Among those pursuing advanced degrees, Diana Hammerstone ’20 (first row, far right) conducts research in the Chow Lab, which focuses on designing and synthesizing modular biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Hammerstone was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship in 2020. Her research involves characterizing the chemical and physical properties of peptide-functionalized scaffolds for osteochondral tissue engineering.

Among the researchers, Hannah Dailey ’02 ’06G ’09Ph.D., an assistant professor of mechanical engineering and mechanics, seeks to bridge the gap in clinicians’ ability to predict how quickly bones heal. She designed a virtual mechanical test that uses engineering tools—including the same kind of analysis civil engineers use to simulate what happens to a bridge when a load is applied—to predict the healing timeline of a shinbone.

Serena Walker Jean ’21, as a diversity peer educator, is among those who work toward the greater good by providing fellow students with a place to speak about diversity and affect meaningful change. “It’s important for groups to know that racism and the issues surrounding it aren’t just a one and done conversation,” she says. “They continuously happen. And once the conversation is started, it’s a lot easier to keep it going.”

Women athletes continue to make their mark in the sports arena and other enterprises. They include athletes such as Cathy Engelbert ’86, who was captain of both the women’s basketball and lacrosse teams in her senior year at Lehigh. She went on to make history—as the first woman to lead a major U.S. professional services firm (Deloitte), then as the first commissioner of the WNBA. She continues as one of the most influential leaders in women’s sports.

Marching 97 members such as Alexandra Viscosi ’11 ’12G continue to lead and build teams in varied careers. A clarinet player, Viscosi was part of the Marching 97 for four years and its student conductor (StudCon) her senior year. She says she learned to manage her time and work with different types of individuals—skills that serve her well in her fast-paced job as demand planning consultant at The Chemours Company. She also continues to perform.

Lehigh engineers help to provide solutions that address societal problems. Among initiatives, an interdisciplinary team of Lehigh students set out to develop a way for women in regions of the world with high rates of violence against them to quickly access emergency response services, without a cellphone or the internet. Its solution was Soterra, a device that uses Bluetooth mesh networking technology and GPS. The team won $500,000 in the Anu and Naveen Jain Women’s Safety Prize competition to further develop the device.

In 2021, as part of Lehigh’s efforts to continue to build a more inclusive and equitable university, Lehigh adopted two new policies that allows members of the university community to identify their chosen name and gender identity in university systems. Additionally, the Lehigh Alumni Pride Association (LAPA) brings together alumni who are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and allied (LGBTQA+ and allies) community in an effort to foster an inclusive environment for all gender identities and sexual orientations.

Among initiatives: Several sororities and fraternities host “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes” event to raise awareness about gender awareness and sexual violence. Alpha Phi hosts a "red dress gala" fundraiser for heart disease. Gamma Phi Beta (members shown at left) focuses on "building strong girls" with Girls on the Run. Alpha Gamma Delta works with middle school children at the Cooking Club and helps the Hispanic Center organize its food pantries. Zeta Tau Alpha raises funds for breast cancer research.

Among the women leading Lehigh, two are deans. Georgette Chapman Phillips (pictured) is the Kevin L. and Lisa A. Clayton Dean of the College of Business, and Beth Dolan is interim dean of the new College of Health. Also on the senior team, Kristin Agatone is chief investment officer, and Cheryl Ann Matherly is vice president and vice provost for international affairs. Additionally, Jackie Krasas ’87 is deputy provost for faculty affairs, and M. Kathy Iovine, professor of biological sciences, is chair of the Faculty Senate.

Guest speakers for Lehigh’s Women in Tech class have included Ann Lewnes ’83 ’22P and Kathleen Egan ’90 (pictured). Lewnes, an appointed Lehigh trustee, is chief marketing officer and executive vice president, corporate strategy & development of Adobe. She also has been very active each year in the Baker Institute’s LehighSiliconValley (LSV). Egan is CEO of ecomedes, a startup she co-founded in San Francisco that aims to help designers and builders save time and money in their search for more sustainable building products. Ecomedes has been a host company for Lehigh’s Startup Academy and the Silicon Valley Innovation Internship.