1 CAMPAIGN IMPACT REPORT 2022 YOUR ACTION YOUR IMPACT
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3 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? DOORS OPEN. PASSIONS IGNITE. EXPERIENCES TAKE HOLD. FRIENDSHIPS TAKE ROOT. LEADERS STEP UP. EYES OPEN. IDEAS BLOSSOM. INNOVATIONS ABOUND. COMMUNITIES THRIVE. AND OUR WORLD CHANGES FOR THE BETTER. Without action, there is no impact. With these words, GO: The Campaign for Lehigh launched in 2018, rallying alumni and friends to invest in a bold future. You rose to the challenge to move the university and its students forward. Now, we pause to celebrate all that you have made possible and look ahead to opportunities still to be seized. Let’s GO!
FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CHAIR OF THE BOARD Dear alumni and friends, In 2018, GO: The Campaign for Lehigh publicly launched with ambitious goals: to raise more than $1 billion for university priorities and to engage more than 50% of all alumni in events and activities that help build and strengthen the Lehigh network. You took action by investing in our students, the Lehigh experience, and in your own communities to drive change and make a difference. Today, thanks to you, our goals are within sight. In this report, you will find stories of what you have made possible through your involvement and your philanthropy. You have opened doors via scholarships and financial aid. You strengthened the student experience via the Lehigh Fund. You helped to fuel innovative programs, build new facilities, and spark research and discovery. Thank you to everyone who has brought us to this point. Yet even as we celebrate our impressive accomplishments, there remains more to do. Lehigh has embarked on a strategic planning process that will determine our future goals and identify areas where we can be known as first or best. As we confidently pursue these aspirations, your support will be essential to the success of our students and the university overall. I look forward to working with you as we achieve our goals together. Thank you again for all you do for Lehigh. Sincerely, Joseph J. Helble ’82 President
5 $780.5 MILLION as of fiscal year close June 30, 2022 66,560 DONORS $213.9 M for scholarships & financial aid 33% CONTACTABLE ALUMNI ENGAGED since the launch of the campaign $236.9 M for research & capital projects $329.7 M for student experience Dear alumni and friends, I am always inspired by Lehigh people. Our shared educational experience on South Mountain shaped us into a community able to understand and evaluate challenges, consider the options and risks, and take action toward an innovative solution. Whether our work takes place in a lab or an art studio, in an office or school — on land, sea, or even in space — we share a drive to create and build and a desire to change our world for the better. My belief in the power of this ethos has kept me engaged with Lehigh and committed as a volunteer, a donor, and now chair of the Board of Trustees. I am honored to be working with President Helble and other university leaders to move Lehigh forward. I am proud to be fueling that future as a donor to GO: The Campaign for Lehigh, through projects important to me, such as the new College of Health. Whatever your passion, the campaign is an opportunity to play a part in Lehigh’s future. Your participation in events (live or online), gifts to the Lehigh Fund (large and small), support of projects (capital projects, programs, scholarships, and more), and simple engagement in the latest news and life of the university all help fuel the reputation and accomplishments of today’s students and researchers who will make lasting contributions to the world. Thank you to everyone who has already invested in Lehigh. This report is a testament to what we can make happen as a community when we set our minds on great challenges. I am so proud of what we have accomplished, and I am excited to see what the future holds as we continue to work together to drive positive and meaningful change. Sincerely, Vincent Forlenza ’75 Chair, Lehigh University Board of Trustees
6 INVESTING IN STUDENTS TODAY Direct support for students — the scholarships that bring them to Lehigh and the funding for programs that make their years here extraordinary — is a top priority of GO. From the French Scholars and endowed coaching positions in athletics to the new horizons promised by the LEAD Scholars and Soaring Together Scholarship Programs, our students know they have our whole community on their side. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE OPEN DOORS. French Scholars Established in 2019, the first wave of French Scholars — supported by the Kenneth R. French ’75 and Vickie A. French Endowed Scholarship Fund — has included 17 individual first-generation students from hometowns across the country. Now enrolled across Lehigh’s colleges and supported through all four years of their Lehigh education, they have only begun to make their mark. IDEAS - Honolulu, HI FINANCE - Miami, FL PSYCHOLOGY - Houston, TX ECONOMICS - Donna, TX ASTROPHYSICS - Winchester, VA CHEMICAL ENGINEERING - Oakland, CA MANAGEMENT - Astoria, NY UNDECLARED - East Stroudsburg, PA BIOCHEMISTRY - Freeport, NY FINANCE - Fresno, TX UNDECLARED - Gurnee, IL POLITICAL SCIENCE - Captain Cook, HI ART - Reading, PA UNDECLARED - San Jose, CA CIVIL ENGINEERING - Pleasant Mount, PA POPULATION HEALTH - South Ozone Park, NY BIOLOGY - Bronx, NY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO?
7 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE SOAR. Soaring Together Scholarships Applications are now being accepted from members of the Class of 2027 for the Soaring Together Scholarship Program. Through this new endeavor, Lehigh aims to establish a cohort of more than 50 students with an unprecedented level of support while advancing gender equity. Created in honor of the milestone anniversary of Lehigh coeducation, Soaring Together offers full-tuition merit scholarships as well as experiential learning opportunities, career and professional development, and alumni support and networking to impact students academically and throughout their careers. The program was launched with four foundational gifts totaling nearly $3.5 million from Mark Alpert ’70; Board of Trustees Vice Chair Maria Chrin ’87 ’10P and John Chrin ’85 ’86 ’10P; Trustee Ann Lewnes ’83 ’22P and Greg Welch ’22P; and John Staub ’86. These gifts will allow the university to initially offer six scholarships with the aim of eventually building a cohort of 12 to 15 recipients per academic year. The Soaring Together Scholarship Program will become the largest and most comprehensive of its type at Lehigh. WE ARE GREATER TOGETHER. The Lehigh Fund Nowhere is the collective impact of Lehigh alumni and friends more apparent than in the Lehigh Fund, which directly supports students in powerful and meaningful ways. Every year, thousands of alumni and friends give to the fund, their gifts adding up to provide immediate and flexible support for the university’s top priority of scholarships and financial aid. Together, our community ensures Lehigh can welcome the most talented students and provide them with the distinctive Lehigh experience that prepares students to lead lives of impact. “ AS BARRIERS, LIKE THE GENDER GAP, CONTINUE TO BE BROKEN, LEHIGH AS AN INSTITUTION AND AS A COMMUNITY WILL BECOME EVEN STRONGER. I HAVE GREAT EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS OF WOMEN AT LEHIGH.” Maria Chrin ’87 ’10P Every year, the Lehigh Liners — a dedicated group of student ambassadors for philanthropy — reach out directly to Lehigh alumni, parents, and friends, forging a warm connection between the present and the past. Headquartered in Lehigh’s historic Sayre Observatory, the Liners have raised over $2 million in gifts and commitments since the public launch of GO. 278 endowed scholarships created in the campaign adding to the university’s $1.725 billion endowment 51% of undergraduate students received scholarship and financial aid 95%OF UNDERGRAD STUDENTS that come from families that make less than $75k are fully funded through grants and scholarships
8 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE RAISE THE BAR. Lehigh Athletics Since the start of the campaign, alumni and friends have made possible four new endowed positions in athletics for baseball, rowing, soccer, and tennis. Gifts supporting people and athletics programs elevate our student-athletes and help to foster leaders equipped to compete and excel after graduation. WE BREAK DOWN BOUNDARIES. Leadership, Empowerment, Athletics, and Distinction Athletes — both men and women — will be better prepared to lead thanks to the Cathy Engelbert ’86 LEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Athletics, and Distinction) Scholars Program. The recently endowed program will bring together cohorts of women, as well as male advocates, to empower and impact the development of women athletes, staff, and girls in the Bethlehem community. Lehigh students in the program will benefit from individualized development plans, alumni mentorships, academic courses, research experiences, and community engagement. Made possible by Cathy Engelbert ’86 ’23P, the program celebrates 50 years of undergraduate coeducation at Lehigh. Lehigh Athletics has been deeply engaged in program research, planning, and design, with the first cohort of LEAD scholars launching in 2023. “ WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR CATHY’S VISION AND GENEROSITY IN FUNDING THE LEAD SCHOLARS PROGRAM. TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE AND EXPAND THE MOST EFFECTIVE ELEMENTS OF OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WITH THESE RESOURCES IS A GAME CHANGER.” Julie Ammary ’07 Director of Athletic Leadership Development
9 WE EXCEL. WE WIN. March Mania Since the public launch of the campaign, the March Mania fundraising campaign has raised more than $3.3 million for Lehigh Athletics. This support from alumni, family, and friends helps teams compete for championships by allowing them to hire staff, travel for competition, purchase equipment and uniforms, and provide developmental activities that help our student-athletes reach the top of their game. 2018 March Mania Donors: 1,545 Dollars Raised: $441,989 2019 March Mania Donors: 1,439 Dollars Raised: $541,095 2020 March Mania Donors: 1,383 Dollars Raised: $585,783 2021 March Mania Donors: 1,545 Dollars Raised: $845,007 2022 March Mania Donors: 1,375 Dollars Raised: $895,905 Total amount raised and total donors to March Mania year-over-year since the start of GO
10 BUILDING THE FUTURE The Lehigh of tomorrow is taking shape. From the Singleton, Hitch, and Maida residence halls and the Health, Science, and Technology building to the Cundey Varsity house, GO is changing the face of South Mountain while preserving the integrity and spirit of Lehigh’s historic campus. The Clayton University Center at Packer Hall
11 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE INVIGORATE OUR COMMUNITY. Clayton University Center As the centerpiece of the Asa Packer Campus, the Clayton University Center at Packer Hall is a sight that awes prospective students and their families and transports alumni back to their Lehigh days. But it’s more than just a beautiful building. As the only place on campus where each and every member of our community spends time — eating, relaxing, studying, meeting, or just passing through — the Clayton University Center has the power to influence and shape their experiences and the relationships they have with each other. The project, launched by a leadership gift from Lisa A. and Kevin L. Clayton ’84 ’13P, is now underway to restore and revitalize the building, which was last renovated in the 1950s. Comfortable spaces to work and relax, new dining experiences, and even a new pub will transform the building into a vibrant come-one-come-all community hub. Just as a 2007 restoration both beautified Linderman Library and transformed it into an intellectual hub, so will this renovation return the Clayton University Center to its former glory. The renovated building, which will be made possible through additional support from alumni and friends, will transform the student experience and the culture of our campus. WE INTEGRATE TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS. Business Innovation Building Taking shape at the corner of Taylor Street and Packer Avenue is an exceptional new facility that will define the future of Lehigh Business. Alumni and friends are making possible an innovative learning environment where “ THE RENOVATED BUILDING WILL CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT FOSTERS NEW CONNECTIONS, STRENGTHENS TRADITIONS, AND FUELS LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP. EVERY STUDENT, FACULTY MEMBER, AND STAFF MEMBER FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS AND BEYOND WILL BE IMPACTED.” Kevin L. Clayton ’84 ’13P business and technology converge. The 74,000-squarefoot facility brings to Lehigh flexible, tech-supported classrooms; new collaboration and meeting spaces; the expanded Bosland Financial Services Lab; and dedicated space for the Rauch Center for Business Communications, Lehigh Ventures Lab, and the Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research. Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research The new Lehigh Business Innovation Building will be home to the Vistex Institute for Executive Learning and Research, founded in 2017 as a result of a gift from Sanjay Shah ’89 MBA, founder of Vistex, Inc. The institute provides high impact, short duration programs for working professionals with a particular focus on content that enhances interpersonal and corporate effectiveness. The customized programs are applied, interactive, and designed to help participants conquer tough challenges at work. Since its inception, the Vistex Institute has served nearly a thousand participants from several hundred organizations in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. To learn more about the Business Innovation Building, visit the Lehigh Business webpage.
12 Rendering of Goodman Campus Indoor Field Facility
13 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE CREATE A NEW PLACE TO CALL HOME. Singleton, Hitch, and Maida Residence Halls More than 700 students are now living, learning, and forming lifelong friendships in new state-of-the-art residence halls made possible thanks to the generosity of Charlot and Dennis Singleton ’66, Julie and Jordan Hitch ’88 ’20P ’21P, and Sharon and James Maida ’85 ’17P ’19P. The Singleton, Hitch, and Maida (SHM) student housing has reinvigorated the heart of campus, integrating living spaces with amenities such as a cafe, gym, and meeting and study rooms to provide a collaborative, community environment. An additional cluster of residences is planned. WE BECOME THE BEST WE CAN BE. Cundey Varsity House and Indoor Field Facility Just as the Health, Science, and Technology building is elevating research and the Hitch, Maida, and Singleton residence halls are elevating student life, two ambitious athletics facility projects are elevating the development of Lehigh’s student-athletes. A renovation and expansion of the Cundey Varsity House and design plans for a new indoor field facility are now underway, thanks to an anonymous leadership gift of $8 million from the parents of a current Lehigh student-athlete. “This is about giving our athletes the opportunity to develop and become the best they can be. On the academic side, we ensure our students, whether they are in the sciences, business, design, or another discipline, have the laboratory spaces, tools, and resources that allow them to learn, experiment, and make mistakes — and grow from them — as much as “ I ENJOYED LIVING AND GRYPHONING IN THE SHM COMPLEX. THERE ARE SO MANY GREAT SPACES FOR STUDENTS TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY AND COLLABORATIVELY IN! THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GYM AND THE HILLSIDE CAFE IS ALSO A GREAT BENEFIT OF LIVING THERE.” Cecily I. Ritchie ’23 Health, Medicine, and Society and Environmental Studies; Gryphon, Singleton House possible. It’s the same principle with athletics,” said Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics Joseph Sterrett ’76 ’78G ’03P ’05P ’07P ’09P. The Cundey Varsity House will include an expanded sports medicine facility, a new and significantly expanded strength training area, a high-tech pitching and hitting facility, a student-athlete nutrition lounge, and new or improved locker room facilities for all of the Lehigh sports programs based on the Goodman Campus. In the new indoor field facility, athletes will be able to train yearround, regardless of the weather, exponentially increasing their capacity to enhance their skills and perform at the highest level, both individually and as a team. Together, these two projects will help Lehigh athletes become even more competitive, build the reputation of our programs, and help recruit and retain talented studentathletes looking for opportunities to play their very best.
14 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE GO GLOBAL. Iacocca Institute The legacy of Lehigh’s global impact is being cemented, thanks to a $5 million gift from the Iacocca Family Foundation, which includes $4 million to endow the Iacocca Institute and $1 million to global initiatives. The institute leads innovative programs that combine immersion in an extremely diverse living community with learning experiences in leadership, entrepreneurship, and more. It provides year-round online and summer residential programs for adults and high school students from the United States and around the world. Already, the philanthropy has made possible a new Iacocca Institute Speaker Series, debuting in fall 2022. It also fuels increased collaboration between the Iacocca Institute and the Lehigh community by providing program scholarships and graduate stipends. The inspiring gift comes with another challenge. The foundation will match funds raised through other alumni and friends to ultimately provide $8 million to the Iacocca Institute and $2 million to benefit the university’s overall global initiatives. Iacocca International Internship Program The Iacocca International Internship Program (I I IP), established in 2011 when Lee Iacocca challenged Lehigh alumni and friends to match a $5 million commitment that he made, grew in impact during GO: The Campaign for Lehigh. More than 40 donors were inspired to “answer the call” to meet the challenge and, together, collectively doubled the amount endowed to provide international internships for Lehigh students in perpetuity. To date, the program has sent almost 700 Lehigh undergraduates overseas to fully funded summer placements. The students travel internationally for work-and-learn experience and return equipped to lead and succeed in our ever-changing world. Some 40% of all Lehigh students have an international experience while at Lehigh, and 30% of those students participate in more than one abroad experience. The global Iacocca International Internship Program (IIIP) placements 660 IIIP Interns 2012-2021 77% Interns for whom IIIP is their first experience abroad 53 IIIP host countries 85% Interns who need financial aid
15 Lee Iacocca with daughters, from left, Kathryn Iacocca Hentz and Lia Iacocca Assad “ THIS ENDOWMENT WILL CONTINUE THE RICH TRADITION THAT LEE IACOCCA BEGAN WHEN HE FUNDED THE IACOCCA INSTITUTE, GLOBAL VILLAGE, AND THE IACOCCA INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM [IIIP], AT A TIME WHEN UNIVERSITIES WERE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT EXPERIENTIAL INTERNATIONAL LEARNING.” Cheryl Matherly Vice President and Vice Provost for International Affairs
16 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE REMOVE BARRIERS TO THE ARTS. Sustaining the Mission of the Arts Infusing the arts into the life of Lehigh and the community. Fostering lifelong patronage of the arts. Integrating educational resources to enhance human experience. This is the mission of Zoellner Arts Center — and it’s something Oldrich “Ollie” Foucek III ’72 ’05P ’09P firmly believes in. He is the current chair of the Zoellner Advisory Council, and his recent leadership gift to establish the Zoellner Advisory Council Director’s Endowment Fund will help ensure that a young audience has access to transformative art experiences at Lehigh. Foucek says his early exposure to free-thinking artists and writers from his grandparents’ Bohemian homeland and travel to renowned European museums and art galleries in his childhood instilled his appreciation of the arts. This upbringing cemented his belief in the importance of artistic expression to the maintenance of a free society. The endowment fund that Foucek launched will help Zoellner meet programming and operational needs, particularly to underwrite the cost of transporting elementary, middle, and high school students to events at the arts center. His philanthropy inspired fellow Zoellner Advisory Council members Marc Falato ’87 and Anne Kline ’81 to make gifts to the fund. During the 2022-2023 academic year, plans are to apply the funds towards transportation for schools and nonprofit organizations in Lehigh and Northampton counties, to reduce barriers to experiencing the arts. In a typical year, Zoellner Arts Center pays for 18 to 35 school buses to transport students to its programs. 25 Years of Zoellner Arts Center Throughout the 2022-2023 season, Zoellner Arts Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary and the legacy of individuals and families whose vision and generosity helped establish a center for the arts at Lehigh University. Robert ’54 and Victoria Zoellner ’15GP, longtime benefactors of Lehigh, deepened their commitment to the university in the early 1990s with the leadership gift that established Zoellner Arts Center. Today, Zoellner is one of the premier performing and visual arts centers in the Lehigh Valley, providing students and the surrounding community with unique opportunities to learn, discover, and share cultural experiences. Since her husband’s passing in 2014 and in view of their shared belief in the importance of the arts, Victoria Zoellner, an honorary trustee, has continued to generously provide annual support that makes access to the arts possible.
17 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE MAKE NEW PERSPECTIVES POSSIBLE. Lehigh University Art Galleries Art helps us gain new perspectives. Striving to be an essential, integrated, and innovative participant in the intellectual and cultural life of Lehigh University, the Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) envisions itself as a convener that enhances the quality of life for campus and community; a leader among academic art museums; and a destination for a diverse range of visitors from the Lehigh Valley and beyond. A generous multi-year gift from Kenneth Woodcock ’65 is significantly impacting LUAG’s work. Initial funding was immediately utilized to hire a new full-time staff member, Elise Schaffer, LUAG’s first coordinator of museum experience and access. In this role, Schaffer is responsible for all visitorfacing services and support, as well as the creation of resources and accommodations for visitors with disabilities. Over the past year, this has included the development of audio guides and audio descriptive tours, large-print exhibition materials, and outreach to groups that may have experienced barriers to participation in the past. This new role has also increased LUAG’s capacity to hire work-study students and interns, which now number more than 20 annually. Schaffer also oversees LUAG’s new Reading Room — a reference library consisting of more than 2,000 books and publications, all accessible through the University ASA library catalog, as well as social media and marketing, including a bilingual campaign to reach Spanish-speaking communities. Schaffer recently presented sessions on LUAG’s accessibility efforts at the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries (AAMG) national conference in Logan, Utah.
18 ON THE EDGE OF DISCOVERY Making smart investments to distinguish Lehigh as a top-tier research institution was a critical component of GO. So far, six endowed chairs have been added. Thanks to such generous and forward-looking support from donors, our research horizons and potential are broader than ever. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE FUEL RESEARCH. Banks Chair Sam Banks ’63 thought so much of his Lehigh experience and engineering education that he made a generous $3.5 million bequest — a future gift from his estate — to endow a chair in the department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. The gift includes $2.5 million for the endowed chair and $1 million for faculty startup and related research costs for the chairholder. A named, endowed chair is one of the highest academic awards that a university can bestow on a faculty member and serves as an important recruiting tool. The Sam Banks ’63 Endowed Faculty Chair will help attract the best faculty and support Lehigh’s mission to increase the quality and rankings of the university. Zisman Chair Mike Zisman ’70 and his wife, Linda Gamble, recently made a $2.5 million gift to endow a faculty chair in honor of Professor William L. Luyben, Zisman’s chemical and biomolecular engineering professor and a Lehigh faculty member since 1967. Professor William L. Luyben and Mike Zisman ’70 The chair will initially be called the Zisman Family Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Upon Professor Luyben’s future retirement from Lehigh, it will be known as the William L. Luyben Chair, with the chairholder embodying the qualities of Professor Luyben as “an exemplary teacher, mentor, and distinguished researcher.” Forlenza Chair The search is underway for a leader to launch the new College of Health’s Department of Health Innovation and Technology, with the help of a foundational $5 million gift from Ellen and Vincent Forlenza ’75 for an endowed chair. The Ellen and Vincent Forlenza ’75 Chair in Health Innovation and Technology Endowed Fund invests in that college’s future — and in seeking solutions for health care issues that affect populations around the country and the world — and will help fulfill the college’s mission to prioritize recruitment of the very best talent in a fiercely competitive market. The chairholder will support the innovation and development of health applications for artificial intelligence, advance analytics and data science, and design cuttingedge devices and technologies to address urgent needs in population health. The Forlenzas believe in the college’s mission to educate population health leaders who will have an impact on the community, nation, and world.
19 “ ENDOWED FACULTY CHAIRS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO US AS A UNIVERSITY, TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE VERY BEST FACULTY, TO GIVE THEM THE KIND OF SUPPORT AND RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO CARRY FORTH AND EXCEL IN LEHIGH’S RESEARCH AND TEACHING MISSIONS.” Nathan Urban Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs WE UPLIFT THOSE WHO INNOVATE. Rossin College Doctoral Fellows Engineering students beginning Ph.D. programs are getting their research off to a strong start, thanks to a $1 million gift from Joan R. Stephans (daughter of Peter Rossin ’48) and her husband, Peter, through the Rossin Foundation. The inspiring gift sparked additional contributions to the fund from donors who understand the importance of fueling doctoral researchers. The Rossin College Fellowships, awarded to new doctoral students, help alleviate financial uncertainty, which helps the college compete for and recruit top students from a variety of backgrounds and gives students resources to immediately begin their work. So far, nearly 100 Ph.D. students have been awarded fellowships. Lee Fellowships Graduate students are relentlessly curious, constantly pushing boundaries and working to create new knowledge that will improve our world. They analyze data, mentor undergraduate students, and support Lehigh faculty. In this way, they are the engine that fuels the university’s research engine. A $3 million gift made by the H.S. Lee Family Foundation has been funding fellowships for graduate students in physics and mathematics. Hyo Sang Lee ’76G ’80G made the generous gift in honor of Yong W. Kim, faculty member in Lehigh’s physics department for 50 years and faculty advisor to Lee when he was a graduate student.
20 Elsa Reichmanis (center), Carl Robert Anderson Chair in Chemical Engineering, works with students in the Health, Science, and Technology (HST) building. The open-space, shared lab and transparent walls put research on display, sparking curiosity and innovation. WE DREAM BIG. Health, Science & Technology Building Lehigh researchers are already at work in the expansive new spaces of the Health, Science, and Technology (HST) building. Devoted to advancing research, the building features 231 new research bench positions, open-space labs, and modern workspaces designed to spark the kind of collaboration and idea sharing that will lead to revolutionary innovations. What will the building make possible? Interdisciplinary teams in HST have come together to explore how computational models can be merged with human opinions to forecast trends in COVID; how polymerbased electronic devices might improve energy storage in advanced batteries; if cultivated meat could help eliminate environmental hazards; and more. Hyunok Choi, assistant professor in the College of Health, is working to understand the connections between air pollution and the development of asthma in infants and toddlers. Answers could lead to better asthma medication and treatments, early intervention and prevention, new government and corporate policies, and other changes that will improve children’s health. “It would be a moonshot to be able to develop an effective strategy that is targeted to air pollution-driven asthma,” she says. Finding the solution takes teamwork — and a place like HST. “I could never do any of this alone,” Choi says. Through collaboration with colleagues in education, biology, psychology, business, and engineering, she’s exploring all aspects of the problem, ranging from cell development and economic impact to how communities and schools might help intervene. “Being together means the world to us researchers,” Choi says of HST. “I want the students and faculty and post-docs to have a home where they can learn from each other and challenge each other. Feeling secure and a great sense of community and fraternity and how to articulate that feeling that you are understood and accepted and liked — that’s what I’m trying to create.” GO: The Campaign for Lehigh has helped fuel the completion of the HST building. More than 4,000
21 alumni and friends showed their excitement for the building by virtually signing one of the beams put into place during construction. WE MAKE “HANDS ON” HAPPEN. Keysight Technologies Lab The new Keysight Technologies Lab in Packard Lab is not just a gift that furthers the mission of the university. It’s a testing ground that will allow students the kind of experiential learning that will distinguish them as young professionals entering the fields of electrical engineering and computer engineering. The space was made possible by a gift from Keysight Technologies Inc., a California-based company and global provider of electronics test and measurement solutions. The company’s executive chairman and former chief executive officer is Ron Nersesian ’82. “ LEHIGH ENGINEERING STUDENTS ARE WIDELY REGARDED AS AMONG THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND INDUSTRIOUS IN THE WORLD. THIS NEW LAB WILL HELP GIVE LEHIGH ENGINEERS THE HANDSON EXPERIENCES THEY NEED AFTER GRADUATION, SO THEY ARE READY TO CONTRIBUTE ON DAY ONE.” Ron Nersesian ’82 Executive Chairman, Keysight Technologies Inc.
22 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WECREATE EXPERIENCES WITH IMPACT. Zug Community Health Internships Population health major Carson Snyder ’23 is interning this summer at Public Health Management Corporation in Philadelphia, a regional nonprofit provider of more than 350 public health programs in 70 locations. By writing newsletters, collaborating with agencies and partners, and assessing grant success, she’s helping to get important information to community members, so they can make the best decisions about their health — while learning hands-on about the field. Paid internships with health and community nonprofits are rare due to limited financial resources, but Snyder is able to take on this internship thanks to the new Community Health Student Internship Fund, created by Linda and D. Brooks Zug ’67. This endowed fund will ultimately support 10 to 12 College of Health students who undertake summer internships, providing them with a stipend for educational, travel, or living expenses while they work in positions at community organizations, not-for-profits, and other organizations. The internships, with preference for students working with organizations in the Lehigh Valley, will benefit both College of Health students and the local community. A goal of the College of Health is to ensure that 100% of its students participate in experiential learning, such as internships, research projects, and study abroad. WE BRING OTHERS TO THE TABLE. Smith Funds for Research and Innovation Daniel E. Smith, Jr. ’71 and Elizabeth Riley gave to Lehigh to catalyze change. The Smith Funds for Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering “ THIS INTERNSHIP IS HELPING ME TAKE THE LEAP INTO THE REST OF MY CAREER. I AM IN THE PERFECT PLACE TO FIND MY NICHE IN PUBLIC HEALTH AND LEARN HOW I CAN BEST CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FIELD.” Carson Snyder ’23 Population Health Major were established to provide early-stage support to accelerate innovation in scientific research. More than a decade into the life of the Smith Funds, their impacts have been felt across campus and the world: They have encouraged interdisciplinary collaboration and intelligent risk-taking, fueling work across all five colleges. They have allowed our exceptional faculty to attract critical additional funding and have shown them, time and again, that Lehigh is invested in their ability to pursue big ideas. To date, over $5.89 million in grants have been awarded to 169 diverse projects overseen by faculty members working collaboratively across the university. These internal grants have resulted in a seven-fold return on investment in extramural funding received from government, foundation, and nonprofit external sources to advance these projects. From investigations studying electric public transportation systems to the use of data and computer modeling to create more efficient fuels, the research happening at Lehigh is shaping the future. Explore the Smith-funded research of ocean wave energy farms by Arindam Banerjee, professor and chair, mechanical engineering and mechanics.
Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience The Rapidly Accelerated Research Experience (RARE) is a four-year, comprehensive program for students from underrepresented backgrounds with a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Through focused research experiences, innovative curricula, dedicated advising, community- and identity-building initiatives, and an emphasis on professional rigor and discipline, the program supports critical diversity within STEM fields and shapes the development of exceptional young investigators. Attracting students from across Lehigh’s colleges and originally founded with support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), RARE is preparing tomorrow’s innovators today. RARE is supported by the Braxton Endowment Fund, established during GO by Lehigh professor of molecular biology and co-director of the RARE program Dr. Vassie C. Ware and William J. Taylor, Founder of asset management firm Miravast. The fund is named in honor of Dr. Ware’s maternal “ IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD. MY GRANDMOTHER ALWAYS SAID, ‘YOU DO NOT ENJOY SOMETHING UNLESS YOU BRING SOMEBODY ALONGWITH YOU’.” Vassie C. Ware Lehigh professor of molecular biology and co-director of the RARE program grandparents: Vassie and Richard Braxton, who sent their four African American daughters to college in the 1930s and 1940s. The fund continues theicrommitment to education by expanding access to STEM fields for underrepresented and low income students. “It is the right thing to do. I have always wanted to move something forward,” says Ware. “My grandmother always said, ‘You do not enjoy something unless you bring somebody along with you’.” 23
24 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE. Strohl Grants Established by a gift from Dale S. Strohl ’58, the Dale S. Strohl ’58 Awards provide critical research funding for students pursuing independent work in the humanities and social sciences — disciplines where research is typically underfunded. Strohl awards give undergraduates not only the invaluable experience of writing and applying for a grant — clarifying and communicating the goals and relevance of a project — but the opportunity to pursue meaningful, transformational work. So many of Lehigh’s humanities and social science students “are very concerned with the most pressing global problems facing the world today,” says Kelly Austin, College of Arts and Sciences associate dean of interdisciplinary programs and international initiatives. The Strohl grants are an extraordinary form of support for students “who are really going to become change agents. They’re developing not just research skills, but inquiry skills, leadership skills, and the ability to ask and answer challenging questions.” “BEING ABLE TO IMMERSE MYSELF IN A PLACE AS FAR FROM HOME AS UGANDA FOR SEVEN WEEKS WAS AN EXPERIENCE THAT TRANSFORMED ME ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, IMPARTING A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE ON ME THAT I WILL CARRY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.” Harry Ossolinski ’20 Perspectives on Mental Health and Alcoholism in Rural Uganda To date, 310 grants totaling nearly $1.5 million have been funded. Projects range from senior theses to summer research, qualitative and quantitative studies, creative works, and live performances and have been conducted in more than 35 different countries across the globe. Because of these grants, students develop communication and analytical skills and greater confidence in their ability to ask and investigate their own questions. Their eyes are opened; their perspectives broadened. Of her experiences in Jordan while researching “Ancient Solutions to Modern Crises: Restoring the Water System at Umm el-Jimal,” Olivia Lee ’20 said, “I know that I will carry these lessons with me throughout life and in my career, regardless of what career I take.”
25 BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Lehigh has always thought big. Thanks to GO, we’re thinking even bigger: Our programs, services, and initiatives are creating new and stronger connections for our students and our entire community — across the globe and right at home in Bethlehem. WE STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY. Community Voices Clinic Mental health is critical to the success of children and families, and research shows that early intervention is key. Lehigh’s College of Education, through its involvement in the Community Voices Clinic (CVC), has provided hundreds of hours of free, in-person mental health services to those who would not have had access to therapy otherwise. Plus, for Lehigh counseling psychology graduate students, the clinic serves as an important training component to their education. The CVC, supported by W. Beall Fowler ’59 ’85P ’89P ’16GP, is a school-based mental health clinic established in 2012 through a partnership between Lehigh University’s counseling psychology program, the Bethlehem Area School District, and Resolve Mental Health Services of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20. The Fowler Fund for the Community Voices Clinic provides support for the director position and the clinic administered by the dean of the College of Education. Operating within the family centers at Donegan Elementary and Broughal Middle schools, the clinic is staffed by College of Education graduate students who provide free, culturally responsive therapy services to children, adults, and families who live in South Bethlehem. Raquel Sosa ’26, Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program, Third Year “ THIS PROGRAMMEETS A NEED THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED – NAMELY, THE EMOTIONAL NEEDS OF CHILDRENWHO MAY BE LIVING IN STRESSFUL FAMILY OR NEIGHBORHOOD SITUATIONS. ” W. Beall Fowler ’59 ’85P ’89P ’16GP
26 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GO? WE GET INVOLVED. Alumni bonds run deep at Lehigh because we know we are truly “better together.” When Lehigh students and alumni get informed, involved, and invested, magic happens. Career advice and connections. Mentorship. Professional development. Continued learning. Not to mention the lifelong friendships that flourish in an alumni network more than 85,000 strong. Since GO: The Campaign for Lehigh launched publicly in 2018, more than 33% of alumni have engaged with the university and each other through a host of opportunities and special moments. Regional Networks Gatherings across the country and around the world for networking, camaraderie and fun Affinity and Alliance Networks Robust communities for alumni with shared interests and aspirations Giving Day An annual event, started in 2017, calling on alumni, students, parents, friends, faculty, and staff to support students’ education and experiences Enhanced Virtual Engagement Online engagement opportunities including Mountain Talks and the Alumni Book Club Soaring Together Celebration Events and expanded networks honoring Lehigh women and 50 years of coeducation
27 Lehigh Connects A digital gateway to mentorship opportunities and professional connections used by more than 10,000 alumni and students Reunion The ultimate opportunity to reconnect and relive the Lehigh experience. An unprecedented number of alumni gathered for a 2022 “triple Reunion” once COVID restrictions were lifted. Distinguished Alumni Awards Recognizing alumni changing the world through a commitment to diversity, public service, entrepreneurship, and industry excellence Association of Student Alumni (ASA) Students committed to fostering community and traditions like the unveiling of the senior class year at the Clayton University Center Sendoffs and The Rally Continued traditions welcoming new students to campus — and to the alumni community
28 WE GO TOGETHER We would not have been able to achieve any of the extraordinary advancements, enhancements, and exciting changes — affecting the lives of students today and in the decades to come — without you. Our entire community of supporters, champions, donors, and friends make all of GO’s many successes possible. The spirit of giving back starts when students like Ana have transformational experiences on campus — and continues as young alumni like Lauren begin to make their way in the world. LAUREN MAIDA ’17 YOUNG ALUMNI DONOR Favorite thing about Lehigh? “The strong sense of tradition that is embedded in the Lehigh culture. As a third-generation Lehigh grad, it is so special to reminisce on iconic memories from our undergraduate days like bed races and Founder’s Day, while making new memories together as alumni at events like Le-Laf and the GO! campaign celebrations. The shared experiences and values of decades of Lehigh students is truly the secret sauce to our engaged and passionate alumni community.” Lauren Maida ’17 Young Alumni Donor Ana Victoria Smith ’23 Lehigh Student Donor Why do I give back? “It is such a rewarding experience to help shape the future of the university. As a member of the Young Alumni Council and the Clayton University Center Alumni Advisory Committee, I have the unique opportunity to support the positive changes occurring on campus while building relationships with fellow alums and current students.” ANA VICTORIA SMITH ’23 LEHIGH STUDENT DONOR Why do I give back? “I knew I wanted to give back when I came home after my first semester and shocked my parents with how many real-life skills Lehigh was already teaching me. I realized that Lehigh truly does go above and beyond the textbook to teach us. I am experiencing firsthand the benefits of a Lehigh education and want to express my gratitude by giving back in any and every way I can.” Because of Lehigh… “I can be stuck on a problem, not knowing what to do, and instead of thinking “how am I going to get through this?” I think “how can I go forward and learn from this?” It is a shift in mindset that seems small but I believe will make all the difference moving forward in my life.”
29 Over 3,000 loyal donors have made a gift every single year of GO. Representing alumni from the Class of 1942 all the way to parents of the Class of 2026, hailing from almost 50 states and countries, our consecutive year-after-year donors form the bedrock of giving at Lehigh. Campaign Donors by Class Decade Campaign Donors by Category ROY CRAVZOW ’61 TOWER SOCIETY DONOR Why do I give back? Planned gifts and charitable annuity vehicles also provide a meaningful way for our dedicated alumni to honor their Lehigh experience and make a difference for students in perpetuity. Lehigh changed Roy Cravzow ’61’s life. He took a Spanish class in his first year with a newly arrived romance languages professor, Victor Valenzuela, who became an advisor, mentor, and lifelong friend. At Valenzuela’s encouragement, Cravzow earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish at Lehigh. He also earned a master’s in Spanish and a certificate in Latin American studies from Columbia University. There he met another life-influencing professor, Gregory Rabassa, who would become his dissertation advisor as well as another dear friend. A switch in concentration to Portuguese, a doctorate in comparative literature (Portuguese) from City University of New York, and a Fulbright all led Cravzow to a career as an adjunct professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Queens College in New York from 1968 through 1989. Honoring the memory of the two professors who so influenced him led Cravzow to create his first charitable gift annuity in 2010. Subsequently, he established 13 gift annuities and has also made a generous bequest provision. Using the residuum of the annuities and his eventual bequest, a permanent endowment fund to be known as the Rabassa/Valenzuela Endowed Chair in Latin American Literature and Culture will be established. “It’s a win-win for everybody. When I found out about the charitable gift annuity program, I thought it was great,” Cravzow says. “The deciding factor was that, between the gift annuity program and a confirmed bequest, I could make a plan to fund an endowed chair at Lehigh. Without Lehigh and Professor Valenzuela, who led me to meet Professor Rabassa, I wouldn’t have enjoyed these lifelong relationships and the success I achieved in my two interrelated careers.”
AND WE’RE NOT DONE YET YOU HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO LIFT UP OUR STUDENTS AND RAISE THE BAR FOR THE FUTURE. MOMENTUM IS ON OUR SIDE. BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET GOING, IT’S HARD TO SLOW YOU DOWN. YOU KNOW THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY MOUNTAINS WE CLIMB, ANOTHER SUMMIT AWAITS. Thank you to all those who have supported GO: The Campaign for Lehigh and brought us within sight of our $1 billion-plus goal. Join us as we keep going — together — to fulfill our ambitions for Lehigh and its promise for the future.
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