FROM THE NEST | SPRING 2025 | 23 James N. Stanard ’70, whose generosity and advice have furthered cutting-edge research in disaster prediction and resilience planning, is fueling the work of Lehigh’s Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience with a recent gift. Stanard’s generous gift is a testament to his commitment to helping the world address the escalating challenges of climate change. His support provides resources needed for groundbreaking research to improve our ability to forecast the impact of hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters. “Jim’s gift accelerated many of the center's activities,” says Paolo Bocchini, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience, “especially those aimed at strengthening our ties with industry. Not only can we better understand our risks from natural disasters in a changing climate, but with the help of our partners from the private and public sector, our scientific contributions can also have immediate impact.” Stanard received a B.A. in mathematics and became a successful leader in the insurance industry. As a co-founder of RenaissanceRe, a company specializing in catastrophe reinsurance, he has dedicated much of his career to managing risk in the face of climate disasters. His experience and legendary expertise have shown him how crucial catastrophe modeling is in preparing for and mitigating the effects of these events. In addition to Stanard’s generous gift, the center has received significant external funding, including a recent $1 million two-year regional climate resilience grant from the Department of Energy. The center also benefits from National Science Foundation funding, further underscoring the national importance of its work. These funds support the development of new technologies and models that aim to improve disaster preparedness, reduce economic losses and protect vulnerable populations. —Cynthia Tintorri “JIM’S GIFT ACCELERATED MANY OF THE CENTER’S ACTIVITIES. ... ESPECIALLY THOSE AIMED AT STRENGTHENING OUR TIES WITH INDUSTRY.” — Paolo Bocchini, director of the Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience GIFT | ALUMNI ʼ70 A Step Ahead of Catastrophe Lehigh’s Center for Catastrophe Modeling and Resilience recently received a generous gift. OLIVIA ABRAMS ’21 NAMED TO FORBES 30 UNDER 30 SOCIAL IMPACT LIST Olivia Abrams ’21 was named to the 2025 Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Impact list for the TiCK MiTT, a tick-removing glove that can be used on people and pets. While Abrams was a student at Lehigh in 2018, she and her father began working with a tick scientist to develop a tick-removing glove, and the TiCK MiTT was officially launched in March 2023. The glove is made of scientifically engineered microfiber that works like Velcro to easily remove ticks, then is placed in a mesh bag in the dryer, where the heat kills the ticks. The TiCK MiTT has been featured on “The View” and “Good Morning America,” and can be purchased on websites like TickMitt.com and Amazon.—Sydney Weaver ’25 RECOGNITION COURTESY OF OLIVIA ABRAMS ʼ21
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