20 | LEHIGH ALUMNI BULLETIN | FROM THE NEST Jared Isaacman—founder of Lehigh Valley-based global payments company Shift4 and mission commander of Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn, who subsequently became the administrator of NASA—is helping ensure that Lehigh engineers have the tools and support they need to succeed in the aerospace industry. His recent gift will support aerospace-focused student scholarships and organizations, including LU Aero, Lehigh University Rocketry Association (LURA) and Lehigh University Space Initiative (LUSI). The gift grew out of a conversation. Keegan Gagnon ʼ26, president of LURA, connected with Isaacman during a Q&A session prior to his visit to Lehigh for the first Future Makers Speaker Series event in October 2025. Alongside fellow club members, Gagnon shared how Isaacmanʼs work had influenced their own aspirations as engineers and how leaders like him continue to push the boundaries of whatʼs possible. They also asked if he would consider supporting their organization. He said yes. “Itʼs an honor to receive recognition from someone who is not only an integral part of the aerospace industry, but also the administrator of NASA,ˮ said Gagnon. “Support like this motivates the next generation of engineers in ways we couldnʼt have imagined when we first started the club. Jaredʼs support will help us compete at the highest level of collegiate rocketry.ˮ While the full impact of Isaacmanʼs gift will unfold over time, faculty said its potential is already clear, especially when it comes to expanding learning opportunities for students. Launching Student Ambitions “Clubs like LUSI, LURA and LU Aero help turn students into practicing engineers,ˮ said Hannah Dailey, associate professor of mechanical engineering. “Students who take up leadership roles gain project management and people management experience. All of these skills—working as a team, meeting deadlines, dealing with multiple design constraints—are how engineers practice in the real world. Weʼre incredibly excited that this gift will enrich the learning opportunities for students passionate about all things aerospace.ˮ For Terry Hart ʼ68 Hʼ88 Pʼ27, a former NASA astronaut and advisor to LURA, the connection is personal. “Our students bring the passion, our faculty provides the mentoring and gifts like Jaredʼs allow these students to realize their ambitions in the success of their amazing projects,ˮ said Hart. “Experiences like these are often where future careers begin.ˮ—Skye Cruz PHILANTHROPY ʼ67 New Heights in Aerospace A gift from Jared Isaacman will support aerospace initiatives, scholarships and student organizations at Lehigh. Associated Press Tomatoes Become Latest Symbol of Americaʼs Affordability Squeeze Prices for tomatoes have soared more than any other food product over the past year. Phillip Coles, teaching full professor in the department of decision and technology analytics, says itʼs a classic supply-and-demand issue, with prices likely to drop when domestically grown tomatoes are harvested. Marketplace Should You Go In On the SpaceX, Open AI and Anthropic IPOs? Kathleen Hanley, professor and Bolton-Perella Endowed Chair in finance, tells Marketplace that buying and holding is generally a good investing strategy, but with big, hyped IPOs, it might be a different story. “For the most part, one should not expect short-run profits right after trading,ˮ she said. CNN Behind the Lobster Merch, Chinaʼs Latest Tech Obsession Could be a Game Changer In China, support for OpenClaw has taken off. But, according to CNN, some early adopters fear AI will exacerbate an already difficult labor market. Lichao Sun, assistant professor of computer science and engineering, says the rapid uptake of OpenClaw in China will likely contribute to a faster displacement of white-collar jobs. Lehigh Faculty in the Media
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