SUMMER 2026 | 23 the heart of the Lehigh experience is found within its community, which extends far beyond the classroom and South Mountain. While the rapid rise of technology, social media and artificial intelligence has changed how people access information, Lehigh students continue to find that the most meaningful moments happen through genuine, human connection. “Community is what keeps people at Lehigh,” says Carolina Hernandez, assistant dean and director of Lehigh’s Community Service Office (CSO), which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “It’s that connection, to faculty, to friends, to each other. What keeps people here is feeling like you belong.” Established in the fall of 1996, the CSO’s mission is to further develop students, faculty and staff as active citizens who value and contribute to the community by responding to community needs through action. Students can engage in purposeful service by volunteering during the school year, over breaks on SERVE trips or by tutoring local elementary and middle school children through America Reads/Counts. When Hernandez joined the CSO nearly 25 years ago, the office operated in a storage room with five student coordinators and 20 tutors. Today, it has expanded into a vital campus hub with 25 student coordinators and 200 students who serve as tutors in the community.
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