PRESIDENT'S LETTER | FALL 2023 | 3 Lehigh Alumni Bulletin Vol. 108, No. 3, Fall 2023 Editor Mary Ellen Alu Associate Editor Stephen Gross Staff Writer Christina Tatu Contributing Writers Dan Armstrong, Angie Bravo ’24, Lisa Doyle, Jodi Duckett, Kristen DiPrinzio, Haidan Hu, Christine Fennessy, Margie Peterson, Carina Sitkus Class Notes Editor Jessi McMullan ’05 Creative Director Kurt Hansen Art Director Beth Murphy Senior Designers Kate Cassidy, Neha Kavan Photographers Holly Fasching ’26, Christa Neu Business Support Traci Mindler Send class notes and remembrances to classnotes@Lehigh.edu or call (610) 758-3675 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 Follow Lehigh University on X @LehighU and @LehighAlumni Facebook.com/lehighu Facebook.com/lehighalumni Instagram.com/lehighu Instagram.com/lehighalumni youtube.com/lehighu linkedin.com The release of our strategic plan, Inspiring the Future Makers, was a milestone, but, as I’ve indicated in my visits with alumni around the country this fall, it was only the “end of the beginning.” The exciting work— and in many ways the challenging work—that will have lasting and meaningful impact on our university began in earnest in September. While we identified leads for 10 key and foundational initiatives, we are calling on the Lehigh community to fully engage with the implementation process as we take concrete steps to maximize the impact of our research, transform the Mountaintop Campus and provide our undergraduate and graduate students with a deeply, even radically, interdisciplinary education that embraces technology, business and the liberal arts. Much work is already underway as we strive to maximize the potential of our students and inspire them to shape the future in positive ways. This fall, we welcomed more than 1,500 new undergraduate students from the largest pool of applicants in our history, as well as more than 500 new graduate and professional students. At our convocation, I was excited to see the new students all together in Baker Hall wearing brown and white. I encouraged them to try new things during their time at Lehigh, push themselves out of their comfort zone academically and professionally and learn from failure. As we implement our plan, you will hear more about our initiatives to better prepare our students for their futures. We will encourage innovation as we broaden Lehigh’s global impact, enhance access and equity, strengthen our partnerships and engage with our community. Lastly, as we gathered on campus this fall to celebrate Family and Founder’s Weekend, I announced that, in an effort to expand access to a Lehigh education, a new Lehigh Commitment will provide a full tuition grant to all admitted and current undergraduate students from families with a household income of less than $75,000, beginning in Fall 2024. I also announced the next phase in our fundraising efforts—Go Beyond: The Campaign for Future Makers—to catalyze our plans for the next decade. In the coming weeks and months, as I travel to meet alumni, parents and friends, I hope I have the opportunity to speak with you personally about our exciting work ahead. Joseph J. Helble ’82 President of Lehigh University Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 welcomes the Class of 2027 at the first-year convocation. Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves SCAN TO WATCH PRESIDENT HELBLE’S VIDEO MESSAGE
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