Many couples meet at Lehigh University. Many stay involved after they graduate. Then there is Faith Glazier ’87 ’19P and Rob Weisstuch ’85 ’19P. Over the past four decades, this Lehigh couple has generously given their time and resources to ensure the continued success of the university. Now, Glazier and Weisstuch have announced two new gifts: the Glazier Weisstuch Educational Innovation Prize and the Glazier Weisstuch Educational Innovation-Focused Faculty Fund.
The gifts, totaling $1 million, will make it possible for Lehigh University to identify, hire, and celebrate gifted faculty who are innovators in their field of study, engaging and motivating their students to reach their full potential. Says Glazier, “Our goal isn’t just getting students to come to Lehigh; it’s also about maximizing what they get out of a Lehigh education. This focus on innovation in academics and faculty ensures successful outcomes so that future Lehigh alumni will be in the position that we’re in right now to be able to give back and continue to support the university.”
The gifts align perfectly with the education innovation pillar of the university’s Inspiring the Future Makers strategy, which calls on faculty and staff to develop new programs and approaches to reimagine the classroom experience, maximize learning, and personalize education for students. These new approaches will help students thrive in an environment where they are supported and inspired.
Glazier and Weisstuch are excited that Lehigh’s strategy mirrors their goals. Says Weisstuch, “We share President Joseph Helble '82 and Provost Nathan Urban’s vision for how they want to further transform the experience at Lehigh.”
Urban says, “Faith and Rob’s commitment to educational innovation ensures more faculty will bring dynamic, data-driven methods into their classrooms, preparing students with the tools needed to excel. This work is vital to making Lehigh a national leader in student outcomes.”
Both Glazier and Weisstuch know from experience how it feels to be transformed by truly talented educators. For Glazier, it was J. Richard Aronson, a beloved professor who for over 50 years taught business and economics at Lehigh. Says Glazier, “He was a mentor to me and was instrumental in helping me to get opportunities that would open doors that I didn’t even know existed.”
One of those doors was the select Martindale Student Associates Honors Program, of which Aronson served as director. For 45 years, the program has enabled students across all Lehigh undergraduate programs to explore business, economic, and social and public policy issues. “In the spring of my senior year, I traveled to Canada,” says Glazier. “I had never been outside of the country, and it was life-changing. It helped me to see the world differently, it gave me confidence, and exposed me to things I never would have encountered.”
Glazier credits Aronson and the learning experiences she had as part of the Martindale program for her acceptance into the Harvard Business School MBA program, which led to a long and successful career as a principal at Deloitte Consulting. Over the years, Glazier maintained a close relationship with Aronson and other faculty members involved in the Martindale program. “I stayed involved after graduation, served on the advisory board, and have continued to support and grow the program.”
Weisstuch, whose father was an engineer, majored in industrial engineering (IE). He was interested in not only the mechanics of engineering, but its potential to solve real-world problems. One faculty member who embraced that philosophy was Wally Richardson, a popular and rather eccentric IE professor. “He was irascible and tough on students,” Weisstuch recalls, “but he always talked about solving business problems with engineering. That was his whole objective, and he was really helpful to me.”
After graduation, Weisstuch found success utilizing his problem-solving skills as a consultant, first as a partner with Accenture, a global professional services company, and with several media and entertainment companies. He then shifted to the nonprofit and education space, helping a number of organizations to provide additional learning opportunities for students. These included 100Kin10, a national nonprofit focused on increasing the number of STEM teachers, and the New York City-based Chess in Schools, bringing chess teachers into classrooms. He also serves as chair of the board for Education Through Music, which places music teachers into schools that otherwise could not support music programs.
Through the years, Weisstuch stayed connected to Lehigh, recruiting students for Accenture, staying close with his fraternity brothers, and sitting on the advisory board for the industrial engineering department. “There has always been a Lehigh thread,” he says. “It’s been different things at different times, but it’s always been there.” Adds Glazier, who also serves as a member of the Lehigh Board of Trustees, “Lehigh has always been an important place for us, especially since our daughter, Caroline Weisstuch ’19, is a Lehigh grad as well.”
Carol Packard, vice president for Development and Alumni Relations, says, “President Helble often says that this moment belongs to all of us. Faith and Rob prove it. Their generosity will empower more faculty to leverage their strengths and expertise, transforming the classroom experience in fresh, innovative ways. I look forward to seeing how their support enhances Lehigh’s distinctive, hands-on education and creates an environment where all students can access and apply what they learn to shape the future.”
