Lehigh Alumni Bulletin Vol. 110, No. 2, Summer 2025 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kristen DiPrinzio EDITOR Lauren Thein DEPUTY EDITOR Stephen Gross ART DIRECTOR Beth Murphy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Blanding, Emily Collins, Lisa Doyle, Christine Fennessy, Katherine Jones, Steve Lomangino, Vicki Mayk, Colin McEvoy, Rob Nichols, Carina Sitkus, Christina Tatu, Sydney Weaver ’25, Stephen Wilson CLASS NOTES EDITOR Jessi McMullan ’05 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kurt Hansen SENIOR DESIGNERS Kate Cassidy, Neha Kavan PHOTOGRAPHER Christa Neu VIDEOGRAPHER Dan Collins BUSINESS SUPPORT Traci Mindler Send class notes and remembrances to alumni@lehigh.edu or call (866) 758-2586 Email address changes to askrecords@lehigh.edu or send the mailing label, along with your new address, to Alumni Records/Lehigh University 306 S. New St., Suite 500, Bethlehem, PA 18015, (866) 517-1552 Lehigh University Communications and Public Affairs 301 Broadway, 4th Floor, Suite 400, Bethlehem, PA 18015, (610) 758-4487 Email: communications@lehigh.edu Published three times a year by the Lehigh University Communications and Public Affairs Office, in cooperation with the Lehigh University Alumni Association Inc. Lehigh ALUMNI BULLETIN Facebook.com/lehighu Facebook.com/lehighalumni Instagram.com/lehighu Instagram.com/lehighalumni youtube.com/lehighu linkedin.com Follow Lehigh University on X @LehighU and @LehighAlumni TABLE OF CONTENTS “I want to try and help the public understand the changes we are seeing, and how investing in solutions now will be far better in the long run than doing nothing.” —Andrew Knoll ’73, Page 10 ON THE COVER: Andrew Knoll ’73 and Daniel Richter ’73 explore the history of life on Earth through rocks and soil. 3 Reflecting on the Critical Role of Research at Lehigh Provost Nathan Urban shares insight into the future of research at the university. 4 Lehigh’s Economic Impact The university’s Community and Economic Impact Report for the 2023-24 fiscal year showed a comprehensive impact of $1.4 billion on the Lehigh Valley. 6 Powering the Future of AI Lehigh’s Center for Advancing Community Electrification Solutions (ACES) is addressing the energy needs of AI data centers. 8 Four Questions with Wes Hiatt: ‘Shape Positive Change’ Reviving alley homes earns Hiatt national recognition for housing equity. 10 Worlds Beneath Our Feet Classmates-turned-geoscientists explore life’s origins underground. 17 Exploring Real-World Replication of Captain America’s Shield Professor Ricardo H.R. Castro breaks down the science behind Captain America’s shield. 18 Student Earns Goldwater Scholarship Saimonth Muñoz ’26 conducts quantum materials and machine learning research with the guidance of Lehigh faculty mentors. 19 Hawks-pitality Served by the Scoop A sweet side hustle turned into a new career and business for Stella Buckley ’22. 20 A Century of Art at Lehigh Lehigh University Art Galleries prepares to celebrate 100 years by honoring the past and shaping the future. 28 Class of 1975 Celebrates Coeducation at Lehigh This year marks 50 years since the graduation of Lehigh’s first coed undergraduate class. 30 Striking Success Esther Brossard ’28, a second-year forward, will compete in the FIFA Futsal World Cup after leading Canada to a CONCACAF title. 32 Squawk: Worn with Pride Alumni reflect on the Lehigh gear they’ve kept and the memories it represents. 2 EDITOR’S LETTER 36 CLASS NOTES 58 IN REMEMBRANCE 64 ENDNOTE IN EVERY ISSUE CHRISTA NEU 20
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