A monumental celebration
Thursday, April 9, and Friday, April 10, 2026
The Inauguration of President Michael J. Sosulski marked the beginning of a new era for Lake Forest College. The festivities included:
- A special Inauguration lecture, "Humanities at a New Historical Moment," with Dr. Anke Pinkert, Professor of German and Media & Cinema Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and a dear friend of President Sosulski's
- An elevated campus brunch with Lake Forest College faculty, staff, students, and the friends and family of President Sosulski
- The Inauguration Ceremony featuring nearly 400 faculty, staff, students, members of the Board of Trustees, delegates from colleges and universities, alumni, community members, and friends of the College, followed by a reception
Speakers and delegates
Thank you to our honored speakers for being part of this special occasion. Our faculty, staff, and student delegates have been chosen from across our campus's offices, departments, and organizations to represent the College during the ceremony.
Speakers
- Dr. Stanford "Randy" Tack, Mayor of Lake Forest
- The Rev. Luke Back, Rector of Church of the Holy Spirit
- Mark Aimone P'26, Co-Chair of Parents and Families Council
- Andrea Scott P'27, Co-Chair of Parents and Families Council
- Donald A. Mastro '92, Chair of Alumni Council
- Liam Thumser '27, Student Government President
- Adlee Alden '27, Student Representative on Inauguration Committee
- Nayef Samhat, President of Wofford College
Faculty Delegates
- Glenn Adelson, Environmental Studies
- Robert Archambeau, English
- Carla Arnell, Associate Dean
- Anne Barry, Music Education
- Cassondra Batz-Barbarich, Economics, Business, and Finance
- Todd Beer, Sociology and Anthropology
- Elizabeth Benacka, Communication, Gender Sexuality and Women's Studies
- David Boden, Classical Studies
- Stephanie Caparelli, Legal Studies
- Jason Cody, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Danielle Cohen, Public Policy
- Zack Cook, Politics and International Relations
- Joshua Corey, Print and Digital Publishing
- Shubhik DebBurman, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Scott Edgar, Music
- Daw-Nay Evans, Philosophy
- Rebecca Graff, Museum Studies
- Muris Hadzic, Economics, Business, and Finance
- Cynthia Hahn, Modern Languages and Literatures
- Sara Jamshidi, Artificial Intelligence
- Gary Johnson, Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Chloe Johnston, Theater
- Anna Jones, History
- Courtney Joseph, African American Studies
- Matthew Kelley, Psychology
- Marilen Loyola, Latin American Studies
- Ann Maine, Pre-Health
- James Marquardt, Politics and International Relations
- Janet McCracken, Self-Designed Major
- Sean Menke, Biology
- Blaine Moore, Neuroscience
- Nathan Mueggenburg, Physics
- Desmond Odugu, Education
- David Park, Cinema Studies
- Roshni Patel, Social Justice Studies
- Catherine Reedy, Medieval and Renaissance Studies
- David Sanchez Burr, Art
- Davis Schneiderman, Artificial Intelligence
- Nilam Shah, Chemistry
- Tracy Taylor, Digital Media Design
- Enrique Treviño, Math and Computer Science
- Naomi Wentworth, Psychology
- Ying Wu, Asian Studies
- Camille Yale, Journalism
- Benjamin Zeller, Religion
Staff Delegates
- Mai Aly, Registrar, 2024
- Rich Bartolozzi '86, Office of Advancement, 2000
- T.R. Bell '96, Department of Athletics, 1997
- Lindsay Bennett, Office of Advancement, 2023
- Brian Bruha '02, Department of Athletics, 2004
- Julián Cano '23, Office of Communications and Marketing, 2021
- Kelsey Carter, Gates Center for Personal Growth and Leadership, 2020
- Jerry Cebrzynski, Longest Serving Employee, Office of Financial Aid, 1993
- Alice Fermaintt, Office for Community, Advocacy, Resources, and Empowerment, 2024
- Tanesha Fowler, Center for Chicago Programs, 2022
- Mary Grigar, Health and Wellness Center, 2018
- Ursula Grzesiuk, Business Office, 2006
- Kim Hazlett, Donnelley and Lee Library, 2014
- Patrick Hussey, Donnelley and Lee Library, 2021
- Marie Josephitis, Gorter Family Career Advancement Center, 2018
- Jennifer Kenworthy, Office of the Registrar, 2017
- Erik Larson, Information Technology Services, 2001
- Mfon Nwabuoku, Office of Residence Life, 2025
- Sandra Ortiz, International Support Services, 2019
- Emily Pokrzywa, Office of Admissions, 2019
- Marianne Riddell, Office of Advancement, 2022
- Zohra Saulat, Donnelley and Lee Library, 2021
- Kirsten Schramm, Center for Academic Success, 2023
- Lauren Slipkowsky, Office of Business Affairs, 2024
- Leslie Taylor, retired in March 2026, 1985
- Melissa Werntz, Office of the President, 2023
- Frances Williams, Facilities Management, 1995
Student Delegates
- Luke Arington '26, Business; Communication | Men's Basketball
- Joanna Aslanides '26, Psychology; Entrepreneurship; Communication | The Hidden Opponent
- Sardar Atayev '27, Economics; Environmental Studies | Interfraternity Council
- Christina Burkova '27, Business Marketing; Communication ; Digital Marketing Design | American Marketing Association
- Jenny Carrasco '29, Undecided | LMSA+
- Kayla Collins '26, Business | LEAP
- Maddie Conklin '28, English Literature; Legal Studies | Panhellenic
- Jonah Copre '28, Finance; Politics | Men's Ice Hockey
- Khalil Crosby '29, Undecided | Men's Cross Country
- Addy Dale '28, Business Marketing | Women's Lacrosse
- Jacob Engel '26, Business Marketing; Psychology | Hillel
- Jacquelyn Han '26, History; Business | Women's Cross Country
- Alyssa Harris '26, English Literature; Theater | Garrick Players
- Elizabeth Hearst '28, Communication; Journalism | Relay for Life
- Bassma Kamoun '28, Psychology; Economics | Student Programming Board
- Celina Kaur '26, Psychology; Legal Studies | Dead Poets Society
- Eva Kennedy '29, Undecided | Women's Golf
- Anika Kinnear '27, Music; Environmental Studies; African American Studies | Fanatics
- Roathnika Lim '26, Psychology; Chinese | United Asia
- Timea Matavova '26, Politics; Sociology and Anthropology; History | Undocumented Student Alliance (USA)
- Judson Norris '27, Business Marketing | Fishing Club
- Gizem Ozturk '26, Neuroscience; Computer Science | Synapse
- Sammie Ross '28, English Writing; Publishing | The Stentor
- Andrea Sandoval-Torres '26, International Relations; Sociology and Anthropology; Studio Art | International Student Association
- Ben Scott '27, Politics | Men's Swimming and Diving
- Hanna Tutor '28, Psychology; Education | Softball
- Jesus Villagrana '27, Computer Science; Asian Studies - Chinese | Collage Magazine
- Adriana Voloshchuk '27, Finance - Accounting; History | Inter-Text
- Mishel Voskanyan '26, Psychology; Economics - Finance | Finance Club
- Keisha William '27, Neuroscience; Psychology; Theater | Afro Dance
College and University Delegates
- Beth Stutzmann
Alumna, Washington and Lee University, 1749 - Chad Eisele
Director of Athletics, Hamden-Sydney College, 1775 - Angela Ray
Alumna - Class of 1986, Transylvania University, 1780 - John Roberts
Alumnus, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 1822 - Mary Knight
Alumna, Knox College, 1837 - Moses Lee
Alumna, Grinnell College, 1846 - Elizabeth Snider '10
Associate Dean of Students, Carthage College, 1847 - David Wiers
Member of the Board of Trustees, Carthage College, 1847 - John Miles
Provost, Illinois Wesleyan University, 1850 - Victoria Folse
President, Ripon College, 1851 - Charles Katzenmeyer
Alumni Regent for Chicago, Northwestern University, 1851 - Nayef Samhat
President, Wofford College, 1851 - Yvonne Martin
Alumna, Carleton College, 1866 - Nancy Lyons Hannick
Alumna, Smith College, 1871 - Susanna Calkins
Director and Associate Professor, Rosalind Franklin University, 1912 - Aaron Sousa
President, Rosalind Franklin University, 1912 - Lisa Jasinski
President, Associated Colleges of the Midwest, 1958
Meet President Sosulski
A native of West Chicago and lifelong Cubs fan, Dr. Sosulski returned to his home state from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where he served as president since 2021. His tenure there was marked by transformational initiatives—ranging from large-scale capital investments in student housing and sustainability to a dramatic turnaround in admissions and a bold reimagining of campus life.
He holds a BS in German from Georgetown University and both an MA and PhD in Germanic Studies from the University of Chicago. Dr. Sosulski is married to Dr. Cori Crane, Associate Professor of German at the University of Alabama, and they are parents to two adult sons.
