Established in 2010, Lawrence Academy’s J. William Mees Visiting Scholar Program brings professionals to campus to give students the opportunity to learn what they do and how they have been successful in their fields. Not only does each visiting scholar take the time to present to and engage with the school community at large, they also spend a significant portion of their three days on campus working in small groups, providing students with firsthand access to these experts.

In October 2014, three months before the debut of his Tony Awards-winning musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda visited Lawrence Academy to speak in classes and engage with students as part of the J. William Mees Visiting Scholar Program. Other past visiting scholars include poet Taylor Mali; Irshad Manji, educator, author, and founder of the Moral Courage Project; and singer-songwriter Dar Williams. From journalists and scientists to artists and authors, these successful experts are aspirational models of intellectual curiosity: real-world examples of what can await after graduation.