November 9, 2026

Celebrating Lafayette’s Bicentennial Across America: Chapel Hill, N.C.

The fourth installment of Lafayette Legacies: Honoring Our Past, Serving the Future saw three faculty members speak about their work toward building a sustainable future

Lafayette College Bicentennial regional events continued Oct. 29 with a stop in Chapel Hill, N.C. The North Carolina Botanical Garden was the venue for an evening event that continued the series “Lafayette Legacies: Honoring Our Past, Serving the Future.”

A flower rests on a table welcoming attendees to Bicentennial regional event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The registration table at the Bicentennial regional event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Attendees hold a conversation at the Bicentennial regional event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lafayette College President Nicole Hurd addresses the audience at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The crowd listens to the presentation at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Members of the Lafayette College faculty look on before their presentations at the Lafayette College Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Dean of Faculty Lauren Anderson addresses the crowd at the Lafayette College Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Megan Rothenberger was one of three faculty members to address the crowd at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

David Brandes (L) and Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena address the crowd at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena addresses the crowd at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

David Brandes addresses the crowd at the Bicentennial event in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Lafayette President Nicole Hurd welcomed attendees while sharing a recap of the “Power of And” tour stops (Evanston, Ill., Corvallis, Ore., Miami, Fla., and Austin, Texas), which showcased the unique relationship between academic and athletics, and the three previous “Legacies” stops (Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Mount Vernon, Va.).

Dean of Faculty Lauren Anderson followed Hurd to introduce the three faculty participants: Megan Rothenberger, professor and chair of environmental science and studies; David Brandes, professor and chair of integrative engineering and Air Products Seifolah Ghasemi Chair in Engineering for Interdisciplinary Teaching; and Ernest Nkansah-Dwamena, assistant professor of environmental science and environmental studies.

The group discussed its collaborative work that includes leading-edge research helping to build a more sustainable future and training the next generation of scientists and leaders to ensure a lasting impact of their research.

The Lafayette Legacies regional events are slated to wrap up Nov. 6 at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston.

Learn more about upcoming Bicentennial events.