Jan H. Lawrence

Jan H. Lawrence

Hanover, NH - Jan H. Lawrence passed away peacefully at her home in Hanover on August 26, 2025 from complications of angiosarcoma. She was 80 and had lived a full and meaningful life. Although born in Boston, she moved to Hanover in her early years when her father began a position with the Valley News. She fondly recalled growing up in Hanover, and through the years she kept in touch with her classmates from Hanover High. She began her relationship with her husband, Paul Lawrence, while in graduate school at the University of Michigan, although both were graduates of Tufts University, and they were married for 52 years.

Jan received her B.S. from Tufts University in 1966, her M.S. from Smith College in 1969, and her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1972 where she taught until her retirement in 2017. Her research centered on postsecondary faculty, teaching, and learning. She served as Associate Dean of the School of Education and as Director of the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, and she pioneered in establishing international partnerships to study higher education leadership, democratization, and intercultural learning in such countries as Kyrgyzstan, Brazil, China, and Russia. In recognition of her leadership, she was named an Honorary Professor by Tianjin Normal University, in Tianjin, China. Her co-authored book, Faculty at Work: Motivation, Expectation, Satisfaction, published in 1995 by Johns Hopkins University Press, was another significant contribution to her field.

She is remembered as an exemplary teacher, mentor, and role model, a consummate academic, but more importantly, as a wonderful human being. Her students became her collaborators, colleagues, and friends. She will be remembered especially for her curiosity about life, her wisdom, and insightful sense of humor. She loved her family home on the Connecticut River, her gardens, and the spirit of "Go Blue." She was survived by her husband, Paul; her son, James; and a special dog, Yeti. Regrettably shortly after her passing her son James also died from complications of chronic kidney failure. Contributions in Jan's memory can be given through the link to an endowed fund in Janet's name for international student development at the University of Michigan or by check with a notation "in honor of Janet Lawrence (fund 700368)" sent to the following address: Office of Development and Alumni Relations, Marsal School of Education, 610 E. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259.

At present there are no specific funeral plans however, a Celebration of Life will be planned in the near future. An on-line guestbook can be found at rand-wilson.com