Lawrenceville Celebrates Faculty Value: Enthusiasm

Lawrenceville faculty members have honored colleagues who embody the values that define the School community — commitment, courage, enthusiasm, friendship, honesty, initiative, kindness, leadership, loyalty, perseverance, responsibility, and thoughtfulness. These values guide daily work in the classroom, Houses, and programs across campus, shaping a culture built on shared purpose. Award recipients were most recently honored at Convocation.

 This profile — the first in a series on honorees — highlights Director of Community Service Elizabeth Ferguson, who was recognized by her peers for her boundless enthusiasm, a quality they describe as essential for creating energy, optimism, and joy in the lives of students and colleagues alike.

 When Community Service Director Elizabeth Ferguson found out she was being honored by her fellow educators for the enthusiasm she shares daily in her job, she was “humbled and grateful.”

“It’s an honor to be acknowledged by colleagues who are themselves so talented, caring, and dedicated to our students,” she said. 

Asked what enthusiasm means to her, Ferguson pointed to a deeper sense of joy. “When I think of enthusiasm, what comes to mind is joy. That is who I hope to be—a joyful, loving presence on this campus. Working with young people and with colleagues who have chosen a life invested in students brings me so much joy.”

That joy is something she strives to share daily, whether in the classroom, in House life, or in Lawrenceville’s community engagement programs. “I want students to feel that they are welcome, that they belong, and that this experience would be different without them,” she explained. “I’m genuinely enthusiastic to see them and to witness their transformation as adolescents.”

Her own inspiration, she said, comes in part from her mother, whom she described as a joyful, generous presence. “She shares joy with everyone —from friends to complete strangers — and I saw how people responded to that. It taught me that what you offer to others is often reflected back.”

In her 15 years working at the School, Ferguson has expanded opportunities for service to fit the School’s busy schedule, supported student leadership in programs, and championed student-led initiatives. Beyond campus, she is deeply involved in the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, the Lawrence Township Community Foundation, and Lawrence Neighbors Together, where she helps foster dialogue on issues ranging from local history to voting rights.

Her academic path reflects her commitment to both service and community. Ferguson completed her undergraduate work at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she majored in psychology and minored in Spanish. She later earned dual master’s degrees — a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Social Work from Rutgers. Before Lawrenceville, she worked with local nonprofits, experiences that continue to inform her approach today.

Looking ahead, Ferguson hopes her students carry enthusiasm into their own lives. “We all have a choice in how we show up,” she said. “Enthusiasm isn’t just about positive energy — it’s about gratitude for the opportunity to be here, to engage with each other, and to share experiences. Even on difficult days, when we gather as a community, enthusiasm bubbles up. It’s contagious.”

For more information, contact Lisa M. Gillard H'17, director of public relations, at lgillard@lawrenceville.org.