Lehigh officially welcomes our 15th president.
Christa Neu and Ryan Hulvat
Joseph J. Helble ’82, previously provost of Dartmouth College, officially began his tenure as Lehigh’s 15th president on Aug. 16, 2021.
“I am intent on listening to and learning from our community about how I can best help Lehigh continue to build on its great advancements and successes,” said Helble. “I am committed to engaging with students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the South Bethlehem community and am very much looking forward to getting started.”
Helble, a Lehigh graduate who received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering in 1982, was named president after a comprehensive and global search process.
Nathan Urban, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, served as interim president until Helble’s arrival.
“In addition to expressing my thanks to the Lehigh community for such a warm welcome, I also want to thank Nathan for serving as interim president and helping to ensure a seamless transition. I am grateful for his leadership and support,” said Helble.
In Helble’s role as provost at Dartmouth, he served as the university’s chief academic and budget officer. He oversaw all of Dartmouth’s professional and graduate schools—Geisel School of Medicine, Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, Thayer School of Engineering, and Tuck School of Business—as well as major academic support units and a variety of other offices, academic centers and institutes. He set the budget for Arts & Sciences and was also responsible for setting the university’s budget priorities and overseeing its annual budget process, developing financial plans, and coordinating support for Dartmouth’s research infrastructure. Helble also served as a professor of engineering in the Thayer School of Engineering. He played a critical role in guiding the campus community through the COVID-19 pandemic and providing regular updates about the university’s operations and decisions.
Read more about Helble’s background and accomplishments.
Helble is the second alumnus in Lehigh history to be appointed president. Henry Sturgis Drinker, Lehigh’s 5th president, graduated from the university in 1871 and served as president from 1905 to 1920.
Visit the Office of the President.
Planning is underway for an inauguration ceremony and festivities during Founder’s Weekend, Oct. 15-16, 2021. Watch for more details to come on the Founder's Weekend webpage.
Christa Neu and Ryan Hulvat
