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President Helble and members of senior leadership at the HST construction site

Presidential News & Communications

A comprehensive list of all news, updates, speeches, and writings from President Joseph J. Helble and the Office of the President.

TYPE: News

Lehigh University Kicks Off Year Two of Its Strategy Encouraging Engagement with "No Bystanders" Mantra

Lehigh’s first Strategy Town Hall of the 2024-2025 academic year emphasized the collaborative nature of strategy efforts that drove first year implementation successes and highlighted key initiatives for year two.


TYPE: News

Statewide Symposium at Lehigh Focuses on Turning Innovation Into Opportunity

The Powering PA’s Future Symposium attendees talked about ways Pennsylvania can grow its “innovation economy,” where new ideas are commercialized to drive economic growth.


TYPE: News

Marty Baron Announced as Second Speaker in Lehigh’s Compelling Perspectives Series

The former editor of The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and Miami Herald, and former senior editor at The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, will speak about the role of media in contemporary society.



TYPE: News

Katie Couric Discusses Future of Journalism, Balancing Fact-Checking at Compelling Perspectives

The former anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News” and co-anchor of NBC’s “Today” show also talked about her cancer research advocacy and the changing media landscape.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Starting the Semester With a Focus on Dialogue

A message sent to members of the Lehigh campus community.


TYPE: News

Frank Roth, Lehigh’s first General Counsel, Set to Retire at the End of the 2024/2025 Academic Year

Roth’s twenty-three year tenure ushered in a new in-house legal department, increased Lehigh’s geographic footprint, shepherded the first changes in 158 years to Lehigh’s Charter of Incorporation, and established the Roth Family Endowed Scholarship Fund.


TYPE: News

Joe Sterrett, Dean of Athletics, Stepping Down at the End of this Year After 52 Years on Campus

Sterrett reflects on his accomplishments and time at Lehigh.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Well Wishes for Ricardo Hall, Vice President for Student Affairs

A message from President Helble to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

4.3.24: A Message From President Helble

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community and shared with Lehigh families.


TYPE: News

'We have Delivered Exactly as We have Been Promising,' Helble Says During London Trip to Share Lehigh’s Strategic Plan

President Joseph J. Helble ’82 traveled to London this week to meet with alumni and talk about Lehigh’s accomplishments.


TYPE: News

Carol Packard Named Lehigh’s New Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

Packard joins Lehigh following a comprehensive national search, succeeding Joseph Buck.



TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Start of Semester Message From President Helble

A message sent to students, faculty and staff.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 Kicks off Latin American Tour with Lecture at Universidad San Francisco de Quito

Helble delivered a lecture during his first stop on a tour of Latin America Thursday, highlighting Lehigh’s commitment to interdisciplinary education.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble ’82 Travels to Latin America to Deliver Lecture, Meet With Students, Alumni

Helble will deliver a lecture at Universidad San Francisco de Quito and connect with members of the Lehigh community in Ecuador, Colombia, Guatemala and Panama. It is his first overseas trip as president.


TYPE: News

Secretary Leon Panetta Announced as Second Speaker in New Compelling Perspectives Program

Panetta will visit Lehigh to discuss national security.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

A Message From President Helble

A message sent to members of the Lehigh campus community.



TYPE: Writings and Remarks

A Message From President Helble

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message Welcoming a Vibrant Community and Embracing a Transformative Future

A message sent to members of the Lehigh campus community.


TYPE: News

Lehigh’s Strategic Plan: ‘Exciting Work Ahead’

University holds an information session on the implementation phase of the strategic plan.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Announcing Compelling Perspectives

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community from President Helble.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Supreme Court Decision on College Admissions

A message sent to members of the campus community.


TYPE: Video

Inspiring The Future Makers: A Message from President Joseph J. Helble

A message shared with members of the Lehigh campus community.


TYPE: News

Who are ‘Future Makers’?

A conversation with Lehigh Provost Nathan Urban and Vice President of Strategic Planning and Initiatives Chris Cook on the strategic plan.


TYPE: Video

Watch: Inspiring the Future Makers

See how Inspiring the Future Makers will guide Lehigh for the next decade.


TYPE: News

Developing Lehigh’s New Strategic Plan

Community input guided the direction of the plan, which was designed to be flexible.


TYPE: News

Lehigh University Launches Strategic Plan, ‘Inspiring the Future Makers’

The plan will guide Lehigh’s goals and priorities over the next decade.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Update Regarding the Search for Daniel Lee

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.



TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Standing Against Hate

A message from President Helble sent to members of the Lehigh community


TYPE: News

Lehigh University Amends Original 1866 Charter of Incorporation

The amendments, which went into effect March 1, mark the first-ever modifications to Lehigh’s 157-year-old charter


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Making the Future for Lehigh, Together

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

President Joseph J. Helble '82 has once again been named to City & State PA’s "Higher Education Power 100"

The list recognizes the individuals who are redefining what it means to be a leader in this field.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Welcome to the Spring Semester

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

1.19.23: Update: Off-Campus Assault of Lehigh Student

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community from President Helble.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble: ‘It is Our Moment to Identify What We Do Distinctively’

Helble ’82 holds his third Community Conversation and provides updates on the strategic planning process and other initiatives.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Racially Motivated Assault of Lehigh Student

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Strategic Planning Process Hits Halfway Mark

More than 200 faculty, students and staff provide input on emerging ideas for Lehigh’s future.


TYPE: News

President Helble Signs ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge’s Higher Education President’s Commitment

Lehigh joins more than 450 college presidents in signing the challenge.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Mid-Semester Updates

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble '82 has been named to this year's Metro Philadelphia's Education Power Players list

The list recognizes "individuals and organizations with innovative ideas and strategies for tackling systemic challenges in education."


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Modeling Constructive Discourse

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Fall Forums Focus on ‘Our Future, Our Lehigh’

Faculty, students and staff share ideas as Lehigh’s strategic planning process gets under way.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Tragic Loss of Student

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Lehigh University Formally Launches Our Future, Our Lehigh Strategic Planning Process

Join the open dialogue on the strategic direction of the University.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: An Exciting and Important Year for Lehigh

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Brett Ludwig Named Lehigh’s New Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs

Ludwig, the current chief communications officer and head of global communications at W.L. Gore & Associates, joins Lehigh August 15.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: An Active Research and Educational Community

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Michael Todd Named Lehigh’s New Vice President for Finance and Administration

Todd joins Lehigh following a comprehensive national search, succeeding Patricia Johnson.


TYPE: Video

State of the University with President Helble

President Helble and university leaders host a discussion at Reunion.


TYPE: News

GO Getters Episode 20: Joseph J. Helble '82

President Helble joins a conversation with the GO Getters podcast.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

A Message From President Helble

An update sent to faculty and staff regarding the strategic planning effort that will begin this fall.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Celebrating the Academic Year

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

President Joseph J. Helble '82 has been named to City & State PA’s "2022 Higher Education Power 100"

The list recognizes the individuals who are redefining what it means to be a leader in this field.


TYPE: News

President Joseph J. Helble '82 Named to Lehigh Valley Business' "Power 30 for Higher Education" list

President Joseph J. Helble '82, College of Business Dean Georgette Chapman Phillips and FLEX MBA Program Director Megan Blessing Van Voorhis have been named to LVB's "Power 30 for Higher Education" list.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Spring On Campus

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

President Helble Hosts Lawmakers at Lehigh

Helble addresses student accomplishments and university initiatives, including efforts to address students’ mental health issues.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Plan Progress

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Influential Business Leader Judy Marks ’84 ’13P to Deliver 2022 Lehigh Commencement Address

Marks ’84 ’13P—the Chair, CEO and President of Otis Worldwide Corporation—will deliver remarks over commencement weekend.


TYPE: News

Lehigh University Searches for Vice President for Finance and Administration and Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs Fully Underway

The search committees announced the websites, which include position descriptions, nomination information and additional resources for both search processes.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Research and Our Aspirations for Excellence

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble: ‘Every Voice in This Community is Important’

Helble ’82 held his second community conversation Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, in person and virtually.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

A Message From President Helble

An update sent to members of the Lehigh community about the strategic planning process and introducing Christine "Chris" Cook.


TYPE: News

Community Conversations with President Helble on Feb. 17, 2022

President Helble invites students, faculty and staff to join him on Thursday, Feb. 17, for a Community Conversation offering an opportunity to ask questions, share thoughts and engage with him and the Lehigh community.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Spring Welcome

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Search Committee for Vice President for Finance and Administration

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Our Fall Semester Together

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Search Committee for Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Reconnecting as a Community

A letter from President Joseph J. Helble '82.


TYPE: News

Lehigh President Joseph J. Helble: What Are Our Shared Aspirations?

Helble 82 held two hour-long conversations Tuesday with members of the Lehigh community, in person and virtually.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: Interdisciplinarity

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: News

Community Conversations with President Joseph J. Helble '82 on Nov. 9, 2021

As he continues listening to and learning from the Lehigh community, President Joseph J. Helble '82 invites students, faculty and staff to join him on Tuesday, Nov. 9, for a Community Conversation that will offer the opportunity for questions, discussion and connection.


TYPE: News

Homecoming for Helble

Lehigh community celebrates an alum, Joseph J. Helble '82, as Lehigh’s 15th president at Inauguration Festival.


TYPE: News

Inauguration Ceremony for President Joseph J. Helble '82

A recording of the full ceremony in which Joseph J. Helble '82 is inaugurated as Lehigh University's 15th President.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

President Joseph J. Helble's Inauguration Remarks

Remarks delivered by President Helble on the occasion of his presidential inauguration on Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.


TYPE: News

Inauguration of President Joseph J. Helble ’82 Opens Founder’s Weekend

The ceremony inaugurating Lehigh’s 15th president was held Friday in Tamerler Courtyard.


TYPE: News

Inauguration of President Joseph J. Helble ’82 Set for Founder’s Weekend

The schedule of events begins Friday, Oct. 15, with the formal inauguration ceremony of Helble as Lehigh’s 15th president.


TYPE: Video

President Video Message: President Helble Addresses the Lehigh Community

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community and Lehigh families.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Our Campus Community

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community and shared with Lehigh families.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Plan

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.


TYPE: Writings and Remarks

Today's Incident Involving Ethnic Intimidation and Harassment

A message sent to members of the Lehigh community.




TYPE: Writings and Remarks

A Welcome Message from President Joseph J. Helble '82

A message sent to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff.


TYPE: News

President Joseph J. Helble ’82 Assumes Lehigh Presidency

Lehigh officially welcomes our 15th president.


TYPE: News

Getting to Know Lehigh’s 15th President: A Q&A with Joseph J. Helble ’82

Upon his appointment as Lehigh’s 15th president, Joseph J. Helble ’82 answered questions about his return to his alma mater as its new leader, the experiences that have helped prepare him for this role, and his thoughts on the future of Lehigh and higher education.


TYPE: News

Joseph J. Helble ’82 Selected President of Lehigh Following Comprehensive Search

Helble was selected from a broad and diverse pool of talented applicants.


TYPE: News

Joseph J. Helble ’82 Named Lehigh’s 15th President

Helble, currently provost of Dartmouth College, will assume the presidency on August 16.