Second-generation alumnus and global entrepreneur succeeds Vincent Forlenza ’75
Lehigh Trustee James R. Maida ’85 P’17 P’19 has been selected and confirmed as the next chair by the Lehigh University Board of Trustees. Maida will begin his term on July 1, 2026, following the conclusion of the term of Vincent Forlenza ’75 on June 30, 2026.
Selected as vice chairs were Jordan Hitch ’88 P’20 P’21 and Kendall B. O’Brien ’84.
“My family’s story is inextricably linked to Lehigh, a legacy that began with my father’s time as a student and my parents' lifelong devotion to the university, and deepened when Sharon and I met on this very campus,” said Maida. “To now serve this institution as Chair is a profound honor. As an engineer and entrepreneur, I view every challenge as an opportunity for a creative solution. I am eager to collaborate with President Helble and my fellow trustees to ensure Lehigh remains a place where students are empowered to solve the world’s most pressing problems.”
“I am especially grateful to Vince Forlenza for his steady guidance over these past few years,” he continued. “His leadership has laid a strong foundation, and I look forward to building upon that momentum with a focus on innovation, accessibility and the continued excellence of the Lehigh experience.”
Forlenza said: “James brings both business acumen and a deep, personal devotion to our university. I have seen firsthand his commitment to our students and his ability to think strategically about Lehigh's long-term trajectory. We are fortunate to have his leadership on the board of trustees.”
Maida represents the second of three generations of Lehigh graduates in his family. The legacy began with his late father, Robert ’57, and his mother, Elaine, who were proud Lehigh benefactors. The tradition of Lehigh excellence continued with James and his brother, Joseph ’83, and his sister, Jeanette Maida Brick ’86, and was carried on by James’s daughters, Lauren ’17 and Alexis ’19.
The university holds a deeply personal significance for James, as he and his wife, Sharon, met on Lehigh’s campus and were later married in Packer Memorial Church. Dr. Sharon Maida is a distinguished educator known for her pioneering work in orientation and mobility for children with visual impairments. She previously served as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Education. The Maidas have four children and two grandchildren.
A trustee since 2015, Maida has been an advocate for Lehigh’s academic and residential mission. The Maida family's impact is visible across campus; their $5 million gift for New Residential Houses led to the naming of Maida House, a cornerstone of Lehigh’s vibrant living-learning environment. The Maida Education Abroad Grants have opened doors for students with high financial need to gain the global perspective essential in today’s economy. Additionally, James and Sharon provide scholarship support for students from a local high school with high financial need.
Maida is the president and CEO of Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a company he founded and grew into the world's preeminent testing laboratory for the gaming industry. He has been recognized with numerous industry awards, including being inducted into the American Gaming Association (AGA) Hall of Fame.
With more than 1,500 employees worldwide, his experience navigating global markets and technological shifts serves as a vital asset to the board. He earned his bachelor’s in computer science engineering from Lehigh in 1985 and a JD in taxation from Rutgers School of Law in 1990.
Vincent Forlenza concludes his term after four years of transformative leadership as Chair, a tenure that included the launch of "Inspiring the Future Makers," Lehigh’s 10-year strategic roadmap and the successful progression of GO Beyond: The Campaign for Future Makers. This strategic vision is complemented by the “Making the Future” Campus Plan, a framework that seeks to celebrate the unique qualities of Lehigh’s distinct areas while improving connectivity and fostering unique pathways of discovery across all that Lehigh has to offer.
Forlenza’s guidance during this time, from the modernization of institutional governance to the physical transformation of the campus, was essential in strengthening Lehigh’s foundation and expanding its impact. Under his leadership, the university saw the completion of large-scale campus projects, including the renovated Clayton University Center at Packer Hall, which serves as the vibrant heart of student life on campus.
Notably, he also oversaw a historic modernization of the university’s governance. He led the board in amending Lehigh’s original 1866 Charter and Bylaws, the first modifications in the university’s 157-year history, to create a more agile, single-class voting structure for trustees.
Since joining the board in 2011, Forlenza’s tenure was also marked by guiding the university through the complexities of the global pandemic.
During his tenure as chairman and CEO of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), Forlenza transformed the firm into a global medical technology leader through landmark acquisitions like CareFusion and C.R. Bard. This experience navigating complex global growth was critical during the conceptualization and 2020 launch of The College of Health, Lehigh’s first new college in 50 years.
Forlenza and his wife, Ellen, have been foundational supporters of this initiative. In 2020, they established the Ellen and Vincent Forlenza ’75 Chair in Health Innovation and Technology, an endowed fund that allows Lehigh to recruit top-tier faculty in fields like artificial intelligence and population health. Their philanthropy also extends to the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science and the STEPS facility, reflecting a deep commitment to interdisciplinary research.
In 2025, the Forlenzas established a merit-based, cohort-style scholarship program in the College of Health. The $5 million gift supports students with full- and half-tuition scholarships, mentorship opportunities and high-impact experiential learning designed to prepare future leaders in health, policy and innovation.
Beyond his Lehigh contributions, Forlenza has been a tireless advocate for neurodiversity. He helped found the Quest Autism Foundation and has worked closely with Lehigh’s College of Education to develop better connections for supporting individuals with autism in the workplace.
A 1975 graduate with a B.S. in chemical engineering, Forlenza’s journey from a student leader to the Chair of the Board embodies the lifelong commitment of the Lehigh community.
At the national scale, the percentage of electricity used by data centers is expected to grow from 4% to possibly 12% by 2030, according to a new report from Lehigh’s Center for Advancing Community and Electrification Solutions (ACES).
Undergraduate tuition will increase 3.9% next year.
Tauck was known for his successful 75-year career in the travel industry, philanthropy and generosity to Lehigh.
