Reflections on Our Community

Dear Members of the Lehigh Community,

As we approach this Thanksgiving break, I want to take a moment to tell you how grateful I am to be part of the Lehigh community. When I joined this community two years ago, I was assured of many Lehigh core principles: Our commitment to academic excellence; our commitment to be active learners who listen generously to others and share knowledge and perspectives with humility and curiosity; and our commitment to ensure and promote inclusion of all, grounded in both our obligations to each other as human beings and our intent to fully realize the richness that diversity brings us.

I have witnessed these commitments firsthand through the actions of our students, faculty, administrators, and staff, and they affirm the great fortune I have to serve as Lehigh’s president. Our commitments form a strong foundation that will and must guide how, as an institution and community, we move into our future. My aspirations for Lehigh are that we continue to support one another with our strong and enduring values, and that we will continue to strive for excellence in all we do.

It is heartening to witness Lehigh as a place of free, open, and respectful exchange of ideas and perspectives. Important discussions are taking place across our inclusive community, in classrooms, residence and dining halls, offices, in South Bethlehem and across the globe. Some of these discussions are difficult, grounded in uncertainties, and may not have clear outcomes. We are fortunate to be a part of a learning community that seeks genuine understanding and embraces difference. I encourage each of you to continue the discourse, contribute to shaping our institutional culture, and make our world better for all. The work we do as an educational institution is more important than ever. Our shared values and our shared sense of purpose will guide us and drive us.

I wish the best for you and your families, near and far, at this special time of the year.

John D. Simon '19P