience was not only interested in what we did in class but also our experiences doing it,” Elfman said “It’s interesting to present on a research project that’s part of personal and community growth it’s vulnerable in a way that a lot of research isn’t.” “We aren’t disconnected from the subject of study That vulnerability and openness was a form of strength The students will carry this experience beyond Lake Forest College Conducting their research and sharing their findings at an important conference “taught me a more nuanced way of thinking about connectedness and the importance of just ‘being,’” Elfman said.  Professor Swyers said she is “really glad the College is able to help fund opportunities like this While I know our students are top-notch and are able to hold their own in a professional setting sometimes they need to experience it for themselves to believe it.” The 2025 Midwest SoTL Conference centered on the theme “Care and Creativity,” emphasizing the importance of compassion and innovation in teaching advocated for a transformative approach to higher education that prioritizes care and justice for both students and educators The conference featured a variety of sessions all aimed at exploring effective teaching practices and fostering a supportive learning environment 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 the Goldwater Foundation awarded 441 tuition scholarships to college students from across the United States for the 2025-2026 academic year The winners were chosen from a competitive pool of over 5,000 college sophomores and juniors who applied.   The Scholarship Program honoring Senator Barry Goldwater supports outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences It is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields Feist is the only student from a small liberal arts college in Illinois selected this year and one of only five students from the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) consortium of 14 national liberal arts colleges to earn a Goldwater Scholarship “I’m very grateful to be nominated by and represent Lake Forest College for this award and to be selected by the Goldwater Foundation—especially since I am surrounded by an incredible community of talented and dedicated peers at the College,” she said “The Goldwater is simply the most prestigious and unbelievably competitive scholarship in the nation for students that plan to pursue PhDs in STEM fields,” DebBurman said “As Kate’s academic and research advisor I am absolutely delighted but not surprised that she was selected “She is a truly exceptional scholar with a laser sharp focus who has displayed a rare level of intellectual rigor and infectious love of scientific process and discovery,” DebBurman said “Her work ethic stood out within days of joining my research team at the end of her first year She has already presented at a national meeting and independently carved out an ambitious and innovative two-year project that could push the boundaries of knowledge in Parkinson’s disease.” “I joined the D-Lab as a Richter Scholar after the end of my freshman year,” Feist, a neuroscience and biochemistry and molecular biology double major “I immediately started doing complex biology work on mutagenesis genetic engineering I wrote about that in my Goldwater application and also laid out some ideas that I have for future research in the lab.” Mutagenesis genetic engineering is the process of intentionally inducing mutations in the DNA of an organism “I suggested in my application new ways to look at the molecular structure of alpha-synuclein which is one of the proteins that can cause Parkinson’s disease I wrote out a proposal for a new way to modify this protein and look at the potential effects of how doing that might contribute to its aggregation and toxicity in Parkinson’s disease,” Feist said Feist and DebBurman collectively came up with ideas “to kind of build off of the work I did this year with Sebastian Gacek ’25 for his senior year research,” she said “We looked at how that could be expanded on in a kind of new direction that we could go.” Feist will spend 10 weeks this summer working in the lab to explore those ideas “I do enjoy doing research and it’s nice to have that time with no other classes—or no other distractions really—that I can just focus on research and dedicate all my effort and attention to it,” she said Feist strongly believes her participation on the Forester women’s tennis team improves her academic performance There’s a lot of research on how exercise helps the brain and how hippocampal neurons regenerate when you exercise So I definitely credit part of my success with being an athlete,” the singles and doubles player said “And the environment of being on the team having that time every day that I’m forced to step away from the textbooks and the cells and just kind relax is a good change of pace and something to break up my day Those are both aspects that I really enjoy.” But that’s a trade-off she’s willing to make and I make sacrifices to make it work,” she said “But I really enjoy tennis and I really enjoy the academics I’m involved in so it’s definitely something that I’m okay with.” likely in neuroscience or biochemistry or molecular biology something along those lines,” Feist said “I’m currently really interested in the brain-gut connection and how the bacteria and neurons in your stomach communicate with your brain That’s something I might be interested in researching in the future.” Feist’s love of science—and research—started years ago “Science was always my favorite subject which is kind of how I came to neuroscience My senior year of high school I had the opportunity to participate in a research program where we were mentored to create our own project and then do research on a baseline level just to get exposed to it I really enjoyed being a part of that program and spending time in the lab and working with cells I was a little more certain I want to go into some sort of molecular science in college.” and mathematics were nominated by 445 colleges and universities for the 2025 Goldwater Scholarships Of the selected Scholars who reported demographic information and nearly all plan to pursue a PhD as their highest degree Goldwater Scholars have gone on to win an impressive array of prestigious awards becoming National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellows DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellows 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 Zeller will envision and champion the creation of a Teaching and Scholarship Center at the College and is dedicated to fostering a community of teacher-scholars in keeping with advancing the strategic vision for academics at the College “Professor Zeller will build on the work of the Office of Faculty Development which aligns with the vision in Academic Affairs to support and advance the excellent work of our faculty,” said Tara Natarajan, Krebs Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty “Our goal is to bring faculty together in a meaningful and intellectually rich community to support our teaching and scholarship,” said Zeller 10 ACM Fellows were chosen for the 2025-2027 professional incubator They will gain firsthand knowledge of the intricate work of campus leadership at the highest levels to prepare them to support their colleges in navigating current challenges and opportunities Supported by a generous $1.16 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, the prestigious ACM Academic Leadership Fellows Program offers tenured faculty in the arts and humanistic social sciences the opportunity to level up their expertise in a wide range of leadership areas.  Maps of each parking area for Commencement are below Each graduate received two (2) parking passes at Cap and Gown Pickup on April 15 These are color-coded and must be displayed on the driver's side dashboard Shuttle drop-off location designated with a blue star Guest entrance to ceremony tent designated with a yellow star Shuttle pickup locations designated with blue stars: *There is no shuttle stop at Glen Rowan House Entrances on Deerpath Road and Sheridan Road Shuttle pickup location designated with a blue star Designated accessible parking for vehicles bearing valid Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) disability parking placards or license plates is available on a first-come first-served basis on South Campus (entrance at the corner of Sheridan Road and Maplewood Road) in the Sports and Recreation Center lot Lake Forest College is pleased to announce a budding interdisciplinary affiliation with The Ridges Sanctuary a leading environmental conservation organization in Bailey’s Harbor implemented under the leadership of Krebs Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tara Natarajan offers students unique hands-on learning experiences in both field research and environmental studies—further setting the College apart as a leader in immersive experiential education The seeds of this new affiliation between the College and The Ridges grew from conversations between Natarajan and Rick Johnson and Claudia Wyatt-Johnson ’69—a family deeply connected to both institutions while Rick serves on The Ridges Board of Directors Their shared passion for conservation and experiential education sparked the vision for this collaboration Momentum grew in 2024 as Associate Dean of the Faculty Matt Kelley and Executive Director of The Ridges Sanctuary Katie Krouse brought together staff and faculty from across academic disciplines—including Art and Art History and the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center—to brainstorm future collaborations who has a long relationship with The Ridges led a group of eight faculty members on an overnight excursion to The Ridges to further explore this budding relationship With a vision for interdisciplinary engagement and guided by a strong desire to develop collaborations for Summer 2025 and the Wyatt-Johnsons worked together to develop and fund two internship opportunities exclusively for Lake Forest College students they worked with Adelson on developing the new This affiliation represents Lake Forest College’s commitment to offering students high-impact immersive experiences that cross disciplines and connect classroom learning with the wider world the partnership with The Ridges Sanctuary empowers students to engage with pressing environmental challenges while preparing for careers that make a difference Associate Professor Glenn Adelson (second from left) leads students in an on-campus fieldwork class 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 The Lake Forest College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 2025 Pilot Program will assist filers with a gross income of less than $67,000 VITA is an IRS initiative that has operated for over 50 years providing free tax preparation for underserved communities across the country This is the first time that Lake Forest College initiated by business faculty member Dave Jordan is offering this service to the community with the help of dozens of students “Several members of the Lake Forest College community are coming together and volunteering their time to offer this terrific service to our greater community,” said Jackie Slaats Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Career Advancement “Thanks to the outstanding collaboration of business faculty members Dave Jordan staff members Melissa Werntz and Marie Josephitis we are fulfilling an important aspect of our mission as a longstanding liberal arts college--to make a difference in the world and provide our students with meaningful hands-on experience.” About Lake Forest College: Founded in 1857 Lake Forest College is a selective residential national liberal arts institution located 30 miles north of downtown Chicago The College enrolls more than 1,800 students representing nearly every state and over 115 countries Lake Forest College has a long tradition of academic excellence and is known for its innovative curriculum and focus on career preparation Three Lake Forest College students and one alum attended the Genetics Society of America's Drosophila Genetics Research Conference in San Diego Riojas and Abdelkhalek both won awards for their posters They competed among 500 undergraduate presenters.  Glial expression of ER membrane protein complex subunit 4 (EMC4) plays a role in survival Genetics Society of America Undergraduate Poster Award Investigating the tissue specific impact of EMC4 knockdown on fertility and lifespan in D “With this conference specializing in fruit flies it was interesting to see how this model organism can be used to study so many different aspects of science and how it translates to other topics,” Tatami shared “It builds on my appreciation for science and the scientific community and motivates me to continue my future path as a scientist.” The Annual Drosophila Research Conference is the premier meeting for Drosophila researchers and the event showcased over 1,000 presentations covering disciplines such as genetics The meeting also featured attendee-organized workshops as well as professional development and networking events.  “Attending this conference gave me more clarity about the kinds of research I’m passionate about and what paths I might want to take in graduate school or beyond,” Abdelkhalek said “I also had the chance to meet and connect with researchers and students from all over the country.” Riojas feels more motivated than ever to continue lab research “Receiving recognition from experts on genetics outside of campus speaks so well about us as students and Becky as our advisor,” Riojas said it is an incredible accomplishment to have won the first-place poster award in a sea of 500 other undergrads from around the country I am extremely proud of myself and motivated to continue doing research.” The students who attended were able to sharpen their presentation skills and gain confidence in their academic work “One of the most important skills I gained from the experience was learning how to effectively present my research to people who are deeply familiar with the field,” Abdelkhalek shared “It wasn’t just about explaining my project it was about engaging with others who shared similar interests and could ask thoughtful That changed the way I approached my poster presentation; instead of feeling like I had to perform or prove something it felt more like a conversation or a learning opportunity.” Less than two weeks after his new Shahnameh was published on March 18 Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies and Professor of Sociology Ahmad Sadri was making news globally He received his first positive review from the Shepherd Express—Milwaukee’s monthly magazine covering arts one of the most important works in Persian literature Sadri was invited to deliver the plenary speech on the significance of Shahnameh in Persian literature at the Uncensored Books Fair in Vienna and scholars from around the world to explore the power of literature beyond linguistic event organizers wrote: “Your remarkable translation of the Shahnameh The Epic of the Persian Kings has brought one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature to a broader international audience and has highlighted its enduring philosophical and cultural relevance the Donnelley and Lee Library will host a Faculty Book Discussion with Sadri at 4 p.m Sadri will discuss his recently published translation of Shahnameh: The Epic of Persian Kings while Derick Perdana ’26 and Carrington Valentine ’27 will dramatically recite excerpts from the epic 242 members of the Forester network reached out to support current students through the Foresters CAREER Mentoring Program that pairs students with professionals Mentors provide invaluable advice as students navigate the career world and explore their post-college options The group includes employer partners and other professionals invested in Foresters’ success Here is a look at what some of the mentors had to say about the experience and novelist whose most recent publications include How Long Is Now (Spuyten Duyvil a novel; Hannah and the Master (MadHat Press a work of speculative poetry; The Transcendental Circuit: Other Worlds of Poetry (MadHat Press with Jean- Luc Garneau, Partisan of Things (Kenning Editions a new translation of French poet Francis Ponge’s work He is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Lake Forest College and lives in Evanston with his wife and teenage daughter Learn more at joshua-corey.com A professional editor and experienced instructor of creative writing Zach holds a PhD in literature and creative writing from the University of Houston an MA in English from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Chicago Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) office moved to a new location and got a new name led by Local Taxpayer Advocate Araceli Miranda Araceli and her staff of experienced case advocates can be reached at (949) 638-7001 for assistance with tax problems that you can’t resolve on your own They will ensure that you are treated fairly and that you know and understand your rights To find a local TAS office near you, visit our Contact Us page and choose your state or territory from the dropdown menu TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects taxpayers’ rights We can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a financial difficulty you’ve tried and been unable to resolve your issue with the IRS or procedure just isn’t working as it should we will do everything possible to help you You can follow news from the TAS online or on Social Media. Subscribe to receive general news updates the National Taxpayer Advocate’s weekly NTA blog in English and Spanish and upcoming TAS events while looking at cute dogs and pop culture references like and share our content to help spread the work on how we advocate for taxpayers Our advocates will be with you at every turn as we work with you to resolve your tax issue “We ensure that every taxpayer is treated fairly and that taxpayers know and understand their rights” Do you know of a tax issue that affects a large group of taxpayers Let us know by submitting through our Systemic Advocacy Management System (SAMS) As an independent organization within the IRS the Taxpayer Advocate Service helps taxpayers resolve problems and recommends changes that will prevent problems The newest department on campus represents one of the top five majors for Lake Forest College students formerly under the wings of the Departments of Biology and Psychology has been elevated to full department status The change meets a growing demand among current and prospective students eager to study neuroscience, an interdisciplinary STEM field that has witnessed a consistent rise in enrollment for the the past 20 years in both undergraduate and graduate education in the United States.  “Lake Forest neuroscience graduates will now have the distinction of coming from one of the only fully fledged neuroscience departments at a liberal arts college,” Chair of Neuroscience Blaine Moore said. “We now join the company of such distinguished institutions as Pomona College with our department designation It’s something students can and should be very proud of.”  Many neuroscience graduates move on to distinguished graduate programs and medical school as well as a variety of career fields ranging from medicine who double majored in neuroscience and psychology was the first student to officially declare a neuroscience major when the program was first created. “The neuroscience major pushed me to not only excel academically and community,” she shared.“I felt more than prepared when I entered my doctorate program from a knowledge standpoint but it really has been the other skills that have impacted me the most in my career.” Johnson is now a Clinical Neuropsychologist at Northwestern Medicince and Instructor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine The major and minor programs were established in 2009 over the 250 neuroscience students have graduated from Lake Forest College The number of Foresters majoring and minoring in neuroscience as well as students outside the program taking classes “To me, this change recognizes that neuroscience has matured over the past 15 years,” Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience Matthew Kelley shared “It's confirmation that we've been successful and are here to stay.” Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Neuroscience Shubhik DebBurman has been a longtime champion of the neuroscience program and was the founding chair of the program students sought this major for its innovative and distinctive experiential curriculum that helps diverse students understand the biology underlying our mind and behavior in interdisciplinary ways integrating the humanities with the natural and social sciences,” DebBurman said “The major has attracted many highly motivated student scholars to the college producing a vibrant research-rich collaborative academic culture where students help each other succeed Our curriculum and community-based programming have received national notice for years.” So far, within five years of graduation, over 70 percent of neuroscience alumni have pursued a postgraduate degree in a variety of fields Krebs Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Tara Natarajan was also instrumental in facilitating the creation of the Department of Neuroscience is a graduate of the neuroscience program and is currently an Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. “The neuroscience program's individualized attention and mentoring propelled me toward my career as a neurologist,” she said. “The combination of a stellar faculty abundant mentoring and research opportunities and the added resources to support it all will prepare all its current and future students for careers in their chosen fields." neuroscience will have more independence and direct control over curriculum and administrative tools it also gives us the opportunity to lead by example,” Moore said “Perhaps we will inspire other successful neuroscience programs to pursue department status I truly hope that our success can be a model for others in the neuroscience community.” Lake Forest College’s Artist in Residence (AIR) committee invited two Chicago dance companies to campus for performances and workshops The groups involved with the Lake Forest College community this year are Circles and Ciphers Circles and Ciphers came to campus on February 21 and 22 is a “restorative justice organization led by and for young people impacted by violence.” The group blends art and education with direct action to work towards prison abolition on March 27 in an event co-sponsored by the South Asian Student Organization one of the great classical dance forms of India NDT preserves and perpetuates Bharata Natyam in all its classical rigor and moves the art form in innovative directions to foster cultural exchange through dance,” the dance theater’s mission states “Both companies are groups of artists where movement is very central to their practice in very different ways,” Associate Professor of Theater and Performance Studies and AIR committee co-chair Chloe Johnston said the Artist in Residence Committee wanted to focus on movement because we have noticed that there has been a lot of incredible student dance happening in the last couple of years.” The College will be offering the Intro to Dance class this and next year to support student interest in dance “We felt there was a desire on campus to do more dance-based activity,” Johnston said March 27 in the Sports and Recreation Center The highly innovative work of Natya Dance Theatre offers profound and subtle expressions of humanity’s deepest questions and values in the context of our present-day lives and moves the art form in innovative directions to foster cultural exchange through dance NDT’s contemporary interpretations incorporate dynamic body movement hand gestures and facial expressions to convey meaning and emotion that create rasa aesthetic experiences that spiritually transform audiences worldwide 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 Eukaryon is an award-winning undergraduate research journal that publishes the very best of life science scholarship conducted at Lake Forest College within its research-rich classrooms and faculty labs and published by an undergraduate editorial board.   Neuroscience and biochemistry and molecular biology major Lira Zajmi '25 from Peje Kosovo is the current editor of the publication Neuroscience and biology major Jeremy Levin '26 from Deerfield “ Eukaryon is not just a journal; it is a community—a space where young scholars find their voices and contribute to a legacy that extends far beyond themselves,” Zajmi said. “This inauguration is not just about celebrating a publication—it’s about celebrating the collective efforts of bright determined minds who refuse to settle for anything less than excellence they see the passion behind every page and feel encouraged to ask bigger questions and continue pushing the boundaries of what we know.” “Working on Eukaryon has given me the opportunity to collaborate with peers and better understand the publication process,” Levin said “I’ve gained valuable editorial and leadership skills while helping make student research more accessible.”   Disque D. and Carol Gram Deane Professor of Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Neuroscience Shubhik DebBurman serves as the editorial board faculty advisor “As the faculty creator of this amazing endeavor in 2003 which I proposed as an outcome for a National Science Foundation grant that I received I never once imagined that this unique journal would grow and flourish into its third decade the way it has,” DebBurman shared “The journal's longevity and success truly speaks to its continuing relevance within our life sciences science curriculum In the strongest of liberal arts traditions our faculty focus on developing science students as research-focused scholars that graduate with strong communications skills and this journal provides an exceptional platform to highlight our classroom and professional success.” This year, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Karen Kirk will be speaking at the event highlighting this year’s theme,“Decoding Life’s Blueprint." Kirk’s research explores how telomeres are maintained and their role in cellular aging a crucial process for genetic stability and longevity.  highlights the College's scholarly innovation as well as student experiential learning The journal gives students on the editorial board the opportunity to develop professional skills in peer-review and web and print publication formatting while enabling them to polish leadership skills in maintaining and creating the journal's policies and managing content.  “For our over 250 student authors since 2004 being published in  Eukaryon is such a valued outcome as their outstanding writing is recognized and the wider world gets to have direct access to their academic work,” DebBurman said Eukaryon remains one of the best examples of how our students model real world practices through a student organization at the College.” Eukaryon is an award-winning undergraduate research journal at Lake Forest College that publishes the very best of life science scholarship conducted by Lake Forest students The journal’s goal is to celebrate and highlight the academic accomplishments of students achieved within the research-rich classrooms and student-centered research labs of Lake Forest College faculty The word “eukaryon” reflects the diversity of organisms with which the life sciences faculty are involved through their scholarship The students and faculty in the life sciences at Lake Forest College founded this peer-reviewed annual online journal in 2004 over 250 Lake Forest College students have become published authors in Eukaryon the journal celebrated 20 years as an independent publication its board is celebrating 20 years as a Lake Forest College student organization.  Eukaryon is published by students at Lake Forest College who are solely responsible for its content The views expressed in Eukaryon do not necessarily reflect those of the College Articles published within Eukaryon should not be cited in bibliographies Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author The 2025 inauguration speaker is Dr. Karen Kirk Professor of Biology and Professor and co-Chair of Biochemistry an Molecular Biology at Lake Forest College She specializes in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology Kirk’s research explores how telomeres a crucial process for genetic stability and longevity She conducts her research using model organisms such as Aspergillus nidulans which reproduce quickly and serve as valuable tools for undergraduate research Kirk earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Delaware followed by a PhD in Molecular Genetics from Rutgers University She then completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California "Decoding Life’s Blueprint," in alignment with this year’s theme Her lecture will delve into the molecular mechanisms that shape our genetic code and how these discoveries impact medicine Kirk has published numerous articles with Lake Forest College students as co-authors contributed significantly to her field with NSF-funded research and mentored generations of students in cutting-edge research on genome stability and aging who have gone on to become established scientists with a minor in Legal Studies is studying abroad at Webster University in Leiden I've had the pleasure of studying International Relations at Webster University Leiden Leiden is located 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam so I've experienced a lot of great memories One of my top memories abroad has been traveling around the Netherlands and seeing all the big/small cities Another one of my favorite moments while abroad was my trip to Belgium located 20 minutes from the coastline of Belgium so I got to tour all the beautiful monuments from a boat on the canal I also got to try fries with Belgian stew on top and that was by far some of the best food I've had since been here One of my favorite parts of my program here at Webster would have to be the professors I have had a lot of great professors who truly care about their students They make sure you understand all the content being taught in class and even engage with you outside of the classroom I thankfully did not have a hard time adjusting to the culture here in the Netherlands which made it easier for me to adapt to my surroundings I believe that I have had a lot of personal growth since being in Leiden I've become more comfortable spending time alone I think that spending a semester away from an environment that you are super familiar with is very beneficial I am very excited to travel to Berlin to visit a friend from Lake Forest and possibly visit Albania for my birthday Hotchkiss for granting me the Foreign Travel grant A lot of the activities and trips that I had planned would not have been possible without the support from this grant!  Lake Forest College recently celebrated the induction of new members into Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) a prestigious national leadership honor society marked the 11th anniversary of the signing of the Lake Forest College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa charter by its founding members ODK recognizes and encourages superior leadership and exemplary character while fostering collaboration through its five pillars of leadership: academics Lake Forest College is proud to be one of 300 Omicron Delta Kappa circles nationwide The ceremony opened with a welcome from Jéssica Caal Chamam ’25 vice president of the Lake Forest College Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa delivered the invocation and closing remarks while College Board Trustee Bob Crawford provided opening remarks New initiates received the Laurel Crown Circle View photos from the ceremony here We proudly welcome and congratulate this year’s Omicron Delta Kappa inductees: Members of the Spring 2024 ClassRocío G López Blandón ’26 Shelton Mudzingwa ’25 Isabelle Nordstrom ’26 Members of the Spring 2025 ClassNatalia Avalos ’26 Mariam Beshara ’26 Chelsea D Denniss ’27 Maximilian Guyott ’25 Christian Hirshboeck ’25 Nilufar Imomdodova ’25 Inessa Kaufman ’27 Emma A Kinane ’27 Anika Kinnear ’27 Kaelyn Knutson ’27 Victoria C Mudrik ’26 Vilaura Narin ’26 Anora O Schick ’27 Ena Sehic ’26 Megan M Tanquilut ’26 Masha Torishnyak ’27 Adriana Voloshchuk ’27 Keïsha William ’27 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 This year's numbers are even better than the impressive 96 percent placement rate for the Class of 2023 Here is the breakdown for the Class of 2024 This year, 70 percent of graduates’ outcomes have been reported compared to the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ recommendation of 65 percent “We are so proud of our Class of 2024 and the success they are having post-graduation in this competitive job market,” Assistant Vice President for Career Advancement and Director for the Gorter Family Career Advancement Center Colleen Monks said “As technology and AI continue to reshape industries the interdisciplinary liberal arts background and human-centered perspective that they possess sets them apart and has prepared them to excel not only in their first careers but also in innovative roles in the future.” In addition to the 97 percent career placement rate Lake Forest College also ranks #1 in the nation for Social Mobility (U.S After playing four years on the Forester women’s hockey team and professionally for another five Budde was thrilled to be named the Lake Forest College Head Women’s Hockey Coach last fall.  “It was a no-brainer,” Budde said of the decision to coach the team she used to captain “This has been my dream job since I was 18 years old Even as I've lived in some of the most beautiful countries in the entire world there’s still no community as close-knit and dedicated as Lake Forest College.”  A formidable on-ice presence at Lake Forest Budde continued her playing career for two seasons on one of the top teams in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League joined the Premier Hockey Federation for two seasons with the Buffalo Beauts and played across Europe one season with an Austrian European Women’s Hockey League team.   After five years on the professional circuit where she has felt at home since first stepping foot on campus as a high schooler on a recruitment tour.  “The sense of community was so special both as a student and as an athlete,” Budde said of her four years as a Forester I made some of my best friends and learned how to be a leader and as a student I learned how to be a good friend and how to manage my time the more the community gives back to you.”  Budde has worked in other capacities as a coach “My dream was to play professional hockey and I got to do that in Sweden,” Budde said “Buffalo was more about my career and learning more about sports marketing and just have the time of my life.”  Her years playing professionally in Europe and in the US as well as working for data analytics company Helios Hockey equipped Budde with a diverse set of skills and experiences that inform how she leads the Lake Forest College women’s hockey team She played different positions than she did in college and learned how to use data to analyze athletes’ performances.  “All of my experiences prepared me to come in and take over this program,” Budde said “They each taught me something different about how to be a head coach and give feedback I got to work with incredible hockey coaches and players and see first-hand how they run practices and be part of a successful team.”  Budde’s coaching philosophy is player-driven “My perspective is that goals should come from the players themselves,” Budde said “My job is to help facilitate their goal and go to the NCAA tournament.”  As Budde has gotten to know the players and work with them throughout the season she’s enjoyed witnessing their development and having a hand in their success.  “Being their coach has been really rewarding and incredible,” Budde said “You can see how much the team has improved and how much they’re buying into the systems and coming together to play the way I know they can They've been an amazing group to work with.”  The College will purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) representing 100 percent of its energy use for the year 2025 The REC purchase was proposed by the Campus Sustainability Committee The move marks a sharp uptick from the 20 percent purchased for 2024.  “We were aligning our sustainability goals with the US goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050 but decided to push up our efforts 10 years because there was no reason to postpone the switch,” Chair of the Campus Sustainability Committee and Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Todd Beer explained.  the Committee is funded by students who pay a $10-per-semester Green Fund as part of their activity fees.  The College’s Senior Leadership Team wholeheartedly approved the 2025 move-up date and was thrilled to work in partnership with the Sustainability Committee.  Other recent environmental initiatives supported by the Campus Sustainability Committee and the student Green Fund include: More information on the College’s sustainability efforts can be found here As part of the switch to campuswide move towards sustainability the College adopted the following Sustainability Guiding Principles: The Lake Forest College community works intentionally and strategically to fulfill our deep commitment to environmental sustainability and to stewardship of the ecosystem our beautiful campus is a part of We are committed to reducing our impact on future generations and on communities that are disproportionately exposed to environmental harms our efforts are guided by the consensus of the scientific community and modeling best practices to be sustainability leaders in their careers and communities This commitment is evident in our efforts to reduce our contribution to climate change both boldly and rapidly as we work toward carbon-neutral electricity by 2030 Campus leaders embrace a culture of environmental sustainability in planning and action making our campus increasingly energy and water-efficient and restoring and expanding native habitats Baren has announced the exciting news that Commencement will be held on campus in 2025 “It is with great joy and excitement that we announce that Commencement 2025 will be held right here on our beloved campus—the very place where our graduates have spent the last four years growing and shaping their futures,” Baren said in an email to the campus community on October 30.  “We look forward to sharing this monumental day with all our graduates we’ll celebrate their remarkable achievements in the place where it all began,” she said.  we’ll celebrate their remarkable achievements in the place where it all began.” The ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 10 on Farwell Field, South Campus. Check the Commencement website for further details as they become available Commencement has been held at Ravinia Festival Park in nearby Highland Park This homecoming marks a return to tradition celebrating our students in the heart of campus Grammy Award-winning folk musician Justin Lansing ’07 will deliver the 2025 Lake Forest College Commencement address on Saturday As this year’s Commencement speaker, Lansing will receive an honorary doctorate degree during the ceremony that will be held on campus in Lake Forest Lansing has charted an inspiring course from his collegiate days to becoming a Grammy-winning musician. As one half of the acclaimed duo, The Okee Dokee Brothers Lansing has seamlessly blended his love for the natural world with his passion for Americana folk music creating a unique niche in family-friendly entertainment Lansing formed a lifelong friendship with Joe Mailander Their shared love for music and adventure led them to establish The Okee Dokee Brothers a project that combines their musical talents with a spirit of exploration Their innovative approach involves embarking on month-long journeys—canoeing down the Mississippi River and horseback riding along the Continental Divide—during which they compose songs inspired by their experiences This fusion of adventure and artistry has resonated with audiences nationwide encouraging families to engage with nature and music in meaningful ways The duo’s dedication to authentic storytelling through music has garnered significant recognition Their album “Can You Canoe?” earned the Grammy Award for Best Children’s Album in 2013 and subsequent works have received multiple nominations the two have authored children’s books and produced an animated film “Brambletown,” which premiered on PBS KIDS in 2024 Lansing’s journey exemplifies the transformative power of a liberal arts education illustrating how diverse academic pursuits can harmoniously intersect with creative passions to forge impactful and fulfilling careers