It’s an exciting time at Lehigh as the university embarks on a bold new initiative on the West Coast.

Lehigh’s new Western Regional Office in San Mateo, Calif., extends educational and career opportunities for students and allows for more corporate and industry partnerships, while courses such as LehighSiliconValley immerses students in the world of startups and entrepreneurships. And the new Lehigh@NasdaqCenter, created in partnership with the non-profit Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, provides an environment in San Francisco suited to advancing students’ entrepreneurial spirit.

In March, Lehigh@Nasdaq introduced an eight-week Women in Tech class, which is being offered via real-time, interactive video conferencing between guest presenters at the Center and students on the Lehigh campus. The class, which features female leaders in technology who share the challenges and opportunities for women in the industry, was initiated by Lehigh parent Tom Gillis ’15P ’17P ’19P, founder and CEO of Bracket Computing, Inc. Gillis is helping to coordinate weekly presenters and is moderating the sessions either from San Francisco or Lehigh. As part of the course, students will be matched with a female expert in the tech industry who will serve as a mentor.

“A West Coast presence is important for Lehigh, because we are a national university,” said Provost Pat Farrell, “And we want to make sure that the entire nation is aware of that and has access and opportunity to participate in what Lehigh does.

“So we are looking at this as a way of connecting better with prospective students, with connecting with our alumni who are out here on the West Coast, with connecting with prospective employers and others who would want to take advantage of the kinds of graduates we produce.”

Earlier this year, more than 170 people attended a launch party at the Lehigh@NasdaqCenter to celebrate the groundbreaking partnership between the university and its Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Creativity and the Center. The unique collaboration provides Lehigh with a year-round presence in the hub of San Francisco and nearby Silicon Valley, providing students with the opportunity to study entrepreneurship amid the area’s vibrant startup community.

Lehigh President John D. Simon, Baker Institute Executive Director Lisa Getzler, Nasdaq Vice Chairman Bruce Aust and Nicola Corzine, executive director of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, were among those attending the launch party, as well as university students, faculty and alumni.

During the event, Simon addressed the importance of the Center and unveiled the program’s new logo and signage. Getzler moderated a panel discussion with students Shannon McHugh ’17G, Jacob Nelson ’17, Allie Starer ’17, and Chris Byam ’17 on “Innovative Thinking: A Lehigh Tradition.”

Also, 56 students from Baker’s flagship LehighSiliconValley program joined in the festivities; the students have been working  with 10 of the Nasdaq Center’s Milestone Makers—startup founders whose goal is to achieve specific milestones to help grow and mature their nascent businesses.

“This is a special terrain,” said John Welty, vice provost of the Western Regional Office. “I’ve spent most of my life in the western United States, and it offers a whole new set of experiences and availabilities.”