i
|:|
Rn
FEBRUHRV 21, 2018
LAMBERT | from cover
institution and worked hard
as a community to practice
those on a daily basis.”
Elons campus has grown
significantly since Lambert
first arrived. More than 100
buildings have been built or
acquired during Lamberts
presidency. But in his 19
years here, he has grown as
well.
In fall 2019, Lambei
Elon’s master’s prog
Personal growth
While Lambert has trans
formed the campus, some
of those closest to him said
they have noticed how the
presidency has transformed
him.
Steven House, provost
and executive vice presi
dent of Elon, works closely
with the president and has
watched him change over
the years.
“When [Lambert] came,
as you can imagine, [Smith]
Jackson was the star on
campus, and President
Lambert was still learning
about the university,” House
said. “As time went on, he
got to know the students
extremely well, and now he’s
the rock star on campus.
[He also] has a more nation
al presence — he is known
across the country and is
looked to as a senior pres
ident. People look to him
because they want to know
what he is thinking.”
Lambert’s co-workers at
tribute his ability to keep the
institution student-focused
to his strength of connecting
with students.
“President Lambert is
student-centered,” House
said. “He is learning-cen
tered, and he really knows
how to get the best out of us
when it comes to thinking
of new things that we want
to do. What we always ask
is, ‘What’s the best for the
students? How can we help
them learn? And how can
we really work to transform
their lives?”’
House was hired by Lam
bert in 2001 as dean of Elon
College, The College of Arts
and Sciences. In 2015, House
was promoted to his current
position as provost and exec
utive vice president.
Lambert is one of the
reasons House has stayed at
Elon for the past 17 years.
“He’s just a joy to work
with,” House said. “We have
a great relationship, and it’s
one of the reasons I’ve stayed
Above: Spencer
Schar, Martha
Schar, Dwight
Scharand
Leo Lambert
participate in
the Schar Center
groundbreaking
Oct. 21,2016
Right: Lambert
speaking during
the dedication
of the Phoenix
Statue in 2003.
Below: Lambert
with Isabella
Cannon during
her birthday
celebration May
12,1999.
PHOTO couRTESVOFUNivEfisiTv ARCHIVES Leo Lambert laughs during an interview in his newly constructed office in the Martin Alumni Center Fell. H.
at Elon all this time.”
Working with Lambert
is a joy many students have
been able to experience, as
well.
“It’s sad to see Dr. Lam
bert leave. I love Dr. Lam
bert, but I’m not as sad as
I could be because I know
Dr. Lambert will still be
around,” SGA Executive
President Morgan Bode-
narain said.
Bodenarain is glad Lam
bert will continue to work
with students outside
his
role as president emeritus
because to her he is “the Dr.
Lambert, and he will always
have that impression on stu
dents.”
Bodenarain’s experience
as SGA executive president
will certainly be different
from her successor’s, junior
Kenneth Brown Jr., who
will take on the role during
Books first year as university
president.
“It will be a bit of a
change, but we are just going
to have to see what happens.”
Brown said. “It will proba
bly be more different on the
transition side — with help
ing to celebrate and honor
Dr. Lambert while also help
ing Dr. Book get to re-know
the campus.”
A transition of presi
dency like this hasn’t been
seen at Elon for the last 19
years. Brown can’t wait to
see this take place during the
new year.
“We don’t know what that
is going to look like but we
are just going to go with the
flow,” Brown said. “It adds to
the excitement of what the
year might bring.”
Yearlong sabbatical
Lambert plans to take
a yearlong sabbatical once
he leaves office. Though
this sabbatical is tempo
rary, Lambert said he plans
to enjoy it to the fullest —
away from campus at an
“undisclosed location,”
On March 1. my wife
and I are heading on a va
cation,” Lambert said. “We
are going somewhere warm
and sunny and we are get
ting out of dodge.”
When his vacation £S
Lambert said he wilt
back in town, but heel
continue to keep his t-
tance.
“My first year... I’lif
ing to have a very lo*F-
~ Lambert said, ‘H'
campus anyth
file,
back on
Connie needs me I
here, but I am gnim'*’
gone for a year, essential'
Lambert wiii be »
for the class of2018sta
mencement
where he will be deli«*
the commencement 
20 YEARS OF LEO IN PHOTOS: -
1998
1999
-0-. Leo Lambert’s role as president of
much as the role has transformed him.