New members join Lehigh’s Board of Trustees

Chairman of the Board Brad Eric Scheler ’74 ’05P ’08P ’09PG has announced that on July 1, 2016, six new members joined Lehigh’s Board of Trustees.

The six new trustees come from a variety of industries and professional backgrounds and were nominated for service based on their stature and influence in the Lehigh community, as well as their respective expertise.

“We are so very pleased to welcome these six outstanding and accomplished individuals to the Board of Trustees. We are certain that they will bring great insights and expertise to the Board, and will make important contributions as we look to advance our great university,” said Scheler.

The new trustees are:

Appointed Trustee Lia Iacocca-Assad was born and raised in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Ms. Iacocca-Assad attended Oakland University in Rochester, Mich., where she received a B.A. in Communications.  After relocating to California in the late 80s she became a founding member of Kacoon Development Inc., a residential development company. Ms. Iacocca-Assad has a busy professional life, but she always finds time to donate time and a substantial portion of her profits to various worldwide charities. She serves on the boards of the Iacocca Family Foundation, JSerra Catholic High School and Planet Hope. Iacocca Assad feels her greatest achievement is her family. She has been married for 24 years to her husband Victor, and they have four wonderful children ranging in age from 20 to 8. They reside in Laguna Beach, Calif. Lia is the daughter of Lee ’45 ‘69H and Mary K. Iacocca. Her term will end on June 30, 2019.

Alumni Trustee Jennifer S. Gonzalez ’08 ‘09G is a principal planner for the City of Hoboken, N.J., where she focuses on environmental sustainability and resiliency projects. Ms. Gonzalez holds a certificate from the American Institute of Certified Planners, is a LEED Green Associate, Envision Sustainability Professional, and Senior Fellow with the Environmental Leadership Program. She serves on the LUAA Board of Directors, has served as President of the Young Alumni Council, and is a member of both the Lehigh Alumni Club of Northern New Jersey and the Association of Student Alumni. She earned her M.A in Environmental Policy Design from Lehigh as a presidential scholar in 2009, after earning her B.A. in International Relations in 2008. Ms. Gonzalez is co-host of Sunday Funday to Beat Cancer, a charity event benefitting the American Cancer Society and Morristown Medical Center. She is also a long-time volunteer of Paterson Habitat for Humanity. Her term will end on June 30, 2019.

Appointed Trustee Jordan Hitch ’88 of Wellesley, Mass. was formerly a Managing Director of Bain Capital, one of the world’s leading private, alternative asset management firms. He joined Bain Capital in 1997. He currently serves as a Senior Advisor to Bain Capital and is an active private investor. Mr. Hitch graduated from Lehigh in 1988 with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and he earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 1995. As an undergraduate, Mr. Hitch was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity.  He serves on the board of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Burlington Stores, Helix Sleep, Gymboree Corporation and Cradles to Crayons, a Boston-based nonprofit. He returns to the Lehigh Board of Trustees after stepping down from the Board to serve as Lehigh’s Interim Chief Investment Officer from November 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016. His term will end on June 30, 2019.

Alumni Trustee Kira Mendez ’83 is a senior advisor to leaders in the social sector and a former partner with The Bridgespan Group. She serves on the board and executive committee of Bronxworks, a nonprofit organization focused on the South Bronx, and is a former board chair of United Way of Morris County (now Northern New Jersey). As an alumna, Ms. Mendez served as President of the LU Alumni Association and has served on advisory councils for the College of Engineering, Corporate & Foundation Relations, and the Zoellner Performing Arts Center. She was a member of the original design team for the Iacocca Institute Global Village and has served in a variety of roles during its history. Ms. Mendez received a BSEE with honors from Lehigh in 1983, an MSEE from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1985 and an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1988. Her term will end on June 30, 2019.

Corporate Trustee Dennis E. Singleton '66 currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Digital Realty Trust. The company develops, acquires and manages data center campuses worldwide. Previously, he was a founder and executive vice president of Spieker Properties Inc., serving as chief financial officer, chief investment officer and vice chairman. Mr. Singleton has been actively involved with Lehigh for many years in numerous capacities, including serving as an Appointed Trustee from 1998-2003, a Corporate Trustee from 2003-2013, and Emeritus Trustee from 2013-2016 prior to his reappointment. He graduated from Lehigh with a B.S. industrial engineering and earned an MBA from Harvard University in 1968. He lives in Atherton, Calif. with his wife, Charlot. They have three children: Nelson, Elizabeth and Margaret. His term will end on will end on June 30, 2021.

Appointed Trustee Tara I. Stacom ’80 is an Executive Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, a global commercial real estate firm headquartered in New York City, where she serves as a member of the Global Advisory Board. She serves the real estate industry as a Director of the Realty Foundation of New York and a member of the Real Estate Board of New York. She also serves as a Director on the Board of Ethan Allen Interiors, Inc. and is a board member of the Right to Dream organization. Ms. Stacom received a bachelor’s degree in business and finance from Lehigh in 1980. She returns to Lehigh’s board after serving as an Appointed Trustee from 2002-2008 and 2009-2015. Her term will end on June 30, 2019.

On June 30, Thomas Campbell ’80, Eduardo Glandt, Gregory Kuklinski ’98, J. Stuart Ryan ’81 ’11P ’13P, Daniel Smith ’71 ’14H, and Deborah Zajac ’97 concluded their service.

“On behalf of the entire Lehigh community, I want to reiterate our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Tom, Eduardo, Greg, Stu, Dan and Deborah for their exceptional dedication and commitment. The extraordinary university that is Lehigh in no small measure is a result of their outstanding service,” said Scheler.

Continuing on the board for additional three-year terms through June 30, 2019 are Karen Schaufeld ’83 ’15P ’17P, Sarat Sethi ’92, Karen VanderGoot ’99 and John J. Vresics, Jr. ’81 ’12P. Robert Brown ’78 will continue on the board as Corporate Trustee for an additional five-year term through June 30, 2021.