Simon Selected President Following Comprehensive International Search

The naming of John Simon as the 14th president of Lehigh University came at the conclusion of an extensive global search that drew candidates from around the world, and which incorporated the input and suggestions of thousands of members of the Lehigh community.

In mid-January, Board of Trustees Chair Brad Eric Scheler ’74, P’05, P’08, PG’09, announced that a search committee would be formed. Within two months, search committee co-chairs and trustees Jane P. Jamieson ’75 and Kevin Clayton ’84, P ’13 led a series of town hall meetings on campus to solicit opinions from staff, faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students.

The five open forums that were held on campus were well-attended, and the lengthy and candid discussions were helpful in both gaining valuable insights and in forming a shared vision for the future of Lehigh, the co-chairs said.

“The town hall sessions were an extremely important and essential component in this process,” said Clayton, who began serving as interim president of the university in August while the search continued. “All the groups we met with – faculty, staff, and undergraduate and graduate students – and all the alumni that we heard from throughout this process shared their insights and their hopes for the university. One thing was remarkably clear: We all want the next leader of this university to build on a proud and established tradition of extraordinary accomplishment in teaching, research and service.”

The committee reviewed more than 250 candidates, and interviewed a number of extraordinary individuals. Even among that pool of candidates, Simon stood out. At the end of the process, the search committee made its recommendation to the Board of Trustees, and Simon was selected president after receiving the recommendation of the Faculty Personnel Committee.

Jamieson noted that the search process was designed to allow committee members to fully consider how a candidate’s background, experience and qualities matched the needs and goals of the university at this time.

“The search committee worked with focus and commitment, and openly shared their perspectives and opinions throughout the process,” she said. “Their hard work and thoughtful consideration led us to the selection of a terrific new president for Lehigh, and we could not be more excited to welcome John as Lehigh’s next leader.”

In addition to Clayton and Jamieson, and Scheler, who served as a member of the search committee ex officio, members of the search committee included the following individuals. Ainsley Lamberton, G’07, Administrative Director of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, served as senior staff and coordinator for the search committee.‎

Frank A. Roth, Esq., ’80 P ’08 ’11, General Counsel, Vice Chair of the Search Committee;
Dr. Lee Kern, College of Education, Faculty Member;
Dr. Mayuresh V. Kothare, PC Rossin College of Engineering, Faculty Member;
Mr. Mark V. Mactas, ’74, Trustee;
Ms. Angelica Matos ’12, Graduate Student;
Mr. Joseph R. Perella, ’64, Trustee;
Dr. James Peterson, College of Arts & Sciences, Faculty Member;
‎Mr. Daniel E. Smith, Jr., ’71, Trustee;
Ms. Alexandra J. Stephanou, ’15, Undergraduate Student;
Dr. Joseph D. Sterrett ’76, P ’03, ’05, ’07 ’09, Murray H. Goodman Dean of Athletics; and
Dr. Todd A. Watkins, College of Business and Economics, Faculty Member.