Kevin Clayton served as Lehigh’s interim president for the 2014-15 academic year, after Alice Gast stepped down as the university’s 13th president.

It was fitting that Clayton, vice chair of the Lehigh Board of Trustees, was asked to serve during the transition to John Simon. He and his family have longstanding ties to—and a profound love for—the university, and have provided continuous leadership and financial support. This relationship began with the family patriarch, the late William L. Clayton ’51, who was a longtime Lehigh trustee, and continues as a total of 12 family members have earned Lehigh degrees.

Kevin Clayton is vice chairman of Makena Capital Management. Prior to serving as interim president, he was a principal and director of the global investment management firm Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. In honor of his parents, Kevin and his wife, Lisa, established the William L. and Carol L. Clayton Endowed Scholarship Fund in 2003. Among their contributions, they also have endowed the deanship for the College of Business and Economics.