Mike Lawrence '64

Mike Lawrence ’64 developed his interest in journalism early in his life, driven by his love for writing. During his years at Knox, he cultivated a passion for public affairs, which had taken root in discussions at his family dinner table during the charged political climate of the 1960s, particularly the civil rights movement and the 1960 presidential election. Lawrence ended up majoring in English literature while expanding his reach into politics to support his writing and journalistic interests. 

At Knox, Lawrence had the opportunity to hone his writing and reporting skills as the editor of The Knox Student. In this role, Lawrence had the opportunity to analyze Knox through a critical lens and share his opinions openly. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion have always been a top priority for Lawrence, something he grew passionate about during his time at Knox and continues to propagate to this day. “Knox had students of color and a history of international students, but still the bulk of the student body was white and Christian,” he explained. “So, one of our big crusades was to make the student body more diverse and we recommended that Knox reach out to areas through which we could gain more diversity.”  

Later in his career, Lawrence noticed a similar recurring theme—the challenges that minority students often face, both in terms of socioeconomic background and the barriers they encounter within the educational system. He believes that higher education must not only focus on recruiting diverse students but also ensure that they have the support to graduate. "I felt at Knox that once you were admitted, the College would do everything to help you graduate as long as you gave effort. I believe that needs to be replicated at universities around the country,” he said. 

After graduating from Knox, Lawrence worked for several newspapers in Illinois and Iowa, ultimately working with Lee Enterprises and the Chicago Sun-Times for multiple years before accepting a position with Secretary of State Jim Edgar. Lawrence served as Edgar’s press secretary when Edgar ran for governor in 1990 and later served Governor Edgar as his press secretary and senior policy advisor. He was then asked to join former United States Senator Paul Simon’s policy institute at Southern Illinois University as his associate director, where he took on the role of director before retiring in 2008.

Lawrence says his experience at Knox taught him that there needs to be receptiveness to a variety of ideas, no matter how opposing they may seem. “It's not so much that you become convinced based on what you hear but that you become knowledgeable about what others think,” he explained. He appreciates Knox for giving him the space to learn how to listen intently. “Knox encouraged intellectual curiosity and respect for the viewpoint of others who might not agree with you,” he said. “There needs to be more of that today.”