About the President Steven W. Lawry, President Antioch College Steven Lawry became the 21st president of Antioch College on January 6th, 2006. He came to the presidency from the Ford Foundation, which he joined in 1992. At the Ford Foundation he held a variety of positions, including Assistant Representative for South Africa and Namibia, based in Windhoek, Namibia; Representative for the Middle East and North Africa, based in Cairo; and Director of the Office of Management Services at the Foundation’s New York headquarters.

Lawry holds a PhD from the Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His professional and academic work for many years focused on problems of land reform, land rights and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa. He lived and worked for several years in Botswana and Lesotho. After completing his doctoral studies, Lawry held a number of positions at UW-Madison’s Land Tenure Center, including Associate Director responsible for Africa research and training programs. Lawry holds a BA in Government and International Relations and an MS in Urban and Regional Planning from The Florida State University.

Lawry’s professional focus has been on the environment, human rights issues, governance, peace, poverty alleviation, and the development of strong and independent civil societies. He has thoroughly embraced many of the values that historically have been at the core of Antioch College.

When announcing Lawry’s appointment as President of Antioch College, then University Chancellor James Craiglow remarked, “Steven Lawry brings to Antioch College an outstanding set of management skills and a demonstrated ability to confront and solve very difficult issues. In addition, he brings a network and an understanding of the philanthropic world. Combined with his Antiochian values base, Steve Lawry is poised to lead Antioch College at this important juncture in its history.”

Lawry at Antioch College Coretta Scott King Memorial Service

2006 College Commencement