My first few months as Lehigh’s 15th president have rekindled the feelings of excitement and opportunity that I first felt when I arrived at Lehigh as an undergraduate student so many years ago. It’s been a return home in some sense for all of us, as students, faculty and staff readjusted to being fully back together on campus and in-person classes and activities resumed.
I’ve been enjoying walks—and runs—across our campuses, and I’ve had the opportunity on these occasions to talk with students about their Lehigh experiences and the reasons they chose the university. Strong academics, a bucolic setting, a sense of community. It was the same for me, too. As an undergraduate at Lehigh, I greatly valued my relationships with my classmates, fellow Gryphons and cross-country teammates as well as my professors, whose guidance and wisdom helped guide my career and life trajectory.
At numerous events on and off campus over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to also meet and talk with alumni, faculty, staff and parents who express similar feelings about our beloved Lehigh. Also, there’s a shared sense of gratitude for being back together. On campus and at virtual and in-person events, we have been reconnecting as a community.
