FROM THE NEST | SUMMER 2026 | 17 STUDENT OUTCOMES Loba Salami ʼ27, a double major in biology and music composition, draws parallels in the communication between instruments and biochemical signaling. A violinist who began playing in eighth grade, Salami discovered his passion for composition in high school, which earned him the Marine Corpsʼ Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence. As an Eckardt Scholar at Lehigh, Salami frequently merges his coursework with his creative endeavors. He is a member of NeuroSalon, an interdisciplinary project exploring the capacity of the brain for growth, plasticity and creativity led by Julie Miwa, associate professor in the department of biological sciences. He wrote a composition for NeuroSalon and released it on Spotify: “When Plasticity Was High.ˮ It explores how neuroplasticity— the brainʼs ability to reorganize, change and adapt—is high in children and young adults but becomes more rigid with age. “I really tried to visualize that biological concept in a musical way,ˮ he said. Tuning His Craft at Lehigh A prolific composer with a dozen original works to his name, Salami credits his Lehigh professors with refining his raw talent. This growth was evident during his sophomore year when he composed “Pirates of the North.ˮ The piece received a full orchestra reading that provided him with invaluable feedback, he said. Salami is an aspiring fiction author with a completed manuscript, which inspired a new piece he composed his junior year, “The Knights of Envy.ˮ It debuted in February with STRONG POST-GRADUATION CAREER OUTCOMES REPORTED FROM LEHIGHʼS CLASS OF 2025 Building on a long-standing tradition of meaningful success in post-graduation career outcomes, 92% of Lehigh graduates from the Class of 2025 were employed, continuing education or engaged in other pursuits within six months of graduation. Their average starting salary was $77,000, positioning the graduates for strong financial futures, and they were hired by 577 unique employers including Amazon, Deloitte, Google and Goldman Sachs. Of the 1,367 bachelorʼs degree recipients of the Class of 2025, verifiable outcomes data was obtained for 90% of the graduates. The positive outcomes underscore the value of a Lehigh degree. In 2026, Lehigh was ranked 23rd on LinkedInʼs career-focused Top Colleges list and in 2025, ranked 13th for Best Return on Investment by U.S. News and World Report and 13th on the Wall Street Journalʼs Best Salaries list. the Lehigh University Philharmonic. Beyond campus, Salami is also a part of the East County Youth Symphony in San Diego. Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, Salamiʼs 30-minute piece titled “Land of the Freeˮ was performed by professional musicians in May at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre in San Diego in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. In addition to music, Salami remains firmly committed to the pre-med track. He shadowed at a Navy base in obstetrics and gynecology in 2025. Helping mothers and babies proved to be a very rewarding experience, reinforcing his desire to help people, he said. Salami envisions a future that balances medicine and advanced musical study. He said his experience at Lehigh has been challenging in the best way, where running a clinic by day and composing at night feels possible.—Hayley Frerichs STUDENT SUCCESS Blending Art and Science Through Music Loba Salami ʼ27, a composer and pre-med student, debuted works with the Lehigh Philharmonic and a San Diego symphony. “I REALLY TRIED TO VISUALIZE THAT BIOLOGICAL CONCEPT IN A MUSICAL WAY.” —Loba Salami ʼ27 SCAN TO READ THE FULL REPORT CHRISTINE KRESCHOLLEK BETH MURPHY
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