Trustees name Academic Village and athletics scholarship in honor of President Leo and Laurie Lambert

Elon University’s Board of Trustees has created two special honors in tribute to President Leo M. Lambert and his wife Laurie for their 19 years of service.

Elon University’s Board of Trustees has created two special honors in tribute to President Leo M. Lambert and his wife Laurie for their 19 years of service.

Lambert concludes his service as president on Feb. 28 and the recognitions were announced to the campus community at a special College Coffee on Feb. 27 in Alumni Gym.

Trustees have renamed the Academic Village section of campus the Lambert Academic Village. The seven-building quad was built from 2002 to 2013 and includes the anchor building, Martha S. and Carl H. Lindner III Hall on the south end and six pavilions: Cannon Pavilion, Kenan Honors Pavilion, Gray Pavilion, Spence Pavilion, Belk Pavilion and the Numen Lumen Pavilion, Elon’s multifaith center. The north end of the The Lambert Academic Village is occupied by Phi Beta Kappa Commons, symbolizing Elon’s chapter of the nation’s most prestigious honor society focused on the liberal arts and sciences. 

In making the announcement, trustee Kebbler Williams ’98 said the Academic Village “ideally represents all that President Lambert has meant to Elon.”

Williams also announced that trustees have established the Laurie Lambert Scholarship, which will be awarded annually to an outstanding member of the women’s basketball team. Williams noted that Laurie Lambert has supported every facet of university life.

“She has welcomed thousands into her home, represented Elon around the country and world, and has served the communities of Elon and Burlington with distinction and with an eye toward making life better for those who live at the margins,” Williams said.

Laurie Lambert was also an advocate for women’s athletics and has traveled with the team to games around the world.

Trustees honored the Lamberts with these recognitions at a special dinner held in conjunction with the board’s spring meeting on Feb. 23. At that meeting, an official portrait of President Lambert was unveiled. The painting by artist Lisa Egeli will join Elon’s art collection, which includes portraits of other previous presidents.