Dear Colleagues,
Summer has arrived, and I want to thank each of you for the many ways, both large and small, that you have contributed to Lehigh's mission and impact as a university.
As a community, we have experienced a year marked by significant progress, noteworthy as it comes amidst increasing and serious challenges facing higher education. National conversations about access, affordability, outcomes and intellectual diversity have expanded in ways that pose challenges to long-held practices related to academic freedom, research funding, community belonging and support for international students. These have had a direct impact on our work and our faculty, staff and students.
Over the past several months, I have met with policymakers and joined other university leaders in advocating for higher education’s essential role in fostering a vibrant economy and strong democracy. We have engaged with state and national organizations such as AICUP, ACE, NAICU and NAFSA: Association of International Educators to advance our priorities through informed, strategic advocacy. Lehigh recently joined Research!America and other institutions in urging Congress to reject the proposed 38% cut to the National Institutes of Health budget, and we continue to advocate for investment in research as a critical contribution to society and the public good. Amidst all of this, we expect research revenue and expenditures in FY25, which closes later this week, to meet or potentially exceed last year’s total. This progress reflects more than just numbers. Our ability to advance research with real-world impact demonstrates the importance of the diverse perspectives, talents and experiences of our students, faculty and staff.
Our global and diverse community is central to who we are; as I said in my remarks at our Graduate Commencement ceremony last month, a global community of scholars learning together and advancing knowledge together is the very definition of an American research university like Lehigh. We remain dedicated to cultivating a campus where every individual is valued and supported. We play a vital role in the economic and social well-being of our Lehigh Valley community and are steadfast in our commitment to partnering with others to address a range of challenges and needs. We invest in the future—regionally and globally—through education, innovation and collaboration.
We have much to celebrate. Lehigh’s designation as a Carnegie R1 research university this year speaks directly to your excellence. We have now established three new University Research Centers that will expand our impact and advance our institutional goals. Our students continue to excel in research, creative inquiry and public service, with undergraduate and graduate achievements that reflect their ambition and your mentorship.
Our student-athletes have made history, capturing league championships in women’s basketball and men’s football. We were proud to announce the addition of women’s wrestling as Lehigh’s 26th varsity sport, with competition set to begin this fall, in the 2025–26 academic year. Just last month and in the midst of final exams, student-athlete Audrey Jimenez won the senior Pan-American Championship at 50 kg in Monterrey, Mexico, demonstrating Lehigh excellence on a global stage. While the world of athletics changes, we continue to be focused on the student-athlete experience at Lehigh. As such, we are one of the many institutions that have chosen not to opt in to the NCAA revenue-sharing program. We enter an evolving landscape for college athletics with momentum at our backs, well poised to build upon the past year’s successes.
We have welcomed new leaders to our senior team, expanded partnerships across the Lehigh Valley and beyond and continued to deepen our impact as a learning and research institution.
Among these milestones, I’m pleased to share that Provost Nathan Urban has been reappointed for a second five-year term. Nathan’s leadership has been central to our academic momentum, from supporting faculty and staff to advancing university-wide priorities. I’m grateful for his continued leadership and look forward to what we will accomplish together in the years ahead.
Through it all, one thing remains constant: the people who make Lehigh, Lehigh.
Your work in labs, classrooms, offices and every corner of Lehigh has shaped another generation of graduates who are prepared to lead, to listen and to engage thoughtfully with the world around them. You are the reason Lehigh continues to thrive as a collaborative, innovative and global community.
As I’ve said before, in a world too often marked by division, a university brings people together around shared curiosity, shared purpose and the desire to create something new. Thank you for all of your work to bring the Lehigh vision to life this year. In the face of challenge, this is an extraordinary moment for our university, and we are here and in this position thanks to all of you. I hope you find time in the coming weeks to rest, recharge and take pride in all we’ve accomplished together, as we look forward to welcoming another talented group of new students to our campus soon.
Joseph J. Helble ’82
President
