Karen R. Lawrence


Karen R. Lawrence is the President of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and a former college President.

Early life

Lawrence was born in 1949.

Education

Lawrence earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Lawrence earned a master's degree in English Literature from Tufts University in Massachusetts. Lawrence earned a PhD in Literature from Columbia University in New York City, New York.

Career

Lawrence is a scholar of English and Irish literatures. Lawrence has passion on James Joyce.
Lawrence began her career as an English professor at University of Utah and UC Irvine.
In August 2007, Lawrence became the 10th President of Sarah Lawrence College, a liberal arts college in Yonkers, New York. At the college, Lawrence was a successful college fundraiser, increased financial aid, and grew the size of the student body at the college. In July 2017, after 10 years as President, Lawrence stepped-down.
In September 2018, Lawrence became the 9th President of The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.

Personal life

Lawrence's husband is Peter F. Lawrence, a physician. They have two sons.