What have you heard about Lehigh lately? Something about a little [read: HUGE!] football game that’s being played in Yankee Stadium this fall? Lehigh’s 150th playing of the rivalry has certainly been at the forefront of our alumni’s minds, but another important event in the life of the university is also taking place as we speak. I’m sure you read Dr. Alice Gast’s announcement in early 2014 that she would be stepping down from her role as president of Lehigh, to take the helm at Imperial College London this summer. That means as Dr. Gast prepares to leave, we will be embarking on a search for a new leader of Lehigh to take us into the next era.
I was a student when President Greg Farrington announced he would be leaving. By some stroke of luck, I was invited to attend a fancy farewell reception in his honor with a number of fellow campus leaders. Truthfully I don’t recall much about the evening, except the amazing risotto bar. Risotto served in a martini glass, with all sorts of made to order toppings, including the most tasty mushrooms I’ve ever had in my life (oh and bacon). I remember thinking that if Sodexho could prepare this kind of delicious gourmet food, why hadn’t more of this deliciousness made its way to the dining hall in the UC?
I’m sure there will be plenty of receptions and events, as we say farewell to President Gast and welcome her successor over the next year. So what advice would you give to the search committee as they prepare to hire the next President of Lehigh? What kind of person should would you like to see take over the role? What are your hopes for the future of Lehigh?
– Laura McGarry ’07