Alice P. Gast, who served as Lehigh University’s 13th president from 2006 to 2014, passed away on October 27 following a nearly four-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
During her tenure, Gast led a comprehensive strategic plan, oversaw a $500 million capital campaign, and expanded Lehigh’s footprint through the addition of the 750-acre formerly-named Stabler Campus in partnership with the City of Bethlehem. She was the first woman to lead Lehigh and guided the university through a period of growth in research, academic innovation, global engagement and stronger community ties.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of Alice’s passing,” President Joseph J. Helble ’82 said. “I first met Alice when I was at Dartmouth and she was at MIT, and I was immediately struck by her intellect, her deep curiosity, her thoughtfulness and her commitment to advancing education and research. We had a long discussion around opportunities for innovation in engineering doctoral education, a conversation that extended into the early part of her presidency at Lehigh,” Helble said.
Helble continued, “I was grateful for her graciousness in sharing her perspectives on all that makes this university special as I was preparing to return to Lehigh as president. She was a steadfast champion of Lehigh University and our pursuit of excellence, and I know the university community joins me in honoring her remarkable legacy and extending condolences to her family and loved ones.”
Born on May 25, 1958, in Houston, Texas, Gast earned her B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Southern California, where she graduated valedictorian, and went on to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University. Before coming to Lehigh, she taught for nearly two decades at Stanford University and later served as vice president for research and associate provost at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At Lehigh, she championed student-directed learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and sustainability, and strengthened the university’s global ties, launching partnerships and exchanges that expanded Lehigh’s reach abroad. Under her leadership, automotive executive Lee Iacocca ’45 provided transformational support for the creation of a new initiative, the Iacocca International Internship Program.
She was a driving force behind projects such as the STEPS building—Lehigh’s hub for interdisciplinary research in science, technology, environment and policy—and the Mountaintop initiative, which reimagined former Bethlehem Steel facilities as spaces for open-ended, student-led innovation.
Former Board Chair and Trustee Emeritus Daniel E. Smith, Jr. ’71 shared these sentiments:
“I am profoundly sorry to learn the news of the passing of Alice. This is an immense loss for her family, Lehigh and all who knew her. I was blessed to have been given the opportunity to work closely with her while Chair and serving on the board of Trustees.
“She became president of Lehigh at a pivotal moment, setting an ambitious path for the future with many achievements that can be seen in Lehigh today. Her contributions to Lehigh are immeasurable. While too numerous to list, among these were her leadership in the creation of Lehigh’s first strategic plan, the renewal of Lehigh’s focus on research, the strengthening of the board, and the addition of many talented faculty who are among the present academic leaders of Lehigh.
“While a world-renowned and enormously talented researcher, teacher and academic leader, she was also a warm person who related to people, was humble and empathetic with a wonderful sense of humor.
“I remain deeply grateful for her devotion to Lehigh and for her friendship. I join the University community in extending deepest condolences to her family.”
Gast’s presidency also strengthened Lehigh’s partnerships in South Bethlehem, launching initiatives such as the South Side Initiative and community school collaborations with Broughal Middle and Donegan Elementary Schools. Her efforts to support community included creating the Council for Equity and Community and adopting the Principles of Our Equitable Community.
A strong advocate for a global perspective, Gast led the university’s “Getting to Global Lehigh” initiative, expanding international study, internships and research opportunities. Under her leadership, Lehigh joined the United Nations Academic Impact Initiative and became the global hub for Principle 6: Global Citizenship.
Former Lehigh Provost Patrick Farrell said: “Alice had an amazing ability to engage with students and share their excitement about their Lehigh experience while also working with faculty and staff to envision a future Lehigh, and encouraging us all to look beyond the borders of campus to engage with our local and global communities. Many of these elements were at Lehigh in separate bits and pieces; Alice encouraged bigger and more connected thinking and realization of these ideas—and that has now become a norm for Lehigh.”
After leaving Lehigh in 2014, Gast became president of Imperial College London, where she served until 2022.
