14 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST GLOBAL | ALUMNI ʼ90 President’s Distinguished Fellowship Term Extended Richard Verma will continue to engage with the Lehigh community. Richard Verma ’90, former U.S. ambassador to India and former U.S. deputy secretary of state for management and resources, recently had his six-month term as the university’s inaugural President’s Distinguished Fellow extended through December 2025. Verma will continue to engage with Lehigh students and the broader university community through discussions on national and global issues, programs and more, drawing on his experience in government, diplomacy and international relations. “Lehigh is a great community of alumni, faculty and staff, and it’s an institution that invites you to be engaged with that community for many years well beyond your graduation,” Verma said during a mentoring meeting with students in February. “It’s been such a reliable part of my life, so it’s great to be able to be here with you and hearing directly from you.” Verma attended Lehigh on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering with a minor in international relations. He has remained actively involved with the university through various roles, including as a trustee and Commencement speaker. His Fellowship underscores Lehigh’s dedication to preparing students for the complexities of a rapidly changing world. By inviting leaders like Verma to share their expertise, the university continues to enhance its academic environment and position itself as a hub for meaningful dialogue on national and global issues. Verma discussed global issues during his Presidential Distinguished Fellow Lecture titled “From South Mountain to the State Department: A Diplomat’s View of Global Challenges and Opportunities” held on April 18 at Zoellner Arts Center. He also hosted a program in April that took a group of students to the Ford Foundation headquarters and the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City for conversations with leaders.—Colin McEvoy, Carina Sitkus and Lauren Thein GIFT | ALUMNI ʼ75 Endowed Gift to Support College of Health Students Vince Forlenza ’75, chair of the Board of Trustees, is driven to show the world what a bold, interdisciplinary and hands-on education at Lehigh can do. Vince and Ellen Forlenza’s endowed gift of $5 million will create merit scholarships and provide resources for experiential learning and mentorship opportunities for a cohort of students demonstrating excellence in the College of Health (COH). The Forlenzas’ commitment to make Lehigh’s distinctive education available to talented, deserving students will help Dean Elizabeth Dolan grow the college’s enrollment and prepare a tight-knit cohort of students to lay the essential groundwork for improving health outcomes. As a member of its Dean’s Advisory Council, Vince Forlenza has been a strong advocate and leader in Lehigh’s newest college. Both he and Ellen Forlenza previously supported the COH by creating The Ellen and Vincent Forlenza ’75 Endowed Chair in Health Innovation and Technology. Currently held by Vinod Namboodiri, this chair was the first of its kind in the COH. Namboodiri serves as the director of the Center for Community-Driven Assistive Technologies (CDAT).—Lisa Doyle CHRISTA NEU
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