March 6, 2026
Laurel Ridge will be showcasing the value, the diversity and the possibilities offered by the humanities starting Monday, March 16.
Humanities Week at the college will kick off with a panel featuring professionals working in the humanities at 2 p.m. on March 16. The panel will consist of Laurel Ridge Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Nicole Munday, author and Laurel Ridge Professor Emeritus Brent Kendrick, language educator, pilot and global cultural specialist Katrin Venema and Literacy Volunteers Winchester Area Executive Director Jennifer DeHaven.
Other events – which are open to Laurel Ridge students, employees and the general public – include a discussion between English Professor Jessi Lewis and poet Sean Murphy on building connections through poetry, publishing and podcasts; a presentation by successful illustrator and Kent State University Professor Chad Lewis, a Laurel Ridge alumnus, on the creative process, particularly when it comes to illustrating children’s books; a group discussion on the ethical considerations of AI in the classroom; an open-mic style student coffee house; and a conversation on art and public painting demonstration with Laurel Ridge Art Professor Monica James, Shenandoah University Professor and Arte Libre Founder and Director Abigail Gómez and Philadelphia-based artist Athena Scott.
Professor Lewis is organizing Humanities Week for the college.
“So much about the world shows the value of empathy, self-expression, ethics, and our social fabric,” she said. “We have a great need, even an urgent one, to gather and have conversations about what it means to be human. This is a start.”
With the exception of the student coffee house, all of the sessions will be livestreamed for those who can’t attend in person.
Find the full Humanities Week schedule and links to join online at laurelridge.edu/hw.
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.