January 8, 2025

A look back at 2024

Take a look back at some of Lafayette’s most memorable moments from 2024

U.S. News & World Report, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and more placed Lafayette College in top rankings.

Lafayette College named within top schools in the country for career services, financial aid, women in STEM, and more in updated rankings

Learn more about our rankings

Lafayette was recognized by CBS for its commitment to making college more accessible for students.

CBS features President Hurd and Lafayette Financial Aid

The College joined a consortium of colleges and universities on a large-scale solar energy project that will offset 100 percent of the electricity usage on campus.

Lafayette announces renewable energy partnership with NextEra Energy Resources

We introduced new spaces and academic programs to campus, including:

New academic building and student housing open for fall

William E. Simon Center for Economics and Business and McCartney II are among the campus enhancements greeting Lafayette community this fall.

View photos of these spaces

Cinco restaurant debuts

The restaurant is open to students, faculty, staff, and the community.

Learn more about this dining option

Lafayette unveils William E. Simon Center for Economics and Business

The new home for the Department of Economics and Policy Studies Program supports one of the most popular majors on campus.

View photos of this new academic building

Academic catalog expanded to include new minors

Students can choose from minors in Indigenous studies, music technology, and electrical and computer engineering.

We celebrated the Commencement of the Class of 2024…

From capturing photos and video on Commencement day to celebrating seniors’ next journey after Lafayette, this collection of stories honored the resilient Class of 2024.

Resilience was a common theme heard at Lafayette College’s 189th Commencement ceremony Sun., May 19, as nearly 600 graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas

Read our stories

…And welcomed the College’s newest class of Leopards.

Photographs and a video document moments from Move-in, Orientation, and Convocation as Lafayette College welcomes the Class of 2028

View our galleries

We welcomed new faculty members to the Lafayette community…

Introducing dynamic educators and scholars joining the Lafayette community

Read profiles

…And celebrated the promotion of current faculty.

This academic year, six faculty members were newly named to endowed positions, six professors were promoted to rank of professor, and 10 faculty members were promoted to associate professor with tenure.

We shared stories about our faculty, who are leaders in both their teaching and scholarship, including:

Prof. Ryan Rosario earns NSF award

Two-year grant will fund research on potential models for predicting, and preventing, tendon and ligament failure.

Learn more about this research

Prof. Caroline Lee visits White House as civic engagement panelist

Lee stressed that all young people need to be fully involved in democracy.

Learn more about the experience

In new book, Profs. Armstrong and Averett examine economic inequities among diverse women in STEM fields

Published by MIT Press, the book represents almost eight years of research.

Prof. Gladstone “Fluney” Hutchinson and the Lafayette’s Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project (EEGLP)

Lafayette’s Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project (EEGLP) partnered with civic agency in Moldova.

Learn more about EEGLP

We celebrated the great research that happens on campus every day.

Reintroducing water-cleansing mussels to Bushkill Creek

Prof. Meg Rothenberger ’02 and Eurnett Christopher ’25 have been working together for years to improve health of creek that borders Lafayette’s campus

Learn more about Bushkill Creek research

Marquis de Lafayette through art

Ahead of Lafayette College’s Bicentennial and United States’ Semiquincentennial, students’ research takes closer look at artistic depictions of Marquis de Lafayette.

Read about their findings

Mechanical engineering takes flight

Seniors in Prof. Scott Hummel’s mechanical engineering capstone used 3D printing to create a battery-operated, radio-controlled airplane.

Watch the video

This summer, the student-led Gov Lab studied measures of political engagement on college campuses in swing states, including Pennsylvania

Learn more about Gov Lab

Advancing allyship in STEM

Studying the KLF17 gene

Grandparents, grandkids, and Zoom

Mental health care disparities

We gave thanks for the faculty and staff who make Lafayette stronger.

Faculty and administrators were celebrated for their remarkable accomplishments in 2023-24

Read about the awardees

We celebrated stellar students…

Natalie Beckford ’24

Carter Brand ’25

Angela Busheska ’25

Chris Byrnes ’26

Dimitri Chernozhukov ’25

Eurnett Christopher ’25

Ami Figuerrutia ’25

Max Gianakopoulos ’25

Lillian Hercik ’27

Remy Oktay ’24

Tess Stanley ’25

Liam Thompson ’24

…And recognized their great involvement on campus, in the community, nationally, and globally.

Lafayette welcomes 1,200 Easton students for fourth annual School Day Game

View photos from the event

Students spend break rooted in social justice

Alternative School Break has long helped students address systemic issues.

Learn more about ASB

From College Hill to PA State Capitol

Lafayette students gain valuable early-career experience during Harrisburg visit.