Some students may have noticed a recent change in staff at Lawrence. After 22 years of working at the university, former Dean of Student Academic Services Marti Hemwall recently left the school to pursue other opportunities.During her career at Lawrence, Hemwall was involved with several different areas of the school and implemented many important programs. Hemwall began her career at Lawrence as the Associate Dean of Students for Academic Advising. She was later promoted to the position of Dean of Student Academic Services in the office of Academic Affairs, a position that allowed her to broaden her scope of work.
“In this position, I was responsible for student academic affairs more broadly, including academic advising, the academic honor code, the Center for Teaching and Learning, Disability Services and the student honors, award and prize celebrations,” said Hemwall.
She also made several important contributions to the school through her work as an Associate Professor of Anthropology and by starting the Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies programs. Hemwall also established a disability services program and helped create the Center for Teaching and Learning.
Hemwall already had ties with Lawrence prior to her work here. She received a B.A. from Lawrence in 1974 with a designed degree in cross-cultural child development. She graduated cum laude and went on to pursue an M.A. and Ph.D. in anthropology at Brown University.
Hemwall did not comment on any specific reasons for her departure. As for her plans now, Hemwall is working at the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region where she “[oversees] grant-writing for basic needs initiatives in the community.” Hemwall feels that this career draws from her previous experience and offers her a way to address basic needs within the community.
“This work is a natural extension of my interest in anthropology and urban studies, since I can apply my academic skills and knowledge in a practical and important way,” she explained. “I now have a job which allows me to focus on issues of basic needs — a passion of my past volunteer work — and really feel I can make some difference in my community. This makes up for the fact that I will miss my colleagues and the students at Lawrence, tremendously.”
Although she is no longer working at Lawrence, Hemwall still feels a connection with the school. “In my heart [and as an alum of Lawrence], I will always be connected to the university.