June 25, 2025
Linda Blaser
Spike and Judy Gummere make transformative $5 million gift
Spike and Judy Gummere
Few individuals have left a mark on Lake Forest College like Spike Gummere.
As a former Dean of Admissions and lifelong champion of the College, Spike has dedicated decades to welcoming generations of Foresters. Now, he and his wife Judy are ensuring that legacy lives on through a $5 million bequest—one of the largest planned gifts in the College’s history.
This remarkable gift does two powerful things: it establishes the Francis B. “Spike” Gummere Vice President for Enrollment, a position currently held by Chris Ellertson, and it strengthens the College’s endowment—further securing the student-centered academic experience that Spike and Judy have long cherished.
“Admissions is where it all begins,” Spike said. “Students don’t just walk in—you have to recruit them with care, with personal attention and understanding. And at Lake Forest, we’ve always done that and continue to do so today.”
Spike meets with his valued colleague Gordon White (left). The two worked closely together for many years.
Since arriving in 1968, Spike has shaped not only admissions strategy but also many personal relationships. From sending birthday emails as well as thank-you notes to countless alumni, Spike’s enduring commitment reflects the best of the Forester spirit.
Spike’s ‘impactful’ way
Professor Emeritus of Mathematics Bob Troyer remembers meeting Spike as a new faculty member in the late 1960s.
“I could see very clearly what kind of impact he had on students, the faculty, and probably people in administration,” Troyer said. “He’s a very positive, outgoing guy—and that comes across right away.”
Reaching out to students and getting to know them has always been Spike’s way.
“I ate more meals in the cafeteria than some students did,” Spike said. In a similar way, Spike has long been a fixture at sports competitions and special events on campus.
“I confess I took great pride in being involved,” Spike said.
That style of Spike’s—to get to know students and stay in touch long after graduation—is one Troyer admires.
“Spike is a special individual who has a way of connecting with others, whether they be students, faculty, staff, or anybody,” Troyer said. “You can’t be around him very long and not see that. He just makes everyone feel at ease. If more people had that effect on others, we’d all be better off.”
Spike addresses students during Opening Week in the late 1970s.
‘A living legend’
Chairman of the Board Bill Lowry ’84 first met Spike in 1980. Personal outreach by the Dean of Admissions is the reason Lowry chose Lake Forest College over Cornell. Established early, that connection continued to grow during Lowry’s four years on campus. Whether walking to class, the caf, or heading to the library, Lowry often ran into Spike—and the interaction was always the same. 
“Whether it was a sunny day, snowing, or raining, he’d smile and say, ‘Hello, William,’ and stop to talk,” Lowry said. “He was a calming influence, but also there to help if I had an issue or something that I needed to work through, be it inside or outside the classroom.”
Today, Lowry considers Spike a role model.
“He has this innate ability to make everyone feel as though they’re the only person he’s concentrating on at a given time,” Lowry said. “Spike is beloved, and he’s been an effective leader, because he really loves Lake Forest College and all the components that comprise the College.”
Today, Lowry tries to emulate Spike’s open, friendly leadership style.
“He’s a living legend, but he doesn’t carry himself that way. He just carries himself as Spike,” Lowry said. “I really find that type of leadership is a style that jives with me: No matter what your day is bringing to you, you still should be able to smile and say hello to someone.”
Gummere Fellows’ pivotal role
Recent grad Kate Kiameh ’25 was honored to be selected a Gummere Fellow in 2022. The Gummere Fellows Program is made up of a talented and diverse group of students selected annually to represent the College as ambassadors who play pivotal roles in both enrollment and alumni engagement efforts.
“The program is meant to carry on the legacy of Spike and how he connects with alumni and prospective students of the College,” she said. “I wanted to be able to participate in a program where I could share my love of the College in the same way that Spike does every day.”
Meeting Spike for the first time, Kiameh was struck by how speaking with the Lake Forest legend she’d heard so much about was “just the most casual, genuine conversation,” she said.
“I felt like he just wanted to get to know me as a student at the College,” she said. “That’s when I first understood that Spike really cares about getting to know students and the individuals he’s working with.”
Spike makes sure to reconnect with alumni and their families during Homecoming.
Spike loves to cite the line in the College Mission Statement, “We know our students by name,” and his and Judy's gift to the College honors that tradition and helps it continue.
“Lake Forest College clearly is a community, a community that cares about one another, a community that believes in growing and fostering individuals, taking students from one point in time and moving them to somewhere else,” Spike said.
Spike believes the College’s worldview sets it apart from similar institutions: “We are remarkably diverse. You have a chance to come to an institution with students from over 100 countries and nearly every state. One-third of our student body are the first in their family to attend college, 40 percent are students of color.”
The Gummeres’ gift reflects their deep belief in Lake Forest College’s mission and their desire to help secure its future.
Transformed Admissions process
“Spike is the epitome of what an admissions counselor should be,” Francis B. “Spike” Gummere Vice President for Enrollment and Vice President for Campus Life Chris Ellertson said. “He represents the very best of our profession.”
He also inspires Ellertson on so many levels.
“Spike is a reminder that students are really at the heart of our work and that our work needs to involve caring for and affirming students,” Ellertson said.
Watching Spike interact with young Foresters and being present and available to them remains a guiding light for today’s Admissions team.
“To see the sheer joy and care that he has for students and, in turn, the enthusiasm that students have for being with him reminds me that it’s an honor and a privilege to do this work,” Ellertson said.
Supporting the College with their gift, the Gummeres are ensuring that future generations can experience the same personal, transformative education that has defined the College for decades.
Create your own legacy
To alumni and friends thinking about their own legacy, Spike encourages them to support what they believe in. “That’s what matters most,” Spike said. “We never imagined we’d be in a position to make a gift like this—but we saw an opportunity to make a difference, and we took it.”
Lowry believes investing in the College’s endowment is critical.
“Institutions of higher education must find ways to resource today while also preparing for tomorrow,” he said. “The best way to do that is with a robust endowment.”
Spike and Judy’s gift is an investment for today’s students “but also will be our bridge for tomorrow,” Lowry said.
To discuss your own gift options, contact Katie Spieth, Vice President for Advancement, at kspieth@lakeforest.edu.
Learn more about Spike's legacy
Spike's legacy has touched the lives of countless students and alumni, shaping their paths at Lake Forest College and beyond. Learn more about the impact Spike has had on those around him and how his and Judy's gift reaffirms their commitment to the College, supporting students for years to come.