For over a decade, Spencer Ivy, a 2002 graduate of Lake Forest College, has played an active role on the institution’s Alumni Council. Ivy’s involvement is motivated by his desire to support positive change and help ensure that future students have inclusive experiences.
“My Lake Forest College experience really shaped how I look to build community and value diversity,” Ivy said. “and it continues to inform how I seek equity wherever I go.”
Ivy credits much of his outlook to Professor Judith Eilene Brown Harmon, who taught English at Lake Forest College from 1988 until her death in 1996. Professor Harmon was recognized for her direct teaching approach, generosity with students, and commitment to curricular diversity across disciplines. She was instrumental in establishing the college’s first African American studies program. The college later honored her legacy by dedicating the 1999 Forester yearbook and naming the Carnegie Hall faculty lounge after her.
Starting at Lake Forest College one year after Professor Harmon’s passing, Ivy became friends with her daughter, Donell Harmon-Parker (class of 1999). Inspired by Professor Harmon’s contributions, Ivy worked with Harmon-Parker to create a scholarship in her name. This scholarship supports African American students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity and embody the Forester spirit, aiming to continue Professor Harmon’s impact for future generations.
