Gearing up for the 150th

It seems like only yesterday that the Lehigh community assembled in New York to celebrate the 150th playing of The Rivalry, our storied football series against that school over in Easton. But even with the memories of that weekend still fresh in our minds, we now find ourselves preparing for yet another celebration this fall.

Or, actually, a few of them.

As we put this summer issue of the Lehigh Bulletin to bed, everyone here on South Mountain is working diligently to prepare campus for a truly historic occasion.

In early October, Lehigh faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends will gather to celebrate the kickoff of our university’s 150th anniversary. Events will span four days, Oct. 1-Oct. 4, and will include a very special Founder’s Day celebration; John D. Simon’s formal installation as our 14th President; a campus-wide block party; the dedication of the newly renovated Williams Hall; a Homecoming showdown against Yale; a series of academic and cultural events, and so much more. It figures to be quite a weekend, and one well worth looking forward to. You can learn more about all of the events surrounding the 150th weekend—and additional events that will take place throughout the 2015-2016 academic year—on pages 38-39.

Of course, there is plenty more worth reading in this issue, including the following:

• Lehigh prides itself on educating great leaders. And “great leader” is certainly a fair description of the woman who graces our cover this month. Cathy Engelbert ’86 made history earlier this year when, by being named CEO of Deloitte LLP, she became the first woman to lead a major U.S. professional services firm. Engelbert sat down with Bulletin associate editor Mary Ellen Alu for an interview shortly after assuming her new role, and in our cover story (“The Game Changer,” Pg. 24), you can find out how this Lehigh pioneer managed to break the Big Four’s glass ceiling—while also finding enough time to coach her daughter’s basketball team.
• In May, Lehigh announced an exciting new initiative that will vastly expand its capacities for teaching and research in computer science and data analytics. Through Data X (“Introducing Data X,” Pg. 8), the university will not only recruit new faculty working in computer science, marketing, bioengineering, journalism and other fields, but also expand course offerings and provide more Lehigh students than ever before the opportunity to acquire a grounding in this increasingly essential field.
• From soccer to cross country, women’s volleyball to football, there is much optimism surrounding Lehigh athletics as the fall season approaches. In our fall sports preview (Pg. 22), you can read up on all of the teams and all of the athletes that figure to make an impact this fall.

We hope you enjoy this issue of the Bulletin and welcome you, as always, to contact us with questions, comments, criticisms or praise (we’re especially welcoming of the latter). You can email me directly at tih313@lehigh.edu, or send snail mail to the address at the right.

Thanks as always for reading. And go Lehigh.

Sincerely,

Tim Hyland, Editor