College gears up for Bicentennial Celebration

Dear Lafayette Community,

I am thrilled to share that we have commenced plans to celebrate Lafayette College’s Bicentennial. Beginning in the fall of 2025 and continuing through the fall of 2026, we will celebrate the anniversary of our auspicious founding in March 1826 with events and activities for all to enjoy. This historic occasion creates opportunities for every member of our community to get involved in building a year of sharing, reflection, learning, creativity, and service unlike any other.

To guide this work, I have appointed a Bicentennial Planning and Management Group (BPMG) and five task forces representing voices across the College. The BPMG members are:

• Co-chairs Fran Della Badia ’91, Vice President of the Alumni Association Board, and Pete Mackey, Interim Vice President for Communications and Marketing
• Trustee Wynne Whitman ’86
• Elaine Stomber, ’89 P’17 P’21, Co-director of Special Collections & College Archives and College Archivist, who will chair the Academic Affairs Bicentennial Task Force
• Mary Neuenschwander, Director of Alumni Engagement, Division of Development and College Relations, who will chair the Alumni and Parents Bicentennial Task Force
• Prof. David Sunderlin, Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences and Faculty Athletics Representative, who will chair the Athletics and Recreation Bicentennial Task Force
• Holly Akers, Associate Director of Employer Relations and Outreach, The Gateway Career Center, who will chair the Community Relations Bicentennial Task Force
• Sarah Moschenross, Vice President of Student Life, who will chair the Student Life Bicentennial Task Force on an interim basis until we appoint a permanent chair.

I am grateful to each of these leaders for bringing their creativity and commitment to this planning.

We are populating the memberships of each task force now, comprising students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, trustees, and community members, and will be announcing those representatives the week of Nov. 27. At that time, we will also extend an invitation to our entire community to recommend ideas for programming, events, and activities that can make the most of the Bicentennial and ensure everyone has a chance to participate. Those ideas will build on the wonderful array of recommendations developed during campus brainstorming sessions last year. This website will serve as a hub for Bicentennial information and updates.

With the strategic plan, campus master plan, and campaign planning coming together, this momentous anniversary will be an opportune time to celebrate and elevate our college and our mission as a beacon of education, discovery, and service. We look forward to preparing for this once-in-a-lifetime occasion with you.

To great things ahead!

President Nicole Hurd